8 Chapter Eight: Power and Consequences

Cornelia had demanded Lelouch return to school on time early that morning. Although he was a superhuman resistance leader he was still a high school student and she refused to allow him to shirk his education. Her adamant will and demanding presence had as much an effect on him as he imagined his Geass did on other as Lelouch returned to his schooling, with Kallen and Suzaku in tow, Cornelia decided to lead the interrogation of Mao, planning to enjoy herself as she did. She stood beside her knights Guilford and Dalton, as well as Lelouch's second-in-command Kaname Ohgi and the leader of the Four Holy Swords Kyoshiro Tohdoh.

However when they got to Mao's cell, the mind reader was lying dead with foam at the mouth. Dalton picked up Mao's head and opened his mouth, finding a gap in his wisdom teeth.

"False tooth, cyanide," said Dalton.

"Coward," cursed Cornelia, denied of her vengeance.

"Training," said Ohgi. "As to not divulge the secrets of his master. Complete willingness to give up his life. The Eden Elite isn't just an army, they're a cult. A cult we can't get any more info on at this moment. And C.C isn't helpful in the slightest."

"True," said Dalton. "So what do we do with this bastard now?"

"I'd suggest mailing him piece by piece back to the Usurper," said Cornelia. "But for all we know my demon uncle will find some way to resurrect him as some Frankenstein-like monster. "

"I don't think it would be appropriate to joke of such matters," said Tohdoh. "It very well might be true. We should cremate the body."

"Or freeze it," said Ohgi.

"Excuse me?" asked Cornelia.

"You might have been onto something," said Ohgi. "We can't get any information from Mao but the Geass Order could."

"I'll admit this Geass business seems to do impossible things for those who have it but do you seriously believe they can get a corpse to speak?" asked Dalton.

"We don't know what they can do?" asked Ohgi. "But to be fair we don't know what the Eden Elite can do. Given the evidence we've been given so far all I can guess is that the Order and the Eden Elite are both involved with Geass. Most likely one is a splinter group of the other. They could have similar secrets."

"And the Order might be able to tell us secrets of the Eden Elite we never even knew to ask," said Tohdoh. "Of course that depends on if the Geass Order can be trusted."

"True," said Ohgi.

Cornelia grimaced and her eyes narrowed. Ohgi caught this and sought to make peace.

"That's not to say I don't think Marianne could be untrustworthy per say," said Ohgi. "But C.C has refused to say anything and Lelouch never truly followed up on his questioning of Rai after his mother was mentioned. It might be best if we tried pressing Rai, without Lelouch."

"You're suggesting we operate behind your leader's back?" asked Tohdoh.

"Lelouch can't think clearly when his mother is involved," said Ohgi. "He stops thinking like Zero and starts thinking like the boy who desperately wants to see his mother again. We need to be objective about this. If Marianne is a potential enemy..."

"What reason would Lady Marianne have to bring harm to her own children?" yelled Cornelia.

"I'm not saying she would bring harm to Lelouch and Nunnally," said Ohgi. "I'm sorry princess, but my first duty is to the liberation of Japan. I just want to know if that will be guaranteed by a potential ally or if I'm going to be switching one oppressor for another."

Cornelia wanted to argue the matter further but the rational soldier part of her knew Ohgi was simply being practical.

"We're not dealing with ordinary warfare, I think we can all agree on that here and now," said Ohgi. "Mind control, mind reading, time stopping, and damn immortality. We're playing with the fire of the gods and we cannot by any means be reckless. We need answers and we need them as soon as possible."

"Such as why only send two soldiers when V.V has an entire army at his disposal? Or why not destroy all of Charles's children in the same manner he's tried to destroy the ones born from Marianne? V.V has an agenda and it may only take someone versed in the darkness of Geass to tell us what that might be," said Tohdoh.

"Well like you've said C.C and Rai aren't very helpful in that regard so what exactly do you propose?" asked Guilford.

"We go straight to the source," said Ohgi. "We need to meet with Marianne before she meets with Lelouch."

"Not the best option," said Guilford. "Lady Marianne was one of the fiercest fighters Britannia had ever known. In or out of a Knightmare Frame. Not the kind of a woman you want as an enemy."

"Especially if she's is connected to Geass," said Dalton. "We have no idea what kind of abilities she may have access to."

"I'm inclined to agree," said Tohdoh. "A mother's fury is nothing to tempt."

