I bit back a yawn as I taught my fifth class of the day. After weeks of constant nighttime activity and working on my originally very barebones costume I've been feeling worse everyday. My bones and muscles ache, my sleep deprivation causes headaches and my scalp aches from the heavy hairextensions I have to use to hide myself without hiding my hair. Of course the many rashes I've accumulated over the time due to the sloppy weave of my current costume don't help either.

Still I want to go out. Every second I waste living this meaningless life prevents me from going out there… But it's not like I can leave this life behind, my past shows what happens when I lose myself to my work very clearly. I don't want to leave everything else behind, even if I despise most of my students there are a few I still value. I don't want to become what I once was like ever again, yet… I'm slipping. I don't know what is wrong with me, has my sudden reconnection with my Passenger knocked something loose up there? My fingers keep twitching and my muscles are constantly tense as if anticipating a fight.

After the bell rang I slowly left class ignoring my students chattering and started fast walking down the hallway. On the way to the teachers tea room to finish grading the recent exams a hand landed on my shoulder. I almost reacted violently, only managing to stay calm thanks to knowing it was Milly there. Largely due to now being able to pick out blurry shapes and indistinct colors from my bug's eyes. I slowly turned towards the girl I had taken care of for close to seven years.

Milly was looking up at me with an uncharacteristic look of concern. Light blue eyes staring straight into my eyes and mouth set in a thin line. With a strangely serious voice she began talking. "Miss Hebert, could you please spare a moment to talk with me? I have something important to tell you."

Inwardly sighing I nodded my head and answered with a tired "Sure.". I let her lead me to the empty student council room. She had somehow gotten Nina to leave the damn room for once. Once inside I crashed down on one of our couches and stared at Milly motioning for her to continue. Instead of getting to the point she poured some tea from a pre-prepared teapot and placed the cups on a side table she dragged from beside the couch.

We sipped from our respective cups and finally Milly spoke. "This… is an intervention." I gave no outward reaction but both my mind and miniscule swarm went into overdrive. Fuck, what does she know? I tried to find a way to ask her what she knew but before I could ask she leaned forward and wrapped her smooth hands around my shaking ones.

"Taylor, please stop. Don't be hasty, don't panic; I just want to help you. I don't know what's going on or what problems you're having and I know how much you hate other people nosing in on your problems, so I won't ask you about it.

Whatever it is I'm not sure, but doing it and your day job at the same time is stressing you far too much. You've been shaking, you're always more irritated than usual and it's clear that you also aren't getting much sleep; so I've talked with grandpa and he agreed to give you a week of paid leave. After today I don't want to see you back at the school until a week has passed."

I didn't know what to say. A week of paid leave? I could just focus on my nightly activities and rest during the day!? But… Do I really need it? I don't want to owe any more debts to the Ashford family especially since I already have so many left unpaid.

"I… thank you Milly, but I don't really-" I tried to argue back but Milly shushed me before I could say anything.

"Come on! Just take it, Taylor. I'm really worried about you, you know. I don't do this kind of thing for just anybody." Is this what it feels like to be a member of the student council? To suffer this unbearable tyranny from this blondheaded, pouting monster?

I sighed but gave in. "Fine, I'll take a leave. I'm trusting you'll behave whilst I'm gone?"

My only answer was a mischievous smile. The conversation descended into light hearted banter from then on. I'll make good use of this leave, you can be sure of that, Milly.

I breathed in the cool dusk air as I swerved and turned through the ghettos looking for my current quarry, specifically any member of the Black Knights. Naturally I didn't expect to find any today either. For the last two days I had been constantly searching for the Black Knights and hitting whatever remnants of the drug merchants I could find. By this point I am fairly sure they have almost been entirely wiped out.

Now normally this would be good, you know the all 'I have done something good for the world' (As if that wasn't just me indulging myself). But in this instance it really wasn't helping me, since it resulted in Zero's followers all going to ground preparing for their next big show. There is also the fact that there's almost nothing I can do for now. I can't hit Britannia just yet without any proper weapons and I can't get said weapons without the contacts the Black Knights most likely have!

