- TOKYO SETTLEMENT
Captioned: "a.t.b. 2017, Tokyo"


* Ashford Campus (after school)

STUDENTS
'Bye!

See you tomorrow!


* School Rooftop

KALLEN is on the phone.

KALLEN
Understood. 5pm, via Route 32.


* Ashford Campus

SUZAKU
Lelouch!

He runs up to LELOUCH.

Finished with his phone call, LELOUCH pockets his cell phone as he turns to address SUZAKU.

LELOUCH
Suzaku. You don't have work today?

SUZAKU
No, I'm off-duty. I guess I should put in the occasional appearance with the student council, huh?

LELOUCH
Who cares about the student council, you should visit Nunnally.

SUZAKU
'Who cares', is that really something the vice president should say?

LELOUCH
Well, I might be the vice president, but first and foremost, I am Lelouch.

LELOUCH displays a smile.


* In Front of the Clubhouse

RIVALZ is maintaining his motorcycle. Beside him, a news program is playing on a computer that has been left running.

RIVALZ
Lelouch! Suzaku!

He waves at the cheerful-looking pair as they approach, with a tool still in one hand.

RIVALZ
Did you hear? The Black Knights are at it again!

At this, SUZAKU'S expression hardens.

NEWS
House of Lords member Eckhart, who for some time now has been embroiled in persistent rumors of corruption, has been murdered. Evidence of his corruption was found at the scene of the crime, as was the following statement from the Black Knights—

On screen, the body of the parliament member is shown, strung up. Next, ZERO'S image appears.

RIVALZ
Man, the Black Knights are so cool! They're like, criminals with a code of honor2, you know?

LELOUCH
Indeed. They pass judgment according to principles that villains could never follow.

***

From the second floor of the clubhouse, C.C. is watching LELOUCH and the others.

***

RIVALZ
Do you think they're on the side of justice?

SUZAKU
That's what I want to know. I mean...

MILLY
Hey, guys, over here!3

MILLY and the rest of the STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS run up, dressed as cheerleaders. SHIRLEY is also pushing NUNNALLY'S wheelchair.

LELOUCH
Why are you all... and Nunnally, too...

NUNNALLY
Our cheerleaders are short a few people at the moment, so...

MILLY
So, those of us in the Student Council are filling in4!

NINA looks embarrassed.

MILLY
And that's why... it's a Presidential Order. Suzaku! Hold Lelouch down!

SUZAKU
Huh? Yes, ma'am.

He promptly pins LELOUCH'S arms behind his back.

SHIRLEY
Because you'll be helping them out, too, Lulu.

She produces another (female) cheerleading costume.

LELOUCH
What?!

NINA
We need one more person to complete our formation.

RIVALZ
Well, you're definitely the best choice.

MILLY
Don't worry, Lelouch, we'll make sure you look beautiful.5

LELOUCH
Both of you, shut up. Let me go, Suzaku!

SUZAKU
Sorry, Lelouch. President's orders, so...

LELOUCH
Somehow I don't think you're really that sorry!6

NUNNALLY
Give it your all, Big Brother~7

ARTHUR
Mew!

NUNNALLY and ARTHUR, on her lap, CHEER in chorus.

LELOUCH
Hey, Kallen! Save me!

He directs this at a passing KALLEN, bringing her to a halt.

KALLEN
What do you want?

Her gaze is cold.

LELOUCH continues to struggle noisily as all the others force him into the cheerleading costume.

LELOUCH'S VOICE
On the surface, it was just like any other festival day. Peaceful, ridiculous, with Suzaku, from whom I'd been separated for so long, and everyone else... a moratorium on our separation.


* Shrine (Kamine Island)

LELOUCH'S VOICE
However...

LELOUCH and SUZAKU stand with guns drawn and pointed at one another.

SUZAKU
Lelouch... I didn't want to believe it.

- OPENING SONG


* Tokyo

An ordinary street in Tokyo can be seen, no different from the Tokyo of today. Abruptly, the BRITANNIAN ARMY is all over it, attacking the fleeing populace.

