Private Suzaku Kururugi was overwhelmed.

"Kami-sama," he breathed, reverting back to Japanese as he often did when he was either A. Stressed or B. Utterly and completely confused.

He shook his head, realizing that he was most likely being recorded and his situation was tentative as is. He doubted that the superiors who had allowed him to surpass the racial boundaries and pilot the Knightmare Frame he was currently inside would appreciate him speaking a number language. He was almost positive that the two people he had just met (was it Lloyd and Cici? No, Lloyd and Cécile.) wouldn't care, as all Lloyd had ever referred to in the ten minutes that Suzaku had interacted with him was his "baby", the Lancelot, and Cécile didn't seem the type to dwell on race or status, much less language.

Still though, he felt that his slip was well deserved. The Lancelot was the first and only prototype 7th generation Knightmare Frame, making it much more advanced than the Sutherlands Suzaku had practiced piloting on the simulator. He knew that he was way out of his league; yes, he had high scores on the simulator, but that was because (he was fairly sure) that he had read through the manual at least seven times until the date that his Basic group had been tested. Although his score was the highest in his company, his race and status hadn't allowed him to join the Knightmare Corps. There were no official rules against it, no, but it was just generally accepted that no one but pure-blooded Britannians would ever be admitted. If you broke the status quo, you were considered just as expendable as a number.

That was why, even though he was sure he was going to mess something up, Suzaku was happy to be piloting and advanced Knightmare Frame. The circumstances weren't optimal, and it was going to be hard to fool the Britannian army, but he still enjoyed the feeling of his gloved hands flexing around the controls. He liked the feeling of power, and right now he could feel it coursing through his bloodstream and settling itself into his mind. He controlled this battle now, and he knew that he could take out any number of enemy (well, technically friendly) Sutherlands in less than an instant. In fact, that was what was expected. He just had to grit his teeth and suffer through it, appeasing both sides at the exact same time.

Promises, promises.

"Suzaku? Are you and my Lancelot acquainted with each other yet?" A voice pierced cleanly through the brand new speakers installed in the cockpit.

Suzaku nearly jumped in his seat. "L-Lloyd? I, um… I mean, yes, I think so." I don't even know what half of these buttons do.

He heard clapping on the other end of the line. "Well, good! Why don't we get you out there, now?"

"Now?"

"Yes, now!"

Suzaku took in a deep breath. He had to get this over with. In his mind, he ran over his plan: Destroy the Sutherlands, but only enough so that the pilot was still safe and could eject. Fool the Britannians into thinking that he was softhearted (which, in actuality, he was, but only a little bit, or so he liked to think) and that he was nervous since it was his first time on the battlefield.

No, not the first time. First time in a giant fighting robot.

Suzaku flexed his hands around the main controls. "We're going to have to wait a little bit, sir. We're nearly ready to launch though. The core temperature is at two hundred seventeen degrees celcius."

"Oh, I'm so excited! Just don't break my baby." Lloyd's voice pierced through the speaker. "I want her back in one piece."

"Lloyd!" A loud thwack echoed in the cabin. Suzaku almost smiled at the comical situation that he assumed was taking place on the other end of the line.

"Okay, okay, fine. Come back in one piece as well, I suppose. We'd end up being the ones having to clean you up afterwards, and I don't want to go to that trouble."

"Lloyd!" Another thwack, and some rustling. "Suzaku," Cécile's voice came through the speaker. "Since the Lancelot is only a prototype, the ejection system hasn't been installed yet. You need to play it safe. As soon as you feel you're in too deep, pull out. You could become seriously injured, or worse."

"And imagine what would happen to the Lancelot if you were minced meat!"

Cécile sighed, the exhalation rattling through the speakers. She didn't even bother to correct her superior. "Just be careful. You may be a valuable asset to us in the future."

A valuable asset. Suzaku swallowed. Lelouch had said the same thing to him not an hour ago. Could he go through with this? He hated the Darwinistic principles of the army, of Britannia, but there were still good people that he was deceiving. Cécile, for example, possibly even Lloyd, although he wasn't quite sure if the liked the slightly eccentric scientist quite yet.

His thoughts were interrupted by said scientist. "Well, Suzkau, are we ready yet?"

Now or never. I have to do this. I need to do this. He checked the core temperature."Ready to launch, sir."

All at once, the hatch in front of him opened and the Knightmare began humming up to full power. He took one last deep breath, steadying himself.

"Lancelot, launch!"

INSERT BREAK

Because right now, it's the only choice you have.

Then man's voice still echoed in her mind as Kallen processed his statement. "Give me a minute," she had spoken, and turned her efforts into piloting the Glasglow and deciding whether this mysterious man was worth it. Was he? Or, rather, was he going to lead them to succed? She didn't know if it was even possible in their current situation. In fact, it seemed downright impossible.

Who could he be, anyway? Chances were that he had probably gotten onto her radio channel by way of luck, and he was a Britannian soldier trying to capture her and then kill her in the most tortuous way possible.

Her thoughts were jarred when a slash harken hit the Glaglow with sufficient enough force that it actually jostled the cockpit more than it was with the usual hit. Damn, Kallen thought. She knew that it must've hit somewhere important. Her suspicions were confirmed when, with a loud crunch, her right arm fell off.

All of her hopes sank to the pit of her stomach. There was no way she could hold the Sutherlands off with only one arm. It was physically impossible, no matter who the pilot was. She wasn't going to make it out of here alive, unless… Should she do it? She swallowed. She would. It was the only choice left for her.

"Okay, tell me what do to."

Shortest. Chapter. Ever.

I'm sorry I haven't updated this in like, five months. And I'm sorry that this chapter is so incredibly short. It's like, a midget chapter. (Ed: WHO'RE YOU CALLING A MIDGET?) Oh wait, wrong anime…

I don't know when I'm going to get to update this again. It may be another five month or more break. I'm trying to concentrate on another of my stories, Fowl Meets Ride, because it's the most popular. I just wanted to update this, because I didn't want everyone to think I just forgot about it.

But anyways, I hope you liked the chapter, miniscule as it was.