Code Geass: Lelouch's Gamble

Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass.

"Speaking"

'Thoughts'

"Radio"

Chapter Three: Life is not Chess

The day after Kallen's and C.C.'s introduction to each other brought a new surprise for the two conspirators. A new student in their class.

"Hello, my name is Suzaku Kururugi. I will part of this class starting today." Said Suzaku as he introduced himself to the class.

The class had been calm while lessons were still in progress, but at the first break it began. Many of the Britannian students talked to each other about the Eleven that was now attending their school, in their class. It didn't help that Suzaku had been arrested on suspicion of killing Clovis.

One saving grace was that most of the students were rational enough to realize that the chances of the school board allowing an actual terrorist to become a student were not high.

Eventually Lelouch got up to leave but he managed to catch Suzaku's attention and at the door he tugged on his shirt collar.

Suzaku immediately recognized the sign and knew Lelouch was asking to meet him on the roof. As soon as he could that's where he went.

Lelouch was waiting against the rail. "Seven years and you still remember the old sign."

"Meet on the roof, just like the old days." Said Suzaku a little wistfully. "I'm glad you're alright."

"All thanks to you," said Lelouch thankfully. "You almost died trying to protect me."

"I was just returning the favor from seven years ago." As Suzaku remembered the incident he recalled there was another. "Wait, what about the girl? Did she get out alright?"

"We got separated during the fray. I don't know where she went after that." Technically Lelouch said the truth though the spirit of the question would have accepted her current location as an acceptable answer. "What about you, wouldn't you know more about that than me?"

"No," said Suzaku," the only people who knew anything were the inner circle of the royal guard."

"I see." Lelouch hadn't really expected anything less from what C.C. told him.

"So," continued Suzaku, "can I still call you Lelouch?"

"My old identity is counted amongst the dead. Here I am Lelouch Lamperouge. But what about you?" Said Lelouch to change the subject. "I'm surprised to see you here."

"So am I," confessed Suzaku. "Someone arranged for a full investigation for my court-marshal and then said that a 17 year old should be in school."

"Is that so? I wonder if the investigation was truly what they wanted, or if they needed to save face because of Zero's actions?"

"Zero," mumbled Suzaku with hostility that Lelouch noticed. "If it hadn't been for him there wouldn't have been a court marshal in the first place."

"That's true," conceded Lelouch. "But I am still grateful that he confessed to save you. That means he's saved both our lives."

"What!?" Said Suzaku in shock. "He saved you?"

"Yes, it was after you were shot. Zero appeared and protected the girl and myself. If he hadn't done that than I am sure I would be dead. So I'm grateful."

"But don't you hate him? He killed your brother!"

"Yes he did. But still if I had died that would have left Nunnally alone."

Those words were enough to sober Suzaku. He knew well enough that when they were kids Nunnally had been everything to Lelouch. In the time since it only made sense that the banished prince would continue to do everything in his power to keep his little sister safe and happy. So if anything ever happened to him there was no doubt Nunnally would be devastated.

So Suzaku dropped the subject and chose one to lighten the mood. "So how is Nunnally?"

Things had gone well with Suzaku's and Nunnally's reintroductions. The girl had been ecstatic to have their old friend back. Well as ecstatic as the quiet girl ever got, but the lift her spirits received was certainly visible, and that was enough for the two boys.

But Lelouch's own spirit turned downward once more the next. The problem was twofold.

First, has Zero, he had received word that Cornelia had already annihilated one of the other resistance groups. It was expected but happening faster than he thought it would.

The second had to do with Suzaku. The other students had decided it was best not to associate with Suzaku because he was an Eleven and because he was the one that was suspected of killing Clovis. Some had even vandalized Suzaku's spare uniform.

Suzaku may have turn down Zero's offer but he was still Lelouch's friend, and the former prince wished to help him despite Suzaku asking him to stay away so that no one would think to ask about their past.

But undoubtedly the most trying event of that day involved a little demon furball.

()()()()()()()

Lelouch was just sitting down to have tea with Nunnally. His sister was telling him about her worries concerning Suzaku. Worries brought on by Nina. Lelouch had already been thinking of doing something about the situation simply for Suzaku's sake. Now that his sister expressed unhappiness with it, well it will certainly be an easier task than creating a world of peace for her sake and he was already committed to that one.

However before he could really think on it he saw a sight that almost made his heart stop. Standing in the doorway behind his sister dark furred, short tailed cat, and on its head was unmistakably his mask.

The cat meowed and then ran off.

