Disclaimer: I don't own Code Geass.
Battle in Saitama
CC pointed a gun at Lelouch and Lelouch was surprised and also annoyed,
"CC, what the hell are you doing?" Lelouch asked annoyed.
"Lelouch, you're being too reckless on this and the way you're going about it is too risky," CC said still pointing the gun at Lelouch, "you and I have a contract and I won't you have die."
"Okay CC, notice what you're saying is completely opposite of what you're doing right now," Lelouch pointed out.
"Oh I won't kill you; I'll shoot you in the leg to keep you from moving."
"You're serious…"
"I don't make light on things like this Lelouch."
"You're serious about getting in my way," Lelouch said glaring at CC.
"You can glare at me all you want Lelouch but I won't have you die out there without you keeping your end of the bargain."
"If I don't go, then everything I've done so far will be a lie and I won't have that," Lelouch said, "and I won't let anyone make me a liar, not even you CC."
"Don't be so melodramatic," CC countered, "I'm doing this for your own good."
"You're willing to prevent me from doing what I promised to do. I know I have a contract with you but you have no right to keep me from what I need to do, it's not in the condition with our contract with each other. If you insist on it CC, then that makes you my enemy. You promised that won't cause trouble for me but you're breaking that promise to me right now."
"Lelouch, I'm going to keep you alive," CC insisted, "whatever it takes."
"Hmph, it would be pointless if I choose not to grant your wish."
"Excuse me?" CC replied surprised as she arched an eyebrow.
"That's what will happen," Lelouch pointed his finger at the gun, "shoot me with that gun to injure me and I won't grant your wish, no matter what you say or do."
"You can't go back on our contract," CC pointed out.
"Really?" Lelouch said and then sprung a kunai from his sleeve and pointed it at his neck and surprised CC, "if you try to force me to afterward, I'll kill myself. That is the way I do it, if I stop with my fight that has just begun against Britannia, then I might as well be literally dead. Of course, I'm confident that Rai and my sister Nunnally will be able to carry on."
"Do you honestly think they can?" CC asked.
"I know they can but back to you and me, what's it going to be CC? Shoot me and I won't grant your wish."
"Lelouch…"
"I still don't know everything about you and what your wish is since you won't tell me and I know you're still keeping things to yourself and not telling me everything, however it won't matter if I end it myself but really, it's up to you."
CC couldn't believe what she was seeing and she was shocked and she saw from Lelouch's expression that he was serious. She wanted her wish granted and she was sure that Lelouch would be the one to grant her wish but it would mean nothing if he died. CC gave in and lowered the gun to her side. Lelouch smiled when he saw CC do just that and he put his kunai away.
"I see now," CC said, "this is your resolve and you're willing to stake your life on it."
"Listen CC, I'm not being reckless about what I'm doing," Lelouch said.
"Huh?" CC responded.
"It is true that I want to ask Cornelia about what she knows but if it is impossible to do so when we fight her and her forces in Saitama then I'll simply look for another opportunity. I'm not as reckless as you might think I am and of course I'm not willing to risk the lives of others just to get what I want."
"Hmm," CC looked away.
Lelouch sighed, "Okay how about this? Come with me."
"Huh?" CC looked at Lelouch surprised.
"If you want assurance that I will not be reckless and my safety, then come with me and assist us in Saitama."
"…Fine, I'll do that. I'll be able to keep an eye on you and make sure you stay alive."
"Whatever," Lelouch said with a shrug, "well then, shall we go?"
CC nodded as she and Lelouch were set to head to Saitama.
"Ready Sayoko?" Lelouch asked.
"What?" CC spoke surprised.
"Yes Master Lelouch," Sayoko said as she appeared from the entrance with a kunai in hand.
CC was stunned as she didn't notice Sayoko was there and saw Lelouch grinning at her and CC realized.
"I see," CC said in her head, "he had Sayoko stay here with him. So there was really no way that I was really going to be able to stop him…"
Meanwhile in the hall of Ashford Academy, Suzaku arrived wearing his Ashford uniform and was waving a fuzzy tail on a stick so that he could play with the cat while humming to himself. He got to the door that led to the Student Council room.
"You have some serious issues Shirley," Alice's voice said.