"Alright, alright, we'll put a pin in it for now," said Ohgi. "Anyway we have other issues to deal with. We need to start building up a reliable information network. Also it wouldn't hurt to figure out the best way to announce the Alliance when we're at full strength. Even if V.V isn't the most popular, public opinion is still an important aspect."

"I think I knew a guy," said Dalton.

"Think he'll support the cause?" asked Ohgi.

"His loyalty is to the story he can tell," said Dalton. "And the story of a thought dead prince rebelling against his cruel Usurper of an uncle, armed with superhuman powers, and uniting the forces of two nations is just juicy enough that Deithard Reid will shoot his own mother is we ask him to."

"Considering what Lelouch can do I wouldn't joke to much about things like that," said Tohdoh.

"Fair enough," said Dalton, still laughing. "I'll get in contact with Reid and arrange a meeting."

"Fine, let's do this quickly," said Ohgi.

He and Dalton began to leave but before he did, Ohgi turned back to Cornelia.

"I know you only want what's best for your brother Cornelia," said Ohgi. "But what's best for Lelouch might not always be what's best for the cause. Just keep that in mind."

"I will not willingly keep him from reuniting with Lady Marianne," said Cornelia. "Nor will I operate behind his back. Keep that in mind."

A small sneeze escaped the nose and mouth of the woman across the tiny figure seated before her.

"Oh dear, I do apologize Empress," said Marianne.

"Is everything alright Miss Marianne?" asked Empress of the Chinese Federation, Tianzi.

"I believe there are people talking about me," said Marianne. "I'm quite popular to friend and foe alike."

The small royal's orange eyes merely blinked in confusion. There was so much about the elegant woman that was a mystery to her. But she figured that was natural given the power and grace Marianne had radiated when she first met her. She appeared to the young girl the closest thing to a goddess that one could imagine. How else could even the High Eunuchs be made to heel before her.

"Now then I believe I must take my leave soon I'm sad to say," said Marianne.

"Oh please no," begged Tianzi. "You've been so wonderful Miss Marianne."

"Oh sweetie don't worry it won't be forever," said Marianne, taking the young girl's hand in hers. "But I miss my children and they will need me. But don't worry, I'm not leaving you alone. Anya will be here to keep you company. Won't you Anya?"

"Yes Lady M.M" said the girl Anya, a young woman with pink hair and eyes bearing the uniform of a Geass warrior.

"I'm sure you two will be good friends," said Marianne. "And I promise to introduce you to my daughter Nunnally. Soon enough you'll have more friends than you'll know what to do with."

Tianzi smiled widely at the idea of having so many friends, her life being spent in the palace as if she were a doll in a box, but then Marianne had come into her life. She was like a mother to the young empress and she opened her eyes to so many new things.

The raven haired woman left the empress to tea with the pink haired girl and she eventually came to stand with a man with long dark hair.

"She's such a darling isn't she?" Marianne said about the Empress.

"Indeed she is," said the man, Li Xingke. "I cannot thank you enough for...whatever you had done to the Eunuchs."

"They were just a little too big for their britches," said Marianne. "And although I do love to help such a sweetheart as Tianzi, I must be fairly adamant about certain arrangements made during my stay."

"My word is my bond Lady Marianne," said Xingke. "I will not go against it. Even thought it all seems..."

"Unnatural?" Marianne asked with a bright smile. "I know it's all so strange. But fear not I will reveal all the secrets you'll need once you swear yourself to my son's cause."

"Of course," said Xingke.

"And if it's not too much trouble could you escort Miss Rhakshata to Japan, as well as this," said Marianne, pulling an envelope from her dress. "For my son and daughter."

"Of course, I will handle it personally," said Xingke.

Marianne gave a final bow and then turned to leave with her escort, including a tall man with black and grey hair and sewn eye, all bearing the mark of Geass, while Xingke stood next to several of his own allies. While they did still remain uneasy about this foreign woman and her 'magic', they could not deny the debt owed to her. Her trickery had helped them avoid what most likely would have been a bloody conflict with the Eunuchs. Among other not so small miracles that placed them in her debt. As the shining symbol of Geass in Xingke's eyes represented.

A brief history of the Ashford family could place their current woes, as many of the woes of Britannia, to the day V.V seized the throne. As he held a vendetta against Marianne and her allies, the Ashford family counted among those numbered, and were faced with the same and disgrace of being cast out of the aristocracy. Considering V.V's ruthlessness one could consider this a relatively light sentence. However for Milly's parents it was worse than death and they had resorted to making certain deals to attempt to regain some of the power, wealth, and influence they once had. Using the best collateral they could for whom their loans were offered for, their only daughter Milly.

