A/n: I`m having a lot of exams and assignments to do, so I`ve finally got a small window to complete this chapter, no matter how burned out I feel. It was being written since the previous one got posted. I won`t guarantee that there`d be a clear schedule for updates, since I`m planning on making some other stories, better or worse than this one.

III Chapter.

Kamine Island

At the beach

Lelouch opened his eyes.

Before him was sea, sand, seagulls, and absolutely nobody. At least he wasn`t in any handcuffs, nor had he met any Britannian. His firearm also was in place. The only thing was that he wasn`t in his knightmare, so he couldn`t reach out to any of the Black Knights.

The images from the battle begun falling on him. He met Charles in a combat. And worse than that – he wasn`t able to kill him. 'Kallen, Tohdoh, Suzaku – where are they? And where is the emperor? If I knew – I`d prepare better, that was a perfect opportunity to ask him about mother.'

He rose up from the sand, cleaning his coat from it.

'The climate, temperature and the positioning of Sun is similar to the one on Shikine Island. Most likely they`re located close to each other. I need to investigate further into the island. What is this island population? If I find someone, I should come up with something. Could I pass off as a bystander if I drop my mask? What if that person will be from Britannian military? It would be much easier if I found someone I know.'

His string of thoughts was suddenly interrupted, when he saw to his left princess Euphemia. 'What`s she doing here? I don`t remember meeting her today. She seems to be as confused as I am'.

Zero quickly pointed his firearm at her, though both of them knew she didn`t really possess any kind of threat to him.

"Lelouch!", he flinched at hearing this, "Is that really you? I haven`t said about this to anyone, I swear! So, please, before you shoot, could you reveal your face?" Tears were forming in her eyes. To see her long-dead brother again was everything she could`ve wanted right now, as much as meeting Suzaku.

'Well, there`s no point in keeping it anyway'. He withdrew his pistol away, and with his free hand he took his mask off.

"Lelouch!" she spoke, breaking into tears. One of the brightest and nicest people from entire Royal Family, whom she couldn`t hope to meet again for the last seven years, was standing before her.

"Yes, it`s really me, sister"

"So, is Nunnally alive as well?!"

Lelouch nodded.

She stood speechless and in joy. "Thank goodness, we still hoped that official reports were false".

"I almost forgot – where are we exactly?".

Near the forest

'Gosh, where am I? That doesn`t exactly look like my Gurren. How the hell I even ended up here?'. Kallen quickly stood up from a pile of sand near the forest. She readjusted her headband, as her eyes were trying to find anybody or anything useful. 'I should find Zero and the rest of the Black Knights. Source of drinkable water would be nice.'

Kallen looked at her uniform. It was full of sand and extremely uncomfortable. At least her small 'helper' – knife in a pouch – was still in place, though a pistol could be useful if she found someone. 'But damn me if I would meet any Britannian if I were to bath at that moment. I should shake up the uniform a bit to remove the sand from the uniform. For more I simply don`t have time'.

She shook her uniform, which somewhat helped with sand. Still not ideal, but better than before.

As she went through a forest towards a mountain, she thought to herself how unpopulated the area is. 'I wonder how others are doing'. Her memories were beginning to be flooded with pictures of Britannian army, her Gurren and the battle itself. 'Wait, so if I`m here, where`s everyone else? Has Zero run away or…No, better not to think about that "or".'

Kallen saw a lake, full of drinkable water and no dangers in sight. She made a mark in her memory about its location and went to the beach. 'Surely I must find anyone here. Though preferably it`d be better if this was a Japanese face, and not some Britannian soldier'

On the beach

As soon as they finished discussing their late life, while looking at the sky, Lelouch and Euphemia got up. "No matter how long we`ll be away from the civilization, we should find some water and food" Lelouch planned.

As they were going into the forest, he heard some noise from one of the trees. Siblings quickly hid behind the bush and Lelouch took his mask on.

From in-between the trees he saw a familiar redhead looking over the location. 'Kallen? But what`s she doing here? At least first one we met is one of my subordinates, though how to explain the fact that I`m near one of the imperial princesses will be a pain'

Euphemia in the meantime saw her as well, not paying too much attention to the uniforms. 'Wow, we only took a few steps and we found someone! Let`s meet that person'

Euphemia got up and run to Kallen. "Hello! Could you tell us where're we? We got to this island somehow and have no idea how to get home!"

