[Chapter 1] A Day A New Demon Was Born

Babel Tower, Tokyo Settlement – Area 11, 10 August 2017 a.t.b.

On the outskirts of the central Tokyo Settlement stood a series of towering structures, all surrounding the Settlement. Each is made with stark white concrete and massive reflective windows and panels, giving it an almost rainbow-like appearance.

These were a series of commercial complexes that fueled the growing economy of the Settlement. One particular tower stood out among the rest. And that was Babel Tower.

Known for its immense wealth, many nobles gather in the tower. Flaunting their status and wealth to all those close enough to see.

And in one of the tower's many rooms, one Britannian noble sat, filling his hands. He had brown hair and blue eyes and wore a wealthy suit with a red jacket and brown pants.

In front of him was a coffee table with a chessboard on top. Further on, sitting opposite the noble, was a balding man with glasses, wearing also a suit with a vest and a bowtie. Compared to the calm, confident noble, this man was visibly sweating, viewing the chessboard with fear.

Surrounding the two men stood a group of suited guards, watching over them.

In the background, a television set attached to the wall showed a news reporter. "This is a video of yesterday's terrorist bombing in Osaka." The reporter said, a small screen next to her showing smoke coming from a building. "Death toll puts 8 Britannians and 51 others killed in this horrible attack."

A buzzing noise from the table sounds out, startling the bald man. Next to the chessboard was a chess clock. One of the suited guards turns to the bald man. "You're out of time. From now on, you only have 20 seconds per move."

The noble looks up, blowing at his nails. "Very well, I'm game."

The bald man looks down at the board with even more sweat coming from him.

Suddenly, behind them, the doors of the room open, revealing two new guests. The bald man, looking back and recognizing the two, jumps from his chair in joy. "Thank heavens, I'm saved! How are things going at school?" The man makes his way to them.

The noble raises his eyebrow. "So, these are your substitutes?" He narrows his eyes. "Schoolboys?"

Indeed, the two were schoolboys. One was a tall boy with dark hair and violet eyes. He wore a uniform that had black trousers with black shoes, as well as a black jacket with gold lining and a golden symbol at the collar.

"Hmph, well, look at this, a nobleman." The boy said with a smirk.

Behind him, the other schoolboy was shorter than him and wore the same uniform. Though, he had a helmet with goggles covering his dark blue hair and grey eyes and wore red thick gloves.

The noble taps the table with his pen, irritated. "I envy the youth. So much time on their hands." He then smirks. "So much time for regrets. Your name, boy?"

"Lelouch Lamperouge." The boy, Lelouch, gives.

Next to him, his friend looks down at the board and shouts. "Woah! Woah! There's no way you can win this, no matter how you go about it." The boy explains to Lelouch. And his concern isn't entirely unfounded.

Looking down at the board, anyone with a good eye for chess could see how black was a disadvantage. Checkmate was only a couple of moves away.

However, while at a disadvantage, victory was not impossible.

"Rivalz, when do you think we have to leave in order to make it back in time for our next class?" Lelouch asked, unfazed. Rivalz, looking at his friend in confusion, answered. "Ah... 20 minutes if we're willing to bend a few rules."

"Then be sure that you drive safely on the way back." Lelouch takes his seat. "I won't take long. Just 9 minutes is enough." He then addresses the bald man. "Ah, about yesterday..."

The man nods. "Understood, sir. We'll discuss it later."

"9 minutes? You only have 20 seconds per move." The noble explained.

Lelouch picks up the Black King. "More than enough."

"You're starting with the King!?" The noble bellows in laughter.

Lelouch just smiles.

 -~-

Ashford Academy, Tokyo Settlement – Area 11

Near Central Tokyo stood the largest academy this side of Area 11. This is Ashford Academy. Massive and extravagant, big enough to include a chapel with the other multiple buildings hosting classes and club activities, it was truly a beauty to behold.

Outside, on the Academy's massive lawns, sat three schoolgirls, discussing and eating their lunch.

One girl had shoulder-length blonde hair, dark blue eyes and a curvy figure with fair skin. She wore the Ashford Academy uniform. However, instead of it being black, the uniform instead had a light yellow jacket with gold trims and black cuffs. Underneath the jacket was a white shirt with a dark green tie, the Ashford insignia woven in gold on it. She also wore a short black skirt with knee-high navy blue socks and black shoes. She is Milly Ashford, President of the Ashford Academy Student Council and granddaughter of the Headmaster.

The next girl had long orange hair and yellowish-green eyes. She also wore the school uniform. She is Shirley Fenette, a member of the Student Council and the Swim Club.

The last girl had short, dark green and wore glasses over her indigo eyes. She, too, wore the Academy uniform. This is Nina Einstein, also a member of the Student Council.

"Where's Lelouch?" Milly asked, a capped cup with a straw in her hands.

"He went outside. Rivalz took him." Shirley answered, eating her lunch with a pout.

"Oh, so what will it be this time? Poker?" Milly said with a grin, well aware of the two students' out-of-school ventures.

"They seem to forget that they're a part of the student council!" Shirley said, pointing to Milly with her fork, a cherry tomato on its tips. "They're off gambling for money! Lulu may be smart, yet he wastes his talents on such stupid things. He should focus on his schoolwork, getting high grades."

"Oh, how I wish my darling Lulu would be a serious man." Milly teased, causing Shirley's cheek to redden a bit. "Oh, how adorable is that?"

"Madam President, please..."

On the side, Nina ate her lunch, wondering what punishment the President would employ this time for those two.

