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Ashford Academy, 9:00 p.m. Alistair was going to Lelouch's room to see if there was any additional information on Mao. When he arrived at the club house, he found Lelouch talking to C.C. and decided to join the conversation.

Alistair: So, how are we doing, team?
Lelouch: Look, I understand that you want to help us, but we don't need you, right now.
Alistair: Well, you're a buzzkill, today. (notices C.C.'s outfit) A less revealing approach on your end, C.C. I'm proud of you.
C.C.: At least you've calmed down about the outfit I wore yesterday.
Alistair: Oh, no. I'm still mad about that outfit's existence.
C.C.: If you're here about Mao, you're out of luck. I can't find him anywhere.
Alistair: You know, I was looking at some surveillance footage and saw Mao at some fair, like, 2 hours ago.
Lelouch: You didn't tell me this, because...?
Alistair: I didn't think about it at the time, Lelouch. I have Mao's number written down. I forgot when I got it. (pulls out phone) You want me to text him?

Lelouch walked towards Alistair and grabbed the phone out of his hand.

Lelouch: Please, allow me to text him. I need some payback. (turns phone screen, opens back of phone, revealing keyboard-style keypad) By the way, this phone is really cool. I like this function. (impersonating Alistair) "Hey Mao, are you still at the fair? Laugh. Out. Loud." (sends text, talking normally) Oh, shit, I actually spelled that out. (hands phone back to Alistair) I'm...sure he won't notice.
Alistair: (phone vibrates, checks text message) "I noticed, Lelouch." Huh. Clever bastard.
C.C.: Is he still there?
Alistair: Uh...(phone vibrates again, checks text message) Yep, he's still there.
C.C.: Now I know where I'm going. You two stay here while I deal with Mao.
Alistair: Do you have a gun to deal with Mao?
C.C.: No.
Alistair: And like that, you've lost me.
C.C.: I'm going to miss you both.
Alistair: Yeah, yeah. Don't turn this into a soap opera. I understand.

Alistair went up to Lelouch's room to keep himself occupied, until it was time to go to sleep. Lelouch entered the room after a few minutes and began preparing for something, without Alistair's knowing.

Alistair: Lelouch, I don't understand...why you're TV is so dumb. Also, I'm upset because I didn't go with C.C....to kill Mao. (at TV) I hit "menu"!

Lelouch's TV showed nothing but static as Alistair attempted to fix it.

Alistair: (throws remote to couch) Forget this! And forget Mao and C.C. for not inviting me to the fair.
Lelouch: Well, Alistair, you're in luck. I'm inviting you to the fair.
Alistair: Are we gonna kill Mao?
Lelouch: We're going to try.
Alistair: (gets up from couch) Let's do it, then.
Lelouch: Mao is going to be a difficult opponent. His Geass allows him to read minds.
Alistair: I know this. And I know that his Geass doesn't work on me, for some reason.
Lelouch: Your mind's an obsidian trap, apparently. The range of his Geass is 500 meters. If we can find a place that happens to be over 500 meters away from Clovisland, then we might have an advantage.
Alistair: Where is Clovisland, anyway?
Lelouch: It's East of here.
Alistair: So, an area that's over 500 meters away from there would be...Tokyo Tower.
Lelouch: Precisely. I can hack into the monitors and keep Mao occupied. You're not affected by Mao's Geass, so you should go to Clovisland and-.
Alistair: Hell no. I'm gonna do the distraction.
Lelouch: We don't have time to argue, Alistair.
Alistair: It's not an argument, it's a statement. You save C.C., while I distract Mao from Tokyo Tower.
Lelouch: That's stupid! Mao will obviously know that I will show up if you're distracting him!
Alistair: See, that's where you're not seeing things my way. You interrupt Mao from trying to tear C.C. apart, as she is immortal and he is insane, then I hijack the conversation. When you're off the screen, Mao will be so stupefied that I didn't come to Clovisland to deal with him, he won't expect you.
Lelouch: (pauses) That might work. Just clip some footage of me, then you can take over with live footage. I never even knew you were such a genius bastard.
Alistair: Comes with my job. Now, we need to get moving. I don't know how long it's going to take for Mao to officially creep out C.C.

