Code Geass Megiddo

by Wing Zero Alpha

After the Black Rebellion, the world became a different place from what people knew it for. But in spite of that, there was still one who wished to change it for the better. This is the story of his crusade...

5. Chapter V: Jubilee

"It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection."
- The Bhagavad Gita

Chapter V: Jubilee

Aries Palace
Pendragon, Grand Duchy of Pennsylvania, Area 1 (North America), Britannian Empire
February 24, 2025

Even all the way from his private chambers in Aries Palace, Lelouch could hear the great celebration that had overtaken Pendragon much like the Visigoths had overtaken Rome in 410. While St. Darwin's Street was a fair distance away from the parades and "commoner" extravaganzas, the prince could see that the two thousandth and seventieth anniversary of Britannia's birth was in full swing, and it was not likely to die down anytime soon. In fact, he had already been to a few of them while disguised as a commoner himself, if only to blow off time before the big celebration at the Grand Hall was to commence. While Lelouch wasn't much of a partier, even he could not keep himself from getting swept into the great orgy that was Crown Day.

All across the country and into the Areas, every city was in a state of fanfare and festivity, but even combined none could compare to the chaotic grandeur that Pendragon had grown into. The entire city was decked out in lights and colored streamers of every spectrum possible. Parades marched across practically every street like soldiers returning home after achieving victory in battle, all with different features to make each one unique to itself. Music of all forms and fashions cascaded through the streets, from ancient classics and folk songs to modern day genres such as rock and roll and techno. Hotels, bars, rave clubs and dance halls were all cleaning up amidst the masses of both citizen and tourist alike. Proper etiquette was forgotten and political correctness ignored all in the name of traditional Britannian rejoicing and remembrance. And finally as if to symbolize it all, fireworks of different colors and patterns exploded all across the sky. Overall it was almost impossible to remember that this was a time of war amidst the cheering masses, and the ones that did actually remember simply chose to let it go until the festivities came to an end and the Britannian Empire went about its business of conquering and ruling the world again.

And here Lelouch was, getting ready for yet another party, but one that was different from the rest. Instead of celebrating as if it were his coronation, he would be spending the evening socializing with his siblings and various nobility over a glass of the finest wine while listening to classical melody after classical melody performed by the Imperial Philharmonic Orchestra. It went without saying that Lelouch was not looking forward to the occasion. I left my command in Africa for this...!?

But once again, Lelouch was a Prince, and as a prince he had to mingle with those of equal status first and foremost, even if most of them were as collectively useless as horse cavalry against knightmare frames. The way Britannian society was arranged, there were very few nobles that had actually earned their titles rather than being born into them anymore, and aside from Schneizel, Cornelia and a few others, imperials were much the same. For most of them, their greatest concerns and subsequent conversation topics were getting in and out of limousines or figuring out which operas to attend or which art museums to tour, while those who were involved in the current war preferred talking about their battle experiences behind the rear lines. The real combat veterans were the ones Lelouch could relate to the most, but very few of them were willing to strike a conversation, let alone talk about their experiences. Thus it looked to be an incredibly boring evening, unless Lelouch could either find a chess board and a willing opponent or an excuse to leave the party early and retreat back to Aries.

Preferably in the company of a beautiful woman. Lelouch thought with a small, sly grin. That idea would certainly make the holiday all the more memorable before he returned to the battlefield, but the search would be difficult amongst the herds of brainless nobles. Besides, it wasn't like he had anything better to do there.

A knock at the door and a female broke Lelouch out of his thoughts. "Your Highness, are you decent?"

"It's open Sarah," Lelouch replied as he finished fastening the button to his white tunic.

The door opened and a blonde, short-haired maid who was just a little older than her master entered the room hurriedly. "Your limousine has arrived. It's parked in front of the palace now."

"Very well, tell the driver I will be down in five minutes," Lelouch said while looking himself over in the mirror, which he also used to look at Sarah Beckett from the corner.

Sarah bowed and turned around to start her way back just as Lelouch spoke up again. "Actually, wait," When she turned around, Lelouch continued. "Out of curiosity Sarah, what are your plans for the evening?"

The maid looked back with some confusion. "Sire?"

"Come now, this is the Empire's most celebrated holiday next to Christmas. Surely you have a party to go to or a date planned," Lelouch said, still looking at her from the mirror.

The maid clearly wasn't sure how to answer. "I'm afraid I'm not much of a party person Your Highness."

"Neither am I, but I'm still a Britannian and this is the day our great Empire was established by Alwyn I himself. That's enough of a reason for me to join the festivities," Lelouch explained.

"With respect my Prince…" Sarah began with a raised eyebrow. "I believe you're going to this party only because you are required to by your father, His Majesty. If you had it your way, you would still be in Africa fighting our enemies."

Lelouch laughed at that and turned around to face Sarah this time. "Alright, you caught me. But regardless of that, the other servants have the night off and I don't want you to be the only one here for the evening. You're too good of a woman to be stuck in the house."

And it was at that point, for the first time Lelouch could remember, that the prince saw his trusted maid blush. Instead of replying right off, she walked over and began to straighten out the purple sash that went with Lelouch's otherwise pristine white and gold personalized dress uniform. While white was not his preferred color, the prince still wore it with great polish and majesty.

"You do not have to worry about me my Prince, I will find surely find something to do for the evening. Pendragon is a large city after all. Rather, I'm more concerned about how you will enjoy the evening, since you have never gotten along well with nobility," Sarah said as she finished adjusting the sash.

"I know," Lelouch replied with a reassuring smile. "With any luck something will happen to alleviate the boredom. Who knows, maybe I could challenge my father to a chess match."

"I think you would have better luck with Prince Schneizel. As I recall, you have yet to defeat him," Sarah said with a chuckle as she began patting his tunic for any lint or dust.

"Trying to earn contempt of the imperial family are we?" Lelouch replied jokingly, standing still let her do her work.

After the maid finished this and straightening out the rest of Lelouch's uniform, she took a step back to check her work, which she found satisfactory. "There, now you truly look like the Black Prince."

"Exactly, what would I ever do without you Sarah?" Lelouch exclaimed.

Sarah looked up in thought at that question. "Well, it has been six years since Lady Ashford transferred me to your service. I have no idea how you managed to function before that point, but now…" she closed her eyes and smiled innocently. "You would simply roll over and die without me, Your Highness."

"Keep it up and I'll send you back to Milly in disgrace, and then you will truly be sorry." Lelouch shot back with a false malevolent smile. Then letting the smile fade and taking in a heavy sigh, he looked toward the door. "Well, I guess it's time to mingle with the other bluebloods."

"Be sure to behave yourself this time sire," Sarah answered, then stepping out of the way to allow Lelouch to pass, which he did.

---

Grand Hall
Pendragon, Grand Duchy of Pennsylvania, Area 1 (North America), Britannian Empire

"Kallen, Lady Stadtfeld of Charlotte and escort!" the porter soon announced, before he waved his arm to allow the two incognito Black Knights through.

Kallen rolled her eyes as the porter finished her name. If there was one Britannian tradition that she truly hated, it was how nobility were announced at whatever party they attended, as if the lesser beings were expected to bow down and kiss the ground they walked on. To her, it was the height of Britannian arrogance, a reflection of the prevailing better-than-thou attitude that led to world conquest and renaming nations into numbers. Had this been any other occasion, she would have broken the porter's nose for continuing that arrogance.

But the whole reason Kallen Kouzuki was even there was because she was on a mission, and so she held herself back. Knowing that there was no turning back now, Kallen wasted no more time and marched forward into the ballroom, and was immediately she was met with a mixture of light, music and voices as her eyes adjusted to meet the magnificence that befell them. While the outside of the building was not much to look at, the inside was as lavish and ornate as one would come to expect from Britannia, with its red walls lined with gold, marble tiled floor, golden chandelier and brilliantly designed archways. The occupants of the room were also dressed to match the elegance of it, with the men dressed handsomely and stylishly while the women were groomed for grace and beauty, all in an assortment of unique and individual garments. Waiters and attendants ran up down bearing different foods and drinks, while a live orchestra played in the background and couples danced to the music brought forth. And just beyond them all was a staircase that led further up into the building, where Kallen suspected that the Emperor himself would make his entrance.

"Impressive, no?" Captain Alfred Gaius Darlton, Executive Officer of 0 Knightmare Squadron "Rei" and her "escort", smiled back at his commanding officer as he saw her intrigue. "When we aren't conquering entire countries and eradicating rebellions, we Britannians throw parties. Large parties, for any excuse we can come up with."