NARRATOR
In the year 2010 of the Imperial Calendar, the Holy Britannian Empire declared war on Japan.

A unit of GLASGOWS overwhelms the more traditional arms of the JAPANESE ARMY.

NARRATOR
Japan became an imperial territory, and their liberty, their rights, and even their name were stolen from them.

A young LELOUCH and SUZAKU stare, numb with shock, at the ruined territory of Japan.

Japan's flag changes to Britannia's. The flag flutters above a Britannian government office. The center of Britannia's territory expands.

The stripped, mechanized face of Mt. Fuji can be seen.

NARRATOR
Seven years have passed. Now called Elevens, the oppressed Japanese people are finally—

Battle erupts. In the TOKYO Settlement, BRITANNIA'S ARMY, the army of a federal state, wage ferocious war.

MILITIAMEN
Don't falter. We're about to take back our Japan from Britannia!

As he speaks, in the debris on a mountain top, Japan's flag is being raised, inspiring all the people of the militia. But then, the impact from an enemy projectile blows it away.


* Britannian Gov. Office

...which is mid-capture by the Black Knights.

TELECOMM VOICES
Unit 4, all stop!

Ensign Takamine has been killed in action.

Passage B4 has been blockaded!

CHIBA uses her FACTSPHERE to examine the Britannian government office.

CHIBA
As expected, they're tenacious.

ASAHINA
They don't have the largest military force in the world for nothing.

***

Via landspeeders, GUILFORD'S unit rushes along, piercing a BURAI as he passes it.

GUILFORD
Don't falter. Now is the time to repay His Majesty the Emperor's faith in us!

***

Using their Slash Harkens, the BURAIS attempt to scale the walls of the Britannian government office. But, alas, they are shot down.

TOUDOU
Though we've been united by Zero's charisma, the Black Knights are still, for the most part, a militia.


* The Bridge (G1)

KAGUYA watches the battle progress intently.

KAGUYA
Without his influence, our forces will deteriorate into a mob.


* Coordination Room (TV Bureau)

DIETHARD
And that's why he's necessary. We need Zero!

He GRIPS his incomm TIGHTLY.


* Campus (Ashford Academy)

TAMAKI
Shit. Where did you go at a time like this, Zero?!


* Shrine (Kamine Island)

SUZAKU'S bullet halves ZERO'S mask. The face beneath it is that of LELOUCH.

KALLEN
Zero is... Lelouch?

SUZAKU, on the other hand, is surprisingly calm. A villainous smile touches LELOUCH'S lips.

LELOUCH
Yes, that's right. I am Zero. Leader of the Black Knights, he who would challenge Britannia... and the man who will hold the very world in the palm of his hand.

SUZAKU
Lelouch... I didn't want to believe it.

LELOUCH
You already knew, Suzaku?

SUZAKU
I wasn't positive. So I stayed in denial. Because I wanted to believe in you. But...

He points his gun at LELOUCH.

SUZAKU
Answer me, Lelouch. Euphy, why did you—?

LELOUCH
...It was necessary.

SUZAKU
Don't give me that! Even though she was your little sister, the first time someone reached out their hand to you...!8

LELOUCH
Reached out her hand...? The both of you were always like that, so condescending...!9

LELOUCH draws his gun.

SUZAKU
By working with both of you, I thought we could change things, but now I see...!

LELOUCH
You can't change anything with pretty words alone!

SUZAKU
I'll10 prove that I can!11

***

FLASHBACK: Avalon interior. EUPHY is on the verge of death.

EUPHY
Please... help Lelouch...

***

SUZAKU
...!

With his finger on the trigger, SUZAKU makes the mistake of hesitating for an instant.

Bang. LELOUCH has pulled his trigger.

SUZAKU
L, Lelouch...

Gut-shot, SUZAKU collapses.


* Kamine Island

The LANCELOT stands abandoned. In the skies above, the GAWAIN flees at top speed. The SIEGFRIED is in pursuit.