Meanwhile, at a Britannian hospital, Suzaku was in the midst of his medical checkup. Suzaku and Cecile were waiting for the results.

Doctor: The test results came out just fine. You seem to pay extreme attention to discipline and weighing the value of human life.
Suzaku: Is that going to cause problems?
Doctor: Actually, they're positive traits for any soldier. But, do you think, subconsciously, that you're comparing yourself to your father? That might be the cause of your insecurity. It's quite common in the children of famous people.
Suzaku: Really?
Doctor: Your father, Genbu Kururugi, the former prime minister of Japan. I can easily tell that he was a great man.
Suzaku: I think there's something else causing my insecurity.
Cecile: Something else?
Doctor: Could you give me some details?
Suzaku: It's this friend of mine, Alistair. He's the most unpredictable person that I've ever met.
Doctor: Unpredictable?
Suzaku: For example, I saw him about to get mugged by a man with a gun. The next thing I know, Alistair snatches the gun out of his hand, disassembles it and then jumps into the air and punches the mugger.
Cecile: You mean, like a Superman punch?
Suzaku: I guess. When I met him, he refused to call me an Eleven. I guess he hates racism. Then, there's the fact that he's a mercenary.
Doctor: You're friends with a mercenary?
Suzaku: He's a year younger than me and he kills people for money. When he was younger, he graduated from a form of elite military training that he called "Ranger School."
Doctor: Ranger. I've only heard of one foreign military force that used that term, rivaling their own military: the Nevada Desert Rangers.
Suzaku: I just don't think I can trust him. He's nice to others, but he has this...issue with authority. During a history class, he immediately noticed that it wasn't Japanese history and took over the class. What's amazing is that he drew what the people he was talking about looked like, on the chalkboard. Apparently, he took art classes, because he's incredible at drawing things. He doesn't listen to anyone. Even if I were a general in the military, he wouldn't listen to me. Probably go into drill sergeant mode, too. With his attitude, he's most likely to join the Black Knights. The only problem with that theory is that he's much more of a Mavericks fan. He's rebellious, he doesn't let anyone tell him what to do. He's like...a renegade. He hates rules, so he breaks them. I think that's also the cause of my insecurity.
Doctor: Suzaku. I think your friend, Alistair, is not the kind of mercenary you think he is.
Suzaku: What?
Doctor: From the way I understand it, your friend isn't some kind of assassin. He seems more like...a "good guy" mercenary.
Suzaku: That's exactly what he called himself! I just don't understand what that even means!
Doctor: Would you prefer "mercenary benefactor?"
Suzaku: Benefactor?
Doctor: From what you told me about Alistair, he seems to adhere to heroic traits. I assume he doesn't view himself as a hero, just heroic. He does whatever he can for the good of others. He will only kill whenever he finds it absolutely necessary. As for the authority issue, no one can control him. No one controls anybody. People lead their own lives, Suzaku. Don't you lead yours?
Suzaku: Yes, but...
Doctor: Plus, I don't think he's breaking the rules. I think he's trying to change them for the better. He'd probably see you in the street, getting beat up by some rich person, and Alistair would step in and kick that rich person in the face. He does what he wants to do. I'm also pretty sure that he weighs his options before doing something. For example, between nuking an entire country and taking out an entire neighborhood infested with gangs by utilizing an air strike, Alistair would choose to take out the gangs with his fists. He would look at the people who gave him those bad ideas in the eyes, then punch one of them in the face and send the other through a table. He would rather deal with a bunch of gangs, himself, rather than kill innocent people. Anything else about your friend that makes you feel insecure?
Suzaku: (utterly surprised) Uh... Not anymore.
Doctor: Also, I'm pretty sure that military training of his must have been placed on him. He didn't want it, but he used it, anyway.
Suzaku: God.
Cecile: Are you friends with a badass?
Doctor: I would think so. I'm amazed that he doesn't have PTSD, though.
Suzaku: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? Why would he have that?
Doctor: Something happened to him. I don't know what. It certainly explains the military training.

C.C. arrived at the abandoned Clovisland to confront Mao and stop his madness. All of a sudden, the carousel activated behind her along with the entire amusement park. Mao appeared on one of the horses of the carousel.

