12 Chapter Twelve: War of the Cyborgs

In the brig of the Olympus, Professor Herbert Peter Lovecrest sat bound in a straitjacket, kept away from his children. But that was a solution easily remedied as his eyes began to glow with the power of Geass.

Lelouch and Kallen stood in a private lounge area overlooking the bow of the ship, watching as the Japanese shore came into view.

"I'm going to allow Naoto to die once we get situated on Japan" said Kallen. "He deserves to at least die at home. I don't know how I'll tell my mother though."

"Perhaps nothing," said Lelouch. "Let her believe her son died trying to do something good for other people. Rather than the horrible truth of what he became."

"I don't know if I can lie to her about that," said Kallen.

"Sometimes a good lie can be better than an awful truth," said Lelouch.

Kallen looked at Lelouch and then back to the oncoming shore.

"You know, there were times I was temped to use Refrain," said Kallen.

Refrain, a drug that caused hallucinations of painful memories. It was popular in the ghettos, and in the Britannian homeland, the reasons were obvious.

"To be back in a moment of time when my brother was alive, when my mother was sane," said Kallen. "Now my brother is a monster and my mother's mind is still fragmented by the Geass he cast on her. Am I going to go mad next?"

"No, you wont," said Lelouch.

"How can you be so sure?" Kallen asked, facing him with her eyes watering slightly.

"Because I will not allow you to fall into madness," said Lelouch. "As I said before you will be my family. As such I will devote my energies to your well-being and happiness."

"Lelouch...you should say things like that," said Kallen. "People will think you're planning to...to make me your wife."

Lelouch gasped slightly, turning a little red himself, and realized his words. Then something rose inside him that suddenly seemed to make everything else seem trivial and easy.

"Well...would you be my wife?" he asked.

Kallen looked at Lelouch in stunned silence, her mouth wide open and her face matching her hair. For his own part Lelouch was red. Suddenly the silence before them was being broken by a slow rising squeal.

Kallen and Lelouch both turned their heads slightly to see Marianne sanding wither her hands claps to her chin and her mouth open in a wide smile. Beside her was Bismark holding a long bundle.

"Mother, how long have you been standing there?" Lelouch asked, his blush still standing as Kallen turned her face away from the former empress.

"Long enough," said Marianne. "Oh my baby boy is now a man."

"Mother!" Lelouch yelled out, the embarrassment worse than anything he'd get from Milly, and thanking any god that was listening that she wasn't here.

"Oh the babies will be so beautiful, red hair and purple eyes, or black hair and blue eyes," laughed Marianne, only making the embarrassment of her son and Kallen even worse.

"Pardon me for interrupting the joyful news but there was something you wanted to discuss with your son Lady Marianne," said Bismark, coming to Lelouch and Kallen's rescue.

"Oh Bismark you're no fun," huffed Marianne. "Fine."

Bismark then began to undo the bundle he carried

"There's something I thought you should have Lelouch," said Marianne.

"What is it?" he asked.

Bismark finished and Lelouch gasped in surprise at the object Bismark held in hands. An ornate broadsword of gold and purple bearing the double faced lion and snake pommel. This was the sword of Lelouch's late father Charles, the imperial sword Akasha.

"Father's sword," Lelouch said in awe. "I thought it was lost."

"The sword of the Emperor," said Marianne. "It is yours now my son."

Bismark handed Lelouch the sword and Lelouch was surprised by how light the sword itself felt. But the responsibility of it was heavy indeed. Before Lelouch could say anything Suzaku quickly came into the room.

"Lelouch, it's Rivalz," said Suzaku. "He's awake."

He had known he was changed. Trying to feel out the changes to his body was difficult as his hands could no longer give the sensation of touch. He could tell there was a horn-like feature on his head, and some kind of metal patch over his right eye.

His hands, his legs, most of his torso, several if not all of his bones, and a few organs had been replaced by advanced cybernetics. He knew this already, he had...heard it from the computers his examiners used to record their findings. He could see through the eyes of the cameras of the ship. He could feel a web of connected information, energy, and technology. All thanks to the power that the woman, Marianne, Lelouch's mother, had given him.

"Rivalz?" asked Lelouch's voice.

Rivalz sat on the floor next to the bed he slept in earlier, the blankets drawn over his body, though the red horn could still be seen. Lelouch, Suzaku, Kallen, and several others Rivalz didn't know were gathered on the other side of the glass.

"Lelouch," said Rivalz, his voice sounding horse, either from the alteration or from a lack of use. "Or do you prefer Zero? Or should I address you as Prince Lelouch?"

Lelouch winced at the tone Rivalz spoke with. Rivalz then got up and lowered the blanket a bit, revealing his altered body. His eye then settled on Kallen.

"Kallen...feeling better?" he asked sarcastically.

Kallen lowered her eyes in a bit of shame. She had gone to Ashford hating Britannians, but after getting to know the Student Council, and becoming close to Lelouch, such feelings had changed. The Student Council had become her friends and she was saddened by Rivalz's 'death' and by his current fate.

"Rivalz...I...I..."

"I wouldn't have told anyone Lelouch," said Rivalz, interrupting Lelouch. "You were my friend, you could have trusted me."