"This is never going to work," Kallen frowned, feeling far more inwardly restless than she had ever felt before. "All we need is for one person to recognize either of us and we're through."

"It will work; all you have to do is blend in. So, with respect, put up a smile and bear it," Alfred whispered to her with reassurance.

"You try smiling while wearing this…thing, Alfred," Kallen answered with a small scowl, gesturing down to the ornate yellow silk dress that she was wearing. "I've never felt so much like a whore in my entire life."

Alfred did his best not to look down, even with a corner glance, as he was too afraid of the natural reaction he may get from being so close. While his CO hated it, the light yellow, white and red garment made her absolutely stunning beyond imagination: while not overly tight, it hugged her toned physique in a perfect outline as well as highlight her ample chest in a way that not even her pilot suit could, yet was still of a design that higher class were fond of. That combined with the structure of her face and her ever vibrant red hair, Kallen truly did look the part of a young socialite Baroness and not the Black Knight ace that the Britannians had come to fear as the Red Dragoness.

"I can't say I'd look as good in it as you do Major. Don't have the hips," Alfred replied with a hint of sarcasm and a small smirk. He then turned serious again. "But that's beside the point; if anyone were to recognize you, they would have done it when your name was announced. And as you can see, nobody cares about another noblewoman joining the party, so just keep to your act and you'll be able to find your target without issue."

"And just what kind of 'act' am I going for?" Kallen said, not quite sure of herself.

Alfred smirk grew a centimeter at that question. "Do I truly need to explain, Major?"

The Major inwardly sighed, knowing exactly what the former knight meant. And so taking his advice to heart, she closed her eyes and cleared her mind, remembering the image of the frail, sickly girl that she had portrayed not too long ago. It was not an act she liked to do, but it was still a familiar one and she played the part well. Thus when Kallen opened her eyes again, gone was the stern and hardened expression of a warrior, having been replaced entirely by the soft and passive expression that she had been renowned for once upon a time.

"Very good," Alfred remarked as he looked over the would-be noblewoman, becoming satisfied with what he saw. "Now remember, make sure to wait until after the Emperor gives his speech. Before that point, no one is allowed to leave."

"I'll be sure to keep that in mind," Kallen replied in her now softened voice.

"Alright then…" Alfred replied before pointing toward a general direction. "I will be over there in case you need me. Good luck Major."

And so Alfred disappeared into the crowd, leaving Kallen alone for the time being. Truthfully she would have preferred his company for a while longer; even though they were former enemies, Alfred was chivalrous to a fault and easy to get along with, plus he made for a decent conversationalist when the need arose. But for the deception to work, Kallen had to be seen as meek and alone at the party, so she was willing to put up with the loneliness for the time being. Besides, she could easily make up for the lack of dialogue by getting something to eat, and when it came to food nobility never skimped on quality.

As she made her way to the buffet table, Kallen glanced around the room a bit more at the other guests. For the most part, the people that weren't dancing to the music were striking conversation with one another, whether out of social standard or simply just to pass the time. Off in the corner, a group of older men were talking about how they were being mistreated by their wives, while in another part a group of boys were comparing wine brands and vintages, and yet in another corner an apparent war veteran was talking about his exploits during this current Britannia was having against the EU. The ones closest to Kallen however were a group of women her age, apparently talking about nonsensical things such as who was dating who, how this party measured up to last year's and who had the better shot at gaining favor with a Prince. The natural reaction was for the Black Knight to subconsciously grimace at it all; the warrior spirit in her that she was most proud of could only chafe against these carefree people who only knew what it was to be at the top of the food chain. And yet, another part of Kallen wondered if that could have been her if she had chosen a different path in life.

While Kallen had always taken pride in her Japanese half, there were times she wondered what would have become of her had she chosen to go through life as a Britannian, as Kallen Stadtfeld instead of Kallen Kouzuki. She had garnered a taste of such a life in Japan when her father took her back into his care, but she had never considered seriously taking that path. Instead she had simply used it for her convenience to disguise her "true" life as a terrorist and then as a revolutionary. But if it had been different for her, could she truly have become just like these women there: dumb and happy with having everything handed to her with a simple command? Could she honestly have been satisfied with a life which held no concern beyond the gain of power and status in perhaps the most powerful nation to ever be created by man? For every ounce of thought she put into it, Kallen could not see herself being true to the noble lifestyle of wearing fanciful dresses and attending parties day in and day out while trying to find another rich noble to make a husband out of. In fact, she felt disgusted on the inside just by thinking about it, but she did not dismiss the idea that what she saw before her could have been the scope of her world.

Despite all that though, if there was one thing Kallen was sure about, no matter what course of life she had taken, she would always be a warrior at heart. Even if it meant becoming a soldier of the Empire just as Suzaku Kururugi had become rather than one for Japan.

But that didn't happen. Kallen thought, pushing the mental image of herself as a Knight of the Round out of her mind as she took a plate and placed some food on it. I am Major Kallen Kouzuki of the Black Knights and one of the last Japanese. That is the only path I know and that is the only path I will follow to the end.

She soon found a table and took a seat, making sure that she was in a safe corner from too much attention. As much as she wanted to enjoy herself a little, she was still on perhaps the most important mission that she had ever been assigned to, and there would be damned before she forgot that. So far though, as far as she could see, Lelouch had not come to the party yet, which meant he was either en route or he was not coming at all. Kallen figured the chances were better for the former, since nonattendance meant having to suffer the Emperor's wrath, something that even the Black Prince wouldn't have been able to survive. But at the same time she knew better than to simply leave it to that, since Lelouch was still a rebel at heart and had a knack toward tempting and cheating fate.

With that path of logic in mind, Kallen's left eye suddenly started to glow red.

---

"I dare say, could this party get any more boring?" a bespectacled man with lavender hair and pale blue eyes stated before taking another bite of his bowl of strawberry pudding. Despite his apparent boredom, his expression was nothing but pure satisfaction as he swallowed more of his favorite food. "It feels more like a wake instead of a grand celebration."

"Are you sure Lloyd?" the indigo haired, darker blue eyed woman in the rather revealing red gown inquired. "It seems pretty lively to me…"

"Just ignore him Cecile," the blonde haired woman in an even more revealing blue gown casually spoke from beside the pair, with a hint of the mischievousness that she was renowned for. "He's just upset because he couldn't get out of it.

She then smiled at the man. "If you want however Lloyd, you can just sneak out the back door like anyone would expect you to."

Quirking an eyebrow, Colonel Lloyd Asplund, Earl of Colchester, rubbed the side of his arm as if it had just been bruised. "Ouch, that one actually hurt," he murmured, taking another spoonful of pudding. "But then I guess you wouldn't expect anything less from my ex-fiancée. By the way, have you ever considered us getting engaged again?"

Milly Ashford, Grand Duchess of New York, smiled at that while knowing that Lloyd would not truly care about her answer, no matter if she accepted or refused. "I like you Lloyd, but you know that the only reason we got engaged before was so that my family could be restored to noble status, after we lost it following Empress Marianne's demise. Now that His Majesty has brought our land and titles back, I don't think I'll be getting married for a long time yet."

"Hey, you don't need to be so cold Lady Ashford. Men have feelings you know," Gino pointed out in some amount of seriousness.

"Feelings? Hah!" Milly laughed in that villainous tone that made her infamous throughout the Imperial Court. "Lloyd's reason for marrying me to begin with was to get his hands on the Ganymede. I really didn't think he cared about me at all, that is until he saved my life during the Black Rebellion."

Lieutenant Colonel Cecile Croomy, the recently titled Baroness of Princeton, shot her compatriot a knowing gaze. "She has you there Lloyd."

The head of Camelot merely shrugged. "I won't deny it, but you can't fault me for my reasoning; there are many who would love to get their hands on that machine's blueprints, and my dear ex-fiancée here has gotten lots of marriage proposals over it," Lloyd confirmed between mouthfuls.

Gino sighed; there were times he would totally forget about the world he lived in and how people got married for other reasons than love. At the same time however, he could see Colonel Asplund actually being attracted to the young Lady Ashford, as she seemed to have almost as twisted of a personality as he did. This was also the likely reason why she was considered akin to a demon in human form for some men and a goddess in the mortal plane for others, himself included. "I don't know milady, I don't think it's right that someone of your stature would be single. Perhaps you could consider looking toward a suitor from the Knights of the Round?"

Milly eyed the Knight of Three with a predator's gaze. "And I suppose you would be perfect for the task, Sir Gino?"