"Huh?" Suzaku spoke.
The door opened and Alice came appeared and was surprised when she saw Suzaku.
"Oh Suzaku," Alice said.
"Hi Alice, what's up?" Suzaku replied.
Alice looked at her left side and frowned, "Be careful Suzaku, Shirley is letting her imagination run wild again."
"Huh?" Suzaku replied, "Again?"
Alice left and then Suzaku came in and there he saw Shirley and Nina and Nina started to shake when she saw Suzaku.
"Hi, you're Nina, right?" Suzaku said polite and friendly.
Nina flinched and then looked away from him.
"I have to go," Nina said as she left in a hurry.
Suzaku looked at Nina leaving in a hurry.
"Of course she doesn't like me," Suzaku said and then looked at Shirley who was holding the cat, "hi Shirley, do know where Lelouch is? I want to ask him about something."
"I don't know where he is and I don't give a damn!" Shirley replied emotionally.
"Uh Shirley?" Suzaku responded confused.
Saitama Ghetto
The operation had just begun for Cornelia and her forces and Britannian foot soldiers were marching with their loaded guns in hand and were looking around and they were confused in what they were seeing and what they were seeing was no one. There wasn't a single person around in where they were searching. Squad leaders ordered for them to continue the search for any single resident in Saitama as they all felt they would find them eventually. Meanwhile, the residents of Saitama were actually in the sewer tunnels and they were being guided by a few members of the Yamato Alliance and Naoto was also assisting in the evacuation. They stopped at a certain area and then they were met up by Ohgi and the others and Naoto waved at them.
"Naoto," Ohgi said.
"Kaname, thanks for coming," Naoto said, "I'm glad you didn't get lost navigating through the tunnels."
"Yeah, it's thanks to the direction you gave us."
Naoto nodded and spoke to the people who were still unsure and most had hoped that they would be able to go back to Saitama after it was over. Naoto instructed them to follow Ohgi as well as Tamaki, Minami, Yoshida, Sugiyama, and Inoue who would guide them to a safe place.
"Naoto, are you going to help Zero fight Cornelia?" Ohgi asked.
"Yeah," Naoto answered.
"Does Zero have a plan?" Minami asked.
"Well, Zero says we can't approach fighting Cornelia like we did with Clovis so we have to take caution however, Zero has the plan to defeat Cornelia."
"I wish you the best of luck Naoto," Sugiyama said, "come back alive."
"Thanks and I will along with Kallen, Zero, and the others," Naoto said with a nod, "now take the people to a safe place; we'll get back and meet with Zero."
"Right," Ohgi said.
Ohgi then took charge to guide the people to safety through the sewer tunnels while Naoto and a few members of the Yamato Alliance went back to rendezvous with Zero. Meanwhile in one of the building in the upper floor, Rai was looking over and Lelouch arrived in his Zero costume and holding his mask and they looked over.
"Forces are moving," Rai said, "so far so good. It's all going as you planned Lelouch."
"Very good," Lelouch said.
"So we're really going to do it?" Nunnally asked as she, Sayoko, and CC appeared.
"Yes Nunnally," Lelouch said turning to his sister, "we're going to hand our sister Cornelia her first defeat. Let's get ready."
"Right," Rai said.
Rai, Sayoko, CC, and Nunnally left to get in their positions. Lelouch picked up the radio. Elsewhere, Naoto, Kallen, and Keitaro were watching from Britannian soldiers moving in and breaking through homes and finding that they weren't able to find anyone.
"Naoto, do you copy?" Lelouch said from the other line.
Naoto held the radio and place it on his ear, "Naoto here, we're ready to begin Zero."
"Excellent, let me speak to Aoyama."
"Sure," Naoto said and he handed the radio to Keitaro.
Keitaro took the radio and place it on his ear.
"Keitaro Aoyama?" Zero asked.
"Yes, this is he," Keitaro answered.
"Listen well, because of your decision to join forces with us, you get to win and participate in defeating Cornelia li Britannia in this battle. Follow my directions exactly and we will gain victory."
"I'm ready Zero," Keitaro said, "along with my group."
"Great, let's move."
