Disclaimer: I don't own Code Geass.
Debut
"I am…Zero!" Lelouch declared.
There were stunned expressions to all those who was watching and bearing witness of the appearance of the masked individual who showed up in the phony transport of the late third prince. Questions were asked by the people seeing the masked person. Who was Zero? Where did he come from? Was Zero an Eleven? Why would he show up riding in a transport disguising as Prince Clovis's vehicle? What was the connection between Zero and Suzaku Kururugi, if there is one? All questions that were going on and people wondered what was going to happen next. Meanwhile Kallen was scared out of her mind and was shaking but made sure she didn't show it. Kallen was starting to have doubts and wondered if they were going to get out of this alive.
Flashback: Yesterday at a junkyard
Lelouch had waited for them as Zero and Kallen and Naoto had just arrived.
"Good, you two are here," Lelouch said.
"Yeah, although it's not just us," Naoto said.
"Hmm?"
Someone else approached and it was Ohgi as he stood next to Naoto and Kallen.
"Well, this is a surprise," Lelouch said, "I did say that I only need two with me for this operation."
"Yes, we're aware of that," Ohgi said, "but if you don't mind, I would like to help, with anything."
"Is that so?"
"Yes," Ohgi nodded, "I even tried to get the others to join us just to make things easier."
"Really? I admit that I'm surprised. But anyway if you want to help Ohgi, that's fine, you can assist us."
"Thank you Zero."
"So what are we going to do Zero?" Kallen asked, "It's going to be heavily guarded and we could die before we could get even near him."
"There's no need to worry Kallen," Lelouch assured, "all conditions have been cleared so long as you do everything that I say, we will get out of this alive…along with Suzaku Kururugi."
"Do you plan to have Kururugi join you?" Naoto asked.
"I plan to, yes and I hope he accepts."
Ohgi raised his eyebrows, "Is there a reason that he would refuse?"
"…Possibly."
"I see…" Kallen said.
"Anyway, for now, I want get ready for tomorrow night, so for now, we're going to make something."
"Huh, make what?" Naoto asked.
"A fake transport."
"Wait, what?" Kallen, Naoto, and Ohgi said simultaneously.
Flashback End
Kallen was still shaking and clenching her teeth.
"Lelouch, if this leads us to our death, I swear I'm going to…" Kallen said in her head.
In the cockpit of a Sutherland, Villetta was surprised.
"Zero?" Villetta asked.
"Who is this person, the man calling himself Zero?" The news reporter asked, "The one who now stands in front of the convoy."
Ashford Academy
In the Student Council Room, the members of the Student Council were surprised in what they were seeing on TV.
"What's this all about?" Rivalz asked.
"That is a good question," Alice said, "I don't know if it's bravery or insanity that this guy is doing this."
Milly, Shirley, and Nina just looked on and wondered what was going on as well.
Nunnally just looked on and had her thoughts, "Lelouch, I believe in you. If anyone can pull this off, you can."
Underground Base Somewhere
Sayoko and CC were watching Zero making his appearance.
"Master Lelouch," Sayoko said with worry.
"Well, he certainly knows how to make an appearance," CC commented.
Naoto's Base
"What is he doing?" Tamaki asked, "Is he serious?"
The other members were nervous and hoped that Naoto, Kallen, and Ohgi were going to be to get out of it alive.
In a production van
"Who is this man calling himself Zero?" A news reporter asked.
Diethard was watching and wondered.
"Zero?" Diethard asked, "As in nothing?"
Base of the Japan Liberation Front
Members of the biggest resistance faction were watching wondering what was going on as well. Todoh looked on and narrowed his eyes.
"Is he a terrorist?" The news reporter asked, "But if he is, then it's a foolish move to make!"
Streets of the Tokyo Settlement
Suzaku was witnessing what was happening and had questions.
"Is he an Eleven?"Suzaku asked in his head.
Lelouch looked directly at his childhood friend behind his mask, "Suzaku, I will pay my debt to you right now. I won't let you die."
"I've had enough of this Zero," Jeremiah said, "your little show is over!"
Jeremiah shot a round from his gun and it signaled four Sutherlands to be released by their VTOLs and land surrounding the fake transport and Kallen was getting even more scared. Lelouch on the other hand just stood very calm as his cape blew from the small gust of wind.