"Wait! Get back here!" Shouted Lelouch in desperation, rushing after the cat as fast as he could.

"Was that a cat?" Nunnally asked innocently to the empty room.

The cat ran out of an open window on onto the campus ground, with Lelouch following as fast as he could. This wasn't fast enough.

'Damn it! If anyone gets a hold of that mask, or even sees it and I can't Geass them then things could get very bad! I am not being done in by a Damn Feline!'

The good news of the situation was that school was out for the day so students could go home. The bad news was that the vast majority of the student body was still on campus because of club activities. So practically everyone except the teachers was around and a potential witness to see the cat and his mask.

Seeing the cat steadily pull ahead of him Lelouch groaned. 'If I had the terrorists I could surround the thing. Kallen could help me.' Sticking a hand in his pocket his eyes widened. 'Damn it! I don't have my phone!'

Without his phone to call Kallen, Lelouch would just have to hope that he runs into the red haired terrorist as he chased the damn cat. Said cat had somehow gotten up onto the roof of an open air hallway while he wasn't looking.

Lelouch followed the masked feline into the school proper. Fortunately only a handful of students were in the hall and they simply weren't paying any attention to any possible animals that may be roaming around their feet. Though he did have to Geass two girls, but other than that things were looking up since he was finally catching up to the furball.

That's when things took a downturn. "Attention everyone, this is your student council president Milly Ashford with an important announcement. Cat Hunt Everybody!"

'On No! Please Milly; don't say what I think you're going to say!'

"There's a cat loose on campus that has to be rounded up! Put everything else on hold! Participating clubs get budget priority!"

Lelouch felt his stomach drop a bit. Students here were crazy about their clubs and the funds they received. That announcement would guarantee that the students would actually start paying attention for any animals around their feet.

"And whoever captures our feline friend gets an extra special prize. A big ol'kiss from one of the members of the council!"

Lelouch could have sworn he heard some sort of uproar after that.

"And when you do catch that cat bring what it's carrying to me! To Me! To Me!!" Milly got so excited she actually started to cough.

'Milly, I hate you.' Thought Lelouch. The former prince than blinked in surprise, stopped running, and began frantically looking about in all directions. "Where Did That Damn Cat GO?!" Yes while Lelouch had been distracted by Milly's announcement the cat had slipped away.

Kallen and Shirley, not wanting to have to give their first kiss to whoever catches the cat, teamed up and cornered the cat. They didn't get a good look at it before it ducked under a small table but that didn't matter. As long at the two of them worked together they would nab it.

"OK, we do this right and our lips will be safe," said Kallen. "Shirley, you cover the rear." She would show a bit of her true abilities if she had to. Just as long as she didn't have to kiss anyone.

But as she began to advance on the cat it seemed Shirley had her own idea.

"Wait a minute Kallen, who would you want to get a kiss from?" Asked Shirley suspecting Kallen wanted the cat to kiss the person of her choice. "It wouldn't be Lulu would it?"

"What? Why would you think that?"

"Well," began Shirley nervously poking her fingers together, "I happened to see you and Lulu the other day, and he seemed so 'energetic' to be with you. The way he held your hand as the two of you…"

"It wasn't what it looked like!" Countered Kallen, just barely able to stick to her sick girl persona. "We were just late for an appointment!"

"An appointment? The two of you together? In the middle of the day!?"

"Stop imaging things, it's nothing like that!"

While Kallen was busy dealing with misunderstandings of a teenage love-struck mind, the cat slipped away by their feet.

Lelouch eventually managed to track the cat to the roof of the school's bell tower. At the same time he ran into Suzaku who was chasing the cat and seemed to think it was a game.

But it turned out alright. After Lelouch nearly fell to his death in front of a number of his fellow students, before being saved by Suzaku. While everyone else's attention was upon the duo the cat managed to get its head out of the mask which promptly tumbled down a side where no one could see it.

After Suzaku successfully caught the cat and brought it down to the ground he was actually greeted warmly by the student council member. When Lelouch joined them, after taking care of the mask, he was confronted about whether or not he and Suzaku knew each other. Taking the opportunity he immediately informed everyone that the two had indeed been friends in their childhood and that their friendship was still strong, he even used the school rules to get Suzaku a place on the Student Council.

Thus without Lelouch having to do any sort of planning, he had taken care of a problem plaguing two people who were important to him.