"Rivalz, V.V wanted me dead," said Lelouch. "He I couldn't take the risk anyone knowing who I was until the time was right."

"And now your uncle had me rebuilt to be a weapon against you," said Rivalz. "So what now? I get sent to the scrap heap or do I get drafted into your...Atlas Fleet?"

"How did you..."

"I can see, things on this ship," said Rivalz. "I can connect to the technology around me. That's the Geass that Miss Marianne gave me. It's how I got the tech in my body to work. I connected to the ship's cameras and saw your speech earlier. Luckily I can read lips. So...am I drafted?"

"No...god no Rivalz you're..."

"I can't go back home Lelouch, even with your powers can't make me believe that I can," said Rivalz, looking down at his blue metal hands. "I'm a freak, remade to be a weapon. Why pretend I should be anything else?"

"Your not a weapon," said Lelouch. "You're a human being."

Rivalz looked up, allowing Lelouch a good look at his face. The styled blue metal patch over his right eye and the oddly shaped red horn on his head.

"Are you so sure about that?" asked Rivalz.

Lelouch looked at the miserable expression on Rivalz's organic half of his face and could not muster a false face of his own.

"I can work with that Lloyd guy and Miss Rakshata or whatever you want," said Rivalz. "I'm not really one to choose. Just say where you'd like me."

Lelouch tried to find words to dissuade Rivalz but from almost out of nowhere his elder sister's voice rang out.

"He can come with me," said Cornelia, walking up with Guilford and Dalton in tow as always.

Lelouch looked at Cornelia sharply, ready to snipe at his sister, but then he saw how soft her expression was. He'd rarely seen such an expression on his sister's face, usually such expressions were reserved for her siblings.

He then looked back at Rivalz and wondered what would happen to his friend if he tried to refuse him. Perhaps being given something to do would help him. In all honesty Lelouch didn't know how to help Rivalz, someone who already expressed great hurt towards being lied to by someone he trusted, without hurting him more.

"If you want to Rivalz, you can go with Cornelia," said Lelouch.

"Anything you say...your highness," said Rivalz, his eye narrowing with the last word.

That look was a greater wound than any Lelouch had been dealt before. He opened the isolation room and Rivalz walked out, following Cornelia away from the med bay, and away from Lelouch. Rivalz, for his own part, merely walked because he knew what he was. He wasn't human anymore, he was a cyborg, one whose purpose was going to be for war. This was just his life now, there was no use fighting it.

When she recalled the events of the past few days, Milly always found herself in the same position. Going back to the day she had been called to the baths, where her mother stood waiting, Milly was numb as she was stripped naked and the hot water of the bath did nothing to make her feel better.

She had been dressed in a white toga and hood, and chains for her neck and hands. She, her mother, and her father were led to a limo where they drove deep into the city. They came up to a private penthouse where at the top Milly was finally introduced to the woman whose wealth would secure her family's future, and her fate.

Madam Marta Cyst, a woman of massive wealth and equally massive girth. The woman was a mass of flesh to the point she barely bothered to wear clothing, as there was almost nothing that would fit her. It also didn't hurt that the woman was infamously lustful, especially for attractive young women, like Milly.

"My, my," said the impossibly large woman, rolling onto her side from the couch she lounge on, "at long last we get to meet sweet Millicent."

The woman's violet eyes landed on Milly and the girl couldn't help but tremble.

"They payment has all been arranged," said Cyst. "I'll take it from here."

One of Cyst's men took Milly's chains and dragged her to Cyst, whose fat hand took the chain and drew Milly's face to hers.

"You belong to me now my lovely," said Cyst.

Milly didn't even draw back as the fat woman forced a kiss onto her lips, and pushing her tongue into Milly's mouth. This was just her life now, there was no use fighting it.

Within a makeshift morgue of the Olympus, beneath sheets and held in cold storage, the bodies of Lovecrest's failed subjects began to slowly stir.

Rivalz looked at Cornelia's Knightmare, feeling the power it held course through his very soul. If he still had a soul.

"I can feel all the data of its recent battles," he said. "Its upgrades, its diagnostics, everything. Running through my mind."

"I can't imagine what that must be like," said Cornelia. "With a Geass that allows you to psychically connect to technology, given the state of the world, you'd be a dangerous enemy or a powerful ally."

"A useful weapon," said Rivalz.

"Not a weapon," said Cornelia. "A soldier, if you truly wish to be. Otherwise you're a civilian under my charge and protection."

"It doesn't really matter," said Rivalz. "It's not like I have much options with a body like this. One of those containers even has a Knightmare specifically designed for my body to fit into. Why even bother pretending I'm not going to have to be used to fight? I see what's happened to my body. I have an idea of what kind of tests are going to have to be run to judge the full width of my abilities and the augmentations I've gone through. Although...I really don't want that Lloyd guy to do them. He creeps me out."

Cornelia couldn't help but chuckle.

"I'm surprised you can make light after this," she said genuinely impressed.

"It's like I told Lelouch once, my sense of humor is the one thing I can't let them take away from me," said Rivalz, giving a weak smile. "Sure this...this sucks but...I can survive it. I know it must sound like I was just accepting defeat but I'm just being realistic and trying to process this all as best I can with that. Face it I can't go out into the world like...well like this. People will...they'll think I'm a freak. But here...here I can work, here I can be productive and figure out just what has happened to me and how I can adjust to it. And maybe I can do some good with what's been done to me."