"Now first, remove your mask!" Jeremiah demanded.
Lelouch chuckled a bit and that surprised everyone listening.
"You want me to remove my mask?" Lelouch replied, "I think not...however I can show you all something. In fact, it's something that you people have been looking for."
Lelouch snapped his fingers in the air and behind him revealed the canister that CC was imprisoned in, the one that was believed to have poison gas inside. Jeremiah, Kewell, and Villetta were stunned and mortified in what they were seeing.
"T-That's…" Jeremiah spoke.
Villetta came out of her cockpit of her Sutherland, "Lord Jeremiah, be careful. That's—!"
"I know Villetta! I know!" Jeremiah clenched his teeth.
"Yes Jeremiah," Lelouch said in his head, "like Villetta and many other soldiers, you were told that inside the canister was poison gas. Well, I'll reveal the truth about that in a moment."
"Wait, that's—!" Suzaku spoke but was stopped when his collar activated preventing him to speak any further.
The people at the roadside wondered what was going on and reporters were wondering what was the canister that Zero had behind him and they wondered what Zero was going to do next and if he was going to say anything else. Jeremiah was shaking in anger seeing what was happening.
"You bastard," Jeremiah said in a low tone, "he's taken every Britannian here hostage and he did it without them knowing it."
Jeremiah pointed his gun at Zero shaking.
"Are you sure you want to do that?" Zero asked and then pointing the canister behind him, "You could hit the canister and that will just lead to problems although it's not as dangerous as you were told it is."
"Not as dangerous?" Jeremiah replied, "Don't lie, are you actually trying to lead me in a false sense of security? Well, it won't work. I see what you're doing and now I understand why you're here so you might as well tell us your demands."
Meanwhile in the production van, Diethard narrowed his eyes and contacted someone out near the site.
"Unit 6, bring up the sound," Diethard said, "and get that camera closer, right in his face!"
"But sir, it's too dangerous!" The cameraman said on the other line.
Diethard didn't like the response and clenched his teeth, "Amateurs!"
Diethard took a camera and went outside to get the shot himself. In the standoff between Zero and Jeremiah, Jeremiah set his gun down to his side.
"All right Zero," Jeremiah said, "I'll ask again, what are your demands?"
"It's not much really," Zero replied, "you can have this canister back, there's an innocent man that I would like to take with me in exchange."
"An innocent man?" Jeremiah asked raising an eyebrow, "Who are you referring to?"
"Hmph, that should be obvious. I'm referring to the man behind you who I have no doubt you treated him so unfairly," Zero pointed at Suzaku, "I'm referring to Suzaku Kururugi!"
Jeremiah scoffed, "Like hell I will! He's not innocent," Jeremiah glanced back at Suzaku, "he's accused of committing high treason by murdering a prince. I will not hand him over!"
"That is not true and you know it Jeremiah!" Zero countered heatedly.
"What was that?" Jeremiah glared at Zero.
"You heard what I said, Suzaku Kururugi is not the one who killed Clovis and you know it. You're just using him as a scapegoat for your own personal agenda! It's truly sad to see how low and corrupted you've become Gottwald!"
"How dare you!" Jeremiah replied heated.
"You couldn't find the real killer so you're framing Kururugi and by having him convicted, it would make wave for you to have your demands met which would include having shutting down the Honorary Britannian system. That is what you desire, I would bet anything that you really didn't even do a real investigation and you don't even care that he's actually innocent. Well, even if that's the case with you and the Britannian courts for that matter, it will be known right now and so with that in mind, if you want the real killer then you don't need to look any further!"
Diethard arrived and pointed the camera at Zero as he zoomed in and Zero himself noticed and grinned.
"Are you hearing this?" One of the reporters said stunned.
The reporter was summarizing what Zero had said to Jeremiah about Suzaku and people watching were shocked in what they were hearing.
"And just what the hell are you saying?" Jeremiah asked angrily.
"As I said, you don't need to look any further," Zero said, "because the real killer stands before you!"
This surprised Jeremiah and his envoy and Suzaku was surprised as well.
"Are you saying that…?"
"Yes, the one who killed Clovis," Zero looked directly at the camera Diethard was holding, "was myself!"