Kallen was thrown back by this. Taking a few seconds to react, she got her pouch out and begun to run to the princess. "What are you doing here, Britannian scum!"

Seeing how the discussion won`t conclude without intervention, Lelouch made sure he had his mask properly worn and run to Euphemia.

"Stop! Kallen, lower your knife! Everything`s under control!". He had his firearm in his right hand, while running to both Kallen and Euphemia. The scene confused the former, as she lowered her pouch, with confusion visible on her face.

"Wait, Zero, are you sure we should be so formal to an imperial princess? I`m sure that Britannian nobility could wait to strike us in the back when we`re not looking"

Zero caught up with Euphemia, as all of them stood against one another.

"Yes, Kallen, it`s fine. The third princess isn`t exactly known for violence or attacking others. Exception from the rule."

"Wait, do you know each other?" Euphemia said, still oblivious to the uniform. Her memory almost screamed about her familiar face, but she was unable to remember from where. Kallen looked at her in disbelief, 'Is she that unfamiliar with the Black Knights uniform or too confused for her own good? Cornelia really made sure to keep her as far away as possible from the war'.

"So, you don't know me? I`m Kallen Kozuki, the Ace of the Black Knights and the captain of Zero Squad. One day we`ll take our revenge on what you did to us, Japanese! You`re sure as unlucky to run into both me and Zero. By the way," she turned her head to Zero, and asked quietly "what shall we do with her?"

"Currently we`re all strangled on the island, so in a way, we`re situational allies. We should keep as a one group until we find either the Black Knights or Britannia. When we spot them, we`ll separate and make our way out, depending on the situation"

"…Sounds nice, though I`m not trustful to her" she pointed at Euphemia with her pouch.

Then the revelation dropped on her: "Wait, are you in the Student Council with Suzaku?" the princess asked, "You keep your name as Stadtfeld at the Academy, right?"

"So, you know me. How nice." Kallen went to mockingly praise her, as she then asked "Zero, should we really let go of her after we`re rescued? She blew off my cover completely."

Beneath the mask, he almost laughed.

"Eh, I have no interest in it, as long as you won`t threaten me or Suzaku, I won`t reveal a thing"

"Great, though I still don`t trust." Kallen looked at her, and then to Zero "So, what`s the plan? I found a lake nearby, so water shouldn`t be a problem"

"Good. We`ll break camp here and then we`ll decide who and what will be doing"

On the Shikine Island

Every centimeter of the trap was under close inspection of the search groups. . Fayer`s day couldn`t`ve been any worse, both the imperial princess and worldwide terrorist disappeared under his watch. 'And for this to happen when the emperor arrived… I guess I won`t retire in peace.'

On the ship, the emperor was quietly observing the situation. His staff, on the other way, was too shocked or afraid to say a word.

Charles stood up and said formidably "That`s enough. Let us move to the next point of our route. Cease the search mission. Lady Alstreim, follow me. Sir Waldstein, return to the flagship"

"Yes, Your Majesty!". With this, they left the bridge, soon accompanied by the Knight of One.

"So, does the plan proceeds as you wished, Your Majesty?" Bismarck asked, with a little bit of frustration in his voice. He almost got Tohdoh, the enemy commander, within minute of fighting, and now they have an intervention of self-serving brat. "Does Your Majesty think that they are currently on Kamine Island?"

"It is possible, but the ruins are valuable. Securing control over them is vital." Charles responded. Now Anya got to ask her question. "V.V. couldn`t learn this so quickly. He must`ve been testing the waters. We probably should operate much more carefully." Her gaze wondered from the corridor back to Charles` stoic profile. "He either was planning to do it anyways, or he is afraid of Your Majesty`s sudden uptick of activity."

Charles was deep in his thoughts, whilst listening to them. 'One day he could try to kill Lelouch, so we better prepare for it. Finding someone who hates Zero enough isn`t that big deal of a task.'

"This is the reason why we should move now. We can`t be certain over what he`s planning. I and Anya will go to the ruins, while you, Bismarck, will be on guard. If you spot them – report and get them to me."

"Understood, Your Majesty. I will take A.S.E.E.C. for it to improve the Gawain."

"And what of C.C.? I still have a connection with her, but she run away with the rest of those terrorists."

