I owe you all a profuse apology for the year-long wait. For a while, I did not feel like doing much of anything aside from eat, sleep, and work, and didn't bother with much of anything else. I wasn't depressed or anything, I just didn't have any motivation to do anything. When I did finally get the motivation to write again, I didn't think it fair to just publish a new chapter and then leave you guys hanging, so I decided to write the rest of the story. Don't get your hopes up: I had six of the eight chapters completed, and was actively working on the last two, when my hard drive crashed. Apparently, it was so corrupted the computer guys I took it to couldn't get anything off of it. I lost everything: notes, research, outlines (yes, this story had outlines, believe it or not), as well as pictures and videos and everything else I had, and not one bit of it was backed up. Easily a hundred pages of content are gone, and everything you are seeing now had to be written 100% from scratch. You have no idea how frustrated I am. So, I am doing my level best to rewrite a lot of this from memory, and I doubt that it's as good as what I had written. For my foolishness, I apologize. I was so close.

I hope you enjoy what I've put together, and please comment on where you think I have made mistakes, because I'm sure I have. Certain elements of the story may end up being re-written/edited once I've finished up certain chapters, so please bear with me. I just want to get this out there.

I do not own Code Geass.

….

Viceroy Mobile Command, Yamagata Prefecture, Area Eleven, 2017

A car moving at speeds excess of fifty miles per hour smashed through the front door of a Knight Police recruiting center. Eight potential recruits were killed by the initial impact. When police and medical personnel arrived, a bomb within the car was detonated, killing a further fifteen.

An armored car conducting a patrol was struck by rocks. When the machine gun turret swiveled around to respond, a pair of teenagers wearing masks attached explosive devices to the bottom of the vehicle.

A Knight Police patrol, consisting of five Knightmare Frames and twenty unmounted police, was ambushed in Shibuya. The patrol was wiped out, and the Knightmares were stolen.

Cornelia read these reports as she nursed a headache. Deep shadows stretched out beneath her dim eyes. Her hair was dry, brittle, and had lost its glossy sheen. Her face was pale, her lips and lashes uncolored by cosmetics. A cup of the strongest coffee her cooks could make rested half empty on the table next to her.

There were more incident reports than just these, piled up on an ever increasing stack that was beginning to look suspiciously like the Imperial Tax Code. Sir Claudio had advised her to delegate the reading of these reports to himself and his fellow Glastons, but she had refused. From the very beginning of her martial career, she had made it her solemn duty to read the casualty reports for the men under her command. She was responsible for the names on every list and report that was delivered to her. The scale of these reports may have changed, but her sense of duty had not. Besides which, it kept her up at night.

Zero hadn't acted on a grand scale in more than a month. Rather than launch a full scale rebellion, he instead had focused on slowly chipping away at Imperial resources and infrastructure. More than a third of the Knight Police had been wiped out, either killed or injured, and they weren't recruiting enough people to offset the losses. More and more of the garrisons around the country were having to transfer troops and resources back to the Tokyo Settlement in order to maintain civil order under constant threat of ambush. Each convoy was arriving at the Settlement with casualties of some kind, wrapped in bandages or wrapped in blankets.

The flap of Cornelia's command tent opened, revealing a young officer bearing another stack of documents.

"I beg your pardon, My Lady, but I come bearing the latest casualty reports," he said with a bow.

Latest casualty reports, Cornelia mused. "It's become a routine," she muttered disgustedly. He handed her the list, she dismissed the young man with a nod of her head, and turned her attention to the papers.

The letters ran together, one overlapping the other. Cornelia blinked and shook her head, but the words on the page continued to clash together like opposing armies. She checked the clock on her bed stand.

0230. Her eyes grew heavy.

Cornelia drank a swig of coffee. She grimaced; it had gone cold. "I'm going to need more coffee before the night is done," she remarked.

…..

Viceroy's Palace Infirmary, Viceroy's Palace, Tokyo Settlement, Area Eleven

"Miss Cecile, I feel fine!"

"Don't give me that lip, Warrant Officer! You had a panic attack and vomited on the floor, Suzaku! You're hardly fine!"

"Lloyd, please, talk some sense into her-"

"-SENSE?"

"It was a poor choice of words, I swear!"

"Honestly, Cecile he seems alright to- UGH!"

"What were you about to say, Lloyd?"

"O-Only that I thought he could use a little more bed rest."

"You see, Suzaku, Lloyd agrees with me!"

"But Miss Cecile-"

"Just go with it, Suzaku. It's better than an elbow in your r-PWAH!"

"You were saying something, Lloyd?"

"J-Just how I have to look over some ch-charts and...and stuff."

