5 Chapter Five: Beast Hun

True to his word, Kallen had been invited to hunt down the Beast alongside Zero. The two of them, along with several armed squads from both the Black Knights and Cornelia's unit, had descended into the ghetto sewers in an attempt to rescue Viletta and to eliminate the Questing Beast.

"So you're thinking this guy might have a power similar to yours right, Zero buddy?" asked Tamaki nervously.

"It's a guess more than anything right now," said Zero. "At least the physical evidence indicates he may have strength that's enhanced like mine when I use my Geass. But as for the mental abilities I'm not sure. It could be how he seduces people to join his cult. The murdered people may be those who might have had some resistance to it. Right now all that matters is that we secure Viletta and apprehend the enemy."

The group Zero led comprised of himself, Kallen, Tamaki, Inoue, and Ohgi who had refused to be laid up for this mission. Cornelia and her Knight Guilford led another group, while Suzaku and General Dalton led a third.

"Then what about the people he's got in his cult?" asked Inoue. "If they're not doing this out of their free will then..."

"If they get in our way they're our enemies," said Zero.

"I know but..."

"Zero's right," said Ohgi. "We can't take chances with these people just because they're Japanese. They're murderers now and that's how we have to treat them."

"Yeah," said Tamaki. "By the way uh Zero, you can't be affected by Geass can you?"

"I don't know," said Zero.

"So what's to stop this guy from taking over your mind and turning you against us?" asked Tamaki, fear sounding more prominent in his voice.

"Would you like to stay behind Tamaki?" asked Kallen.

"No...it's just that well I'm not exactly looking forward to meeting a super strong guy who can't be killed with bullets and is a known serial killer," said Tamaki. "I mean a little more intelligence is that so much to ask?"

"We've been asking that about you for years," said Inoue.

"Quiet, all of you," said Zero.

Lelouch himself was actually fearful of the possibility himself. He did not know how Geass would affect another Geass user. The damn witch hadn't been any help to him and refused to say anything more about the Geass Order. He was fighting blind in a dark labyrinth searching for a murderous beast. He felt like Theseus searching for the Minotaur.

In the private dance studio in her and Lelouch's manor, Nunnally sat massaging her sore feet. She had taken to her favorite activity as a means to deal with the stress of the recent days. Lelouch had still not come to her about his secrets. Although she knew of them she still wished her brother trusted her enough to tell them to her. In her mind she believed her brother still saw her as that little girl who would take her mother's hat and run around the Villa. That she was too fragile for the truth of what he was doing. But she had managed to keep herself composed when C.C had revealed to her what Lelouch had done to Clovis, a brother who had always been kind and loving to the both of them despite coming from different mothers.

But it none the less made her feel sick.

Almost as sick as keeping her own secrets from Lelouch. Her 'lessons' with C.C, as well as the visions she had. The one of the young man with beautiful blue eyes and silver hair. Thinking about him, a boy whose name she did not know, whose face she had never seen til that day, always made Nunnally's heart flutter and her face grow red.

"Fantasies of love always have such effects on young women," said C.C, walking into the studio.

"How can I possibly love someone whom I've never met?" asked Nunnally.

"Because it is destiny," said C.C, kneeling down next to Nunnally. "Although the future can change constantly, some things are inevitable. For those who walk the path we do, to embrace the powers of Geass, the paths of destiny can become clear even if only for a moment."

C.C picked up one of Nunnally's feet and began fiddling with her toes. Even after all the time they had shared together Nunnally knew so little of her supposed tutor. She had said she was once her mother's teacher but Nunnally had never truly questioned the woman about it. C.C had a way about her that made her lower her defenses and allow the witch to dally with her as she pleased. However she didn't know why C.C was so interested in her, when it was her brother with whom she had made a contract.

"C.C, why do you 'teach' me and not my brother?' asked Nunnally.

C.C looked up at her student, still playing with the girl's foot, and stared on with eyes like a cat.

"Lelouch's lessons will be those he is forced to learn in the hell of combat," said C.C. "His path...is different from yours."

"And just what path are you trying to push me down?" asked Nunnally. "What justifies you casting these strange spells on me and toying with my body as you do?"

