HOME | DD

Description
Ikebukuro station, 11:13 a.m. Lelouch ran into the station and stopped next to a train, panting. Jeremiah slowly walked towards him.

Jeremiah: Lelouch Lamperouge.
Lelouch: Hello, Orange. Good to see you, again.
Jeremiah: Nickname Orange...not recognized.
Lelouch: Didn't do your homework, huh? That's pretty peculiar of you...for an Agent of Civility.
Jeremiah: (pauses) Your intellect has impressed me. How did you know?
Lelouch: Jeremiah doesn't talk like a Terminator, for one thing. Another is that Jeremiah wasn't shot in the throat. You were. That narrowed down the options for your identity, pretty well, I'd say.
Jeremiah: What is your point, brat?
Lelouch: Alistair, would you mind filling in the blanks?

Alistair walked into the station, looking at Jeremiah.

Alistair: Hello, again, Maine. Durable bastard, aren't you?

Meanwhile, outside the shopping center, Suzaku and Shirley were safely outside as people were panicking.

Suzaku: Guess we found the problem Lelouch was talking about.
Shirley: It might not just be one guy, Suzaku. Lelouch might be in more trouble.
Suzaku: He can handle this. He's always got a plan.
Shirley: There might be someone else, in there.
Suzaku: I promised Lelouch that-
Shirley: I know what you promised him! Which is why we need to see if anyone else is still there!
Suzaku: You...don't want to go, alone?
Shirley: No! That's suicide!
Suzaku: If you say so. (hands Shirley a pistol) Don't worry. It doesn't have a faulty trigger. Euphie gave me that one.
Shirley: I like it. Let's move.

Back at the station, Lelouch slowly brought out a detonator switch, from behind him, trying to hide it from the controlled Jeremiah.

Jeremiah: I have nothing to say, to you.
Alistair: Fort Helios crashing did that much damage, to you? Even your brain?
Jeremiah: Yes. The parts of my brain that were damaged were replaced with artificial parts. I no longer care for you, only for my missions that I am given.
Alistair: And, you have to use Jeremiah, to do it?
Jeremiah: Yes.
Alistair: You're not even supposed to be alive, Maine. The damage you took, during that crash...you should have died, that day. You can't go on, as you are.
Jeremiah: It no longer matters. I no longer care. Even if I must use this pitiful excuse for a cyborg, that reminds me of you.
Lelouch: Then, I suggest you let him go!

Lelouch pressed the button on the switch, and Gefjun Disturbers emerged from the tops of the train cars, stopping Jeremiah.

Jeremiah: What...?! Sakuradite...?!
Alistair: Guess Civility couldn't fix that part, huh?

Meanwhile, Shirley looked around the shopping center, hearing pained yells in the station.

Shirley: Yeah... Lelouch has that under control.

Shirley heard a girl sniffling, and went that direction. Shirley saw a Japanese girl, a little older than her, crying.

Shirley: Hey... What's wrong?
Japanese Girl: I... I was waiting for my big brother, here... And, that Orange guy looked at me, like he was going to kill me...!
Shirley: Your brother?
Japanese Girl: Yeah... He's in the Mavericks, and he's fighting the Enclave, protecting this part of Japan.
Shirley: There's nothing to be afraid of. There's no other threat, here. (hands girl her pistol) You'll need this, more than I will.
Japanese Girl: (smiles) Thanks. You're right. Alistair's here, too.
Shirley: Get yourself to safety.
Japanese Girl: I will! (stands up) Um...what's your name?
Shirley: Shirley.
Japanese Girl: I won't forget this, Shirley. Thank you. (runs off)
Shirley: So, this is what Alistair feels, every day.
Rolo: (walks towards Shirley) Shirley?

Back at the station, Jeremiah yelled in pain as the Gefjun Disturbers disabled his movements. Alistair saw something sparking, on the back of his head and pulled off a microchip.

Alistair: Survive this!

Alistair climbed to the top of a train car and put the microchip against the Gefjun Disturber, destroying it, seconds later.

Alistair: Lelouch, cut it, now!

Lelouch turned off the Gefjun Disturbers and Alistair checked on Jeremiah, who was kneeling down.