"I am merely presenting a suggestion. However, if you do wish to call upon me for your hand, then I would be more than willing to serve," Gino replied in the stereotypical accent that was closely associated to the knights of old.

The whole display only made Milly laugh more, and even Anya, who was also sitting with the group, seemed to shake her head slightly at how her fellow Knight of the Round just made a fool of himself. Gino himself took it in stride, since he doubted the attempt would have worked anyway; as far as women went, Milly Ashford was a tough catch. Of course, the challenge made it all the more fun for him.

"His Imperial Highness, Prince Lelouch, and Sir Suzaku, Knight of Seven!" the porter toward the entrance announced.

Upon the announcement, all four heads turned to see Lelouch and Suzaku march into the party, dressed in garb meant to symbolize their respective places in Britannian society, looking as though they owned everything there. This was also followed by the minute sounds of different women almost swooning at the sight of the Prince and Knight of Seven, with the duo's combination of good looks and dominating presence almost becoming overwhelming to those who beheld them. Even Milly herself had to admit that their arrival had just become the focal point of the entire jubilee; that is until the time His Majesty would enter.

After they looked around and found the table where their friends were sitting at, both prince and knight walked over and joined them. "Well, I see that the gang is all present and accounted for. Did you all wait long?" Lelouch observed with a grin.

"Ah man, with you here, my chances of landing a woman just dropped significantly. Couldn't you guys go mingle with the commoners or something?" Gino pretended to complain.

Milly nodded acknowledgment to either of them as they took their seats. "Nice to see you two soldiers remember your friends back here in the mainland. I was beginning to think you forgot about me in the middle of all that fighting."

"Milly, Milly, you truly know how to wound me," Lelouch replied mockingly. "Do you really think I'm the kind of man that forgets his dearest friends on a whim?"

"Regardless of it all, it's good to see you again… Lady Ashford," Suzaku hesitated, in spite of his position.

Milly smiled at the Knight of Seven's reluctance, as he had always been that way since the days of Ashford Academy. "Suzaku, I told you a long time ago that you could call me Milly. I only make the people who serve me or have earned my personal hatred call me 'Lady Ashford'."

"Hey, does that mean I can call you Milly too?" Gino asked with some amount of hope.

The Duchess turned back to the Knight of Three and smiled sweetly. "You'll have to grow up first, Sir Gino."

"Shot down again," Anya muttered as she took a picture of the group with her cellular phone, which she managed to smuggle in. Even Cecile had to stifle a chuckle at the display.

"Grow up!" Gino exclaimed in astonishment. "I'm much more 'grown up' than these two overdressed clowns!"

"Give it up Eagle of Britannia. These two are exceptional in my book," Milly proudly replied, nodding to both Lelouch and Suzaku. "I've known Lelouch since we were children, due to the close ties the Ashford Foundation had with his mother. And Suzaku has been my friend since the days of Ashford Academy back in Area 11, where he fought to save my life and the lives of our fellow students when the Black Knights occupied the campus. So really, you have a ways to go before you can compare to either of them."

Gino looked like he was going to spontaneously combust from the casual dressing down Milly gave him, and everyone else at the table couldn't help but feel sympathy toward him despite their amusement. Watching it in action, Lelouch suddenly felt a twitch in his mind as he watched his childhood friend in action. Just for a brief moment, he thought he remembered her differently, dressed in a school uniform of some kind conversing with other people, a boy and three girls, in what he assumed was a school room. Although brief, the memory felt very real, so much that it was enough to turn Lelouch's amused expression into one of seriousness.

Apparently it was quite noticeable, because his friends were quick to see of the sudden change in him. "Hey Lelouch? Are you alright? You look pale all of a sudden," Gino asked, waving a hand in front of the prince's face.

"Is there something wrong Lelouch?" Milly wondered, also looking concerned. Suzaku wore a similar expression, while Lloyd, Cecile and Anya just looked toward him curiously.

Lelouch just frowned and swatted Gino's hand away. He then came up with a simple but believable lie. "I'm fine, sorry. I guess I was just taken by your dress Milly, it's so…. you."

"Really?" Milly exclaimed, then seductively gestured toward the opening that showed off the inner parts of her breasts. "Well, don't get used to it. Tonight's a special occasion, and I just wanted to see men like Sir Gino here drool at me until their mouths dry up."

"Are you sure you want that kind of image La… I mean, Milly?" Suzaku interrupted. "Reasons like that tend to start rumors."

"Don't waste your time Suzaku, she's always had that kind of attitude toward her, even when she was a child. But I'm sure you already knew that from the Academy." Lelouch replied.

Suzaku just sighed, knowing that Lelouch was right and that there was nothing he could do to change it. "Yes, I suppose so…"

"Her Imperial Highness, Princess Cornelia, and Sir Gilbert Guilford!" the porter announced once more.

Right after the announcement, Britannia's most famous princess and her knight entered into the party and began to make their way to the center of the hall, gaining the attention of many as they did so, namely those of Lelouch's group. Although she was now in her thirties, Cornelia looked nothing short of spectacular in the violet gown she wore, which showed did a fine job showing off her athletic figure, and her new hairstyle, which ran straight down her back with a simple cross braiding at the top, actually made her look younger and more attractive. Unfortunately, this offset by her hardened gaze, which was one of the reasons behind her infamous nickname "Witch of Britannia". Gilbert himself, who almost seemed to have been by her side forever, looked just as handsome and dashing as his reputation claimed, a true knight to the Empire.

As they past the table, Cornelia's eyes quickly met those of her younger brother Lelouch's, and upon doing so immediately hardened further into a deep scowl. Lelouch himself merely settled for a frown, one that showed no dislike or hate, but instead disappointment that there was still a gulf between them, whatever it was. This lasted only for a brief moment before Cornelia broke her gaze, but for the two of them it seemed like an eternity, and Lelouch felt his heart grow cold as he watched his sister and her knight disappear into the crowd.

The rest of the table could only look on with a mixture of discomfort and sympathy toward Lelouch. "I see that things haven't improved much between you and Princess Cornelia, Lelouch," Milly spoke for everyone.

"Well to play the Devil's Advocate for a moment, she was never a warm and loving person to anyone beside her dear sister Princess Euphemia…" Lloyd observed, stroking his chin with curiosity. "And now that Euphemia is no longer with us, it's only natural that Cornelia to harden further."

"But why does she hate you especially Lelouch? It's like she thinks you're an enemy or something," Gino asked.

Lelouch could only shrug, looking toward the tablecloth in thought. "I have no idea what goes inside my elder sister's head any more. The only thing I can do is understand her loss, because Euphie was my sister too."

Still next to him, Suzaku could only say nothing.

---

Black Knights mobile battleship Izumo
Atlantic Ocean

Sitting on the command chair at the very top of the Izumo's bridge, which was reserved only for the supreme commander of the Black Knights, Vice Commander of the Black Knights General Kaname Ohgi observed with deathly calm the display screen toward the front that showed a tactical image of Pendragon in all of its glory from underneath the brim of his officer's cap, which he made a habit of wearing whenever he was on duty if only to make him look more like a General.

In particular, the screen had been magnified to display the Grand Hall building in the center of the city, in which two brightly colored red and blue dots flashed at different points within. For the last few hours, Ohgi and the rest of the bridge crew had been staring at that screen constantly, watching the progress of the mission from the relative safety of the Izumo. However, while the others were paying attention to the entirety of the screen overall, Ohgi was focused almost to the point of obsession on the red dot and the vitals display next to it that read "Q-1" underneath it. In spite of the time passed, it had not gotten easier since the first day to look at that display.

As obvious as it was to those who took notice, Ohgi was still nowhere near comfortable with Kallen's taking this mission. In fact, he was frustrated beyond limit from the knowledge that if the worst should happen he was in no position to protect her. This was only natural, because while the young pilot of the Guren was as tough as they came, possibly more than any other member of the Black Knights could ever hope to be, Ohgi had been the one looking after her safety since the death of her older brother and his best friend Naoto Kouzuki all those years ago. He had even vowed as much to Naoto upon the latter's death bed, and would be damned to eternity before he would ever break it.

But at the same time, he also knew it would due him no good to show his feelings outwardly, especially to the rest of the crew; like it or not, Ohgi was leader of the Black Knights until the return of their true master, which meant that whatever presence he the commander displayed would be reflected directly by those who were under his command. That meant that he had to be as objective and impersonal as he could manage, even when his world was threatening to implode within him. Inside, he couldn't help but wonder if this was how Lelouch had felt from underneath that mask, especially in certain situations that directly affected him such as Euphemia's massacre. If he did, then Ohgi could only wonder further how a mere high school student could have carried such a weight, even with the side benefit of the mask hiding his emotions.

