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Nearby Ashford Academy, 11:21 a.m. A laptop screen showed images of a man with short, combed chestnut hair and brown eyes, wearing glasses and a business suit, the symbols behind the images belonging to the Atlas Corporation.

Alistair: Charlie Atlas. If there’s one guy that’s given private military companies, lone mercenaries, Civility, the Confederate Enclave and any bad guy willing to pay cold hard cash enough weapons to start a war, it’s this prick. Every armor design, every gun design, every ammunition type that isn’t based on any of the above made today, his company has made.
Lelouch: So, all that stuff that unorganized criminals used, during the Britannia, Renegades and Primebloods triple threat came from him?
Alistair: Bingo. Now, he’s dipping his foot into the Knightmare-making business. As far as I can tell, everyone everywhere else has their own blueprints for a Knightmare Frame. Countries Britannia didn’t take over, weapons manufacturers, dotcoms, you name it. Fortunately, the weapon creation side of Atlas hasn’t perfected any Frames.
Lelouch: Wait, there’s more to Atlas, Incorporated?
Alistair: Food development, automobiles, TV shows, real estate, the list goes on. Atlas is the top company that profited from Hawking’s reign over America. Anybody that’s ever tried to sue the company has never won against Charlie Atlas. He was allowed to do anything, to make the plaintiffs pay him, rather than the other way around.
Lelouch: His victories in court aren’t legit, though. They were under Hawking’s rules.
Alistair: Exactly. Without Hawking’s apocalypse backing him up, Atlas doesn’t know what he’s up against.
Lelouch: I’ve got a text message set up, in case he tries to play dirty.
Alistair: Saved me the trouble of planning it out. Nice.

Upon the closing of the laptop, Alistair and Lelouch were walking next to each other, heading for the Ashford Academy gymnasium, Lelouch having permission to help Alistair in the case against the Atlas Corporation’s claims and requesting that it be changed to a courtroom setting for others to see. The two of them were back in their Ashford uniforms, Alistair not wearing his hat, this time around. Milly was reporting on the situation as the two entered, and they saw Rivalz and Shirley waiting for them.

Rivalz: Preparations complete, guys!
Alistair: Nicely done, Rivalz. Just try not to get bored with what our bad guy has to say… Ah, what the hell, do it anyway, it’s a natural reaction.
Shirley: Let us be with you, for the trial. Please.
Lelouch: Sure.
Alistair: Sure about this, Shirley?
Shirley: I can’t sneak, let alone fight.
Alistair: Fair enough. Just leave the more out loud reactions to the judges and ourselves, please.
Shirley: And, the judges happen to be…?
Alistair: Ohgi, Seth and other politicians in the UFN.

In an adjacent room, Ohgi, Seth, Kaguya, Xingke and Tianzi were talking to each other, about the upcoming debate.

Seth: I’m telling you this, now, don’t fall for his BS. He likes the sound of his own voice, so let him wear himself out.
Ohgi: Considering he willingly worked with Hawking, that’s a given. By the way, why’s the Empress here with us?
Xingke: She’s working on her self-esteem. Her request, actually.
Tianzi: I may not know everything about what’s going on, but I know a bad person when I see one.
Kaguya: Xingke and I have your back. Looks like it’s just us five, for this job.
Seth: We’ll make it through this. The other leaders of the UFN are too busy rebuilding their countries from Britannia’s mess.
Ohgi: Right… Let’s go.

A few minutes later, and several students and reporters gathered in the audience area, Charlie Atlas and several lawyers in suits entering and sitting at the prosecution side, while Alistair, Lelouch, Rivalz and Shirley were at the defense side.

Charlie Atlas: How do you do, Alistair Wake?
Alistair: Pretty good, considering I broke all your crap, a long time ago.
Atlas: Cute comment. Unfortunately, you must know you can’t win this. I’ve never lost a case, and your life will soon be forfeit.
Alistair: I’ve heard cuter and stupider opinions from people even stupider than you.
Atlas: Such defiance won’t last long.
Ohgi: Mr. Atlas. We’re ready to hear your case against the Tokyo Mavericks and Black Knights. We didn’t have room for a jury, so I hope you don’t mind if us five judges handle the case.
Atlas: That won’t be a problem, Prime Minister. As well as the Chinese Empress, her top bodyguard, sub chairwoman of the United Federation of Nations...and US President.
Seth: Howdy, right back at you, Atlas.
Ohgi: We’ve filled the seats in the audience, proceed with making your case.
Atlas: Gladly.