"The same path I trained you mother on," said C.C. "The path that will allow you to influence the rulers of this world both physically and spiritually."

"What do you mean?" asked Nunnally.

"How do you believe your mother was able to stand out so well among all of your father's other concubines?" asked C.C.

Nunnally gasped, not knowing what to make of C.C's words.

"What...what are you talking about?" asked Nunnally.

"Marianne was well trained," said C.C, pride in her voice. "Trained not only in the arts of war that made her a knight but in the arts of controlling a man."

"But...but..."

"Oh the girl did make one mistake, said C.C. "She fell in love with Charles."

"What are you saying?" cried Nunnally.

"Nothing you will recall for a while," said C.C.

In a swift motion C.C pressed a pressure point near Nunnally's neck and the girl was rendered unconscious. The witch picked up the princess in her arms and waked in the direction of her bedroom.

"The foolishness of love often cannot be denied," said C.C. "Even with all the disciple of the Order. Isn't that right, Marianne?"

Continuing in the sewers, Zero and his squad found themselves literally knee deep in grey water. They soon began to pick up the faint sounds of chanting and continued onward. As they walked Zero couldn't help but pick up more sounds.

He raised his hand to motion his comrades to stop. They did so instantly, but Zero could still hear the sound of sloshing water. They weren't alone, before he could cry out, Inoue was dragged beneath the water. Tamaki was about to open fire but Zero stopped him not wanting to hit Inoue. Suddenly Tamaki was grabbed from behind and pulled underneath the water.

"Keep together," said Zero, huddling with Kallen and Ohgi.

The three stood back to back when suddenly a hand burst forth from the water and grabbed Zero by the throat. In one swift motion the cloaked figure that held Zero used him to bat away Kallen and Ohgi. Zero activated his own Geass and struck down on his foe's arm, managing to loosen his grip, he also took advantage of the Questing Beast's surprise at finally having foe of equal strength to completely free himself.

Once free Zero struck into the torso of the beast. Unlike before where he could easily damage a man thanks to the enhancement of his strength his power promised, the Questing Beast was clearly made of tougher material. The Beast then struck out and landed a blow on the mask, cracking it slightly. And although his body was more durable thanks to the Geass, he still felt the pain of the blow.

Recovering, the two clocked men continued to trade punches with one another, both reeling slightly by the surprising strength the other held.

The Beast had managed to land another blow on Zero's mask, this time chipping off a piece over his left eye. Recovering again Zero raised his head and the Beast saw the glowing symbol of Geass.

"You...are...pure," he hissed.

From beneath his mask Lelouch was able to peer slightly under the hood the Questing Beast wore, and saw the shine and symbol of Geass in both eyes. He then recalled the works Hisako Kozuki said, about being forced to try to kill Kallen, to make her pure.

"It was you," yelled Kallen, raising her gun and pointing it at the Beast, angry tears flowing down her eyes. "Damn you."

Kallen opened fire and the bullets shooting out from her assault rifle seemed to at least make the Beast stagger. However Lelouch could see that this was only an annoyance for him. The Beast then lunged for Kallen, however Lelouch gripped his cloak in an attempt to stop him. Regardless the Beast continued, tearing the cloak he wore, and revealing his true identity. A tall, muscular body covered in burn scars. However the most damning thing was his face. It was the face Kallen had shown Lelouch sometime after they had gone to see her mother. It was the face of Naoto Kozuki.

"B...brother?" gasped Kallen, he eyes filled with shock and horror.

As were Ohgi's, but while they had history with Naoto, Lelouch did not and his mind was focused.

"Ohgi, get Kallen out of here," yelled Lelouch, the voice modulator of his mask damaged.

He made one more attempt to blitz the Questing Beast, Naoto, only for him to slam his forearm into Lelouch's ribs with enough force to fracture them. He then quickly grabbed Zero by the broken mask and brought the masked vigilante's masked face to his knee, shattering it and effectively rendering Lelouch unconscious.