The people were shocked again upon hearing Zero's confession and Diethard smiled as he was still holding the camera as he felt that he had just hit the jackpot and he was getting very excited.
A.S.E.E.C. Knightmare Hanger
Lloyd and Cecile were surprised when they heard what was said watching the live broadcast.
"I don't believe this," Cecile said.
"The real killer!" Lloyd commented.
Ashford Academy
Members of the Student Council were shocked in what they were hearing watching the live event.
"Did he just…?" Alice said.
"He did," Milly said.
"The real killer?" Shirley asked.
"He's the one?" Nina said feeling a bit frightened.
"What…what does this mean?" The news reporter spoke surprised, "This masked man called Zero, no we can't be sure who he is, but in any case, he just made the claim to be the real murderer of Prince Clovis so where does this lead to the current suspect Private Kururugi?"
Streets of the Tokyo Settlement
In a truck, Naoto narrowed his eyes and Ohgi, in the cockpit of a knightmare, was trying to stay calm even though he was worried how Jeremiah and his envoy were going to react and in the fake transport, Kallen clenched her teeth.
"Here comes the next part…" Kallen said in low tone, "one slip up and we're so screwed."
"It was me," Zero confessed, "I'm the one who killed Clovis and the reason, retaliation," Zero held out his right hand, "Kururugi was nowhere near where I was when ended Clovis's life. Clovis, that fool even had the nerve to beg me, pleaded with me to let him live when he realized that he had no way out but still I shot him in head point blank!" Zero said as he clenched his fist.
Diethard was getting more and more excited and he figured this was exactly what he was looking for as he stared at Zero.
"This is all a big performance to him," Diethard said in his head happily as he was very pleased.
"There is more," Zero continued.
"More?"
"Clovis and I had a little chat for the atrocities that had happened to the people in Shinjuku."
"Shinjuku?" Jeremiah asked, "What are you talking about? What about Shinjuku?"
"It was reported that poison gas was used in Shinjuku which led the deaths of many people there, that is nothing but a lie and to prove that, I recorded the conversation between myself and Clovis right before I ended his life."
Elsewhere, Rai was hiding out in one of the buildings and typing something on his laptop while watching Zero and then he pushed the Enter key when he saw Zero raise his right hand in the air again and snapped his fingers. There was static in the airwaves and people wondered what was going on.
"What's going on?" A male Britannian civilian asked.
"What's this right now?" A female Britannian civilian asked.
"Clovis la Britannia, did you order the massacre in Shinjuku just to insure no one will reveal the girl that was used in the human experimentation that you were involved in?" Zero's voice said.
Yes, I did," Clovis's voice answered.
Everyone was shocked to hear the voices of both Zero and Clovis.
"Those voices…"
"That's Prince Clovis's voice," Jeremiah said.
"I don't believe this, it's…it's a recording between the late Prince Clovis and the killer Zero," A news reporter stated.
"You gave the word that it was poison gas in the canister that the terrorist group had stolen, correct?" Zero asked.
"That's correct," Clovis answered.
"Was it really poison gas they stole?"
"No."
"Was it the girl that you were using for human experiments in the canister?"
"Yes."
"What was your reason for ordering everyone in Shinjuku to be killed?"
"To insure that no one would live if they had seen her because if that girl and what I was involved in became known, I would be disinherited."
"That's why you ordered for every single person in Shinjuku to be killed, to protect your secret?"
"That's right."
"Did it ever occur to you that the people in Shinjuku had nothing to do with the terrorist group that stole your canister?"
"I did not care if they did or not, they were just Elevens, for me, it was like taking out the trash."
There was static again and the recording had ended and people were shocked in what they had heard.
"That's…" Jeremiah said in shocked.
"It must have been that girl that Lelouch and I stumbled upon," Suzaku deduced in his head, "so that's why…but how did Zero find out?"
Suzaku's eyes widened as he had a guess which had to do with Lelouch.
Zero pointed the canister behind him, "This canister behind me does not contain poison gas, it never contained poison gas. In fact there was never any poison gas to begin with. It was a lie that Clovis made to get his dirty little secret back to him. When Clovis admitted to me the truth, I was full of rage and ended his life. Yes, Clovis was involved in conducting human experimentation on a defenseless girl and that girl was certainly forced to go through the cruel ordeal that she endured. Human experimentations that we all know is considered illegal and Clovis was afraid of being disinherited if it became known in what he was doing and that is the real reason he ordered the massacre in Shinjuku because he was afraid of being found out. Not the benevolent prince that you people thought he was, no, he was nothing more than a lying scheming coward!"
