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Shinjuku construction site, 9:00 p.m. Lelouch sat on a pile of girders, with the Refrain injector that he picked up, in his hand. Lelouch looked at it, tiredly.

Kallen: Thought I'd find you, here.

Lelouch looked up and saw Kallen, walking towards him.

Kallen: This is where it all started. The moment you could fight Britannia.
Lelouch: Mm...
Kallen: Lelouch, we need to talk- What's that, in your hand?
Lelouch: Been staring at it, for half an hour. Still can't sleep. Or, think straight. I blink at random times, too. I've lost count as to how many uses of patterns were used. Guess the solitude doesn't help.
Kallen: What are you even-?
Lelouch: It's Refrain, you know. (removes vial from injector) This abominable drug makes people relive their memories, with the appearance that the users and abusers are high. (holds vial toward the sky, looks at it) There aren't warehouses that make this shit, anymore, you know. Alistair blew those bastards up, but good. Yet, the recipe to make the junk is online, I'll bet. The drug no longer exists or has use, yet it's being made, albeit a little. It's a god damn travesty. (throws vial to the ground)
Kallen: Lelouch...
Lelouch: So! (stands up) I've come to an incredibly delusional conclusion that I've attained depression. Not just any depression, but the depression that Alistair should have felt, for the longest time! I feel...all kinds of shitty, right now! I'd love to have a smile on my face, but I can't seem to find a reason to.
Kallen: Lelouch, calm down.
Lelouch: I wish! I mean, we saved Nunnally! Oh, wait...! I actually thought she was gonna die. There's our source!
Kallen: (grabs Lelouch) I said, calm down, Lelouch!
Lelouch: You think I haven't tried!? Have you heard my heartbeat!? It has not slowed down! I feel incredibly shaky, I keep having rapid thoughts, in my head-!
Kallen: (slaps Lelouch)
Lelouch: (pauses) Thank you. I needed that. (sits down, covers face with hands) Christ...
Kallen: Have you...been just...frustrated, this whole time? Since this morning?
Lelouch: (removes hands from face) You have no idea. The rapid beating of my heart won't let me sleep. I don't know what to do, to stop it. I feel like puking, like I wanna die. When I looked at the reflection of that vial, one of the thoughts I could make out was "I look tired, I feel tired".
Kallen: Lelouch, you gotta come back. We'll find a way to calm your heart down.
Lelouch: Yeah, tranq me. I'm just feeling absolutely crappy, at the moment. Just go.

Kallen sighed and left Lelouch alone, stopping next to Rolo.

Rolo: No luck?
Kallen: Nope. He's all yours.
Rolo: That bad, huh? Alright, I'll handle it.

Rolo walked past Kallen as she walked away. Rolo saw Lelouch sulking.

Lelouch: Hey, bro. Guess I worried my bodyguard of a brother, huh?
Rolo: Lelouch, why don't you just leave this whole mess behind?
Lelouch: I've got people to protect. My friends, you, Nunnally.
Rolo: But, why would you get yourself involved?
Lelouch: It's painfully obvious why.
Rolo: I guess it is. Fine. I get it. Let's just go back home.
Lelouch: Yeah. If I don't fall asleep, while walking, or having some epiphany, than you need to tranq me, stat.
Rolo: (pauses) You know, I never even thought of that.

Meanwhile, inside the Black Knights' submarine, C.C. was holding Zero's mask, while sitting on her bed.