Back at the Viceroy palace Euphemia could not help but worry at the thought of her sister, brother, and Suzaku going on the trail of some inhuman monster. She especially couldn't help but worry about Suzaku. Although he had told her it was never his intent to mislead or manipulate her, she knew Cornelia wouldn't so easily forgive a spy. Euphemia didn't even hold it against Suzaku, understanding that at the time she might as well have been an enemy. Of course she had to wonder how much of the kindness he had shown her was an act to protect his cover.

Recalling how they had met, Euphie remembered she hadn't exactly been honest about being a princess. She supposed it was at that time the two of them had very few defenses up between them. They were honest with each other.

She remembered when they came across a conflict between several Japanese men and a few Britannian students that had been making fun of the recent Shinjuku conflict. One of the Japanese had brought up the Eden Elite and that only escalated the conflict before Suzaku came to end it. He had skill and strength that seemed to belong to someone of greater age and experience than what his outward appearance would suggest. It was in that moment Euphie saw a deep sadness and anger inside Suzaku. One that both saddened and frightened her.

After the truth of all things came out Euphie had asked Suzaku about why he even joined the Britannian military. His answer, and his ambitions, made her feel conflicted.

'The Symbol of Fear? An agent of vengeance to strike down the corrupt of the world,' thought Euphie. 'But what constitutes corruption in your eyes Suzaku? How can you judge the hearts of those you do not understand?'

It was a troubling, feeling the vicious ambition he held. When she talked with him alone he was so kind, so gentle, she could not imagine such vicious feelings in such a man.

A soft meowing brought Euphemia out of her thoughts and she saw that Arthur had leaped onto her desk. Suzaku would often take Arthur during the weekends, despite the cat mistaking him for a chew toy, and would leave the kitty with Euphemia.

"Oh Arthur, I must have forgotten to feed you haven't I?" said Euphie.

She picked up the cat in her arms and walked off to get food for Arthur, still thinking about Suzaku.

Suzaku's group had not found any sight of the Questing Beast. Suzaku suddenly felt a buzzing in his pocket.

"Phone call?" asked Dalton, noticing Suzaku reach for his pocket.

"No, it's something Lelouch came up with," said Suzaku, retrieving his phone. "An alert if the structural integrity of his mask is ever compromised. In case his disguise fell apart behind enemy lines."

"You think his group might have found the Beast?" asked Dalton.

"It might even be worse if the Questing Beast does have a Geass

Consciousness was not a blessing to Lelouch, as his eyes began to open up. He looked out before a congregation of Japanese people, all bearing some visible scars on their bodies, kneeling down before him.

However Lelouch realized that they were not kneeling before him, they were kneeling before Naoto, standing half bare before those gathered. Lelouch realized that he was bound to a wooden cross, stripped bare of his disguise. Next to him were Ohgi, Kallen, Tamaki, Inoue, and Viletta, all alive and just as defrocked as he was.

'Humiliation of the enemy, showing your strength by demonstrating our 'weakness',' thought Lelouch.

"Naoto Kozuki," yelled Lelouch, gaining the attention of the cult's leader.

"That name no longer applies to this form," said Naoto.

Lelouch glanced over at Kallen, she was awake, and tears were falling from her eyes.

"Is that why you're forcing this humiliation onto your sister?" asked Lelouch. "It's a terrible thing for a big brother to do. As is faking your death and forcing your own mother to try and kill her."

Naoto struck Lelouch across the face, Lelouch's own Geass enhanced durability protecting him slightly.

"As I said, this form no longer wields the name Naoto Kozuki," said Naoto. "Naoto Kozuki was a man who was sacrificed for my coming."

The scars of his body dictated a story of conflict and pain. The scars of his rebellion against Britannia.

"Is that what we're here for now?" asked Lelouch. "Are we to be sacrificed for you, Questing Beast?"

"Yes," said Naoto. "For you are all...impure."

Lelouch looked around the room once again and saw the people with scars.

"Is it because we don't have scars as you do?" asked Lelouch, beginning to deduce his ideology.

"Because you have not suffered," said Naoto. "As Naoto Kozuki suffered, his body burned by Britannian flames, and through that suffering he saw...the power."

'His Geass,' thought Lelouch.

"The great red light," Naoto continued. "Bestowing power that allowed my birth."