C.C.
Still alive, Lelouch?

She watches LELOUCH through a crevasse.

An electronic hum. C.C. checks the monitor — it shows the GREAT BRITANNIA approaching.

C.C.
This is...?! ...Lelouch!

She POUNDS on her keyboard.

C.C.
Ahh—!

And cries out as the cockpit rattles around her.

The SIEGFRIED has pierced the GAWAIN with its Slash-Harkens.

C.C.
Damn!

JEREMIAH
Accept this ending I bring you!

He retracts the Harkens, and in the same instant charges. But the GAWAIN presents no resistance, instead meeting the SIEGFRIED head-on.

JEREMIAH
You aren't dodging?!

Both KMFs strike each other simultaneously. The SIEGFRIED'S blade pierces the GAWAIN'S abdomen, and C.C.'S body within it.

C.C.
Too bad for you. Because mutual destruction... is my specialty...

As C.C. pushes her transmission button, a smile touches her lips.

C.C.
Sorry, Lelouch. After this...

Both KMFs sink beneath the waves.


* TOKYO Settlement

A majority of the city's levels have collapsed. Only the government office and Ashford Academy have so far been spared.


* Campus (Ashford Academy)

NINA sits inside the GANYMEDE. Before her, MILLY and the others.

RAKSHATA
Stop, that's...!

NINA
It'll be fine if all of us, if everything — ends here!!

So saying, NINA pushes the switch. EVERYONE holds their breath. But there is no explosion.

NINA
No...

She pushes the switch again and again.

NINA
It's not exploding... why!

RAKSHATA realizes what's happened.

RAKSHATA
It's a dud!

TAMAKI and the others rush the GANYMEDE. Battle is about to break out once more.

MILLY
Nina! Quickly—

She embraces the GANYMEDE.

NINA
This was going to be Princess Euphemia's revenge. I, I need...!

In a state of panic, NINA is still pushing the switch over and over.

MILLY
Nina...

SHIRLEY
In the middle of a war, people can still fall in love.

CECILE is returning fire.

CECILE
Yes, and that's why I...

LLOYD rushes to take shelter.

LLOYD
Isn't it a wonderful thing, war. The mother of invention!

The sounds of battle CONTINUE.

An unconscious VILLETTA begins to stir weakly.

VILLETTA
Lelou... ch...


* Classroom (Ashford Academy)

A classroom, serving as a field hospital. OUGI is undergoing emergency surgery.

MILITARY PHYSICIAN
Deputy Commander, please hold on!

OUGI
Chigusa... Chigusa, you're...


* Kamine Island

KALLEN
Suzaku?!

LELOUCH gazes down at the unconscious SUZAKU. His expression is conflicted, mingled regret for SUZAKU's defeat — and confusion.

LELOUCH
Suzaku. You... (You couldn't shoot, because we're friends?)12

SUZAKU
Eu... phy...

LELOUCH
—!

Hearing EUPHY'S name from SUZAKU, LELOUCH'S temper flares.

SUZAKU
Is this it, Euphy... I... made another mistake. At the very end, I13...

LELOUCH
You're wrong, Suzaku. Your mistake wasn't in your means. It was the master you had to serve.14

SUZAKU
No. This is my punishment. That's why.... ah—

His eyes turn red (as per the geass invocation).

LELOUCH
Suzaku?

SUZAKU
Live. I, will — live. Live, live, live—

SUZAKU attempts to drag himself to his feet. But the strength has already drained from his body, and he can only writhe in a pool of his own blood. It is an unsightly struggle.

***

FLASHBACK: ZERO uses his geass on SUZAKU.

ZERO
Live!

***

LELOUCH
Is this it? My geass... no, more like my curse.

His expression turns bitter.

SUZAKU
I will — live.... <hack>

His words are broken off by a burst of coughed-up blood, as still he struggles to move.

LELOUCH'S cell phone vibrates.

LELOUCH
C.C.?

He looks at the message on his phone.

LELOUCH
Him again?!

