Song: Rush – Need some Love

"Vice-Governer General, the Japanese Liberation Front was almost completely wiped out in the operation you lead." One of the board members began.

Cornelia took almost no notice of what the member had to say. It was nothing she didn't already know. She led the attack. But her mind was not focused on it. The fact of the matter is that the attack costed ninety-percent of their units. Over two hundred pilots had been lost from the assault. No matter how little she viewed the Reploids, she had no acknowledged them to be a very dangerous threat. Her opinion of Mega Man X hadn't changed (She still regarded him as a tool), but she now had realized his importance in Britannia's operation. Even Dolton with skill with a Gloucester was easily defeated by them in seconds. Cornelia cut her thoughts off before they began to run rampant and returned his consciousness to the matter at hand.

The meeting room was rather large for a meeting of this size. There we're over a hundred delegates there. The table extended from one end of the room to the other, with the delegates information that they we're going to present.

"One by one, the members who have escaped are being captured." He continued.

"Is that sarcasm?" She said. "Our army is facing reorganization issues."

With a whole regiment utterly vanished, it was no surprise it was.

"I did not intend to bring it up." A soldier said. "For one thing, the problem didn't originate from the policies that we're adopted after the territory was captured. Area 11's subways and tunnels. Why we're they left untouched? The censorship and proprietorship of each city is still ambiguous."

Gilford looked up, intending on listening in further after that was brought up.

"The breeding ground for Anti-government activities we're left untouched!" A delegate continued.

"Umm…" Another from the other side said. "The subways run through the entire city. To seal up the city underground network is estimated to cost…"

"EVEN THOUGH YOU KNEW IT WAS BEING USED BY THE TERRORISTS AS A BASE AND ESCAPE ROUTE!?" The angry delegate shouted.

"It…it was the instruction of the former Prince Clovis…" He began. "We cannot become too forceful. Doing so would give the Chinese Federation to attack us."

"We've already given them a reason." Cornelia began. "Zero is are already gaining influence."

"Undersecretary, they are areas that are self-governing." General Dolton said. "They are called the NAC."

Cornelia was familiar that term before. Although she was not too familiar on it. It must have been important, seeing as half the delegates rose their heads when they had heard that.

"We managed to discover signs of the NAC during the last battle." Dolton said. "However, the evidence was buried. Very suspicious though. IF we we're to act on it first…"

"Distinguished families and finincal groups." Cornelia said. "Should they be relics of the past? Either way…"

"P-please wait!" A delegate shouted. "There was no proof of that happening. If we do anything rash, the Eleven economy will never advance. It'll even affect the tax collection of our motherland too. Besides it's a widespread principle that the Elevens manage their own people."

"Then how is the investigation of the Order of the Black Knights going?" Cornelia asked.

"Based on the shield machine and the sheer number of Reploids ground forces encountered, it is clear that Zero was behind the incident at Narita. But we we're unable to determine their location. All we could find we're corpses of the members left behind. We tried to scan the Reploids for information, but the hardrives we're formatted upon their demise."

"So we can neither move against Zero or Kyoto." Cornelia said."You know what? You're all useless."

"Hold still!" Zero said in the Reploid truck.

"Ouch!"Ciel squeaked. "That hurt!"

Zero was busy wrapping a bandage around Ciel's forehead. During the battle, the Reploid truck smashed into a massive boulder. The truck was hit by several rounds and Ciel went to help an injured member. The truck rocked from the boulder and Ciel hit her head on the wall, badly. She was out cold and bleeding when Zero had returned from the battle and to the base. Zero didn't obsess over it because she was alright at the time. Cerveau and Leviathan had taken care of it. Besides he had his own problems right now. Ever since the fight with Bass, he hadn't felt the same.

Truth be told, Zero hadn't told anyone of the fight with Base yet. He was still confused on the thing.

"Well it wouldn't have hurt as bad if you had just stood still." Zero said. "You know, the thing you humans say about wearing your seatbelt is completely true."

Zero cut the bandage and put it over Ciel's head, retying it on her back. Ciel now had a headband around her head. She got up and went to a mirror and looked at her face.

