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Tokyo Airport, 6:30 p.m. Lelouch was on the phone with Diethard, who was informing him about the Black Knights' current hierarchy.

Lelouch: So, how long until Rakshata arrives?
Diethard: (over phone) Hard to say. My guess...a week, maybe half a week.
Lelouch: And, it's obvious that we're allied with the Tokyo Mavericks?
Diethard: Very obvious. Oh, and we're still on the search for Tohdoh, and the Four Holy Swords. Apparently, they were sent some faulty intel.
Lelouch: Gone into hiding, for the time being. Anyway, keep up the work, but take a break, every once in a while. Got it?
Diethard: Understood. (hangs up)

C.C. approached Lelouch, wearing a disguise, complete with a wig.

C.C.: Is there an exact reason that you changed my ticket to a different part of Japan, instead of the Chinese Federation?
Lelouch: Japan takes priority. Britannia has no footholds in China, but we can't put them in any of our troubles.
C.C.: Fair enough. And, the Tokyo Mavericks' meeting with Kyoto?
Lelouch: Kirihara met their leader. Apparently, one of their members is his biggest fan.
C.C.: So, this disguise is to make sure none of the remnants of Clovis' regime recognize me?
Lelouch: Yeah.
C.C.: I actually like these glasses. (adjusts glasses) I'm keeping them. (walks off)
Lelouch: Damn right, you will. (thinking) Alistair... Why'd he have to suffer such a hell, alone? I should have kept Suzaku with me and Nunnally, maybe... Maybe, head for America. Though...there wouldn't be a way out.

In Lelouch's mind, he imagined his past being different than it originally was. Lelouch was 10 years old, on a ship, heading for unknown territory. He looked at the sea, and saw a large statue of a woman, holding a torch.

Lelouch (Age 10): Huh? Hey, Suzaku...
Suzaku (Age 10): (grunts) What?
Lelouch: (points at statue) Look at that.
Suzaku: Yeah, I learned about that. Uh...
Lelouch: Oh, yeah! The Statue of Liberty, it's called.
Suzaku: Yeah, that thing.
Lelouch: If we're seeing that... (walks to a sleeping Nunnally) Nunnally. Nunnally!
Nunnally (Age 7): (wakes up) Lelouch? What is it?
Lelouch: We're here! We made it!
Nunnally: We're in America?
Lelouch: Yes! We're gonna be just fine, now!

3 hours after arriving on American soil, Lelouch, Nunnally and Suzaku were on the road, after witnessing the desolate, ruined cities of New York.

Suzaku: Is there something you forgot, Lelouch?
Nunnally: Actually, I forgot, too. Hawking's from here, right?
Lelouch: Yeah. As long as we don't run into him, we'll live. Longer, that is.
Suzaku: Why? What's up with this Hawking guy?
Lelouch: (inhales through teeth) Nunnally...
Nunnally: Say what you will. I don't think you'll be wrong.
Lelouch: Samuel Hawking is the biggest asshole, in the history of the world and God, combined.
Suzaku: He's that bad?
Lelouch: "Bad" is an understatement. He is evil. Evil!
Suzaku: On the D&D scale...?
Lelouch: Neutral Evil. Hardcore.
Suzaku: Damn.
Lelouch: I don't think we're near any of his hideouts. I kept overhearing about the White House, in Washington, D.C., and some place called "Raven Rock". Said it was in a mountain.
Suzaku: Let's stick away from there, then. Uh-oh.
Lelouch: What?
Suzaku: We're not alone.

Lelouch and Suzaku looked along the road, and saw someone walking on the road, towards them. The boy was wearing a coat-length, sleeveless duster, and he had a cybernetic left arm. The boy stopped at the two other boys blocking his path.

Alistair (Age 9): What do you want?
Lelouch: Nothing.
Suzaku: We'll just...stay out of your way.
Alistair: Hmph.

As Alistair passed Lelouch, his left arm brushed against Nunnally's skin.

Nunnally: Huh? Why's your arm cold?
Lelouch: (whispering) Nunnally, shh!
Alistair: (stops walking) You don't want to know the answer to that question.
Nunnally: Why not?
Alistair: For one thing, its contents can't be comprehended.
Nunnally: My mom died, protecting me.
Lelouch: Nunnally!
Nunnally: It's true. And, I was shot in the legs.
Alistair: (turns around) Your legs are still on you. Unlike me, you never came across science fiction weapons that killed 50,000 people, here, and just so happened to kill my parents, right in front of me, then shot my arm and leg off. At age 6.
Lelouch: (normal tone) So, it was here. Damn you, Hawking...
Alistair: How the hell do you know Hawking, personally?
Suzaku: How'd you figure that out?!
Alistair: Psychotic son of a bitch is nepotism, sadism, hedonism, and every other evil mental problem in existence wrapped into a singular being. In short, he's a Lovecraftian demon, in human form.
Suzaku: Like Cthulu?
Alistair: Exactly.
Nunnally: Well, why are you all alone?
Alistair: I've got no home to call my own.

Lelouch got closer to Alistair, at Nunnally's request, and Nunnally put a hand on his cheek.

Nunnally: (smiling) You don't have to be alone.

Ashford Academy, 7:00 p.m. Lelouch was walking up the stairs, after thinking of a better time for Alistair. Suddenly, a strange voice echoed in his thoughts.