Keitaro looked at Naoto and Kallen and they all nodded and hurried to get in position. Meanwhile, Lelouch got in a cockpit of a knightmare and then he took a deep breath. Lelouch took the radio and held it near him.
"Is everyone in position?" Lelouch asked.
The answer he got was that everyone was in the position that he instructed them to be.
"We're ready Zero," Rai said.
"Good, Rai keep watch and inform me on any sudden changes."
"Understood."
Meanwhile, Britannian forces continued move in the Saitama Ghetto and while that was happening, several Sutherlands were in position behind the G-1 Mobile Base and the pilots were the members of the Purist Faction.
"I don't understand," Jeremiah said upset, "Why won't Princess Cornelia order us to attack as well?"
"Because Orange is here," Kewell said looking at Jeremiah with contempt and made Jeremiah looked at him and Kewell looked away with disgust, "just be glad that you weren't disposed of. It's because of you that the Purist Faction's credibility is shot. Our careers are practically over!"
"I'm telling you it wasn't really me, it was Zero," Jeremiah insisted.
"Tch, that again…you're acting just like Bartley, refusing to take responsibility for your own actions."
"That's not it at all and don't compare me to that fool Bartley!" Jeremiah countered.
Villetta looked at Jeremiah and Kewell and then she recalled something.
"I manage to recall a student was in the Shinjuku Ghetto," Villetta said in her head, "I wonder…is it possible that student could be working with Zero…if only I can remember what he looked like and what happened," Villetta frowned, "I need to do something about this. I'm sure that I can find a way to figure things out. I have to look for clues…"
G-1 Mobile Base
"It seems that that there are no signs of any of the residents in the ghetto," Darlton said.
"No one?" Guilford asked.
"No one, not a single person," A staff officer said.
Cornelia didn't like what she was hearing.
"But how can this be?" One of the staff officers asked.
"Every house has been searched thoroughly and there have been no signs of any Elevens," Another staff officer said.
"I see," Cornelia said and she narrowed her eyes, "is it possible that…?"
"Viceroy?" Darlton said looking at the second Britannian princess.
"Extend the search," Cornelia commanded," look for every nook and cranny of the ghetto."
"Is it possible that the Elevens there have a secret place or have fled through somewhere we're not aware of yet?" Guilford asked.
"I'm certain that's exactly what happened," Cornelia said.
"Could the Yamato Alliance be doing the same thing?" Darlton asked.
"That is also a possible as well," Cornelia frowned, "it seems that part of my plan has already failed…this is unexpected."
"What would you like us to do Viceroy?" Darlton asked.
"Hmm…"
There was a sudden beep on the console in the bridge and it surprised Cornelia and her subordinates as well as the staff officers that served Clovis.
"An open channel?" One of the staff officers asked.
"That is…" Cornelia said having a good idea.
"Milady?" Guilford asked.
"Let it through," Cornelia ordered.
"Yes," Darlton said as he pushed a button.
The monitor showed Euphie on the screen and this surprised the officers except for Cornelia, Guilford, and Darlton.
"I figured it was you," Cornelia said.
"I need to talk to you Sister," Euphie said.
"It will have to wait, I'm in a middle of an operation right now, you know that and what did I tell you before, you're to address to me as Viceroy."
Euphie frowned when she closed her eyes and then opened them and looked at Cornelia.
"Viceroy, you're doing a reenactment of the massacre in Shinjuku, aren't you?" Euphie asked.
The staff officers as well as Darlton and Guilford were stunned in what Euphie had just asked and Cornelia just looked at her younger sister and sighed.
"What are you talking about?" Cornelia responded.
"The fact that you had the media announce the time of the operation. You normally wouldn't do that unless you were trying to lure someone of interest and set the conditions to cause a massacre in the name of weeding out the enemies with the intent to provoke someone of interest. You've done this before in the Middle East Federation and again at the Southern Pacific Islands."
"I still don't know what you're talking about Sub-Viceroy," Cornelia said, "I'm simply leading an attack against a terrorist group; please don't interrupt me with such meaningless speculations."
"Meaningless?" Euphie responded in shock.
Cornelia ended the transmission and frowned with her thoughts, "Euphie…please try to understand…I can't let Clovis's killer get away even though Clovis…"
Cornelia stopped herself and regained her composure.