 -~-

Freeway, Tokyo Settlement – Area 11

On a particular freeway of the settlement, a truck barreled across at dangerous speeds, nearly crashing into many cars along the way.

"Great!" Said the driver of the truck. He wore a grey coat and hat, which obscured his identity. "We finally steal this damn thing, but no. Tamaki just had to not stick to Naoto's plan, and now look!"

He refers to the Britannian VTOL following them from above.

"Just keep on driving!" A feminine voice brought his attention to his passenger, who also wore the same obscuring clothes. "The quicker we lose them, the better!"

-~-

Babel Tower

At the bottom floor of the tower, elevator doors open to reveal the schoolboys, Lelouch, who walked with a calm demeanor, and Rivalz, who had a wide grin.

"You know why I love playing against nobles? It's because they're always willing to pay out of pride." Rivalz said, looking at Lelouch. "By the way, that was a record for you. 8 minutes and 32 seconds."

"He didn't have much time to move, either." Lelouch simply replied. "Besides, as opponents go, nobles are tepid. Overprivileged parasites are what they are."

"Then why don't you challenge the Elevens?" Rivalz said, facing Lelouch while walking backwards. "They're nothing like us Britannians."

Lelouch just stares back, bothered by the thoughtless words. Sure, he knows that Rivalz isn't really a racist, not truly, but the fact he said them is still bothering.

Alas, the consequences of the Britannian Social Darwinist propaganda.

As they make their way outside, across the street, attached to a building was a jumbotron. On it, the news showed smoke from a building. Around the schoolboys, people respond.

"What are trying to prove?"

"Killing innocent people..."

"Those Elevens scare me."

Truly, Britannia's influence spreads far and wide.

Suddenly, the appearance of the Britannian Flag interrupted news of the attack. "We interrupt this broadcast for a Nationwide announcement from His Royal Highness Prince Clovis, Third Prince of the Imperial Throne."

People on the streets turned to see what their Prince would say. On the screen, they switch from the flag to a man. He had shoulder-length blonde hair with a bang falling between his blue eyes. He wore a royal purple suit with a white handkerchief, long gloves and a cape.

Prince Clovis la Britannia, Viceroy of Area 11, stood before his people. "To all my Imperial subjects! Including the cooperative Elevens who choose to serve this beautiful empire!"

 -~-

Truck

"We're not Elevens! We're Japanese!" The girl in the truck spat out in her native tongue.

 -~-

Babel Tower

Clovis grasps his chest as if his heart's in pain. "Do you not see my pain!? My heart aches, ripped from my chest and torn apart before my very own eyes. The remnants filled with rage and sadness."

His face twists, his pain obvious to all, before a resolve fills his eyes. "However, as ruler of Area 11, I will not tolerate terrorism of any kind! Because the battle we fight is a righteous battle. A virtuous one, to protect the wellbeing of all."

Across the colony, many citizens were drawn into the Prince's speech. Even some off-duty soldiers stood and saluted the Prince.

"Now then, everyone. I would like you all to join me in observance for the 8 who died for justice in the line of duty." Clovis closed his eyes and lowered his head.

"A moment of silence, please."

While everyone was joining in on the silence. Lelouch and Rivalz made their way to the parking lot. "So, aren't you going to join in?" Rivalz asked.

"Are you?" Lelouch glanced at him.

Rivalz chuckled a little, his hand scouring his pocket. "Well, it's a little embarrassing."

"And I agree with you. Besides, spilling tears over them won't bring them back, now will they?"

"Dang, that's dark, buddy." Out of his pocket, Rivalz pulls out a small blue capsule with a button on top. Plastered there was the number 1 and a black logo on it, shaped like two 'C's.

Pressing the button, Rivalz tosses it before them. Not too soon after, a cloud of smoke erupts from the capsule. As the cloud fades, what was once an empty parking space had a motorcycle with a side. The same symbol from the capsule is present as well, on the side of the motorcycle.

This is the Capsule Corp Model 20 motorcycle, a relatively recent addition to the market. Lelouch remembers Rivalz joyfully explaining how lucky he was when he won the bike from a contest from the company. Gushing about how it came with a capsule for easy storage.

"It's all about self-satisfaction. Doesn't matter how hard you try," Lelouch looks back at the screen, a look of contemplation. "You can't change the world."

 -~-

Viceroy's Palace, Tokyo Settlement – Area 11

Inside the Viceroy's Palace, Clovis walked down the podium as soon as the cameras were off. Around him stood many cameras, as well as various nobles, all clapping to him.

"Well done, my Prince!" One noblewoman in a red dress commented. "One would have never guessed you were attending a party."

Clovis scoffs. "Well, the viceroy is the marquee actor of Area 11. I need to change costumes quickly, after all." He states, as his servants remove his cape.

"My! How self-confident!"

"I am just trying to please the media. The populous wants a charismatic Prince, so I'll give them one." Clovis said with a smile, glancing to where the media stood with their cameras.

"Untrue, my Prince!" From the media crowd, a suited man stepped forward and bowed. "Our key purpose in life is to further your reign."

Back at the media group, a blonde man with a ponytail and a single bang of hair over his face scoffs. Wearing a dark blue suit and red turtleneck, he leans on the wall, reading a script on the Osaka Crisis. "His reign is a pathetic sham." He mutters to himself.

Suddenly, he notices a large balding man in a purplish military dress uniform and cape rush into the room. "A soldier?"

"Y-your Highness!" The man calls out.

Clovis, seeing the soldier, speaks. "General Bartley, how boorish of you." He chastises the man.

