September 7, 2017 a.t.b.

Area 11, Tokyo Settlement, 10:17 am

Close to the Omotesando Mall, Lelouch and Rivalz have already been waiting for a few minutes when their friends and schoolmates, Shirley Fenette and Sophie Wood, met up with them, having agreed a few hours ago on this very spot.

"Hi Lelouch! Hi Rivalz!" Shirley greeted the two boys enthusiastically. "Wanna help us in shopping?"

"Sure," Lelouch answered simply.

"We'll do it," Rivalz said as well.

"Thanks guys," said Shirley. "We're going to have some fun shopping!"

Shirley then noticed that Lelouch had a troubled look, snapping her out of her burst of enthusiasm.

"Wait, Lulu, is something bothering you?" she asked, a little bit worried.

"It's nothing," said Lelouch.

"It's because of that Special Zone, isn't it?" asked Rivalz. "Come on man, we shouldn't be so worried or worked up just because of it."

Lelouch said nothing in response.

"I don't think it's that bad, like those higher-up nobles make it seem," Sophie said. "I mean, why do we have to discriminate against other people?"

"I agree," Shirley concurred with her purple-haired roommate. "We're all just people in the end, all human, are we not? Why can't we just treat others with kindness?"

Lelouch stayed silent as the four Ashford students began their walk towards the mall.

"I hope we can finish this before 4 in the afternoon," Sophie said. "I have…something to attend to at 7."

"Something…is that a date?" Shirley asked.

"A w-w-what? No, no, it's not a date, I just have some things I need to get to at time!" Sophie replied hurriedly as her face took a slight shade of red, evidently flustered.

"Oh, does Sophie have a crush...," Shirley said teasingly.

Rivalz giggled a little as he listened to the two roommates.

Shirley went on, about to continue the tease, only to be interrupted. "Is it—"

"Please stop it, it's not a date!" Sophie retorted, her face still with a reddish hue. "Can we just go to shopping already?"

"Fine, fine…what a killjoy," said Shirley in a defeated tone. They reached the mall entrance and entered. Shirley's thoughts wandered to her friend, Lelouch.

"I've been having a strange feeling about Lelouch lately. Why did I just call him Lulu? And why do I feel like he and Zero are connected…like they're the same person? Why do I sometimes feel like I should know him more intimately than I do? Is it just something wrong with me, or is…is he really Zero?"

September 6

Britannia, Mount Wilson, Sherwood Observatory and Research Institute, 5:45 pm

One of Britannia's leading astronomical observatories and research centres, Sherwood Observatory, stood on top of the 1.74-km high Mt. Wilson in California, west Britannia.

It was led by the astronomer Dr. Alexandra Campbell, a noblewoman with a slender build, hot pink eyes, and long black hair reaching halfway down her back. She and her research staff had made a confounding discovery after observing a group of 16 unidentified objects in orbit around Mars.

"Observations of this cluster of objects do not display any consistency with asteroids or comets," Alexandra said to her fellow scientists while going through images of the objects. "Their spectroscopic signature is off, and they seem to be in a stable orbit despite being only around Mars for a few days. Normally, it would take at least a few years or decades for captured asteroids or comets to settle in stable orbits around planets."

"This data is quite baffling," another scientist said. "We cannot pin down the identity of these objects to any known classification of natural bodies."

"Exactly," Alexandra said in confirmation. "This might sound unbelievable, but those UFOs are most likely artificial. We might be looking at our first direct evidence for extraterrestrial life. We need to report this to the Minister of Science tomorrow, this is a huge discovery that can't be ignored."

September 7

Area 11, Tokyo Settlement, Administrative Building, 10:45 am

In Princess Cornelia's office, she, Darlton, and Guilford have discussed the Special Zone. Cornelia had showed her disapproval at her sister's proposal throughout the whole discussion.

She was not pleased with it before, and certainly not now.

The Second Prince and Prime Minister of the Empire, Schniezel el Britannia, was currently in contact with Cornelia, having told her that he had sanctioned the SAZ. He explained to her how and why that idea was allowed to go forward, but it did not diminish her surprise at this revelation.

Fourth Princess Marrybell mel Britannia had also made contact, but out of a simple desire for a moment to talk to her favourite sisters – she had been close to the li Britannias, especially Euphemia, but she was fond of Cornelia too.

"Euphemia really is amazing, isn't she?" said Schniezel. "The terrorists of Area 11, including the Black Knights, will lose support and fall apart. Quelling terrorism using the carrot, when they have so far resisted the stick. Public order will be stabilized."