"Yes, Lloyd, that's a great idea. You go do that."

"R-Right..."

I thought Lloyd was in charge here! Suzaku despaired as his 'boss' staggered out of the room. "Cecile, please," he pleaded, "I really am ready to return to work."

"I'm not going to risk you having a panic attack while flying the Lancelot," she rejected.

"But that's not going to happen!" Suzaku objected. "I swear, what happened last week won't-"

Cecile whipped around, brought up her hand, and laid it against his still bandaged cheek. There was a sudden burning itch that set his face alight. He squeezed his eyes shut, tears leaking out at the pain, his chest heaving in great sobs. Cecile's arms were suddenly around him, pulling him into a tight embrace, holding him as he shuddered.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice thick with unshed tears. "I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do to make you understand. I can't send you back out there, not when you're like this."

Suzaku didn't know how long they stayed like that, him clenching her uniform coat, her holding his face to her shoulder as he wept. Finally, the flame died down, and he was able to take a deep, shuddering breath.

"It's okay," he whispered. "Maybe you were right." He looked away from her.

"Suzaku," Cecile said gently. "Let me take it off."

Suzaku shook his head furiously. "No," he said hoarsely. "No."

"It's not healthy for you," Cecile protested. "The doctor said-"

"I don't give a damn what he said!" Suzaku snarled. "I'm not taking it off!"

Her hand rose. "Please, just let me-"

Suzaku wasn't sure what happened next. A black haze seemed to come over his vision. One moment Cecile's hand was reaching for him, the next she was against the sterile white wall of his room, a powerful hand wrapped around her throat. Tears rolled down her cheeks, her eyes filled with terror.

Whose trying to hurt Cecile? Suzaku wondered furiously. Who are they? I'll kill-

Cecile's soft hand was suddenly against his unmarred cheek. The other wrapped around his hand-

His hand.

That was his hand.

That was his-

"Oh God!" Suzaku let go of Cecile's throat, catching her as she collapsed. "Cecile! Cecile! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I don't know what came over-"

Cecile jerked away from him, clutching her throat. He could already see the beginnings of bruising. She turned around and fled the room. Suzaku didn't try to stop her.

He stared down at his hands. They trembled violently. He curled up into a ball, and wept.

…

En Route to Viceroy's Palace, Tokyo Settlement, Area Eleven

Dark clouds hung over the city of Tokyo, casting the settlement in a drab metallic tone. Car horns blared in the streets, angry drivers thrusting their heads out of their windows to scream at the driver in front of them. The wailing of children in the backseats and the barking of dogs from their kennels only added to the cacophony. The sidewalks were just as packed with people as the road, carrying all manner of luggage as they sped towards the overcrowded bus stops or yelled for taxis. Milly had seen several fights break out between pedestrians, and military personnel were called in for a brawl on a bus.

The airlines and cruise liners must be making a killing, she thought.

Milly was the only person, so far as she knew, that was traveling lightly; she wore a yellow sundress and wide-brimmed hat, and carried only a small purse strapped to her hand. When she had seen just how bad the traffic was, foot and otherwise, she had considered waiting at home for the evacuation excitement to die down, but she ultimately decided against it. She had already spent several days putting off this meeting, choosing instead to hang out with her friends, but between Lelouch and Kallen often not showing up, Shirley's increasing jealousy, and Nunnally's own quiet loneliness, the only person she could could feel comfortable around these days was Rivalz. Sitting across from him at the bar, trading friendly jabs and some mild teasing, was fun, as was the time they spent together alone in the school when the others departed, but it also served to remind her of just how empty her home had become.

Her heels clicked on the street as she approached the Government Borough. Soldiers and Knightmare Frames lined the road leading to the Viceroy's Palace. There were multiple checkpoints set at equidistant intervals, surrounding by sandbags and protected by machine gun emplacements. Armored troop carriers sat nearby, their roofs mounted with water cannons for crowd dispersal. A long line snaked inward toward the palace.

Milly approached the first of these checkpoints, manned by a bored looking young man holding an electronic tablet.

"Present to me your identification," he ordered her.

Milly removed her ID card from her purse and handed it to him. He inserted the card into a slot on the bottom of the tablet, and began tapping the screen with a stylus.

"Milly Ashford, age 18, address 224 Ashford Street, correct?" he asked.

Milly nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Reason for your visit?"

"I have an appointment with Earl Lloyd Asplund in about-" Milly checked her watch "-fifteen minutes."

