"He's excellent material, this Zero! He's chaos incarnate! More, show me more of your genius! Let your ego engulf the world!

- Diethard Reid, Black Knights Director of Media Relations, 2017 a.t.b.

-Mission 09: Betrayal from Within-

Pacific Ocean, Okinawa Island
August 24th, 2018 a.t.b., Imperial Calendar
18:25 local time

"More to the right! C'mon guys! Sun is setting, move your asses!"

Heero casually walked through the busy warehouse as the techs and other grunts of the Black Knights moved equipment and supplies in to what would be their temporary base of operations.

It hadn't been long after he finished training and been assigned to Zero Squadron that Zero announced they had found somewhere that the Britannian Navy would be least likely to search for them: Okinawa Island. It was home to a former Japanese Liberation Front base, but was abandoned shortly after they were wiped out in the months leading up to the Black Rebellion.

Being assigned to Zero Squadron fit Heero just fine. Kallen Kozuki was a remarkable pilot and a competent commander. The few others in her unit were more skilled than the average Black Knight, but none of them came close to rivaling himself or Kallen.

The two of them had sparred a few more times in the simulators. Heero wasn't one to really give praise, but even he admitted that had Kallen been born in the After Colony era, she would have made a perfect Gundam pilot.

Training with Kallen also allowed Heero to learn more about knightmare frames. She even showed him the ins and outs of her Guren. He didn't care for the motorcycle-style seat, but other than that he could see why it was held in such high regard. In his spare time, he also watched combat footage of her fights with another advanced knightmare, the Lancelot. For a knightmare, it too was impressive. It's weaponry and agility fit more of what Heero would consider "his" style. It even had a weapon similar to a beam rifle or buster rifle: a VARIS rifle.

I could always steal one of Britannia's knightmares, he thought as he avoided a forklift moving a pallet full of computer equipment. But then again, if I could get my hands on the designs somehow, and incorporate them with some of the mobile suit and Gundam blueprints I have with me from my world, maybe I could arrange for a knightmare of my own to be built..

It was a thought that had crossed his mind a few times the more he learned about the more advanced knightmare frames. He also knew that the Black Knights had their own engineer; the one who had built the Guren. Rakshata, he believed her name was. He hadn't met her in person yet as she and some other members were still on their way over from India.

Heero knew it would be a huge risk to share any of his world's tech, and not because it would raise a lot of questions. The floppy disks he recovered from the crashed shuttle had the designs of every single mobile suit he had encountered in the One Year War. From what he had seen, building any mobile suit would be a serious challenge with the tech this world had at its disposal. Hell, a knightmare frame would come up to maybe the knee, if that, of a Leo; let alone a Gundam.

And then there was the destructive force of his world's technology. It's why he was so fearful of Wing Zero falling into the wrong hands. But if he could find his Gundam, then this whole war would be over in a matter of days. Nothing the enemy had came close to matching Wing Zero's power or size.

It made Heero wonder what a Gundam-knightmare hybrid would be like. Sure, this world had no Gundanium alloy and weaker weaponry, but building a knightmare to look and even function like a mobile suit would still be feasible, at least in theory. The only issue was flight-capability, though he had learned from Kallen that flight tech was in development. The Black Knights had stolen an experimental Britannian knightmare last year called the Gawain. Unfortunately though, it was destroyed in the Black Rebellion.

For now, he'd keep the mobile suit designs a secret and settle with whatever the Black Knights could scrounge up. But if the opportunity to steal an advanced enemy knightmare presented itself, he would take it.

Heero exited the warehouse and was surprised to see a familiar teenage boy sitting by the docks, staring off into the sunset. He didn't turn around when Heero approached.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Lelouch said. "I never tire of watching the sunset."

Heero impassively glanced at the disappearing twilight. "The sunset isn't something I usually think about. What are you doing out here, Lelouch? Shouldn't you be helping Zero?"

"I was, but he gave me a break," Lelouch said.

How convenient, Heero thought. Something he had noticed in the few times he had interacted with Lelouch was that he and Zero were never in the same room at the same time. In fact, he saw more of Zero than Lelouch. It made him suspicious. Who really was Lelouch, anyway? Sure Zero said he was a valuable advisor whose strategic brilliance was unrivaled, but since they had yet to head into battle, the only experience Heero had to go off of was when they broke out of Kiriara Island Prison. Needless to say, so far he wasn't impressed.

" I see you're taking a break as well."

