A/N: Special thanks to Jameyofthemegacosmos, Icysnowsage, Darklord331, silkdreamweaver (chief beta reader and editor) and our Gundam consult and designer Redrat8. Greatkingrat88 and Seerking have also contributed to the development of this story I had begun in-between projects since early last year.

I should note F-14 Tomcat Lover was also a contributor to the story, and I say was is because for awhile now I tried to ask him for help with some of the chapters (11-14) and I haven't been able to get in touch with him, so I am mentioning now before I accidently forget again that he was involved in this the development of this story.

Now I would normally go into reviews I cannot reply to, but due to how many they are and their questions I am going to move them to the end of the chapter, after the specs and author notes, I'll begin sharing the specs of Lelouch and Yui's Gundams. With Yui's Gundam to be featured in the next chapter at the end, with both Gundams designed by Redrat8, which are better than what I had put together.

This chapter is also an experiment on how I'll handle introducing some series and worlds to folks, this is to not only help Lelouch, but any readers who may not be familiar with the series involved so they can get a better idea of what the series and characters are about as Lelouch and friends do.

As a minor note, aside from here I am posting this story at Archive of our own, Questionable Questing and Space Battles, the latter place has some posts and info on some upcoming stuff there if anyone is curious.

So without further delay, let's get into this chapter.

Chapter 2

Different Earths

"Enemy approaching from your right, Yui," Lelouch warned from the cockpit of his simulation pod.

"I see them," Yui replied as she faced the enemy.

Yui had told Lelouch about the enemy the people of her world had been facing, called the Beings of Extra Terrestrial origin which is Adversary to the human race, otherwise known as the BETA. They were first discovered on Mars before they reached the moon nine years later. Unlike his world, the moon had bases stationed upon its surface, most for conducting geological surveys with the possibility for colonization being considered and perhaps even mining operations supported and overseen by the United Nations, international organization comprised of almost every nation that currently exists on Earth, and serves as a means of facilitating international cooperation between countries in almost all subjects and concerns.

Despite their best efforts, humanity lacked a viable means to move needed supplies to the moon to support those fighting against the BETA. Making the situation even worse for the desperate defenders was the fact the moon's environment worked against them and space development treaties prohibited the use of weapons, beyond small arms and certain vehicle necessities, and weapons development on the moon which only served to hinder humanity's efforts to fight back.

Even so the defenders held off for at six grueling years before the United Nations were forced to abandon the Moon, because by that point the BETA had begun invading the Earth.

I knew Yui's enemy was something truly alien, but even seeing them in action is hard to believe. However, while the war on the moon itself might have been a one-sided affair for humanity, they did learn lessons from the conflict.

Even before the BETA had begun their invasion of the moon, many countries recognized the danger they would poise to Earth so research had begun to develop new weapons, drawing from the successful use of a new kind of powered-exoskeleton the Tactical Surface Fighter would be created and be the most effective weapon against the BETA.

Lelouch watched Yui take on a class of BETA known as a Grappler-Class, a creature standing at thirteen meters with two hardened armored forearms used to batter enemies to death and shield against enemy attacks. It had four legs and it was a grotesque looking creature with a human-like head on top, no eyes, but a row of human-like teeth on its tail that made looking at the creature very unsettling.

Yui pulled back as the creature attempted a surprise attack upon her, amazed by how responsive the Izanagi was, and its firepower was truly impressive as Yui quickly moved to its side before firing a shot from the Beam Magnum intending to kill it quickly because she knew Grapplers could turn around very quickly despite their bulk. One shot on its unprotected body blew the creature apart, killing it easily. Suddenly a pair of beam rifle shots flew past Yui striking another BETA type that had been rushing towards her intending to ram her.

The creature was called a Destroyer-Class, a BETA that was at least sixteen meters tall and about seventeen meters wide, a living tank would be a proper description for them. Their hardened frontal carapace allowed them to shrug off most frontal attacks before running up to a hundred miles per hour to ram into targets or most fortifications allowing their fellow BETA to deal with the mop up. However Lelouch noticed that while the beam rifles were effective, they didn't kill it, but it damaged the frontal armor and the hit was enough to stall its movements to give Yui a chance to evade.

"Thank you, Lelouch," Yui said as she quickly got behind it, but unlike the Grapple-class, the Destroyers couldn't turn their bodies in another direction very quickly making it easier for a nimbler foe to get behind it and strike where its body was the least vulnerable.

"Hang back for a moment Yui, I am going to wipe out some of the approaching enemy and see if I can't clear the field of the Laser-class enemies," Lelouch said as he moved up as Yui stayed nearby to cover him.

"Understood."

The Laser-class are on average three meters tall and surprisingly light, but despite their small size and light body weight, at least compared to other BETA, they were totally lacking any armor, speed, and maneuverability making them easy to dispatch up close. However, they were the bane of Earth's military forces due to their powerful lasers that could hit anything from ten kilometers high and thirty kilometers ahead of their location being the reason they've rendered aerial attacks and long range artillery support almost meaningless. However, according to research made on their attacks as Yui explained to him, they would prioritize attacks on targets with advanced computers such as drones and missiles and almost ignore most artillery unless that was all that was being fired at them.

In addition to the long range, their lasers were frighteningly accurate despite the distance between their targets and could destroy a TSF with a single shot if a pilot wasn't careful to stay low to the ground and thus below the horizon reducing their ability to engage.

"Targets locked in," the computer within Lelouch's cockpit said as the tactical computer combined with its sensors located the Laser-class BETA.