Seeing Suzaku become accepted by Britannian students, who had grown up with the dogma that Numbers were beneath them, and seeing Nunnally's smiling face as everyone around her was happy, including those important to her. It was the kind of moment that Lelouch wished for both Nunnally and himself to enjoy every day.

Minus the need to exhaust himself chasing a damn feline halfway across campus in order to preserve his secret as Zero.

But all too soon, at the state funeral held for Clovis, Lelouch was reminded of why he created Zero. Emperor Charles, the father of both Clovis and Lelouch, gave a speech as was customary when a child of the royal family is killed. But it was not a eulogy dedicated to Clovis's life.

No, it was a speech on the inequality of man and how it was the strife caused by those differences, how people competed against each other that brought evolution and change. In short it was a speech on the social Darwinist ideals of the empire. The kind of ideals that tossed aside losers and those who cannot compete to begin with.

People such as the oppressed Japanese people who lost the war, their rights, and their name. People like Nunnally, who was one of the sweetest most kindhearted individuals to ever live, but had lost her sight and been confined to a wheelchair.

To create a world where such people could be happy, that was why Zero existed.

There was one reason Cornelia li Britannia became the governor of Area 11. To eliminate the terrorist problem. Specifically she wanted to capture Zero above all else. That's why she had brought her younger sister Euphemia along as Sub-Viceroy. Aside from disliking being too far away from her gentle sister, Cornelia needed her to take care of administrative duties when she was busy with the military.

With her goals and reasons set Cornelia couldn't help but grow frustrated with all of the current efforts to track terrorists. In truth she was furious that all of the information that the Area 11 administration had gathered before her arrival had not held a single hint of Zero's whereabouts.

Thus with so little information to go on the Witch of Britannia to take the most logical course of action. So far all known information concerning Zero indicated he was well connected with substantial resources at his disposal. This would indicate that he was connected to one of the more prominent terrorist groups.

Not the JLF. That group was comprised almost entirely of the former Japanese Defense Force that had failed to be captured during the war seven years ago, and operated like a real military and had no issues with revealing who they are when they take action.

With that in mind Cornelia had gone after the largest group that they had the most comprehensive information on. Zero wasn't with them. And all of the new information indicated that Zero was being quiet for the moment.

So Cornelia decided that instead of proactively hunting Zero, she would draw him into a trap.

"Military authorities report that they have surrounded the Saitama Ghetto, a known hiding place for terrorists." Said the Hi-TV newswoman on the broadcast that was being played on all public televisions. "Viceroy Cornelia is also at the scene and all traffic in the area is restricted. It appears that a full-scale assault will be launched in two hours."

From his room Lelouch watched the broadcast on his computer. "It seems Cornelia is finally making her move." He commented idly to the green haired woman lounging on his bed looking over her pizza stickers.

"It's obviously a trap, surely you're not going." Said C.C.

Lelouch had already pulled out his Zero outfit. "Of course I am. They went to such trouble to invite me; it would be rude not to go." He lifted his mask, looking at the face of Zero contemplatively. "There is something I wish to ask Cornelia; however I have considered the situation and came to a conclusion."

"Oh? And what would that be?"

"Destroying Britannia and discovering who murdered my mother are of equal importance. But for the time being I need to focus on the goals I need to accomplish as Zero. I will have other opportunities to question Cornelia. But how many opportunities will she give me to save so many people?" Turning his attention to the witch he and smirked. "And of course I don't intend to go without the aid of my two closest allies."

Finished with his packing Lelouch went to go get Kallen who was in the meeting room helping Shirley set up the damn feline's, Arthur's, new stuff.

"Will you quit imagining things!?" Shouted in Kallen in exasperation. "There is nothing between me and Lelouch! He's just helping me with my studies since I missed so many classes!"

Finally Shirley's head seemed to be free of fantasies and was truly listening to Kallen's words. "So there really isn't anything romantic going on?"

"Yes! That's what I've been saying!"

At that moment the door opened and Lelouch walked in. "How are things going in here?" He asked the two girls.

"Oh Lulu!" Exclaimed Shirley. "Everything's going great, we almost have everything set up for Arthur." She said presenting the new cat tree, said cat seeming to be hiding behind it from some sort of threat.

"That's good to hear," said Lelouch. "Listen Shirley but I'm afraid you're going to have to finish on your own. There's some work that Kallen and I have to do."

From the corner of his eyes Lelouch caught Kallen's attention and ever so subtly nodded.

"Sorry Shirley," apologized Kallen, "but you can handle this right?"