Phoenix Wake: I'm grateful that you care about my son.
Lelouch: (surprised) Huh?!
Phoenix: Never neglect him. His selflessness knows no bounds.
Cheryl "Paragon" Wake: I am also grateful, Lelouch. He needs all the friends that he can get. I would like for you to be the one who can convince a girl to love our son. Please...

The voices faded from Lelouch's mind, and Lelouch felt oddly grateful.

Lelouch: (thinking) Did... Did Alistair's parents just...talk to me, despite being dead? (pauses) God damn they sounded cool.

The next morning, Alistair was talking with Suzaku, as they approached Ashford.

Suzaku: That's the one thing I can't believe! You make Japanese clothes look good! And, you're American!
Alistair: Well, my morality, somehow, makes me look good.
Suzaku: Damn right. (notices Lelouch) Hey, Lelouch!
Lelouch: Suzaku. Alistair.
Alistair: Yo, wassup?
Lelouch: Hey, Suzaku, you seem kinda tired.
Alistair: His engineering crew keeps him busy. And, by busy, I mean he's been doing repairs, nonstop.
Suzaku: (thinking) That part is not wrong. Lucky guess.
Lelouch: You know, you should drop by for dinner, more often. Nunnally misses you.
Alistair: I can only entertain her, for so long.
Suzaku: (out loud) Yeah. I'll come by, tonight.
Alistair: Sweet! I'll run on by, and- Judas Priest!

Immediately, Rivalz drove up to Suzaku and Lelouch, in his motorcycle, with Alistair rolling out of the way.

Alistair: What the hell, Rivalz!? Dammit!
Rivalz: Lelouch!
Lelouch: What is it?
Rivalz: Is Milly doing that blind date thing, again?
Lelouch: Yeah, today.
Rivalz: Today?! Why didn't you tell me!?
Alistair: I should open a can of whoop-ass, on you, for nearly running me over!
Rivalz: Oh, yeah! Tell me you guys saw it!
Alistair: Saw what?
Rivalz: There was a naked lady, on the internet!
Alistair: (facepalms)
Lelouch: You are so god damn stupid.
Rivalz: You don't get it! This one was famous!
Suzaku: For what?
Rivalz: For being naked!
Alistair: So damn stupid.
Suzaku: Uh, I think that's called porn.
Alistair: (removes hand from face) Don't try to reason with him, Suzaku. I've trained his ilk, before. Just ignore him, and he'll go away.
Rivalz: Really! That's what happened! (pauses) Naked! Fame! (long pause)
Suzaku: (whispering) He's still here!
Alistair: (whispering) I see that, Suzaku! (pauses, normal tone) That's it! (pulls out flashbang grenade) Suck it, Rivalz! (puts on sunglasses)
Suzaku: (normal tone) Oh, you dick-!

The flashbang grenade exploded, resulting in Alistair, Lelouch, Rivalz and Suzaku running off in different directions, Suzaku and Rivalz going in the same direction. Lelouch continued running, despite the temporary blindness, then stopped.

Lelouch: Alright, I think I made it to the clubhouse.

Lelouch looked around and saw that he was at the equestrian field.

Lelouch: Not the clubhouse. (pauses) Blank.

Meanwhile, Nunnally was in the dining room, making another origami crane, when she heard the door open.

Nunnally: Alistair? Is that you? Lelouch just left.

Nunnally heard the person walk into the room, and stop right next to her. She reached up the person's left sleeve, and felt bandages and skin, not cold metal.

Nunnally: (gasps) You're not Alistair!

10 minutes later, Alistair walked into the dining room.

Alistair: Nunnally! Nunnally! Guess who's coming to dinner!

Alistair looked around and saw a group of paper cranes, surrounding a picture of Nunnally, tied up, in her wheelchair.

Alistair: (sighs) Well, that's disappointing.

Alistair's phone started ringing, the caller ID reading "Nunnally".

Alistair: (opens phone) Hello, Mao.
Mao: (over phone) What the hell-?! How'd you know it was me?!
Alistair: You kidnapped Lelouch's sister, and you called me. Now, I assume that you want payback, for us screwing up your plans, right?
Mao: God damn! You're freakin' Sherlock Holmes! However! You can't do a thing about it. Lelouch has to solve this.
Alistair: Let's bet, then. Me and Lelouch can figure out where the hell you are. The catch is that I can't leave this building.
Mao: Ooh! A challenge! Nice! I accept the bet! Tell Lelouch, would you?
Alistair: That won't be hard. (closes phone)

Immediately, Lelouch walked into the room, exhausted.

Lelouch: Damn you. Damn you, so much.
Alistair: (shows picture of Nunnally) Guess who's back. I'll give you a hint: It's not Slim Shady.
Lelouch: Mao. C.C. isn't even here! What does he want!?
Alistair: He's proposed a challenge, and I proposed a bet. (phone vibrates, opens phone) We've got 5 hours to find this asshole. You look, I direct.
Lelouch: Why can't you come with me!?
Alistair: It's part of the bet. Solve the puzzle, but I can't leave the building.
Lelouch: You're a risk-taking son of a bitch, you know that?
Alistair: My selflessness is godlike. Now, book!