It's a new day! And for some reason I feel strangely energized. Maybe it's because A.A. has stopped appearing in my dreams. Or maybe it's because I've finally accepted that I'll never have a normal life again. Or it could be simply that I had a good breakfast. Whatever the reason, I'm sure today will be a great day!

There's Jun waving at me! Wait. . . Jun? The great day I just imagined has suddenly flow out the window. What's happened to us? I remember when I used to be happy to see my friend. But now. . .

"Hey, Alex!", he called.

"Morning!", I called back playing along.

We walked side-by-side to class as if nothing had changed.

"The battleground isn't the school", he said. "So I see no reason that we should be enemies here."

"I agree. Besides, it's not like we're not friends. The only thing that's changed is. . . is. . .", I'm not so sure myself what changed between us.

"It's our allies. The ones we side ourselves with."

"Right", I agreed wholeheartedly.

"Speaking of allies, why don't you join our side", Jun suggested.

We sat down in class, awaiting our teacher. And I realized, I couldn't think of an answer to Jun's question. Why shouldn't I join their side. I'm the Key. Lelouch won't even tell me what he wants from me, but here's Jun, my best friend. And I'm sure he'd be willing to tell me anything.

"I'll think about it."

Jun smiled and turned to the front of the class as the teacher arrived.

I was right. Today was a great day. For the first time in weeks, I felt like a normal kid again. We ate lunch as friends with everyone else. Jun reminded me that our biographies were given an extension because our teacher wants us to act like our subject.

So I had another week left, which was all right by me. I could complain about me having to dress up as the guy who I am reincarnated as, but today's a good day. Why spoil it?

Jun and I parted ways so he could go to kendo practice, and I went to chess club. When I got there, Sidra and her followers were playing chess with the other members. So now they all know how to play the game?

Astra was the first to see me.

"Alex! Welcome! I never knew such a strategic game could be so amusing!", she exclaimed waving at me.

"Hi. . .", I said back.

"Alex is here, let's go", Sidra said.

"Wait!", one of the members, Dillan called. "You finish this match now!", he yelled at Vesper.

Vesper just smiled benignly. "Sorry, but I must go."

The four of them came up to me and looked at me expectantly. "What?", I finally asked.

"Take us to L.L.", Sirius whispered, looking at me seriously. Hmm, serious. . . Sirius.

"We don't know where the hideout is, but our contractors have already arrived", Sidra said.

"We just need to know where L.L. is now", Vesper said.

"Hey guys, look at this", Kenzie said, turning on the tv.

It was on a news station. "Local citizens were startled this morning when they awoke to this sight", a female reporter said.

The camera panned to behind her to a large white wall the enclosed a gated community. On the white wall was a large red symbol.

"Geass", Astra gasped under her breath.

I recognized the symbol as well. But this symbol wasn't a perfect drawing. It was almost as if. . .

"Investigators have released that this graffti was made not with paint, but with blood. More on this tonight at 10."

"Let's go", I said.

They followed me to Lelouch's hideout. When we arrived, I saw four people I didn't recognize. It must be their contractors. Before I could get a personal image of them, C.C. pulled me away into another room.

Lelouch glared at me, while C.C. just looked concerned.

"What do you think you're doing?", he said.

"What are you talking about?", I asked.

C.C. put a hand on my shoulder. "We want to make sure that you know the difference between your friends and enemies. When you don't, everyone gets hurt."

"We saw you with Jun today. What the hell are you thinking?", Lelouch demanded to know.

"I know what I'm doing!", I said.

"No, you don't!", Lelouch yelled back.

"Why can't you trust me? Jun and I have been friends for longer than I've known you."

"I speak from experience. He may be a friend now. But tomorrow he'll be an enemy!"

"Like you know anything!"

"I know that one day your so-called friend will betray you. And you'll never be able to trust him again."

"We've talked. And now we know that this is an issue", C.C. said. "But at the moment, we have something else that needs our attention."

We turned toward the door were four geass users and four contractors stood. Guess it's time to meet 'em all.

Up next: Alex meets the four immortals responisble for Sidra, Vesper, Astra, and Sirius' powers.

P.S.: For all the Jun fans, he has a cameo appearance in Lelouch of the Oneshots, Chapter 23!

P.S.S.: I'd like to take some suggestions for the appearances for the contractors!