"This…this can't be…" Jeremiah said still in shocked.
The civilians at the roadside were shocked in what they were hearing. The news reporters were stunned as well as they were summarizing what Zero was revealing and the people watching the news were shocked and surprised as well.
"It's like I said Jeremiah, the canister is not as dangerous as you would think and more details will be revealed when the activities of the project that Clovis was involved in gets uploaded into the internet. By tomorrow morning, it will spread for everyone of the world to see. Do you see now, Clovis was involved in something unsavory and the Royal Guard were involved as well and I killed them as well."
Jeremiah was seething and he still stunned in what he was hearing.
"If that's true then," Jeremiah said in a low tone, "damn that Bartley, he must have been involved as well. If I had known, I wouldn't have sent him back to the mainland so quickly before interrogating him and getting answers from him."
A.S.E.E.C. Knightmare Hanger
Lloyd and Cecile were surprised in what they were hearing in the news.
"I don't believe this," Cecile said in shock.
"So, that's what was really going on," Lloyd said, "so the poison gas thing was all a lie. I never thought that His Highness and General Bartley would be involved in something like that."
Ashford Academy
"You guys hearing this?" Shirley asked.
"Yeah, I'm hearing this," Rivalz said, "I just can't believe this."
"This must be…this must be what Lulu was saying when saw the Elevens in Shinjuku getting gunned down."
Milly clenched her fists and looked on with concern.
"It is quite a shock," Nunnally said although she was already told.
"I imagine that it would," Milly said and wondered how someone could be so cruel.
"Human experimentation," Nina said, "I can't believe Prince Clovis would…"
Naoto's Base
The members of Naoto's group were stunned in what they were hearing in the news.
"Human experimentation," Minami said in shocked.
"So it really wasn't poison gas?" Tamaki said stunned.
"I can't believe this," Inoue said, "we had stumbled something more serious."
"And of course Clovis would panic and order that damn massacre in Shinjuku," Sugiyama said upset.
"That bastard!" Yoshida said angrily, "If I had known, I would have demanded to kill Clovis myself!"
"Same here!" Tamaki said heated shaking his fist, "That stinking murdering, scheming Brit!"
Streets of the Tokyo Settlement
"So what's it going to be now Jeremiah?" Zero asked, "Now that the truth has been revealed before you, you really have nothing to hold Kururugi. What is your answer?"
Jeremiah clenched his teeth in anger, "What's my answer? My answer is that you will suffer the consequences for your actions! Even with everything you said that may or may not be the truth, it doesn't change the fact that you showed up disguising the prince's transport. You have the audacity to make a mockery to us and the crown and you will pay dearly for your foolishness!"
The Sutherlands aimed their machine guns at Zero and Zero still remained calmed as he looked around.
"So this is your response," Zero said, "sadly, this doesn't surprise me. I had hoped for even a little that you would see reason but you should be careful Gottwald, you wouldn't want people to know about Orange, would you?"
"Huh?"
The people wondered what Zero was talking about when he mentioned Orange.
"Orange?" A foot soldier pointing at gun at Suzaku asked.
"Orange, what is he talking about?" The second foot soldier asked.
"I don't know."
"What are you talking about?" Jeremiah asked confused.
"Hmph, don't bother feigning ignorance," Zero said, "you know exactly what I'm referring to," Zero tapped the vehicle with his right foot signaling Kallen to slowly drive forward, "if this goes down to a shooting frenzy, everything about Orange will be made public. Now if you don't want me to air your dirty laundry like I just did with Clovis…"
"Again, what the hell are you talking about?" Jeremiah asked heatedly and upset, "What is this?"
The slide compartment of Lelouch's mask opened revealing his left in which his Geass was activated.
"You will order for Suzaku Kururugi's release and make sure we leave here unharmed," Lelouch said with his Geass activated.
Lelouch's Geass took hold of Jeremiah and Jeremiah became calm.
"Right understood," Jeremiah said and then turned, "you there, release the prisoner!"