"We`ll get her, but not now. First – clearing tasks at hand"

On the island

Suzaku awoke in the middle of the beach, near the rocks. Surprised to see nobody near him, he went carefully to the nearest water source.

'I need to find Princess Euphemia, if she`s here, as well as find any sort of communication with the Army'

"Let`s just get the fish, as well as start the campfire. It`d be real shame if no one was here."

On the submarine

The debate over whether the Black Knights should remain was raging.

"Sometimes, a life of one man is more important than the lives of millions", Diethard was trying to force the organization to remain in the area.

"As expected of Britannian. We cannot allow for the rest of the Black Knights to be sitting ducks, waiting to be shot!"

C.C. was observing it from the side. Had Marianne not been speaking for her, she would already intervene.

'Wait, so you went that far? Marianne, usually you and Charles stay on the fence, observing the conflict. I haven`t seen you being so active for so long.'

'No, not that I`m that interested in these squabbles, but I`m not interested in joining you as well. Oh, at least give me more time to rest.'

"Sorry to disappoint you, but Zero is still alive", she said, intervening into the debate, before it became a fight. "Do with this information as you please."

"Yeah, as if would mean something fro…" Tamaki was stopped by Tohdoh, "So we will wait a day more, and then leave the region, if we receive no further information from them. I hope this will be enough of a compromise for all of you."

The night close in, as Zero, Euphemia and Kallen were sitting around their own campfire. Choice of food wasn`t as big as Princess used to, but fruits and some fried small animals was better than nothing.

'The way they sit and react to one another is almost familial. Could Zero have some old business with her? That`s why he did not allow me to tie her hands?'

As much as Kallen would wish not to admit, she was somewhat jealous. Not only she felt like she knew Zero less than a Britannian Princess, but their interaction and tones was gunning down most of her thoughts. Usually, she`d question Zero for his relations, but her mind kept on questioning herself. Her cheeks were hot both because of blush and fury at Euphemia. 'If this will continue for any longer, I will kill her, and no Zero will stop me! I will ask her some questions, I need to know.'

Almost like reading her mind, Zero stood up with a portion of food. "I`ll go somewhere to eat, this mask wasn`t made with an idea for keeping identity secret and eating at the same time. I entrust that nothing happens here to you, Kallen."

"Yes!"

After Zero went to eat with nothing or nobody aside the stars around him, Kallen felt that this was the moment to speak with Euphemia.

"So, how long did you know each other?" she said, taking her eyes off a campfire straight to Euphemia`s confused face. "The way you interacted was friendly, almost familial. I didn`t spoke like that even to my brother before your Britannian bastards took his life. I saw you two before you found me. Was Zero without a mask near you? I didn`t have a chance to check his face, because you were in the way, but his voice felt almost natural, without his usual modified tone"

The princess sat confused, gathering her answer. Before she could respond, Kallen continued. "I`m genuinely curious, why your expression was so different from what you have when speaking to me. I didn`t kill Clovis, but you almost ignored that fact, when you were speaking to him. You were standing almost like best friends or…"

"Oh, so you think that I know him or… that I love him?" she said, with such a teasing tone that only Milly`s could rival it. Kallen was thrown aback by this statement. The princess was not only kind, but could read emotions quite well. "I`m surprised that you don`t know his real self. I do know, who he is, and we certainly knew each other for a long time. But you better torment Le…Zero with such questions, than me. After all, it`s up to him to decide, whether you should really know, who he is."

Trying to come back from such attack, Kallen replied. "Before striking me with such accusations, you better think how Suzaku would react, if it was him that saw you two? I highly doubt that his reaction would be any better than mine." Attack worked, as Euphemia`s cheeks flared red at the implication, "Or these rumors are simply rumors? I highly doubt it."

The discussion almost got to a fight, but Zero came back in time, stopping it right in time. "Kallen, is everything normal?"

"Yeah… Everything`s normal" she responded, whilst throwing angry glance at Euphemia and with a bitterness in her voice. The latter didn`t look any better, but her expression changed to the satisfied one, knowing she won`t have to deal with this pressure anymore.

After everything went back how it was, the group quickly fell to sleep. Kallen kept on her watch, spotting searchlights in the sky in the middle of the night.

The next morning

"Wait, so you are sure that someone came to the island last night?" Euphemia asked Kallen, as the latter tried to tell this to Zero quietly.