With that in mind, Ohgi took a corner glance at the mysterious immortal that was C.C., who was on the bridge now sitting in her own chair across from the commander's seat, watching the screen herself with an almost bored expression while holding a now priceless "Cheese-kun" plush doll in her arms. While she was far more adept at hiding her emotions than any person Ohgi knew of, even he thought he could see some genuine concern in her form toward the safety of her friend. At least he hoped he saw that, because deep down it made her all the more human, and that comforted Ohgi somewhat that the one who had come up with this plan wasn't entirely unfeeling. And on the brighter side, she had said nothing against Ohgi's own turmoil even when the vice commander was sure the so-called "witch" could see through it like glass, which served him just fine.

But even so, Ohgi was still far from at peace, and his eyes would continue to be glued on that red dot until the mission came to a close. Damn it, I wish we could have sent her more support than just Darlton…

Then breaking the silence was the sound of the nearby elevator door opening to reveal Minami and Chigusa, who entered the bridge with coffee cups in hand. Notably, the latter was already dressed in her pilot suit.

She handed one over to her husband and then whispered. "Here you go General, straight from the galley."

Hesitating at first, Ohgi nodded and grabbed hold of the cup. "It's not decaf is it?"

"Nope, and it's got plenty of cream," Minami explained as he raised his own cup. He also took a look at the screen. "So, anything happen while I was gone?"

"No word yet, but she's still in there for what it's worth," Ohgi observed, taking a sip of the coffee. By some miracle it made him relax a bit.

Chigusa observed her husband carefully, and then lowered her voice so the rest of the bridge couldn't hear her. "You know, after looking at you a second time, I don't think caffeine is a good thing for you, Kaname. Maybe you should take a break and let Minami handle things here."

"I'm fine Chigusa," Ohgi insisted, also in a lowered voice, tilting his cap a little in an unconscious effort to shield his eyes better. "I'm just feeling anxious. Between Kallen being out there and the preparations for attacking the most heavily defended city in the world, how can anyone in my position be at ease?"

"I can understand how you feel General," Chigusa continued. "But we can't have you exhausted for when the time comes. You're our leader until we get him back, if we even manage to."

"So everyone keeps reminding me," Ohgi replied. "Give me a few more minutes and I'll try to get some rest. Not that I can guarantee it as long as Kallen is in the middle of ground zero."

Before Chigusa could reply to that, C.C. suddenly spoke up and entered the conversation. "As much as I find your sibling-like concern admirable for her, General, you do realize that Kallen would not appreciate your worrying," she commented offhand. "I think she would find it rather insulting."

The air suddenly growing cold at the newcomer's words, Ohgi forced chuckle. He and the other Black Knights knew that, while C.C.'s tone was in her usual snide, it was still a fact. "That's true, but at the same time all I can do is worry," he explained, sighing. "Kallen's the closest thing I have to a living relative anymore, since I lost the rest of my family…"

"Really?" Chigusa inquired pointedly.

Ohgi rolled his eyes. "I was referring to my parents, brothers and sisters, who were all lost just after Japan was invaded," he answered. "Since that time, the Kouzukis became like my adopted siblings, but the only one that remains is Kallen."

"What about you Major?" Minami spoke up again. "Aren't you the least bit worried for a friend in potential danger?"

C.C. blinked. "And who told you that Kallen is a friend of mine?"

"Well…" Minami tried to think of the right explanation, symbolized by his looking away and rubbing the back of his head in thought. "I just got the impression from the way you two interacted. I don't know why…"

The "witch" then turned and looked back at the screen, still wearing her bored expression. "No, it's okay. I'm not sure how she feels, but I do consider Kallen a true friend, one of the few I have in this lifetime," she said, then looking over to Ohgi again. "And as her friend, the only thing I can do is trust her to succeed in the role she was given."

"And if she doesn't?" Ohgi asked, now sounding a little angered that the one who sent Kallen out there didn't seem to show any concern for her wellbeing.

C.C. could only shrug at that question. "If she doesn't, then it's her own misfortune for getting caught. Simple as that," she continued to speak casually. "Whether that happens or not, worrying myself to exhaustion will not change the outcome.

She then fixed Ohgi a pointed gaze. "Something you should consider for yourself General. As pointed out, your mental health will be a determining factor in the next battle."

While the immortal hadn't even raised her voice beyond her normal level, her words reached Ohgi's ears like the roar of a lion, while the truth behind them sunk in just as quickly. As usual, the "witch" had a way with getting through the prepared defenses and delivering a crippling blow of reason directly to argument, just like she did years ago when the calls for Lelouch's death came about following the revelations of his background. Back then, while Ohgi had been one of those who supported Zero's resurrection in spite of his identity, even he could not have conceived any good reasoning for it beyond his effectiveness as a strategist and leader, as well as his following Naoto's legacy. Yet C.C. was more than able to come up with every logical point in the world why they should to a group who initially weren't willing to listen to reason. And here she had done it again to his face, without even having to put forth effort.

In many ways, Ohgi hated that part of the "witch", but at the same time he knew it was necessary and important to the Black Knights, especially when the time came for Zero to don his mask once again, since her opinion was the only one he seemed to take deep consideration in. So after the following uncomfortable moment of silence, Ohgi took another moment to take off his cap and rub his eyes, before putting back on, getting up from his chair and nodding in acceptance.

Letting out a breath of air she didn't know she was holding, Chigusa grasped her husband's arm. "Come on General," she said. "Let's get you rested while we still can."

As she began to lead her husband away, Chigusa looked over to Minami one last time. "Ring us up if anything happens," she said, to which the opposite Colonel nodded in response.

And so the Ohgis walked to the elevator and disappeared behind the closing sliding door. After their departure, the Izumo's captain looked at C.C. quizzically. "You could have put that a little more delicately."

"I could have, but that would have been out of character on my part," C.C. replied while inspecting her nails. "Besides, General Ohgi is not the type of man who takes suggestion delicately."

Isn't that the truth. Minami rolled his eyes. He then decided to just let it die there and concentrate on the mission. Anywhere in the next few minutes or hours, his ship's knightmare forces would be attacking the most heavily defended city in the world. As such, Minami and the rest of the Izumo's crew had enough to deal with than an incipient witch.

---

Grand Hall
Pendragon, Grand Duchy of Pennsylvania, Area 1 (North America), Britannian Empire

"All rise for His Imperial Majesty!"

Once the voice of the unnamed Imperial Guardsman rang out through the hall, the sound of feet stepping down onto the tiled floor was quick to follow. In little more than a few seconds every single human in the ballroom that wasn't already standing, from the hall attendants to the lowest noblemen to the various princes and princesses, leaped to their feet and stood at almost military grade attention toward the staircase at the rear of the building, their sight unwavering and their breathing all slowed in anticipation. At the same time, the assembled orchestra switched to the famous, or infamous depending on one's point of view, Britannian anthem complete with the accompanying chorus singing out the lyrics in the traditional tenor. The stage was all set for perhaps the most important moment of the evening.

Coming down the staircase in a practiced descent, with each step a symbol of his majesty and power among mankind, Emperor Charles seemed more akin to a god descending from the heavens than a comparatively simple ruler of a great empire. His cape billowing slightly from the movement and his piercing gaze scanning the ballroom of each and every one of its occupants, he mentally took note of every face he saw and how they in turn gazed upon him. Needless to say, the Emperor was completely satisfied with what he saw; even his own children looked upon him with awe in each of their eyes, which was both what he expected and how he wanted it to be. It was only natural that the most powerful man in existence be looked upon with a sense of power and superiority to all conventions, and inwardly Charles wondered if this was how the tribesman of the British Isles looked upon Alwyn I over two millennia ago.

Then when he reached just ten steps before the floor, he stopped his descent. No more than a few moments later, the tenors silenced and the music died down, letting silence take hold over the room. Charles let the silence play out a little bit, if only to make sure that all attention was on him. Seeing that it was, only then did he begin to speak.

"Two thousand and seventy years ago, our ancestors brought forth a nation." Charles began, his baritone voice echoing throughout the room like thunder. "A nation, conceived in the wish for power and prosperity, and dedicated to the proposition that the strong would rule over all."

