April 2018 a.t.b. (approx. two months before the reappearance of Zero at Babel Tower, Tokyo)

The wind had dropped to an almost imperceptible speed and the only sound that could be heard throughout the snow-capped valleys was the occasional bird song emanating from the dense woodland scattered across the hillsides. If there had been a better time to use the phrase 'calm before the storm', Jack had yet to hear it.

Just over two months ago, the Britannian Empire had successfully brought France under its rule. Since then, Britannian forces had attempted to advance east into Switzerland, hoping to gain a foothold in central Europia. Switzerland's military, the Swiss Guard, had successfully repelled each invasion attempt. However, the shrewd tactics of Britannia's recently appointed military advisor, Sir Julius Kingsley, were making life difficult for even the most pragmatic of commanders. This explained the need for Jack and his team of mercenaries, who were currently stationed in the alpine regions south-west of the second-largest city in Switzerland, Geneva. So far, Jack's team had been successful in their objectives for the most part, although with a shrinking pool of capable knightmare pilots, each casualty represented a great loss, both personally and professionally...

Jack sighed, reclining in the cockpit of his Panzer-Hummel knightmare frame. Despite his relaxed position, his gaze remained fixed on the tactical display in the cockpit which projected a real-time digital map of the supply lines connecting Lyon, a French City just past the border, and Geneva. Intelligence indicated that Britannian forces were planning to advance on his position under the cover of darkness, and so his allied units in the area were on high alert.

Suddenly, an alert flashed on Jack's IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) System. "Three Gloucesters heading towards point 12A! Alpha 1 and Alpha 2 intercepting," one of his units reported over the radio, their voice partially muffled by interference caused by the mountainous terrain.

Jack leaned forward in his cockpit in preparation for the coming skirmish. "Acknowledged," he responded brusquely. "Make sure you watch out for Britannian air support."

Britannian artillery shells began raining down north of Jack's position, spraying clumps of debris in all directions. The craters left behind by the explosions flickered crimson, illuminating what remained of the surrounding woodland with an orange hue; a vivid contrast to the night sky.

"This is Bravo 4!" his subordinate yelled over the radio. "Britannian missiles are locked on to our position!"

Jack narrowed his eyes. Heat-seeking missiles? It seemed that the Britannians had sacrificed precision for a blunt instrument. If so, then the response was obvious. "Alpha 6: Launch the flares at Point 13G," Jack ordered. Seconds later, a cluster of flares launched in the distance which temporarily brightened the sky before disappearing over a distant ridge.

"Brave 4 reporting back in! Missiles successfully diverted!"

Jack raised his eyebrow. "I hope the Britannians learn that you can't accomplish everything with faith in technology alone."

"Yes, yes, very impressive," boomed a deep manly voice over the radio, "but when can I join the party?!"

Jack smirked while checking the position of enemy units. "You're in luck, Falcon. There are five Gloucesters heading straight for you. If you circle around to point 13E, you can use the rocky terrain to your advantage and then—"

"Screw that, I'm charging straight in! To all you rookies, don't try this until you're great like me!"

Jack shook his head at that rather cavalier, and characteristic, response. Naoto Hayabusa was not known for being modest. To make sure he wasn't biting off more than he could chew, Jack signaled for reinforcements.

"Kingfisher, head over to Falcon's position and make sure he doesn't get himself killed."

"Yes, sir!" said a dutiful, higher-pitched voice over the radio.

Jack smiled at the contrast between his two ace pilots. Unlike Naoto, Amy Matsumoto was much better at following orders.

"Oh come on, Captain," Naoto drawled. "I'd rather die than have help from Miss Cherry Blossom."

"You moron!" Amy snapped. "I told you to stop calling me that!"

"Enough, you two," Jack interrupted, injecting his voice with a modicum of authority. "Falcon - if you're that confident, then feel free to engage the enemy alone. Although if you do end up kicking the bucket, try to make sure you leave that Alexander in one piece."

"You're all heart, boss!" Naoto responded, shifting his knightmare into quadrupedal mode before plunging down the hillside as quickly as the specs of his unit would allow.

Sighing to himself at their usual behavior, Jack turned his attention to the IFF System on his tactical display which showed the location of friendly, and hostile, knightmares in the region. "Bravo 6: Trigger the explosives at points A11 and B16. Based on the movements of the Britannian formation, we should be right on time."

Within moments of his order, a sequence of explosions shook the ground in the distance. A brief silence ensued before swathes of debris comprised of vegetation, rock and snow crashed down the mountainside west of his position.

"We've isolated the main force!" Bravo 6 shouted excitedly over the radio after the tremors had subsided. "And it looks like...Yes! At least a dozen Gloucesters were caught in the landslide!"