The man pants, sweat on his brow. "I beg your pardon, Your Highness. It's urgent."

The blonde man raises a brow at this. "What's this? Another appearance for the masses?" Pushing himself off the wall, he makes his way out.

"You fool!" The Prince suddenly screams, drawing attention from everyone, including the blonde man who stops and turns.

Clovis glares at Bartley, who looks away from the Prince's gaze. "The police were informed that it was just medical equipment. That's all. If we scramble the army, there'll be a record-"

"Send out the Royal Guards! The Knightmares as well!"

The blonde man, Diethard Reid, looks on with interest in his eyes. It's not every day you see the Prince agitated like this. Which makes him wonder...

What the hell are they hiding?

 -~-

Freeway

The two schoolboys rode on their bike, speeding down the freeway. Rivalz sat in the driver's seat while Lelouch sat in the sidecar, a book in his hand.

"Hey, Lelouch. Quick question?" Lelouch looks up from his book to his driver. "Why did you decide to go with the king first?" Rivalz asked. While he's not a chess master like his friend, he knows that moving a king at the beginning isn't the safest move.

"If the king doesn't lead, how does he expect his subordinates to follow?" Lelouch gave his answer, thinking back on that has happened.

With no way to go, Lelouch, Nunnally and Suzaku were lost in occupied Japan. To make matters worse, the siblings lost contact with Suzaku as they went their separate ways. Lelouch hopes his friend is safe. Knowing him, he's too stubborn to let himself die.

Luckily, the siblings got a lucky break as the Ashford family, their mother's benefactors, and long-time friends, took them in and sheltered them. There, they lived their lives ever since.

However, Lelouch's declaration to Suzaku that day wasn't just the angry tantrum of a boy who could do nothing. No, he fully intends to carry it out.

The gambling and the chess matches were nothing more than build-up, funding and preparation for when the time comes.

The beginning of the end of Britannia.

Rivalz, unaware of his friend's thoughts, simply asks. "Are you planning on running a company or something?"

Lelouch chuckles, returning to his book. "No. Such ambitions will ruin your health."

A loud honk interrupts the two. Looking back, they see the issue.

A massive truck was bearing down on them!

"Oh, shit!" Rivalz screams, swerving the bike, trying to get away from the massive vehicle.

Inside the truck, the driver honks the horn and screams. "Dammit! Move out of the way!" Seeing an exit, he takes it.

The comrade, however, shouts. "No! Not that way!"

The truck, coming in fast to the exit, loses control. It smashes past a guardrail, barreling into an empty construction site and crashes into the unfinished work.

Back up the freeway, Rivalz stops the bike with a screech. He and Lelouch look down at the cloud of dust rising from the site. "Um, that wasn't our fault, was it?"

Lelouch, taking off his helmet and goggles, replies. "I don't think so." Suddenly, he sees something. A cloud of green light, like fireflies, hovered over the truck.

"What the..." He squints, trying to make it out. However, they soon disappear.

"Ah, man!" Rivalz knees beside his bike, inspecting the damages and lamenting what he has found. "The power line got cut!"

"Hey, Rivalz! Come check this out." Lelouch tries to get the boy's attention.

Soon, near the schoolboys, a crowd forms, looking down on the crash as well. However, instead of going down to help them, they just stood there, talking amongst themselves. Some were even recording and taking pictures of the crash site with their phones.

"Hey! Over here!"

"Woah, what a crash!"

"What happened? Some sort of accident?"

"Probably a drunk driver."

"It's always some moron."

"Hey, maybe someone should go help."

Lelouch looks at them with disdain. He will not just be another bystander.

Turning on his heels, Lelouch rushes down at the site. "Lelouch, wait!" Rivalz calls out, but Lelouch carries on. The boy sighs before looking for his capsule. "Damn it, why now, of all times, does he have to play the hero?"

 -~-

Crash Site

Inside the truck, the two occupants groan, shaking themselves awake while the airbags deflate. "Nagata. Nagata?" The girl shakes her companion. "Come on, we need to get out of here."

Outside, Lelouch makes it to the truck. Above, the crowd sees him. "Look, the Student Rescue Team has arrived."

Ignoring them, Lelouch calls out. "Hello, is everyone inside alright!?" He hears nothing.

He looks for another way in the truck, given that its front is embedded into the site. He climbs the trailer's ladder and reaches an open hatch above the trailer. "Hello, anyone in there!?"

Suddenly he stops as the world around him shifts, like his mind and senses are submerged. It's you... Finally, I found my...

Lelouch perks up, coming back and looking around. "What the...? Was that a girl?"

Seeing nobody, he calls out again, looker deeper. "Hello?"

Suddenly, the truck starts up and immediately reserves, inadvertently throwing Lelouch into the open hatch. Surprised, he falls near a spheric object.

"Wait! I'm in here!" He tries calling out but loses his balance yet again as the truck speeds out of the site.

 -~-

Rivalz sees the truck driving away, holding a capsule in his hand with the motorcycle nowhere in sight. "So, would you consider that a hit-and-run?"

He shakes his head. He figure out how to sue that driver later. Now he has to focus on finding his friend first. "Lelouch! Lelouch!? Where are you!?"

 -~-

Freeway

Back to the truck, Lelouch, having given up on announcing his presence, tries to escape his predicament. "You'd think they'd have the insight to install a ladder inside." He said as he looked around inside the trailer. Other than the spheric device and a staircase that led nowhere, there wasn't much he could see.

About to try another avenue to escape, he hears something coming from outside.