Cornelia was surprised to hear such maturity from one so young. And one who had experienced such a trauma. He was thinking practically and logically, acknowledging his situation and working to get control of it.

Needless to say her experience as a caregiver were, substantial and she didn't know originally what she was going to be able to do for Rivalz before. But this unexpected attitude from him made her believe she could easily find a way to make it work for both of them.

"Very well," she said. "If you'd like we can integrate whatever physical tests Rakshata might want to run your training. It's not going to be a cakewalk though, just so you understand that."

"I had a mountain fall on me," said Rivalz, smiling weakly. "It can't possibly be worse than that."

An alarm then rang out throughout the ship, earning the attention of the princess and the cyborg.

Lelouch sat in his mother's tea room, his father's sword in his lap, his head bowed down.

"I didn't know what I should have expected," said Lelouch. "I did that to him."

"You didn't put the machinery into his body," said Marianne. "You didn't know he would get caught up in Narita."

"Perhaps, but I did lie to him," said Lelouch. "I know it was for the best but...I still feel bad about it."

"He's your friend," said Marianne, "and he's hurt. He's angry and trying to process what's happened to him."

"By justifying the horror that V.V's scientists put him through?" Lelouch growled.

"He can't ignore what has happened to him," said Marianne. "The greatest of men are those who turn the tragedies of their lives into their greatest triumphs. The best you can do for your friend is to have faith that he will be able to work through whatever pain he's going through. And to be there at the end. Lelouch, I know it must have been the most terrible of feeling when our family was shattered by V.V. You sought out a new family and found one in the Student Council of Ashford and now that one of them has suffered and you're hurting. You want to protect your family more than anything, just like your father, and it's difficult for you when you appear powerless to help them."

Marianne than stood up and walked to her troubled son, kneeling down and placing her hands on Lelouch's.

"There were times I would see your father as you are now," said Marianne. "Heavy is the head that wears the crown. He was such a good man Lelouch. He saw the men who followed him as his brothers. It broke his heart to be forced to sacrifice their lives for the sake of his ideals. And that is a reality you must face Lelouch. If you wish to make your ideals a reality then you must accept the possibility that friends, possibly even family. But that is what it means to be a king. The responsibilities you bear are great and so I fear must be the sacrifices you'll face."

Lelouch looked sadly into his mother's eyes, as if he had just come to her with a scrapped knee. And just like then Marianne looked on with a comforting love that only a true mother could have.

Before mother and son could continue their conversation an alarm rang out throughout the whole ship.

"What fresh hell is this?" yelled Lelouch.

"What fresh hell is this?" yelled Suzaku, slicing down one of the supposedly dead soldiers.

Like the scene out of a horror movie the Narita dead, many of them partially augmented by Lovecrest's cybernetic implants, began to quickly swarm over the ship. Their cybernetics allowed them greater strength and a fair resistance to bullets. Suzaku, given his enhanced physical properties bestowed by his Geass, was able to put up more of an effective countermeasure.

"Cyborg zombies? Who the hell comes up with cyborg zombies?" yelled Tamaki from behind the doorway he covered behind.

"Focus," said Tohdoh. "Kururugi, catch."

Tohdoh tossed Suzaku a grenade launcher. Wasting no time Suzaku began to open fire on the undead that marched his way. The blasts of the grenades proved effective in significantly damaging the re-animated corpses, at least to a point where they could not be considered a threat even if they still appeared to move. Eventually the creatures who attacked this particular hallway were dealt with.

"Seriously, cyborg zombies," cried Tamaki.

"We're aware of what we just saw Tamaki," yelled Chiba. "Losing our minds about it isn't going to help."

"Agreed," said Euphemia, coming from her cover along with the others. "We have to remain focused and not panic. Surely there are other sections of ship that are facing similar crises."

"She's right," said Tohdoh. "However Princess, I believe you should find somewhere more secure."

"Of course," said Euphie, a small sad expression on her face.

"Kururugi, will you escort her?" asked Tohdoh.

"But..."

"We can coordinate with other units we'll meet along the way," said Tohdoh. "Heavy artillery can disable these...creatures. We can at least use that against them."

"But how the hell did this happen?" asked Ashahida.

"We'll worry about how and why this happened as soon as we regain control of the ship," said Tohdoh.

An unfortunate situation of combat being held in a Knightmare Frame hanger was that one could not use the armaments of the Knightmare if the hanger was in a pressurized airship. As such this put Cornelia and several of her men at a severe disadvantage when they too realized that most firearms didn't phase the horde that pressed onto them.

"Goddamn this," cursed Cornelia. "Superhuman powers I can understand, immortals I can accept, cyborgs I welcome, but I absolutely draw the line at zombies."

Rivalz, placed between Cornelia and her soldiers and Rakshata and her research crew, including Lloyd and Cecile felt a sense of uselessness. Cornelia had barred him from combat, either not wanting to risk if he was going to attack them alongside the rest of his fellow victims or risking the use of an unknown variable such as his own cybernetics.