The soldier nodded. "I'm going to check our logbook to verify your information. Wait here please." He stepped inside the little booth, out of Milly's sight. She tapped her heel impatiently on the asphalt, crossing her arms and biting the inside of her cheek. After a few minutes, the soldier returned, her ID card in hand. "You're clear here," he told her. "Proceed to the next checkpoint."

Milly smiled tightly. "Thank you," she said.

This continued for each succeeding checkpoint, with increasing levels of inquisition. The line of people, once bloated at the entrance, became thinner and thinner, as people dropped out of the line in exasperation. Not all went willingly: some were picked out of the line for disruptive behavior, and a few were detained at the checkpoint and hauled away in handcuffs. Milly didn't want to think about what would happen to them.

By the time she finally made it through the checkpoints and entered the Palace complex, she was already twenty minutes late to her meeting and cursing the fact roundly in her head. The interior of the Palace was even more militarized than the approach had been; soldiers lined the walls at stiff guard position, squad patrols marched down the hallways, each of which was punctuated with a machine gun nest positioned behind a wall of sandbags.

The door to Lloyd's office was a drab gray metal, more resembling a janitor's closet than an Earl's official office. Milly wondered, not for the first time, why they were meeting in the Viceroy's Palace rather than Lloyd's lab like they had last time. A single soldier, only slightly older than Milly, stood next to the door. She reached for the doorknob, stopped herself, reached for it again, but her hand clenched into a trembling fist. She bit her lip.

Why should I have to do this? Why should I have to prostitute myself just for a couple of pounds? Why-

"Miss?" the guard asked, interrupting her thoughts. "Are you going in or not?"

Shaken, Milly nodded automatically. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and grabbed the doorknob. She twisted it quickly, opened the door, and let go of it like a piece of hot coal.

The anteroom for Lloyd's office was small and unassuming, lit by a single phosphorescent bar that cast the room in a white light. The white tile floor was covered by a thin layer of dust, and Milly could see cobwebs in the corners of the room. There was a faint odor of bleach in the air.

The room's only occupant was a middle aged woman sitting behind a white plastic desk, wearing a brown pantsuit that wouldn't look out of place in an attorney's office. She didn't even look up at Milly as she stepped in, preferring instead to flip a page in some women's magazine. Behind her was a wooden door.

"Excuse me?" Milly asked, approaching the woman nervously. "My name's Milly Ashford. I have an appointment with Earl Asplund."

"He's in," the woman replied, still not looking up from her magazine.

Milly fidgeted with her purse nervously. "Aren't-" she swallowed "-Aren't you going to show me in?"

The woman looked up at her briefly, back down to her magazine, and sighed after another moment of silence. She laid the magazine down on the table and stood up, turning around to open the door. "Milly Ashford is here to see you, My Lord," she announced. Without waiting for a reply, she gave Milly a slight bow and tight-lipped smile. "The Earl will see you now," she told her. She sat back down, picked up her magazine, and began reading again as if nothing had happened.

Milly fought a surge of irritation and simply smiled primly at the older woman. She entered Lloyd's office with powerful strides and shut the door behind her.

Lloyd's actual office was even smaller than the anteroom, the walls painted a dull blue, a single light bulb suspended above them. His desk was simple wood, nothing ornate about it, covered in folders and documents that had various graphs and markings on them. Lloyd himself was bent over the desk, a pair of model robots in his hands that Milly vaguely recognized from old Japanese cartoons. The white-and-blue one with the V-shaped antennas looked especially formidable.

"You certainly took your own sweet time," Lloyd remarked breezily, his attention still focused on the robot duel playing out in his hands.

"Sorry," Milly apologized sincerely. "If I had known the security checks were going to be so thorough, I'd have come earlier." She actually wasn't sure she would have, but it didn't hurt to be polite. "Truth be told, I'm rather surprised," she admitted. "I remember your office being a lot bigger. And in an entirely different building."

"This isn't my office," Lloyd informed her. "My devicer is sick, so the Sub-Viceroy offered the use of the Palace's medical services. I wanted to stay close in case he got worse, and needed to look over my data anyway, and didn't really care where they put me." He looked around the cramped office space, looking a little chagrined. "Perhaps I should have been more specific."

Despite herself, Milly giggled. "Well, I hope you get your old office back soon." She turned around to the closed door. "The customer service here sucks!" she shouted.

Lloyd started, dropping the models onto the table. "Yes, she does leave something to be desired, doesn't she?" he agreed, sweeping the toys off to the side. "Sadly, Cecile is rather fond of our devicer, so we'll have to do without her for the time being." He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the desk. "Now, what is it you wanted to see me about?"