Lelouch looked directly at Naoto and focused his Geass towards his mind. However when he did he found more resistance than he could have expected. There was a push back coming from Naoto's mind. Naoto seemed to notice this as his own eyes glowed brightly with Geass.

Lelouch suddenly began to feel a primal, animal rage build up inside him, one that was not his own.

"You feel it do you not?" asked Naoto. "The fury, the power, the lust. This gift is not for you. Cease your forcing and I shall do the same. You wish to know of my power, do you not?"

Feeling his struggle waning Lelouch deactivated his Geass as did his opponent. Lelouch suddenly felt a greater exhaustion than he usually felt from using his Geass. Naoto then looked over his congregation and activated his Geass once more. The mass of people suddenly began to show red rings around their eyes. Naoto stretched out his hand and pointed at a follower who seemed to hold no scars, and no red ring around his eyes. The poor fool must have been some desperate Japanese person looking for salvation, and finding none as the crowd of people swarmed over him like wild hogs.

Lelouch and the other Black Knights could only look on in horror as the man screamed loudly as he was being torn apart by the swarm, tearing off flesh and bone with almost inhuman strength.

"So...that's what your Geass is isn't it?" asked Lelouch, recalling the effects he once felt. "You strip away the humanity of those you use it on. You incite a primal, animal rage. The respond to you because you're the alpha. They're not even human any more, just animals under control of an even greater animal."

"They are pure," said Naoto. "Their suffering under Britannia has led them to me. And through me they have found greater power, greater freedom, and greater strength."

"Strength similar to ours," said Lelouch. "Enhanced strength and durability as a result of the power we wield. Not as strong as ours but I'm willing to bet they'd be effective none the less as a horde."

"A false god cannot pretend to know the mind of a true deity," said Naoto.

"Oh so you're God now? Damn it Naoto, you traitor," yelled Tamaki.

"Traitor? The Questing Beast is, as was noble Naoto, a proud son of Japan," said Naoto. "I seek the salvation of our nation. Through the path of our suffering, forced onto us by Britannia, we shall become more powerful than they could possibly hope to control. More powerful than any could hope to control. For we have endured, we have survived, and bear proudly the badges of our courage on our flesh. They have failed to destroy us."

"And that which does not kill me makes me stronger," said Lelouch. "I know Nietzsche as well. I think I see the twisted madness you're trying to pass as logic. Convince the Japanese that the suffering they've endured will make them into a race of supermen, your own power acting as the supposed proof of this. You attract the desperate and the downtrodden, promising them a form of salvation, but really you're stripping them of the one thing Britannia could never take away: their humanity."

Naoto got in close to Lelouch's face, their eyes locked.

"I have watched you...Zero," said Naoto. "Could a mere human do as you have done? Against Britannia, can a human truly hope to have any victory. Only by overcoming our humanity, by becoming more than mere mortal, can the Japanese hope to stand tall in this world. Only through me, through the power I was rewarded with from my suffering, can they hope to achieve this...divinity."

"Your idea of divinity sounds more like damnation," said Lelouch.

Naoto struck Lelouch again, only for Lelouch to laugh.

"Nothing but sheer brute strength," said Lelouch. "You really are a Beast."

"I am the Questing Beast," growled Naoto, grabbing Lelouch by the throat. "The omen that will foretell doom for the kingdom of Britannia."

"The Questing Beast is also a symbol of incest," groaned Lelouch. "Is that why you've stripped your own sister? Is that why you tried to have your own mother kill her? To avoid the temptation?"

Naoto growled deeply like an animal, offering Lelouch just the distraction he needed. He activated his Geass and with the enhanced strength broke from his bonds and struck Naoto across the bow of his face. Freeing his other arm Lelouch tackled Naoto and they both fell into the congregation. Naoto's Geass was still active, and the crowd began to swarm Lelouch. Unlike the man they had torn apart, Lelouch was more powerful, able to hold off many of the people who tried to tear him apart.

"You...false one," yelled Naoto. "Shall be sacrificed for the glory of the Questing Beast and to pave the way for the coming of a new Japan."