On the lower abdomen of the Izanami was a Scattering Mega Particle Cannon, taking to the air Lelouch took aim as his machine's barrier, called an I-field deflected the lasers of the Laser-class, even redirecting them away from him as the weapon charged readying to fire. Once the weapon was charged it fired a scattering blast which rained down upon numerous BETA units, with many killed in the attack, but most importantly the Laser-class units were wiped out.

"You got them," Yui said, impressed.

"The tactical computer on the Izanami is quite impressive, so I can't take all of the credit. It was helpful in finding a suitable firing location so that I could achieve the desired results and stay out of their line of fire," Lelouch admitted with a grin that he didn't immediately realize he had.

But he could partially understand it.

A machine like this would be useful against Britannia, but…

As impressed as he was by the Izanami, Lelouch was still suspicious of Claude. He was at least certain she had no malicious intent for now, but he opted not to let his guard down around her. Yui, on the other hand, he was more willing to trust, due to their shared situation of being trapped in the space they were in, and he understood the trauma of seeing someone you care for dead. He didn't even want to imagine what it was like watching your friends being eaten alive.

If Claude had something planned for them, then it would logically be in Lelouch's best interest to have Yui on his side, whatever her true intentions were.

With the last of the BETA wiped out, the simulation ended. Yui had told Lelouch the BETA were always known to attack in far greater numbers than those they had been facing in the simulator, which was set to an easier difficulty for the purpose of getting used to both their machines and working together.

Exiting the simulator pods the pair sat down next to one another leaning against Yui's pod.

"Let's grab something, are you hungry?" Yui offered as Lelouch looked exhausted, even now after the amount of training they had done.

"Sure," Lelouch stretched his arms with an audible popping of his spine. "I knew you said fighting the BETA is an endurance battle, but I never expected such battles to last so long."

"True," Yui led the way and Lelouch walked alongside her.

As they began training, Yui was given a copy of her old academy uniform to change into when not piloting. Which Lelouch was thankful for, as the Fortified Suit was more than a little revealing compared to the sailor-style uniforms Japanese schools had used. For Yui and her fellow cadets at their academy it had a blue skirt, a white long-sleeve top with lime green bow, a blue color, long white socks and black dress shoes. Yui normally left the shoes off when they ate or rested. Lelouch guessed it had to do with wanting her feet to be free of confinement from what he had heard the Royal Guards and his mother say about combat footwear.

Since they arrived two months ago, from what both Lelouch and Yui could estimate even if time didn't exist in this space, much of their time had been spent training. Lelouch needed it more among the two, but Yui was quite helpful, instructing him in how to pilot and handle the machine. The controls were different from the Knightmare Frame he had piloted for Ashford Academy, but his previous experience did help him gain an understanding of the basic controls that allowed them to begin training in earnest.

Naturally, Claude added more useful facilities to the space they were in, near the simulator pods and the strange facility they were in was a small hotel, judging by its design. However, both Yui and Lelouch didn't have a good opinion of the structure because of how tacky its decor was. Such that both questioned if it was intentional on Claude's part to fool around with them, likely trying to provoke a rise out of them.

It might've been one thing if the hotel's style was made to match Claude's aesthetic tastes, but then Claude admitted that it was called a Love Motel.

Neither of them could comprehend, or maybe neither Lelouch nor Yui wanted to know why Claude did something like that. Despite their obvious issues with Claude's design choices, the pair had no choice but to endure it.

Entering the motel, Lelouch and Yui made it to the dining hall, and much like the hotel had a heart theme, with the chairs having heart-shaped cushions. The wallpapers had an equally tacky pink color with white hearts upon it. The tables were normal except they were red and were big and round enough to allow for six people to eat.

The machines, contrast to the tacky motel and its old-fashion design, were a different story, they were highly advanced, giving it what Lelouch and Yui could describe as state of the art with food given to them by machines called replicator food dispensers, allowing them to have whatever they wanted when needed to eat and drink.

The pair sat together at one of the, few and thankfully, smaller tables, eating in silence initially, but once they were done with their meal the pair began talking.

"Have you been sleeping better?" Lelouch asked cautiously before drinking some milk from his glass and immediately catching a whiff of himself and noting he would need a shower later.

"A little," Yui admitted, sounding still tired and even a little afraid even now. "I prefer being able to train all the time."

"Understandable," Lelouch said, not quite knowing how she felt, but able to guess and know that while he couldn't understand per se, he did know what the loss of loved ones can feel like. "I remember the nightmares of when my mother was murdered and what I saw when Japan went to war with Britannia."

"Was Japan at war with another country?" Yui inquires, having not done so before, "I seem to recall hearing that a new nation, Britannia replaced America?"

"In my world, yes, that is true." Lelouch answered knowing they would need to compare 'historical notes' later even as Yui drank some juice from her own glass. "I experienced it first hand while trying to survive it with a friend and my sister who was both blind and crippled."

Yui looked at Lelouch in surprise trying to imagine what that was like.

"How old were you?" she asks, looking curious

"I was ten years old," Lelouch answered honestly.

"It was just you and your friend, plus your sister?" Yui had a frown on her face.

"That's correct," Lelouch replied, although he didn't mean to tell her about him being present when Japan and Britannia went to war and the why he and his sister were in Japan.

Have we gotten close enough that I could make such a mistake with an easy slip of the tongue, or…

Maybe Lelouch recognized the sorrow and pain Yui was enduring akin to his own when he lost his mother, and had to struggle to survive Japan while it was at war with Britannia. Since Japan was conquered, Lelouch had to live a lie and hide his true identity and prior history under a blanket of lies. Something he resented at times, but knew it was necessary.