"Can't believe I have to walk around with the bloody bandage." Ciel said. "I'm going to look like a fool. How long you think I'm going to have to wear this?"

"Maybe a week or two." Zero said. "Wouldn't say any farther than that."

"Thanks for helping me." Ciel said.

"No problem." Zero said as he activated simulation mode and transferred his Reploid body into a human body.

"Where you off to now?" Ciel asked.

"Class." Zero said as he picked up a over-the-shoulder bag and threw it over his shoulder.

"You're already leaving?" She said. "I thought...I thought we could..."

"I have a disguise and a persona I invented." He said. "I need to ensure I keep up with formalities for the time being."

Light enshrouded Zero as he activated his teleporter. Zero vanished from sight and disappeared from the area. Ciel stood still. She lowered her head and began to sit there real quiet, her head completely blushing. Leviathan walked in the room as Ciel sat there.

"Froze up again?" She asked.

"NO!" Ciel shouted. "…Yes."

"Oh come on Ciel." Leviathan said. "Haven't you ever decided to go crazy once in awhile? Do something you never expected before? It's clear you like him...I may be a Reploid, but I'm still a woman."

Leviathan walked around Ciel and pulled a chair and sat in front of it looking at Ciel.

"You need to just go out with it." Leviathan said. "Do something he won't expect. It'll be a cakewalk. And don't worry. You don't have to do something extreme. Just try something small."

Ciel looked at her blankly and began to look away.

"Seems you need help with this." Leviathan said. "Alright, I'll help."

"HUH!?" Ciel said while surprised.

"I'll give you a hand with this." Leviathan said. "Next time you and Zero are together, I'll initiate it. And I'll stick around to give you the support you need."

The JLF was truly hounded down. Most of the members we're captured and or killed. The JLF has been holding up in an abandoned shrine somewhere across the land. Now the JLF was finished. They had no method of fighting back. Water dripped from the ceiling as the members began to talk.

"We didn't expect the Britannian power to be great." A JLF member said. "The Liberation Front is broken. Japan's light has been extinguished."

"EXCUSES!" The General shouted. "Even though the rest are fleeing, we still have Toudoh!"

"But I heard that the Burai Kai we're lost in the battle." A JLF member said. "Our hopes are…"

"Our hopes are not lost." She said.

The JLF all turned their attention to a figure cloaked the in shadows. She was behind a screen. They couldn't tell who it was. All they knew that it was someone from the Chinese Federation. They all looked at the girl.

"Are you speaking of the Order of the Black Knights?" The General asked. "You gave them the Guren MK II. Ever since the rescue incident of private Kurururgi Suzaku, you have been infatuated with Zero."

The girl continued to sit behind the screen and watch the JLF members talk. The water still streamed down from the ceiling. Dripping.

That day at school, everything was just a normal day. It was history class that day and everything still proceeded as it normally did. Today in history, they we're learning about a Revolution of Elizabeth the third. At the time, this Britannian queen was surrounded by revolutionists and was about to be overrun by them. Zero sat in his chair during class and wrote down excellent notes in class, very detailed and very specific to what he needed to learn. While he did, Zero looked at Shirley, who was busy looking at something very intently. Zero slowly inched his head over to see what she was looking at. Zero saw Shirley was opening a letter. Inside their were tickets to an Opera. Zero was also able to quickly see the sender. It was her father.

"Oh father…" She said.

She quickly felt Zero's breath to her right. Luckily to Zero, his reflexes saw her head move in his direction in slow motion. He was able to move back so fast that she didn't even know he was looking over his shoulder. After all, he did sit next to her today. Shirley simple looked confused on what had happened.

Zero kept watching her. At first Shirley looked excited about the whole thing, but then she seemed to lose it. Zero looked at her and saw that she was thinking about something. He had hung out with Shirley long enough to know when she was in deep thoughts. For the rest of the day, whenever Zero looked at her, she was in confusion and sort of in a depression. It wasn't until Zero was in the Student Council with Millay and Shirley did Zero figure out what was going on with her. Of course, Millay began to conversation.

"What's wrong?" Millay asked. "Constipation for two days?"