"I personally oppose this," said Cornelia. "This is a ridiculous move."

"I still don't understand why, Cornelia," said Marrybell. "It's a good move to rid the Area of terrorists. Shouldn't you be supporting it for this reason, if nothing else?"

"And besides," said Schniezel, "you understand the situation, hence you decided to assign Darlton to advise her, have you not?"

"That was to ensure that public policy stays on track," said Cornelia. "A move that a viceroy and princess should take."

"Hmm…did you approve of Euphemia's future plans as the viceroy or an older sister?" Schneizel asked.

Cornelia said nothing for a few seconds. "I made it clear to her that I did not agree with the idea, but she was adamant about wanting to bring equality to the Numbers," she said. "I couldn't let it go on and on, so eventually I gave."

"Well, Euphemia always was quite wilful," said Marrybell.

"I would have rather just crushed those inferior terrorists with my military might," said Cornelia. "There is no pride in resolving the situation by giving to them."

"Always the most prideful sister, aren't you?" said Schniezel. "But pride isn't what wins battles, it's making the right moves. And sometimes, the best move is to give them, in the words of the ancient Romans, bread and circuses."

"On another note," said Marrybell, "Nelly, please stop coddling and smothering Euphemia. She needs to grow. She's not some doll."

Fuji Mines, Kyoto House meeting room, 1:41 pm

Hidden within the mines, where they have established their headquarters, the six leaders of Kyoto discuss Taizo Kirihara's support for the SAZ.

Several of them were in opposition.

"A mere shadow of Japan given to us out of pity is worthless!" said one of the leaders, Hidenobu. "It's shameful…"

"It is nothing to be ashamed of," Kirihara replied, "The Britannians granted us this concession due to our resistance efforts."

"Lord Kirihara, we've heard rumours that you'll be given a favourable position in the Zone in exchange for control over the Sakuradite mines!" said Tatsunori, another of the leaders.

"No need to be suspicious, I was merely requested to join the ceremony," Kirihara said in his defence.

"Clever excuse," said Tatsunori.

"How dare you," Kirihara said back, a tone of irritation in his voice.

"What about Zero and the Black Knights?" asked Kaguya Sumeragi, the youngest and the sole female among the six.

"I'm sure the Black Knights are working on how to handle the situation themselves," said Tousai, another leader of Kyoto. "Zero himself has yet to make a statement."

2:30 pm

Later, after the meeting has concluded, General Andreas Darlton had made contact with Kirihara, who was now alone in his quarters.

This was a secret that he would not risk spilling over to the rest of the Kyoto group.

"The NAC, or as it is known among the terrorists, Kyoto," said Darlton from the screen, "After the ceremony tomorrow, why don't you dissolve your group and depart from Mt. Fuji?"

"We can talk about a legal agreement, if you hand over the Sakuradite mining operations to us peacefully," said Kirihara.

"That would mean the end of your support for the Black Knights, of course," said Darlton.

"It matters not whether Zero comes or not, his fall is assured," the general thought.

Tokyo Settlement, Omotesando Mall, 4:00 pm

It was time for them to call it a day.

The Ashford quartet had finished shopping and had begun to set their way back to Ashford. Shirley and Sophie decided to take the train, while Lelouch rode with Rivalz on his motorbike.

Shirley was deep in thought involving Lelouch, and her roommate noticed her troubled expression.

"Shirley, is everything okay? You look like you have something on your head, something that troubles you," said Sophie.

"It's nothing, everything's fine," Shirley replied, but her thoughts were somewhere else.

"Is Lelouch…is Lulu…Zero? I can't help but think of it…and the two of them have never been seen at the same time…"

Ashford Academy, Lamperouge Residence, 4:33 pm

"I'm back," said Lelouch as he came in, met by greetings from two of those he considered family.

"Welcome, Master Lelouch," said Sayoko Shinozaki, his maid and bodyguard.

"Lelouch! Welcome home," said Nunnally. "Where's Shirley?"

"I'm sorry, Nunna. She didn't show up. I tried contacting her, but no response," said Lelouch. "I tried asking Sophie, but I had no luck there either."

"More of her getting back at you, isn't it?" said Nunnally. "You seemed chilly with her, so please try to be nice."

"You think so? Then I will," said Lelouch.

"Sayoko, would you being us some tea please?" Lelouch requested.

"Yes, as you wish Master Lelouch," Sayoko said in her usual loyal obedience.