Perhaps I miss Suzaku, because around him I could be…more honest. Maybe I am feeling the same with Yui after all this time we've spent together, Lelouch reasoned, but he was still angry at himself for a careless slip of the tongue.

"I can't imagine that, not just you surviving through a war as a child, but Japan at war with a superpower. Could you tell me more about it?" Yui asked. "Was Japan an Empire in your world too?"

Lelouch shook his head, "No, it was, in theory, a Democracy ruled by an elected Prime Minister. Though, by the time of the war, it was hardly a Democracy in anything but name."

"I see," Yui knew from her mother and cousin the severity of the internal issues plaguing her country and so she could understand why Lelouch used the term 'in theory' and described it Democracy in Name Only, "We, too, have an elected Prime Minister who handles all of the daily running of Japan with an elected Cabinet of Ministers." Yui explained, surprised by how different the Japan Lelouch knew compared to her own. "Although he technically runs the country in a certain way I suppose," Lelouch didn't have to guess what she meant there, "most of the major decisions are performed by the Nobility, but the Diet has considerable invested powers and technically votes for the Prime Minister from among its members in a Parliamentarian fashion."

"Isn't your Japan an Empire?" Lelouch inquired

Yui nods as she suddenly wishes for a change of topic if the wrinkling of her nose is anything to go by.

"Yes, it's ruled by the Emperor and the Imperial House, but long has it been that he acts more akin to a religious leader than a ruler with complete authority over government affairs," Yui explained. "We have the Shogun and the Shogunate for that, but the position is ceremonial, he or she is the commander-in-chief of Japan's military forces who could wield emergency powers in a crisis. The Emperor, the highest authority, is the true spiritual figurehead who helps unify the people as the leader of the Shinto religion," Lelouch earned a nod from Yui. "That is basically it, but you should be careful of how you refer to the Shogun and the Emperor, some will take offense to that. Though, I hear the Japan of your world no longer has an Emperor or a Shogun, but a Prime Minister?"

"The Imperial Family and the Shogunate were overthrown following a botched war with Russia. Japan technically won, but they got nothing to show for it, other than enraging the population and crippling its economy."

"What about the Holy Britannian Empire? How did that come to be instead of America?"

"Well, there were a lot of events that led to Britannia's birth. For one thing the conflict that led to the birth of the United States in your world ended in favor of the British instead. Then a rebellion in France would engulf all of Europe, seeing every monarchy overthrown save for Russia. Cue Napoleon Bonaparte rise to power, one of the greatest military and political geniuses of his time, who would lead the first invasion of British Isles since the Romans around one thousand and eight hundred years earlier. Once ashore, an Anti-Royalist Revolt aided him and the Queen who controlled the British Isles was overthrown," Lelouch recalled that much quite well and again, he noted the need to see how different history was between their worlds, the Queen and those still loyal to her were forced to flee to the American Colonies from where they had intended to reestablish a Government-in-Exile. But instead, the Queen, childless, would make one of her lovers her successor as she died of illness. He would go on to establish the Holy Empire of Britannia, name her an Empress posthumously, and declare himself an Emperor and connect his position to Alwin I, who defeated the Roman invasion nearly two millenniums earlier."

"So the British Empire was defeated and driven to America?" Yui frowned, wondering what happened to the British Empire at large, knowing that it was quite large by that time, not quite at its zenith until the mid 19th Century or thereabouts, for her world, before its rapid decline and eventual transformation into the Commonwealth she knew.

"Fearing a repeat of what befell Britain they began an aggressive war of expansion intent on seizing all of the American continent. Eventually they succeeded in becoming one of the world's three greatest superpowers, but their expansion didn't stop. They began spreading to the Pacific Ocean."

"And Japan was conquered by them?" Yui frowned knowing that not even the Americans could be so expansionist as that was quite far for even them and they had a third of a continent to their name and with a Pacific Ocean coastline from whence to operate from, unlike the Europeans, though the Soviets and the Russians before them were notably less interested in the Far East until the other major European nations became heavily invested in it.

"Eventually," Lelouch stated for the beginning, "Japan first had a comfortable relationship with the Empire and even the EU and Chinese Federation. Consider that a miracle at the time, until new leaders came into power and with them, the changes that led to a breakdown in relations with all three powers," Lelouch knew that smaller nations, like the Middle East Federation also cursed Japan strongly. "Cue August 10th of 2010 ATB, when the Empire launched a full scale invasion with almost its full military might, overwhelming the defenses in every direction."

"Did any other nation come to Japan's aid," Yui inquired disheartened to hear about another Japan's fall.

"Unfortunately, no," Lelouch shook his head. "And it might've been for the best, given what was happening."

"What do you mean?" Yui asked, clearly surprised by Lelouch's answer.

"Japan was special in that it was the only place on Earth where seventy percent of my world's supply of Sakuradite could be found. It was a very valuable mineral that had become a key component in military equipment and technological innovations. Japan's monopoly on Sakuradite mining and trading turned it into an economic powerhouse despite its small size and used it to influence world events until it backfired."

"Leading to war with Britannia," Yui assumed, with Lelouch confirming with a nod.

"Had any of the other three superpowers intervened, it would've turned Japan into a puppet state. The land would've split into two at best or three at worst, which was likely a factor why Japan surrendered one month later."

Yui remained stunned to hear the Japan of another world was crushed so completely by a rival superpower. She tried to imagine what a massive invasion with overwhelming force from three different points was like.

