A news channel on the shuttle's passenger seat displayed nuclear bombs raining overhead on Pendragon. An orbital shield in the heavens emitting white light stopped them well before they could land.
A gleaming metal fortress lay under the shield's protection.
"Lelouch, what have you done?" a clean-shaven blond-haired giant asked, leaning over him.
The handcuffed 18-year-old grinned as he cast his eyes with contempt at his brother. "You've failed, Your Majesty. Your executive authority's getting dissolved as we speak. There is nothing for you to return home to."
"That may be, but that doesn't mean you've saved your dreams either," Schneizel added, sticking a knife in Lelouch's left eye. "Majin."
"AAAGGGH!"
The sigil on Lelouch's head emitted a searing light.
Save me... he thought to himself. Into your hands... I commit... my spirit...
"For all you accused Charles of, you continually refuse to take responsibility for your crimes," Schneizel lectured. "Why else would you turn to immortality?"
"Heh..." Lelouch coughed, laughing.
"Guess..." he spat, leaking ocular fluid, "Guess Geass... just wasn't enough power for me..."
"Hm," Schneizel huffed in scorn.
The Prime Minister then twisted the knife.
Lelouch screamed bloody murder.
"You should have turned yourself in after Euphemia. Now you're gonna be in a slab of concrete for the rest of eternity," Schneizel fearmongered.
"Heh..." Lelouch laughed in pain, eye sealing around the knife. "Heh... you're just jealous because my revolution lives and yours is donezo—AGH!"
Schneizel reopened the flesh of his eye, withdrawing the knife.
"When I'm through with you, you will wish you were cast into a lake of fire. I'd lacerate your body here were it not for risk of you escaping. Hope you like the texture of glass."
My God... I've been a demon... but save us none the less...
"The truth of your despair is on display," Schneizel boasted. "You're crying."
"You know I hate plane rides..." Lelouch feebly replied.
"This world could have been saved if you had just had the decency to die at Shikine Island."
"Call me..." Lelouch whispered in lacrimation, "Prometheus..."
Sticking the knife in the other eye, the 2nd Prince rolled his eyes. "That doesn't deserve to be dignified with a response."