It was not uncommon in V.V's Britannia. Families who had been cast down by the Emperor would often offer up their children in return for just a taste of what they had once lost. They were no better than the ravenous hordes of Refrain addicts, scrambling for the drug that offered them a return to happier times, only those who sought Refrain didn't stoop so low as to cell their own children into relative slavery. So really it was the addicts who were better than people like her parents.

It was an inevitable fate for Milly, especially since she was now a true woman. The brutal loan master, or mistress as the case were, had been steadily increasing the price her parents were forced to pay. It wouldn't be long until Milly lost her freedom forever. At best she only had one year with her beloved friends, her only true family, before she was to be offered up as payment. As such she had been dedicated to having as much fun as she could to make up for the years of misery she was destined to endure after everything fell through. She'd use any excuse to throw a party just to see the smiles of the people she loved. People like shy Nina, lovelorn Shirley, gentle Nunnally, prideful Lelouch, and new friends like the courageous Suzaku or the mysterious Kallen. But most of all she hoped seeing goodhearted Rivalz smile would make up for denying him for so long. While she knew he often considered himself coming up short when pared with men like Lelouch, Milly honestly found him more charming than most other boys. He had an innocence about him that always seemed to survive. There were rainy days when she half expected him to sing just to show the rain that it couldn't dampen his spirits. If her life was hers to decide she would accept his feelings. But she was finished, she had no prayers of salvation, and it was unfair to Rivalz to have him love her only to have her be sent away to live under her debtor's thumb. She feared that would have killed his happy spirit forever and she couldn't allow that.

Now it appeared she didn't have to worry about that at all. He had simply been killed.

"Milly? What's the matter?" asked the voice of Lelouch.

Milly looked up, her eyes red from the tears she was shedding. She saw the ever aloof and dateless Lelouch holding hands with Kallen, a girl with secrets Milly had hoped to talk with her about. While normally Milly would jump all over them, hoping the squeeze juicy information she could use against Lelouch in her ongoing war of torment on him, she couldn't say anything.

As the other members of the Student Council came in and all gave worried looks when they saw Milly's face, it only made tears fall faster.

"Rivalz...he's...he's dead," she said.

Lelouch had expected the usual hell Milly would give him once she saw that the infamous untouchable prince of Ashford Academy had finally taken a girl to be his princess, knowing she'd enjoy the hidden truths of such a title. He had already seen the hateful glares from both male and female students, half pointed towards him and the other half pointed towards Kallen.

It honestly made Lelouch wish he was rather facing the whole of the Eden Elite than endure the Ashford student body. But his elder sister had demanded he continue his education, rebel leader or no rebel leader. And the look she had given him, especially when she found him and Kallen asleep in his bed, fully clothed, stripped all resistance from Lelouch's soul. He honestly wondered what was more powerful his Geass or Cornelia's sisterly will.

Either way he was glad to have a moment of peace after dealing with both Naoto and the Eden Elite operatives Mao and Rolo. That notion was shattered when Milly spoke after he found her crying in the clubhouse.

"Rivalz...he's...he's dead," she said.

Lelouch did not want to believe it. When he could not find Rivalz after meeting up with Shirley and Nina on the way to the clubhouse, he thought perhaps he had skipped out on Nunnally's make up trip to go gambling by himself and he was running late. He had not expected this.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, still not believing it.

Subconsciously Lelouch's Geass activated, thankfully only Kallen and Suzaku seemed to catch it, and he willed Milly to tell the truth, having not patience for her humor on such a subject matter as the death of a friend.

"I...I called his mother to ask why he wasn't here," she said, red rings around her eyes, hidden in the red from her tears. "He said...she said he had gone camping in the Narita mountains and apparently there was a training accident with the military and it caused a landslide. Search and rescue teams pulled him out of that...but...but he was gone."

Lelouch was stunned, to think that one of his closest friends had been so close to the recent conflict in which he had earned his first victory against his uncle's forces. It was sickening to think of and Lelouch, despite all his attempts at restraint and attempted indifference, fell to his knees. He could barely even register Kallen's arms wrapping around him in an attempt to offer comfort. Or Suzaku placing his hands on his shoulders in an attempt to do the same. All Lelouch could feel was a sense of numbness he had known only once, when his father had been killed.

Diethard Reid sat in an office across Ohgi, Tohdoh, and Dalton, having been told the story of Lelouch as Zero and the events of recent days.

