Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass; if I did we'd have more Knightmares.

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"How's…how is he?" Kozuki asked someone over a phone, huddling in the corner of the docking bay, "I see. I'll be back soon, I just so happened to get lucky and will probably be back in Tokyo soon…don't worry, and it's not too dangerous."

Hanging up Kozuki let out a sigh, "Your elder brother correct? Hurt from an explosion half a year ago and still recovering," Kabine asked walking up next to the startled Kozuki, "Yes I can read minds, and yes I now know you're thinking about fruit to see if I'm telling the truth." Kabine turned her hidden head with almost a quizzical feel to it, "No, I am not the sole reason Lelouch Vi Britannia is so strong. That man is strong on his own."

Kozuki, speechless, lowered her eyes, resting them on a sword resting at Kabine's side, a strange black and gold sword, "Your ladyship, what can this humble…"

"None of that, the ability I can use allows me to see a great many things, there is nothing humble about you, who remains important no matter what line I examined," Kabine said, unsheathing the weapon at her side to seemingly examine it, "Beautiful sword isn't it? Named after a famous sword that has long since been lost to history. Arondite, the sword that belonged to the most powerful knight in the ancient legends of King Arthur. Not unlike your people's Tonbogiri I would say. Though unlike the latter's, Arondite's wielder eventually turned against his lord. You could say this sword is searching for a new owner. Sir Waldstein is certainly an attractive choice, the current strongest knight of the Empire, a member of the Court of Avalon and a member of the Round Table. Though I personally think someone else will come around."

"My lady…what…"

"Oh nothing, nothing at all, you just keep doing what you have been doing and everything will be good," Kabine said with a small knowing tilt of her head, a corresponding smile obviously hidden behind the thick cloth hiding her face, "Just keep doing your best and your family, your life will take a turn for the better."

Kabine then walked off, in a strange sort of silence, she was obviously making sounds, but for some reason nobody seemed to hear them, and nobody seemed to even notice her in the entire docking bay. A docking bay that was becoming busier and busier. She turned a corner and it was if she was never within the docking bay, "You're scheming something," Lelouch stated, looking at Kabine, "What exactly are you scheming is the question."

"My emperor, I have always been your servant, ever since I stepped inside the Imperial Palace I have been yours. My loyalty to you has never faltered, I led history down the appropriate path ten years ago so that you would be the Emperor and would lead this world to one unified nation," Kabine explained, "My power of connection has only brought boon to my lord. You don't mean to…"

"Kabine, the same was true for my father. Yet you set him on a path of destruction," Lelouch immediately responded.

"Your father was destined for destruction no matter the path he took. You on the other hand, are a different story. Even now I only see your reign continuing, your claiming of the world, everything down the path of history I can see your success no matter the choices of the rest of mankind," Kabine said, "You are absolute."

"Pretty words…"

"Yes, but you can always kill me can't you? You are the Emperor, none could or would question your judgment, and then there is Excalibur at your side," Kabine said pointing to one of two swords Lelouch had strapped to his belt, "It protects you from it, the power of Geass. Arondite could not block the blade were I to react quickly enough to you either."

Kabine stood there, and then slowly removed the hood and cloth that covered her head. She was a rather plain looking young woman, far from ugly but also not a beauty. If it were not for her strange glowing violet eyes one would hardly think she was anything special. Straight medium length auburn hair, pale skin from receiving little direct sunlight, and behind the glow of her eyes a hint of brown could be seen. She tilted her head and pulled her hair back revealing her neck. She was inviting Lelouch to chop her head off then and there. Lelouch likely considered it for a brief moment, his right hand clenched tightly on the pommel of one of the swords, then responded, "No, regardless of whether you're controlling me or not, scheming against me or for me, planning my victory or defeat, I still need you. Your Geass of Absolute Empathy cannot predict everything. It is anything but absolute. Even if you are truly my enemy I'll win."

Kabine smiled, a sly little smile, "Exactly my lord. You are absolute, no one can stand against you, the world is yours. This may be of use to you," she said handing a letter to Lelouch, "Lloyd sends his greetings and a report, the Avalon is nearing completion. As are those weapons."