Milly's mouth was suddenly dry. She licked her lips and sat down in the only other chair in the room, a cheap metal party chair without even a cushion on it. "I-I-" Milly squeezed her purse tightly, angry at her stammering. "I wanted to discuss the proposal you made some time ago."

"Yes, I figured as much." There was no expression on Lloyd's face.

Milly summoned her courage. "I have some conditions."

Lloyd raised an eyebrow. "Conditions?" he repeated

Milly nodded. "Yes," she confirmed.

"You'd have the run of the house, your own social life, even a lover on the side should you desire it," Lloyd reminded her. "Do whatever you want. I just want the Ganymede."

"Nevertheless, I have my own conditions," Milly said forcefully. "And if you want my approval, I suggest hearing me out."

"Oh, fine, fine, fine," Lloyd said, waving his hand around and relaxing into his chair, a faux-leather rolling chair. "Condition away." Despite his dismissive tone, Milly detected a hint of amusement.

Milly took a deep breath. "As you're no doubt aware, the Ashford Family is the founder of the prestigious Ashford Academy, the preeminent educational institution for the upper class and nobility in Area Eleven." Also the only one, but there's no need to bring that up. "Ashford holds three to four festivals a year, depending on budgetary concerns." And my own whims. "No matter the amount of festivals in a given year, we always host one major festival at the end of each semester. However, due to the recent uptick in terrorism, most of the student population has evacuated the country, and we don't have the necessary funds to-"

"-Get to the point, Milly," Lloyd interrupted, his eyes glazed over. "I'm bored enough as it is without you droning away at me."

Milly flinched at his tone. "Very well," she said. "Provide funding for the festival, and I will agree to marry you."

"Done."

Milly's jaw dropped. "Just like that?" she asked disbelievingly.

"Just like that," Lloyd replied, a slight smile on his face. "Were you not expecting such a quick answer?" he asked.

Milly lowered her head. "No," she said quietly, "I wasn't."

Lloyd pulled off his glasses and began to clean them with his coat. "This may come as a surprise, but I am a rather wealthy man," he told her. "I came into money, certainly, but I've also made sound business decisions, and I make quite a bit as an Imperial scientist. I have the trust and respect of the Prime Minister, no matter what the rest of the Cabinet would like to do with me. Funding your festival is the least expensive thing I'll ever do." He finished cleaning his glasses and put them back on. "In fact, I'll go one step further." He smiled. "I'll not only fund your big party, I'll provide you with a corps of engineers to get everything set up, and place whatever resources you need at your disposal."

Lloyd opened a drawer in his desk, removing a sheet of paper and pen, and laid them on the table. "Of course," he said, leaning forward, "that is contingent upon you saying 'Yes.'" He tilted his head to the side, and waited.

Milly stared at the paper and pen for a moment. She diverted her eyes to her hand, to her ring finger. It was unadorned, free. "Yes," she mumbled. "I'll marry you."

…

SS Cranston, Sagami-Nada Bay, Area Eleven

Kallen stared out at the bright lights of the Settlement. The ship had left port only an hour ago, but already the mainland was but a twinkling light in the distance, blotting out the stars in the sky. The Cranston wasn't the only ship setting sail this evening: three cruise liners and two freighters had also put out to sea in quick succession, their decks teeming with refugees. The harbor was stuffed to the breaking point with evacuees numbering the hundreds if not the thousands. They swamped onto the piers, forcing money into the hands of waiting ship captains or crew members to charter passage to somewhere, anywhere, that wasn't Japan. The Cranston itself had had its own share of desperate civilians waving Britannian greenbacks; they were only turned back when the captain informed them the ship wasn't leaving the Area, only shipping supplies to one the smaller nearby islands before returning.

Kallen admired the brazen audacity of it. They were shipping supplies, of course, but they weren't for the Britannians. Twenty Sutherlands were stowed on board, some in the ship's hull, most of it on the deck in large storage containers, alongside three dozen armored troop carriers 'requisitioned' from the Imperials. If they were stopped by Britannian patrols, they could plausibly claim to be delivering them to one of the smaller island garrisons.

A chilly breeze brushed across Kallen's face, and she lifted up the red scarf she wore around her neck to ward it off. She was dressed in heavy sailor clothing, consisting of a jacket, overalls, two layers of woolen shirts, and rubber boots. The rest of the Black Knights were similarly outfitted, though only those with Britannian ancestry like herself were allowed on the deck. Zero didn't want to take the slightest chance someone noticing something amiss.

Kallen felt a buzzing sensation against her hip. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, flinching when she saw the name 'Milly' pop up on the caller ID. She bit her lip, debating whether she should answer or not, but the call ended before she could make up her mind. She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Everything alright, Kallen?" Kallen jumped slightly at Zero's voice. A warm pool opened up in her stomach.