The girl had caught sight of Lelouch's little nod and something told, "Yes but…"

"Great," said Lelouch. "Let's go Kallen." The two exited quickly missing Suzaku's arrival by several minutes.

"So where are we going?" Asked Kallen in her true voice once she was sure no one was around.

"Zero has been invited to Saitama Ghetto, and I wouldn't dream of going to such a party without my lady."

Kallen scowled at the reference but understood the sentiment behind it. She still wanted to slug him though.

"It's hopeless," declared one of the various terrorists hiding in their underground hideout.

"The attack begins in half an hour," said another dejectedly taking a look at his watch.

"Are there any possible ways to get out?" Asked Izumi, the leader of this group.

"Armor is blocking all of the main roads with foot soldiers watching the back roads. No one is getting in or out."

"Not even the civilians."

"Izumi!" Called a man who ran up to the discussing group. "You have to listen to this!" He said holding a hand radio to the leader.

"This is Zero."

"Zero!?"

"I assume that you have heard about Shinjuku. Do as I say and everyone will be saved."

"It's done," said Lelouch after he finished relaying orders. Currently he was wearing the uniform he had worn during Shinjuku. Kallen and C.C. stood with him, Kallen in her usual piloting outfit and C.C., hidden in the shadows of a building dressed as Zero.

"So now what?" Asked Kallen.

"I'll need access to the Britannian communications so that I can effectively guide the Yamato Alliance in securing non-combatants. By the time that's done we'll go on the offensive. But first we need some Knightmares." Concluded Lelouch as he flagged down a Sutherland.

The sound of gunfire shattered the air, and Japanese man fell to the ground dead.

"Why the hell did you do that!? What's going on!? We haven't done anything!"

"Exactly!" Said one of the soldiers facing the group of people who could be said to be the ones in charge of the Saitama ghetto. "The people of this ghetto refuse to report the terrorists. You hide them, cover for them. That's treason against a suzerain state. Thus we have orders for your execution."

The soldiers raised their rifles, preparing to fire.

"It's hardly treason if the common people do not know of the existence of those you call terrorists."

The soldiers and Japanese immediately turned their attention to the wall behind the soldiers, atop which stood…

"Zero!"

"To issue capital punishment to so many for the actions of a few. Cornelia is turning out to be no better than her predecessor."

"Terrorist Zero!" Called the lead soldier raising his rifle, "You are under arrest for terrorist activity and the murder of his Highness Prince Clovis! You will surrender or be shot!"

"I think not," said Zero as he snapped his fingers.

From his hiding spot a member of the Yamato Alliance rolled a smoke grenade next to the soldier's feet where it released smoke. Before anyone knew what was going on bullets struck the Britannians as other members went for the civilians to take them to safety.

Behind the guise of Zero C.C. whispered into her mike. "All civilians are clear, ready for the next phase."

"Roger, we won't have much time before Cornelia responds. Go to your assigned position and wait in case of emergency. I assume you can handle yourself?"

C.C. scoffed. "Please, I was able to find you without getting caught didn't I?"

General Darlton scowled as he checked his watch against the mission's timetable. "Princess Cornelia, the team sent to round up and eliminate those in charge is late reporting in."

The Second Princess's scowl matched that of her advisor. "Either the terrorist group here is better than we anticipated," Cornelia's scowl lifted into a small smirk, "or our target has arrived. Darlton, commence with the main operation!"

"Yes your Highness. Attention all units begin the annihilation of the Saitama Ghetto. All forces assume level one battle stations."

At his command infantry, tanks, Knightmare Frames, and VTOL aircraft began moving into the ghetto under orders to kill anyone they find.

But something was off.

"This is the Third reconnaissance company, no sign of activity in area 4."

"Eleventh and Eighth mechanized units sweeping through north and south sectors. Have encountered zero resistance."

Similar reports kept coming from all sectors and areas and it was making the command officers nervous.

"Pauladon Team, change course to five one six, see if there is any activity that way.

"Yes my lord, changing course to five one six."

"Honestly this is so boring." Griped the lead knight of the Pauladon team. "There's no response at all. This guy Zero might turn out to be a no show."

"Guess he's just another run of the mill terrorist." Agreed his partner.

As soon as the knight finished his statement RPGs impacted the pair of Sutherlands, destroying both.

"They Came! They Really Came! Just as Zero said they would!" Exclaimed a Yamato Alliance member that had been sent to that area to wait for the Sutherlands.

From his position on top of a roof Lelouch used his captured Sutherland's factsphere and the intercepted transmissions to gather tactical data.