Alistair: Jeremiah! You alright!?
Jeremiah: (pants, opens eyes) Alistair...?
Alistair: You had me worried sick.
Jeremiah: I was...kidnapped, I'm afraid. The explosions at Kamine hit the Siegfried, and I crashed into the ocean. I resisted to the best of my ability, but...
Alistair: It's alright, you're safe, now.
Jeremiah: Thank you. You've saved me, again. My loyalty is forever yours, Alistair. Knight Sergeant Jeremiah Gottwald, requesting permission to return to duty.
Alistair: Granted. (helps Jeremiah to his feet) Though, with all the crap you've been through, you'll need a better rank. A rank that only fits an ace of your abilities and reputation. (pauses) I've got it! Revenant. From here on, you are Revenant Jeremiah Gottwald.
Jeremiah: I thank you, Alistair.
Lelouch: (approaches Alistair and Jeremiah) You're alright, now?
Jeremiah: Yes. I'm sorry for any trouble I've caused- (eyes widen) Lelouch?
Lelouch: ...How do you know my name?
Jeremiah: (tears up) Lelouch... (gets on hands and knees) I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!
Lelouch: What are you talking about?! What is this?!
Jeremiah: (looks at Lelouch, removes mask) Don't you remember me? I was stationed at your home.
Lelouch: (gasps) You...?! You were there, when I met Hawking!
Jeremiah: I pulled you off that wall, but... I failed to protect Lady Marianne! Out of grief, I created the Pureblood faction! I was blind, Lelouch! Blinded by my own misplaced loyalty! I conformed to Britannia's standards, forgetting that I witnessed Hawking's actions, firsthand! I failed you, Lelouch! I failed Lady Marianne, and I failed Nunnally! I know that deep in your heart, you hate me-!
Lelouch: I don't! I don't blame you for not protecting my mom! It's not your fault! Don't blame yourself for events that you had no control over!
Jeremiah: (wipes tears from eyes) Did you become Zero, for Nunnally's sake?
Lelouch: I did. And, she's become a badass, much like you have.
Jeremiah: Then...I swear my loyalty to you and Nunnally, as well. We will make the ones who killed your mother pay. This, I swear!
Lelouch: Thank you, Revenant Jeremiah Gottwald.
Jeremiah: Please...call me Orange.
Lelouch: (chuckles) You've grown to like it, huh?
Jeremiah: I've discarded the mistakes of my past, and chose the path of atonement. With the codename you gave me, I have gained a name, for my loyalty.
Alistair: I think you and I need to head somewhere, Jeremiah. There's a spare train, somewhere, and I really wanna show you this part of Japan.
Jeremiah: I would be honored, sir.

Meanwhile, Rolo looked at Shirley, below the station.

Shirley: Rolo? What are you doing, here?
Rolo: I came here to protect Lelouch.
Shirley: So did I. But, he's got things covered, I think.
Rolo: Good. That's good.
Shirley: Hey, Rolo?
Rolo: ...What?
Shirley: How come you haven't talked to Nunnally, yet?
Rolo: You know, I'm getting sick and tired of hearing that stupid god damn question.
Shirley: How is it stupid? She's your family-
Rolo: (yells in anger) Shut up! What the hell does that even mean!? Am I meaningless!? Huh!? Am I not his real family, anymore!? I've had it with people saying that! I'm Lelouch's brother! I'm the only family he has! (pulls out knife, Geass forms on eye)
Shirley: What are you talking about?! If you're Lelouch's brother, that makes you Nunnally's brother, too!
Rolo: (lowers knife, slowly calms down) What?
Shirley: You know how Lelouch's childhood was, right?
Rolo: He... His mom died. He was the Emperor of Ego's son, and fled to Japan.
Shirley: Nunnally was shot in the legs, when their mom died. Ever since, he's had to take care of her. Alone.
Rolo: That's... That's right. But...
Shirley: I know about your past, Rolo. As an assassin. But, that's not who you are. You're the brother of Lelouch and Nunnally Lamperouge. It's not just you and Lelouch, anymore.
Rolo: I've...never had a family, to begin with. And... And, I thought that...
Shirley: Lulu does need you, Rolo. You're his family. And, Nunnally could use another protective brother, like you.
Rolo: (tears up) All this time... I was so possessive... (Geass fades from his eye) Like a psychotic girlfriend. (chuckles, puts away knife) Go on, Shirley. Get the hell out of here. I'll protect your boyfriend. Or...should I say future husband?
Shirley: (giggles) Another sister, to care for?
Rolo: You'd be the first in-law I'd ever have, that's for sure.
Shirley: Yeah. I'd better not worry Suzaku, anymore. See you, later.

Shirley high-fived Rolo as she walked towards the exit.

Rolo: Alright... I have a sister, too. Nunnally... (blinks twice) Was I...seriously so pissed at a girl with a cool yet cute name? (sighs) I'm gonna need some psychiatric evaluations, at some point.