Ugh! I hate this. Now that I've gotten the taste for actually doing something for once going back to being sedentary would just be horrible. The discomfort in my head grew and I felt my range spike up at least twenty meters. The extension of my range was almost immediately gone but the headache and the nausea it brought with it certainly lasted a while. I'm not sure how long since I was trying not to crash and pull to the edge of the road but boy… it sure was far too long. What the fuck was that? The nausea passed but the throbbing in my head remained and the slithering sensation I sometimes felt intensified tenfold. Barely managing to keep my hands on the handlebars I slowed down and drove into an alleyway.

After I got off and hid my motorbike behind some dumpsters I sat down and cradled my head trying to make the sensation stop. My bugs had gone ballistic during my moments of weakness and eventually a large enough number of them came across what felt like an old subway entrance somehow behind a wall. I tried to shake off the odd feeling in the back of my head as my headache slowly passed and shakily got back up. With a few unsteady steps I stumbled to said wall and gave it a few taps.

A hollow sound rewarded me for my efforts. A secret entrance? I started searching with my fingers and bugs for any nooks or mechanisms to open the way. After a few seconds of searching I found a hole big enough to stick a finger in. Pulling revealed a series of dark stairs carefully hidden.

Underground hideouts within the many old subway tunnels, they are the perfect places to hide and transport knightmares also very, very large. With a soft sigh I locked my bike and slowly descended into the dark and moist tunnels. I hope I'm not doing something I will come to regret…

Zero the Black King

I gazed up at the first batch of burais that had arrived before the rest within our temporary maintenance bay deep inside the old tunnels. Blocky frames of the four and a half meter machines did not hint at any form of agility yet I myself have seen them weave through shells, missiles and jump over obstacles despite their immense seven tonne weight.

Although their now obsolete 90 degree landspinners were certainly at a massive disadvantage to the sunderlands and gloucesters with 180 degree spinners I could still make good use of these customized machines. With these I am one step closer to the peaceful world Nunnally dreams of. I wanted to trot around gloating, maybe even ride one of the knightmares around but my mask, my image smothered such frivalties. I am going well, there are some factors that might eventually become problems such as Cornelia, that possible Geass user and maybe even Euphemia with her unexpectedly pushing for reforms of the honorary britannian system.

More importantly Nunnally. There is no way she hasn't realized it was me after hearing my voice, yet she hasn't brought it up. I have to admit, it's making me paranoid. There are many things outside of my control that I have to somehow take care of right now, no matter how much it troubles me not dealing with Nunnally won't actually hurt her. She might be angry at me, even condemn my actions but the blood spilled will only serve to bring Japan where she can live peacefully into being. I'll bear it all, the hate of the entire world, the blood on my hands, even her own hate if it means I can make her dream a reality.

I walked around the newly recruited techs and the other support staff towards my command-type burai. Even now a tech was working on linking it up to the IFF network of our machines. I turned around to call one of the devicers currently with me but was stopped by the sight of almost all personnel near the green tent tarp covering the southern side of the tunnel slowly stepping away in fear. I discreetly rubbed my hand over the handgun I had killed Clovis with and glanced at my green haired witch. She gave me a nod and got off the crate she was sitting on.

"Grab your rifles and come with me." I ordered the combat personnel near me and slowly walked towards that end of our 'hangar'. With ten more men with guns and C.C behind me I kept my stride straight even as my mind raced as I heard the cacophony of insect noises. My men seeing my calm exterior also kept walking albeit with a bit of hesitance.

Now how to deal with the mysterious Geass user? She's most likely not here with ill intentions towards us or she wouldn't have saved Kallen back in that warehouse.

Perhaps she's here to join? That would be the best case scenario but I somehow doubt that. Maybe she's here to offer her services for a price. looking at her targets she hates the current status quo or atleast the corrupt officials and is also violent to the extreme, possible britannian extremist with a vendetta against the current government.