"What kind of a question is that?" Zero asked.

"No!" Shirley shouted.

"Do you feel lonely that Lelouch isn't around?" Millay asked.

"Yeah speaking of which, where is he?" Zero asked. "I haven't seen him around all day."

Even more so, Lelouch borrowed five pounds from earlier to get some lunch a couple days ago before the battle of Narita. Zero didn't really care if he got the money back, but he figured a human would probably want it back at some point.

"He also owes me five pounds." He continued.

"Who knows?" Millay said. "This is common for him."

"It's not just him…" Shirley said. "Kallen is absent to."

"We're so careless." Millay said. "The battle of Narita was just two days ago and here we are ranting about boys."

"Not me." Zero said as he rested on the chair with a book over his head.

"Suzaku is absent to because of that." Millay said.

"I know that!" Shirley said. "But it's just the fact that Lelouch and Kallen being absent is being a big deal!"

"How is it a big deal?" Zero said through the book.

"It just is!" Shirley said.

"Maybe for some people." Zero said.

Millay laughed.

"Oh Shirley." She said. "That's great. That's what I like about you."

"Stop making fun of me!" She shouted.

"Seriously Millay it's getting old as hell." Zero said.

"Why not?" She said. "Look at her! She's totally blushing!"

"You're a bitch." Zero said as he got out of his chair. "Shirley, come with me."

Zero Shirley by her shirt and dragged her out of the student council. Zero got her in the hallway and began to talk to her.

"Have you even asked him out yet?" Zero asked.

"N…No!" She said. "I want to. I really do. But…"

"The fear of rejection, fear of losing him as a friend, believing the concept that such a thing can distant you from the party." Zero said. "It's all psychological blocks that keep you from going into the unknown. Look, the only real way to know how he feels is to do it yourself."

"Th…THAT'S IMPOS…" Shirley began.

Zero put his finger on her mouth.

"The only time something is impossible is if you're the one who believes you cannot do it." Leviathan said. "Look, I'm only doing this because I'm a friend and I want to help you. I'll help you ask him out."

"How?" Ciel asked.

"I'll stay nearby for emotional support." Zero said. "Sometimes in life you have to take a leap of faith."

"That's it!?" She asked.

Zero knew that was expecting more help.

"Look." Leviathan said. "I can't be the one to ask him out for you. You have to be the one to initiate it. This is you. Not me. But I can stay around to give you the emotional support in order that you can ask him out without feeling that there's no around to help you other than yourself. Pretty much, I'll be a psychological aid. And I won't let you leave him, UNTIL you ask."

"Are you sure?" Ciel asked.

"Sometimes the best way to find out anything or learn something." Zero began. "Is you just jump in there face first. It's like with learning how to swim. You'll be scared at first. But then once you get used to it, you don't fear as much."

Zero turned around back in Shirley's direction.

"It's essentially the same thing with learning anything new." Leviathan said. "You'll be scared at first. But once your used to it, it'll be easier the next time. And the time after."

"Wow." Ciel said. "That makes so much sense."

"It's only logical." Zero said.

Shirley stood still for a little bit.

"Alright then." She said. "Give me some help with this. I think I can do it."

"Do what?" A voice asked behind the two.

Zero and Shirley turned around to see Lelouch standing there. From what Zero observed, it looked like he didn't hear what had transpired.

Well, this makes things a lot easier.

"Well; look who showed up to school for once?" Zero said.

"L-LULU!?" Shirley shouted. "Wha-what are you doing here!?"

"Nunally had a slight fever, and Sayoko was out today." Lelouch said.

"Ahh…I…I see." Shirley said. "Is she alright?"

"Sort of." Lelouch said.

Shirley turned towards Zero. Zero kept his eyes fixed on her. Lelouch on the other hand took no notice as he walked in the room.

"President?" He asked.

"Well, look who decided to show up for once?" Millay asked.

"Where are those documents this morning?" He asked.

"Ahh yes." She said. "They're on the table. Please distribute them to each of the classrooms according to Grade level."

"Understood." Lelouch said. "Giving out orders as usual."