Far to the south of the war torn Japan, inside a giant hanger, a man in a white lab coat and platinum blonde hair was examining a Knightmare Frame. It was a menacing red frame with gold highlights, and further in the background something of a nearly immeasurable size was being built, something suspended in an equally massive dry dock. "So this is the weapon," a middle aged blonde haired man asked, "It lives up to the name. It is too bad Schneizel didn't live to see the completion of this project."

"Ah it is, but it is also good, Schneizel was too kind for the current war. If he had outlived Charles Di Britannia, Schneizel certainly would have been the next Emperor," the man in the lab coat said without reserve, "Emperor Lelouch isn't kind, otherwise he would never had us build Avalon. When it's finished and delivered to Japan, the war will be as good as over; no one would dare go against that weapon. Don't you think Clovis?"

"Lady Kabine's request. Lloyd can you fulfill it?" Clovis asked.

"Oh yes, it is almost ready to send now. And the ignition key is already there as well. I wonder if Sir Waldstein can pilot it though," Lloyd wondered, "I suppose Sir Weinberg or Sir Bradley could also pilot it."

"She likely already has someone in mind, and is making sure they'll be ready to take it when it gets there," Clovis sighed, "That woman is too useful."

"Maybe, she'd make…" Lloyd began to muse before Clovis cut him off.

"Don't even joke about that. That thought must not cross his mind,"

Lloyd chuckled, "I don't see why not. She's his most powerful ally, that weird ability of hers to predict people and nations makes her nigh invincible. Well regardless is the plane ready your highness? The final touches can be done in transit, Kabine wanted it delivered off the coast of Tokyo for some reason."

In Japan, at the military base in Yaizu, "I knew we couldn't trust you damn Japanese," a growl came from a bandaged Jeremiah Gottwald, Kozuki being pushed into a wall outside the docking bay, several soldiers gathered round Jeremiah blocking the view from passersby, "What are you playing at? You could have ended the war then and there couldn't you? You could have…"

"I wouldn't do that!" Kozuki spoke up, clenching her fists she said, "I'm loyal to Britannia. I wouldn't risk everything I've gained for something like that, at the slim chance that killing his imperial highness would bring peace."

"Who do you think you are talking to you…" another of the soldiers began to speak up when the distinctive sound of a sword leaving its sheath could be heard from behind them.

All of the Britannian soldiers turned to see who it was, "Your…your highness!" Jeremiah gulped seeing Lelouch with a sword gripped in his hand, an elegant blade with runes on the sides of it.

Lelouch was glaring as he walked forward to stand before Kozuki, "Kneel," he ordered simply, and then when his command was not immediately obeyed he repeated, "Kneel."

Kozuki did so, bowing her head to him, shaking and clenching his fists on her knees. Jeremiah was looking very cocky about this turn of event, at least until he looked at what sword was in Lelouch's hand, "Your…your highness…that's…"

Lelouch turned his sword on it's side and then said, "With this blade, Clarent," and then he tapped the flat of the blade to her right shoulder, "I appoint you," and then raised the sword up and over her head, Kozuki's entire body having gone deathly still, "To the Court of Camelot as a knight of the Holy Britannian Empire," and then tapped the blade on her left shoulder, "With all the rights and privileges conferred to that status, up to and including true citizenship of the Britannian Empire and the right to bear a sword in public." Lelouch then sheathed his sword, "Rise, Dame Kozuki."

"Your…your majesty…" Kozuki began stammering out before Lelouch turned to the soldiers.

"I trust this settles any and all arguments, or do mere soldiers plan on questioning the loyalty of a Knight? Or the judgment of their Emperor?" Lelouch asked, challenging anybody to question him, the collected soldiers bowing their heads in submission.

Jeremiah raised his head and then saluted Lelouch, "Of course it does your Imperial Majesty," then turning to Kozuki he said, "My apologies Dame Kozuki, I let my emotions get the better of me. Me and my men shall see to the maintenance of your Knightmare as penance."

