I don't own Code Geass

...

Saitama Ghetto, Area 11, 2017

"The fortifications are secure Commander Zero. Explosives have been set, and our ground troops are in position. We're ready." Izumi, leader of the Yamato Alliance, stepped back into the crowd after finishing his report.

Zero nodded. "Very good," he said, the metallic voice carrying out over the crowd, "You have done well. If the battle goes as I suspect it will, we shall be victorious in the coming fight." Yells and hoots filled the air as the crowd cheered before him. Zero allowed them another moment of exuberance before raising his arms. The tumult quieted down.

"But make no mistake," he continued, his hand coming to rest on his hip, "we face Princess Cornelia li Britannia, Britannia's "Witch" and finest field general. She commands an elite force of disciplined soldiers who have seen more combat than any of the rest of you combined. To succeed we must stand united, we must be one in thought as well as action.

"And so," he brought his left hand up to the left side of his mask, "that is why for the duration of this battle you must," his left hand swept out over the crowd, "obey my every command!"

The red light of geass lit up in their eyes. As one they shouted, "Yes, Your Highness!"

Now Cornelia, Zero thought with a wide grin, let us see who the better commander is on this day.

….

"The encirclement has been completed My Lady," Darlton said, gesturing to the holographic display and pointing out the position of the troops. "They will not be able to escape."

"Good. Ensure that Zero acquires the Sutherlands before we fully commit."

"As you wish, Your Highness."

Cornelia turned to the map that dominated the screens in front of her. It galled her to stay in the supposed "safety" of the Mobile Command Center while Guilford led her Royal Guard into combat but she had little choice. She needed to be able to concentrate fully on the battle before her. She couldn't do that as effectively in the heat of combat, when the passion and thrill of battle overtook her. For now, she was an armchair commander.

And how I loathe it, she thought.

"Your Highness!" Darlton called out, "We've lost contact with the train cars carrying the Sutherlands!"

"Then he's taken the bait. All forces, begin your advance."

"Yes, Your Highness!" her soldiers shouted back over the comms.

Clovis, Cornelia thought, soon you'll be able to rest well. Today I send your killer to Hell.

….

Zero kept a firm gaze on the computer readouts, studying the map display intently. As expected, Cornelia had sent the KMF's his way, no doubt intent on replaying Shinjuku. Even now, her troop movements were almost identical to Clovis', an overwhelming swarm of blue dots that represented Britannian Knightmares.

He smirked as their movements conformed to what he remembered from the original Saitama battle. He had burned this defeat into his memory, analyzing it over and over again in order to never repeat his mistakes. Now those memories would serve as the road map to his first major victory after his return. Even now he waited for the moment when Cornelia would turn off the signals to try to throw him off.

Not this time Cornelia, he thought when the dots disappeared as scheduled. He flicked on the communications rig and began to issue his orders. This time we play by my rules.

…..

Guilford fought down a sense of unease as he led the Royal Guard further and further into the dilapidated ghetto. They had encountered no resistance upon arriving, and a home-to-home search was turning up nothing. Saitama Ghetto was, for all intents and purposes, a ghost town.

This isn't right, Guilford thought. Where is everyone- "AAARGHHHH!" he shouted as his Gloucester was thrown hard to the side.

"Contact!" one of the knights in his squad yelled, "We have made contact with the enemy and are under heavy fire! Preparing to engage."

Guilford steadied himself with practiced ease, turning his attention to his right camera displays. Through the smoke of gunfire and falling rubble he spied a single Sutherland, the large machine gun in its hands still firing on the group. "It's only one," Guilford yelled, bringing his own machine pistol to bear on the terrorist unit.

The Sutherland swiveled around just before he locked on, retreating down a side street. "Follow me!" Guilford ordered, thrusting the pedals down hard. The group quickly assumed an eagle formation, three in front and two in back due to the spatial constraints that the roads allowed.