There were stunned gasps hearing what Jeremiah had ordered.
"Lord Jeremiah, what on earth are you doing?" Villetta asked surprised.
"Get that man over here and quickly!" Jeremiah insisted.
The two foot soldiers with Suzaku were confused and Suzaku was still stunned.
"S-Should we?" One of the foot soldiers asked.
"Margrave Jeremiah just said," The second foot soldier said, "but…"
"Hand him over," Jeremiah demanded, "nobody gets in his way!"
Kewell came out of the cockpit of his Sutherland not pleased, "No, what are you doing? Are you crazy? You can't do this!"
Jeremiah glared at Kewell, "Lord Kewell, this is an order!"
"It's hard to tell what's happening from here," A news reporter said, "but it seems that Kururugi's restraints have been broken!"
Suzaku was walking and Zero with Kallen behind him were walking and they were heading towards each other while the Britannians civilians at the roadside were upset and jeering and most of them were saying it was disgraceful. Suzaku and Zero met face-to-face.
"So who the hell are y—" Suzaku spoke but was interrupted when he collar activated to prevent him to speak.
"Just as I thought," Zero said, "they didn't allow you to speak. How disgraceful. How are you supposed to defend yourself if you were not allowed to speak? Such corruption that goes on."
Elsewhere, Naoto and Ohgi were getting ready as Ohgi started up the knightmare and Naoto started the engine of the truck.
Back with the others, Villetta quickly got back in her knightmare.
"If they get away, we'll lose everything!" Villetta said.
"Zero, it's time to go," Kallen said.
"Yes," Zero responded.
Zero took out a switch from his pocket and pushed the button. The canister opened and fireworks were shooting up surprising the civilians and they were running away in instincts as fireworks continued to shoot upward and a fireworks display went on.
"You cowardly Eleven!" Villetta spat.
Villetta aimed her knightmare's machine gun at Suzaku and Zero but she was stopped by the Sutherland piloted by Jeremiah and it surprised her.
"Lord Jeremiah, what are you—?!" Villetta spoke.
"You heard me," Jeremiah interjected, "stand down now!"
"Hold on tight," Zero said as he held Suzaku and they jumped off the bridge.
Kewell saw their action and was wide eyed, "They're not alone at all! They jumped right off!"
Ohgi sprung a safety net for Zero, Kallen, and Suzaku and it eased their fall when they went through it and got in from the top into the truck.
"All right!" Naoto said happily, "Kaname!"
"Yeah, it worked," Ohgi said happily.
Ohgi was suddenly shot at by Kewell in his Sutherland and Ohgi ejected from the knightmare.
"You fool!" Kewell spat, "There's nowhere for you to run!"
"Lord Kewell!" Jeremiah called forcing Kewell to see that Jeremiah pointed his weapon at Kewell, "Are you going to follow orders or not? And believe me, there will be repercussions. All units, do I make myself clear? Do everything in your power to make sure they get away!"
An old theater in Old Tokyo
Naoto and his group met with each other and were discussing the success of the operation.
"Man, I didn't think he could do it," Sugiyama said.
"Yeah, who is this guy Naoto?" Yoshida asked.
"Someone who calculates and strategize, that's for sure," Naoto answered.
"That's crap," Tamaki said, "how often can a bluff like that work anyway."
"We got to give the guy credit," Ohgi said feeling pleased, "got to admit it, no else could have pulled that off…not even the Japan Liberation Front, that's for sure."
Naoto smiled, "Yeah, not me either. I admit that I would have never been able to do what he did."
Tamaki just had his arms crossed and was feeling grumpy.
"We've always thought that a full on war against Britannia would be impossible," Ohgi said, "but with Zero, I believe that it's possible."
"It is," Naoto said, "which is why I have something important to tell you guys."
"Huh, what is it Naoto?" Kallen asked.
The others were curious in what Naoto was going to say.
"I've decided that I'm going to join Zero," Naoto declared.
There were gasps from Naoto's group and they all looked at him surprised.
"You're going have us join Zero?" Minami asked.
"No, I'm going to join Zero," Naoto clarify, "I'm not going to make any of you follow me in that. I believe that Zero is the best chance for Japan and I agree with what he said about before. Just freeing Japan alone will not defeat Britannia. I'm not going to ask you to follow me though as this is something that I decided for myself although if you want to follow me in joining Zero, it's your choice alone."