With a determined expression, LELOUCH turns on his heel to leave. But then suddenly he pauses, looking back over his shoulder: KALLEN, pointing her gun at him in astonishment.

KALLEN
D, don't move... You, I'll...!

She can't finish her sentence. Does she hate this man, or does she still need him? KALLEN'S gun-sight is wavering.

LELOUCH
Kallen, return to the Black Knights.

KALLEN
What? I...

LELOUCH
Captain Kouzuki Kallen of the Zero Squad. This is an order from Zero.

KALLEN
—!

LELOUCH MONOLOGUE
Suzaku. I'm going to get Nunnally back. And then, my friend, I will take care of you15... I swear.



* The Shrine at Dusk

NUNNALLY is sleeping. Surrounding her, a group of PRIESTS16 stand wielding swords emblazoned with the geass sigil.

- COMMERCIAL BREAK


* TOKYO Settlement

The BLACK KNIGHTS are having a rough time of it.

TAMAKI
Dammit. How come the government office hasn't fallen yet!

SUGIYAMA
Hey, that's—

He points in the direction of Tokyo Bay. A silhouette like a castle can be seen.

MINAMI
A castle?

TAMAKI
Don't talk crap! You're pointing at Tokyo Bay!

SUGIYAMA
But, it's...


* Tokyo Bay

...and the approaching super-dreadnought warship stronghold, GREAT BRITANNIA. It really does look like an enormous floating castle.

OPERATOR VOICES
The Great Britannia has entered Tokyo Bay!

Maintain speed, systems normal!


* Keep (Great Britannia)

On a central throne, the EMPEROR sits.

STAFF OFFICER
We await your orders, Imperial Majesty.

The EMPEROR nods in placid acknowledgment.

EMPEROR
Ready the Jupiter Howitzer.

STAFF OFFICER
Yes, Your Majesty. Ready the Jupiter Howitzer!

***

From within the Great Britannia, a truly enormous howitzer emerges.

OPERATORS
Deploying Jupiter Howitzer!

First and second safeties, released!

The target is Shinjuku, Sector B17.

Output is at 3000!

EMPEROR
Fire!

The Jupiter Howitzer is fired.


* Shinjuku, Sector B17

BLACK KNIGHTS
There's a castle floating over Tokyo Bay?!

INOUE
What's with this intel? Our people must be...

The impact of the Jupiter Howitzer destroys INOUE'S squad.


* Coordination Room (TV Bureau)

A monitor is displaying the terrible spectacle of the crater from the howitzer's impact.

DIETHARD
How could this have happened...?


* Campus (Ashford Academy)

LLOYD and the other Britannians have been taken prisoner, surrounded by the BLACK KNIGHTS, whose weapons are being pointed squarely at them.

CECILE
The Jupiter Howitzer?!

RAKSHATA
—Those words...!


* Britannian Gov. Office

BRITANNIAN SOLDIERS
The Great Britannia...!

It's His Majesty! His Majesty the Emperor is here...!

All hail Britannia!

The BRITANNIAN SOLDIERS' spirits are lifting.

GUILFORD
All right, gather our remaining forces. Now's the time to launch our counterattack!

***

TOUDOU
Disperse! We're easy prey huddled together like this. Asahina! Organize the Suicide Corps. Stop that ship's munitions!

No sooner has TOUDOU spoken, but the impact from the Jupiter Howitzer's attack destroys the ALLY FORCES.

***

TAMAKI
Run for it! We can't win this one!

MINAMI
Run where?!

On the bay, the EMPEROR'S elite personal guards are disembarking in GLOUCESTERS. A coat of arms can be seen (is it a flag?), a sword encircled by serpents.

TAMAKI
That banner!

SUGIYAMA
The Imperial Regiment?!

The BLACK KNIGHTS will be wiped out by the IMPERIAL REGIMENT.


* The Bridge (G1)

OPERATORS
Takeuchi's force has been wiped out!

All Bay-area units, requesting assistance!

They're breaking through our line of defense in GODAN!