Zero was the captain of the ship. Or, at least, he was dressed like one, wearing largely the same gear that Kallen was, the only differences being the captain's cap he wore, and the dark-tinted goggles and back ski mask on his face. Were it not for the chill in the air, Zero might look a little out of place. As it was, he was hardly the only person bundled up.

"Yes, sir," Kallen replied, drawing herself to stiff attention. She'd practiced quite a bit.

Zero waved a hand. "No need to be so formal when we're alone, Kallen," he said, sidling up next to her.

Kallen relaxed her posture, allowing a little euphoric wave to wash over her. "Thank you, Lord Zero," she said. C-Two had taken to using the honorific, and while Kallen didn't generally like following the lime-haired girl's lead, she found it to be appropriate.

Zero snorted. "None of that 'Lord' business, please," he said, relaxing against the railing. "C-Two only says that to rile up Katase. It doesn't mean anything."

It means everything, Kallen thought but did not say. "How long until we reach Kamine Island?" she asked instead.

Zero shrugged. "A few hours at the most," he answered. "Long enough for you to go down below and get some rest, certainly."

Kallen frowned, a weight descending on her shoulders. "I'd rather not, if it's all the same to you," she said quietly.

Zero laid a hand on her shoulder. "Something's the matter," he observed. "What's wrong, Kallen?"

She shook her head, though the shoulder where his hand had fallen had suddenly become warm. "It's nothing, Zero, nothing at all."

"Kallen," Zero said calmly, "you know you can trust me, right?"

Of course she knew that. Kallen frowned deeply. She looked back out over the water, to the dwindling light of her home. "It's just..."she trailed off, trying to find the words for the clenching in her belly. She looked back up at him. "Do you remember the Invasion, Zero?" she asked him. "Where you were, what you were doing?"

Zero's hand left her shoulder, and he too stared out at the light of Tokyo. "Of course I do," he said softly.

"Could you tell me? If it's not too much to ask, I mean."

Zero was quiet for a moment. "I was climbing a hill with a friend of mine," he finally said, his voice distant as he relived that fateful day. "We were in a field of sunflowers on a beautiful day. I couldn't climb the hill on my own, so he offered his hand and helped me up. That was when I heard them...the drone of jet engines." He squeezed the bar on the ship. "I can still see the smoke that rose from the shrines as they burned to ashes."

"I was in school the day they announced the war," Kallen said. "I remember how the teachers would always be looking out the window when they were supposed to be teaching us. I remember how every day, less and less of my friends showed up to school. How the classroom sizes shrank until the entire student body was in one classroom. That was when they finally cancelled classes." She swallowed. "We were fortunate. The school was a smoking crater the next day."

"What's brought all this on, Kallen?" Zero asked her.

Kallen stared down at the inky black waves of the sea. "It's happening all over again," she said. "My friends at Ashford have all but vanished. The school's closing down. Japan is falling all over again." Her eyes burned. "Only this time, I'm the one doing it." She laughed harshly. "I never thought I'd care what Britannians thought, or how they felt. They were all just filthy thieves who'd stolen our nation from us." She rubbed her eyes. "It shouldn't be this hard to take your country back." Kallen's phone buzzed in her pocket again, and she automatically grabbed it.

"Are you alright?" Zero asked worriedly.

Kallen nodded, her face reddening with embarrassment. "Yeah, I'm fine," she assured him. "It's just my boss, the Student Council President. She's been calling me all day."

Zero's posture stiffened. "What for?" he asked, his voice sounding weirdly strained.

Kallen blinked at his tone. "I don't know," she admitted. "I haven't answered." I'm too much of a damn coward.

Zero was quiet for a long moment. Finally, he said, "If she calls again, answer her. If she left a voice mail, listen to it." He rested his hand on her shoulder again. "Whatever she's asking for, you should do it. Spend as much time with your friends as you can. We're about to set the whole world on fire." He turned away from her. "Be with those you love for as long as possible. Before these days of peace come to an end."

Kallen stood at attention. "Yes, Lord Zero!" she said.

Zero chuckled. "I'm starting to think you're both calling me that just to mess with me." Kallen watched his back as he returned to the ship's interior.

"No, I'm not," Kallen murmured, the heat from Zero's hand still permeating her body. "What better title is there for the man who rules my heart?" Perhaps, one day, she'd be brave enough to tell him that. She stared back down at the phone in her hand.

Milly had left a message, several in fact. Kallen closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and listened to them.

….