Lelouch continued to struggle off against the horde as Naoto began walking past him and through his followers and back onto the stage he had build for himself and his show of power.

Lelouch noticed how he appeared to leer towards the women, and Lelouch caught the look of fear and heartbreak in Kallen's eyes, and a deep rage filled Lelouch's mind. He then focused on Naoto's congregation and with all his will forced his desire upon their broken minds. Like a raging tsunami, the sheer power of Lelouch's will broke through the shattered minds of the fools whom Naoto had ensnared.

They broke off their assault of him and following Lelouch's will they charged at their former master. Like a cornered animal Naoto struck out at the first charging person, breaking the poor fool's neck instantly. And just as Lelouch struggled despite his enhanced strength, so did Naoto struggle against the sheer number of people as they forced him away from the Black Knights. With Naoto distracted by his turned followers Lelouch went to his allies. He broke their restraints and motioned for them to escape.

"Try and find Cornelia or Suzaku's groups," said Lelouch. "I'll take care of...the Beast."

"But..."

"Kallen go," yelled Lelouch.

Kallen shuttered at the volume and ferocity of his voice. He did not like that he had to be so rough with her, but she was too emotionally compromised to stay in this situation. Ohgi caught on Lelouch's logic and grabbed Kallen, forcing her along with the others while Lelouch turned back to face the crowd. Naoto seemed to increase in savagery as he began tearing his former betas apart. His Geass shining eyes seemed to shine an even angrier shade of red. As such many of the people Lelouch had turned were now being turned back against him.

Lelouch responded in kind, forcing his will back against the horde. Naoto did the same, attempting to turn even more of his former congregation against Lelouch.

It became apparent as the people, torn between two psychic commands, began writhing in pain, their free will completely shattered as the two wills battled over their minds. Blood began pouring out of their eyes, noses, ears, and mouths. Their bodies shook and flailed, like puppets whose handles were fighting over the controls their strings were attached to.

"Questing Beast!" yelled Lelouch, forcing more and more of his blazing desire into his Geass.

"Zero!" yelled Naoto, doing the same with his savage hatred.

The whole room began to glow an unnatural red, blood now beginning to pour of the eyes of the respective Geass users. The screams of the horde were echoing throughout the sewers. And as the two men yelled out in their brutal desires, the red light only grew in intensity until for all in the chamber there was nothing but red.

From their penthouse hideout Mao and Rolo doubled over, vomiting and clutching their heads.

"Dear god," cried Mao.

"What...what can this be?" cried Rolo.

C.C's body was quivering in both pain and pleasure, the symbol of the Code burning bright on her forehead.

"Foolish boy," she groaned as she flailed on the floor of Nunnally's bedroom.

In her bed Nunnally herself began to twist in turn in anguish.

Far off in Britannia, Emperor V.V clutched his hand, the symbol of the Code branded on the palm, glowing like fire.

"My dear nephew," he groaned. "Now you begin to understand."

In a secluded part of the world, Marianne heaved heavily, the symbol of Code burning on her chest, tears flowing from her eyes like a biblical flood.

"My poor child," she moaned. "Now you can never go back."

Upon his arrival to Area 11, Rai was greeted with pain.

"My god...not so soon," he cried out, deep from within his Knightmare.

Lelouch gasped as he found himself standing naked in a white void.

"What...where...where am I?" he asked.

Lelouch turned, hoping to find something, anything in his empty void.

"Is anyone there?" he cried out.

Suddenly a large, blazing symbol of Geass appeared before him. Before Lelouch could respond he suddenly found himself bathed in the crimson light. It felt as if he had been launched throughout space as images began appearing before him, both fast and slow. Images of his past and images he did not recognize, possibly of his future.

And just as it was when he first met C.C he saw things of the past, not his own, that he could not understand. He saw great structures and legions of people, all bearing the symbol of Geass in some way or form. He saw unusual and monstrous figures. He saw war and death on a scale he could not comprehend. In truth he could comprehend none of it as it went so fast, faster than even his brilliant mind could keep up with.