Heero shrugged. "Not much else I can do after helping move the knightmare frames inside. The rest of what we need is just tech and supplies, and we have plenty enough help for that."

"You have a point," Lelouch said, turning to face Heero. "Heero, can I ask you something? What do you think about Zero?"

Heero gave him a puzzled look. "Depends on what you mean."

"I mean, not just as a leader, but his ideals. Do you believe in the army of justice he's trying to turn the Black Knights into?"

Heero stayed silent for a moment, carefully pondering his answer before replying. "I'll say this. Zero strikes me as a competent commander. He has the charisma to draw others to his cause and unite them; a valuable trait in any leader. His ideals sound good on paper, though I've found that the concept of 'justice' is different for every person. I'll have to see how Zero does when the Black Knights reveal themselves to the world again to get a better read on him."

Lelouch nodded. "That's fair. But what about his actions in the past?"

"The way he made his debut in Japan took guts, and the way he led the Black Knights against the criminal underground was admirable. However, I think the Black Knights tried to oust Britannia too quickly. Even with support from other Japanese resistance cells, Zero had to have realized that the forces he had would be no match against an empire that had conquered a large swath of the world."

"If you were Zero, what would you have done?" Lelouch asked.

"I would have continued with guerrilla warfare operations against Britannia while reaching out to other nations for help. Japan is only one colony. Even if the Black Rebellion had succeeded, what would stop the Britannians from staging another invasion? Or even wiping out Japan altogether? Sakuradite is valuable, yes, but I'm sure Britannia could find other power sources for their weapons and equipment if they really needed to."

"I see," Lelouch said, deep in thought as he processed Heero's words. I agree we needed more allies, but what else was I supposed to do at the time?! The Japanese were calling for blood after what Euphie did at the SAZ thanks to my runaway Geass. I would have been stupid not to have capitalized on their hatred and used the massacre as a rallying cry.

"Taking back Japan would have legitimized the Black Knights in the face of the world," Lelouch said. "Enemies of Britannia would have naturally sought an alliance with us."

Heero shook his head. "Maybe, but that's an awful big assumption. Remember this war is bigger than just Japan. The E.U. and the Chinese Federation are fighting just as hard against Britannia, but they have their own agendas and much bigger armies. Zero's actions and his ability to forge alliances will ultimately determine who wins this war."

Lelouch was silent as Heero excused himself, walking back inside the makeshift base. It was clear that the mysterious soldier was far smarter than he let on. Experienced, even. It made Lelouch all the more suspicious.

Just who is this guy? he thought. He speaks like a war veteran, not an upstart teenager. So long as he continues following orders, I'll leave him be for now. If he becomes a problem, I'll deal with it then. Besides, now that we are back near Japan, I have to figure out how the Black Knights will make their return, not to mention what to do about these false memories...

Pacific Ocean, Okinawa Island
August 24th, 2018 a.t.b., Imperial Calendar
20:41 local time

"Lelouch, this has to be one of the dumbest plans you've ever come up with! You'd be alone with no support. There's no way I'd be able to go with you. I'd be arrested on the spot."

Lelouch inwardly sighed at Kallen's words. C.C. chose to stay silent, but he could see the beginnings of a small smirk on her face.

He knew this would be a tough conversation, and not just because Kallen had been giving him the cold shoulder. The only reason why she was even in Zero's office with C.C. was because she was Zero's bodyguard and the only other Black Knight who knew Zero's true identity. At least, as far as he knew.

"I don't like it either, Kallen, but returning to Ashford is the only way I can think of to get some answers. From what I've gathered after sorting through these false memories my father implanted, the intention was to send me back to Ashford with someone named Rolo. My father erased all memories of Nunnally and replaced them with Rolo. Who knows if he did the same to everyone else who knew us? Our friends could be in danger."

"They could, but did you take a moment to consider that you returning is something they are hoping for? What if they capture you on the spot and erase your memory again? We only just got you back, Lelouch!" Kallen exclaimed.

"Kallen's right," C.C. chimed in. "You saw firsthand how powerful Charles' own Geass is. He probably has agents waiting for you to return. What would you do? Return to Ashford and act as if his block on your memories is still intact?"

"Precisely," Lelouch said. "More than likely they were going to use me to try and lure you out, C.C. If they think this 'false life' of mine is still intact I highly doubt they will take me back to Britannia. Plus, it could help throw off suspicion that I am Zero again once we're ready to return to the world stage. I know it's a risk, but we have no idea what is going on at Ashford. It's the only lead I have to find Nunnally. If it also means the safety of our friends on the Student Council, then that's a bonus."