"I'm so lucky to have a subordinate like yourself." Millay said.

Lelouch grabbed a pile of documents that was nearby the chair Shirley was sitting on. He walked immediately out of the room. As he did, he muttered, "Yeah. I guess I am." He walked by Shirley and Zero and disappeared from sight. Shirley looked thoroughly disappointed as she walked in.

"President!" She shouted as she walked by her chair. "That was bad for my heart."

Shirley walked back to her original chair. As she did, she began to scan around the area. She looked like she had lost something.

"Hey…" She asked. "Where are my tickets? Hey Millay, have you seen my tickets?"

"They we're right there; right next to the documents that Lelouch was…whoops." Millay said.

Shirley screamed at the thought that Lelouch had accidentally taken her tickets. She ran out of the room and began to look for the young man. Zero stayed a distance behind her. He wanted her to ask him out right here. At one point, Shirley looked like she was going to chicken out. Zero at that point grabbed by her the shoulders, turned her a full 180 degrees, and kicked her back towards Lelouch. She eventually caught up to him, outside of the school entrance.

"Lulu." She said. "Is there a letter mixed up with those documents?"

"Hmm?" Lelouch muttered.

Lelouch moved through the documents and eventually found a blue letter addressed to Shirley in it.

"Ahh." He said. "Sorry about that."

Shirley took the letter and stood still for a few seconds. She kept quiet. Lelouch continued to stare at the girl.

"Lulu." She said.

"Yes?" He asked.

"My father's job often requires him to be away from me." She said. "But he often sends me things to make it easier. Why don't we go to a concert together?"

Shirley handed Lelouch a ticket. Lelouch took the small piece of card stock and looked at it intently.

"Just be there around eight." Shirley said.

"I suppose." Lelouch said. "I'll see if I can go."

Shirley nodded and left the area. She quickly ran behind the school and began to breathe heavily, unable to believe that she had been able to do.

"I did it." She said. "I really did it. What will he do? Will he come? Of course he will! But…What I am doing? We're just going to a concert together! That's all!"

"Not bad Shirley." Zero said as appeared out of no where.

Shirley nearly lost control of her bladder when she saw Zero appear out of nowhere.

"ZION!" She shouted. "How did you…!?

"Well don't leave me hanging." He asked. "How did it go?"

Shirley stood there scared for a few minutes.

"Well…" She began. "He did take the ticket…but he didn't say what he was going to do."

"But he did say he might go, correct?" Zero asked.

"Well…yeah." She said.

"Wasn't that easy?" He asked.

"Thank you!" She squealed, jumping into Zero and giving him a hug.

"Whoa!" Zero said as he took the hug by complete surprise. He stood still as Shirley embraced the man. Zero put his arms around her back and hugged her back. While the two hugged, Shirley's phone went off. Shirley let go of Zero and looked at her phone. She had a very curious and confused look on her face when she looked at the responder. Zero looked at her.

"Something wrong?" He asked.

"I…I'm not sure." Shirley said. "I'm going to go. Thanks again Zion. I bet when you get a girlfriend, you'll make a fine boyfriend."

Shirley laughed while Zero stood there stunned. Shirley ran from the area with the phone on her ear. Zero stood there still from her a comment.

"Me with a girlfriend?" He said. "Like I have time for that right now."

Zero left the school at some point during the day. While he was walking, Axl, Leviathan, and Ciel we're hiding in an alley, waiting for him to arrive. Leviathan had forced Ciel out of her clothes and into something more preppy and more girly. Ciel was wearing a purple tank top, a pink skirt, and black tights. That only thing she wore from her original outfit was her boots. Leviathan also took her hair out of a ponytail, saying that long hair is a turn on for most guys. Ciel was completely scared out of her mind as Zero approached the corner. Leviathan was wearing a black T-shirt and a long black shirt. She also had eyeliner on her eyes. Axl wore a blue hoodie, blue shirt, and dark blue jeans. He also had his hair in a ponytail. They stood on the street corner.

"I don't know if I want to do this." Ciel said. "I've never exposed this much skin in my whole life."