"Incredible, the son of the favored concubine attempting to resurrect the dead nation of Japan in a bid for revenge against his uncle the Usurper," said Diethard. "The people will eat it up. Especially the idea that their long dead prince has acquired some mystical superhuman power."

"This is serious Diethard," said Ohgi.

"I agree," said Diethard. "I'm simply stating how people enjoy a good story and this has all the narrative elements of a classic Greek epic. The prince denied his throne, seeking vengeance, armed with the powers of a living god, and raising an army in a foreign land. It's a story everyone can get behind and one easily woven, something I am honored to do."

"You understand the consequences that would happen if this information were to reach certain ears correct?" asked Dalton.

"Of course, but rest assured I have no love for the Usurper," said Diethard. "His censorship regulations are squeezing the lifeblood out of my profession. The mad brother of our noble and beloved Emperor Charles must be destroyed. But what gives him power is the fear he and his Eden Elite inspire. Zero has become something of a symbol of rebellion for both Britannians and...Japanese."

"Part of that might be the mystery of who he is," said Ohgi. "They can't tell whether he's Japanese or Britannian in the suit."

"And you're wondering what the knowledge of his true nationality might do for the morale of the Japanese people are you not?" asked Diethard.

"It might be an issue yes," said Ohgi.

"Not so much of an issue if there were a Japanese person who can be raised as a hero and be shown to support Zero despite his true identity," said Deithard. "Perhaps Suzaku Kururugi, the son of Japan's last prime minister."

"I don't think so," said Tohdoh. "Kururugi...no longer considers himself Japanese and his ambitions are...of a different nature."

"What about that girl, Kozuki right? She was quite the pilot and seems to be quite taken with Lelouch," said Dalton. "She was quite effective against an Eden Elite soldier and her skill can allow her to stand out among the rank and file."

"She's also half-Japanese," said Tohdoh. "She could be seen as a bridge between Britannia and Japan. If things were spin in such a manner, right Reid?"

"Indeed, and everyone loves a romance," said Diethard.

Ohgi wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea of exploiting Kallen's feelings for the sake of publicity, but he knew that this was for the good of Japan. And although he cared for her ultimately he had to think of the greater good.

The following day was a blur for Lelouch. He could only think about how his friend was dead. The memories of his and Rivalz's misadventures flooded in. It was even because Rivalz had arranged the match that set him on the same road as C.C's stolen truck that Lelouch even had the power to become Zero. In a way if there had been no Rivalz there would be no Zero and there would be no rising army to battle with V.V.

And now he had been killed in the crossfire of Zero and V.V's war. Lelouch could only sit and stew over his guilt. He managed to get away from Kallen and Suzaku and away from the eyes of Jeremiah and Sayoko. He found his way to the garage Rivalz kept his motorcycle in and slumped into the sidecar he'd sit in whenever the two of them would go out to gamble.

Lelouch had managed to find another hidden bottle of alcohol Rivalz wanted to sneak between the two of them and gulped it down. Once the bottle was finished he got out of the sidecar and angrily threw the bottle to the ground. He then stumbled a bit and the pain only made him angrier. He activated his Geass and slammed his fist into the concrete floor. His enhanced strength and durability managed to crack the floor and leave his hand with some minor stinging. He slammed his fist down again and again. He continued to pointlessly punch the ground just trying to bury his feelings of grief in his own pain. He punched and punched until he felt another hand grab his arm. Looking up he saw Suzaku, his own Geass in his eye. Much like Lelouch's own abilities, Suzaku's physical abilities seemed considerably increased.

"That's enough Lelouch, you're hurting your hand," he said, concern clear in his voice.

Lelouch looked at his hand and saw how bloody it had gotten and the pain he was beginning to finally register suggested a few of his fingers might have been broken. He then looked back at the small hole he had punched into the floor. It looked deep enough to fit his fist down to the wrist into the hole.

He felt a gentle hand on his other shoulder and saw Kallen look at him with tears in her own eyes. Lelouch, no fight left in him, merely slumped down and let his own tears fall.

"It's my fault," said Lelouch. "It's all my fault Rivalz's dead."

"No it isn't Lelouch," said Kallen. "It's Mao and Rolo, they were the ones who brought that mountain down on Rivalz."

"And V.V as well, they were his soldiers," said Suzaku. "It all goes back to him."

Lelouch knew what Kallen and Suzaku were saying was right. But it didn't console Lelouch anymore. All he could think was that his conflict with his uncle had claimed the life of one of his best friends.