They fired as they pursued the terrorist, forcing the Eleven to continue his retreat deeper and deeper into the slums. Soon, however, Guilford began to see a certain focus in the pilot, as if he had practiced the route they were heading down well in advance. Where are you leading us?

"Sir Guilford, be careful. I sense an ambush," Princess Cornelia's voice said over the comms.

I suspected as much, Guilford thought. Out loud he said, "Understood Your Highness. We will proceed with all due caution." He relayed the princess' suspicion to the rest of the group and continued his pursuit.

…

"They're almost in range, Commander Zero."

"Excellent. Begin the demolition five seconds after they arrive."

"Understood."

…

Guilford had grown just about tired of this game. The Sutherland had been fleeing them for a good five minutes now and showed no signs of stopping. Already they had passed several locations where an ambush would have been an obvious set up, yet no enemies had fired on them, and they had seen no signs of awaiting attackers.

Did the pilot panic? Are we being led on some goose chase? He also couldn't dismiss the notion that the Sutherland was leading them away from something rather than to something.

The Sutherland brought them into what had been a shopping square, the tall buildings hollowed out husks of their former glory. It was then that the terrorist stopped running, spinning around and opening fire on the Guardsmen. They scattered, spreading out in evasive maneuvers.

Guilford raised his machine pistol, quickly targeting the suicidal fool. The ground shook beneath him just as he fired, throwing his aim wide and forcing him to correct his stance.

"Sir Guilford, get down!" one of the Guardsmen yelled, shoving his Gloucester to the ground before letting out a terrified scream. Guilford's Gloucester rolled ten yards before he brought it under control. He checked the cameras and gasped in surprise.

The buildings that they passed coming in had collapsed, blocking off the way they came. His eyes darted to where he had been pushed where he saw the arm of the Knightmare that had saved him sticking out from under the concrete. Guilford fought down the guilt that threatened to overwhelm him.

Now is not the time. "Status report!" he shouted. No one responded. He checked the comm frequencies. All gave back a static response. Bile rose in his throat.

I'm on my own.

…

"Commander Zero, the trap was a success. Sir Guilford is cut off from the main army."

"Good. Pin him down but do not kill him. His survival is paramount to the success of this mission. Have P-Group and N-Group reinforce the left flank and target anything that moves."

"Understood."

…

"My Lady, Sir Guilford is demanding emergency reinforcements. His men are dead and he's been cut off from the rest of the army!"

"Divert and concentrate our forces on his location. Break through whatever defenses they have and establish a connection with Sir Guilford."

"Yes, Your Highness."
Hang on, Guilford. We've finally drawn him out.

…..

"B-Group has sighted a large number of enemy Knightmares heading for the ambush site."

"Tell them to fall back to Point Charlie and dig in. Have K-Group reinforce their position. Stay hidden and open fire when the enemy is within twenty meters from their position."

…

"Open fire," P-1 ordered robotically. The two squads opened up, catching the first line of Britannians off-guard. Four of the seven Knightmares leading the charge exploded in balls of fire while the others took cover among the rubble, returning fire as they did so.

….

"Squad Eight has encountered fierce resistance fifty-seven meters from Sir Guilford's position."

"Squads Nine through Eleven have been ambushed. Nine has lost half its force and Ten has been decimated. Eleven is reporting severe damage to three Frames and is pinned down."

"Order Squads Four, Five, and Seven to link up with Eight. Combine Squads Nine and Eleven. Once their orders have been carried out, have them pop smoke and advance. Eleven's damaged Frames will provide fire support and cover their approach."

….

The top half of K-1's Sutherland exploded, taking the pilot with it. K's 2 and 5 quickly followed and 3 had its left arm blown off. B-2 armed a chaos mine and targeted three approaching Sutherlands that had clustered too close together, lobbing it into the center of the group. The resulting explosion destroyed two and forced the third to eject.

An enemy Sutherland returned the favor, annihilating the last of K-Group.