Mao: (joyously) C.C.! Your mind is so quiet! I knew you'd come!
C.C.: I can't believe Alistair was right about you and carousels.
Mao: Ah, that doesn't matter right now! I'd like to...

Before Mao could continue speaking, the carousel that was spinning got him away from C.C. and he could not see her. When he saw her again, he continued speaking.

Mao: ...talk to you...

Again, the carousel span, averting Mao's gaze on C.C. and spoke again when he saw her again.

Mao: (annoyed) You know what? Screw this. I'm getting off. This is getting annoying.

At that moment, all the power in Clovisland suddenly turned off, then turned on again. The carousel began spinning faster, with Mao still on it.

Mao: Ah, shit! Why would this even go this fast?! C.C.! Turn this thing off!

C.C. went to the carousel controls and turned off the carousel. When the carousel turned off, Mao got off and laid down on the ground.

C.C.: You're here for me. So, here I am. Now-...
Mao: (breathless) Hold on, hold on. I'm really dizzy. Oh, God. Ohh...(talking normally and gets up)...Oh, I remember. I am here for you. Thank you for reminding me.
C.C.: We've been over this, Mao.
Mao: Sure. But, I could tell that you were lying. (takes off headphones) See?

Mao increased the volume on his headphones and C.C.'s voice could be heard, emanating from the headphones. Every word that C.C. said from the headphones was soothing, complimentary, even. At that point, C.C. drew a gun and pointed it at Mao.

C.C.: You're more insane than I thought. I should have done this a long time ago.

Meanwhile, at Tokyo Tower, Alistair was waiting on Lelouch to finish connecting to the screens at Clovisland.

Alistair: Come on, Lelouch! Hurry the hell up!
Lelouch: I hate the damn dark! Can't see anything!
Alistair: Use your phone!
Lelouch: (pauses) Oh! Thanks!
Alistair: (sighs) I'm gonna see if there's a shop that's still open! You need anything?
Lelouch: Take your time!
Alistair: (walks away, talking to himself) Okay. Just wanted to ask. My life's not on the line. Wonder how C.C.'s doing?

Back at Clovisland, C.C. collapsed to the ground after being shot. Pain surged throughout her shoulder as the wound bled onto her clothes.

Mao: (laughs maniacally) I knew it! I knew you wouldn't pull the trigger! You really do love me, don't you, C.C? (continues laughing)
C.C.: Wrong! I was using you, from the start! At first, I was trying to stop all the pain from you being alone. Next thing I know, you turn batshit insane!
Mao: (stops laughing, serious look) You shouldn't lie like that! You really shouldn't! (shoots C.C. again)
C.C.: (screams in pain) That smarts!
Mao: (while continuously shooting C.C.) Lies are very wicked, C.C.! Wicked, I say! (stops shooting) I understand, though. Listen, C.C. I've built a new house in Australia. Quiet, white, immaculate and special, just for you. (walks towards the left side of the stage) There's a problem, though. The plane we're going to use doesn't have enough room for you. Therefore...(grabs chainsaw and turns it on, smiling)...I'm going to make you compact! The quickest way! (cuts down safety sign with chainsaw)
C.C.: (thinking) Probably should have worked up the nerve to shoot him. I think I have it, now, but... Crap, can't move. Too much pain. Think he disabled me with those shots. Please, work fast, regeneration. I need you. (talking out loud) Is this your revenge, Mao? My punishment?
Mao: Oh, no, C.C.! You're wrong! You're wrong, wrong, wrong! Wrong about it all! This is my gratitude, C.C.! Don't you see?
Lelouch: (over speakers) Enough of this, Mao.
Mao: What the hell?!

Mao and C.C. looked to the stage and saw that all of the monitors turned on and showed Tokyo Tower, then zoomed in on Lelouch.

Lelouch: I see why you picked this place. It's not like a library, where everyone's voices are quiet, but not their thoughts. Here, no one's thoughts can drive you up the wall.
Mao: Pretty smart, Lelouch. And, true enough. The loudest place on Earth, for a mind reader, is a library.
Lelouch: Since your Geass has a range of 500 meters, it can't reach me from Tokyo Tower.
Mao: That's also true, Lelouch! But, what can you do, way over there? What can you use to stop me? Weaponized RC toys? The Black Knights? Oh! You're going to send that Alistair guy, aren't you? Game's up, Alistair! I know your here!