"Terrorist, surrender immediately or we will be open fire!" Outside, behind the truck, three VTOL gunships approach the truck.

"I repeat! Terrorist, surrender immediately or we will open fire!" One gunship lowers its cannon and lets out a stream of bullets. The truck swerves as the bullets hit the road.

The driver, Nagata, growls. "Great! Now the army is here! Now what!?"

"Did you forget? That's why I'm here for!" The girl said, removing her hat, revealing her short red hair and blue eyes. She gets up and makes her way to the trailer.

Inside, Lelouch contemplates his choices. If he jumps out now, he's liable to get shot or break his bones. Yet, staying inside isn't good either as soon or later the truck will be shot up and destroyed, with him inside. What to do...

The sound of the door opening behind him had Lelouch scrambling behind the device. The red hair walks by without ever seeing him. She makes her up the stairs, disregarding her coat to the side near Lelouch.

She looks familiar. Lelouch narrows his eyes, trying to remember where he may have seen her before.

"Kallen," Nagata calls out. "What about using it here?"

The girl, Kallen, glares back at him. "Because that would mean a bloodbath!"

"Yeah, you're right. Sorry." Nagata said, chastised.

With that, Kallen sets out.

-~-

Outside

"Target's moving towards the ghettos. No response so far. Moving to neutralize." The VTOLs lowered their cannons, aiming to kill.

Suddenly, from the back of the truck, something shoots out and pierces the cockpit of the middle VTOL, downing it. The weapon reels back to the truck, but not before the pilots of the remaining VTOL recognized it.

"A Slash Harken!?"

The back of the truck opens up fully, revealing a terrifying sight. A scarlet red 4-meter humanoid machine jumps out of the truck and lands on the road. It had an elongated head with four green dots acting as its eyes and a large compartment on its back, its cockpit. From its chest, two Slash Harkens sat ready. And by its legs, each foot had a shaft containing a wheel. These landspinners pushed the Knightmare, allowing it to keep up with the truck, its speed belying its size.

"A Knightmare!?"

Lelouch, seeing the Knightmare, realizes his situation and its magnitude. "Crap! These are actual terrorists."

"That's right, you guys know exactly what this badass mother can do!" Kallen shouts, pulling on the machine's levers. The VTOLs fire on her, but the Knightmare Frame zig-zags, dodging all fire and firing her Slash Harkens, downing another VTOL.

"Enough."

Another aircraft makes its appearance. However, unlike the VTOL gunships, this aircraft had swept wings with no vertical stabilizer. In the middle of its frame, it carried a purple and black machine.

Another Knightmare.

"The rest of you, pull back. I'll handle this." The Knightmare dropped from the aircraft and landed with a heavy thud. Unlike its opponent, instead of an elongated head, its head was predominantly more human-like with a carved-on face, four dots on its forehead and two horn-like appendages. In its hand, it held an oversized rifle. Far too large for a human to wield, but perfect for the machine.

"I don't know which junkyard you dug up that outdated piece of scrap, but an old Glasgow could never compare to this Sutherland!" Inside the Sutherland, the pilot grinned. Teal blue hair, orange eyes and wearing a purple and black battle suit, Jeremiah Gottwald prepares for battle. "Especially from a filthy Eleven who sullies the compassion of our glorious Emperor!"

The Glasgow fires its Slash Harken, but Jeremiah counters with his own. Lifting his rifle, he fires a grenade. An explosion erupts as Kallen blocks with the Glasgow's arm, damaging it and rattling her, leaving her groaning.

"Kallen!" Nagata calls out over the radio. "We need to split up! We can't both be captured!"

"But-"

Suddenly, another Sutherland speeds up and onto the freeway, landing in front of the truck. It pulls its rifle, firing on the truck. Nagata curses as he's forced down another exit.

Inside the second Knightmare, the pilot, a young woman with blueish-gray hair, yellow eyes and dark skin. "Simple-minded Eleven." Villetta Nu says, smirking.

Back to the fight, Kallen tries to fire her Slash Harkens. Instead, however, they twitch and shift. "No way! It's stuck!?" She tries to get them to fire but to no anvil.

Jeremiah, noticing this, rushes in with an overhead swing. "Second-hand garbage!"

Thinking quickly, Kallen ejects the damaged arm at Jeremiah, causing a cloud of smoke to form, obscuring both of them, which she uses to escape. Jeremiah emerges from the cloud, unharmed but surprised. "I'll admit it. I love your spirit. However..." Jeremiah grins before pursuing her.

"It won't save you!"

 -~-

Inside the trailer, Lelouch looks down at his phone, its light illuminating him and the dark. "No cell reception, meaning we're out of range. And judging by the darkness and road surface, we're taking a route down the subway. Which means our exit is somewhere in the ghettos."

He looks around, biting his lips. Damn it, this is becoming a precarious situation the longer it goes. He has to get out of here alive! Fast!

Next to him, he sees the terrorist's coat. He searches it and finds a radio communicator in one of its pockets. "I'm not a big of the military, but I'll take their protection. If I give them this terrorist's communicator, I can-"

Suddenly, he's thrown forward and falls to the floor harshly. Pushing himself up, Lelouch wonders what was the cause. Did we just crash?

Nagata groans, lamenting his situation. Not only has he crashed into a ditch with no way out, but he didn't evade the Knightmare fire unscathed. He places a hand on his abdomen, blood spewing past his fingers.

Hand shaking, he manages to press a button on the dashboard, opening a side door of the trailer.

"Ohgi... please... find me..."