He saw images of two men he did not know writhing in pain, he saw C.C do the same as well as Nunnally turning in her sleep, he saw his hated uncle clutching his hand in pain, he saw his mother who wore beautiful robes and wore a Code much like C.C did heave on the floor breathing heavily and sweating profusely, and he saw another man he did not know with silver hair gripping his head from inside a Knightmare Frame.

"Stop...stop...STOP!" Lelouch yelled.

And indeed it all seemed to stop and he was in the void again. He then began to hear the sound of a woman weeping. He tried to pinpoint the sound but there was nothing in the void. He turned again only to find he was no longer in a void. He was in a private shower room and he found the source of the weeping. It was Kallen, huddled into a ball as water poured down on her.

"Kallen," said Lelouch.

She didn't respond, as if he were a phantom. He did not know when or where this was but that didn't seem to matter to him at this moment. At this moment all he wished to do was place a hand on Kallen's shoulder and offer her some comfort. It was like that dream he had. He didn't know why these dreams seemed to focus on her so much. He didn't know why she was so special. No, he knew why she was special. She was like him, a child whose family had been destroyed by the advent of V.V, and the influence of Geass.

It was a pain that would break most people. But not her, not him, they were to of a kind.

Lelouch awoke, finding darkness instead of endless white, with faint bits of light. However he could feel sensation, he was cold and wet. However the sweet smell of soaps and scented candles, the source of the small lights, told him he was no longer in the sewer. He felt a cloth over his left eye, realizing that he could only see darkness from it. He went to remove the cloth but a hand caught his gently.

"Foolish boy, don't rush yourself," said the voice of C.C.

Lelouch felt around with his hands and realized that she was resting in between C.C's legs.

"C.C?" said Lelouch, realizing how tired he truly sounded. "What...what happened...where am I?"

"You're in the Viceroy Palace," said C.C.

"Kallen...Ohgi...did..."

"They're alright," said C.C. "Suzaku followed the trail from your broken mask and the tracers you had sewn into your suit to find the Questing Beast's lair. He met up with Kallen and the others. Outside of a hot bath and some light first aid they're none the worse for wear."

"What happened?" asked Lelouch.

"You experienced what it truly means to fight with Geass," said C.C. "You and the Questing Beast were fighting to gain control over the people he had down there. Two powerful Geass abilities clashing in such a reckless way caused a backlash that anyone related to the Geass would be caught in agonizing pain. Thank you very much for that."

"I saw that," said Lelouch. "I...I saw that I saw...I saw two others, people I didn't know. I saw V.V and I...I saw my mother. She had a symbol like yours. She is alive."

"Alive, yes and bound to stay that way for a good long while," said C.C, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"I saw other things too...I...I..."

"You're still reeling from the backlash," said C.C. "Right now you need to focus on healing."

"What about Naoto...the Questing Beast?" asked Lelouch.

"No one found him," said C.C. "All they found was you lying unconscious among several corpses."

"The people he gathered...they're dead?" asked Lelouch.

"Yes," said C.C. "Killed by your reckless struggle. It was a great blood mess."

Lelouch felt himself shutter as C.C massaged his temples.

"Rest," said C.C. "You're lucky I'm experienced in dealing with such foolish children such as you."

"Wait...is Kallen alright?" asked Lelouch.

C.C was silent for a moment.

"She's resting," said C.C. "She's had a long day. Now rest."

Lelouch was too exhausted to argue and did as the witch said.

Euphie couldn't help but pace around her office. News of the results of the recent operation, her half-brother lying wounded, and all those dead had shaken her to her core. Her sister was dealing with her the team and as such she hadn't heard anything else on the subject. Not even from Suzaku, which only made the princess worry even more.

"Sub-Viceroy?" a voice called over the intercom, breaking Euphie out of her thoughts.

"Yes?" asked Euphie, pressing down on the machine.

"We've apprehended a suspicious man who assaulted several guards before surrendering. He's in custody but is demanding to speak with you and Princess Cornelia," the soldier on the other end said.

Euphie didn't know what to make of this. All she could do was hope that this wasn't the makings of another crisis.

"Has this man said anything else?" asked Euphie.

"Only something about...Geass," said the soldier.

Crawling away from the bloody end, the man known once as Naoto Kozuki slumped from the pipe he had crawled through, falling into the daylight. He crawled thought the sand towards the ocean, acting on sheer animal instincts.