'Will this happen again? Will all of the people I care about be put in danger because of my war with V.V?' thought Lelouch. 'Shirley, Nina, Milly? Cornelia has already been placed in danger? Suzaku or...Kallen? Nunnally and mother? Is this the price I have to pay for becoming Zero? Is this the cost of the power of Geass?'

As Lelouch continued to weep and fall into his guilt, his best friend and quite possibly his lover attempting to comfort him, the witch who granted him his power listened in.

On an airship continuing on it's journey, Marianne knelt down in her chamber, a tear coming from her eyes.

"My poor son," she cried. "Oh I wish that there was something I could do to help you?"

A knock on her door gained Marianne's attention. Rising to her feet Marianne beckoned whoever wished to visit her to enter. The door opened and Bismark Waldstein entered.

"My lady, our informants have given us new information in regards to the Eden Elite's actions in Japan," said Bismark.

"What is it?" Marianne asked.

"While Mao and Rolo were the only true soldiers a small science division had been set out as well," said Bismark. "They collected several of the casualties collected from the recent battle."

"For what purpose?" asked Marianne.

"All we've been able to get for now was the project's name Project Rebirth," said Bismark.

Marianne placed her hand to her chin and began to think. Perhaps there was something she could do for her son.

"I want us on an intercept course for those Eden Elite scientists," said Marianne.

"But what about the situation in Europe?" asked Bismark.

"For right now that can wait," said Marianne. "I have not been there to comfort my child for so long. I have to do right by him now if I am to ever hope he will consider me his mother when I finally meet him. Now please, Bismark make the necessary arrangements."

"As you wish my lady," said Bismark with a slight bow.

When he left Marianne sat in a meditative pose, focusing her mind, and reaching out to forces beyond the ken of mortal men, the code on her chest glowing bright red.

Lelouch's hand had been mended by Sayoko. Suzaku and Jeremiah put Lelouch to bed while Kallen sat in the living room, not sure what to do next for him or for their mission.

"Would you like me to prepare a guest room for you Miss Kallen?" asked Sayoko.

"Oh, yes thank you Sayoko," said Kallen.

"I'll be staying here too Sayoko," said Suzaku. "I'll call Euphie later and tell her about what's happened."

"Do you think...he'll be alright?" asked Kallen.

"Lelouch will have to be," said Suzaku. "There's too much at stake for him to be derailed by something like this."

"You sound as if you don't care that Rivalz's dead," hissed Kallen.

"I am upset," growled Suzaku. "Rivalz and I...we became friends really fast. He didn't bat an eye that I was Japanese. We got along so well he even offered to take me gambling with Lelouch at some point. The idea that he was killed by V.V's abominations disgusts me. It wills me with a grief and rage I can barely contain. But I have to focus that anger. I have to take that grief and make it into a weapon that will avenge his death and ensure peace comes to that no one else will die like he did."

Kallen was stunned silent by the intensity and strength behind Suzaku's words. And from up the stairs and behind the corner, Lelouch listened closely, gripping the wrist of his bandaged right hand.

"Lelouch...he can come off as an arrogant prick I know," said Suzaku. "But he's a good and loving person who cares deeply about his friends and family. He'll grieve for a long time I'm sure. But I have no doubt he'll come back from this even more determined to bring justice to his uncle for the crime of Rivalz's death."

"Are...are you sure?" asked Kallen.

"I know Lelouch," said Suzaku, with a light smile. "He might be down for a bit but he's never truly out. He will come back from this. I know it."

From his hidden place Lelouch merely continued to look down at his hand. Back with Kallen and Suzaku, Kallen thought a bit about something she wanted to ask Suzaku for a while.

"Suzaku...do you...like the fighting?" she asked.

Suzaku's expression appeared to be a fairly neutral one.

"Why would you ask that?" he asked.

"You're ambition, you want to become an assassin who kills the corrupt government leaders of the world, and you Geass...it's one for a combatant," said Kallen. "It almost looks as if you like the violence and don't want to leave it."

"I don't like violence Kallen but...I acknowledge that it is my greatest skill," said Suzaku. "Something I'm beginning to understand about Geass is that it seems to depend on a person's personality. Lelouch was a prince, he was raised to lead and command other people. So it's only natural that Lelouch has the power to command other people. His physical abilities also fit with how a king needs to be versed in the arts of combat. I'm a soldier, trained as a warrior for years, it's only natural that my Geass be one to benefit my fighting skills. I even think my physical enhancements might be stronger than Lelouch's simply because combat is my primary function."