Black Knight Headquarters, Shinjuku Ghetto, Area Eleven

General Katase sat in his office, his finger tapping absentmindedly on the wood surface of his desk. The room was spartan, consisting of little more than a locker, the desk he sat behind, the computer on that desk, a small cot on the opposite side of the room, and a topographical map of Japan. The general was tired; he'd been up since three in the morning, carefully managing the logistics for the movement of their armies in Zero's absence.

Katase was not a brilliant strategist, a fact he was painfully aware of. He had neither Zero's audacious genius, nor Tohdoh's gift for battlefield tactics. He was leader of the JLF by virtue of all the more capable officers being either dead or imprisoned. He could perform textbook maneuvers, but operations requiring true imagination were beyond him.

One thing he did excel at, however, was logistics. Katase had an innate talent for moving troops and material around efficiently and, more importantly, secretly. Whatever Zero may think of him, Katase was the only reason the JLF had survived as long as it had. Those talents, now put to the service of the Black Knights, were of huge benefit to running Cornelia ragged across the countryside in her mad hunt for the masked terrorist.

Katase felt his eyes begin to grow heavy, and he had to blink rapidly for a moment to keep them open. He rubbed his eyes, trying to will his weariness away, but it was no use. He checked the time on his clock and sighed.

"Another wasted night," he mumbled. He rolled back in his chair, preparing to stand up and undress for bed, when his computer beeped. He rolled forward, squinting down at the monitor, his pulse accelerating. Someone was trying to video call him. The indicator read 'Unknown Call.'

Katase debated for a moment to answer. For all he knew, it could be a Britannian who'd made a wrong call, and so to answer would be disastrous. Still, it could indeed be him, and Katase may miss his opportunity. After weighing the pros and cons in his head, Katase made up his mind.

A man with a pinched face and oily black hair appeared on his monitor. "Good evening, General," Atsuhi Sawisaki greeted him. "It's been a long time."

"Far too long, old friend," Katase replied with relief. "I was beginning to worry you weren't speaking to me anymore."

In the past, Katase would give status reports every month, first to the Kyoto Group, then to Prime Minister Sawisaki and the Cabinet-In-Exile. He had been attempting to get back into contact with the Cabinet for two months, but they had not replied.

"I would never abandon you, Tatewaki," Sawisaki assured him. "I apologize for the long silence, but it was necessary. Events on the ground were moving too fast. We needed time to observe this developing situation."

Katase nodded. "I understand, of course," the general said. "I imagine you have many questions."

"Fewer than you might think," Sawisaki responded. "I have a reasonable understanding of the situation. The main question I have is this: what do you think of Zero?"

Katase pondered the question. Is this an honest question? Or is he testing my loyalty? If I answer wrongly, will this be the last time we speak? After considering the question for another silent moment, Katase gave his answer. "I believe Zero is a military genius." It was better to be honest, and this was the most diplomatic response he could give. "Were it not for his brilliance, I doubt we would be nearly as far along as we are in our planning. He has the Viceroy on the run, chasing him all over the country, and he's kept the entire occupation on edge. The nation has become a powder keg ready to explode."

Sawisaki frowned. "I did not ask for the obvious, General," the Prime Minister dismissed. "I want to know what you personally think about Zero. I want your appraisal of his character, not his clearly evident abilities."

Katase swallowed. His belly burned with enough fury to make a man choke. Careful to keep his voice low, he said, "I think he's an utter madman. He claims to desire global revolution, and Japan is the first step towards his goal. If he is not reined in, I fear he may just succeed. And the worst of it is," Katase chuckled bitterly, "without him, I very much doubt we could free this land."

Sawisaki was quiet for several long moments. "Well," he finally said, "that is unfortunate. It certainly makes a few things clearer."

"What do you mean?"

"A month-and-a-half ago, the Tianzi started to become much more vocal in the Court," Sawisaki explained. "She began to implement all sorts of reforms, including prosecuting corrupt officials and hiring new police officers. One day, a count by the name of Aiguo comes before her, begging for her to give relief supplies to his starving people. She commanded one of the High Eunuchs in a territory adjacent to Aiguo's to help." Sawisaki wiped his brow. "None of it has worked, of course. Men who won't take a bribe are in short supply, and those few righteous souls are quickly marginalized."

"What of the Eunuch she commanded to help?" Katase asked.

"Commands require fangs behind them to have any power, and the Tianzi was born toothless. The only supporter she can truly rely on is Xingke, and his influence only extends to the soldiers under his command."

Katase felt confused. "What has this got to do with Zero?" he asked.

"Everything," Sawisaki answered. "It was Lady Kaguya who gave these ideas to the Tianzi. Every time the Tianzi raised an issue, it was after she went into consultation with her."