"I bet they weren't expecting such a harsh welcome," Jack said coolly. "Kingfisher, did you rendezvous with Falcon?"

"Yeah, but that idiot had already taken out the enemy units when I arrived," she replied dejectedly.

"The great Hayabusa shines brightly in the night sky!" Naoto shouted triumphantly over the radio, singing his own praises as usual.

"Then you'd make a crappy predator, you moron Falcon!" Amy snapped back. "I bet you used up too much energy in all your grandstanding! You need to be careful when piloting an Alexander."

"...Thanks for the insight, Miss Cherry," Naoto said teasingly.

"You total—!"

"Get serious, both of you," Jack interrupted. "If my predictions are accurate, the remaining enemy force should have no choice but to advance on your position. We can't spare any units from other fronts, so you'll just have to enjoy each other's company for now."

"This will be a real sink or swim moment," Amy acknowledged with gravitas. "If the enemy takes control of this pass, Geneva will soon be under Britannian control. That'd mean finding a new home, which'd be tough on Yosuke and the others..."

"And don't forget we'd lose out on our pay check!" Naoto commented cheerfully.

"Falcon makes a good point. With his eating habits, we need all the money we can get," Jack added with a shred of irony.

Any tension relieved by his distinctly average joke soon returned when the scanners picked up the size of the Britannian force advancing on the pair. "Damn…there are more enemy units than anticipated," Jack conceded bitterly, switching frequency. "Rear guard - you're with me. We're providing long-range support for Falcon and Kingfisher."

Pushing their units to the limit, Jack and his rear guard quickly navigated the dense, snow-capped hillside forest before arriving at a vantage point overlooking Amy and Naoto's position. Given the topography of the land, this position was perfect for providing cover fire. In preparation for the chaos that was likely to ensue, Jack readied both cannons of his Panzer-Hummel. Unlike the more versatile Alexander unit piloted by Amy and Naoto, Jack's knightmare frame had absolutely no close combat capabilities. Instead, it excelled at long-range.

As Britannian forces, comprising an assortment of Sutherlands and Gloucesters, thundered across the mountainside, Naoto and Amy expertly maneuvered into close quarters combat by exploiting the mobility of their Alexander units. Confusion quickly reigned among the Britannian ranks as each of the ace pilots wove masterfully through the trees, alternating between offense and evasion by shifting seamlessly between their Alexanders' bipedal, quadruped and landspinner modes. Each time the pair retreated into the dense vegetation to prepare for another assault, the rear guard, acting at Jack's command, would shower the Britannian forces with a barrage from a distance.

"You're quite the sniper, Captain!" Amy said cheerily over the radio as Jack picked off another Gloucester from afar.

"Pity his piloting at close quarters leaves a lot to be desired," Naoto commented mockingly.

"You bitter old man, you just hate it when someone else steals the spotlight!" Amy fired back.

Jack couldn't help but break into a wry grin. Despite their bickering, Naoto and Amy excelled at using hit and run tactics honed over a number of recent skirmishes. It almost seemed fanciful that they could decimate such a large Britannian force using two sixth-generation knightmare frames alone.

As the minutes passed, the enemy force started to thin out, overwhelmed by the skill of his two ace pilots. It was only a matter of time before Britannia's advance in this region was rendered ineffective. That would buy the Swiss Guard the time they so desperately needed to organize a counteroffensive further north. Victory was in sight.

Jack smiled wickedly to himself. "It appears Kingsley is losing his touch. Perhaps he's run out of parlor tricks after our last encounter."

No sooner had he uttered his shameless put-down, a lone signal appeared on the scanners. Jack quickly alerted Amy.

"Kingfisher, there's a single unit advancing on your position. It's moving a little differently than the others. It might be a generation six or even generation seven unit, so be careful; Falcon, you should focus on mop up the remaining Gloucesters."

"Roger!" they both responded in unison.

Jack's attention was briefly diverted by a squadron of Britannian VTOL gunships flying over a nearby ridge. From his position, the rear guard were able to shoot them down in no time.

A few moments later, a series of explosions rang out from Amy's position.

"What was that?!" Amy gasped over the radio. "This enemy pilot is…Whoever they are, they're good! Damn!"

"Status report!" Jack demanded, taken aback by the desperation in Amy's voice.

"They're using an Alexander just like me! So why can't I follow their movements? No way - are those mines!?"

A large explosion reverberated from the low ground.

"Kingfisher, come in!" Jack called over the radio. He knew that Amy was skilled and had faith that she wouldn't be taken out so easily. Even so, he called in backup just to be sure. "Falcon! We'll handle the remaining Gloucesters, so prioritize rendezvousing with Kingfisher. Her radio might have been damaged in that explosion."