"What about the Black Knights, Lelouch?" Kallen asked. "This isn't the time to live a double life again. We need Zero now more than ever!"

"Unfortunately, we can't do anything at the present moment. Our forces are still weak and the supplies from India are only now starting to arrive. I estimate it will be at least a month before we can make any significant moves. I want to give the Japanese hope again, yes. But we also have the element of surprise right now. It'd be foolish not to take advantage of that and strike only when we're ready. Allies will naturally flock to our cause if we can demonstrate that this time, the Black Knights are playing for keeps. We could even possibly approach the E.U. or Chinese Federation."

Lelouch's watch beeped and caught his attention. "Looks like it's time for Zero's big speech. We'll talk more about this tomorrow."

Kallen gave him a curt nod and left without another word. C.C. stood up from Lelouch's desk as the demon grabbed his Zero mask. He stared sadly at the door where Kallen had just left before putting the mask on. The wedge between them only continued to deepen by the day.

The inside of the hanger was brimming with excitement as members of the Black Knights gathered for Zero's return address. Finally they would be learning about what their next move would be against Britannia. Hopes were high now that things seemed to be on track for the Black Knights to stage another Black Rebellion.

Fools, thought one man as he watched from above on a catwalk. You're all nothing but sheep with Zero as your shepherd. Are you all really so eager to be thrown to the Britannian wolves again?! He's not fit to lead us!

Yoshihiro Ryosaki grit his teeth as he watched his fellow Black Knights stand in front of a raised platform. If things were like they had been a year and a half ago, he would have gladly stood with them.

But no, not after the Black Rebellion. Not after he watched four of his comrades die in front of his eyes just as they stood on the fringe of kicking Britannia out of Japan. What should have been a victory and revenge for his parents and younger sister's deaths at the hands of Britannia turned into a slaughter...and it was all due to the so-called "Man of Miracles."

He left us all to die, and these fucking idiots don't care! How can they all blindly accept him again!?

They may accept him, but he won't. No, Zero has to pay for what he did.

He grimly smiled as he began to assemble the pieces of a sniper rifle he "borrowed" from the armory.

"My fellow Black Knights, hear me!" Zero bellowed to the hanger, arms spread wide open. "I stand before you once again thanks to the efforts of our brave comrades. As you know, I and most of you were captured during the Black Rebellion. But thanks to those who escaped that fateful day and later staged a daring rescue, we are back and stronger than ever! We even have new members that have decided to join our cause!"

Zero let the crowd cheer before he continued. "You have all worked hard to help us rebuild, and for that I thank you. I'm pleased to say that supplies are continuing to come in from our allies in India, and now that we have a temporary base of operations, it's time for me to announce what's next in our fight against Britannia!"

He swept a hand in front of his mask. "As many of you know, Japan has suffered greatly since the Black Rebellion," Zero continued. "The Japanese people are oppressed even worse than before! Husbands and wives live in fear for their wellbeing and their children's wellbeing! Living conditions are unbearable, and all the while the Britannian elite continue to squander resources and live in lavish bliss!"

He stood forward as he made a fist. "This WILL NOT STAND ANY LONGER! My time as a captive of Britannia only strengthened my resolve! We may have lost the battle, but we have certainly not lost the war! Mark this day carefully, for in exactly one month we will make our grand return to the world stage! I will reveal more as the date draws closer, but know that we will make sure Britannia trembles in fear as Zero and his Black Knights return to pass judgment on this world! Japan WILL BE FREE! THIS I PROMISE YOU! LONG LIVE JAPAN!"

The crowd went wild hearing Zero's words, repeatedly chanting with fists held high. "LONG LIVE JAPAN!"

Heero watched from behind on the stage, standing with the rest of the members of Zero Squadron. He didn't exactly feel comfortable being up here with the masked vigilante, but the senior command staff and Zero Squadron were all invited to stand with him. He didn't see Lelouch, but figured he was somewhere in the crowd.

Zero talks and acts the part, but I wonder if he's really the miracle worker everyone says he is, Heero thought.

While he was looking out at the chanting crowd, a glint of something metallic above caught his eye.

His eyes widened when he saw a man with a sniper rifle pointed right at Zero.

Purely on instinct, Heero rushed up to Zero, tackling him to the ground just as a gunshot rang out. He felt a tinge of pain in his chest before he lost consciousness.