Ciel used both of her arms to cover her chest and almost looked like she was shrinking.

"Ahh come on!" Axl said. "Even you had to enjoy a vacation once in awhile."

"Besides, you're too flat to be worried about that." Leviathan said.

"LEVIATHAN!" Ciel shouted.

"No; your fine." She said. "If I wore something that, I'd have boys going all crazy for me! I'm just too damn sexy." She then pulled her hands and put them from the top of her chest and brought them down towards her legs. When Axl saw this, he immediately blushed, unable to stop his eyes from fixating on them. And then she went over to Ciel and whispered. "But trust me. You don't have to act like me to get Zero. Be yourself. Right Axl?"

Axl didn't respond. He was too busy looking at her chest. Leviathan caught what he was doing.

"Axl!" She said, grabbing his head and raising it. "Stop staring at my boobs."

"I can't..." Axl said. "I have to move away now. That what you did was way too much. And the ocular implants in my eyes got every single detail of your clothing conforming to your body."

"Uhh guys?" Ciel asked.

Leviathan stretched her leg out and kicked Ciel slightly in the back. Ciel was pushed from where she was to outside of the sidewalk.

"LEVIATHAN!" She shouted a second time.

"Ciel?" Zero asked.

Ciel turned around and almost had a heart attack. She was standing right next to him.

"Uhh…hey Zero." Ciel said.

"What are you doing here?" Zero said. "You should be at the Black Knight's Headquarters hiding, or hiding in the Ashford manor."

"We…Well…" She began.

Ciel began to say a series of words and mutters. They we're so mixed together that Ciel had no idea what she was saying, or Zero for that matter. Zero stood still and waited for her to come out with. Moved her eyes towards where Axl and Leviathan were. Both of them gave her a thumbs up. Ciel nodded and then looked at Zero.

"Zero; would you go out with me?" She asked.

Zero eyes widened.

"I don't care where we go." Ciel said. "Anywhere will do. Please?"

Leviathan was shaking with anticipation, while Axl's eyes was still fixated at her chest (and because of his position, her ass as well). Ciel was to. Zero stood there, completely calm and cool headed. Zero put his hand on his head and shook it.

"Geez Ciel." Zero said.

Ciel became scared. She had a feeling he would say no. However, seconds later, Zero looked towards her with a smile.

"Well...I myself have become bored cooped up in that house for so long. Where would you like?"

The face that Ciel gave Zero on a scale of happy that he never saw Ciel at before. Ciel bolted towards him and embraced so tightly, he actually felt it. As if she used all her strength, plus more. Zero put his arms around her for a few seconds.

"Where do you want to go?" Zero asked.

"A bite to eat would be nice." Ciel said as she grabbed Zero's hand and began to walk with him.

"That'd be good." Zero said.

Axl and Leviathan waited for the two to get far from the alley. As soon as Zero and Ciel had made it far enough, the two jumped out of the alley and slowly began to follow them.

I'm running here, I'm running there, I'm looking for a girl! Cause there's nothing I need, there's nothing I want; in the whole wide world!

Zero and Ciel hung around the town. They first stopped at a place to get some lunch. Zero ordered a turkey sandwich, while Ciel simply had a salad. The two ate and drank with each other, and enjoyed each other's company. Axl and Leviathan stayed very close by and listened in. Ciel and Zero finished off their entire meal and then left the place. Leviathan and Axl followed behind them.

Axl's eyes was still fixated at Leviathan. Finally, Leviathan turned to Axl.

"Stop staring at my boobs." She said.

"I'm not this time..." Axl said nervously. "I'm staring at your...ass...sets. Yeah...your assets!"

Leviathan kicked him in the crotch. Since Axl was still human, he felt everything that a human would.

"Owww..." He moaned. "You win."

Well I need it quick, and it need it now, before I start to fade away. That's why I'm searching that's why I'm looking, each and every day.

They followed the two to the park. Zero had built his guitar into raw cache data in his hard drive, so he was able to materialize it using his energy. He formed his guitar and began to play for Ciel.

"Ooh… I need some love." He sang. "I said, I need some, love. I said, I need some, love! Ooh yes I need some love! This song I can't rise above. Ohh, yeah yeah!"