I don't have much more time with only a few steps left. I gathered my wits and pushed the flaps open with an exaggerated flourish. My soldiers' flashlights illuminated the dark tunnel and its current inhabitants, the hundreds of thousands of insects forming a cloud so large even the bright, almost scorching lights couldn't pierce their shadows. Then in an instant the bugs parted and all became silent. The figure was still not visible, hiding in the shadows far inside the tunnel.

Footsteps began echoing through the tunnel. Loud and firm clacks built up the tension until two red eyes glinted in the darkness. The androginous figure armored in a black bodysuit covered in gray plates and various holsters holding what I guessed were guns, melee weapons and even a few round objects that might have been grenades walked with a long stride. Their long curly hair fluttered behind them despite

Oozing confidence and perhaps what might have been anticipation. They had a passive yet not subdued stance, here to negotiate then. Ahhh… if only they had been an idealist looking to become a black knight, though they did take after me. Perhaps they are a fan?

Better use this chance to show off to my followers even if nothing comes out of these negotiations I'll look better in their eyes. I began walking towards my potential ally, some of my men tried to follow me but a simple hand gesture stopped them. With C.C and my knights watching I approached the mysterious figure. Technically I was totally defenseless against the other masked vigilante besides my hidden handgun, the opaque lenses they wore would stop my power of Absolute Obedience in its tracks. However I showed no fear, my reputation will protect me just as much as the ten assault rifles behind me will.

Besides this gesture of goodwill might make the violent vigilante calmer. I'm essentially showing her that I see them as an equal and extend an offering of trust. I hope it's enough to not go home covered in bug bites and bruises.

Once within ten meters of each other we both stopped. I let them speak first.

"You are a difficult man to find Zero, even for one of my particular talents."

The mature distinctly female voice speaking Britannian with a faint New England accent I could not exactly place did not surprise me yet the familiarity of said voice did.

I don't know where exactly I heard this voice before, however my mind immediately took in their features, the tall almost 1.80m height, the extremely long and curled hair along with the muscular but extremely lean figure and curly, well maintained hair. I knew of only one person with similar attributes but she's supposed to be on leave because of a leg surgery. Miss Hebert's hair is also much shorter than the figures only coming down to her shoulder blades. Even if that wasn't the case the right arm of the vigilante wasn't a prosthetic or at least it didn't look like one under the bodysuit.

Ugh, no time! I'll figure out who she is later on. For now I changed to my 'Zero' voice and answered her as not the lazy highschool student but as the first Black Knight.

"Good Evening to you as well my Lady, I'm afraid that's the point of this whole…" I gestured at the tunnel around us. "...set up. I have to admit, you have me at a disadvantage. Could I perhaps have a name?"

The woman answered me after a moment of hesitation.

"Weaver, you can call me Weaver."

"Very well then Weaver. However much I appreciate the company of another person with an appreciation for masks I must ask, why are you here?" Polite with a bit of flattery while also emphasizing connections and cutting to the point, a fragment of my old courtly lessons.

"I'm interested in something only you can provide me. Sad as I am to admit with my current equipment I'm not capable of fighting anyone besides wanna-be gangbangers and druglords, I need heavier grade weapons to truly make a differance. Weapons that you could provide, at a cost of course." Is she just violent and seeking an outlet or is she an extremist with a bone to pick with the military? But more than any ideological leanings right now the 'cost' she mentioned matters the most.

"And what exactly are you offering in exchange for our support? If you also want to fight the unjust you need only join. Your race has no bearing on us, I assure you." Trying to invite her most likely wouldn't result in anything substantial but keeping the option open to her for the future can only be beneficial.

The small shift in her stance made her opinion on that clearer before she could even answer. "I'd rather not, you see I take my own freedom Very seriously. No offense but I'd rather not place my fate in the hands of a masked man. What I am offering is naturally dirty deeds, I do have rules that I'm sure won't be a problem for you." So a moral code then? It's not like I can do anything particularly 'honourless' anyways, our image as knights of justice is far too important to sacrifice.

"I won't harm civilians no matter what, I'll get paid as soon as the mission is over, I'll also refuse any assignment that doesn't suit me. But so long as you agree to these conditions I'll run jobs of any kind, scouting, ambushes, plain assasination and more, only if you can pay me." Acceptable, even if I can't properly draw her into the black knights with personal connection I can still make use of her as a piece, a particularly useful piece, yet one that can easily be sacrificed nonetheless. I waited a few seconds and asked her the question that would make or break this agreement.