Ohgi smiled, "Naoto, I believe that I said this before, whatever you decide to do, I'll follow you through."
"I see but are you sure you really want to Kaname?"
"Huh?"
"I…kind of drag you out of being a teacher so that you could help me," Naoto looked ashamed, "to be honest, it was wrong of me. I had no right to do that and I—"
"Wait Naoto," Ohgi interrupted, "I could have said no and that would have been the end of it. You gave me a choice and I chose to follow you. Sure I was nervous but I chose to follow you because you gave me a choice and I believe in you, just like I do now and right now, with what we pulled off, I think I can believe in Zero as well."
"I see," Naoto smiled, "thanks Kaname."
"My pleasure," Ohgi said with grin.
Kallen just looked on as her brother and his best friend were talking and then she turned around and wondered what Lelouch was telling Suzaku Kururugi at the moment. On the other side, Lelouch was holding the collar that was around Suzaku's neck and broke it and then he tossed it.
"It seems they really did treat you unfairly," Zero said, "it really is disgraceful and they had no real evidence against you."
"So is it true?" Suzaku asked glaring at Zero, "Did you really kill Prince Clovis?"
"You want me to say it again? Yes, I killed Prince Clovis. It was retaliation for ordering the deaths of innocent people in Shinjuku just to protect his dirty secret. Do you really want me to go into the gory details?"
"…That canister, what was it that was shooting out of it?"
"Fireworks."
"Fireworks?" Suzaku asked surprised.
"Yes, don't tell me you've forgotten what fireworks look like. I acquired them from my contacts in the Chinese Federation."
"You have contacts?" Suzaku asked surprised.
"I have people working with me, not only in Japan but in other countries, countries that are suffering the same oppression by Britannia."
"Wasn't that dangerous though, civilians could have gotten hurt if something went wrong," Suzaku berated.
"I was never going to let that happen," Zero assured.
"You sound sure of it."
"Of course, I always prepare things carefully when doing something like that."
Suzaku clenched his fist, "That recording that was broadcasted. So Prince Clovis really was…"
"Yes."
"Did you…did you really have to kill him?"
"Yes, I took no pleasure in ending his life but I did what I felt needed to be done and besides, this is war, why wouldn't I kill an enemy commander, especially an enemy commander who has no regard to civilian lives?"
"But you could have turned over recording and the information you claim you have to the authorities, there's was no need to kill Prince Clovis."
"Hmph sure, I could have turned them in to the Britannian authorities and then they would have gotten 'mysteriously' lost and they would have never been seen or heard from again. It's no different from the fact that the things that were told of what happened in Shinjuku were false."
"But still though, it was still dangerous…" Suzaku said.
"I made sure that everything I planned went on with no harm to civilians and did you see? The result is that no one died and that includes you."
"The result…right, I guess in the end that's all that matters to you."
"Suzaku Kururugi, what happened to the people in Shinjuku was unacceptable, Clovis had many innocent Japanese lives ended for his own selfish reasons and what happened to you was an outrage," Zero pointed out, "Kururugi, I wish for you to join me."
Suzaku just looked at Zero and narrowed his eyes, "Really?"
"Yes, I would like you to join me in defeating Britannia and making them answers for all the heinous acts they have committed on the people. What is your answer? Do you accept…or do you refuse?"
Suzaku sighed and then he shook his head, "I refuse."
Zero just looked at Suzaku, "I see. May I ask why?"
"I appreciate what you did for me and I agree with you on one thing, what happened to the people in Shinjuku was terrible, however, I don't agree with your methods and how you do things. You talk of wanting to free Japan; you don't seem to understand that Japan lost the war to Britannia seven years ago. It's over and done with."
"I do understand, yes, the government of Japan was toppled seven years ago however that doesn't mean that the idea of Japan being free from Britannia should be forbidden, not to the people that desire it and I desire to cut the Britannia's shackles on other counties."
"You can't," Suzaku said, "it's not possible."
"It is possible because I will make it possible with the aid of the people who desire it and there are people who do desire it. The Britannia that exists right now is rampant with corruption and is rotten flexing their so-called superiority and beating down those who are not them just because they feel that it's their natural right, that is not the country worth serving."