"Yes, I think that this is a search party. How bad, but if this are our comrades, I doubt that you`ll see Suzaku anytime soon"

Before she could strike with a sharp reply, Zero intervened. "Either way, we will have to come up with something. Our time together on the island is ending."

9th of September

Strasburg, E.U.

Another day of the conference, and the talks were going in a right direction. Schneizel, as a leader and, pretty much, the only important delegate from Britannia, normally would be satisfied with the result.

However, even this usual blank expression he was always wearing, had a note of infuriation.

"Prince Schneizel, is everything alright?" His aide-de-camp, Kanon Maldini asked.

"Father usually does not intervene into my initiatives. Not only that – he never put too much blockers on the way I govern the Empire. But now he suddenly enters the game and throws the chessboard out the window."

It`s true, the recent developments were of a high interest among the important of the Royal Family. Kanon, as a closely-positioned person, couldn`t be surprised by the developments as well.

"Could it be because of how it destabilizes the Area-Number system?"

"No, he isn`t the biggest fanatic of his politics. There should be other factors."

"By the way, Prince Schneizel, General Bartley was relocated to Nevada by the orders of His Majesty."

"What!? And what about the project?"

"We do not know. Probably it was also taken under Emperor`s control"

"Strange. He couldn`t have known about it. But we still lost quite an important card. At least I have other research teams under my wing."

'Something is wrong. There should be a third player, though his intentions seem to be not against mine.' The list of suspects could be counted on one hand, and all of them seem extremely unlikely or lacking motivation for it.

"Time will tell. Now, is everything ready for the next round of talks?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Schneizel furrowed, glancing at the chessboard before him. Zero was a good opponent, but whoever has entered the game is quite skilled as well.

"Good. Let us proceed. Report any developments in the Area 11. I did not have a such strong opponent in a long time"

Near the gate

Lloyd was getting used to always being near the royals. If he paid attention for things they were talking, he`d bored himself to death. So it was very nice to see something interesting, such as Gawain, being presented for him from 2m tall bag of muscle (and money). Well, easily pissed off and extremely powerful bag, but still.

"Oh, I see why I`m needed here. At least it isn`t some boring stuff like whatever you keep investigating in this rock."

He could feel the angry look he got from Charles when he said it. The emperor then moved his gaze to the Gate.

"Is everything still operable?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. We will increase the guard afterwards, but now everything seems in a good condition and working."

The emperor was pleased to hear this. Preparing to return to the ship, he only had to wait to hear a report from Bismarck.

'You won`t be running away from me for long, my son.'

In the middle of the forest

After seeing searchlights in the sky in the night, Suzaku was both relieved and worried. He was a naïve person, but not that much to believe, that such massive search party to be launched for him, so it meant only one thing.

Princess Euphemia was still on the island! And he hadn`t met her here. It will be worse if she met terrorists on the island, while he was away. For this matter, he went in the direction to the opposite side of the island, hoping to meet Euphy before Zero does.

'I need to find her fast!'

In the meantime, the three continued to venture in the forest in order to meet the people they were searching for.

Kallen, whilst still under the impression from yesterday's dialogue with Euphemia, went close to Zero. "I don`t really like where we`re going. Do we really possess the ability to conduct a search? It could be Britannians, and very unlikely – the Black Knights"

"The chances of them being enemies are quite high, but we could find a way to retreat to our forces."

She couldn`t help but to think about his personality. 'Euphemia knows (most likely, if she wasn`t simply shifting attention from Suzaku)! That green haired pizza-eater knows! I have to know too! But, he did propose several times for me to see his face. And I declined… Why? I will learn everything from him today'

With an uncertainty in her voice, she spoke. "Zero, it`s about earlier. Who…" Kallen begun, but quickly got interrupted by Zero. "Hush! Hide!" he said quietly. From the threes, a familiar teenager in gold and white uniform appeared. "We do not know whether he`s alone or not. Let us observe him from afar".

While Kallen and Zero did stay behind the bush, Euphemia ran towards Suzaku. They quickly stopped her, but Suzaku still saw them.

"Quick! Pretend, that we capture you!" Lelouch quietly spoke to Euphemia, while putting his pistol to her neck. Kallen stood in her fighting stance, readying her knife for attack. "So, Suzaku Kururugi, here we meet again! Please, surrender yourself, and no one will be harmed."