Immediately, the screens showed Alistair at Tokyo Tower, with Lelouch.

Alistair: Bad news, dude. Last drink the shop had. (drinks soda) Wait, what are you looking at? (looks where Lelouch is looking) What the-!? C.C.? Mao?
C.C.: Alistair! Help!
Alistair: What's going on?
Mao: Wha-? (while laughing) What!? Lelouch! Did you really not send him to take me out!? (laughs) That's the stupidest thing you've ever done! Geass doesn't work on him!
Lelouch: I think I'll just leave you two to it, then. (walks away)
Alistair: I don't need to be somewhere in front of a person to kick their ass.
Mao: Oh, you are an intriguing man, Alistair.
C.C.: And you're a lunatic, you son of a bitch!
Mao: I'm not talking to you, right now. Please, don't be rude.
Alistair: How insane are we talking?
C.C.: He's an orphan.
Alistair: Oh, so you were trying to get the pain of loneliness out. His Geass went haywire, and he could only confide in you.
Mao: Ooh! What an excellent assumption you made! You're right on target!
Alistair: Then, he got the wrong impression and fell in love with someone who's not affected by time.
Mao: Affected by time? You mean... You mean she's older than she looks?!
Alistair: She looked like that during World War I, so...
Mao: Unbelievable. I never knew that! (looks at C.C.) How old are you?
C.C.: (says nothing)
Mao: How old are you!?
Alistair: My guess? Centuries upon centuries. I'm curious about you, though, Mao. What was your worst mistake? Falling in love with C.C.? Screwing with Shirley's head? Or, was it the fact that you let yourself become insane?
Mao: (climbs up stage) I am not insane! I'm not! I'm not! I'll end you, Alistair! Come here! Come here, so I can tear you apart!
Alistair: Who are you, that do not know your history?

Immediately, Mao gasped upon hearing such a question. Absolute silence filled the amusement park. Then, Mao could hear the voices of peoples' thoughts, coming from somewhere.

Mao: What? What's going on? Who am I? Who am I, really? Those voices... Are they my conscience?

At that point, police officers with riot shields and Knightmares surrounded Mao, aiming their guns at him.

Police officer: Put your hands in the air, kidnapper! You're surrounded!
Mao: The police?! Where did they come from?! How did they know?!

A police officer picked up C.C. and the gun that she dropped. C.C. immediately recognized the officer.

C.C.: Lelouch?
Mao: What?! That's impossible! He couldn't reach here from Tokyo Tower in such a short time!
Lelouch: (thinking) True enough. I recorded myself to distract you. And it worked.
Mao: Then... Then that means that Alistair is nearby, too! Come out here, Alistair! Face me!
Alistair: Dude, I'm still here. Tokyo Tower? Remember?
Mao: What the hell is this!?
Lelouch: Your downfall. This is why you don't use people's thoughts against them for the wrong reasons.
Mao: You have no right to judge me!
Alistair: Wow. The question wore off, quick.
Mao: I'll end you! I'll end all of you!
Lelouch: (walks away) The moment you try is the moment you die.
C.C.: Lelouch, I would really appreciate it if you use that gun to kill Mao. Now.
Lelouch: (out loud) I'm not the one that's going to shoot him.
Mao: I'll die!? Yeah, right! Your secret's out, now! Listen up, cops! That man walking away is your enemy! He's the terrorist-!
Alistair: Look out! He's got a chainsaw!
Leading Officer: Fire!

Immediately after hearing the order, the police officers opened fire upon Mao. After being shot multiple times, Mao fell to the ground, bleeding and wounded.

Mao: (hoarsely) Zero.
Alistair: Well. That should be the end of him. That concludes our feature presentation. Coming soon, peace to Japan. See ya later! (turns off camera)
Lelouch: To be honest, that was actually entertaining.
C.C.: He can make anything entertaining, when he's able. By the way, how have you been able to carry me, this whole time?
Lelouch: I have no idea.
C.C.: Considering how you hate P.E., your back is probably going to die if you keep carrying me.
Lelouch: Please, tell me you're regenerating.
C.C.: I am.
Lelouch: Good. I used my Geass to get us a VTOL.
C.C.: We're heading home?
Lelouch: Yeah. My back is going to hurt in the morning.