Charles then paused momentarily, having to mentally hold himself back from smiling at the sight of the men and women captured by his words. "In the beginning, this nation was little more than a shadow, a union of primitives dwelling in an insignificant land. In the eyes of the other great nations of that time, that little island must have appeared truly small and beneath notice. And yet it was on this day, in which that small nation began life by repelling one of the most powerful empires in human history, and forcing one of the greatest leaders of man to kneel in defeat. It was upon that day Britannia made its first mark upon the world, forever changing it, but that would not be the only time it would do so. From the beginning, it was destined to do more.

"Now two millennia later, the once primitive nation has grown into an empire far greater than its predecessors, with its name spoken across all corners of the world. But its growth was not easy; much had been lost to the passage of time, yet much more had been gained through strength and progress. And now, long since the name Britannia was first uttered, our nation continues to grow in strength and domination, becoming something that our ancestors never dreamed of. This new war is only a single result of that growth, testing whether that this nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can continue to endure."

Narrowing his gaze, Charles pretended to ponder. "But in a larger sense, perhaps this is only the beginning of something greater. Perhaps in the future, Britannia as it is now will be looked upon no different than that little island when compared to the next generation. But that time is not yet upon us. Therefore, it is for us, the leaders of humanity, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work of our evolution, both as a race and as a species. We must remain vigilant to the great task remaining before us—that from those who came before we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the full measure of their own devotion—that we resolve that everything our ancestors have done shall not be in vain—that this nation, under God and Heaven, shall continue to march onward to tomorrow, never to perish!"

Then with great motion, the Emperor raised his right hand, which clenched a wineglass. The audience followed him with their own glasses. "May our Empire continue into the next millennium. TO BRITANNIA!"

"TO BRITANNIA!" the audience responded in thunder, although even their collective voices could not match the power of the Emperor's. And so everyone took a sip of their wine, and the party resumed just as quickly.

Standing a fair distance away in the midst of the nobility, Bismarck Waldstein, Knight of One and Warmaster of Britannia, watched with a careful right eye as the Emperor made the rest of the way down the staircase and came to the floor, immediately beginning to speak with some random high ranking nobles. Among his many duties as Knight of One, the highest knight in all Britannia, he also served as the Emperor's personal bodyguard, and it was that particular duty that Bismarck took a lot of pride in. For the time being however, he doubted anyone would be foolish enough to try attacking the Emperor on the floor, especially when the Imperial Guard was standing not far from his location. With his liege not in any potential danger, Bismarck decided only then that he could enjoy the rest of the evening.

However, when he started to make his way toward another area of the ballroom, a familiar voice caused him to stop in his tracks. "Strange, I never thought of you as a bodyguard that stood within the crowd instead of beside his master."

The Knight of One turned to see Lelouch standing right behind him, a smile to end all smiles firmly planted on his face. Bismarck was quick to match it in his own way. "Sometimes the best way to defend the master is to be amongst the gathered, as it can offer a greater vantage point. Not that it means too much in this place."

"I see," Lelouch replied. He then casually crossed the distance between himself and the knight, right before he surprisingly reached out and placed Bismarck in a firm embrace. "It's good to see you again Bismarck!"

At first, Bismarck was surprised at the sudden display of affection, but after a brief moment the surprise was replaced by joy and he returned the embrace with some laughter. Only a prince like Lelouch would have the bearings to hug the Knight of One at a public gathering. "You as well, Your Highness. I'm glad to see you have returned from Africa in one piece."

Their embrace quickly ended and Lelouch looked back at the taller man with a smirk. "Did you have any doubts?"

"A few maybe. Even here in Britannia, I've been hearing a lot of things about North Africa. It seems to be the only place the Eurasian Union is putting up a decent resistance," Bismarck explained, also smirking. "Or perhaps you have been slipping up as a commander?"

"If I were, then would I have been able to conquered Libya just a few days ago?" Lelouch shot back with equal force.

"I do admit you performed that siege with proper execution," Bismarck nodded, before thinking of another matter. "How have Gino, Suzaku and Anya been holding up by the way?"

"Very well in spite of the setbacks we've suffered throughout the last few months. They have certainly done honor to the Knights of the Round through this campaign," Lelouch answered.

"Just as I would expect of them, alongside your leadership," Bismarck replied with clear approval. "As your instructor, you have made me a proud man Your Highness."

Lelouch beamed smugly from the praise, which was usually uncharacteristic on his part, but he had good reason, as amidst his various teachers at West Point, Bismarck had indeed been his primary instructor. While Lelouch had no idea how the Knight of One himself got pulled into educating him, although he did have his theories, it was through his rigorous training that the Black Prince had grown from a mere prince that had a knack for playing chess into a true military commander and soldier of the empire.

It had been very hard during at first couple of months, as Bismarck had also been tasked with getting the physically frail prince into proper shape; from the annual eighty pushups to jogs around the airfield, Lelouch had come close to tasting death many times. Also making the training difficult was that Bismarck had absolutely no tolerance for Lelouch's usual laidback attitude; everything had to be done with the utmost seriousness and effort, no matter how dull or straining the task given. Lelouch doubted he had ever worked so hard in his life as he did at West Point, and even conquering Africa seemed easier by comparison.

But in the end, the training had all paid off, and Lelouch was who he was today because of it. And somewhere in the middle of it, the knight and prince had somehow managed to grow fairly close despite their opposite personalities and attitude towards things, as well as their different positions in their society. This was symbolized in one of their many chess games, in which Lelouch proclaimed to the Knight of One his philosophy of how the king must move forward in order lead his troops. After that game, Bismarck offered a way for Lelouch to live that philosophy through the cockpit of a knightmare frame, and from that point forward knightmare piloting lessons were added to the training regimen. The Knight of the Round had even allowed Lelouch to pilot his personal knightmare, the Bedivere, during the training.

And now there they were once again, prince to knight and student to teacher. While inside Lelouch was still hung up over having to practically abandon his command in Africa for this party, at least he got to see Bismarck before he returned. That meant more to him than he would have admitted to anyone else.

"It's a shame that you're not able to partake in the fighting," Lelouch continued the conversation. "I imagine it gets pretty dull protecting my father's life here in the safety of the mainland. Have you at least considered assisting in the Eastern Front?"

Bismarck shook his head. "I do not think Princess Marrybell would appreciate His Majesty's knight infringing upon her war effort. Besides, guarding the Emperor is no less noble a task than fighting on the frontlines."

"I do not doubt that, but if the Knight of One himself were to participate in the war, then the EU would be thrown further into chaos just from the news of it. And that is always beneficial," Lelouch explained.

"In that case, maybe I should help you take El Alamein," Bismarck thought out loud. "A duel with the Desert Lion would be entertaining."

"Sorry, but I already promised Colonel Asplund that Suzaku would be the one to fight him," Lelouch replied in turn.

Bismarck looked at the prince peculiarly. "Still wanting his beloved Lancelot to be avenged? Amusing that it's the creator that has more drive than the pilot."

"That's Lloyd for you," Lelouch shrugged. "But if you still want to help us out, then we can definitely use you for the final push. Plus your presence would really boost my soldiers' morale."

"I wouldn't mind some actual combat myself, but I would have to see what His Majesty thinks," Bismarck explained.

"Perhaps…" Lelouch said, looking past Bismarck to where his father was conversing with some nobles. "And how has my father been doing all this time?"

The Knight of One also turned to look at the Emperor again. "It may not look like it, but this war has taken a fair toll on him as well. There have already been several attempts on his life in the past year, both from the EU's part and certain members of the court. But being the man he is, he remains strong regardless."

"I see," the Prince nodded at that, still looking toward his father. While the Emperor was not particularly close to any of his children, Lelouch still held a great amount of gratitude to him. After all, it was by His Majesty's word alone that he had retained his place among the imperials and his claim to the throne despite the deaths of his mother, Empress Marianne, and his sister, Princess Nunnally. And it was also by the same word that he was given protection from his enemies in the court until he grew old enough to fend for himself. In all sense, Lelouch owed a lot to his father, and he liked to think he was paying that debt with his continued service and loyalty to the throne.

That's when Lelouch asked another question, if only for amusement. "Tell me Bismarck, do you think he would be willing to see me before my return?"

"Truthfully, Your Highness? Probably not," Bismarck answered with some sympathy. "If it makes you feel better however, I will pass on any words you have for him."

"No, that won't be necessary. All I would be able to say to him is that victory is close in Africa," Lelouch said simply.