"You sound like you're more a weapon than a human," said Kallen.

"I guess I do," Suzaku chuckled nervously. "But what I'm trying to say is that I've made peace with my skill as a fighter and a killer. But I don't like the fighting, I don't like having to kill, but I know it's the best method for destroying the evils of this world that I have. I don't have the charm and charisma Lelouch has as a leader so I really don't think I'm fit to lead. If all I can do is fight then I will at least use that to try and bring about peace. I will become a symbol of fear for the evils of this world so they will not be tempted to carry out their evil desires and choose goodness if they want to avoid my blade."

"And what about Lelouch?" asked Kallen. "If he were to become Emperor then would he be on your radar for if he became a tyrant? Would you...kill him?"

Suzaku said nothing, he merely looked down at the table. From his hidden position Lelouch could only stare at his hand and wonder about that question himself.

The funeral for Rivalz was a small and intimate affair. Lelouch and the rest of the student council was there, as was Rivalz's mother. Really there was no one else who came to say goodbye to the young man. It was a closed casket funeral, saying that the body had been too mangled for anyone to see, and was over fairly quickly.

Suzaku opted to leave on his own. But when he did he noticed a black car following him from the graveyard. Turning sharply Suzaku drew his gun on the vehicle and demanded the occupants exit.

"That's a warm way to greet your cousin," said a young feminine voice from the back as the door opened.

Suzaku recognized it instantly.

"Kaguya?" he asked, looking for confirmation.

"That's me," the girl said as she exited the car.

It had been years but indeed it was her. Long dark hair and green eyes much like the ones he had. She dressed elegantly to the point one might consider her Japanese royalty, and she tended to act as such too. Although hers had been something of an honorary position in the Kyoto Group Kaguya had none the less made herself known and active.

"What are you doing here?" asked Suzaku, holstering his weapon.

"I was hoping to talk to you about Zero," said Kaguya.

"Couldn't you wait until tomorrow?" asked Suzaku. "Neither Zero or I are in any mood to..."

"I'm sorry, I realize that this is hardly opportune yes," said Kaguya. "But if you'd like to talk about your problems over a glass of tea I'm more than willing to listen."

Suzaku thought about her request, and about the past the two of them had. They always got along well as children. When Lelouch and Nunnally stayed with his family Kaguya would often visit and play with Nunnally. She'd also chase Lelouch around the house, saying one day she'd be his wife, much to his chagrin and to Suzaku's enjoyment.

He then thought about the trouble of the recent days. It would be nice to talk such things over with the few family he had left.

"I'd like that," said Suzaku.

The Chinese Embassy had reached out to the Viceroy Palace claiming to have knowledge of Cornelia's alliance with Zero, as well as the arrival of the Guren's creator the Indian scientist Rakshata Chawal.

Deciding to deal with this in person, hoping that this wasn't another crisis, and brought along Ohgi and Tohdoh since apparently their alliance was already known. The question of how the Chinese knew of such a thing was an answer they all desperately wanted.

Despite Ohgi wanting to let Kallen mourn during her friend's funeral she, as the pilot of the Guren, was requested to come by the machine's creator and as such there had been a car to summon her from he funeral. Lelouch didn't come, staying at the graveyard.

'Lelouch, I hope you'll be alright,' thought Kallen, trying to stand alongside Cornelia and the others.

She had been given a red Chinese style dress to change into in exchange from her funeral dress, as well as two hair buns, all to make her seem more presentable to the visiting dignitaries and the Guren's maker.

'I feel more like a damn sideshow not a soldier,' thought Kallen.

The group waited in the courtyard until finally a Chinese official with long dark hair and the Indian woman came out of the building. Before getting their polite greetings out of the way the curious alliance soldiers noticed the mark in the Chinese man's eyes.

"I'm judging by your expressions you're familiar with this mark," said the man, Li Xingke.

"And I'm guessing it has something to do with how you're aware of our alliance with Zero isn't it?" asked Ohgi.

"Indeed," said Xingke, pulling out an envelope from his pocket and handing it to Cornelia. "And this is for Zero."

It was addressed to Lelouch and Nunnally, in Marianne's handwriting.

"Lady...Marianne?" gasped Cornelia.

"As I knew her she was addressed as M.M by the people of her Order," said Xingke. "She has done my nation a great service as well as...a personal service to myself. In honor of her we of the Chinese Federation, under the authority of my Empress, are prepared should Zero wish to propose an alliance between our nation and your coalition."