B-1 reported, "Commander Zero, Britannian Sutherlands are closing in. K-Group is lost and we're about to be overrun."

"Pop smokes and withdraw to Point Delta. Zero's Four through Six will provide support."

"Roger." B-1 carried out Zero's orders quickly, withdrawing from the engagement with military efficiency.

…

Darlton grimced. "My Lady," he said, "Squad Eleven has succeeded in its objective but has taken heavy casualties. They won't be able to push forward without reinforcements, reinforcements we are unable to provide without breaking our defensive encirclement."

Before Cornelia could reply a technician called, "Your Highness, we are being hailed by one of the renegade Sutherlands. Shall I put them on screen?"

"Go ahead," Cornelia confirmed, curious. The large screen shifted, the video feed from the terrorist Knightmare snapping into place. The Princess glared sharply with cold hate. "Zero," she spat.

"We meet at last, Your Highness. It is an honor to meet Britannia's finest-"

"Save the flattery, scum, it will get you nowhere. Why are you speaking with me?"

Zero chuckled. "Cannot a commander hold a conversation with a worthy opponent?"

Cornelia scoffed. "He could if his opponent thought the same."

"You wound me, My Lady," Zero said mockingly, covering his breast with his hand. "Here I have been nothing but polite yet you have repaid my courtesy with little more than scorn."

"How would you react to the man that killed your brother?"

"Share a laugh and buy the man a beer?" Zero quipped.

Cornelia snarled. "Is there a reason you hailed me," she ground out through gritted teeth, "other than to prove your own stupidity?"

"There is, actually," Zero admitted, the mockery never leaving his voice. "I thought there was something you might like to see." A second screen opened up on the video, halving Zero's image. Cornelia's eyes went wide with horror.

Sir Guilford was dodging and weaving through machine gun fire, barely able to stay ahead of the deadly bullets. His movements were as graceful as they always were but Cornelia could tell he was beginning to tire. The Gloucester was slowing down, stumbling almost imperceptibly, noticeable only to those who knew him best, the bullets that he dodged coming closer and closer, a few even managing to bounce off his armor.

Zero's voice called out, chilling her with its smug confidence. "I thought you might like to watch your Knight die." He laughed loud and maniacally, the metallic sound causing the bridge crew to back away in fear, before his video link cut out.

There was a moment of icy silence before the Princess spoke, her voice deadly quiet. "Get my Gloucester ready."

Darlton hesitated and said shakily, "My Lady that is exactly what Zero wants, you must not-"

"I gave you an order," Cornelia interrupted coldly. "Have my Gloucester ready by the time I get down to the hangar or I'll have your head." She stood and marched quickly out the door. Darlton gulped fearfully and did as he was told.

…

"Help me, please! I don't want to die!" The Squad Three Lieutenant stared down at the young woman dubiously, seriously considering whether or not he should shoot her. He had found the woman in the remains of what had been an apartment building near to the Mobile Command Center, her screams drawing him close.

I'm a Knight, he thought with a sigh, and it's my duty to protect the innocent. He lowered his Gloucester's hand. "Climb on board," he ordered. She did as she was told, and when she looked up at him with thankful eyes, he had to admit: she was quite beautiful. Yellow eyes, pale white skin, a tight young body, her beauty was obvious even as she was covered in dirt. But it was her hair, that long lime-green colored hair, which really drew his attention. Is that a dye or her natural color? He wondered.

"Thank you so much, Sir Knight," she said, rubbing away her tears. She sniffed and said, "If it's no too much trouble, may I ride inside this machine with you? I," she stuttered, "I don't think I'll be able to hold on out here."

He scowled, getting annoyed. "Do you really think we let civilians ride in these?" he asked her.

She glared at him through new tears. "Do I look armed to you?" she asked angrily, raising her arms and spinning around. He saw that her clothes were small, too small to carry a concealed weapon. Let her in, his conscience commanded him, What's the harm?