Just as Bismarck was about to say something else, the sound of a woman's 'yelp' caused both of them to turn around. Not far from where they were standing, that very same woman had fallen onto the floor, apparently having just been shoved by someone rather than tripping. On closer inspection, that someone just happened to be Luciano Bradley, Knight of Ten and Vampire of Britannia.

Bismarck growled in frustration and clear dislike toward his subordinate. "I guess it was only a matter of time before Luciano did something horrid. Damn him."

However, the Prince wasn't paying any attention to the disgraceful Knight of Ten, though he and many others were still metaphorically scratching their heads as to how such an ill-bred mad dog could have gotten into the Knights of the Round. Instead, he was more interested in his victim; a young redhead in a yellow gown with a great figure and a soft-spoken gaze. Lelouch's eyes widened from realization that he recognized that woman. Is that…?

"Excuse me Your Highness while I go clear this up," Bismarck said, looking more ready to beat the so-called Vampire of Britannia into a ruined pulp rather than simply talk him down.

Lelouch was quick to reach out and grab the larger man's arm. "No please, let me deal with this Bismarck."

"Are you sure you can handle him?" Bismarck inquired.

"I'm a prince," Lelouch said with a lowered tone, even though his eyes were still fixed on the redhead rather than the Knight of Ten. "If I cannot handle an unruly cur of a knight like Luciano Bradley, then I have no right to be a part of the imperial family."

The Knight of One himself noticed where his student was really looking, but decided it was no real matter. "As you wish, Your Highness."

---

Kallen could not have imagined herself in a worse situation than now, not even from her time on the battlefield. Just as she had found the opening that she needed to reach out to her target, she had managed to literally run straight into the most vile and bloodthirsty man in all of Britannia. To make matters worse, the Knight of Ten must have taken a peculiar interest in her, because he had actually shoved her to the floor with a small, barely noticeable push, and now he was standing over her, gazing down at her like an actual vampire to a maiden. And despite her best attempts to, Kallen was not able to look the knight in the eyes without seeing the pure malice that was behind them.

"Well, it looks like I've gained a stroke of luck tonight," Bradley smiled a demon's smile down toward the woman. While he had no idea who this woman was, she was quite attractive and that was all he really cared about. "It seems our fates have inadvertently become intertwined, milady."

"I apologize for running into you, Sir Luciano. That was misdirection on my part," Kallen replied in her soft voice, wondering why the hell nobody was stepping forward to defend her. Looking around, she realized that the nobles were all wearing similar looks of fear; apparently the Knight of Ten's reputation extended into the upper echelons of nobility. "Please, could you help me up?"

Despite the simple request, Luciano did not extend a hand and continued to look down on the young woman. "Do you know what people value the most, milady, more than money or power even? The answer is simple, it's life."

Something of yours I would be more than willing to take, just not here. Kallen thought, still trying to find a way out of this situation. It was one of those times that Kallen was grateful that she looked more Britannian than Japanese. "Is that so, Sir Luciano?"

"Yes, it is unbearably so," Luciano acknowledged, still looming. "Humans are all too willing to regress into animals just for the sake of living longer. Some have even made contracts with the devil just for brief respite. Therefore, it could be said that the desire to live is the driving force behind fighting and war themselves."

"I admit that is fascinating, milord," Kallen continued the act, even though inside she wanted to regurgitate. "But I do not understand why you are unable to help me…"

"All in due time," Luciano answered. "For the moment, I am rather enjoying our respective positions…"

A hand suddenly appeared on the Knight of the Round's shoulder and grasped hard, surprising both Luciano and Kallen. "That is no way to treat a lady, Sir Bradley." Lelouch stated, his voice low and his eyes narrowed into a glare.

"And if it isn't the prodigal prince, returned all the way from the godforsaken desert," Luciano shot back as if to return the challenge to the Black Prince.

Before it continued any further, Lelouch maneuvered around Luciano, then reached out and helped Kallen back to her feet. Once she was standing again, he turned back to face the Knight of Ten, making sure he was still between him and the woman. "Have you no sense of manners at all? Surely a Knight of the Round such as yourself would know proper etiquette."

"I apologize, Your Highness, but I'm afraid I do not give a damn about etiquette," Luciano replied, clearly annoyed at Lelouch's intrusion. "I am merely a Knight of the Round because I am a genius in the art of homicide, and the Emperor recognizes me as such."

"Spare me your worthless bravado Knight of Ten," Lelouch retorted firmly. "His Majesty may allow you to get away with your brutality, among other things, on foreign soil, but you're in the Homeland now. Continue down this path, and there will be severe reprisals, some of which you may not live through."

Now Luciano's annoyance turned into full anger, symbolized by the murderous gaze he was casting back toward the Black Prince. "Is that a threat, Your Highness?"

"It's a warning," Lelouch replied sharply, his voice slowly rising to match the Knight of Ten's wrath. "Leave."

Luciano would have been willing to go at it with the prince a bit longer, even though Lelouch was looking down at him from a higher social perch, but his peripheral vision caught sight of movement. To his right, he saw his superior Bismarck Waldstein starting to draw closer to his position, looking far from pleased with the Knight of Ten's behavior, and to his left he saw a few nobles and imperials casting dark glances toward him as well. Like it or not, this was the point where Luciano had to quit while he was ahead, otherwise he would indeed risk repercussion from those higher on the food chain than himself.

"Fine," Luciano spoke in a growl, sounding more as a warning of his own to Lelouch rather than an admission of defeat. Without taking a second look at the prince or the woman he had cornered, the knight spun on his heel and began to march to another part of the building. He even nonchalantly shoved a passing waiter to the ground as he did.

After the Knight of Ten disappeared and everyone went back to what they were doing, Lelouch sighed and turned back to the woman with a sincere expression. "I must apologize for Sir Luciano's behavior. I assure you that the other Knights of the Round are not like him."

Lelouch... Kallen thought and fought herself to keep from speaking aloud, even when she felt a warm feeling begin to embrace her heart and stomach. She had expected some kind of emotional reaction on her part to seeing the man that she once revered as a hero again, but what she was feeling now was beyond anything she had been mentally prepared for. Indeed, down to the sense of flair and desire to help those in need, this man standing before her had been the one who singlehandedly changed her destiny, even if he did not remember. And aside from age and the scar that covered his left eye, which suspiciously looked to have been created by a blade, he looked virtually no different from that time either.

Realizing that she was close to spacing out, Kallen quickly snapped herself back mentally and answered the prince. "There is no need for an apology Your Highness, as I am grateful for your standing up in my defense. I was not sure what to do against one such as him."

"You shouldn't worry too much. People like our dear Knight of Ten only act strong, but when cornered they hold no real strength," Lelouch replied, still looking the woman over. "If it's not too much to ask milady, may I have your name?"

"Certainly," Kallen remembered to curtsy as she introduced herself. "I am Lady Stadtfeld of Charlotte."

"Stadtfeld…" Lelouch spoke her name aloud, thinking. He tilted his head in the process. "Yes, I am familiar with your family, but I believed them to have perished during the destruction of Area 11."

Kallen nearly froze at the mentioning of Japan, to which she hoped Lelouch's senses weren't sharp enough to pick up. "My father and my stepmother both lost their lives in that event, but the rest of my family were here in the mainland when it occurred. I was no less fortunate to be as well."

"Oh," Lelouch replied, showing some sympathy. "I am sorry if I caused you pain for bringing that up…"

"I do miss my parents Your Highness, but what happened is in the past, so again you do not need to apologize," Kallen answered simply and surely.

Lelouch paused for a moment. While this woman did come across as a typical Britannian noble, he couldn't help but feel there was something lying beneath the surface. And so he decided to take a more direct approach. "Forgive my bluntness Lady Stadtfeld, but have we met before? Perhaps somewhere outside the homeland?"

Kallen was even less sure about how to answer that one, but she tried anyway. "Please call me Kallen, sire. And no, I do not believe we have met before."

"Oh, then I must be mistaken…" Lelouch said while mentally pondering that name of Kallen Stadtfeld. It seemed to strike a familiar chord in his mind, but he still could not remember anything about this girl beyond those images that kept entering his mind, one after the other. He needed more clues.

Taking a corner glance at the dance floor, he noted that the orchestra had just finished their latest piece, and everyone applauded the band and the dancers who were making their way off the floor. There was an opportunity there, which Lelouch would utilize. "Kallen… In exchange for my guarding you against that foul beast known as Sir Luciano, perhaps I could have the honor of a dance?"