Cornelia could only stand in a stunned silence, as did her peers.

"Now that that's all out of the way, which of you is the pilot of my beloved Guren?" asked Rakshata.

"I...I am," said Kallen, raising her hand.

"Wonderful," said Rhakshata. "You're just the right size for the protective suit I've designed for you. We can do a proper fitting later but I believe it'll work nicely for you. And if anything it'll take that ridiculous Earl of Pudding down a notch."

Staying behind and watching as Rivalz's grave was being filled, Lelouch could only think about why Rivalz had been there. He had refused Nunnally's invitation for a make up hotel visit, apparently he would often go camping by himself. Lelouch asked Rivalz's mother about why he did this and she said Rivalz often didn't feel as if he truly belonged at Ashford, many of the students being of a social class above him, even with those whom he considered friends.

She even said he often felt as if he was a joke as a person when compared with someone like Lelouch. She said it with a tone that was as sharp as a dagger, and twice as painful.

Rivalz always appeared the happiest of Lelouch's friends. Now he had been revealed to be one of the saddest. And Lelouch thought he was being clever by hiding his true identity, Rivalz had managed to fool even the brilliant Lelouch. If there was anything that could boost anyone's esteem of themselves then that would have done it. The sheer knowledge of making the son of an Emperor look like a fool. Only Rivalz was not alive to revel in the joy of such a victory.

'I'm sorry,' Lelouch thought, wishing he had been a better friend to Rivalz, who had been nothing but the best of friends to him.

One of the grave diggers let his shovel slip and strike the coffin, breaking it. The sound was enough break Lelouch out of his thoughts and his anger pushed out his despair. Activating his Geass in fury he mentally screamed at the men to 'Eat Dirt' and the two complied. Lelouch then went over to Rivalz's casket to pull out the shovel. But when he got where it struck he noticed that it appeared to have gone deeper than it should have. He pulled out the shovel and leaped down into the grave. His Geass still active he used his good hand to pull away some of the damaged wood and realized the horrible truth. There was no body in the coffin.

"What?" Lelouch gasped.

In a flash of lightning, both literally and figuratively as the brewing storm began, Lelouch's brilliant mind began working. He thought back to the obituary page Milly had shown him and he saw all the names of the descended. He then recalled all the names of the soldiers that had been KIA after the clash at Narita and the landslide that had resulted. They were the same names listed alongside Rivalz's.

'Something's wrong, something's very wrong,' thought Lelouch, his mind continuing to race.

He pulled out his phone and immediately dialed Cornelia's number. He waited for the dial tone, a theory beginning to form in his mind, until finally he heard his older sister answer.

"Lelouch? I'm glad you called I've got..."

"Whatever you have it needs to wait," said Lelouch. "I you to look up a list of all the soldiers who had been reported killed in the landslide. They're bodies might not even be in their graves."

The absurd theory Lelouch suggested disturbed Cornelia both in its ludicrous nature and its implications. She wondered if Lelouch had gone mad with grief over the loss of his friend but none the less chose to trust her brother. She had the list gathered and arranged for a detail of men to covertly dig up the bodies of her fallen soldiers, hoping she was not dishonoring them on a false reason.

She didn't know what was worse, the fact that Lelouch had been proven right before the night was done, or that her men had been denied their rest.

"My god," she said, looking at all the empty coffins being presented before her.

"This is insane," said Guilford.

"This is monstrous," said Dalton.

"Agreed," said Tohdoh. "Although I had not long ago considered Britannia's military my enemy I none the less respected the courage of her soldiers. They chose to risk their lives for the defense and honor of their homeland and their people. They deserve to rest and this is an unforgivable offense to them."

"Not just them," said Ohgi. "We lost a few Black Knights as well."

The five of them looked at the rows and rows of empty coffins and Cornelia was trembling in fury.

"These men, my men, killed in an ambush by the son of a whore who stripped me naked, now have their rest robbed from them," she growled, anger radiating off of her like heat from a fallen meteor. "I DEMAND TO SEE THE LYING BASTARD WHO LED THE SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS NOW"

"I'm afraid we haven't been able to find any rescue personnel who had been deployed to look into the landslide even after Princess Euphemia gave the order," said Guilford.

"So no official search and rescue operation can be said to have been carried out," said Tohdoh.

"But there are filed documents about an operation being carried out as well as confirmed death certificates for all our lost men, including this Cardemonde boy," said Dalton.