Ohgi and the others could clearly hear the contempt Atlas had for Seth, as everyone was seated but the prosecution, Atlas adjusting his tie and holding a case file.

Atlas: Honorable judges, these terrorist groups you call heroes have committed acts of treason towards not just the Holy Britannian Empire, but also the Confederate Enclave, its ally. As the laws of Britannia state, it’s treason to resist the country’s efforts to unify the world under its banner. And, to wipe out an entire nation’s military, its leadership, and take back the territory it rightfully earned, in the name of resistance? That’s nothing short of terrorism, a crime punishable by death.

As Atlas continued his monologuing, Shirley whispered to the others.

Shirley: I know I’m not very knowledgeable on criminal justice, or court proceedings in general, but I have to ask… What the hell is he talking about?
Alistair: This, Shirley, is what we’ve come to know as “filibuster”. He’s using his words to fill in what he sees as dead air, silence where silence shouldn’t be.
Rivalz: ...So, he’s just pulling bullshit out of his ass?
Alistair: Bingo.
Lelouch: According to his record, he’s been doing this for years. This is how he must’ve won all those court cases, he annoyed the judge and jury into submission.
Alistair: Let him talk. He’ll be too focused on that, to notice us talking, and for our plan to take down his whole company to go in motion. I assume you’ve noticed the hired goons on the railings?

Shirley and Rivalz looked up above the basketball hoops and saw Atlas military guards, armed with assault rifles, SMGS and shotguns.

Shirley: Oh, shit… That must be reason number two.
Rivalz: If he doesn’t win, everyone dies… What a crook…!
Lelouch: He’s definitely got Britannia’s strongarm tactics down.
Alistair: Got that right. Lelouch, could I borrow your laptop for this job?
Lelouch: Why mine, specifically?
Alistair: I know you’ve got upgrades on that thing to hack into restricted sites, across the globe.
Lelouch: (smiles) You’re clever to realize that. Go nuts.

Lelouch reached into his bag and handed his laptop to Alistair, who then went to work with it.

Lelouch: What’s your plan, here?
Alistair: Expose all of his company’s crimes, making him Public Enemy Number One, along with Hawking and his Confederate Enclave.

Alistair smirked and showed the laptop screen to the others.

Lelouch: You’re more devious than I am, and that’s saying something.
Alistair: Thank you, kindly.
Rivalz: Bit of a problem, with this exposure, though. Atlas will find some way to get out of it, even if he has to kill everyone in this building to do it.
Lelouch: And that’s where I come in. Sending text to Kallen...now. (presses button on cell phone)

Meanwhile, in the student council building, Kallen was waiting in the lobby, until she got the text from Lelouch, cracking her neck.

Kallen: Right, let’s do it.
C.C.: Think you can do this sneaking mission, alone?

Kallen looked behind her and noticed C.C. enter the building, smirking.

Kallen: Nah, figured someone else would show up. Black Knights and Mavericks will replace the guards we take out.
C.C.: Sounds fair, to me. We should get this whole thing over with, I’m in the mood for some pizza. (starts walking towards the stairs)
Kallen: You know, when we first met, I thought something was up with you. Now, you look a lot healthier. Emotionally, that is.
C.C.: (stops walking and turns around) What are you getting at, Kallen?
Kallen: Something good must’ve happened. Was it Alistair? Maybe, even Lelouch?
C.C.: Oh, please. I get where you’re going with this. They’re both taken, so keep your joking fantasies to yourself.
Kallen: I heard you in your sleep, when we were roommates. You were muttering Alistair’s name.

C.C.’s eyes widened as a blush emerged on her face. She then looked to the side.

C.C.: I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!
Kallen: (smiles) Oh, my God, you’ve got a crush on Alistair!
C.C.: N-No I don’t! Shut up!
Kallen: Come on. Holding his arm at the second large pizza event, going on dates with him, at my request, dreaming about him… You’ve even got the blush to prove it!
C.C.: (growls and looks at Kallen) Fine, I admit it! So, what!? It’s not like I’d be with him, anyway, let alone tell you what’s in my head!
Kallen: I’m betting you’d be having plenty of picnics, dances and street fights, to prove to other couples your worth.
C.C.: ...Among other pornographic images, yes.
Kallen: C.C., what’s going on in that cute little head of yours is only natural. You’re going through plenty of...let’s call them empathic fantasies.
C.C.: Well...they are catering to cheering him up from his past, yeah…
Kallen: Tell you what… After this whole mess, go on as many dates with him as you want, get to know him.
C.C.: Alright. And, I’m getting you a copy of my wardrobe.
Kallen: Deal.