Area 11 Viceroy's Palace
In her office, Euphie was shocked and tried to get in contact with Cornelia again but she was not having any luck and she frowned.
"So that's how you want to respond," Euphie said.
Euphie rushed out of her office and called for one of the military officers.
"Yes Your Highness," One of the military officers responded.
"I need go to Saitama," Euphie said.
The military officer was stunned when he heard her request.
"Wait, what?" The military officer said surprised.
G-1 Mobile Base
"Viceroy…" Darlton said as he and the others looked at Cornelia.
"I certainly did not expect her to figure things out so quickly," Cornelia commented.
"About Princess Euphemia…" Guilford spoke with concern.
"I'll personally deal with the situation with her myself. Anyway never mind; let's get back to the matter at hand."
"Yes Your Highness," The officers said in unison.
Saitama Ghetto
Lelouch was in the cockpit and had his thoughts as he was seeing soldiers and knightmares looking for anyone ready to kill.
"It's always the same," Lelouch said in his head, "no matter who's in charge, they follow the same mindset and that mindset is that the natives in the land are meant to be killed out convenience."
In one of the cockpits of the Sutherlands, a Britannian soldier was grinning.
"It's too bad, we haven't found a single Eleven and Zero doesn't seem to be anywhere," The Britannian soldier said, "I admit they must be good at running away…heh, they shouldn't have opposed us in the first place if they're just going to run away like cowards. As for Zero, in the end, he's nothing more than terrorist."
The two Sutherlands continued on and then they were suddenly struck by missiles and they exploded. Naoto, Keitaro, Gen, and two other members of the Yamato Alliance came out from the building and they nodded and Naoto signaled them to move to the next area and they went while Naoto went the other way. Meanwhile elsewhere, foot soldiers were moving in and continued to look around and they found no signs of any of the residents. One of them was about to give report to the G-1 Mobile Base when they were suddenly attack and they didn't see their attackers until after the fact and they died silently as the ones who attacked and killed them were Sayoko and Rai. The two went to the opposite directions of each other and did the same to more foot soldiers that they saw. In another area of the ghetto, four Sutherlands moved and then they stopped and activated their Factsphere Sensors and then two of them were suddenly struck by Slash Harkens and were knocked on the ground. The other two looked and they saw a knightmare that was black quickly rushing them and knocking them on the ground. In the cockpit of the black knightmare, Jinta glared at them and as he controlled his knightmare and grabbed two of the Sutherlands' machine guns and shot all four of them and destroyed them killing the pilots inside.
G-1 Mobile Base
Cornelia and the other officers in the bridge were seeing signatures of their knightmare forces being lost and the former staff officers of Clovis were shaking. Cornelia was getting reports of teams being lost.
"The Ground troops have yet to contact us at the specific time that they were supposed to," Darlton said.
"They're most likely dead," Cornelia said.
"It would seem so," Guilford added.
"But it can't be," One of the staff officer said in disbelief, "every single one of them?"
"Kaczinski team engaging," Another staff officer said, "they were ambushed."
"The enemy seems to be using the Sutherlands captured from our own forces," Another staff officer said.
"It's just like before," One of Clovis's former staff officer said, "this is just like Shinjuku."
"Has Zero really made his appearance?" Another of Clovis's former staff officers asked.
"So that's what happening…" Cornelia said.
There was another beep and they saw on the screen of five knightmares being lost and it was at the area where there was a bridge.
Saitama
Back in the ghetto, the Britannian forces were being decimated as instructed by Lelouch with the aid of Yamato Alliance and the group with Lelouch. Lelouch then moved on in the knightmare that he was piloting and he wondered what his sister Cornelia was going to do next.
G-1 Mobile Base
They saw another bridge with being destroyed and the knightmares that were on the bridge being brought down as well.
"Point 1-7 has been lost," One of the staff officers said, "we've lost Halley team!"
"All right, that's enough," Cornelia said, "I'm ordering all troops to fall back. Any further damage will be meaningless."
"Fall back?" One of Clovis's former staff officers spoke in disbelief, "Viceroy, with all due respect, I'm sure we can still fight them."