C.C.: (thinking) This is getting pretty worrying. (pauses) You know, you two have been pretty quiet, all this time. (pauses) Hey!
Cheryl "Paragon" Wake: I'm up, I'm up! Sheesh! The hell do ya want?
Phoenix Wake: I think she needs someone to talk to, other than that Lady Macbeth wannabe.
Cheryl: (sighs) I can't fault that.
C.C.: So, why have you two not said anything, for months?
Phoenix: You didn't ask.
C.C.: How did I know that would be the answer? Just how?
Cheryl: Dunno. So, what's the sitch? Hm?
C.C.: I'm worried about Lelouch.
Phoenix: Yeah, he's been gone, for a while.
Cheryl: The dude had a heart attack. Can't blame him. His heart's just beating and beating and beating so fast, that he's gonna contract insomnia. Gotta tranq him, just to help him sleep and slow his heart down.
C.C.: That doesn't sound medically safe.
Cheryl: But it's effective, can't argue with that.
C.C.: I guess. (pauses) So, how did you get to my head, exactly?
Cheryl: Well, I shot a bunch of angels in the face...
Phoenix: I shot a bunch of demons...
C.C.: Wait, why would you fight angels? Isn't that...I don't even know what to call it.
Cheryl: It's the first step to deicide, and we weren't exactly equipped with the means to destroy both Heaven and Hell.
C.C.: (pauses) What reason would you have to do that?
Cheryl: We're nay-theists. Existence doesn't exactly equal trustworthiness. Also, law and chaos? Super annoying.
C.C.: You sound just like your son.
Cheryl: Well, we did try to get into his head, but... The shit he's been through kinda blocked the way. It's...pretty sad that he didn't even crack a smile, for years.
C.C.: That...really is sad. Even I had to smile, at some point.
Cheryl: (pauses) By the way, what's with the renovation, in your head?
Phoenix: Wait, renovation?
C.C.: That's...not any of your business.

Meanwhile, at the Britannian royal palace, Sigma gave his report to Charles.

Charles: Hm... Very interesting. I had no idea that this Wake person irked you, so.
Sigma: "Irked"? Understatement! I hate him! Hate, hate!
Charles: So you've told me. From what you've said, it appears that Nunnally managed to gain her memories back. This is...a surprising turn of events, to say the least. To think that this Alistair Wake has such potential. Such wasted potential.
Sigma: Heroic scum, the lot of them! I will have my revenge, for the crime he's committed!
Charles: A singular crime?
Sears: (walks into room) He refers to the death of Mercer Hawking, which Wake caused.
Charles: "Mercer"... I could have sworn I heard that name, in a report, about the E.U.-
Sigma: God damn Wake!
Sears: (grunts) Dammit! Better not break my glasses! (Geass activates)
Hawking: Yeah, that's real swell, Sigma. Hey, why don't you go on a date with Luciano, huh? Go on, get outta here! (pushes Sigma toward exit) So, the Nunnally corruption plan was a bust. Go figure.
Charles: A disappointing turn of events, indeed.
Hawking: So much for dyeing the wool black. Whatevs. Still got lots of opportunities.
Charles: As long as those opportunities don't include betraying me.
Hawking: That's my line, big shot. You're still a newbie, when it comes to villainy. So, you best not be betrayin' me. Am I clear?
Charles: Crystal.
Hawking: Good. Your flagship's still under construction, by the by.
Charles: It will be completed, nonetheless. It shall be the testament of Britannia, what it represents.
Hawking: Good on ya. (thinking) One step outta line, bitch. Then, you're thrown under the bus. And, then, I'll have to clean up your mess. Demiurge wannabe.

Meanwhile, at Ashford Academy, Lelouch and Rolo arrive, to see that none of the lights were on.

Lelouch: Ah, the school trip. Never wanted to go, anyway.
Rolo: Me, neither.
Lelouch: So, you get the tranquilizer, I'll prep my bed-

Lelouch looked up and saw fireworks being fired into the sky.

Lelouch: The hell? Who's still here?

Lelouch ran to the roof of the main building and saw the student council with numerous fireworks.