A monitor displays a map of the battleground; bit by bit, the BRITANNIAN ARMY is taking control of the region. On another monitor, the SIX HOUSES of Mt. Fuji and those related to them.

KUBOIN
All for naught. Japan's independence, its freedom...

KAGUYA
Zero...


* The Vermilion Forbidden City

A very young EMPRESS is sitting on a throne much too large for her. Beside her stands YANG KWEI-FEI(*).

YANG KEWI-FEI
The Great Britannia has entered Toukyou Bay?

EUNUCH
This will be the end of an independent Japan.

The EUNUCHS sit apart from the EMPRESS and YANG KWEI-FEI, at the lower seats of the table. The MILITARY OFFICERS, too, are seated there.


* Pacific Ocean

...where the bulk of the BRITANNIAN NAVAL FLEET is ADVANCING.

SCHNEIZEL'S VOICE
For His Majesty to personally appear on the front lines...


* Bridge (Main Fleet Flagship)

SCHNEIZEL
...just to suppress a rebellion... no, there must be more to it than that.

His expression is pensive.


* Keep (Great Britannia)

OPERATORS
Incoming transmission from Sir Victor, SETAGAMA Region is under our complete control.

Sir Carmine has made contact with Sir Guilford.

EMPEROR
It's decided17, then?

STAFF OFFICER
As you like. Though you may be worried about Her Highness Cornelia's safety, the others...

SOLDIER via TRANSMISSION
Coming in at 12 o'clock, there's an airframe approaching fast!

STAFF OFFICER
What did you say?

OPERATOR
Identification signal Z-01, unit name...


* The Skies Above Tokyo Bay

OPERATOR'S VOICE
...Lancelot!

The LANCELOT bursts into view.

PILOTS
Stop right there!

This is His Majesty the Emperor's personal warship!

The PILOTS are VTOLing to assume an intercept course, but the LANCELOT breaks right through. The LANCELOT continues on the same vector, and crashes into GREAT BRITANNIA'S gun turret.


* Bridge (Great Britannia)

OPERATORS
Z-01, you have rammed our gun turret on deck 14!

No response from the pilot!

Service Squad #11, moving at high speed!

EMPEROR
'Lancelot'?

STAFF OFFICER
Yes, Your Majesty, Prince Schneizel's...

EMPEROR
Ah, yes. That one.


* Deck 14 Gun Turret (Great Britannia)

...where SERVICE SQUAD #11 is rushing on the scene.

A figure can be made out, through smoke and fire.

SERVICE SQUAD #11
Hey, are you all right?

What's your rank and affiliation?

ZERO'S VOICE
I've been waiting for this moment.

SERVICE SQUAD #11
Huh?

As the smoke clears, the figure within the blaze is revealed. It's ZERO.

ZERO
When you become convinced you've won, in that instant... the seed of your downfall is sown.18

SERVICE SQUAD #11
You, you're Zero!

They draw their pistols. The eye slot on ZERO'S mask opens.

ZERO
Zero commands you. All of you, die!

The members of SERVICE SQUAD #11 are afflicted by his geass.

SERVICE SQUAD #11
Roger that.

They turn their weapons, previously poised to kill ZERO, on themselves — and pull the triggers in unison. ZERO watches placidly to make sure it's done, then turns his attention to the Keep above.

ZERO
Well, well. My turn now.


* KEEP (Great Britannia)

OPERATORS
Rebel army, dispersing.

Sir Victor has reached Shibuya.

Jupiter Howitzer, recharged. Firing!

But the Howitzer is unable to fire.

STAFF OFFICER
What's the matter?

OPERATOR
It seems that...

A monitor showing the Jupiter Howitzer goes dark.

STAFF OFFICER
What?!

One by one, the other monitors begin to go dark.

On a map of the warship's interior, which is divided into sectors, those in the vicinity of the Jupiter Howitzer are beginning to turn red (signifying areas that are being lost to the enemy).

OPERATORS
Monitors for Sector D are unresponsive!

Our systems are being hacked. It's coming from an inside line!

Power out in Block E!