"We can't fight like this," Cornelia pointed out, "besides; it's all part of my strategy."
"Huh?" The three former staff officers of Clovis spoke confused.
Saitama Ghetto
"To all forces, fall back behind ghetto perimeter at once! Never mind holding formation! Fall back behind ghetto perimeter at once!" Cornelia said over the airwaves.
Inside the cockpit of a knightmare, Lelouch nodded as he realized what was happening.
"I see, so this is your move Cornelia," Lelouch said, "well then, I'll make my next move."
"Zero," A Yamato Alliance member was calling, "this is the chance to move in and take Cornelia by surprise."
"No, best we don't, just stick to the plan that we all agreed on earlier," Lelouch replied.
"But Zero—"
"It's a false opening, it's exactly what she would want us to do," Zero interjected, "we do that, we be playing right in her hands. Just stick to the plan and we will hand Cornelia li Britannia her defeat. I can guarantee it."
"If…if you say so Zero…"
"Good now with that, all members of the Yamato Alliance, it's time for you to commence the second phase of the plan."
"Right… understood Zero," Keitaro said, "Alright, you all heard Zero. That means all of us of the Yamato Alliance."
"Right!" Members of the Yamato Alliance said.
"Now, for my remaining seven, let's get in positions for the second phase."
"Understood Zero," Naoto said, "I'm position."
"So am I and ready anytime," Kallen said.
"I'm in position Zero," Nunnally said.
"As I am," Sayoko said.
"I'm ready," Rai said.
"In position and ready Zero," Jinta said.
"I'm ready and waiting on your signal," CC said.
"Good, I thank you all," Lelouch said and looked at the monitor, "all conditions are clear. Now the real battle begins."
Ashford Academy
In the Student Council Room, Suzaku was waving the fuzzy tail on a stick to the cat.
"So Lulu and Nunna lived here before it became an Area?" Shirley asked, "Were they neighbors?"
"Um, something like that," Suzaku replied, "What about you?"
"Well, I...I guess I was like Lulu as well. I mean, he seemed too frivolous and would sneer at working hard. I honestly really didn't like him at first."
"I see…"
"But then something happened back when we were freshmen. There was a traffic accident. The driver that hit rear was clearly at fault anyway you look at it but he tried to make it seem like it was the couple that he hit and no one was willing to help them. When I looked over, I saw Lulu and Rivalz and Lulu was just sitting in the passage seat reading a book with that bored look on his face," Shirley recalled as she told Suzaku what Lelouch did and it was when Lelouch got out and place a hook of a towing truck to the rude man's car and when the truck drove off taking the man's car with him and the man frantically ran to stop the truck so that he can get back his car and Shirley had a look of amazement when she saw it, "Lulu didn't do it to boast or laugh about it. He did it with the same bored look he always has. It was then that I wondered, 'What was up with that guy? What is he thinking? What does he really want to do?' I wanted to know and well, the result of trying to figure him out and trying to understand him…I…"
"You fell in love with him," Suzaku deduced with a smile.
Shirley flinched and then blushed, "I…I suppose…maybe…"
Outside of the Student Council Room, Milly was listening to the conversation between Shirley and Suzaku.
"Oh, to be in love," Milly commented in a quiet tone.
Milly sighed and thought about Lelouch as she blushed a bit and held her hand over her heart and then she remembered last night when she kissed him on the cheek and smiled at that memory.
"I'm not very honest with myself," Milly said, "Do I even have the right to feel this way about him?"
Freeway of the Tokyo Settlement
A Britannian limousine was on its way to the Saitama Ghetto. In the back, Euphie was frowned and hoped to try again to talk to her sister.
"Cornelia thinks she can ignore me," Euphie said, "I don't know what I'm going to do if she…"
Euphie was worried what her sister had in mind of what she was going to do while thinking about the many people that I had died in Shinjuku under Clovis's order and Zero's retaliation for it.
Saitama Ghetto
Sutherlands of the Britannian military forces were falling back as ordered by Cornelia. Lelouch looked on in the cockpit and looked at the monitor and had his hand on the radio.
"Rai, are you ready?" Lelouch said, "You're going to be the one that starts."
"I'm ready Zero," Rai said on the other line, "I'm waiting for you to give the word."