As he crawled to the shore, letting the ocean tide wash over him, his strength completely spent. He was about the fall into unconsciousness when two pairs of boots came into view.

Straining to look up Naoto saw a Chinese man and a Britannian boy, both with symbols in their eyes.

The mood around the Viceroy palace was somewhat uneasy. For the resistance cell Lelouch started with, realizing that the Beast they were hunting was their former leader, it was a devastating blow to their moral. For Suzaku, Cornelia, and the her men, the issue was the bloodbath that had found Lelouch in. The bodies of Naoto's followers were strewn across the floor with their skulls blown open and brain matter all over the chamber.

It was like something from a horror film. It left Cornelia with questions she desperately wanted answers to. However the Witch would not answer her. At the time Cornelia merely brushed it aside as healing Lelouch took precedence over her questions.

"If this is what happens when Geass User's do battle then we need to know more about the damn power," said Cornelia. "For all we know this Geass could be the very source of my damned uncle's power."

"Oh then we're going to be facing an army of freaks," groaned Tamaki, well into the drinks offered in Cornelia's private lounge. "That'll be a great pitch for the Kyoto Group."

"You will not take that tone in the presence of Princess Cornelia," said Guilford.

"Oh screw her," yelled Tamaki. "I just saw one of my best friends come back as a fucking monster and this whole damn thing ended in a bloodbath."

"I thought you desired the freedom of your nation. Are you really this easily frightened?" asked Guilford.

"That's enough, both of you," said Viletta. "This is hardly the time to fight."

"She's right," said Ohgi, on the bar next to Tamaki. "We're more than a little agitated. I'm not happy about this Naoto thing either. And I'm scared about how little we know about Geass. But right now we need to calm down, regroup, and be rational. We can go to the Kyoto Group and give them our findings. If anything the Beast's cult is wiped out so even if Naoto is still alive he's alone. That lessens the threat he poses to them."

"Of course this depends on whether or not we're willing to let anyone outside the circle of command know about Geass," said Cornelia. "I'd like to know more about Geass. But that damn witch won't budge."

As if on cue Euphie came into the lounge, followed by Suzaku who held a young man in handcuffs. He had silver hair and blue eyes. But most damning was the uniform he wore. A dark suit that held a large crimson symbol of Geass.

"Who is this?" asked Cornelia to her sister.

"He assaulted several guards and demanded to see us," said Euphie. "He said he has information about Geass."

"More than mere information," said the young man.

"Who are you?" asked Cornelia.

"I am Rai Hodges, I am a warrior of the Geass Order," he said plainly.

This gained the attention of everyone in the room.

"I am here on orders from the immortal lady M.M, whom you knew as Marianne Lamperouge," said Rai.

It took a few days for Lelouch to get back on his feet. He would hold a patch over his eye for a few more days. He tried to find out what was going on with the Black Knights during his recovery time, only for his older sister to block him and tell him to focus on his recovery.

'I forgot how much of a pain it can be to be the younger sibling,' thought Lelouch.

Lelouch was thus left to his own devices at the his manor. Nunnally seemed to be caught up in her own activities, just as well as Lelouch dreaded the answers he'd get if he were to ask of why C.C had been in her room in his vision.

She and their guardians had taken the Student Council on a resort trip to make up for their hostage crisis that ruined their last trip. This allowed Lelouch time alone to himself to recover. However it didn't seem he would be entirely alone. Kallen didn't go, her cover story of her illness serving as her alibi. With nothing better to do Lelouch decided to call Kallen over, if only just to hang out, pretend to be real people.

"It doesn't feel real," said Kallen, sitting across Lelouch, placing her tea cup down on the saucer. "I thought my brother was dead only to find that he's alive and is a monster."

"We still don't know the full story," said Lelouch. "We don't know who or what even gave him his Geass. There's still so many holes."

Kallen didn't say anything merely looking down into the cup.

"I don't understand a lot of this," said Lelouch, taking her hand in hers. "But I will get answers. But...Kallen your brother has to be taken down. He's a threat to us and to civilians. He has to be stopped."