Communications failures are failing throughout the ship!

A group of red-eyed SOLDIERS is in the middle of committing sabotage.

OPERATORS
We're seeing short-circuits all over the place!

Systems are 43% down.

Hurry up and identify the source!

It's no use, we're hemorrhaging power here!


* Data Processing Room

A group of red-eyed OPERATORS are hard at work. ZERO manipulates a neighboring console, confirming his route to the Emperor's chamber.

ZERO
Just watch, C.C. I can do it all myself. I'll get Nunnally back from him. And then...


* Bridge (G1)

KAGUYA and the others watch the battle progress intently.

KUBOUIN
Well, personally, I never was taken in by any of Zero's smooth talk. I always suspected he was only feigning loyalty to Japan...

KAGUYA
It's stopped firing, did you notice?

KUBOUIN
Huh?

KAGUYA
The Jupiter Howitzer. It stopped firing a little while ago.

KUBOIN
Now that you mention it...

An ENEMY attack destroys the Bridge's facade.

KAGUYA
—!

The IMPERIAL REGIMENT has leapt onto the G1 in their GLOUCESTERS, and they loom over the now-exposed Bridge.

PILOT
Die, Elevens!

But, just in time, the GUREN MK II arrives to defend against their attack.

PILOT
What the?!

KALLEN
We're not Elevens. We're Japanese!

KALLEN destroys the GLOUCESTERS.

KAGUYA
The Guren Mk II... Kouzuki Kallen?!


* Cockpit (Guren Mk II)

On the monitor, TOUDOU is displayed.

TOUDOU
You've returned, Kouzuki-kun? Where's Zero?

KALLEN
Safe. Headed for the Great Britannia.

TOUDOU
By himself? That fool...


* Deck (Great Britannia)

...where ZERO is standing.

OPERATOR'S VOICE
It's Zero! Zero has appeared!


* Keep

On a monitor, ZERO'S form is displayed.

STAFF OFFICER
What did you say?!

OPERATORS
Well, it's just that, until now, Zero was... But why?!

STAFF OFFICER
Dispatch the Royal Guard. After all, he's only one man...

OPERATORS
We can't reach Sir Victor.

STAFF OFFICER
What?!

OPERATORS
The Britannian Government Office called on him for support.

ODAIBA Bridgehead has been destroyed.

The rebel army has been launching counterattacks all over the place, distracting our forces.

On the monitor, ZERO points directly at the Keep.

STAFF OFFICER
Zero... could it be, this entire war of independence has been nothing but a stupendous decoy?!


* Deck (Great Britannia)

The GLOUCESTERS belonging to the EMPEROR'S personal guard are rising up out of the Deck.

ROYAL GUARDS
This fool acts like he's the king of this backwater island19!

Let's remind him who his betters are!20

So saying, the ROYAL GUARDS start to rush their target. But ZERO continues walking towards the Keep, without flinching. GLOUCESTER A'S blade is almost within range.

At the last second, SUTHERLAND A appears suddenly from GLOUCESTER A'S flank, and takes the blow.

ROYAL GUARD A
One of our own Knightmares is protecting Zero?!


* Cockpit (Sutherland)

The PILOT at the helm has red eyes.

ZERO'S VOICE
That pilot is under my geass. And my order was...


* Deck (Great Britannia)

ZERO'S VOICE
Protect me with all your might!

PILOTS
Yes, Your Highness!

A large unit of SUTHERLANDS advances on the ROYAL GUARDS.

ROYAL GUARD B
Dammit, scatter them!

The ROYAL GUARDS attack all at once. The result is a chaotic, violent blur of warring Knightmare Frames — and through the center of it, ZERO walks on placidly.


* Cockpit (Guren Mk II)

KALLEN
Now to relay Zero's orders. One by one, first on the Open B line...

As she manipulates the console, ZERO'S image disseminates.


* Cockpit (TOUDOU'S machine)

ZERO
Toudou. Take Squad One and Squad Two on a detour through SAGAMO. The government office's forces will soon be coming out of the interior in an inattentive attempt to surround the building. When they do, strike from the rear.