But then anger welled up into her, causing her to slam her fists on the table as she stood up quickly, the Fortified Suit she was wearing enhancing her strength that the table not only jumped and tipped in her direction, but her chair was sent flying a good four meters back behind her, crashing into another chair and causing both to tumble to the ground with Lelouch wondering if she broke them and curious if she had cracked the table they were using.

"That's absurd!" Yui shouts at the top of her lungs. "Japan would surrender?! The people of my Japan would've fought to the bitter end!"

"And you're right, they would've fought to the bitter end," Lelouch responds, confident that he had at least a chance in his own Fortified Suit, even if the thing clung a little too much to his groin, "But the danger posed by the superpowers aside, it was painfully clear twenty-four hours after Britannia began its invasion who would win. The Prime Minister, reportedly at least, committed suicide due to the stress, leaving others to surrender in his place all the while what remained of Japan's military went underground, becoming a resistance movement in hopes of overthrowing Britannia when the time was right."

Yui had gone quiet trying to process all she was hearing, if not for being in this strange space and having met Claude, she might've called Lelouch a madman over something the like for what he had told her happening to Japan. Even if it was difficult to imagine what the Japan Lelouch had described was like. Or perhaps, she didn't want to in the face of the fact that her Japan had surrendered in what the West termed 1944 and had signed the San Diego Treaty ending the war with the creation of a more Democratic Japan, more a Constitutional Monarchy, even if the Nobility still had plenty to say and plenty of power.

But it did bring a thought to mind. Something that made her deflate as she went to sit down, only for Lelouch to stand up and stop her and point to where her chair now lay. Yui's face turned an interesting shade of red as she felt her embarrassment for her outburst.

And yet, the boy in front of her, only swung another chair around and that allowed her to sit comfortably which allowed her to calm down to think rationally rather than emotionally and strangely… She felt better after that outburst. Like it was something she really, desperately needed. To boil over and get angry and let it out.

Strange, but comforting.

"You know?" She leaned forward, unaware of what her suit did for appearance as such, but Lelouch was very much aware and thankful for the table, "For everything you've been talking about regarding Britannia, you seem very different. From what Claude said about your future accomplishments, it sounds to me like you have a really big grudge against Britannia. I even noticed that some of your manners are too refined for a Commoner, especially with the way you hold your silverware and chopsticks, the way you walk, and how you seem to be in control of how you speak. All of which points to a higher upbringing than even money can buy."

Yui's knowledge of Lelouch impressed him. The girl before him had shown her ability to understand the situation and from what little he said, begin to paint a picture. No doubt she'll realize he has trust issues. Therefore, she wasn't fully calling him out and was expecting him to not be totally truthful with her.

"An understatement, but you're not wrong in both the grudge and my background being a cut above, if I'm not mistaken, for a Noble such as yourself to notice," Lelouch expected this subject would come up. Lelouch didn't feel at ease revealing the details of his background best kept secret, but he did reason he could share some details and Yui's face made it clear she wouldn't accept anything less.

No reason to tell her everything I suppose. Not like she's expecting it right now either.

"To put it bluntly," Lelouch began, "My mother was a Commoner who clawed her way to the top and was a pinnacle of Knighthood among the Empire's Knights, even being accounted for as an elite after she was accepted into the Emperor's Personal Knights, the Order of the Round Table, and yes, Arthurian Legend is very big in the Britannia Empire," Lelouch had a wry smile on his face as Yui snorted and shook her head as she recalled there were some born to the Nobility and the title of Samurai who lived as Ronin apparently, having cut all connection with Japan and acted as mercenaries for hire or fought for other countries, the West Germans and British predominantly, though some had joined America as well.

"Thus, my mother had achieved the impossible in the eyes of many," Lelouch continued on, "Most notably among the Nobility as she was made a Baron which was only the beginning as there was expectations of her moving on to be a named a Marquis at the very least due to her military nature. Perhaps even a Marcher Lord, which would have put her above many Nobles and left her only answerable to the Emperor himself."

"A lot of jealousy," Yui knew there were some recent Tozoma who were raised to that position due to their military campaigns on Mainland Asia and a number of others were granted even higher positions among the Nobility itself and the IRG for their service overseas and thus, gaining jealousy of those families that had yet to distinguish themselves in battle.

Some were even Fudai like her, but directly to the Imperial Household, whereas she is Fudai to the Shogunate Household. Arguably that makes her and her family Second Rank due to serving the Shogun instead of the Emperor which would be First Rank.

"That's right," Lelouch nodded, guessing there was a system Yui hadn't told him about yet, but then again, he hadn't asked how her system was set up, "But that ended or was tabled as my mother had married up. So, she was now of higher rank through marriage. I never did find out if she had been moved past Baron or not as our territory was never renamed past Barony last I heard and after her death, it was torn to shreds by the jealous Nobles around it."

Lelouch let out a sigh. The whole thing about his exile still was a deep wound. One that time had yet to heal fully. As Claude had mentioned and Yui had picked up.

"When my mother was killed, the man I called father abandoned my sister Nunnally and myself in Japan. We were taken in by a prominent Japanese family, but then we got caught up in the war when Britannia invaded due to their position. Thanks to a friend I had, we managed to survive the month of the war, lucky enough to avoid being caught up in the fighting itself. But we saw much of the aftermath of the invasion, for which I was so thankful I had to carry Nunnally and that she couldn't see either," Lelouch surprised Yui especially at the end there and she had a pretty good idea of why he said that too.