"Even if what you say is true, even with all the terrible things that go on, it can change for the better," Suzaku said.
Zero was surprised, "Change for the better? Are you serious?"
"Yes…look, I don't deny the horrible things that Britannia does but that should be a motive to try to change things from within…and that's what I plan to do."
Zero sighed, "I see, so this is what you've decided."
"It is…and any results gained through contemptible means are worthless, that's how I see with what you've done."
"Don't act self-righteous with me Kururugi, it won't work," Zero then scoffed, "Would you say to any Britannian in power, I doubt it. I do what I need to do, I'm sick of seeing innocent people suffer for the whims of those in power, like Clovis, Jeremiah, and anyone else who victimized people like the ones in Shinjuku and that is why I took command of the battle in Shinjuku fighting against Clovis's forces."
Suzaku was stunned and looked at Zero, "Are saying that you're the one that commanded that group opposing the Britannian forces in Shinjuku?"
"Of course, it was right before I confronted Clovis."
Suzaku narrowed his eyes, "Zero, tell me, did you happen to face a white knightmare?"
"Huh, yeah I did fought against it actually…wait, why?"
"I see, so it was you that I was fighting."
Zero was surprised, "Wait a minute, are you telling me that you were the one that was piloting the knightmare called the Lancelot?"
"Yes, wait a minute, how did you know that it was called the Lancelot?"
"The details I got in the computers in the G-1 Base. I don't believe this, you were the one that I was fighting and yet you were accused of killing Clovis."
"Yes, that is an example that you should consider, they let an Eleven like me pilot a knightmare, a seventh generation knightmare frame. That should tell you that there's a chance that Britannia can change for the better."
"Hmph, that tells me nothing, sure you got lucky that you were allowed to pilot their knightmare but…that doesn't change with what I've said. I still intend to free the cruel grip Britannia has on other nations."
"You're wrong and I will prove it, things can get better when one works within the system of Britannia, it really can so I won't join you Zero, I have faith that things can get better regarding Britannia. You and other people may despise the fact that Britannia controls other countries but that's how it is; it's selfish and just lashing out to say otherwise."
Zero shook his head, "Hmph, well, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed but since you won't join me then that's it, there's nothing I can do about it."
"Then do you understand what—"
"Let me tell you this Kururugi," Zero interrupted, "I honestly only see two results of how things will be for you with what you have decided to do, with the way Britannia is now and the poison they spread, you will either die trying or you'll be swallowed up by the system and your ideals will get warped and twisted. To be honest with you, I think you're a fool and very naïve."
"A fool and naïve, huh?" Suzaku chuckled and then turned his back on Zero, "An old friend of mine would tell me that all the time. He would say that I was a fool and being stupid."
"…Yes, Lelouch vi Britannia, right?"
Suzaku was shocked and turned to face Zero.
"Yes, Lelouch vi Britannia, that's the old friend you're referring to, him and his sister Nunnally vi Britannia," Zero said, "I wonder what they may be thinking now watching the broadcast."
"How…how do you…?"
"How do you I know about them?" Zero chuckled a bit, "Sorry, that's not something for you to know since you won't join me."
Suzaku clenched his fists and glared at Zero, "Okay look, I don't know how you know about them but I don't want you to involve either of them."
"If they choose to get involved, it will be by their own choice. Anyone that decides to join me will do it because they want to, that's how it will go with me. Now Suzaku, since you won't join me, I assume that you're still going to go to your court martial, correct?"
"Uh yes, I will. It starts in an hour and I need to hurry."
"Well then, get going, of course, with everything that happened and what I presented on the live broadcast, I'm sure the charges against you will be dropped and you'll be a free man but I want you to know this Suzaku Kururugi, this is only the beginning for me. My goal to bring Britannia down starts now. I'm just getting started because the wish of the people who desires to fight against them demands it."
Suzaku didn't like what he heard and clenched his fists.
"I see, that's your answer," Suzaku turned his back on Zero, "I would like to turn you in for your crimes but I'm guessing you'll retaliate against me if I make an attempt. I do thank you for what you did for me, but Zero, should we cross paths again, I will stop you. I will beat you with the Lancelot next time."
"Hmph, you're welcome to try," Zero said crossing his arms, "and I will stop you in your tracks as a result and it won't be in a Sutherland next time."