"Fine," he growled, opening up the cockpit and reaching out to her, "Hurry up and get in. I'm taking you to our command post. You can spend the rest of the fight in the brig." The girl smiled mysteriously as she leaned up to him, and before he could pull back, she grabbed his hand tightly.

His scream echoed across the rubble.

…

Cornelia blasted down the road with the Devil's speed, six Gloucesters following quickly behind her. They were approaching the main battle site rapidly, and if she had not been so focused on rescuing her Knight, she might have considered the implication of that. She would've asked questions like: "Why is the center so weak?"; "Why haven't we encountered any enemy Knightmares?"; "Why did Zero show me that footage?"

All of that came second to one overriding concern: saving Guilford, and killing Zero.

…

The landspinner on Guilford's left foot shattered as the cluster of bullets finally found their mark, sending him careening into the wall of rubble. The enemy Sutherlands approached him, their advance slow but steady. Guilford lifted his machine pistol, intending to take as many with him as he could, but one of the Sutherlands fired before he could, the bullets taking off the hand that held the pistol, sending both flying.

The Sutherlands approached him, their rifles lifting, at the ready.

This is it, Guilford thought. I'm done. He closed his eyes, prepared to embrace the inevitable. Forgive me, My Princess. I've failed you.

"Don't you dare give up on me now, Guilford!"

…..

Cornelia fired her slash harkens into the still standing towers, using them to fly up and over the debris blocking the way to the ambush site. Bullets flew at her the moment she reached the apex of her jump. She retracted the left slash harken, throwing the Gloucester into a spin, narrowly avoiding the barrage, then fired the returned harken into the center renegade Sutherland, tearing through its chest piece. She retracted both harkens, the right leaving the building side, and using the left as an anchor, she pulled herself into their midst.

She whipped her lance around in a spin, tearing two of the Sutherlands in half with ease. On instinct she fired her left slash harken at an enemy Sutherland's hands, redirecting its rifle fire into its adjacent unit as it moved in for support. She pulled out her machine pistol in her left hand and unleashed a merciless barrage on the remaining Sutherland, blasting the Knightmare into pieces before the pilot could eject.

Cornelia turned to Guilford's fallen Gloucester and asked sharply, "Are you alright, My Knight?"

"Princess Cornelia," Guilford spluttered in shock, "What are you doing out here? It's too dangerous, you have to return to the command center."

"Don't dare to dictate to me, Guilford, I'm not in the mood. This battle has been a complete and utter disaster. Detach your cockpit and I'll carry you back to the Command Center."

"And why would I let you do that?" Zero's voice called out. Cornelia pivoted her Knightmare around, eyes narrowing in rage as a group of eight Sutherlands approached her. The line of terrorists opened fire on the remaining Guard unit, and with the space too heavily enclosed, half of Cornelia's Guard was quickly put down.

A trap, Cornelia realized with horror. He led me by the nose into such an obvious trap!

"Princess, please, save yourself!" Guilford cried out desperately, struggling to stand.

Cornelia shook her head. If this is how it is to end. "I'm not leaving you, my faithful Knight, just as I know you would never leave me." She took up a defensive position in front of Guilford, whirling the lance around to face her enemies, ready to make her final stand. "Come and get me, Zero!"

Zero's laugh reverberated off the walls of the square. "With pleasure."

Before Zero could advance, however, one of the towers exploded in a shower of concrete and fire, revealing a squad of Sutherlands that proceeded to open fire on the terrorists. "Princess!" the lead Sutherland cried, "We're here to assist you!"

Cornelia's spirit soared. "Damn fine work, soldiers!" She raised her lance high. "Charge now! Destroy Zero and his followers down to the last man!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"All forces," she heard Zero cry out, "pull back! Retreat into the ghetto!" Zero and three of the surviving Sutherlands that had accompanied him turned and fled. Cornelia was about to begin her pursuit when her computers beeped. She checked the communications hail and answered it quickly. Zero appeared on her screen once more. She smirked.