"Your father just abandoned you in a foreign land?" Yui decided that tack was the better choice right now.

"Along with my sister who was left crippled and blind when my mother was killed, yes," Lelouch replied, horrifying Yui and now understanding why Lelouch was grateful that his sister couldn't walk or see.

But that alone couldn't justify wanting to bring down your own country.

"There is more to it isn't there?" Yui observed astutely.

"Yes, but you'll forgive me if I prefer not to share for the time being," Lelouch shrugged as he let out a breath and the look on his face as well as his posture told Yui he had a hard enough time talking about it as it is, "There are some details I would like to keep close to my chest, when I do decide to tell you I think you'll understand why I had to keep some details secret. They are the kind of secrets that can endanger me and my sister if the wrong people find out, which is why we had to fake our deaths following the war to go into hiding."

What kind of secret does he have that would make him and his sister go so far to hide their survival?

Yui was even more curious now, but she decided to respect Lelouch's wishes for the time being.

"Alright I won't pry," Yui at least was able to smile a little, thankful Lelouch had been at least willing to talk, "but you'll forgive me if I say I am curious about the details."

"That is perfectly understandable," Lelouch said with a smile.

"Maybe I'll share some details about me, since you did." Yui said before she began telling Lelouch about her background. "I am the daughter of the man who designed and produced the Type-82 Zuikaku TFS, and I am also part of a Fudai household, hereditary vassals to the Shogun."

"A form of nobility, then?" Lelouch had his guess confirmed.

"Yes, that's one way to describe it," Yui nodded as she leaned back in her chair, "It's a bit more complicated than that, though, with differing ranks that would take time to explain."

"I see," Lelouch understood the system was likely to be different.

"As for the past," Yui continued on, looking up at the ceiling, "I enrolled in a military academy that trained the daughters of the Nobility like myself to become Eishi, 'Guardians' in English, pilots of Tactical Surface Fighters, with my specific academy training only those who are to be members of the Imperial Royal Guard. My friends hailed from similar households, who, like my own Fudai family, are of samurai descent."

"Like you? And Samurai?" Lelouch knew that the Imperial Knights were Knights regardless if the were Order Knights like those in the four famed ones of Euro Britannia or like his mother in the Emperor's Order of the Rounds or even just normal Imperial Knights in the Imperial Army.

So, he was understandably curious by what appeared to be a small difference.

Yui nodded before continuing.

"My family were descended from samurai lineage, as did all the Imperial Royal Guard TSF pilots in Japan. Those in the Regular Imperial Army are just regular Eishi who passed the exams and training to become TSF pilots."

"Britannia is pretty similar, for which I recall that one," Lelouch paused before continuing on. "Relatives have been trying to put a Knightly Order together that would include a number of Commoners in its ranks for example."

Yui didn't miss the obvious pause, but ignored it.

"But the Commoners do not start earlier, but later, correct?" she inquires

"And training begins at an early age for you, as well?" Lelouch was unsurprised at that, given that piloting a Knightmare takes considerable training to achieve a level of competence. While it was possible to achieve competence in a certain amount of time, mastery required far longer and so it came as no surprise to him that Yui had been training for some time already.

"Not quite, the academy I went to accepts students at fifteen years old and begins their physical conditioning at that time as well as continuing their normal education and learning the ins and outs of drill, formation, and military structure," Yui explained. "Actual pilot training begins a few months after enrollment, with the first live piloting a few months later depending on your performance. Normally all cadets would complete training after four years, but my friends and I were sent to the battlefield after a year of training due to the dire situation caused by the BETA invading Japan," Yui explained. "However, because of our lack of combat experience and drastically incomplete training, we were stationed to protect the Arashiyama Supply Base, and…You know the rest."

Yui suddenly looked down towards the floor as some tears began to form in the corner of her eyes.

Lelouch said nothing further, but he did stand up to reach across and use his fingers to wipe away the forming tears.

"There's no need to cry," he said, surprising her. "You friends will live, I'm sure of it."

That had been what Claude told Lelouch, away from Yui during their training. The Supply Base was located along the western outskirts of Kyoto built into a mountain to defend Kyoto from the advancing BETA. It was there that Yui's squad and friends were picked off one by one. Lelouch couldn't imagine how helpless she must have felt as her friends died around her. Despite the horrors Lelouch witnessed in his Japan's brief war with Britannia, at no point did he ever fear being eaten alive. She had ended up alone in a city overrun, faced with certain death.

Lelouch could barely imagine it, although Yui didn't share the details behind how your friends died, but he knew through the night Yui lost them and the rest of the squad she was lost too until she was the sole survivor. Even then Yui almost joined her friends if not for her getting lucky at literally the last minute.

Yui herself was saved by another TSF that was making trips into the city. Otherwise, she might've suffered the same fate as her friends.

Lelouch couldn't begin to comprehend the trauma Yui must've suffered, which explained why she was so eager to change their fates and save them. Of course this also made Lelouch more distrustful of Claude, who was using her trauma and personal loss to manipulate her. Good intentions or not, Lelouch didn't think very highly of using it as means to get Yui to agree into becoming Lelouch's bodyguard and accomplice.

I would be willing to do whatever it takes against Britannia, but even I wouldn't go that far.

"You don't have to join the war with the BETA, you got a sister to look after. Your own goals aside," Yui said, breaking the silence.

"Thank you, but this isn't something I should ignore. Because what if the BETA or something like them might invade my Earth someday?"

"Huh?" Yui looked confused.