"Very good," Lelouch pushed the button on the radio and looked on, "Cornelia, you will lose."
G-1 Mobile Base
"It is I who wins," Cornelia said with a smile.
The staff officer looked at Cornelia surprised and Darlton as well as Guilford nodded with confidence for their princess.
"This is why she's called the Goddess of Victory," Darlton said.
Cornelia nodded and looked over to Guilford, "Are you ready to go, Guilford my knight?"
Guilford bowed to his princess, "It is my great pleasure to obey, my princess."
Cornelia smiled happy to hear him say such words.
A cockpit of a knightmare
"Cornelia had the all the soldiers withdraw," Lelouch said, "it's a good for me that I know how she operates, it would have been idiotic to fall for her ploy which would have gotten everyone around me to be killed…still, I wonder if I'll get the chance to ask her if I set the situation in this battle…"
Flashback: G-1 Mobile Base
"Who was it that killed my mother, do you know?" Lelouch asked.
"No, I don't know but our brother Schneizel and our sister Cornelia, they would know," Clovis answered under the spell of Lelouch's Geass.
Lelouch was surprised, "They were the heart of this?"
Clovis opened his mouth but didn't say anything and Lelouch frowned when he realized.
"I see, you don't know. Tell me what you do know regarding my mother's murder."
"I know for a fact that Cornelia investigated Lady Marianne's murder and our father ordered Schneizel to move the body although I don't know where."
"Why would he do that?" Lelouch asked raising an eyebrow.
Clovis opened his mouth but didn't say anything again.
"Of course you don't know that either," Lelouch said as he was disappointed
Flashback End
"I will find out what happened that night eight years ago, one way or the other," Lelouch said in his head, "for myself and Nunnally."
Lelouch's phone suddenly rang and he took it out and looked at the Caller ID and saw that it was the Student Council Room and Lelouch arched an eyebrow.
"The Student Council Room?" Lelouch asked, "It can't be about the meeting for the Cat Festival, that's scheduled for tomorrow."
Student Council Room, Ashford Academy
"Kallen was annoyed with me when I asked her about who she wanted to kiss," Shirley said, "but I'm sure that even though she's known Lulu and Nunna for seven years, she was just getting annoyed just to fool me."
"Which is why the best way is to ask him directly," Suzaku said as he was had the phone and listening to the ring after dialing Lelouch's cell number, "I'll ask him how he feels about you."
Shirley was shocked and she blushed as she couldn't believe what she had just heard.
"Wait, what?" Shirley spoke, "Are you seriously going to do that?"
"I am, don't worry, I can handle it."
"No, don't! You mustn't!" Shirley said as she grabbed the phone and hung up.
Cockpit of Knightmare
The phone was showed that it was hung up on the other line.
"Okay, that was weird," Lelouch said, "well, whatever."
Student Council Room, Ashford Academy
"Come on, let me," Suzaku said, "I can handle it…I'll ask him."
"No, I don't need you to do that," Shirley replied.
Shirley and Suzaku were trying to take to the phone from each other and then they suddenly slipped and fell and caused a shaking which surprised the cat. Suzaku and Shirley were on the floor with Suzaku hovering over Shirley, much to their embarrassment and then Suzaku's hand was bitten by the cat.
"Oh, does that hurt?" Shirley asked.
"Yes, very," Suzaku answered.
"Is everything okay?" Alice asked as she entered in the room, "I heard a terrible…crash…"
Alice saw Suzaku and Shirley and just stared at them and Shirley and Suzaku saw Alice just looking at them. Alice didn't say anything and just had a blank stare and then just left as Shirley and Suzaku frantically got up and tried to explain things to Alice.
Saitama Ghetto
The Gloucester knightmare frames piloted by Cornelia's Royal Guard which also included Guilford were dispatched and headed into the ghetto.
Meanwhile Lelouch in the cockpit of a knightmare looked and saw what was happening.
"Sending out the Royal Guard," Lelouch said, "as I expected…in that case," Lelouch held the radio, "Rai, the Royal Guard is moving in, time for you to make your move."
"Understood," Rai said on the other line, "I'll lure them in."