"Oh god." Ciel said after he finished the chorus. "I used to listen to them all the time back at Neo Arcadia. Master X used to play that all the time."

"X was always a big Rush fan." Zero said. "He had to have something to like back in the day that could take the burden of a Maverick Hunter away. He found music. Rush found him."

"And you?" Ciel said.

"Heavy metal." Zero said. "Slipknot, All that Remains, As I lay dying, Deadlock…"

"Geez." Ciel said. "Those are all hardcore. I could never listen to that."

Zero looked out in the distance as the sun began to set.

"You know…" HE said. "This was a real good day. I didn't think it would be like this."

Zero sat down next to Ciel on the hill. Ciel inched over towards Zero and laid her head on his shoulder. Zero hesitated because he didn't think Ciel would advance that quick. Still, after he took a breather, he put his arm around Ciel, over her shoulder.

I thought I would at least have a couple more tries before I could do this.

The two sat there at what felt like minutes. After sometime, Zero's phone rung. Zero answered it.

"Hello?" He asked.

"Head to the Black Knights." Lelouch said. "We're having a meeting."

"Got it." Zero said.

Zero put down his phone and put it back in his pocket.

"Let's go." Zero said.

Zero turned behind him towards a bush.

"That includes you two!" He shouted at Axl and Leviathan.

"Busted." Leviathan said.

The Black Knights had their operations recently move to a docks on the port. All of their Knightmares we're moved to the abandoned warehouses. Their Command Center stood outside for the time being in order so that the members would know where to go. The new establishment was still iffy to them. Meanwhile, all the members met inside and began to talk, while Lelouch stood still. Lelouch hadn't been talking too much. Zero and Phantom we're practicing fighting outside. Leviathan stood inside and essentially made herself look pretty. Ciel typed on her laptop. The rest of the Reploids we're working.

"Kyoto has been impressed with our using of the Guren MK II." Ohgi said.

"I got to say, I'm impressed." Ciel said. "I didn't think we could pull it off."

"Yeah, I know." Ohgi said. "We called it too close that time."

"We can't afford to make mistakes next time." Leviathan said.

"Yeah." Kento said. "Especially with that White Knight."

"It was a draw!" Tamaki shouted. "A draw! Get it!"

Lelouch stood still. He was still confused with the whole matter with Shirley. While he was thinking, a note was handed to him.

"What is this?" Lelouch asked.

"A love letter." Ohgi said.

"…Seriously?" Lelouch asked.

Tamaki burst out laughing.

"This guy can't take a joke!" He shouted.

A large piece of steel was thrown at Tamaki and hit him in the face.

"Shut up!" Leviathan shouted. "God, I hear you laugh every five minutes. It's annoying!"

"Your annoying!" He shouted.

"Bite me!" Leviathan shouted.

"Enough!" Lelouch shouted. "Ohgi, what is it?"

"It's an invitation letter from Kyoto." Ohgi said. "They really want to meet you."

"Is there a reason to make such a fuss over this?" Lelouch asked.

"Are you kidding?" Kallen shouted. "This is Kyoto!"

"They say they will provide us with weapons and funding if we accept it." Ohgi said. "And concerning our cash issue…"

"Financial issue?" Lelouch asked.

Ohgi gasped.

"That shouldn't be a problem if you stuck to the plan I devised." Lelouch asked.

"Concerning our Finances," Ciel said. "Anyone want to tell me why our net budget seems to drop by four hundred and thirty-seven pounds each month. That's double of last month."

"Hey, It's not my fault!" Tamaki shouted. "We've become a big group! The increase in members in above expectations!"

"Be that as it may," Kallen began. "Pretending to be a big shot by inviting all those people to those expensive dinners and telling them of expectations."

"Huh?" Tamaki said.

"I know where you have been going!" Kallen said. "Me and Ciel have been keeping tabs on you."

"WHAT!?" He shouted.

Ciel turned her laptop in Tamaki's direction.