TOUDOU
Acknowledged!


* Bridge (G1)

ZERO
Gentlepeople of the Six Houses, I beseech you to bring inspiration to the Japanese people.

KAGUYA
Well, that was awfully formal! As your future wife, I wouldn't mind if you were a little more commanding~. ♪


* Coordination Room (TV Bureau)

ZERO
Diethard, begin broadcasting my image now.

On the monitor, ZERO'S image is now projected, walking along the deck of the warship.


* Warship Deck (Great Britannia)

ZERO strolls unconcernedly amidst the battling KMFs.

ZERO'S VOICE
Show the Intelligence Bureau my unaided infiltration of the Great Britannia. This will be a duel, between the Emperor and myself, for the two of us are equals, despite his propaganda.


* Coordination Room (TV Bureau)

DIETHARD
Understood, Zero!

He trembles with emotion.


* TOKYO Settlement

ZERO
Good people! The Britannian Emperor's participation in this war, the disembarkation of the Imperial Regiment — all of this is well-within parameters. There is no need for fear; we have entered the final stage of my strategy.

Oho! The members of the Black Knights pump their fists above their heads.

KALLEN
Lelouch... you've got my faith for now. But if you were willing to shoot a close friend...


* Shrine (Kamine Island)

SUZAKU'S body21 is missing.


* Keep (Great Britannia)

OPERATORS
Confirm your identification signal!

Respond! Who is currently piloting this Frame!

Have we been betrayed? No way...

Suddenly, the EMPEROR lets out a hearty, ringing laugh.

STAFF OFFICER
Your Majesty, what is it?

The EMPEROR is glaring at ZERO on the monitor.

EMPEROR
Fine, then, Zero. It would seem you've earned your personal confrontation...


* Britannia Gov. Office - Interior

One of Clovis's portraits, featuring Lelouch and his immediate family, has fallen to the floor.


* Student Council Room (Clubhouse)

Some of the BLACK KNIGHTS are keeping watch over their hostages: SHIRLEY, RIVALZ, and MILLY. On the floor, what remains of a previously-completed string of 1000 paper cranes lies scattered and carelessly trampled.

SHIRLEY hugs her knees to her chest.

SHIRLEY
Lulu...

She utters his name like a prayer.


* Keep (Great Britannia)

...as ZERO enters it.

In the heart of the Keep, the EMPEROR sits on an enormous throne. There is no one else around.

EMPEROR
So you've come, Zero. Or should I say... Ghost?

ZERO
What do you mean, 'Ghost'?!

EMPEROR
You could not bear to fade into society's herd, but neither could you expose your face where I might see it. You are not alive, but neither are you dead. 'Ghost' is the perfect word for you!

ZERO
Neither alive... nor dead... Yes. Until this moment, that was true.

So saying, ZERO steps forward. Facing the EMPEROR head-on, he walks down the long, red runner that spans the distance between them.

ZERO
On that day, my mother was murdered. On that day, Nunnally lost both the light and her legs.

FLASHBACK: NUNNALLY, being sheltered by her mother's slain body. NUNNALLY, on a hospital bed.

ZERO
All this time, I've been living a lie. My personal history, my very name... nothing by lies. I was sick to death of a world that would never change, but I couldn't let myself give in to the lie of despair...

LELOUCH, looking bored at school. LELOUCH, gambling on chess matches. LELOUCH, riding in the sidecar of RIVALZ'S bike.

ZERO
But then, it came to me... power.

LELOUCH, receiving his geass from C.C.

ZERO
And with that...!

The scene blurs subtly to eight years ago — and the Britannian Palace, where the EMPEROR is taking audiences. ZERO'S mask is gone, and lining either side of the red runner are members of the aristocracy.

ARISTOCRATS
Look at Prince Lelouch's eyes, it's as if he died too.

After what happened to his sister? With her body the way it is, she isn't even useful as a political pawn any longer.