 -~-

Fort Perry, Tokyo Settlement – Area 11

Moments earlier

In one of the largest military installations in Area 11, a peculiar scene was occurring.

General Bartley stood in the middle of the base, military hardware moving in the background, staring with twitching eyes at the one sight he wished not to see today.

In front of him stood a tall man with lavender hair and grayish-blue eyes behind a set of glasses. He wore a white long lab coat and had a mischievous smile as he leaned in on Bartley's face.

This was Lloyd Asplund, known for being a rather... eccentric scientist.

"What are you doing?" Bartley asks, wanting to get this over with.

"I'm just looking at the fool who blundered." Lloyd said, his smirk somehow even growing wider. "You lost something, didn't you? Something that you and Prince Clovis have kept hidden from the public."

Something about that smirk made a pit form in the General. The scientist continues. "However, receiving it would have been a simple manner. No, with your actions, it only makes sense that you would want to sweep it all away, along with the terrorists and their hideout. Make sure that there are no witnesses."

General Bartley's eyes widen, cold sweat dripping from his head. Lloyd, noticing this, grins and looks behind him. "Congratulations! Looks like your reasonings were spot on."

Behind Lloyd stood a young woman with indigo-blue hair and blue eyes. She wore an orangish-brown uniform, consisting of a jacket with a green armband over her left arm and a skirt, a white shirt underneath with a dark green tie and long black stockings with shoes.

She was Cecile Croomy, the assistant of Lloyd.

"N-no. I thought it was strange, that's all." She said shyly, grasping the tablet in her hands tightly.

"Alright, enough of this!" Bartley shouted, fed up with the antics of Lloyd. "What does the Special Corp want from this?"

Lloyd turns back to him. "Well, that's quite simple, really. I want to help with the clean-up."

"Help?"

"Of course. Because it's data that I want."

"Although, I'm curious," Cecile said, an inquisitive look on her face. "What exactly have they stolen?"

Bartley stares at the two for a moment before sighing. "Chemical weapons. In other words..."

"Poison gas."

 -~-

Shinjuku Ghetto – Area 11

Shinjuku City used to be a massive commercial center for Japan. Bright lights filled the streets as people went about spending their hard-earned cash on the various displays of wealth the city had to offer.

However, after the invasion, it has been sucked dry of all that wealth and, seemingly as well, life. Now, it was nothing more than a broken shell of its former glory, with its inhabitants having lost all hope.

And it looked like it was about to get worse as many Britannian VTOL troop transporters, aka the Capsule Corps XV-15 VTOL, soared through the skies of Shinjuku. Many Japanese looked up in fear, wondering what their colonial overlords were doing.

Soon, the VTOLs slowed down and hovered over various throughout the city. Soldiers then fast-roped down to the Ghetto, wearing armor all over their bodies with a respirator covering their faces.

These were the Britannian Foreign Legion, units of the army made of the natives of the conquered territories, which in this case were made up of Honorary Britannians, Japanese who have sworn loyalty to Britannia.

"Your mission, soldiers, is to locate the chemical weapons. Repeat, you are only to locate it, nothing more. You may consider yourselves Honorary Britannians but do not forget your place. You were born Elevens. Maybe the stench of these monkeys ought to be a familiar one. If you want the right to bear arms, then show results. Show your loyalty to our glorious empire!"

"YES, MY LORD!"

 -~-

Underground Subway Tunnels, Shinjuku Ghetto – Area 11

Lelouch, after initially hiding behind the device when the doors opened, stepped out and saw what he had already deduced. They were in one of the underground subway tunnels that used to be a part of the Japanese Railway System.

Still looking for an escape route, he figures he could use the device to his advantage.

Meanwhile, in the same tunnel, one of the Foreign Legion soldiers arrived at the crash scene and found the chemical weapon. He lifts his hand to his radio. "Command, 4-0-4 has located and identified the target."

"Excellent, 4-0-4. Prepare for recovery." Command radios back.

As he crouched and planned to wait, he saw movement near the weapon. He rushes forward as he sees it's a person.

As he prepares to climb on the device, Lelouch hears rushing footsteps. He turns to see a soldier in the air, about to deliver a spin kick.

Quickly, Lelouch raises his arms but falls over as while he does block, the force is too great for him. Before he could get himself up, the soldier pins him down by the neck. Lelouch recognizes the attire of his foe. A Britannian soldier!?

The soldier unclasps his respirator. "Enough with the killing!"

"Ugh... wait, I'm not-"

"Planning to use chemical weapons on innocent civilians? Don't play dumb with me!" The soldier cuts him off, pinning him harder and choking him.

"GET OFF!" Fed up, Lelouch raises his legs and kicks the soldier off. The soldier flies off but quickly lands on his feet, ready to attack once more before freezing.

Lelouch, now on his feet, glares at the soldier. "I'm not here by choice. And if that's a chemical weapon, then that means Britannia made it, right?"

As soon as the light illuminates Lelouch's face, the soldier straightens up.

"If you want to stop the killings, then why don't you just obliterate Britannia!?" Lelouch said, his fury from all those years never dimming. In fact, they've only grown stronger. As long as Britannia continues its ways, as long as his father lives, as long as the suffering continues, the flame will never wither.

"Lelouch?" The soldier said, his voice awfully familiar to the Britannian. He then removes his helmet, revealing a familiar face.

"Lelouch? It's me, Suzaku. Remember?" Kururugi Suzaku stood before him, a smile on his face. "It's been so long."

"Suzaku..." Stunned, the prince looked at his friend. Aside from being obviously taller, he looks relatively the same as when they split up.