"Then there is little we can do," Katase pointed out. "If it is the Lady Kaguya giving her these ideas, then they also have Kyoto's backing."

"Do they?" Sawisaki asked sharply. "I'm not so sure. I've been unable to reach any of the other Heads of House. And the only one whose location I'm certain of is Lord Kirihara, whom I'm unable to contact." He leaned forward. "Something is very wrong here, Tatewaki. This is a dangerous game Zero's playing, one I'm certain Kyoto would want no part in. The Eunuchs will only put up with the Tianzi's actions for so long before they make a move." He returned to his original position. "I fear that may be sooner than later. If we wish to protect the Empress and Lady Sumeragi, we shall need to act soon."

"What would you have me do?"

"Make contact with Lord Kirihara," Sawisaki ordered him. "We must know where Kyoto stands in all this. Without Kyoto's support, we cannot hope to check Zero's power."

"And what if they do support him?" Katase wondered aloud.

"Then Japan is truly lost."

…

SS Cranston, Sagami-Nada Sea, Area Eleven

His eye hurt. Lelouch stared piercingly into the mirror, searching for any indication that his geass might have finally gone rampant. His head had been hurting on and off all day, but only now was he able to perform a more thorough examination. To his relief, on the violet color of his eye stared back at him.

How much longer will that be, though? he wondered. How long until I'm no longer in control?

The door to his cabin creaked open, and C-Two stepped in, shutting the door behind her. She wore the same thing that just about all the other Black Knights had been wearing since they boarded this ship, though she was also covered in a yellow rain slicker.

As she began to strip out of the heavy clothing, Lelouch groused, "Have you ever heard of knocking? I could have been naked for all you knew."

"Keep your perverted delusions to yourself, boy," C-Two retorted, dropping her overalls to the floor. "I'm an honorable woman, and I'll not have you corrupting my virtue."

Lelouch choked, flushing with embarrassment as he whirled around. "I-I didn't mean it like that, and you know it!"

"I know that you're seventeen and your hormonal engine is firing on all cylinders," she said as she peeled off the last of the heavy rain gear, revealing a matching set of skintight white tube top and shorts that ended well above her knee and exposed the flat plane of her stomach. Lelouch took an unconscious movement to admire the ivory columns of her legs before he turned back to the mirror, face red as Kallen's hair. "So, you had better keep those hands of yours where they belong."

Before Lelouch could retort, he grimaced suddenly, grabbing his forehead at the sudden lance of pain that stabbed his skull.

"What is it?" C-Two asked him, all trace of teasing gone from her voice.

"I think it's my geass," Lelouch ground out.

In an instant, C-Two had turned him around and straddled his lap, grabbing his cheeks in her hands, and stared deeply into his eye. She held his eye open through the worst of the pain, her amber eyes searching his with an intensity he found almost frightening. After a few moments, the pain faded a bit.

C-Two leaned back, shaking her head. "I didn't see anything," she told him. "No flickering red light of any kind. Your geass may be becoming Rampant, but if it is, I can't tell."

Lelouch pouted. "Shouldn't the headaches be a big clue that it is?" he asked.

"They might be, ordinarily," C-Two agreed, "were it not for how little sleep you've been getting."

Lelouch was too tired to argue. "I'm getting as much sleep as I can," he said, closing his eyes. "But I'm running a revolution. I'm going to have a few sleepless nights."

C-Two cocked an eyebrow. "Oh really?" she asked, looking pointedly at the papers on his desk. "So those papers over there are all Black Knight related?"

Lelouch coughed. He diverted his attention to the blank wall on the opposite side of the wall. "N-No," he admitted. "They're not."

"My, I do believe I see a stamp for the Ashford Student Council printed at the top."

This woman has no mercy. "It's not just Student Council funding," he argued sheepishly. He returned his attention to her, swallowing at her glare. "There's also contact information for some nobles I was going to fleece when we returned to Tokyo."

Not everyone was evacuating the country. There were plenty of wealthy nobles who operated under the delusion that Cornelia was going to pull out a win, and they were certain they'd reap the windfall for their loyalty. Lelouch was fine with that; the more of those fools remained, the more money he could contribute to the Festival.

C-Two's glare sharpened. "You're giving yourself headaches for some damn party?" she demanded angrily.

"I was giving myself headaches to help my friends," Lelouch retorted. "Ashford is closing down because of my success. The least I could do is help them go out with a bang." He shook his head with a sigh.

"You may be the one who goes out with a bang, if these keeps up," C-Two retorted. "Things are coming to a head. If everything goes according to plan, we'll have a revolt going in three months. We need you free of distractions, and this," she pointed to the table, "is a foolish distraction."