"Of course! We can't let Cherry kick the bucket! She still owes me for that wager! I'll just take this last Gloucester out and then—"

…

Silence reigned for a few seconds before Jack could process what had happened. Naoto's signal had disconnected. That could either mean enemy interference, or…

"Falcon! Kingfisher! Come in!" Jack yelled.

…

After another moment of silence, a faint voice aired over the radio.

"Naoto… is gone. That new unit… took him out…"

Jack's heart rate skyrocketed. "Kingfisher?!" he gasped urgently. He couldn't see the enemy from his position, despite it being an optimal vantage point. Had they meticulously navigated through all of his blind spots? That shouldn't have been possible, even with all the vegetation.

"I'm sorry…I lost …" Amy choked out.

"Don't worry about that! Just focus on ejecting for now and retreating to my position!"

"I'm not sure that…"

"Amy! If you can't get here, then I'll come to you! Just give me your coordinates…!" Jack pleaded, trying his best to sound composed.

"Jack… I…"

Stage 1 - A Fresh Start

November 2018 a.t.b. (approximately two months following the end of the Zero Requiem)

Jack awoke suddenly, his heart racing, as it always did when he had that nightmare.

He took a deep breath in an attempt to steady his heart rate before sitting upright on the battered couch in his spartan living room. "That nightmare again; has it really been almost seven months?" he muttered somberly.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Jack glanced at the clock; it was time to leave soon. As he finished his morning rituals, the news aired over the radio.

"It's been just over a month since Prince Schneizel became leader of the Principality of Britannia. In that short time, he and his half-sister Nunnally vi Britannia have hosted peace talks with various nations, both serving as stark contrasts to their late brother…"

"Yeah, we get it. Britannia is a really friendly Principality now," Jack said to himself bitterly as he left his apartment.

The Tokyo Settlement was bustling with activity. The sound of construction reverberated overhead; commuters were scurrying around, desperate to beat the morning rush hour, and groups of students were skipping through the streets, talking excitedly among themselves. It was barely conceivable that a Fleija warhead had decimated a large part of Tokyo just over two months ago.

Navigating the crammed Tokyo subway, Jack noticed a few other students wearing Ashford Academy uniforms. Supposedly, it was the best high school in the Tokyo settlement, and he had "won the lottery" when getting allocated a place. At least, that was what his immigration officer told him after he passed the exam to gain entry as a third-year student.

After exiting the subway and following a short walk, Jack arrived at the gates of Ashford Academy. He'd been enrolled at the school for about a week, but still couldn't help admiring the impressive grounds as he followed the path towards the main entrance. The extensive lawns were well manicured, the fountains lining the paths were filled with clear water, and the classical architecture of the buildings was almost regal.

"I'm sure they'd laugh, seeing me here like this," Jack mumbled to himself wistfully as he entered his homeroom class and took his usual seat.

Slowly but surely, more students began to arrive. Some within earshot were excitedly discussing plans for the weekend and what clubs they'd recently signed up for.

Jack sighed to himself. All he'd done since enrolling was attend classes and do 'independent research' at home—not exactly what you'd call embracing student life. Jack knew that would have to change for him to blend in here, but he was finding it difficult connecting with any of his classmates, perhaps because of his rather unique background.

"Reiner! Jack Reiner! Oh, there you are. Speak up during attendance!" Miss Lavender snapped in a frustrated tone.

"S-sorry…" Jack said, returning from his thoughts. In contrast to her petite stature and mousey appearance, Miss Lavender could be a harsh taskmaster when she wanted to be.

"Wow, he's a real ditz. Isn't that the third time this week he's spaced out during roll call?" One of his classmates whispered within earshot from a few rows back.

"Maybe schools where he came from weren't as strict. Who knows…" Responded another busybody.

"Okay, settle down." Miss Lavender said before continuing to take attendance.

The morning classes began with Japanese History. Apparently, placing a significant emphasis on this topic as part of the school curriculum was one way in which the government sought to bridge the cultural divide between the expatriate Britannians and local Japanese students. At least that's how Jack perceived it, since it was only a few months ago that the Japanese were treated as second-class citizens in their own country.

The following lessons for the day passed at a snail's pace, courtesy of a number of long-winded lectures by teachers who evidently loved the sound of their own voice more than engaging their students with practical application. Perhaps he was being too harsh...

In any case, with freedom in sight, Jack set off to leave for the day. Unfortunately, to his dismay, he was stopped by Miss Lavender before he could reach the classroom exit.

"Jack - I appreciate you're still settling in, but have you given any thought to which club you'll be joining?"