"Wait, you become a Britannian soldier!?" Lelouch asks. Last he remembered, the boy before him was a proud patriot.

"And you become a terrorist?" Suzaku asks, equally flabbergasted. He knows Lelouch hates Britannia, but even he doesn't think his friend would stoop so low as to commit terrorism.

"As if!" Turns out he was right as Lelouch glares, offended by the insinuation.

Before the boys could continue, the device hosting the poison gas lights up brightly before opening, releasing a cloud. Quickly, Suzaku pushes his friend to the ground before placing his respirator on him instead of himself.

The light from the capsule somehow became brighter, almost blinding the boys. It then suddenly dims revealing at the center was not a more poisonous cloud but...

A girl!?

Inside the capsule sat a girl in a white straitjacket suit. She had long bright lime hair and gold eyes. Gold eyes that glanced at them before closing, the girl slipping into unconsciousness.

Baffled, the two boys look at the supposed chemical weapon with one thought shared between the two.

Just what the hell was going on?

 -~-

Underground Subway Tunnels, Shinjuku Ghetto – Area 11

Elsewhere among the various tunnels, the red Glasgow crouched hidden. Its head opened up to reveal a clear dark sphere with a red dot in the middle. It pulsated with green lights. This was its Factsphere, an advanced sensor of the Knightmare. Inside the cockpit, Kallen drank from her bottle of water. "Sorry about not having my radio on me. In all the confusion, I left it in my coat."

"Don't worry." From the Glasgow internal radio, a man's voice came through. "At least the Glasgow's systems are usable. So, was our intelligence correct?"

"Yep. Definitely think it's poison gas, given how hard they're fighting for it." Kallen said, a bitter look on her. Chemical weapons, as if there wasn't any more reason to hate Britannia.

"I see then. Where's Nagato?"

"I don't know. He's probably somewhere in these tunnels." Kallen said, her bitter look fading into something more somber. She prays that he's alright.

 -~-

"Okay, Suzaku. Be honest with me." Lelouch said as he held the girl in his arms. It's been some time since the girl revealed herself and now he and Suzaku were freeing her. "Poison gas, this girl?"

"That's what they told us in the briefing." Suzaku said as he removed the girl's restraints.

Suddenly, bright lights filled the tunnel from behind the boys. Looking, they see a group of uniformed men. However, they differed vastly from Suzaku's.

Instead of armor all over, they wore a red uniform made of a long coat and a belt, with the officer wearing a short-shoulder cape.

These were Prince Clovis' Royal Guard.

"Filthy Eleven! Even being an Honorary Britannian will not save you from this." The officer said as he observed the situation.

Suzaku gets up and stands at attention before the officer. "But sir, I was informed that this was poison gas."

"Are you questioning your orders!?" The officer snarls, looking down on Suzaku with contempt.

Lelouch grimaces as he looks on. This is mostly certainly poison. A poisonous situation that could be very harmful to Suzaku's superiors if ever leaked.

"However, in light of your achievement, I'll be merciful." The officer pulls out his handgun and presents its handle to him.

"Private Kururugi, use this weapon to execute this terrorist."

Both Suzaku and Lelouch's eyes widen.

"But sir, he's not a terrorist! He's a civilian who got caught up in this." Suzaku said, trying to explain. The officer frowns at this display.

"You insubordinate little... I gave you an order! Did you not swear your life and loyalty to Britannia?"

While Lelouch looked for a way out of this disaster, Suzaku looked to the ground, eyes closed, before giving his answer.

"But... I can't."

"What?" The baffled officer said.

Suzaku looks up with a smile. "I'm sorry, sir, but I can't do it." He then turns to look at Lelouch. "I can't follow your orders, sir. I won't kill a civilian. Not him."

"Then die with him." The officer said, placing the gun by Suzaku's side and pulling the trigger.

"Suzaku!" Lelouch cries as he watches his friend fall to the ground, dead.

Scoffing down at the body, the officer looks at Lelouch. "You are to be a Britannian student." He shakes his head. "It's a shame. This truly isn't your day." He then turns to his guards. "Collect the girl. Afterward, kill the student."

"Yes, my Lord." They all collectively said. Lelouch stared on in horror, the girl in his arms slowly waking up.

As they moved in, back at the truck, Nagata witnessed everything. "Damn Britannians." He groans, flipping a switch which reveals a button. Before he pressed it, he took one look at a nearby photo.

It was a picture of him smiling, kneeling on the ground with a bucket. Next to him was a woman with brown hair and a bright smile. In her arms, a young boy reached out to Nagata.

With a teardrop and a smile, Nagata proclaims. "Nippon... Banzai!"

He presses the button.

The truck explodes.

 -~-

G-1 Mobile Base, Shinjuku Ghetto – Area 11

"You let her get away!?" Bartley screamed down at the control panel. He and various other officers were inside the G-1 Mobile Base. A piece of impressive Zevon technology, this mobile base offers decent defense while allowing one to command the battlefield with ease.

"And you call yourselves Royal Guards!?"

"W-we're sorry, my Lord. The explosion was directed up but the foundations-"

"Do you realize that you are the only ones that I told about this?" Bartley snarls, having no patience for their excuses.

"We'll continue the investigation."

"The plan will be moved to the next phase." A voice interjected.

Everyone in the briefing room looked toward the source. Sat on his throne was Prince Clovis with his eyes closed, his elbow resting on the throne while caressing his head. He wanted to do this quickly and quietly. But no, the terrorists just have to be a slippery bunch.