Lelouch scowled. "If it makes you feel any better, I don't have to worry about school funding anymore." He huffed. "Milly called me a little while ago. She has the money for the festival."

C-Two looked at him suspiciously. "So why did you have these papers out right now?"

"Because I only just listened to her message." I was too much of a coward to do it earlier. "Are you happy now?" he asked her irritatedly.

"That depends," C-Two replied. "Will you be helping out with the Festival?"

Lelouch turned away from her, not saying anything. "You will then," C-Two confirmed, almost accusingly.

"I owe them everything," Lelouch said quietly. "They took Nunnally and I in when we had nowhere else to go, and hid us for years. If they'd been discovered, if any of us had been, be it by the Emperor or V-Two, they'd be hanged as traitors." He looked C-Two sharply in the eye. "There is a debt there that must be paid, C-Two." He closed his eyes. "And look how I've repaid their generosity. I've destroyed their lives."

"They're still alive, Lelouch," C-Two countered. "They can rebuild. The chance for redemption only ends at death. Repay them by making a better world for them to live in. The world your sister dreams of." She cupped his cheek in her soft hand. "When we return to the mainland, don't return to them. Lose your phone. A man cannot serve two masters, else he'll be ripped apart. Leave them behind, Lelouch. Embrace the destiny set before you. Only then will you be able to pay your debt."

She held his gaze for a long while. Finally, he looked away from her and said, "You know I can't do that." I can't leave them, not again. "When we return, you'll take over the role of Zero for a while, while I sort things out at Ashford."

C-Two scowled. "That's not-"

"That's an order, C-Two," Lelouch said in a tone that brooked nor argument.

She rolled her eyes in obvious irritation. She adjusted herself to find a more comfortable position, reminding him of just where it was she was sitting.

Lelouch glared up at her. "Is there a reason you're still in my lap?" he asked.

C-Two eyed him boredly. "You weren't complaining about it before." She looked down. "And I don't think you're really complaining about it now."

Lelouch followed the direction of her eyes. His jaw dropped as he suddenly saw that his hands were on her waist, his thumb rubbing small circles in her hip. He let go of her like she was a hot coal, his face burning. "S-Sorry!" he exclaimed.

C-Two stared down at him silkily. "You know, Lulu, women don't like indecisive men. Brooding ambiguity only works on teenagers. And I," she leaned in close, her breath hot on his ear, "am not a teenager."

With strength fueled by embarrassment, Lelouch lifted her from his lap and swung around to the bed. He grabbed a pillow and a sheet, and began to pull them off.

"What are you doing?" C-Two asked.

Lelouch barked a laugh. "Isn't it obvious? 'Boys sleep on the floor'," he parroted, already preparing to lay down.

C-Two stopped him, taking from him the pillow and sheet and replacing them on the bed. "Not tonight," she said, pushing him into a seating position on the bed. With quick movements, she flicked off the lights in the room, pressed Lelouch back onto the bed, and, curling up next to him, brought his head to rest in the soft valley of her breasts.

Lelouch blushed. He could hear the loud, rapid tattoo of her heart in her chest. "I thought you said you were an honorable woman," he remarked for want of something else to say.

"Oh, I am," C-Two replied, mischief in her tone. "And you'll be an honorable man, or I'll make a eunuch of you."

Lelouch laughed softly at that. She grabbed his wrist and placed it on her waist. Her skin was cool and soft to the touch. I'm supposed to sleep like this?

To his own surprise, the swaying of the ship and the soft beating of C-Two's heart lulled him quickly into a dreamless sleep.

…

Missile Silo 05, Mount Hotaka, Nagano Prefecture, Area Eleven

There was a flash of bright pink light as the dome expanded, consuming armor and weaponry all around it. The blast grew up to twelve meters before it finally faded away, leaving a hole in the ground the size of a small pond. They were fortunate there were so many deactivated missile silos throughout the Area; otherwise they might have to find some other underground location to conduct their experiments.

Or build one themselves.

Nina removed her goggles, the dark lenses having accomplished their mission of protecting her eyes against the flash. A huge grin split her face.

"We did it!" she shouted triumphantly. The blasts from previous compositions had been too large, enveloping the remote-controlled robots that had previously tossed them. It had taken a lot of work on the math and chemistry, but they finally had the right mixture for what was essentially a hand grenade.

There were loud whoops of elation around her, and she shook hands with her comrades, all Elevens in lab coats not unlike her own. Visions of a beautiful redhead flitted across Nina's eyes.

She'll be so proud of me, Nina thought, now that Zero has his bomb.