Suzaku walked away and left to go to his court martial and Zero just looked on.
"Well, there he goes," Zero said.
Zero walked and met up with Rai who leaned on a wall and crossed his arms.
"So he refused," Rai said.
"Yeah, you heard what he said, right?" Lelouch replied.
"He's incredibly naïve if he thinks he'll be able to change Britannia within and why doesn't want to free Japan? He doesn't make sense."
"That's just how it is; it seems that my old friend has such a defeatist attitude. But anyway, I did what I set out to do so it was still an overall success," Lelouch looked at Rai, "Rai, I thank you for your help. You, Naoto, Kallen, and Kaname Ohgi really helped make my plans a successful."
Rai smiled and nodded, "It felt great doing what we did."
Lelouch smiled, "And it's just the beginning."
"So Lelouch, may I ask you one thing?"
"Yes?"
Ashford Academy
"Yes, apparently Private Kururugi has made contact with the authorities," A news correspondent said, "it would seem that Zero has released him. However now that the original charges against him has been thrown into question, it's very possible that Kururugi will be found innocent and acquitted."
"Did Zero really let that Kururugi guy go?" Shirley said.
"It seems he did," Rivalz said.
"This Zero guy has just earned the ire of Britannia by killing Prince Clovis," Alice said, "efforts will be extremely made to bring him to justice…of course, it wouldn't be a surprise if other resistance faction in Area 11 started to take more action as well…the result of Zero's actions."
Nina just looked at the TV and then just went back staring at her computer screen. Nunnally smiled and decided to head out.
"Heading back Nunnally?" Milly asked looking at Nunnally.
"Yes, I need to finish up on my homework," Nunnally said.
"Oh yeah, that homework we got assigned today is really tough," Alice commented.
"Do you need help with it Alice?" Nunnally asked.
"Oh no, no, I'm sure I'll be able to get it," Alice said with a smile, "but I'll see you if I need help."
Nunnally smiled at Alice and nodded, "Make sure you do."
Nunnally left the Student Council Room. Nunnally was walking out in the hall and then she noticed someone who was leaning against a wall and it was CC.
"CC, why are you doing here?" Nunnally asked.
"I want to ask you something Nunnally," CC replied.
"Huh?" Nunnally raised her eyebrow, "What is it?"
Middle Eastern Federation
In the desert, the Britannian forces were fighting the Middle Eastern forces and they were fighting in their knightmare frames, the Bamides. The firing kept going on then suddenly a group of knightmare frames called the Gloucester appeared and charged towards them. In the cockpits, the members of the Middle Eastern forces were surprised.
"Gloucesters?" One of the members said.
"They were supposed to be in Serupham!" Another member said.
The commander looked on he was angry. The group of Gloucesters continued charging towards their enemies.
"Hah, shoddy, oversize imitation knightmares!" Andreas Darlton commented.
"They would have done well in surrendering from the start, the fools!" Gilbert G.P. Guilford added.
The Gloucesters were decimating the Bamides with ease and then Middle Eastern base that was being defended was quickly destroyed. The commander saw this and was shocked as he saw only the caped Gloucester that was standing with flames engulfing behind it.
"That's Cornelia!" The commander said surprised, "Impossible, just one unit did all this?!"
The commander was killed when his Bamides exploded and so did the rest. In the cockpit of the caped Gloucester, the second princess of the Holy Britannian Empire, Cornelia li Britannia nodded with approval.
"We've done it," Cornelia said, "Area 18 has been established."
"My lady," Darlton contacted, "about our next plan of action…"
"Yes, forgive me for dragging you with me to clean my foolish younger brother's mess," Cornelia then frowned, "and among other things."
"Not at all, my lady," Darlton assured, "our place is with you, wherever it may be."
"Right," Cornelia said with a smile, "Area 11 won't be as easy as our usual assignments."
"Yes, I agree."
"As do I," Guilford said.
"Yes, I'm counting on you for your assistance," Cornelia said then had her thoughts feeling resentment towards the one who ended Clovis's life, "I'll drive you out of the open Zero. Clovis will be avenged."
That's it for this chapter. Next chapter: The aftermath of Zero's debut and Suzaku accompanies a pink haired young lady.