Lelouch put the radio down, "Since Cornelia ordered the troops to fall back, when they get the signal…"
G-1 Mobile Base
A signal was showing up on their monitor that was located within the city.
"One knightmare unit transmitting an IFF signal left within the city area," One of the staff officers said.
"Can you contact it?" One of Clovis's former staff officer asked, "We need to assemble a rescue team."
"Destroy it," Cornelia said.
"Your Highness," Clovis's former staff officer said as he and the other two were stunned, "he may have been taken captive by the enemy."
"I ordered all soldiers to fall back," Cornelia pointed out, "I have no need for soldiers who can't follow orders. "
"It is as she says," Darlton said.
"Do your duty, even at the cost of your life. That is simply common sense for all my subordinates."
Saitama Ghetto
The four Gloucesters of the Royal Guard were moving in and caught sight of the lone Sutherland.
"Yes, Your Highness," Guilford said.
Guilford and the other three members of the Royal Guard charged towards the Sutherlands with their Jousting Lances. They impaled the Sutherland and the cockpit hatch popped opened and they were surprised to find no one there.
"No one's there," One of the Royal Guard said.
"What is this?" Guilford asked.
They suddenly heard a beeping sound and it they saw that it was coming from the cockpit.
"What the…?" Guilford said and then his eyes widened, "No, get away from this knightmare!"
"Got you," Lelouch said in the cockpit of a knightmare.
In a safe distance, Rai saw them and he pushed a button. The impaled Sutherland exploded taking out the three Gloucesters and the pilots in it and Guilford was barely able to get away but his knightmare suffered heavy damage. A white knightmare suddenly showed up and took two of the Jousting Lances and a Sutherland showed and took two other Jousting Lances and one of them was taken from Guilford's damaged knightmare. The one piloting the Sutherland was Rai and the piloting the white knightmare was Nunnally. They got to another area and they handed the Jousting Lances to a black knightmare that Lelouch was piloting and to a Sutherland that piloted by Naoto.
"Excellent," Lelouch said, "phase 2, part B."
"Yes Zero," Rai and Naoto said as they both went to opposite directions.
G-1 Mobile Base
They saw the signatures of the Sutherland and three of the Royal Guard lost while one of them moved away and they were shocked.
"What happened?" Darlton asked.
"Guilford!" Cornelia said with worry losing her composure.
"Lord Guilford, please come in!" One of the staff officers spoke.
"This is Guilford," Guilford said on the other line.
"Guilford," Cornelia said with relief, "Guilford, what happened? What of the others?"
"I'm sorry Milady, there was an explosion…the Sutherland we went to destroy…there was no one in the cockpit but instead was a bomb was found within the cockpit."
"A bomb?" Darlton said as he and the others were surprised.
"It was a trap, the three that were with me are…gone," Guilford said with sadness.
Cornelia clenched her teeth and felt sadness for her subordinates, "Such a cowardly act…"
Saitama Ghetto
The black knightmare holding the Jousting Lance that was piloted by Lelouch was charging towards a Gloucester and the Gloucester pilot saw the charging black knightmare and tried to counter it but Lelouch was too fast for the Gloucester and counter the moves and impaled the Gloucester.
"Damn you," Another Royal Guard said as he saw what Lelouch did.
The angry Royal Guard jumped in the air with their Jousting Lance. A Sutherland was in the air and holding a Jousting Lance and it was Naoto and Lelouch moved away. The Royal Guard member turned to stab the Sutherland behind him but was stopped when two Slash Harkens suddenly sprung and wrapped the Gloucester and that allowed Naoto to stab the Gloucester killing the pilot inside and the two Sutherlands that each shot one Slash Harken was piloted by Kallen and CC.
"Damn it," The Royal Guard said in his dying breath, "I never thought I die in a place like this."
At another area, Keitaro and the other members of the Yamato Alliance disembarked from the Sutherlands and were spotted by a Gloucester of the Royal Guard.
G-1 Mobile Base
"Your Highness, I have spotted the terrorists that have seemed to have disembarked the Sutherlands that they were using," One of the Royal Guard members contacted and reported.
"Kill them," Cornelia vengefully said, "don't let any of those vile scum live."
"As you wish."