"B-but your Highness-"

"If knowledge of her is released, I will be disinherited. Tell them back at home that we're running an urban renewal plan." The Prince stood up and walked forward towards the center of the briefing room. With a wave of his arm, he addressed his troops.

"I, Clovis la Britannia, Third Prince of the Imperial Family, command you all. Destroy Shinjuku Ghetto! LEAVE NO SURVIVORS!"

 -~-

Shinjuku Ghetto – Area 11

By the orders of their Prince, many Sutherlands and soldiers either fast-roped down into the ghetto or were launched from the Mobile Base and other various launch points. The residents grew even more fearful as they saw the obvious buildup of military personnel.

Then came the bloodbath.

Wherever the soldiers and Knightmares landed, they slaughtered everything and everyone.

It didn't matter who their targets were.

Whether they were a child or an elder.

Whether they were a man or a woman.

They all had their orders. None are to be spared. Their orders demanded the deaths of everyone living in this ghetto.

Even Honorary Britannians joined in the slaughter, murdering their former countrymen.

Many Japanese tried to flee the slaughter but the military quickly surrounded the ghetto. Killing any that approached the shrinking borders, as the military pushed in towards the center of the ghetto.

"Your enemies are the scum of the earth. Not even worth becoming Honorary Britannians. Wipe them out." The orders came over the comms. Jeremiah smirked from within his Knightmare.

"Naturally." Soon another order came, though this one was directed solely at him.

"Supervisor Jeremiah, General Bartley requests that you take command of-"

"Bartley has his staff officer, does he not? Tell them to do it! Besides," Jeremiah grins as he raises his rifle. "I haven't had this much fun in a while!"

He pulls the trigger, letting loose on the helpless residents.

 -~-

Underground Subway Tunnels – Area 11

Far away from the explosion, Lelouch and the girl were running down the tunnels. Amidst all the chaos, they had managed to escape and lose the Royal Guards. However, it appears they won't be off the hook yet as they can hear the distant noise of gunfire, explosions and screams from the dying.

The girl trips and falls to the ground. Lelouch stops and leans against the tunnel wall, the weight of everything that has happened bearing down on him. "What the hell are you!?" Lelouch shouts at the girl. "All this chaos is because of you, isn't it?"

He covers his face, trying to calm down. "And... and now Suzaku's dead! Britannia killed him!"

The girl just silently watches him with the straitjacket covering her mouth.

-~-

G-1 Mobile Base – Area 11

Behind the mobile base of the Prince, a large orange truck was parked. Behind said truck, Lloyd stood, tossing up a Capsule in his hands. Next to him stood a young girl with shoulder-length black hair and wearing the same uniform as Cecile.

"Wait, so he's not here?" Lloyd asks.

The girl nods. "Yes sir. I couldn't find him, so he may already be on the front lines."

The scientist sighs, eyeing the Capsule. "And we just brought the Lancelot here." He then notices his assistant being awfully quiet by her laptop, a concentrated look on her.

"Mariel, while we wait for our Devicer, why don't you check up on the Lancelot?" Lloyd said, handing the Capsule into her hands. Mariel throws glances between Lloyd and Cecile before nodding and walking away.

"So, what has you so quiet?" Lloyd asks as he makes his way to Cecile. She looks up to him. "Come now. You won't be this quiet unless something has your attention or you're angry."

He pauses. "You're ain't angry, are you?"

Cecile just looks at him before sighing and shaking her head. "I'm not angry." She said, missing Lloyd's sigh of relief. "I'm just confused."

"About what?"

"Everything about this." Cecile gestures all around. "There's one thing I could never figure out about the terrorists."

Lloyd raises an eyebrow. "And that being?"

She turns to him. "Why be so obvious?"

Seeing the question in Lloyd's eyes, she explains. "If they've stolen poison gas, why would they need a truck? Something that dangerous would be better kept in a Capsule. Something that wouldn't require a truck to transport."

"Hmm." Lloyd nods. She makes a good point. Better to have such a weapon Capsuled. The Capsule Corp's primary invention has made the military's life easier when it comes to logistics and storage.

A Capsule is small and easy to hide. A truck is not.

"Perhaps they lack a Capsule? They are relatively new and ain't cheap. At least, the civilian models aren't."

Cecile nods, focusing on her laptop. "Yes, but they could have easily procured one. That or steal one from supplies. Hell, something that important should have already been Capsuled. It just doesn't make sense." A look of frustration grows on her.

"You suspect that they have stolen something along with the poison gas? Something that couldn't be Capsuled?"

"It's possible."

Lloyd nods again. "Hmm, you're right. It's suspicious. However," Lloyd waves his hand and walks off. "We're the Engineering Corp, not the OSI. It's a waste of brain power to fret over it. Come along, we need to find our Devicer."

She sighs before getting up. Maybe he's right. It could just be speculation for all she knows.

 -~-

Abandoned Warehouse, Shinjuku Ghetto – Area 11

Lelouch and the girl are crawling up the stairs leading to the exit. "Stay here and stay quiet." Lelouch whispers as he moves up.

He pecks his head up, sees a dead body drop before him, and quickly drops back, cursing under his breath. The Royal Guards have already reached the end.

"Report." The officer said.

"My lord, we only saw Elevens here." One guard said, gesturing at the dead bodies before him. The officer frowns.

"Are you certain this is where the exit is?"

"Yes, my Lord. It matches up with the map of the old city."

As the Royal Guards are conversing, Lelouch attempts to sneak back down. He then hears a child's sorrowful cries fill the air. The sound of gunfire soon follows it, silencing it

Lelouch looks on with horror. They really were going to kill everyone.