Fuck, I missed! Ryosaki swore as he hastily stood up and ran down the catwalk, ignoring the yells and screams from below. Before he could reach the end, a familiar woman with green hair stepped out from around the corner, a pistol in her hand.

"Miss C.C!" Ryosaki exclaimed. "There was a gunshot up here! I was only-"

"You nearly killed my partner," C.C. said with a hint of rage. "Anyone who threatens my partner or my contract will die."

Ryosaki's reply turned into gurgling as a bullet punctured his throat. Two more shots to the chest sent him sprawling to the floor. He was dead before he hit the ground.

No alarms sounded as Heero vaulted over the fence of the new Alliance base he had been scoping out. He ran as fast as he could, taking a tumble on the grassy field on the hill.

He laughed, enjoying the thrill of how easy it had been to get in and out without anyone noticing. He watched the artificial clouds inside the colony drift above as the silhouette of a little girl obscured his vision. She giggled at his surprise.

"Hi there, are you lost?" she asked. Heero didn't reply as he sat up, noticing the puppy she had with her. "I said, are you lost?" she asked."I've been lost ever since the day I was born," he said, looking down forlornly."Oh, that's so sad," she said. "Well, I'm not lost at all! I'm taking Mary for a walk."

She laughed as she knelt down to the puppy licking her face. Heero smiled slightly at the sight. He was surprised when the girl presented him with a flower.

"Here, I'll give you this flower," she said. Her puppy saw something and started barking, dragging g the little girl along."Hey! Wait for me, Mary!" she laughed as Heero watched her run off. He watched her disappear before looking down at the yellow flower the girl had given him.

He returned to the base later that evening. Getting in and out without being noticed while planting the bombs had been as easy as it had been earlier in the day. Outside the fence, he held out the detonator and pressed it, watching impassively as the base exploded in several brilliant fireballs, taking with it several new Leo mobile suits.

"Mission..complete," he said as he turned around to head back to the base. Another explosion caught his attention. He watched in horror as one of the Leos exploded and fell over. The blast sent another Leo tumbling into a nearby apartment building.

Heero threw the detonator on the ground and ran toward the building. The Leo exploded, the force of the blast nearly knocking him off his feet.

He could only watch on, unshed tears in his eyes as he realized the number of innocent lives that had likely just been lost. He held on tightly to the flower the girl had given him.

He returned to the area the next morning. Lost, he wandered through the ruins of the building, the flames long since extinguished. Ash looked like snowflakes as it fell around him.

He didn't find any bodies, at least at first. A piece of what was once a dress caught around part of an iron truss caught his attention. Below it...was what appeared to be the same puppy that had been with the little girl.

Gently, he picked up the body, cradling it in his arms. He took one last look around before leaving the ruins. The area around him noticeably darkened as he heard two familiar voices around him.

"That's ludicrous! You're suggesting using a Gundam as a tool for massacre?"

"THIS IS WAR! It is no big deal sacrificing the general public. GOT IT!? Now retrain him at once! The humane feeling of kindness...is unnecessary for our new weapon."

"You're right there. But do you really believe Heero Yuy would be pleased if we buried his humanity?"

Heero's hand immediately reached for a weapon as he started to wake up. He instantly regretted it as pain surged through his chest.

The white walls of what he guessed was a medical facility came into focus. His thoughts still dwelt on the dream...no, the memory of that day.

He hadn't thought of it in a very long time. In fact, he had done everything he could to not remember it. It had happened only a few months before he took off for Earth in the Wing Gundam. He had given the puppy's body a proper burial not far from the apartment building along with the flower before returning to base. For weeks after, the face of that little girl and her puppy had haunted him every time he closed his eyes.

Voices just outside his room caught his attention. The door gently opened as a doctor walked in, followed closely by Zero and Kallen.

"Ah, you're awake," the doctor said. "I'm Dr. Hoshi. You're a brave lad, and strong too. Amazing it only took you one day to regain consciousness after taking a bullet to the chest. You're very lucky, young man. The bullet went right through and missed your vital organs. It'll take some more time to heal, but you should be out of here in a few days. I'm amazed at your body's remarkable recovery speed!"

"That's good to hear, doctor," Zero said as he stepped forward. "Heero, I can't thank you enough for what you did. If you had been a second later, I probably wouldn't be here right now."

"Who was the enemy?" Heero asked. "A Britannian spy?"

"No, he was one of ours. A Black Knight who had become disillusioned by the Black Rebellion's failure," Zero said. "He has been dealt with. But I must know something, Heero. How did you know the shot was coming?"