With that Jeremiah led his soldiers off and into the docking bay. Lelouch sighed, and looked at Kozuki from the corner of his eye, "You're now a Knight of the Empire, your conduct will now reflect the intentions and virtues of your entire people instead of merely yourself. Conduct yourself with honor and courage and things will only get better. As a member of the Court of Camelot your duties won't change significantly, Camelot is the lowest of the three courts responsible for fighting the Empire's enemies. Do well and you'll be promoted to the Court of Corbenic, the court responsible for protecting the Empire. Do exceptionally well and you may be promoted to the Court of Avalon."

"Your highness, may I ask you a question?"

"You were appointed to settle that dispute, however you have earned the position, were you a Britannian you would have been nominated by one of the nobility a long time ago," Lelouch answered, predicting that was her question.

"Your majesty, I…why was there such a big deal about the sword that you used?"

Lelouch smiled, "Ah, I suppose that would be a bigger question to one who did not grow up on the legends. Clarent, named after one of Arthur's swords, a sword that represents peace. Some say it was the sword that was the proof of the King. The legends are unclear on many matters. To be knighted with it means you have been knighted with the highest confidence in your dedication to the Empire. Your official uniform will reflect this, being marked as a member of the Order of Clarent. Only a select group of forty has been knighted with the sword, most of which are now members of the Court of Avalon."

"Then…what is…"

"Excalibur, the Sword of War you could say, no one has ever been knighted with it," Lelouch answered immediately, as he quickly brought out a small device and pushed several buttons on it, "Report to barracks Z Seven, you'll be informed of further details there. Including the privileges extended to any family you have due to your new position. I'll have the current general in charge of Tokyo, Sir Guilford, see to the transfer of your brother to one of the Knights' hospitals."

Kozuki's eyes went wide and then she bowed deeply to Lelouch, "Thank you…your highness."

To the far North of Tokyo, off the coast of Hokkaido, on a ship amongst a large battle formation, "Kururugi-dono, the Tadakatsu is ready for deployment," a soldier in a Japanese imperial soldier uniform reported, "We've attached the OB to it for rapid deployment should the transport be attacked before we can meet up with them."

"Good, very good," a young man said sitting in a command chair in the back of a command deck. The young man had short brown hair and a green tint to his eyes, "Even if Guilford catches wind of our plan he won't be able to interfere."

"Sir, we lost contact with our spy following Lelouch Vi Britannia, they may have discovered him," another soldier reported, sitting down at one of the many consoles in the room, "Lelouch also seems to have made it to Yaizu. He's probably heading to Tokyo, likely to repel us."

"Good, let him, we're just the distraction for the real plan. Tell my father we'll be proceeding as planned until otherwise ordered," Kururugi stated simply, and then smiled, "Odd, I feel a strange sensation in my body. Like something is waiting for me, coming to meet me."

"Warriors anticipation," an aging man said walking onto the bridge, "A skilled warrior is coming to meet us Suzaku-kun."

"You feel it too, Toudou-san? Is it Britannia's Emperor, or someone else?"

"Luciano Bradley is said to be in Tokyo at the moment, one of the Knights of the Round Table," Toudou replied, "I believe it is him. Odd to feel such a presence as far away as his is."

"No, I have fought him before, he is only annoying, this is something else…I'm shaking, I want to go right now and fight," Kururugi said a small smile on his face.

And that's where I'll end this chapter. Sorry things took so long folks, but I was busy (those of you who read my profile recently would know why) and I originally was going to skip this chapter's events, saving them for a flashback, but decided against it. Thus I had to move what I had to next chapter (ending up with me needing to rewrite a lot of it) and then write this chapter. Now before I start ranting further, onto those questions of mine…

1) Lloyd is working on something in a dry dock that is absolutely massive; that everybody involved is pretty sure will win the war. Any guesses for what it is?

2) A red and gold frame that is being shipped to Japan, designed by Lloyd, well this should be an obvious guess as to what this Knightmare is. So what is it?

3) Suzaku is actually not getting the Lancelot for once, and Genbu Kururugi is still alive and well it appears. What are you thoughts and opinions on this change?

4) 1 being awful and 10 being beyond awesome, how well would you rate this chapter?

And that's all; now press that review button before Lelouch does something crazy again.

Ciao for now

Tis has been a chapter from your unfriendly neighborhood LunaticChaos