"All faked," said Guilford. "None of this makes sense how could these bodies just vanish and yet still be reported as being recovered?"

"Same way two Eden Elite members were able to sneak into Japan," said Ohgi.

"But what would V.V want with dead bodies?" asked Dalton.

Cornelia grimaced, recalling her earlier remark at her uncle committing some sort of ungodly Frankenstein-like experiments. Now it appeared as if that very well might be the case. At this point with what she had seen, mind readers, mind controllers, time stoppers, and immortals she shouldn't be surprised that such things could be plausible.

The pleasant time he had with his cousin earlier, a time for tea and stories, seemed far away when Suzaku heard the news about Rivalz's coffin being empty. As well as all the missing bodies of the soldiers who had been caught in Mao's landslide.

He knew that this was somehow another plot of V.V's and that Lelouch would be hellbent on finding the reason and cause. Then he would exact a brutal vengeance on the men responsible, and be even more focused on destroying his uncle for defiling his friend's body. Suzaku shared Lelouch's fury about it all. But Suzaku felt there was something amiss by the idea of Zero, who was out to become a symbol of hope and justice for both Japanese and Britannians, carrying out a mad vengeance campaign. Zero was meant to be an ideal of justice, that anyone could be behind the mask and imagine themselves as the symbol of power used to defend the powerless. It was something greater than any one man, even Lelouch himself. It was something that could appear as immortal as even C.C.

It was not something that should have been marred by the stigma people develop when the idea of vengeance is brought up. The correct answer a polite society would give is that vengeance solves nothing, and everyone wants to believe that they are apart of a polite society. If Zero only appeared to be out to fulfill personal vengeance for himself and not to uphold justice for the good of the world, then society would turn against him.

But a symbol of vengeance for the polite society to condemn in public, while they made their own private judgements, could do such a thing.

'Lelouch as Zero will become the symbol of peace for our world,' thought Suzaku. 'That is his destiny and I will gladly help him achieve that destiny. But he is still a man and he wants vengeance for Rivalz and for his father. For this war that can be seen as appropriate but afterwards when V.V is dead and peace is established he cannot seek vengeance as Zero. He will be bound by the laws he will have to uphold for the sake of peace. But I won't have to be. It's time to begin my own mission.'

He walked up to Lloyd and Cecile as they were working over the Lancelot. Lloyd had been rather frantic and annoyed about the creator of the Guren joining the ranks of their alliance. And poor Cecile has often been the one to listen to all his woes.

'Those two should get their own reality show,' thought Suzaku.

"Honestly, that big red sore is nothing compared to my beautiful Lancelot," wined Lloyd.

"Jealousy is unbecoming of you Lloyd," said Suzaku, making his presence known to the two.

"Oh, Suzaku," said Cecile. "I'm sorry about your friend."

"Both that he's dead and his body is missing," said Lloyd, earning him a slap from Cecile.

"Thank you," said Suzaku, knowing Lloyd really didn't care given he was a self-proclaimed sociopath. "Anyway, I wanted to talk to you guys about something."

"Orders?" asked Cecile.

"Not really," said Suzaku. "It's something I've thought to do for a while. Although Lelouch has been a big inspiration on this."

He handed Cecile a small piece of paper which she unfolded to reveal a white and black combat suit, with a mask fashioned after Zero's only in the visage of a skull, with a cloak and scythe.

"Suzaku...what is this?" asked Cecile.

"Let's just say it's the way I'm going to achieve my ambition to become the Symbol of Vengeance for the corrupt of the world to fear and force them to abandon their evil actions," said Suzaku. "I guess you could say I hope it to be the dark shadow of Zero. I call it the Reaper."

Rivalz's eye shot open revealing to him that he was in water. In a tank of water to be precise, with only half the vision he expected if both of his eyes were working. His body felt wrong and he felt his chest ache. His heart began racing at extreme pace as shadowy figures moved outside his tank.

Suddenly the shadows stopped and he felt numb.

He then noticed there was a shining figure standing among the shadows. A beautiful woman in ornate robes, bearing a strange red symbol on her chest, with long flowing dark hair and purple eyes. She gave a soft, small smile that gave off a motherly warmth that seemed to calm Rivalz.

The woman walked up to the tank and when she got to it she raised her hand to it. To Rivalz's amazement her hand seemed to phase through the thick glass and touch his cheek gently.

"Do you wish to survive this?" she asked. "Would you make a contract?"