"I never remotely considered the possibility of an alien invasion happening, you only see that kind of thing in movies or popular video games and such. This is an opportunity for me to see and take part in a battle for me to gain a valuable understanding so I can make plans to prepare against such a foe. Even if such a foe never appears it would be foolish not to consider and plan for the possibility," Lelouch said, but of course there were other reasons.

The BETA invasion aside, Yui's Earth has developed very differently from his own Earth. Even the battle tactics and new weapons they created to combat the BETA would be worth learning more about them, giving him not only ideas to devise innovate tactics to use against similar foes should Lelouch face them but could even be useful in creating new tactics against Britannia, who like the BETA, do tend to use overwhelming numbers in battle.

How the United States came to be and developed into what it is now, and the United Nations and how well it has functioned would be of use.

Lelouch's goal involved changing the world aside from seeking retribution for his mother's murder and his sister left crippled and blind. Among his plans would be the creation of an international organization in which he could unify the world against Britannia, but observing and reading up on the United Nations would provide useful insight in refining his plans, which could be useful. As for the United States he was thinking of creating a democratic system of government, built up on what Japan should have had initially but expanded to ensure equal treatment and rights for everyone regardless of their nationality.

If the United States in Yui's world is in any way similar to what Lelouch had in mind, he could gain further insight to once more make better refinements as needed.

My issues with Claude and her deal for Yui to be my bodyguard aside, I can't ignore the useful opportunity presented to me. Inspiration for new tactics could be useful, since I don't know what Britannia is developing as far as new weapons go, how it might change fighting conditions should they be introduced, Lelouch thought.

Lelouch hated the idea of fighting in someone else's war, but this was a case where he stood more to gain from it.

Knowledge is power after all, and even brilliant leaders had sometimes drawn inspiration for new battlefield tactics from old ones.

"What you've shared with me has been very insightful about the BETA, but seeing them in battle would help further my understanding of them. Maybe then I will gain all of the required information to begin devising plans and ideas to set up ways to defend against invaders like them."

"That does make sense."

Yui agreed with Lelouch's reasoning, but it only made her curious about just what kind of person Lelouch was.

Claude said in two years, he succeeded in defeating Britannia and changing the world. But what drove him to do that? How did he do it?

The more she talked to Lelouch in an effort to understand him better, the more her curiosity grew which only left her with more questions.

One thing she was sure of, at least, she and Lelouch would be able to work together. That much, she was feeling confident.

"Come on, maybe we should do some endurance training before we go to bed, because as you are learning, fighting the BETA is equal part a battle of endurance," Yui suggested as she and Lelouch finished eating dinner.

"Alright, I guess the history lesson is over," Lelouch mused as he cleaned up his plate and glass and both deposited their dirty items away that would somehow be washed.

Lelouch wasn't a fan of physical fitness, since he was a child his endurance and physical ability was rather poor. However, Lelouch's lack of fitness had come back to haunt him many times since he was child following his exile to Japan. First his soon-to-be friend Suzaku had beaten him within an inch of his life, lacking any strength to fight back, and soon was attacked by the local children whenever he tried to venture out to buy food for himself and his sister. In fact if not for Suzaku providing the muscle, both figuratively and literally, Lelouch was doubtful he and Nunnally would've survived in Japan during its war with Britannia.

Still, he and Yui had been passing the time by doing exercises to help improve Lelouch's endurance at the very least. That way he could better handle the long battles that fighting the BETA demanded without wearing out. They had done push-ups, sit-ups, squats, weight lifting which he actually enjoyed to his surprise and Yui teased him about men loving their muscles only to get a tease about how women loved men with muscles too, and the one they were doing tonight, heavy bag training.

The pair then headed for where the gym was located and into the changing room, which had several changing cubicles. Another of Claude's little pranks they had both decided a while back, but still they changed into clothing attire better suited for working out in a gym, also provided by Claude, before meeting up and heading into the actual gym.

Lelouch wore a black sleeveless shirt with black shorts, while Yui wore a blue sleeveless shirt and identical blue shorts. Yui assisted Lelouch with his workouts, both as encouragement when needed and to provide the needed push, Lelouch often thought of how he could help her come to terms with her loss, believing it would help ensure she would be in the right state of time when the time came. He also saw himself in her. He figured that was Claude's way of making him see someone who had lost so much in such a short time to realize what he had in himself.

"Would it help if I could see if I could put a photo of someone you despised?" Yui asked as she stood behind holding one of the heavy sandbags hanging from a chain.

"Thanks, but no need," Lelouch said, as he was more than capable of imagining it himself.

"Okay, whenever you are ready," Yui braced herself.

Lelouch donned a pair of padded gloves before he threw his first punch followed by another, and in his mind's eye he would try and imagine the people who likely killed his mother. He was thankful Yui didn't press him for further details, because as comfortable as Lelouch had become around Yui after the two months they've spent together, he didn't feel he could trust her as he did Suzaku who knew everything.

He knew Lelouch's true origins and the full reason behind what got him sent to Japan, but Yui didn't, at least for now.

His punches came faster and hit a little harder than before as Lelouch's rage at those who killed his mother, crippled his younger sister while the trauma of their mother dying as she gave her life to shield her from the bullets that killed her even if she couldn't shield Nunnally's legs. Then finally his father appeared in his mind causing a bout of rage that gave him a boost that delivered a punch that nearly pushed the bag back.

"STOP!" Yui shouted, "I think you're getting better."