Meanwhile, in the streets of Tokyo, Cecile was driving Suzaku back to his residence. Many thoughts about Alistair stirred in Suzaku's head.

Suzaku: Ms. Cecile?
Cecile: Yes, Suzaku?
Suzaku: How much do you know about America?
Cecile: The United States of America? Very little, actually. Why do you ask?
Suzaku: Alistair's from America.
Cecile: Really?
Suzaku: You've seen him, too. Back in Shinjuku, to stop the Purebloods that were fighting?
Cecile: Yeah. Yeah, I remember! Brown hair, blue eyes?
Suzaku: Icy blue, and yes.
Cecile: So, that was Alistair, huh? Do you think he knows about the Lancelot?
Suzaku: I don't know. He was too distracted by the "truck-van hybrid" you were driving, at the time.
Cecile: Why would that distract him?
Suzaku: (inhales through clenched teeth) I don't think you want to know the answer to that question.
Cecile: Lay it on me.
Suzaku: Okay. Don't say I didn't warn you, though.

Suzaku leaned towards Cecile and whispered into her ear. Cecile's expression turned serious upon hearing the information Suzaku whispered to her.

Cecile: Oh. Those vans.
Suzaku: Yeah.
Cecile: Dammit, Lloyd!
Suzaku: I already said that.
Cecile: Great. Just great. Now, I feel bad for driving that damn thing around. I looked like a...
Suzaku: Calm down. I cleared it up with Alistair. Everything's good.
Cecile: Good. (sighs with relief) You think Alistair could pilot the Lancelot?
Suzaku: I don't think the Lancelot's in his style.
Cecile: Wait, he can seriously pilot a Knightmare?
Suzaku: He said so, himself. According to the instructor of the simulations, he took on an entire Britannian army. He straight-up annihilated every force he deemed an enemy, without taking any damage.
Cecile: What the shit?! Don't tell Lloyd I said that.
Suzaku: Here's the best part: When he exited the simulator, then left the room, the simulator shorted out.
Cecile: Shorted out?
Suzaku: He broke the simulator.
Cecile: How the-?! Is he as good as you?!
Suzaku: No one knows. The simulation couldn't keep up with him. He's a whole other league, compared to me.
Cecile: Jesus. (pauses) There was also something that made me feel insecure, Suzaku.
Suzaku: What's up?
Cecile: Do you think life could be better? For everyone? I mean, taking over other countries sounds...wrong, right?
Suzaku: It's the status quo.
Cecile: Screw the status quo! This isn't even a status quo! The world is going to shit, and there's nothing I can do about it! (tearing up) All those people... How many more people have to die, because of some bullshit rules?
Suzaku: I've...never seen this side of you, Ms. Cecile.
Cecile: That's because today was the day that these feelings broke out. I just...
Suzaku: Ms. Cecile?
Cecile: Yeah?
Suzaku: Alistair...mocked the Emperor's speech at Prince Clovis' funeral. You know what he said?
Cecile: What?
Suzaku: "There is no strong. There is no weak. There is no justice. Just us."
Cecile: (pauses, wipes eyes) We've got work to do.
Suzaku: I agree.
Cecile: I remember, now. The first testing of the Knightmares. Location: America. Resistance: None. Total death count: 50,000 defenseless people. And, Alistair was in the middle of it.
Suzaku: "You slaughtered his people." Zero knows Alistair, somehow.
Cecile: Guess he reads reports on the internet. Either way, Alistair had to live under the rule of a madman.
Suzaku: Madman?
Cecile: According to rumors, he made himself insane, solely for the purpose of being the most evil bastard in existence.
Suzaku: Haunting. What's this guy's name?
Cecile: Real name? Don't know. Worldwide, he goes by two titles.
Suzaku: And those are?
Cecile: I've only heard the one... "Mephistopheles".

2015, a.t.b., Raven Rock, Hawking's office. Hawking was in an exceptionally good mood, after hearing the latest report from Major Zanzibar.

Hawking: It's not even my birthday, and I'm happy! (kicks open door) Malevolent, hedonism master, comin' through!