Jack stiffened slightly. It was a rule at Ashford Academy that students had to join at least one club. While he knew he should be more sociable to fit in, he didn't particularly want his spare time monopolized by activities he perceived as useless.

"Well... I saw the notice board advertising which clubs have vacancies, but I haven't made a decision yet", he responded noncommittally.

"Really?" Miss Lavender huffed, raising an eyebrow. "Most clubs have allocated all of their new places already, so you might find there aren't many to choose from. Why don't you go and have another look?"

"Yes, I'll go and do that," Jack said, fully planning not to. It wasn't as if he'd get expelled for non-compliance. At least not yet.

Appearing to see through his façade, Miss Lavender beckoned over a girl with blonde hair and olive-green eyes, the latter feature partially obscured by a pair of oval spectacles. "Carol, would you mind showing Jack to the club noticeboard?" she asked politely.

"Yes, of course, Miss!" Carol responded obediently before gesturing towards the classroom exit.

"Thank you," Miss Lavender said with a smile. "Make sure he doesn't get lost on the way," she warned, her kind appearance changing in an instant as she shot a knowing glance at Jack.

Jack smiled wryly to himself; he'd been caught out. It seemed he'd have to play along.

As Carol guided Jack through the hallway between classrooms, she kept glancing over nervously as if wanting to strike up a conversation before awkwardly shifting her gaze. Jack didn't think her demeanour before had been particularly timid - was he really just that unapproachable?

Sighing internally, he thought he'd put the poor girl out of her misery. She was just following their teacher's instructions after all…

"So…Carol was it?" Jack began, breaking the silence. "Are you in any clubs?"

"Oh yes!" Carol said with apparently genuine enthusiasm. "I'm in the drama club, and it's been so much fun so far!"

"I see. It's good that you're enjoying it. Are you particularly interested in acting?"

Carol took a deep breath. "Well, I think getting to play a different role each time is liberating..."

Not wanting to probe further into that statement, Jack shifted the conversation towards the day's classes, inwardly cringing at the fact that he'd been reduced to making such small talk. Fortunately, they soon arrived at the notice board where all the clubs with remaining vacancies had posted advertisements. The Sewing Club and Swimming Club had some spots left, but that was about it.

"I don't quite see myself enjoying sewing or strutting around in Speedos," Jack commented matter-of-factly. "Oh well, it looks like joining a club is off the cards for me."

"Well, actually, "Carol began, "the Student Council has a vacancy, but they never put a poster up."

"Is that so?" Jack said, scratching the back of his head. From what he could gather, that didn't sound like the most exciting club. However, he knew that there were those who loved the idea of holding positions of authority over others, so he'd expect something like the Student Council, with all its perceived gravitas, to be oversubscribed.

"A few people wanted to join, but they were all turned down," Carol explained with a hint of despondency. "Don't get me wrong!" she suddenly gasped. "All the members are friendly, but I think they're looking for someone who meets quite specific criteria. Also, I think one of the students on the council is a member of the Black Knights, so maybe that intimidated a few people…"

Jack smiled to himself. "Now that sounds interesting. Maybe I'll pay them a visit."

- END

Author's note

Phew! So this took longer than I'd expected! It's my first fanfic so I guess I didn't know what to expect. I've been a massive fan of CG for years and have always wanted to give something like this a shot. The name of the story is a nod to "Lost Colors" / "Lost Stories" i.e. two Code Geass retellings of the main plot which involve an OC.

In general, my intention with this fic is to create a story which (as much as possible) is canon compliant. This is why I chose areas of the CG plot that are criminally underdeveloped e.g. Europia, the period between R1 and R2, and the period between R2 and Resurrection (in each case in the movie timeline of course). Also, a number of characters (Shirley, Rivalz and Milly in particular) get sidelined and so I've always wanted to give them some love. Also Kallen, who is billed as one of the four main cast members, really gets screwed over by the movies (and even in R2 of the main series) in terms of screen time and I just think there's so much lost potential there. She also has/had an infinitely more interesting relationship than the others with Lelouch (in particular), Suzaku and C.C. Again, that's something I'd like to explore in this fic.

With that aim in mind, the beginning of the fic spends a lot of time exploring the OC and his background. This is important to his character and the ultimate direction of the story. The reason for this is that I think it's much harder to care about new characters (or like them / understand their strengths and weaknesses) unless you grow with them which is why I'm putting effort into that aspect rather than just spawning him in the story somewhere. The charm of CG has always (IMO) been about great characters more so than the setting, which is why I think the Akito OVAs didn't do that well in contrast to the main show.

References

Hayabusa means Falcon in Japanese.