In this race, someone will hitch a ride on her sooner or later...

Heheh, it's a bit early for that change of attitude...

At the far end of the red runner stands LELOUCH as a child. He glares at the EMPEROR, his shoulders trembling with fury and nerves.

A hand settles on the young LELOUCH's shoulders.

LELOUCH
Leave this to me.

So saying, he evinces a small smile.

Then the scene wipes back to reality — and the deserted Keep. Before one's eyes, the EMPEROR.

EMPEROR
Zero... this mayhem in my ship, and this latest uprising... it's all been part of your scenario?

ZERO
That's right. All of this has been a plot to manipulate you to this point.

EMPEROR
Ha! For that, you used Area 11 and the Japanese?

ZERO
I won't choose just any means to reach my ends. Though I'd rather not acknowledge it, we do share blood... Father!22

EMPEROR
...

ZERO
Had you forgotten? Before you stands the eldest child of the late Empress Marianne, seventeenth in line for your throne: Lelouch vi Britannia.

As he speaks, ZERO throws down his mask (while sliding his hand over his face, concealing his left eye from the EMPEROR; even though he isn't currently invoking it, the geass sigil still mars his eye).

LELOUCH
But now I've returned, to change everything!

EMPEROR
Everything! Bold words, Lelouch.

LELOUCH
I'll show you I can do it. With all the power of the Emperor of Britannia, you couldn't protect even one woman you loved — but I'm not like you!

EMPEROR
Are you saying you plan to become Emperor of Britannia?

LELOUCH
Even if it means making myself the enemy of the whole world, even if it means killing my closest friend with my own hands23, I'll show you I can protect Nunnally. And so...

Finally, LELOUCH looks up at the EMPEROR, away from his mask. In his left eye, the geass sigil is visible.

LELOUCH
Lelouch vi Britannia commands you to...

EMPEROR
You foooooool!

As he roars, a geass sigil flares to life in the EMPEROR'S eyes.

LELOUCH
Geass?!

LELOUCH'S eyes widen in shock. BOTH of them use their geasses in the same instant (but the EMPEROR is faster).

A blue world of synapses. Within it, the EMPEROR'S memories and LELOUCH's memories are...

...blending together in the World of C.

A nine-year-old LELOUCH makes his request at an audience with the EMPEROR.

Young children, with the geass sigil on their foreheads.

The Aries Villa, MARIANNE and LELOUCH with his SIBLINGS. They look happy.

Kamine Island, two children stand before the shrine. V.V. and V.V., a pair of identical boys (one of them is the EMPEROR in his youth, and his forehead lacks the geass sigil).

Jupiter.

Then, with sudden clarity, an image of MARIANNE. She is wearing an experimental pilot suit. From the letters of her name, wiring emerges.24

MARIANNE
They call it the 'sigil of the gods'. Isn't that a lovely phrase?

LELOUCH
Mother!

(*) SIGIL OF THE GODS

In Jungian psychology (where the concept of 'collective unconsciousness' was proposed), the core of the heart ('soul') was the selbst ('self'). For the religious, 'sigil of the gods' is a phrase best avoided. When MARIANNE uses it, she's speaking more generally, about the Ragnarok Connection system.


* Garden (Ashford Academy)

A flock of birds takes flight (from here on, it's one year later).

From here, it looks like very little has changed about the campus.


* Passageway (leading to a dimly-lit basement)

Click-clack, the sound of high-heeled footsteps echoes.

The heels belong to VILLETTA. Her appearance indicates that she has been granted the rank of Baron. She steps forward, and opens a heavy-looking iron door to reveal...

A young man, bound by chains. His hands have been spread wide apart, and he had bowed his head. His positioning resembles the crucifixion of Christ.

VILLETTA
Not so defiant now25, are you, Zero. Or should I say...

Slowly, the youth lifts his face. It's LELOUCH. The geass sigil is absent from his eye.

VILLETTA
...Lelouch Lamperouge?

END (200 words, 82 pages)

(*) On analysis, this character does not seem to appear in the production version of R2.