In the silence, the ringing of a cell phone was deafening.

Lelouch's heart freezes as he realizes it's his own.

He hangs up immediately.

 -~-

Ashford Academy – Area 11

On the school grounds with her phone in her hand, Shirley Fenette stops walking.

"That jerk!" Shirley shouts, glaring down at her phone. "He hung up on me!"

 -~-

Abandoned Warehouse – Area 11

Lelouch grunts as he's thrown to the wall. Two Guards held the green-haired girl back.

"Well, you certainly gave a run for our money." The officer said, grinning as Lelouch picked himself up. "You're pretty good, for a student. Makes sense, though. You are a Britannian."

Lelouch just glares at the man.

"Sadly though, this is where your future ends." He levels his gun at him.

The girl's eyes widen, and she pushes past the soldiers. "He mustn't die!" She screams as she jumps in front of Lelouch.

The gun fires.

The girl drops to the floor, a puddle of blood forming under her. Her eyes glaze over, blood dripping from the hole in her forehead. Oddly enough, her forehead also had a strange long mark.

Like a silhouette of a bird in flight.

Lelouch stares down in horror at the girl who gave her life for him. "You shot her!" He drops down, trying to see if there's anything he can do for her. Above him, the officer grimaces.

"Dammit. We were ordered to bring her back alive, if possible..."

The officer perks up and smiles, an idea in his head. "How about this? We'll tell our superiors that the Royal Guard had located and destroyed the terrorist's hideout. Sadly, however, the girl was found tortured and killed. How's that, schoolboy? Convincing enough?" He said, pointing his gun at Lelouch with a grin on his face.

Lelouch observes the situation before him. The dead girl. The multiple corpses behind the Royal Guards. The officer pointing his gun at him. The other guards who stood behind the officer. It soon dwells on him that there is no escape.

First Suzaku. And now this girl. How could this happen? Am I really going to die? That easily!? It can't be! He still hasn't gotten his answers!

And it looks like he never will as his soon-to-be killers raise the rifles at him. Lelouch closes his eyes.

Nunnally!

The image of his little sister pops into his mind. His dear little sister, whose smile could rival- no, outshine any star in existence.

A smile he will never see again.

But before anything could happen, the dead girl's hand grabs Lelouch's.

 -~-

He was falling.

Or was he?

He doesn't know.

All he knew was that there was no solid ground under him.

In fact, there was nothing around him. An all-consuming void was all that he could see.

You don't want it to end here, right?

What...?

The girl...

Lelouch continued to feel his out-of-body experience for what felt like both an eternity and a second.

Time felt like it didn't exist here.

Traces of blue and green circuit-like lines appeared over his body and in the surrounding void.

Suddenly, he saw multiple copies of himself appearing all over the place.

What was this?

You appear to have a reason to live.

The girl? That's impossible!

What if you had the power? Would you live?

The girl appeared before him, with her own set of copies appearing as well.

I propose a deal. In exchange for this power, you must fulfill my wish. Accept this contract and as you live in this world, you will live like no other.

A different providence.

A different time.

A different life.

An image of two worlds appeared, the distance between the two so close as if the two were seemingly about to collide.

The Power of the King will condemn you to a life of solitude.

Are you prepared for this?

Images flew by again.

The same symbol on the girl's forehead is carved into stone.

Many children standing, each with the same mark as well.

A distant world in the heavens above.

And a tall man surrounded by cloaked individuals stood on a strange platform.

"A convergence with the Ragnarok Connection?" If Lelouch had eyes, he'd widen them.

His father!?

"So, the myth is beginning once again?" The Emperor said, noticing that something had changed.

He's involved in this!?

Resolve fills the boy.

He knows what he must do then.

"Yes! I hereby accept the terms of your contract!"

 -~-

Lelouch slowly stands back onto his feet, one hand covering his left eye. "Tell me something. How is a Britannian who hates his homeland supposed to live?"

The officer raises a brow at the sudden change in the boy. "What are you now? A radical?" He raises his gun before hesitating.

Lelouch notices this. "What's wrong? Your opponent is just a schoolboy? Or have you finally realized..."

Lelouch removes his hand, revealing his left eye. A glowing eye that held the same symbol on the girl's forehead.

"That the ones who should kill are those who are prepared to be killed!"

The gun rattles, as the guard's hand shakes. "W-What the hell is this?" As he and the soldiers see the impossible mark on his eye.

"Lelouch vi Britannia commands you..." Lelouch swings his arm out. "All of you..."

He stares them all down.

"Die."

The power in his left eye flares up. The silhouette moves as if it were alive.

And with a single flap of its wings, it travels towards the soldiers, down into their eyes.

Their minds.

Their very will is twisted and bent to his own.

And with a smile, the Royal Guards obey. "Yes, Your Highness!" The officer laughs hysterically., placing his gun at his neck. The soldiers behind them give equally mad grins and they pointed their rifles at each other.

The officer shouts. "FIRE!" And pulls his trigger.

The soldiers follow soon, firing upon each other, spraying blood into the air, and joining the commanding officer on the ground. Lelouch looks down on all of them, some blood on his face and the glow of his left eye disappearing. His eyes widen as he slowly realizes what he has done.

His mind ran rampant with thoughts.

This was the turning point. Since that day, I've been living a lie.

The lie of living.

My name?

A lie.

My personal history?

A lie.

I was sick of it. Sick to death, living in a world that could not change.

But even in my lie, I never gave in to despair.

And with this power...

Lelouch let out a devilish smile.

"Well, then."