"It seems the tide has turned Zero. And just like the coward I knew you were, you have fled from the field."

"You of all people should know the difference between retreat and a tactical withdraw, Your Highness," Zero answered mockingly.

Cornelia grinned. "It doesn't matter what you want to call it, scum. You're done."

Zero laughed. "Oh, My Lady, I'm just getting started. And though we must part company now, I leave you with a parting gift." He lifted into view a detonator that looked much like the one he had used in the Kururugi Incident. "Cheers!" He pressed it down.

…..

"She's done it!" Darlton cried out in joy, "She's routed Zero and his forces! All troops advance now!" The bridge crew erupted into cheers, the officers laughing and hugging as the mop up began. Darlton grinned at the icon on the map indicating where the Princess was. "You did it, My Lady," he grinned, "You did it."

One of the bridge crew came up to him and shook his hand enthusiastically.

Then it happened.

The ground beneath them shook violently, throwing them into the floor, smashing some against the computer and holographic map. The world began to tip sickeningly, sending Darlton sliding down the floor, then up and onto the window. He cried out in pain as his arm twisted backwards, the cracking as the bones broke loud in his ears. He opened his eyes and looked down.

To his horror, the highway that the G-1 was positioned crumbled away, taking the mobile command center with it. He recognized his death for what it was and screamed, "PRINCESS!"

The ground rushed up to meet him.

…..

"DARLTON!" Cornelia screamed as she watched the G-1 show up as "LOST" on her combat map. Her chest heaved with grief as she considered the scarred face of her mentor and friend.

Zero's voice called out to her. "Oh, and by the way Your Highness, welcome to Japan."

She snapped. In a scream of rage she took off after Zero, ignoring Guilford's pleading voice. One of the fleeing Sutherlands turned and opened fire. She jumped high, spinning, her lance taking off the head of the Knightmare and unleashed a burst from her machine pistol directly into the cockpit. She landed cleanly as the Frame exploded behind her, never once slowing down.

The second of the three terrorists fired blindly at her without looking back. Without thinking she hurled her lance at the retreating Frame. The lance ripped its way through the Knightmare and exploded. The Princess sped through the flames, hot on Zero's tail.

….

"Damn useless terrorists!" Zero roared as he fired at Cornelia, dodging and weaving down side streets and alleyways as he led his sister away from his escape route. "Even geassed they're completely worthless!"

He fired a slash harken into the nearest building, intending to use it to swing him around the corner, but Cornelia had anticipated his move, firing both her slash harkens into the legs of his Sutherland in mid-flight. She jerked him down, hard, smashing the Knightmare into the ground. Zero grunted when Cornelia's Gloucester landed on top of his Sutherland, pummeling him with her Frame's fists, partially crushing the factsphere and splitting the image of the warrior above him, the video flickering in and out.

Terror gripped him when Cornelia stood up, pointing her machine pistol down at him. "Die damn you!" she screamed. Zero closed his eyes.

Nunally!

He opened his eyes in shock when his Knightmare was rocked violently. Cornelia was no longer above him.

"Eject you idiot, now!" C.C.?

Zero didn't look this gift horse in the mouth, ejecting the cockpit from his Knightmare, calculating in his head the route he would to take to get to Point Omega and his escape.

…..

"Get the Hell out of my way!" Cornelia roared at the traitorous Gloucester. She landed an uppercut into the enemy chest piece, denting the armor and knocking it backwards. She stabbed the machine pistol into the weakened point and opened fire, the rounds ripping their way through the Frame's body and tearing apart the Sakuradite core. Even before it exploded she was already on the move, speeding over to Zero's Sutherland. She screamed in outrage when she saw that he had ejected and quickly began the search for him.

After ten minutes of fruitless searching she accepted the obvious: Zero was gone.

She returned to the remains of his Knightmare, and out of pure spite, she blasted the Sutherland apart.