However Rivalz, recalling the sense of inferiority he had always felt in life when comparing himself to his friends. It was worse now, Lelouch, Suzaku, and Kallen were all revealed to be these great warriors on a quest for justice. His anger at Lelouch wasn't because of his cause, it wasn't because of how he had been caught in the crossfire, his anger at Lelouch was at being lied to. But that anger didn't mean he wasn't worried about his friend now, with such an unprecedented horror loose on the ship. He wanted to do something to help end this crisis, but he didn't know what to do.

'I just wish...I just wish I could fight to put a stop to this,' thought Rivalz.

Suddenly a notification icon appeared in his view, like what one would expect from a computer. Rivalz then recalled he indeed had machinery in his body, as well as an ability to manipulate machinery. Willing the icon to open Rivalz found there was a message.

'Valiant Combat enhancement upgrade available,' read Rivalz in his mind. 'User connection required.'

Rivalz then looked to the blue container recovered form the base he had been held at. Things began connecting in Rivalz's mind and he smirked. He then looked at Cornelia's troubled expression and quickly looked into the security feed throughout the ship. He noticed Suzaku effectively taking out several enemy combatants with a grenade launcher.

"You need heavy artillery," said Rivalz.

"What?" asked Cornelia.

"Others are doing fine, Euphemia is safe," said Rivalz.

Cornelia then recalled how Rivalz could connect to the machinery of the ship. She also breathed a sigh of relief that her beloved blood sister was safe. Cecile moved quickly, listening to Rivalz's words as well and drew attention to a nearby mini-gun.

"This should work," said Dalton, picking up the heavy gun. "Still a number of those bastards to deal with but we should be able to cut down that number significantly. Ammo's going to be a problem."

"Just hold them off as long as you can," said Rivalz.

"Cardemonde, what are you up to?" asked Cornelia. "You're not a soldier damn it."

"Yeah, I'm a cyborg," said Rivalz, "and it's time for an upgrade."

Rivalz focused his sight and his will on the blue container, causing it to open. The blue walls spread and folded down, revealing a gorgeous blue Knightmare Frame adorned with a large red horn, similar to Rivalz's.

"Are you crazy?" shouted Guilford. "You can't use a Knightmare in the hanger. You'll kill us all."

"I'm not going to use it's weapons," said Rivalz. "I just need to connect to it. I'll be right back."

Before anyone could protest Rivalz leaped clear over his allies and his enemies and landed on the shoulder of the blue Frame. He willed the cockpit to open up and quickly entered the machine.

"What the hell?" said Rivalz, surprised by how spacious and empty the cockpit was. "How the hell am I supposed to connect to anything?"

As if waiting for the word 'connect' cables came from behind Rivalz and injected themselves into his back and the base of his neck, ports opening up on his body to allow this. Rivalz suddenly felt a surge of energy and information pour into his body and brain.

'Valiant Combat upgrade in progress,' a computer voice rang out in Rivalz's head.

The sensation was almost too much for Rivalz, but he bit down the instinct to scream. He had to endure this or other people would suffer. He needed to work with the tools that had been given to him. He needed to make this work, make this body work, simply dying wasn't an option for him. He didn't want to die worthless. He wanted to be useful. He wanted to thrive. But most of all...he wanted to see Milly again.

Suddenly, whether it was due to his mere thoughts of Milly, a result of the Thought Elevator, or because he was connected to the global internet, images of Milly filled his mind. One included an image of a street camera which caught a glimpse of Milly, wearing a chain around her neck and looking miserable as she sat in a limo.

'Milly,' Rivalz thought as the upgrade neared completion. 'Something's wrong. Does Lelouch know about her? Does he care? Damn it I can't afford to worry about Milly now. I'll finish this and then talk to Lelouch about this. If he's really my friend, he'll help me find her, if not...I just won't give him a choice.'

The upgrade completed and the cables disconnected. Rivalz straightened up and let his mind process the new information he had just been given. Coursing through his mind was advanced combat technique information and information on the various weapons Rivalz had build into his new body.

Rivalz opened his right hand and from below his wrist a device was deployed from his forearm that he caught. There was a golden symbol at the top of the device that opened up into the symbol of Geass, and from the center a crimson blade began to extend from it as if it were a baton.

The sound of the mini-gun rang out and Rivalz regained his focus. He then leaped out and saw how Dalton had been shredding through many of the zombies that lumbered their way towards him, Cornelia, and the rest. Unfortunately their cybernetics still offered them considerable protection.

"Everyone, cover your ears," yelled Rivalz, enhancing his voice electronically.

Cornelia and the others did as Rivalz said, willing to take a chance out of the sheer desperation. Rivalz then held the red sword aloft and it gave out a high pitched whine that rang out in the hanger. The sound seemed to affect the cybernetics of the undead horde causing them to tremble and their enhancements to pop and shatter from the vibrations. Rivalz then took further advantage of this and leaped into the fray. He sliced through the closest creature he landed next to and the vibrations of the sword and the force of Rivalz's attack caused the monster to shatter completely. He then proceeded to quickly make quick work of the remaining dead of the hanger in similar fashion and once it was finished he sheathed the sword and the sound stopped.

"You guys alright?" asked Rivalz.

He caught a highly annoyed glare from Cornelia and several of the others. Especially Lloyd whose glasses had shattered as a result of Rivalz's actions. All Rivalz could do was chuckle nervously.