"I know," Kallen said sadly, tears falling from her eyes, tightening her grip on Lelouch's hands. "I just...I'm just so confused. I blamed Britannia for my brother's death, my mother's madness, it was all the justification I had for turning my back on my Britannian heritage. What do I have to justify it now that it's all a lie."

"It's not a lie Kallen," said Lelouch. "Britannia under V.V is a corruption that needs to be destroyed. It's oppression of Japan is very real. It's not vengeance your after, you see the injustice and you want to fight it. The true tragedy is that your brother has become a part of that injustice. Even if he is not connected to V.V, he is an agent of chaos who needs to be defeated for the sake of peace."

"But he's not wrong is he?" asked Kallen. "About suffering giving us power?"

"The endurance of suffering can make a person stronger," said Lelouch, recalling the fear and terror his uncle had put him and his family through. "But it is wrong to force suffering onto people. And the Japanese want to be treated as human beings, Naoto's power would strip away their humanity, it would be worse than what V.V. has done.".

"I know but...I just feel so weak," said Kallen. "Like...like I'm supposed to be stronger than this. I'm not supposed to break and fall apart like some foolish girl."

"It's not weak of you to feel this way," said Lelouch. "It's human to feel this way."

"Do you even think you are human Lelouch?" asked Kallen. "Your powers, the things you and Naoto can do, it's more than human. Shouldn't that make me even more pathetic to you?"

"My powers are just tools to meet my desired end," said Lelouch. "It's no different from what you are able to do in a Knightmare Frame. I'd almost say that makes you more than human as well."

Kallen blushed slightly at Lelouch's tone and Lelouch smiled. He then decided to risk fate.

"Tell me about your home Kallen," he said. "About your life with your mother and brother before the invasion. Please."

Kallen, feeling the need just to talk more, gave Lelouch a few details about her life before Japan became Area 11, and before Naoto became the Questing Beast. She smiled brightly at happy memories, but her happiness also brought tears. Lelouch offered her a handkerchief to wipe away her tears.

"Now..."

Kallen hiccuped slightly before wiping her tears.

"Hold on," said Lelouch, reaching into his pocket. "Here, I noticed you lost this in the sewers."

He handed her a new red headband which she took gently. She fixed the headband to her head and even feathered her hair in the back.

"Tell me about your home Lelouch," she said, with what might have been love in her eyes.

Rai had been kept as a 'guest' of Cornelia. A guest under close observation who was often brought into an interrogation room. He was kept retrained when in that room, with two soldiers pointing their weapons at him.

"Is this truly necessary?" asked Rai.

"I've come to realize that it is wise not to take chances with Geass," said Cornelia.

"Fairly wise," said Rai.

"If you really did come on Lady Marianne's orders then where is she?" asked Cornelia.

"If she also felt the strength of the backlash she will have no choice but to come here soon," said Rai. "The Lady M.M wished to keep a safe distance from her son. She feared he was not ready to learn the truth."

"And what truth is that?" asked Cornelia.

"Not one for me to tell," said Rai. "My only orders are to help Lelouch deal with the others in Japan."

"There are others?" gasped Cornelia.

"Two agents from your uncle V.V," said Rai. "From the Eden Elite."

Cornelia growled deeply, both out of the confirmation that her uncle's Eden Elite were indeed powered by Geass, explaining their inhuman skill in battle, and that two Eden Elite agents had gotten to the island nation without her knowledge.

"They would have felt the backlash from Lelouch's fight with the rogue," said Rai. "And if anything they will be searching for him. Things in Japan are going to be very dangerous from here on out."

In the adjourning room where Ohgi, Suzaku, Euphemia, Guilford, Dalton, and C.C stood silent, only the witch was not shocked.

"He's right," said C.C.

"What the hell is going on C.C?" yelled Ohgi. "What is the Geass Order? Why is the Eden Elite comprised of Geass enhanced soldier? What the hell is going on?"

"What's going on is that this is no longer a fight for the independence of Japan, or even to overthrow V.V," said C.C.

"Then what kind of fight is this?" growled Suzaku.

"In one word," said C.C, "Ragnarok."