"Now what should be my next move? Should I draw Cornelia out or try and make an opening in the perimeter?" He mused to himself. Hundreds of battle plans rushed through his mind in the span of a second, before he selected one.

"R1, R2, maintain your distance. Draw them back to the area N2 is."

"B7 open fire at two O'clock." A tank exploded.

"P5's team will commence its barrage." Three captured Sutherlands opened fire upon two unsuspecting Britannian Sutherlands.

Aboard the G-1 command base losses and bad situations kept appearing on the board.

"Gester Team contact lost!"

"Enemy has been spotted in G-4-7."

"Kazinski Team engaging, they were ambushed."

"The enemy appears to be using Sutherlands captured from our own forces."

"Just like in Shinjuku." Said an officer from Clovis's forces.

"Has there been any sign of Zero yet?" Asked another. The response was a negative.

Cornelia just sat at her command chair silently contemplating the situation.

"N-2, continue toward the upper right." A VTOL was sliced by a Slash Harken.

"R-4, fire." An armored transport was destroyed by a Sutherland.

"N-1, take the man on the left." Another Britannian Sutherland was taken down.

"P-3, take out the bridge and close the route now." One of his special assignments had been to plant explosives on the bridge that was a route into the Saitama Ghetto. According to traditional military sense it was heavily guarded. The tragedy of such military sense was that if the bridge ever collapsed any forces stationed atop the bridge would be lost. And that was Lelouch's plan.

The number of units taken out with that one move would without a doubt get a response from Cornelia.

In the G-1 base the represented bridge on the digital map flashed pink to indicate it had been destroyed. "Point one seven has fallen! Halle Team contact lost!" And every blue symbol representing individual Britannian forces. Among which were four Knightmares, three tanks, and five infantry units.

"That's enough," stated Cornelia calmly. "Order all troops to fallback. Further damage and casualties serve no point."

"Fallback!?" Asked Clovis's officers incredulously.

"With all due respect your Highness we can still fight them."

"We can't fight them like this," was her response as if it was obvious.

"All forces fallback behind the ghetto perimeter. Formation doesn't matter."

On his monitor Lelouch watched the Britannian units quickly retreat from the field.

"What? No stomach for this conflict Cornelia. I expected more from the Witch of Britannia who established Area 18 in record ti-." As if his own comment acted as a warning bell Lelouch paused. 'Something's not right.'

Switching over to a private channel Lelouch contacted Kallen. "Q-1, I'm confirming a theory. What did your research of Cornelia's publicized military campaigns say about her?" Lelouch had insisted that the three members of their alliance read up on those who would be their opponents.

"I don't get this strategy stuff as much as you so I don't know why you're asking. But what I read said that she often fights herself in her custom Knightmare alongside her knights." Kallen paused and considered her own words. "Hey wait, her knights all pilot Gloucesters, but there weren't any on the field. What's going on?"

"Thanks for the confirmation Q-1. You've confirmed that my suspicions that Cornelia is setting up a trap."

"Do you think they have that white Knightmare like Clovis did in Shinjuku?"

'In Shinjuku…' The words echoed for a moment when suddenly Lelouch's eyes widened in horror. "This is like Shinjuku, exactly like Shinjuku. My tactics and their response." Than his horror turned to satisfaction. "So they expect my next move to be the same and they will respond accordingly, springing their trap."

Lelouch chuckled, "However unlike during Shinjuku I don't intend to speak with the enemy commander." He switched back over to the frequency of his forces. "All units begin moving to the evacuation routes. We're retreating."

"What!? But Zero we have them on the run! We can win!"

Lelouch smirked. "But we already have won."

"Zero can't win." Stated Cornelia confidently. "Let's go Guilford; it's time for us to join the troops."

"Yes, my Lady."

However before the knight could leave the command bridge a voice spoke over the emergency frequency. The voice of Zero.

"Are you still up on the bridge Cornelia? I hope you are so that we may talk."

Cornelia stood from her seat and practically ran to the control board. Though when she spoke her voice was calm, with only a hint of the venom that revealed her anger. "Zero, what's with the surprise call? Are you surrendering."

"Hardly. I just wanted to inform you that whatever you have planned is pointless. I've already won."

"Won!? How can you say that when I am still here!? While I still have an army that can fight!? I haven't lost yet Zero!" The princess said indignantly.