Kallen looked over to the dance floor herself and then back at Lelouch. It seemed like a simple enough request, and it worked toward her benefit in gaining the prince's confidence. So she accepted. "It would be my honor, Your Highness."

Lelouch smiled at that, and then reached out to take her hand before leading her to the dance floor.

---

"…and that's when Harris yelled 'milord, that's not how you eat black pudding'!'"

With practiced timing, Suzaku let out a small burst of laughter that sounded sincere enough when deep down he wanted to be somewhere else. Originally he had moved away from his group just for a small respite from the their collective antics, as the combination of Milly, Gino and Lloyd could become overwhelming after a while, but in the process he ended up bumping into David Maxwell, Earl of Rutherford, who had just returned from the Western Eurasian Front himself. In spite of the short time period since Britannia started its invasion into Eurasia, Rutherford had no shortage of stories to tell about his ventures, and not even Suzaku being the Knight of Seven could save him from having to listen to them as boring as they were.

And I used to think Knights of the Round were above all this. Suzaku thought behind his façade of amusement. "Well, I can't say something like that has ever happened to me in my own years of service, Lord Rutherford. And hearing it from you, I can only imagine how unique an experience it was. Whatever happened to Sir Harris?"

Rutherford's demeanor turned grim upon that question, but he gave the Knight of Seven a direct answer. "Ah, the poor lad was done in when we hit Madrid. Bloody Ritter axed him straight through the cockpit; never had the chance to eject."

"Oh…" Suzaku paused, frowning. "My apologies then. I had no idea…"

"That's all fine Sir Suzaku. Harris went down fighting, even bagged three other Ritters before his time came," Rutherford replied. "In the end, we took Madrid in the name of emperor and country, and that's what matters."

"Of course, my lord," Suzaku confirmed, as he mentally tried to find some excuse to slip away before the Earl thought up another story to tell.

At that point, the orchestra had started up again with a new song, and for a brief moment Suzaku felt drawn to the music. Rutherford was keen enough to notice to notice this. "But I think I've wasted enough of your time Sir Suzaku. Perhaps you would like to find someone to have a dance with you?"

Suzaku snapped back at that suggestion. "I'm afraid there is no longer anyone who holds my interest in that state of mind."

"Come now my boy, I know you have several admirers, and not all of them are commoners either," Rutherford explained, then looking past him toward the dancers. "Besides, you are still young, and young people should be active in seeking companionship."

"If you say so, Lord Rutherford," Suzaku replied, as his eyes found Lelouch among the dancers. Inwardly he was glad that at least his friend was enjoying himself when he could not; eight years later and he was still a long way from fully recovering from the death of his princess. While Euphie would have wanted Suzaku to find happiness, if only in the moment, the White Knight just did not feel ready to move on yet. Besides, contrary to what he had told Earl Rutherford, there was one other person besides Euphie that Suzaku had in his heart, but she was not present...

And then, as if by some sick twist of fate, his gladness came to an abrupt end when he saw the face of the woman that Lelouch was dancing with, and his own degenerated into a mixture of visible shock and disturbance. Among his gifts, Suzaku may not have had a photographic memory, but he did well never to forget those that had done battle with him in the past. What is she doing here!?

"Sir Suzaku, is something wrong?" Rutherford looked up in confusion at the Knight of Seven's new expression.

"If you will excuse me Earl Rutherford, I have something to look into," Suzaku replied, then moved away before the Earl could question him further.

Now on full alert and mentally preparing himself for a fight, Suzaku began marching toward the dance floor while either maneuvering around others or gently pushing aside those that he could not evade. Questions filled his mind in the process; he knew why Kallen Kouzuki was in Britannia, and he could summarize how she managed to get into the building without creating suspicion, but what he did not know was how she managed to slip all the way into Pendragon in the beginning from wherever she and the rest of her kind had been hiding out. Additionally, if she was in the capital, there was also a good chance that the other Black Knights were there too, which meant a number of other things that Suzaku didn't want to ponder. He could confirm them all upon questioning the Black Knight ace anyway.

Before he could make it to the floor however, a body came into his path and he ran into it before he was able to evade. He managed to keep either of them from stumbling though, and when he looked at who he ran into, he saw that it was Milly. "Pardon me Milly, I wasn't paying attention."

"So I noticed," Milly replied and straightened herself out. "Trying to leave the party early Suzaku? Or did you actually find a woman that gained your fancy?"

You have no idea. Suzaku thought. "I wanted to see who Lelouch was dancing with. You recognize her perhaps?"

Milly took one look toward Lelouch's direction, then answered. "I believe that is Lady Stadtfeld that our dear Black Prince is waltzing around with. From what I gather, her family deals mostly in banking; they even own a major trust company."

"Are you sure that's all you know about it? Doesn't she look the least bit familiar to you?" Suzaku continued.

The aristocrat raised an eyebrow at the Knight of Seven's behavior. "Exactly what are you implying Suzaku? Are you suggesting I know her on the personal level, or do you believe we Ashfords have had dealings with the Stadtfelds in the past?"

Suzaku was at a loss of words, and no matter what explanation he could come up with, he doubted Milly would be convinced. He wondered if this was a product of the Emperor's Geass as well; one of the key factors behind Lelouch's resurrection into Britannian society was that the Emperor had altered the memories of two separate groups that were tied to the prince's exile. One were the imperials, nobles and Imperial Guardsmen that had been aware of the Emperor sending Lelouch and Nunnally to Japan on that fateful day fifteen years ago, who were then led to believe that Lelouch simply went into hiding in Sunderland following Empress Marianne's assassination; because the exile had never been public, only those assembled had any knowledge of it. Subsequently, these new memories also had it where Nunnally had been killed in the attack as well.

The other group was the surviving student body of the now defunct Ashford Academy, who had all been brought before the Emperor and given false memories of the Lamperouges not being in Area 11 at any time, least of all during the Black Rebellion. It had taken a lot of time in tracking down all of the students after the Devastation of Japan, but Suzaku himself had made sure that everyone had been accounted for. Thus as far as everyone believed, Lelouch had simply fallen off the map until finally reemerging to the public eye eight years ago, when he began his military training.

However, while he knew that the Emperor had removed all mention of Lelouch's time in the east end of the world from Milly Ashford's memories, he had not imagined that he also had changed it so she would not have recognized fellow classmate Kallen Stadtfeld either. Or was there something else going on…?

"No answer huh?" Milly spoke, then grinned in that cat-like fashion of hers. "In that case, how about we leave the two alone, and I'll introduce you to some friends that would love to meet the Knight of Seven in person."

"Wh…What?" Suzaku stammered. "That's not really necessary, Milly…!"

"Sure it is!" Milly stated, grabbing Suzaku by the arm. "You're at a party aren't you? Then the least you can do is try to have fun before you head back to war!"

Cackling like a witch over a bubbling cauldron, Milly drug her hapless victim away, in turn also removing any possibility of exposing the imposter.

---

In spite of her mission, Kallen was actually content with the whole scene she was in, dancing with the man she held in highest regard amidst a circle of dancers to a mystical tune; it almost made her feel truly like Cinderella, which was one of her favorite fairy tales growing up. Strangely, she had never considered this kind of event occurring when she went through possible scenarios before coming here, but now that it actually happened, she really didn't mind enjoying it for a while. At the same time however, she did not fail to remember that she was still on a mission with her comrades depending on her, and that this was only a stopgap measure to sway her target toward the direction she wanted.

"You dance well," Lelouch complimented, inadvertently interrupting her thoughts in the midst of their dance.

Nonetheless, Kallen was quick to acknowledge it. "I've had training since I was ten. But then, don't all noblewomen?"

"Unfortunately no. Most noblewomen are only content with being arm decorations for potential husbands. You on the other hand have a certain style and technique to your movements, which I wasn't expecting," Lelouch replied.

Kallen was a little amused at that. "I'm glad I could surprise you, Your Highness."

"Lelouch will do fine," Lelouch corrected. "I know it sounds strange coming from a prince, but I prefer those close to me to use my first name."

"And we've grown close just after our first meeting?" Kallen questioned.

Lelouch smirked at that retort. While there were many gaps in his memory, there was one thing he was sure of: this was not their first meeting. "It may be presumptuous of me, but I like to think we're at least above total strangers now."

"I don't think we were ever at that level, since I've known about you for some time," Kallen said, which in a strange way was the truth.

"Really? And what exactly do you know about me?" Lelouch asked in curiosity.