"On the bright side, I think I know k..."

Rivalz cut off when he tapped back into the ship's security feed. He noticed how several of the corpses had freed Lovecrest, the scientist responsible for his enhancements. He then watched as Lovecrest drew near to Naoto's cell. Suddenly, all Rivalz could feel was a considerable degree of rage.

Marianne had met up with Euphemia and Suzaku, and took them along with Kallen and Kaguya whom she had in tow behind her along with Diethard Reid, to a secure room.

"This should work well until order is established," said Marianne, calmly.

"I must say Lady Marianne, you're poise in this...situation is remarkable," said Kaguya.

"My dear there are far greater things to fear than simple zombie cyborgs," said Marianne with a slight giggle.

Suzaku didn't know exactly how to respond to her chipper attitude. He had always wondered about Lelouch's mother. When they were children Lelouch had said his mother was a woman of both great beauty and compassion, but also intelligence, and with an odd sense of humor. He had said there were times when as a child he'd wake up and find doodles on his face only to find his mother playfully trying to hide a marker, deliberately doing it fairly poorly so Lelouch would know it was her.

Lelouch had also once told him he had to learn how to gamble after his mother had effectively swindled him out of his candy one Halloween.

'If Milly met this woman Lelouch would be screwed,' thought Suzaku, recalling Milly's antics.

"Anyway, I believe you two have work to do," said Marianne, indicating to Kallen and Suzaku.

"Huh...oh yes," said Suzaku, bringing himself back to Earth.

"Lelouch and Bismark went on to the hanger," said Marianne. "I suggest you hurry."

Suzaku and Kallen turned to leave the room when Marianne placed her hand on Kallen's shoulder.

"Pardon Kallen dear, but this will only take a moment," said Marianne.

"Uh...yes ma'am?" asked Kallen, still not entirely sure how to act around Marianne.

"I need to make a contract with you," said Marianne.

Kallen gasped in surprise at the woman's statement. She had never thought of asking for a Geass ability herself, still unsure about the power. Kallen attempted to protest but Marianne placed her finger to her lips to silence her.

"I'm sorry to be rude but I truly don't care about your apprehension to the power," said Marianne, suddenly becoming quite serious. "My only concern in this world is the welfare of my children. Lelouch has made a connection with you, and you with him. You've bonded over the suffering this world's misery has caused you. You find comfort in his arms and he in yours. You try and fight these feelings because you don't understand them but in you heart you know you do. My dear girl, you are in love with my son. And my son has come to fall in love with you. Such a young love it is between you two. It needs to be cultivated, guarded and allowed to grow. Would you feel pain if my son were to come to harm?"

Kallen couldn't open her mouth, Marianne placing both her hands across Kallen's jaw, her thumbs pressed against her lips. Kallen's eyes however, the dilation of her pupils gave her answer and Marianne chuckled.

"Would you protect him? Not only from his physical enemies but from his own misery?" asked Marianne, her playful smile still intact.

Kallen nodded and Marianne's cat-like grin only widened.

"Would you sacrifice anything for him?" asked Marianne. "Your sanity or even your life?"

Kallen nodded once more.

"Would you stand with him even if his actions could be considered evil and the world were to decry my son as a demon?" asked Marianne. "Knowing that you would be considered just as evil for standing by his side?"

Kallen seemed to hesitate but ultimately nodded.

"Why would you do any of this?" asked Marianne.

She released Kallen's mouth and allowed the girl to speak.

"Because...because I...I love him," said Kallen, a slight tear falling from her eye.

She had finally admitted it, not only to another, but to herself. Although she thought Lelouch was originally an arrogant prince only using her friends for his vengeance, his actions, his pain, his comforting of her, and his drive had come to change that view. He had asked her to become his family. To become his wife, although she still didn't know if he fully understood what he had been saying at the time.

"Then, in exchange for this power which you would use to do as you have sworn to do, will you accept my son's proposal?" asked Marianne, placing her fingers to Kallen's chin. "Will you become my son's wife, my future daughter?"

"Yes," said Kallen.

"Then the contract is made," said Marianne, placing a kiss on Kallen's forehead as the Code on her bosom began to glow.

The cell door opened and the cybernetic corpses released the Questing Beast from his restraints.

"Lovecrest," said Naoto.

"11-QB," said Lovecrest.

"Impressive display," said Naoto.

Lovecrest chuckled, his Geass flashing in both eyes.

"Befitting a man bestowed the nickname of 'The Necromancer' among the Eden Elite," said Lovecrest. "Now, shall we take our leave?"

"Of course," said Naoto. "We do have work to do don't we?"

"Indeed," said Lovecrest.

The two men began to turn to leave the brig when they noticed they were no longer alone. Rivalz stood with his crimson sword in hand, glaring at Lovecrest.

"11-RC, how wonderful and I see you've already connected to the Valiant," said Lovecrest. "Do you care to join us my boy?"

"Why me?" Rivalz asked.

"Pardon?" asked Lovecrest.

"Why did you have me as one of your rats?" asked Rivalz. "I wasn't a soldier like all the other bodies you dug up from that mountain."