Lelouch didn't respond as he was too lost in his fantasy of taking his vengeance, the rage in his eyes was visible to Yui who concluded that being abandoned in Japan and his mother's demise, there was much more than what Lelouch had told her. Knowing this and knowing Lelouch had no desire to share for the time being, Yui held her suspicions and her questions back.

Why would someone abandon their child in a foreign nation about to go to war? Giving him away for adoption would've been easier, but why go through that much trouble?

A thought came to mind, the Emperor of Britannia, he must've had children, so could Lelouch be somehow related? Given the parts of Lelouch's story he had shared with her earlier, Yui's suspicions were only heightened; he was somehow related or could even be the son of the Emperor, reasoning that the death of a Prince of an Empire would be good justification for war.

The death of someone from an important position in any nation would be a good reason to go to war? Could Lelouch be the child of someone who wanted Japan to have a better excuse? Even if she was a Knight of the Emperor himself, it was clear her career didn't last long enough for her to make an impression and from the sounds of it… There is more. High ranking? What rank is a Marquis anyways?

Yui had no way of knowing, but she was suspicious given the amount of rage she saw was buried under the surface of the young man known as Lelouch. She continued watching him, studying him, trying to gain a better grasp of him, until he was finally spent. Drenched in sweat as he no longer had the strength to throw another punch.

"Here," Yui said, offering him a bottle of water.

"Thank you," Lelouch said before opening the cap and nearly downing the entire bottle in one gulp if Yui hadn't stopped him and made him drink slower.

"You're lasting longer," Yui complimented, trying to change his mood and her own.

"Thank you, and I am ready to switch."

"Right," Yui replied, picking up a set of gloves she brought before hand while Lelouch took position to hold the heavy sandbag.

Readying herself, Yui began punching the sandbag, but unlike Lelouch her eyes blazed with determination she gradually built up a sweat. Lelouch could feel her hits through the sandbag as he held it in place for her. It wasn't easy, but he put his whole body weight into holding it still for her.

When someone has endured a personal tragedy, they will do everything to keep their mind occupied, Lelouch mused, as Yui would likely be haunted by the loss of her friends even if they succeed.

He knew better than anyone that such scars wouldn't heal. Ever.

A/N: Lelouch has a lot of rage and Yui suspects, correctly, that there is more to Lelouch's story than meets the eye. I hope this experimental chapter was a success, and they are getting more used to their Gundams via simulators with the Coupling System helping Lelouch catch up to Yui in piloting skill and training saving time, even if they have unlimited time in the dimensional pocket.

I admit the stuff on the two Japan's I did a little piecing together, especially for Muv Luv because while it seems the Shogun is supposed to be figurehead with powers in emergencies it is clear they and the samurai families below them wield a degree of influence and political power, how much outside of the regent houses I cannot say, so hopefully what I said here makes sense or agrees. None of my betas didn't object to it, so I am going to assume it's ok.

Next Chapter, Lelouch and Yui complete their training and return to Kyoto, on the night of that fateful night for Yui. With Lelouch's cunning mind and Yui's knowledge of events can they devise a plan to save her friends, and maybe more with the aid of their Gundams, while this will be one of the first trials by fire for Lelouch.

And the poll on my profile page will remain open for now as a FYI.

Now that is done time for the specs of Lelouch's Gundam, but before I do I should note, although Lelouch isn't a Newtype, I went with a Psychoframe mobile suit akin to the Unicorn Gundam because the pyschoframe makes for a much effective thought sharing technology that compliments the Coupling System much more, as shown in Super Robot Wars X making it more effective and efficient. Don't expect Lelouch and Yui to become Newtypes or anything, in some ways the Coupling System could be seen as a means to help them make up for the lack of Newtype potential they don't have. But its highly unlikely they'll match certain Newtype pilots in, say the Unicorn Gundam…at least in a fair fight XD.

Funny enough though originally this Gundam used heavily of Gundam 00 tech, until RedRat8 was like, NOPE…give it here (redesigns it into a true hybrid of different Gundam tech), there you go.

I should note there will be times Lelouch will be forced to use other machines, as I have no intention of letting his Gundam alone carry him through the story.

Overall through this machine is a monster, but remember what it might be facing later in the story.

Model number: TMP-01X

Code name: Izanami

Unit type: Prototype Full Psycho-Frame Mobile Suit

Pilot: Lelouch Lamperouge

Manufacturer: Unknown

Operator: Order of the Black Knights, Empire of Japan ("sponsors" of the Black Knights)

First deployment: July 31st 2016 A.T.B

Accommodation: pilot only, in panoramic monitor/linear seat cockpit in torso

Dimensions: head height 19.8 meters

Weight: 55.1 metric tons

Armor: Gundanium Ally coated in Nanoskin

Equipment and Design Features; Sensor Range:23,700 meters;

Psycho-Frame: A Man to machine Interface that builds on the brainwave-to-machine code translator known as Psycommu into the atom-level of the metal frame of a Mobile Suit. More specifically, the psycommu chips are shrank and lined in the gaps between the hive-shaped metal particles of the mobile suit's frame. This allows a Newtype pilot to control the mobile suit as if it were their own body with limitations

Coupling System (with its sister unit the Izanagi)

A.L.I.C.E. System (Advanced Logistic & In-consequence Cognizing Equipment): A.L.I.C.E. is an artificial intelligence, that co-pilots the Izanami.

I-Field Barrier: an invisible force field that surrounds the Izanami and is active all the time thanks to the Izanami's limitless power. Can deflect Anti-Ship Beam Cannons and even the heat and radiation of a Nuclear Bomb close to Ground Zero.