More than you realize. Kallen thought with a smirk of her own before answering. "What isn't to know? You're Prince Lelouch, son of the late Empress Marianne and seventeenth in line to the throne. You disappeared from the public light after your mother's death, only to reemerge seven years later to take on military duty, and since then you've led our noble Empire to victory in Africa. Or have I misheard any of this?"

"No, that pretty much covers the worthwhile parts of my life, though we haven't won Africa just yet," Lelouch concluded, and then considered something else after a momentary pause between the two. "It's funny, you seem to know everything about me, but I know next to nothing about you beyond your family name."

Kallen laughed a little, again inwardly seeing the irony. "I'm afraid my own life is not as… epic as yours. I am merely the daughter of an economist still trying to find her way through the world."

"I am not so sure." Lelouch said, looking straight into Kallen's eyes. "I get the feeling there is more to you than that, Kallen Stadtfeld. And if there isn't now, then there will be in the future."

It took nearly all of Kallen's being to look back into the prince's eyes and not flinch; such was the power of his gaze. "If that is what you believe, Lelouch vi Britannia."

"Well, I do have a tendency to be right most of the time," Lelouch acknowledged, the images of a certain black uniformed redhead playing through his mind's eye while their waltz continued on.

---

This certainly turned out better than expected. Alfred thought as he watched Kallen dance with the Black Prince amidst the rest of the spectators. It wouldn't be long now before the Major would lure the imperial away to dispense some justice for the Japanese and Britannians that lost their lives eight years ago, or at least that was what Alfred imagined was his superior's assignment. He had not been privy to the true nature of her mission here, only that he was to provide backup until her target presented himself.

But now that things were underway, Alfred decided it was time to prepare for the main event himself. There wouldn't be a large window of time before the Major succeeded in her mission and would be in need of a knightmare supported exit. So, turning around and walking past the crowds of people and through the main entryway, he then proceeded to retrieve his car, which had been "acquired" the day before, and drove away from the Imperial Quarter at great haste while being mindful of the speed limit signs. The trip would have taken anywhere from a half hour to full hours due to the streets being constrained with parades and jovial pedestrians, but Alfred knew his way around the city well enough to find the necessary back roads and shortcuts. After some driving and a near accident with a drunken couple who didn't know which direction was "up", Alfred finally arrived at his intended destination, an old boneyard in the northern outskirts of the city.

Quickly exiting his original vehicle in a clearing amidst the various scrap heaps, the Britannian Black Knight made the rest of the way on foot until he came across an enlarged cargo trailer that was parked behind the remains of a nearly ancient Vulcan strategic bomber. After making sure no other human being was near, he then entered the access passcode on the door keypad and entered into the tractor section and sat himself down onto the driver's seat. There he shed the jacket to his tuxedo and unbuttoned the top buttons of his dress shirt to cool himself down a little, before turning on the long-range radio that had been modified into the center console and switching it over to a designated frequency. It took him a moment or two before he finally got on the one he needed, which was the secure line back to the Izumo.

"N-6 to Izumo, come in please, over." Alfred began calling out over the radio. "Repeat, N-6 to Izumo, come in please, over. Izumo, are you receiving?"

A few moments later, the desired response came in the sweet sounding voice of Corporal Mutsuki Minase, the Izumo's communications operator. "This is Izumo, reading you loud and clear N-6. R-3 requests sitrep, over."

Alfred looked at the radio peculiarly; R-3 was the callsign for Colonel Minami rather than General Ohgi, who he had been expecting to be listening at this time. Nonetheless, he replied. "Sitrep is as follows: Q-1 has made contact with main objective, proceeding forward now," he answered. "Will need cavalry soon."

"Status of city fortifications?" Minase added.

"All clear for the party crashing, but expect numerous non-combatants on field." Alfred answered.

There was a momentary pause before the next reply. "Izumo acknowledges. Set countdown for mission start… now. See you at the party N-6. Over and out."

"Over," Alfred signed off and deactivated the radio. It was done now: the attack would begin in the next half-hour, whether he and his boss were ready for it or not. There was no turning back from this point forward, especially with how far things had come.

He sighed, then stretched and yawned lazily, feeling somewhat fatigued from the party, but not enough to keep Alfred from relishing the idea of going into battle. It had been eight years since the last time he had been in non-simulated battle, the fight in Libya notwithstanding, and in spite of the risk of death, the former Britannian knight was looking forward to slaying enemies in a knightmare once again. That is, until he realized for the first time in years – again Libya notwithstanding - that he would actually be fighting his own countrymen.

That thought alone made Alfred pause in his thoughts, even as he slipped back into the trailer portion of the cargo transport and began shedding his tux for his pilot suit. Though it had been eight years and he had known throughout that time by being a Black Knight he would be fighting against Britannia, he had never really considered the idea of actually killing other Britannian soldiers until this point. The idea was both exhilarating and repulsive to him, much like the consuming of choice alcohol for the very first time, since he knew Britannians above all others would be challenging opponents, but at the same time they shared connections to him that his current allies did not. Even the idea of having to destroy Sutherlands and Gloucesters, two machines that he had long ago come to instinctively recognize as "good guys" made him uncomfortable; this was especially more in case of the latter, as he had made his name known in a Gloucester while serving in the elite Glaston Knights under Princess Cornelia and his adopted father, Major General Andreas Darlton.

Alfred frowned when the image of his long deceased father and brothers came to mind, as he had never decided for himself how they would have felt about the choice he had made. After all, it had been his father who had instilled upon him the desire to serve his homeland with the honor and devotion of a knight, and it had also been his father who he had followed in example. And then there were his brothers, who in spite of not being true siblings through blood, shared that same desire and loyalty to their country with him. Could any of them, especially his father, ever have accepted his choice to fight against Britannia had they survived to this point?

No matter how much Alfred contemplated it, even after he fully clothed himself in his custom pilot suit, which was colored crimson to symbolize his association to Zero Squadron, he could not find a true answer. What he did know, however, was that neither his brothers nor Andreas Darlton would ever had supported the Devastation of Japan. Yes, in the past they had seen the massacring of innocent numbers to further subjugate the Areas, but they never had a taste for it like other Britannians, and whenever any of them were called to serve in those, their father had instructed them to only follow orders and nothing more. But what happened in Area 11 was totally different from those minute "purges"; that whole cataclysm drove an entire race to near extinction and had also killed most of the innocent Britannian citizens that Alfred and his family had sworn to protect, as well as many of his own fellow comrades.

Alfred could still see himself at that scene, readying himself to lead one last charge against the Black Knights in his one armed Gloucester, still holding onto his lance without relent. He remembered quite vividly how the ground began to shake violently, moderate at first but then growing to proportions beyond that of a normal earthquake. Then the buildings began to fall and the explosions erupted, and the next thing the then Glaston Knight realized was he was gunning it down the ruined street in an effort to seek shelter. But even with the speed of the Gloucester he could not escape it, and he and his knightmare would end up becoming buried under a falling pile of rubble, from which point he blacked out. Had it not been for the strengthened hide of his machine, Alfred had no doubts he would have died there like so many of his own kind rather than be found and rescued by other survivors. No, no matter how his father would have felt about his joining the enemy, he would never have supported the decision to obliterate Area 11 with its own natural fuel source, not even if the Emperor himself ordered it.

Alfred took solace in that idea, just as he picked up the final piece of his "battle wear": a black visor that resembled a Gloucester's faceplate, the very same that he had worn proudly into battle as a Glaston Knight. By some miracle it had managed to survive both the Black Rebellion and the following destruction along with its wearer, even when the four other Glastons did not. Now he would wear it into a different kind of battle, one that saw him as Captain Alfred Gaius Darlton of the Order of the Black Knights instead of Sir Alfred Gaius Darlton, loyal son of Britannia.

"Where I go now, I do not expect you would follow," Alfred murmured, remembering the faces of his family as he did. "I do not ask for your understanding or your forgiveness. Neither do I expect to join you in the same afterlife when all is said and done. The only thing I can ask of you, of all of you, is this…"

He paused to brush his finger across the quartz 'T' lens, and then closed his eyes. "Please, watch over me, as you always have."

When his eyes opened again, they gazed straight forward with nothing but pure determination. It was then that Alfred slipped the visor over his face and turned toward his waiting Guren Isshiki, knowing that in twenty-two minutes and thirty-six seconds the world would never be the same again. And as he stood by the open cockpit, waiting for the countdown to end and the fated battle to begin, he could not help but remember a quote from Julius Caesar, which he reportedly made before beginning his civil war against the Roman Republic in 49 BC.

Alea iacta est.

The die is cast.