"You were a body none the less," said Lovecrest. "Death does not discriminate and neither do I. And as you can see my work was to your benefit. Not only do you live but you are now more powerful than any of those pitiful husks were in their prime. A veritable super-soldier, armed not only with a Geass as it would seem, but with a unique Geass based weapon. The Geass Coordinator, perfect for uniting an army of Users. You could easily be the tipping point for either Emperor Vincent's reign or for Zero's rebellion. Now, will you kindly stand aside 11-RC."

"My name is Rivalz Cardemonde," yelled Rivalz.

"Perhaps once," said Lovecrest. "But that was when you were a true person. But now, you're one of my greatest accomplishments. Both of you are in fact."

"Brothers in a sense," said Naoto.

Rivalz grimaced but didn't let down his guard.

"Now, why don't we all go and make our leave?" said Lovecrest.

"You're not going anywhere," yelled Rivalz.

He charged out with his sword but suddenly froze with the blade inches away from Lovecrest's neck. Rivalz tried willing his body to move but to no end.

"What the..."

"A little contingency I came up with in case my children decided to turn against me," said Lovecrest. "Non-lethal I assure you but you're not going to be able to move for a while. Would you mind 11-QB?"

Naoto then proceeded to pick up Rivalz and tuck him under his arm as if he weighed nothing at all. Rivalz tried to will himself to struggle but it was all futile.

A great sword cleaved several of the undead cyborgs in two, to the awe of those who stood behind its master. Bismark Waldstein straightened and turned back to his charge

"The hall is secure," he said calmly.

Lelouch for a moment couldn't help but stare in some state of awe. He quickly recovered and regained his composure.

"Well done Lord Bismark," said Lelouch. "I'm glad to see your skill hasn't diminished in the years since I last saw you."

"Thank you...my king," said Bismark, with a slight smile.

Lelouch had been used to Jeremiah, ever fanatically loyal to him and his mother as he was, referring to him as king almost as if Lelouch's father the late emperor had no other children. But to hear it from the Knight of One, the Strongest Knight, and his father's closest ally was somewhat different.

"Bismark...I...I'm not entirely sure if I want the throne of Britannia," said Lelouch. "I'm willing to use the title of the Black Knight the Order has given to me but aside from that..."

"Your father didn't entirely want to take the throne himself either," said Bismark. "But the state of Britannia at the time demanded he take action. He was a great man, Charles. He believed in the use of strength to reign in the natural chaos of the world."

"I remember," said Lelouch. "Father always believed Thomas Hobbes had the most valid point."

"But you're not too sure are you?" asked Bismark, almost with a chuckle.

"I didn't say that," said Lelouch. "It's just that...it's nothing."

"You had a vision of your father didn't you?" asked Bismark.

Lelouch stopped in his tracks and Bismark merely turned with the slight grin still on his face.

"The power behind the Geass, in cases of truly exceptional users it allows a greater expanse of consciousness than most others," said Bismark. "A stronger connection to the source which allows them to at times through their dreams to see through beyond time. Even to connect to the minds and spirits of those departed."

"You mean...I really did see my father's spirit?" asked Lelouch, the surprise of this revelation shocking him.

"Indeed," said Bismark. "And I'm sure Charles, if I knew him half as well as I believe I do, advised you to find your own path to kingship."

"He...he did," said Lelouch. "His advice helped me conceive the idea of the Atlas Fleet."

Bismark couldn't help but give out a chuckle, recalling the life and adventures he had with his old friend.

"Sir Bismark, can I ask you something?" asked Lelouch.

"Of course," said Bismark.

"What really happened between my father and V.V? asked Lelouch. "When I spoke to my...my father's spirit he seemed sad when V.V came up."

"With good reason," said Bismark. "Charles and Vincent were close when they were young. As close as two brothers could be. Especially after having their mother murdered by their own half-siblings. They were brought into the Order not long after that. Vincent received different training and became an immortal by the time he was 20. Charles was part of the warrior sect, as was I some years later. We were both war orphans from Britannia so naturally we bonded. Eventually when we were young and ambitious Charles convinced me to leave the Order and go secure the throne of Britannia. Not for his own glory, but to strengthen the pillars of our society and make it a fair and just nation unlike any on Earth. To make Britannia the world's envy, like a gleaming city upon a hill. It was a dream that inflamed the hearts of many. He was so passionate about it and so dedicated that half the times it was like he didn't need to use his Geass. Soon he had gained enough power to defeat his other warring siblings and secure the throne. Much of the rest you know for yourself."

"That still doesn't explain what happened between him and V.V," said Lelouch.

"Yes, Vincent," said Bismark. "Vincent was...another story. While Charles wanted to bring peace to our homeland, Vincent condemned him as a fool. Even before gaining his immortality Vincent seemed to be drifting away from his humanity. He saw Britannia as too sick to survive, and by extension the whole world. He devoted himself to the studies of Geass, but when Charles left...I think it broke whatever remained of his heart. To see his brother turn his back on him."

Lelouch couldn't imagine a time when his murderous uncle and his father were close siblings, perhaps even as close as Lelouch was with Nunnally. Lelouch then recalled how he had not trusted his sister with his secrets. He couldn't imagine his relationship with Nunnally shattered to the point where one would seek violence against the other.