Had it been simply Zero, he would charge in, beat the pistol off Zero`s hands, but seeing his classmate by his side with a knife in hand surprised him. "Kallen? Why are you here? Wait, are you a member of the Black Knights?"

"Yeah, I`m the pilot of the Guren: Knightmare, that almost defeated you several times!"

"What an… unexpected unpleasant meeting. I guess I don`t have much of a choice, do I?"

With that he approached the group, hands high in the air.

In the cave

Bismarck was leading a search party from his Gloucester. And in that moment, he saw a group of four, which he easily recognized, standing on a clearance between the trees.

At the same time, the group spotted him. When the Gloucester begun to move. Suzaku quickly rushed to Zero, taking the princess from him.

"You fool!" Zero screamed. The ground begun to tremble, after a Geass sigil begun glowing red on the grass. The ground beneath them begun to fall

When they stood at the doorstep of the Gate, all four were extremely confused by the scene. The emperor, who was going to leave the cave, returned his gaze to the group. With a devilish grin appearing on his face, he ordered. "So here you are. Guards, arrest Zero! Bismarck, get here immediately!"

Anya was looking at the situation with a smile, not believing her eyes. Marianne, who was residing within her, was almost screaming. Here he stood, her son. How much did he grow! Oh, she`d love to talk with him when they`ll get him.

'What a coincidence', Zero thought, with burning hate growing in him. He was too shocked to turn his pistol to face Charles, and when he did – one of the guards was already protecting him, standing in the way.

"Zero, we can use this!" Kallen pointed at Gawain, which was still standing near the gate. "Good thinking, let`s go!" Zero replied, quickly running to the knightmare.

A group of Britannian soldiers climbed to them in no time, leaving 3 soldiers to protect Euphemia, and other 3 tried to take Kallen and Zero down. Kallen used her "little helper" to blind them and then knocked down them, while they were in shock, taking one of their submachine guns.

Zero jumped into the cockpit, launching the Gawain in the mere seconds. With Kallen on the shoulder of the frame, he started the landspinners.

'To think about it, the only time I`ve got to see this bastard is the time I don`t have the opportunity or time to kill him. I will get you later.'

The entrance into the cave was blocked with 4 Sutherlands and several guards, which quickly dispersed after Gawain tried to use Hadron cannons. "They weren`t completed? At least the float system is still operational. Kallen, get into the cockpit! You`re better here than there." Lelouch said, still wearing his mask. 'I need to transfer all the data back to the submarine, as well as make a request for help'.

Driving out of the cave, Gawain was quickly stopped by Bismarck`s Gloucester. He striked him with his MVS`s into the left shoulder. Gawain tried to parry the attack, but failed. With no options left, the float system was activated, as they tried to leave the island.

"Trying to flee? I won`t allow you." Bismarck then threw one of his MVS`s into Gawain`s float system, successfully disabling it.

"At least we still can stand, though we won`t be able to flee in it aerially." Kallen spoke. It didn`t calm Zero, who was raging from failing to flee the battlefield.

Kallen tried to maneuver around Bismarck, trying to fend him off with the slash hurkans, but Gloucester simply refused to allow himself to be outwitted with incomplete prototype. Bismarck striked Gawain`s hands and left landspinner with his last remaining MVS.

"Zero, surrender, now!" Bismarck said, after effectively disarming the frame and his Gloucester holding an MVS to the head of Gawain, threating to blow the cockpit and the engine in a swift strike.

Charles was standing at the entrance of the cave, observing the battle with a smile on his face. Bismarck being near the entrance was a perfect part. He sent him out before so he could find Lelouch sooner, or to be able to enter the cave from outside. "Had Lelouch planned this out thoroughly, he wouldn`t get himself in this position. He has much to learn."

Anya was standing by Charles` side. "I`m proud to see how well he performed, knowing how little training he really had, but now he has to step down. Eh, how good would he become had he was still with us…"

Lelouch threw a glance at the skies above him. 'Is this what being in a cage feels?'

Kallen was silently cursing her luck, as she looked from Zero to Gloucester and back, with her eyes not believing the situation they`ve got themselves in and almost pleading for a way out to be. In the end, there wasn`t that much hope, aside from him.

"…Zero, what`s our plan? Zero?!"

I`m kind of pained to write the last pages of the chapter. I really tried to see how it`d realistically turn out without disappointing both myself and you, readers. But I`m not satisfied with such result.

As usual, I`m waiting for questions and reviews.