"Honestly Cornelia, I was hoping you thought better of me. This is a real battle, not a game of chess where there is always a winner and a loser. One side does not win simply because they eliminate all of their enemy's forces, or because they captured the commander. You win by accomplishing your objectives. Your objective was to capture or kill me. Mine was to save the innocent lives of the people of this ghetto. My objective has been accomplished while yours hasn't. Thus I win." The transmission signal ended.

Darlton turned to the communications officer. "Were we able to get a point of origin?"

The officer shook his head in the negative.

Lelouch cut the transmission to Cornelia and opened his private channel. "It's time to make your move C.C."

"Zero's been sighted!"

That shout drew everyone's attention as soldiers and a few Knightmares moved to capture the terrorist. Some of the soldiers fired but all their shot hit the ledge Zero stood upon.

In a graceful motion Zero let himself fall backward off the ruined building out of sight.

"Your Highness how shall we proceed?" Asked Guilford.

"Darlton, do you think he is setting up his own trap?"

"It's a possibility," said Darlton with assurance. "We don't know much about him. He does seem to be prideful just as you anticipated."

"So there's no point in pursuit."

"That's my assessment. He wouldn't show himself unless he already had an escape route."

At that moment one of the other officers decided to speak up, a report in his hand. "Um, Your Highness?"

Cornelia looked at the man from the corner of her eyes her body language indicating she wasn't happy at the moment which was enough to scare the man almost witless. "What?" Her tone followed her body.

"Ma'am, we have an preliminary estimation of casualties inflicted on both sides."

"And…" She already knew that the numbers wouldn't be in her favor but as commander it was her duty to hear them.

"Estimated casualties inflicted for our troops include 30 infantry, 5 tanks, 9 Knightmare Frames, and 2 VTOLs."

"And their casualties?"

"Three Elevens who wouldn't cooperate during the initial roundup."

Cornelia heard the numbers and felt her anger rise like molten lava. Zero had been right, this was a victory for him, and a defeat for her. He would leave a hero, while she left with nothing.

In the sewers C.C. met up with Lelouch and Kallen who were quickly making their getaway.

"Good work C.C.," complimented Lelouch as the witch took off his mask. "Thanks to your distraction Cornelia and her troops will be confused. Too confused to properly search for anyone."

"Yeah it was nice and all," agreed Kallen. "I just wish we could have come away with more. Like those Sutherlands."

Lelouch gave Kallen an amused smile that was reflected on C.C. as the three continued moving. "We would never have been able to get the Knightmares past Britannia. However we gained something just as valuable. Zero has performed yet another miracle and his reputation will grow. That reputation will aid us in future endeavors. You did give the Yamato Alliance the info needed to contact Ohgi?"

"Yeah so they'll probably be joining up with us soon. But what about the people? What if Cornelia searches for them."

"That would be problematic," agreed Lelouch. "But I don't think she'll be able to. After today the various terrorist activities will undoubtedly increase. The military will have their hands full dealing with them. And the Britannian police are all concentrated in the cities and other locations where there is a Britannian populace. By disappearing into the country side the civilians will likely live."

"Yeah but have to give up their lives to do that."

"Better than being dead." Said Lelouch.

"This victory and your accomplishments are all well and good," stated C.C., playing with the helmet by tossing it like a ball. "But I must say I am a little disappointed Lelouch. I was expecting… well more from you."

Lelouch scowled. "The conditions weren't equal. I was reminded how in the Shinjuku Ghetto a single superior unit ripped my forces and my strategy to shreds. The human factor made the conditions unequal there and I suspect Cornelia's trap was something similar. If we had continued we would have been defeated."

"If that's the case than you'll simply have to set the conditions beforehand to favor your side. That is if you're as good as you say you are." Said C.C. tauntingly.

"Yes, that's what I'll do. And with the conditions set the army I raise won't be able to lose to Britannia. And this army will begin with you and your friends Kallen."

"I figured," said Kallen. "They'll undoubtedly follow you after what you've done. So have you thought up a name for your army?"

"Yes I have. One that will invoke imagery amongst the people. Beginning today, Zero shall command the Black Knights."

Author's Notes: If anyone was expecting more from the cat chase scene, sorry. I just didn't feel it was necessary to the overall plot. So I skimped on it a little.

Oh, and anyone who is wondering why I decided not to have Kallen fight Cornelia's knights, well I just figured that this early in the game Kallen is not ready to fight elite soldiers who outnumbered her and had machines more advanced than hers. Sure she had the help of the Yamato Alliance but lets face it, those guys were only able to beat the Britannians they did because they ambushed them according to Lelouch's plan. In a straight fight they would have lost.

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