…..

"I have to hand to you Lelouch, you were telling the truth: you're not making the same mistakes. You're making entirely new ones." Though her tone was playful, Lelouch knew the truth: C.C. was furious. The immortal woman had found him a few minutes ago, the clothing burned away from her body. Lelouch had provided her with his cape and coat, not because he was concerned about her modesty, but because she seemed to enjoy shoving her nude body at him and his rather violent reaction.

"I warned you before," she continued, now in the middle of her tirade, "that ego of yours is going to end up getting you killed, and this whole second chance you have going on will have been all for nothing."

Lelouch didn't have anything to say to that. His final taunt at Cornelia had been the height of stupidity but he had been so caught up in the moment that he couldn't help himself. He knew that if he hadn't mocked her there at the end he could have made a clean get away while she was still in shock. Instead, he had barely escaped with his life, and the Yamato Alliance had again been destroyed. No matter the victory he had achieved here, it had cost the life of every man that had followed him into battle.

"Have you anything to say, Lelouch, or are you just going to sulk?"

Lelouch looked up at her then, at the irritated up turn of her eyebrow and her narrowed eyes. All he said was, "Thank you, C.C., for saving me."

Her eyes widened in surprise. She shook her head, smiling slightly. "You idiot," she said fondly, "I told you: we're accomplices. I'll stay with you to the end."

Lelouch shook his head. "No, C.C.," he said, "we're not accomplices." She flinched and turned away from him. He stood and walked over to her, then took her soft hand gently into his. She looked back at him in wonder. "We're friends."

A warm smile came over C.C.'s face. Her cheeks colored slightly before she shook her head. "Sentimental fool," she said.

"Come on," Lelouch said, leading the way. " Let's go home."

Hand in hand, they moved their way through what had been a subway system in better days, stepping closer and closer to the light.

….

Governor's Palace, Tokyo Settlement, Area 11, Eight hours later

Darlton's body was impossible to find, having been crushed to a pulp and mixed in with the corpses of the rest of the bridge staff. The best they were going to be able to do was perhaps separate the corpses and bury them together, coffin to coffin, in a single large grave. Guilford had assumed responsibility for this task, needing to spare the Princess at least this pain. She had been holed up in her office since they had gotten back. Not even Princess Euphemia had been able to get through to her.

The Knight squared his shoulders as he stood outside her office door, preparing himself mentally for what he might find inside. "Princess?" he said cautiously. He got no response. "Princess, I'm coming in."

Guilford slotted his key into the door, stepping inside the large room, and gasped. Princess Cornelia lay on the floor, surrounded by empty wine bottles. The Princess was shaking, quiet sobs emitting from her body.

"Princess!" Guilford cried, rushing to his Lady's body.

"Leave me alone Gilbert," she sobbed, fighting he feebly as he pulled her into his arms. "Just let me go."

"Not a chance, My Lady," he responded, pulling her head to his breast. "I'm never leaving your side."

"Damn it, Gilbert, I don't want you here right now. I don't want you to see me like this. I don't want you to see me as this pathetic weakling."

"You are not weak My Lady. You are the strongest, bravest woman I have ever known, and I am proud to be your Knight." His Princess buried her face in his chest. He held her as she cried, accepting the wetness that soaked into his shirt.

Her breath hitched. "I said the most terrible thing to him before he died. I threatened to have his head and now we can't even find it!"

"He knew you didn't mean it, Your Highness," Guilford soothed. "It was in the heat of the moment. He'd never hold it against you."

Silence reigned between them for a long time after that as he held her. Finally, after what felt like hours, she came away from him, and stood, moving towards the window. Guilford followed at a respectful distance.

"I got him killed," she said quietly. "I underestimated Zero and got Darlton and a number of good men killed. I will not make the same mistake again." She turned to Guilford, her eyes burning with hate. "We're going to track Zero down, Guilford,

"And we're going to kill him."