"Sayoko…," Lelouch called out to her, "You don't have to call me 'master' or 'lord' in our home. Just Lelouch would do. There's no need to be so formal with us."

"Yes, Lelouch," Sayoko said in acknowledgement, before going to the kitchen to prepare tea.

Nunnally, holding Lelouch's hand, felt that he was troubled.

The younger sibling had a good guess on why…

"I feel that you're worried, Lelouch. It's about Euphemia, isn't it? It would be selfish of me to want to see her again. I'd really like to, but it would only cause trouble for the both of you," said Nunnally dismally.

"You like Euphemia, don't you?" Lelouch asked Nunnally.

"Yes," the crippled princess agreed, "the same way you like her."

"Yes, I did like her," said Lelouch.

6:58 pm

In his room, dimly lit only by the stars and the moon, Lelouch gazed from his window towards the night sky in lament.

The dark backdrop only further accentuated his dismal state of mind.

"Euphemia, you were my first love…I wish we could be together under better circumstances. I'm sorry, Euphemia…I have no choice. Why does it have to be this way…," Lelouch thought sadly. "If only you knew…if only you knew what you did would bring. It's saddening that all of Cornelia's smothering have made you so naïve, thinking that you can simply bring back a long-dead past. Why…if you truly wanted to be together with us, you could have, say, joined the Black Knights or simply renounce Britannia…but this Zone, why? I'm sorry for what I will have to do to you tomorrow…I know you'll most likely hate me for it after…but I really have no choice left…I'm sorry…"

He continued to gaze at the starry sky, now a little more disconsolate.

Tokyo Baywalk, 7:00 pm

Sophie arrived to her date on time, meeting up with her girlfriend Laura, a bluenette with eyes of the same colour.

For the next few hours, amidst the lights of the baywalk, the two experienced a joyful time together, tightening their bonds.

By 10:00 pm they finally departed for Ashford to call it a day, having made cherished memories.

Ashford Academy, Dorms, 10:24 pm

Sophie arrived back to her room. Shirley was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Sophie's arrival had caught her attention, and the purple-haired lass' content, dreamy smile didn't get past the orangette.

"Back from your date, huh?" said Shirley. Sophie tried to retort, but the words died in her throat. Sighing in defeat, she confessed.

"Yes. Back from my date," said Sophie.

"How was it?" Shirley asked.

"Wonderful…it was magical…," said Sophie, contented and with hints of red in her cheeks.

"I wish I could say the same about myself…," Shirley thought sadly. "Lulu…"

Britannia, Mt. Wilson, Sherwood Observatory, 9:00 am

The Britannian Minister of Science, accompanied by a trio of researchers, has arrived on Alexandra's request. They formed a conference in the observatory in order to present and discuss the findings and hypotheses surrounding them.

"Extraterrestrials?" the minister questioned.

"That's our most likely hypothesis as of this time," Alexandra answered.

"While the idea of alien life is not impossible, it's normally not the first explanation to come to mind. However, if the data really does suggest that these objects are not natural, then…"

"We would need further observations, more data to confirm or disprove an intelligent, extraterrestrial origin," said Alexandra.

"Very true," the science minister concurred. "And if it is aliens, then this might change everything."

"It would suggest that extraterrestrial life has actively come to our vicinity of the solar system, and are probably watching us," said Alexandra. "I find this possibility unnerving. We would have no idea of their intentions, whether they are friendly…or hostile."

"If the latter is to be the case, then we are in grave peril," she continued, "Britannia has almost always been the conqueror of other nations for the past two centuries. We are used to essentially being the apex predator, feeding on other nations. But against a space-faring interstellar civilisation, all that would be turned on its head – Britannia might find itself being the conquered one this time. We would be prey to an even greater force. A truly frightening scenario to face."

An overwhelming foreboding sensation washed over everyone in the conference room at her words.

"We need more data, more information first and foremost," said Alexandra.

10:40 am

After the conference was dismissed, Alexandra and her team went to work on observing the strange objects. The team found more information to feed on their fear – the swarm of objects were no longer orbiting Mars, but have moved…in a trajectory projected towards Earth.

"We need to inform the administration about this…," said the astronomer apprehensively.

Across the expanse of space, beings of advanced intellect, cool and unsympathetic, regarded the Earth with envious eyes and devised their plans against humanity…

Note: Laura is not an OC, but is one of the unnamed (in canon) female students from Episode 6 of R1, in particular the blue-haired one with a ponytail from the scene where one of the girls confesses to wanting Milly's kiss.