"Weaver, before I accept I have one question. Why do you fight? What motivates you to do what you do?"

She almost flinched and the bugs around us buzzed for a second making my men raise their rifles up and aim at Weaver. The moment passed and she calmed down. "Why do I fight? Simple, to do something, anything to change this wretched world. For years I was powerless and all I could do was helplessly watch the world go off the deep hand. I am tired of watching, time for action has come and I do not intend to stop until either a better world for tomorrow is ensured or I am stopped by those intending to keep the status quo." With a cold fury in her she spoke passionately, letting the thoughts she kept inside out for me to hear. This one… Yes this person won't betray me until I betray her, a perfectly reasonable relationship for two revolutionaries. Though I doubt any form of comradeship will truly form I am glad to know there exists others like me.

"Then this is a deal I wholeheartedly accept. Actually, why don't we do a trial run before we close the deal? I'm sure it'll also serve to unfound any doubts you may have.

A trusted informant of mine has reported that a particular storage facility holding everything from knightmare weapons to shoulder mounted missile launchers is currently full to the brim due to dearest Cornelia's operations, originally I was going to wait until our next shipment of knightmares arrived before attacking but I'm sure with your help we could quite easily pull it off come tomorrow." She remained motionless for a few seconds then looked behind me at the men behind us and said three words that set far more into motion than we could have expected.

"Count me in."

Charles zi Britannia

A high priority meeting with my elder brother on the sword of Akasha, I wonder if I'm about to be murdered just as Marianne was or if its an actual emergency. No matter the case I'll end the lying traitor the moment he tries anything. I ran my fingers over the ornate dagger and pistol hidden inside my coat to steel my nerves. With hardened eyes I stepped through the Thought Elevator into the Otherworld. The golden glow and harsh light greeted me with no sight of my sibling.

I climbed the stairs getting tenser each second, my footsteps echoed out through the superweapon masquerading as an ancient structure. Finally I could see the eternally young form of V.V. Letting a bit of my irritation through I called out to my brother.

"Well brother, is there a reason you had to wake me up at three in the morning?"

He didn't even turn, only answered back with his usual high pitched monotone.

"Charles, this is no laughing matter. The connection might be in genuine trouble, there is something in here that shouldn't be here."

Those words were like a gunshot, they immediately dispelled my half asleep paranoia and forced me to take a look around, as if I could feel what was wrong like a Code bearer. Getting serious I immediately asked him. "Can you tell where it is?"

"It's coming. Come here, you'll be able to see it soon." His answer chilled me to the core, what kind of being besides God could be here? From his position at the edge of the platform brother was staring downward. I walked next to him and also gazed downwards. After a few seconds the clouds obstructing the 'floor' of the World of C… bubbled, for the lack of a better term. An absolutely massive black snake-like form began emerging through the other side. Merely the visible parts were so large that they might have been able to cover Camelot in its entirety. Its body was covered in scales with what looked like multicolored lines of energy running between and underneath them, sometimes seemingly random bits expanded into mantis-like legs and odd spikes that briefly shone before being absorbed back into the whole.

The entity slithered through the air blowing winds so fierce they threatened to knock me over and coiled around the pillar that formed the Collective Consciousness until it stopped a few hundred meters above us with the nine azure orbs that might have functioned as its eyes gazing intently at God, almost as if it was studying it. The entity didn't even notice us, perhaps it didn't even notice the Sword of Akasha.

I couldn't even talk, my heart was hammering inside my chest and my instincts were screaming, begging me to run. Even my common sense tried to tell me to run out of the World of C, to run away from this Thing. But my feet wouldn't move. I stood there frozen until it retreated back into the void. I let the breath I was holding out.

An:

Hello again, it is I Scapel here again with another chapter this time with our two masked weirdos interacting. Naturally dearest Zero is manipulative even when friendly with someone. Anyways for now please enjoy and review when you want.