Shirley: Hey! Welcome back, Lulu!
Alison: Yo!
Null: H-Hey...
Lelouch: Huh? You two... Tex? And, Null?
Milly: This fine couple is part of the council, now. You missed that, this morning.
Rivalz: They're really cool!
Lelouch: Uh... Yeah... Sorry about that.
Shirley: What's been going on with you, today?
Lelouch: I, uh... I've been worried sick, about Nunnally's safety, yesterday. When I saw the news that the ship she was on was destroyed, I...had a...bit of a heart attack.
Shirley: Oh, Lelouch...
Milly: It's okay, now! She's alive, and she's the captain of the Mavericks' ship!
Lelouch: Captain...? (smiles) Heh...I'll bet.
Shirley: She is! She's got this cute outfit, with a hat, and everything!
Lelouch: Yeah... (stops smiling) Wait, why are you guys still here?
Milly: It wasn't an interesting trip, to say the least.
Rivalz: We weren't gonna leave you, all alone!
Shirley: We have the whole place to ourselves!
Alison: Well, when you put it that way... (puts hand on Null's shoulder) You and me, best buddy. It's make out time.
Null: Wha-? Well...can it be gentle, at least?
Alison: Bestie, love's all about emotion, not physicality. Plus, it's more of a private thing, anyway.
Lelouch: (thinking) This is...the peace that the world desires. Nunnally... I've missed her, so much. I've had to take care of her, for so long. Now...she can take care of herself. In some regards. Suzaku... He's just another victim, in all this. He's a prisoner, and he needs to be set free. I have to bolster the promise I made...the moment I heard Alistair's past. That I make the Emperor of Ego pay for what he's done. I think...(closes eyes)...I can rest easy, now. (pauses, opens eyes) Nope.
Milly: You feeling tired, Lelouch?
Lelouch: (out loud) A lot, actually. I'm heading for bed. (walks through exit door, closes it)
Rolo: (pulls out tranquilizer pistol) Turns out there are plenty of these. Now, I have to warn you, there are darts, instead of bullets. They have the chance of hurting, a lot-
Lelouch: (pulls trigger with thumb, tranquilizer fires into neck) Sweet release. (collapses into unconsciousness)
Rolo: (sighs) Well, I guess I'm working on my upper body strength, tonight. (picks up Lelouch) Gonna have to drag him, huh? Wait, why hasn't Britannia attacked, yet? They should've retaliated, by now.

Meanwhile, at a Britannian military hangar, at the Britannian Homeland, Zanzibar confronted a soldier, as he was supervising a new shipment of Knightmares.

Zanzibar: Excuse me!
Britannian Soldier: Yes, sir?
Zanzibar: Does this shipment have my replacement Vincent?
Britannian Soldier: Yes, sir, but...
Zanzibar: But, what?
Britannian Soldier: We ran out of the paint, for its color scheme.
Zanzibar: Excuse me-!? Oh... It was stolen, wasn't it?
Britannian Soldier: How did you know?
Zanzibar: I think I know where it went.

Meanwhile, Hawking, using Sears' body, sprayed paint on a soldier's barrack door, in the shape of a vulgar image.

Hawking: (chuckles) Classic asshole maneuver.
Britannian Engineer: Um... Mr. President?
Hawking: Yeah, what do ya want?
Britannian Engineer: Are...you Samuel Hawking, right now?
Hawking: Ah, right, you can't tell, unless you know the speech mannerisms. Yeah, being dead is...kinda boring. Especially when you're wanted by both Heaven and Hell, for evil reasons, instead of good. Goes to show you that astral planes aren't worth shit, to humans.
Britannian Engineer: And...you just decided to draw...?
Hawking: A graffiti penis, yes. So, I didn't go to art school. Bite me.
Britannian Engineer: You...are certainly an enigma.
Hawking: Yeah, I get that, a lot. I'm an enigma, even to myself. (turns to face engineer)
Britannian Engineer: Huh? You don't even know why you do the things you do?
Hawking: When it comes to goals, yeah, but not in a personal sense. I got the shit annoyed out of me, by angsty, edgy, whiny cynics, constantly complaining that life wasn't fair. Hell, they didn't even know that all they were spouting was bullshit. So, they tipped me over the edge, and made me kill them. All of them. Then, I went on a serial killing spree, until I went to law school, became a lawyer, to send innocent people to death, to my revelation of sadism that lead me to how I am, today. I've had to make up a lot of aliases, during all that time.
Britannian Engineer: Aliases? So, your name...?
Hawking: Did you actually think "Samuel Hawking" was my real name? I've made so many aliases, and I used this one for so long, that I've forgotten my real name. And, I've had some sanity issues, but I decided to quit being insane.
Britannian Engineer: That's actually possible?!
Hawking: When it comes to me, yeah. I'm also a very unpredictable asshole. (pauses) Speaking of which... (sprays engineer in eyes, with spray paint)
Britannian Engineer: (holds eyes and screams in pain) Dammit!
Hawking: Warned ya! (walks off, laughs) Bitch!