"What truly lies in V.V's heart I cannot say," said Bismark. "But I can say he will not be satisfied with mere conquest."

"What do you mean?" asked Lelouch.

"As I said V.V was losing connection with his humanity when you father left the Order," said Bismark. "He would not be content with ruling an empire that ultimately will never exist as long as he does. The extend of our information only pertains to his more 'mundane' activities."

"Conquering entire nations is mundane?" asked Lelouch.

"To an immortal it is," said Bismark. "Nations rise and nations fall. Even the old Geass Civilization fell in the end."

"So if V.V doesn't want to rule the world what is he after?" asked Lelouch.

"That even your mother does not know," said Bismark. "Our information is fairly limited in regards to V.V himself."

Lelouch hummed as he and Bismark continued onward. Bismark then cast a glimpse back with his good eye and noticed the expression on Lelouch's face and chuckled.

"What's so funny?" asked Lelouch.

"It's nothing," said Bismark. "Your father had that same look at times when we were young. It's funny how time seems to repeat itself. I look at you and Kururugi and I am reminded of myself and Charles when we set out on our grand crusade. Even that girl Kallen reminds me of your mother Marianne."

Lelouch grimaced a bit, hoping he wasn't attracted to Kallen because of how much she was like his mother. The last thing he needed was Freud to have a say in how his mind worked.

"Of course Marianne was a bit more...untamed," said Bismark.

"What do you mean?" asked Lelouch.

"The witches of the Order are trained in many arts," said Bismark. "Be it martial, sexual, mystical, or social. Each one is trained to be both dignified and deadly. Marianne however had a wild streak that I believe made her somewhat controversial in the Order. Of course she was C.C's favorite pupil. And when she came on the scene in Britannia she made quite the impression."

"I know her skill as a Knightmare pilot earned her a place in the Knights of the Round," said Lelouch. "For the godlike speed she seemed to display in her Knightmare she was given the nickname Marianne the Flash. I've heard the story my whole life."

"Well...perhaps that's the better explanation for her nickname than...perhaps you should simply forget I said anything," said Bismark, a blush appearing on his face.

Lelouch dreaded the reasons behind Bismark's sudden embarrassment regarding his mother's nickname. The most logical was, to him, the most dreadful and he desperately wished there were a way to relieve the awkwardness of this situation.

His prayer's were answered when gunfire from the nearby hanger echoed through the hall. And a strange sensation began coursing through his brain, activating his Geass. He felt suddenly that he needed to act quickly and shot out in front of Bismark, his father's sword in hand.

Dalton placed the gun down, the weight of the weapon taking its toll, but also because of what came into view. The captured scientist Lovecrest as well as the Questing Beast, the latter of whom held Rivalz beneath his arm.

"Drop him, now!" yelled Cornelia, leveling her gun to Lovecrest's head.

The Questing Beast responded by placing his clawed hand at Rivalz's neck, his intentions clear. Cornelia cursed internally and dropped her weapon reluctantly.

"Wise choice, your uncle would be proud," said Lovecrest.

"You're the one whose done this aren't you?" asked Cornelia. "You altered Cardemonde, made the Beast's body match his soul, and did...this to my men."

"Indeed," said Lovecrest. "Forgive me for saying so your highness, but your soldiers are worthless. Dear Rivalz and Naoto have proven to be my truest successes. Now I believe we shall take our leave. The three of us have work to do."

Rivalz wanted to struggle but the program of Lovecrest's failsafe still had him frozen. He tired to use his Geass and its promised ability to control machines as a way to override this but to no avail. Then he began to feel something else. It was the same feeling he had earlier. He then willed his right eye cover to open, revealing an artificial eye with a blue Geass emblem on it. At the same time his crimson horn split open revealing the mark of Geass, and throughout his immobile body, red lines appeared all over and his mechanical implants appeared to glow blue.

"No," growled Lovecrest. "You cannot..."

Suddenly a swift moving dark shadow descended and a purple and gold sword pierced through the Questing Beast's body. Naoto turned his head and saw Lelouch, their respective Geass filled eyes locking.

"Let him go now!" Lelouch commanded, his intentions and will striking into Naoto's mind.

Roaring like an animal, the command overtook Naoto's mind and his body responded, dropping Rivalz with a loud slam. The command wearing off Naoto then used his tail to wrap around Lelouch and threw him against the wall. Dalton went for the min-gun but Cornelia raised her hand, not wanting to risk fire falling onto her brother or to Rivalz.

For his part the Questing Beast used his tail to pull the Imperial Sword from his body, synthetic blood dripping from the wound. He then charged at Lelouch, getting close enough to scratch his armored chest, before yet another blade struck him in the chest. This time the blade of Suzaku's scythe. Taking advantage of Naoto's surprise, as well as the comfortable distance the length of the shaft, Suzaku used the enhanced strength promised by his Geass to toss Naoto across the hanger, flinging him off of the blade. Naoto struck the wall so hard as to leave a dent in the metal wall.

As he tried to recover, Lelouch and Suzaku had taken the time to run up to him at top speed. Simultaneously the figures clad in black and white respectively kicked the Questing Beast in his damaged torso. They then used the momentum to deliver a perfectly timed upward kick to Naoto's jaw as they leaped off.