"Calavana's Resturant, Silver Rose Inn, Olive Garden," Ciel began. "Most of the dinners have a party of four. Seating for two of the three places costed twenty-five per person. Dinners for all restaurants usually cost over a hundred for three people. Desert is ordered at all occasions, adding fifty more pounds. The total you have spent alone in this organization is over a thousand-four hundred, and thirty pounds."

Tamaki nearly had a heart attack when he heard this. Ciel stared at him with fierce eyes. Lelouch was extremely annoyed now and extremely impressed.

I knew she was a good scientist, but a good detective as well.

"I'll leave the meeting preparations to Ciel then." Lelouch said.

"But hey!" Tamaki shouted. "I've been handling all the meetings up to this point…"

"Produce results if you want me to trust you." Lelouch said.

"Hey!" Tamaki shouted. "You claim to be a comrade, yet you refuse to show your face! C'mon Zero! Let us see your true face!"

"Tamaki!" Zero shouted as he entered the place. "Enough! Unless you think you have the ability to defeat Cornelia, then shut your mouth! Understand!?"

Tamaki did nothing. He had both Zero's against him now.

Meanwhile, deep underground, Wily and has subjects began to talk about their amazing victory over Zero. Bass however was not intrigued by it.

"I can't believe you made me just recover data." He said. "More or less, suck up to you like that."

"I highly suggest you take a higher respect for me Bass." Wily said. "Less you want to end up in the scrap pile."

Bass looked into Wily's eyes. He was about to say something about him, but something in Wily's eyes prevented him for doing so.

"That's what I thought." He said.

"What are we going to do though?" Bass said. "Proto Man is still alive and actively hunting our troops."

A screen popped up on Wily's screen.

"We lost signals with several of our units over the past month." Bass said. "It's clear that Proto Man is behind the attacks."

"It is of no concern." Wily said.

"It's no concern!?" Bass shouted. "Our forces are being picked off one by one. And you're not concerned!?"

"Zero is my only concern." Wily said. "Turning him back into a Maverick is of prime importance. Besides, I didn't intend for your journey to be useless."

"Hmm?" Bass muttered.

Wily went over to Bass's arm where the needle was.

"This needle not only transferred the viral batch file, but as well downloaded Zero's specs." Wily said. "I originally intended to upgrade you so that you and your brother could actually compete at a fair level. But during the test that destroyed my lab, all the data I had on Zero was lost, thereby preventing me from upgrading you. The redownloading of the specs will allow you to become just as powerful as your brother."

Bass looked at his creator.

"Don't even say your father didn't give you anything in your life." Wily said. "Now prepare yourself. Your next mission will involve hacking into Zero's memory with another virus and giving me administrator rights to his brain. But first thing's first...time to make you able to fight off your brother."

Lelouch for the rest of the day was scanning on his computer for possible people who could be in charge of the Kyoto group.

I've narrowed the list to twelve people. All I can do now is meet them in person.

A knock was heard at Lelouch's door. Lelouch closed his laptop and grabbed his helmet, in case he needed it.

"What is it?" He asked.

"Well…" she began. "It's about earlier…with Tamaki and all…

"Kallen." Lelouch asked. "Do you also wish to see my face?"

Kallen just stood silent.

Gate continued to work on the Database. Because of his results and of his work, Gate was now the head Engineer for the "Siegfreid." As much as the scientists there hated to admit, Gate's designs we're far more advanced than their own. As Gate worked, a Red warning light went off. Gate jumped out of his seat as he looked around the whole room. A scientist popped out of the door and looked at Gate.

"Gate!" He shouted. "Get over here now!"

"What's going on!?" He shouted.

Gate and the scientist ran up the stairs to the lookout of the mountain. When Gate to the lookout, he saw that the entire base was sealed in a massive mountain. He stood on the balcony, with a few scientists, a smaller boy with purple eyes.

"What's going on?" Gate asked.

"Look." He said.

Gate turned to see the massive desert that the mountains we're surrounded by we're filled with people. Reploids when Gate zoomed in with the Ocular Implants. They all stared at the mountain emotionless. Some of them carried banners with a 'W' engraved in it.

"What on earth is this?" Gate asked.

"I don't know." A scientist said.