Powerplant: DHGCP (Discontinuous Hyperoscillation Gauge Collapsing Pile) Powerplant: Which is essentially an artificial Black Hole.

Intention Automatic System: This system is inherited from the Sinanju Stein and functions by using the psycho-frame's sensitivity to the pilot's thought-waves to directly affect behavior of the mobile suit. It is also possible for the pilot to intercept the thought-waves of an enemy pilot. Additionally, the system directs the suit's movement when active, and does not completely depend on the pilot for commands.

NT-D Mode: A special operating system installed in the Izanami. The name "NT-D" is supposed to be an abbreviation for "Newtype Drive," but is actually an abbreviation for "Newtype Destroyer," a system developed to eliminate Newtypes. The system is activated when it detects an enemy psycommu machine as well as its Newtype or Cyber-Newtype pilot. When activated, the mobile suit transforms into Destroy Mode, dramatically improving its performance as its limiters are disabled, and allowing it to hijack the enemy machine's psycommu weaponry. However, it places a heavy burden on the pilot and the machine, and is limited to five minutes. This system becomes active when Coupling Mode is engaged, designed to use the combined minds of two pilots to share the burden of the system's usage and to compensate for the lack of a Newtype pilot.

Fixed Armaments

2 X 60mm Vulcan Guns: A basic armament found on many Mobile Suits. While essentially ineffectual against mobile suit armor, they are useful in intercepting incoming missiles/rockets, destroying mobile suit sensors, and engaging lightly-armored vehicles.

4 X Beam Sabers: The beam saber is a small device held in the mobile suit's hands when operated and is powered by a rechargeable energy capacitor. It emits a blade of plasma contained by an I-Field and can cut through most armor not treated with anti-beam coating. The Izanami stores two in the forearms and two on the side of the waist. The forearm-mounted beam sabers can flip over and be used directly. In this form, they are known as beam tonfas.

2 X Beam Shields: Unlike an I-field generator, which is effective only against beam attacks, the beam shield blocks both beam and projectile weapons, mounted on the shoulders.

2 x Dual-Linked Variable Speed Beam Rifles. Also known as VSBRs, they can fire either low-speed beams with high destructive power, or high-speed beams with high penetrating power, sufficient to destroy two MS with one shot or pierce a beam shield, mounted in the wings.

1 x Chest-mounted Scattering Mega Particle Cannon: a high powered Mega Particle Gun that scatters its Beams to inflict a wide variety of area to inflict maximum amount of damage, can also be concentrated for a high powered single beam attack

2 x Flame Swords: A powerful high output Beam Saber which utilizes the same Phantom Light mechanic. By "flushing" the I-Field against a Beam Shield or Beam Saber, the Flame Sword can destroy the I-Field that holds the shape of the defending weapon. It can also be used as a Heat Sword by heating the device without emitting the beam. hand-carry in use, stored on the back, held by sub-arms sheaths.

Optional Handheld Armament

Beam Magnum: A handheld firearm equipped with an energy condenser, it is common to the RX-0 series mobile suits. The power output of a single shot is the equivalent of 4 regular beam rifle shots at the expense of an entire E-pack. As such, a single shot is sufficient to destroy a mobile armor-class machine, and even stray particles from the fired shot have sufficient power to destroy a mobile suit, meaning a direct hit is not always required. The beams fired from the beam magnum are as hot as 10000°C and are surrounded by a field of plasma ranging from 3000°C to 7000°C—depending on how far away a particular area is from the actual beam. Connected to a Wire from the Izanami's generator for limitless shots mounted on the back skirt armor when not in use.

Technical and Historical notes:

Given to Lelouch by the mysterious Claude Triello, although suspicious of her true intentions he and Yui become the pilots for the Izanami and the Izanagi respectively. Drawn into Claude's planned competition as one of the seven to compete to win access to a cache of ancient technology that once belonged to a galactic superpower, the machine is provided by Claude as a "handicap" due to the resources Lelouch's competition already commands and to further help him arranges for rookie pilot Yui Takamura of the Empire of Japan's Royal Guard to pilot the Izanagi with Yui becoming Lelouch's bodyguard in exchange for Claude giving Yui a chance to prevent and save her friends from their horrific deaths during the Fall of Kyoto against the alien threat the BETA (Beings of Extra Terrestrial origin which is Adversary to the human race) as their overwhelming numbers had overwhelmed them with Yui barely surviving with her life while all of her friends were killed.

Now that is done, last and not least, replying to the reviews I can't reply to.

Samurai seven: Probably in a little bit, because the MGE story is in the middle of a reboot, I am looking to expand and space out events more so characters and such can get better intros. Demon King and his Knights I am looking to address some issues in the story because I feel the pacing is moving way too fast.

Guest 1: Thanks, and yeah some of them being included will depend on how well I can work them in without having to move whole mountains, but we got plans for most of them. There is some concern over the politics Lelouch will be facing and what to trade and what he could offer to get them as allies and to help his sponsors, while making sure it doesn't backfire or destroy their economy, if he gives them some advance tech as a incentive.

Rando Cat: Actually I forgot to add it to the reserve list, I am just on the fence on when to introduce the series and how to best handle Lelouch's arrival to G-Gundam.

samurai seven 2: Hmmm that is a problem because the two Gundams are different, Yui's machine is more close quarters while its sister unit is more tuned to Lelouch, furthermore it would mean rewriting the 14 chapters I've made so far, and I rather not do that again. But you won't be disappointed in his machine, if you saw the specs for it at the end of the chapter.