Saitama Ghetto
The Royal Guard member gave chase and started shooting but then he didn't see any of the Yamato Alliance members. The Royal Guard started looking for them and activated the Factsphere Sensors.
"Where are they?" The Royal Guard said, "Disgusting Elevens…"
The Royal Guard member continued to give chase looking for the men he saw. He arrived at a place where he was between buildings and then he looked over and saw Keitaro poke his head out and it prompted the Royal Guard member to start shooting and Keitaro took cover.
"I got you, you vile Eleven," The Royal Guard member said as he piloted his Gloucester to charge for the killing blow.
"Actually Britannian, we got you," Keitaro said.
Missiles were suddenly fired from two buildings and the Royal Guard member barely dodged them as he jumped up.
"You're through," Keitaro said.
The Royal Guard member picked up a signature and he saw a Sutherland that had a machine gun in one hand and a Jousting Lance in the other hand appeared suddenly in the air and it was piloted by CC and it surprised the Royal Guard as CC shot Gloucester and severely damage it and then quickly pointed the lance at the Gloucester and the pilot screamed in horror as CC impaled the Gloucester to the ground and killing the Royal Guard member. Meanwhile, Nunnally was piloting her white knightmare and shot the Gloucester that was passing by. The Gloucester turned and charged towards Nunnally but was suddenly stab and pinned to the ground by the Sutherland knightmare piloted by Kallen and she took the machine gun and shot at the Gloucester.
G-1 Mobile Base
Cornelia couldn't believe what was happening as she was seeing of the signatures of her Royal Guard being decimated one by one and she couldn't believe she was losing soldiers that were fiercely loyal to her.
"How…how can this be happening?" Cornelia asked in shock.
"Viceroy," Darlton said looking at Cornelia, "the Royal Guard…"
Cornelia stood up from her throne and clenched her teeth in anger.
Saitama Ghetto
One Gloucester just stood by and waited as the pilot was acting as the decoy. A Sutherland that was piloted by Sayoko was on top of a structure and saw the Gloucester.
"Hmm, I see," Sayoko said.
Another Gloucester was suddenly in the air pointing the lance at Sutherland and ready to impale the Sutherland.
"Too bad for you," Sayoko said.
Suddenly, Slash Harken sprung from beneath the structure and struck the airborne Gloucester and the Slash Harken came from the Sutherland that was piloted by Rai. Sayoko then turned to the Gloucester that was hit by the Slash Harkens and was able to disarm the Gloucester and used the Jousting Lance and stabbed the Gloucester. The Gloucester that was acting like decoy moved away but was suddenly ambushed by Naoto by having the Sutherland ram against the Gloucester and bringing it down on the ground and then Lelouch was in the air with the Jousting Lance in hand and stabbed the Gloucester.
"Done," Lelouch said, "Rai, time to make contact."
"I'm on it," Rai said.
G-1 Mobile Base
Cornelia just stood in shock in what she was seeing and her staff officers as well as the former staff officers under Clovis were stunned as well.
"My Royal Guard," Cornelia said upset and then felt anger and hatred, "Zero…"
There was static all of the sudden on the monitor and they were surprised and they tried to get it under control. The static stopped and suddenly Zero appeared on their monitor and it surprised them again.
"Greeting Cornelia li Britannia," Zero said.
"Zero," Cornelia said with anger.
Cornelia was staring at the individual that had just killed her Royal Guard.
"Too bad for you Cornelia," Zero said, "things did not go as you had planned. Unfortunately for you, I saw through your tactics. You had hoped to recreate the conditions that occurred in Shinjuku so that I would be provoke and make the attempt to go to you to kill you but too bad, I know you're not the same as Clovis so I'm not one to go for your obvious trap."
"Zero…"
"If you feel up to it Cornelia and if you want to prove that you're still the Goddess of Victory, then take me on, you and me in our knightmare frames, one-on-one."
"You're challenging me directly?" Cornelia asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Indeed I am," Zero replied, "What do you say?"
Meanwhile outside of the Mobile Base, a limo arrived and Euphie opened her door and got out with a determined expression.
That's it for this chapter. Next chapter: A knightmare battle between Zero and Cornelia and the Knight of Nine makes plans and arrives in Area 11.