"Incredible," said Guilford. "Their timing and coordination is unbelievable."

Cornelia, also in some awe, then looked towards Rivalz, lying on the floor. While not the kind of genius her half-brothers Lelouch and Schneizel were, she possessed an impressive degree of intelligence in her own right. It had something to do with what was happening to Rivalz, she was sure of it.

"Damn it," cursed Lovecrest. "It would appear you've gained a working knowledge of the Coordinator's abilities."

Lovecrest knelt down and as his hands drew close to Rivalz's body. However before he could act and harm Rivalz in some way, Cornelia promptly shot him in the face, straight through one cheekbone to the other.

Rivalz then felt his body come back under his control again. He quickly leaped to his feet, picked up Lelouch's sword, and leaped to join in the fray. He quickly tossed Lelouch his blade, just as Suzaku converted his scythe to its sword form, and all three men stood side by side before the Questing Beast with their swords drawn.

The three then brought down their swords on the Questing Beast, only for him to block their attacks with his forearms. With all his bestial strength Naoto tossed aside their swords and quickly struck them all down with a swipe of his tail. Rivalz and Suzaku were thrown into a wall but Naoto had quickly grabbed Lelouch before he could go to far. He gripped both of his clawed hands on Lelouch's skull and began to apply pressure.

"Zero..false savior," he hissed. "Though you suffered you are...impure. But fear not...your sacrifice will be appreciated."

The Questing Beast then opened his mouth wide, inhumanly so given his enhancements, and went to bite off Lelouch's head. However he stopped as a foul smell began to fill the air between the two of them. The smell of flesh coming to burn. Lelouch's eyes widened as Naoto began to groan. Indeed his hair and flesh on his head was beginning to spontaneously combust in flame. Naoto dropped Lelouch and gripped his face in pain.

"What the hell?" asked Lelouch.

He looked around and above them he saw Kallen, with a Geass symbol in her right eye. This was her doing, psychically burning her own brother, to save his life. He could only imagine what she must be going through.

However he had to push all thoughts of Kallen, and the feelings she brought on, he needed to focus on finishing this fight. He gripped tightly to his father's sword, recalled the day he had first seen his father take a man's head with it. And in one powerful slash he cleaved off Naoto's burning head. The head continued to burn, the stink of the flesh and melting metal filling the hanger.

The damages to the ship were minimal, the effects of Lovecrest's Geass wearing out after his death, the organic components of the dead soldiers falling to dust. Lloyd and Rakshata collected the mechanical remnants, as well as Naoto's cyborg body. The head however was now a smoking lump of ash and melted metal. The brain encased was burnt to a crisp. Without a doubt Naoto Kozuki was now truly dead.

Kallen had locked herself in a room Marianne gave her.

Lelouch swore he'd be sure to check in on her before the day was out. He'd also be sure to have a word with either his mother or C.C about which of them gave Kallen a Geass. But for now he needed to let the medical staff look over his injuries. They weren't serious, compared to others who had been killed by the undead cyborgs.

Right now he hoped to fix things between him and Rivalz, who sat in the same room as he and Suzaku.

"So what happened exactly?" asked Suzaku. "I felt this strange feeling in my brain and it drew me to the hanger."

"The same thing happened to me," said Lelouch. "And then when we fought Naoto, Suzaku, the way you and I fought...we didn't say a word to each other but we just...we knew the situation and acted in complete sync."

"Yeah, that was weird," said Suzaku.

"I think it has to do with this thing Lovecrest put in me," said Rivalz, his artificial eye closed and his horn sealed once more. "He called it the Geass Coordinator."

Lelouch then thought back to what happened on the island.

"If I had to hazard a guess then the Geass Coordinator connects the minds of Geass Users," said Lelouch. "Possibly even their abilities. That would explain how Suzaku and I fought the way we did. We were both operating on Suzaku's Absolute Instinct."

"Cool," said Rivalz. "And at least we now know what his horn on my head is for?"

He flicked the horn with his metal hand, letting out a small cling noise. Lelouch then looked down and drew courage for what he needed to say.

"Rivalz...I'm sorry," he said. '"It's just that I...I already had one family ruined by V.V. and I didn't want to risk another being caught in the crossfire when I finally went to war with him. But that happened none the less."

Rivalz looked at the sad expression on Lelouch's face and his own fell. He had perhaps come off as to harsh to Lelouch earlier and he could see how his friend was hurting.

'We need to make this right,' he thought. 'And I think I know how.'

Rivalz then brought up his artificial hand. Rakshata had examined him personally and came to believe that the nanobots contained in Rivalz's body could rework the designs of his artificial limbs as to produce whatever tool or component a situation might call for.

This proved useful as Rivalz focused his Geass and willed the machines in his body to make a memory stick out of one of his fingers. It appeared to work as the highest joint of his right index finger slid away to reveal the necessary port.

He then got up to a nearby computer and connected it to his own system.

"What are you doing?" asked Lelouch.

"Lelouch, you might not have wanted to get us involved in your war because you thought we wouldn't be safe," said Rivalz, still looking at the screen. "But I think we'd actually have been safer if you did."

Lelouch and Suzaku focused on the monitor as suddenly the image of Milly in a limo with a chain around her neck came onto the screen.