"I saw a glint of something metallic on the catwalk," Heero said. "When I recognized it was a sniper rifle, I figured the target must have been you. Don't remember much after that."

"I see," Zero said. "In that case, I have no more questions. However, there is one more thing I need to discuss with you. Doctor, can you leave the room for awhile?"

He nodded and left, leaving just Kallen and Zero in the room. Heero was surprised when a slot opened on Zero's mask. He found himself staring into the red symbol of what looked like a bird. Its glow mystified him as he felt a presence enter his mind.

"Lelouch vi Britannia commands you...answer my questions and obey my orders!"

Zero watched as the red light of Geass lit around Heero's irises. He felt Kallen shift uncomfortably at his side, but he ignored her.

"Now then, tell me the truth. Did you know the man in the hanger that fired the shot?"

"No."

"Are you affiliated with Britannia in any way?"

"No."

"What is your real purpose here? Where do you come from?"

"I..." Heero started, before something happened that Lelouch certainly didn't expect. He watched in shock as the light started to flicker in Heero's eyes. He gripped the sheets as he closed his eyes, fighting with every ounce of strength he could.

"No..." he said, gritting his teeth. "...I can't. NO!"

"Stop it, Lelouch!" Kallen yelled. "He's not an enemy, he saved your life!"

"I have to know for sure!" Lelouch argued.

"He'll die if he keeps struggling like this! Cancel your Geass!"

Lelouch watched a moment longer as Heero fought on, causing his wound to bleed through his bandages.

"You're right," he growled before turning to Heero. "Heero Yuy, you will not remember anything after the doctor leaving the room."

The red light left Heero's eyes as he calmed down, breathing heavy. He groaned as he held the area where his wound bled through again.

"What happened?" he asked.

"You passed out on us," Zero said. "Be careful Heero, you're not fully healed yet. We'll need you in the coming weeks ahead. Get some rest, I'll get the doctor to change your bandages."

Heero nodded and closed his eyes as Zero and Kallen left. For some reason...he felt as if he had just fought for his life.

What just happened...

"What in the hell was that, Lelouch!?" Kallen yelled after they had returned to Zero's room.

"As I told you, I had to be sure," Lelouch said as he took off his mask, setting it on the table. "The timing of that incident, how quickly he reacted...it was all too convenient. What else was I supposed to think, Kallen?!"

"He saved your life! I would think you'd be grateful! If he really was after you, he would have just let you be shot. He didn't! He took the bullet for you, even!"

"It could have been a setup, an attempt to get me to lower my guard. At least I know now he's not with Britannia. Who knows what they may try!"

"They don't even know you're alive, you baka!" Kallen said. "Heero isn't like that! He had plenty of opportunities to get rid of you already. You're being paranoid! And now if you ever needed to use your Geass on him, you can't because you just wasted it!"

Lelouch sighed, trying to calm himself down. "Maybe you're right..."

"Maybe?! I AM right, Lelouch! You can't win this war on your own. You need to trust people! Commanding them to do what you want with your Geass will only get you so far."

"You mean like you?" Lelouch asked.

"Yes! Are you saying you don't trust me?!"

"Of course I trust you, Kallen! You're my Q-1 after all."

"You have a funny way of showing it, Lelouch," Kallen argued. "I can't tell who I'm speaking to half the time. Where's the line, Lelouch? Where does Zero end and Lelouch begin? When are you finally going to tell me who you really are?!"

Before Lelouch could reply, the door opened revealing C.C. "Oh, am I interrupting something?" she asked.

"No. I was just leaving," Kallen said as she marched out of the room, slamming the door behind her. C.C. only had to take one look at Lelouch's face to guess what had happened.

"You used your Geass on Heero, didn't you?" she stated as Lelouch poured himself a drink. "Was it worth it?"

"I don't know," Lelouch muttered as he downed it and poured himself another.

That will do it for now. Apologies for the long delay, things are a lot different in the year since the last update. The main change is I'm back in my home state with a new job, and while things aren't perfect they are much better than they were.

I know there wasn't a lot going on this chapter. Things will start moving along next time though as Lelouch makes a decision not just about Heero, but what his next course of action will be.

By the way, if you want some more Kallen/Lelouch, I just published a new one-shot titled Healing a Demon. It's a spiritual successor to my other Kallen/Lelouch one-shot, To Love a Demon.

Anyway, thanks for reading and please leave a review and let me know what you think so far!

See you next mission,

-Sheik