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2017 a.t.b., 8:00 p.m., Ashford Academy, swimming pool. Alistair had accompanied C.C. to the pool, by her request. C.C. jumped into the water from the diving board as Alistair was looking over the list of new members for the Tokyo Mavericks on his laptop. One girl amongst them caught his eye.

Alistair: Oh? Graduated from college, huh? Wanting to be a scientist?
C.C.: It's impressive, isn't it? The Black Knights and Tokyo Mavericks getting more people to join up, that is.
Alistair: Pretty much. This girl graduated, two weeks ago. She hoped to join R&D for the Britannian military. Her background showed that she cooperated with Japanese, and she was immediately declined.
C.C.: Payback?
Alistair: No. Her request doesn't mention that. "I wish to join you, for the sake of equality. My own country, as a whole, is bullcrap. If you need a scientist, I'm your girl. I want to show the world what a good nature really looks like." Sharon Holiday...
C.C.: (exits pool) Well, you've got research and development, now.
Alistair: It only took you a couple of days to figure out that I was the boss of the Mavericks.
C.C.: No one suspects a damn thing about you.
Alistair: It's so obvious that it's me. No one's even taking a guess.
C.C.: Pretty weird. By the way, have you seen me in the school's swimsuit?
Alistair: I don't intend to.
C.C.: I put this on for you, you know.
Alistair: Screw you, too.
C.C.: Alistair. I'm trying to cheer you up, here.
Alistair: (closes laptop, lays it on the ground) So, you'd prefer it if I gouged out my eyes?
C.C.: I know that you're not a pervert. Why can't you accept the kindness I'm giving you?
Alistair: (looks at C.C.) Do you even comprehend what kind of mental and emotional hell I've been through?
C.C.: What do you think I'm trying to help you with?
Alistair: What makes you think that what you're doing is helping?
C.C.: Because I give a damn about your past. This sort of treatment is what you deserve.
Alistair: "Deserve"? I "deserve" nothing! The crap that happened to me was all due to Hawking. Hawking's dead, everything in America is back to normal. Move on!
C.C.: Like hell, I'll move on! You've had no love life, whatsoever!
Alistair: Screw having a love life!

Immediately, C.C. pinned Alistair to the bench, and held him there while sitting on top of him.

C.C.: If I wasn't as old as I'm supposed to look, I would kiss the hell out of you.
Alistair: Really? You want to have your ass kicked by me?
C.C.: Accept being loved, dammit! I'm going out of my way to do this, for you!
Alistair: C.C., if you don't get off me, I will tear out your larynx.
C.C.: Worth it. I'm immortal, remember?
Alistair: That's the point. I'll annoy you to death.
C.C.: (sighs) Fine. (gets off of Alistair) I guess the kiss on the back of your neck was good enough. Someone else will have to give you the lover's treatment.
Alistair: I was traumatized out of the love game. Remember?
C.C.: You'll bounce right back. I promise.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Tokyo, Jeremiah and Villetta were speaking with an informant from a news crew, one Diethard Ried.

Diethard Ried: Yes, I was demoted from my position. Much like the both of you were.
Jeremiah: Well, yours was more on the willing side, while I clearly screwed up.
Villetta: The situation won't end this way, I assure you. And I have a suspicion that you don't want it to, either.
Diethard: Really, now? Honestly, who can say?
Jeremiah: Take it away, Villetta.
Villetta: I have a lead that ties to Zero. Familiar with Ashford Academy?
Diethard: A little bit.
Villetta: I want to investigate a male student that attends that school. I have suspicions that he might be working with Zero.
Jeremiah: In my opinion, he has good taste in morality. Although I'm much more of a Mavericks kind of guy.
Villetta: Shut up!
Jeremiah: Well, we're heading for the Narita mountains, right? Maybe we'll meet them, in person.
Villetta: I swear to God...!
Diethard: Wait, Narita? Isn't that where the Japan Liberation Front is rumored to be located?
Jeremiah: Yeah. We're pretty much following a hunch.
Villetta: What the hell is wrong with you!?
Diethard: Should I go under the desk?
Jeremiah: What's wrong with you?
Villetta: Excuse me!? I'm not the one who's questioning orders, and not giving a shit about putting an end to the Black Knights!
Jeremiah: Villetta, you've been obsessed with finding Zero, ever since Shinjuku.
Villetta: You should be, too! He cost you your command, your rank, your future!
Jeremiah: So?
Villetta: Screw you, too! (walks towards door and opens it) If you don't know whose side your on, then you can just go to hell! (exits room and slams door)
Jeremiah: Never even knew that she had those issues.
Diethard: I think you keep making her mad.
Jeremiah: Villetta's understanding had gone to shit, lately.
Diethard: Oh, yeah. That actually makes much more sense. So, you're more fond of the Tokyo Mavericks?
Jeremiah: They're benefactors. They exist solely to help people.
Diethard: And the "Orange" thing?
Jeremiah: Probably something Zero made up. Maybe I can make it mean something.
Diethard: I think you should get out of here. If Villetta comes back, she'll probably want to beat you within an inch of your life.
Jeremiah: Fair enough. (leaves room, thinking) These two have no idea what the hell's been going on. I mean, I've heard about America, but what we've done... Then, Hawking takes over the country and makes it even worse! The Mavericks' symbol... It was on a young boy's duster. Perhaps...to remember him? Either way, we have to redeem ourselves. Otherwise, we'll die with regrets.

The next day, at the Black Knights' storage facility, Zero was looking at his Burai when Ohgi approached him.

Ohgi: Zero!
Zero: What is it?
Ohgi: We've received some intel from a Britannian who wants to join up with us.
Zero: (thinking) Diethard? Looks like he's wanting to prove himself. (out loud) Let me see.
Ohgi: Right. (hands Zero folder)
Zero: (opens folder) What has he dug up? Britannia's going to Narita, huh?
Ohgi: I looked over it, but it sounds like a trap to lure us out. We can't confirm the intel, it's too risky to contact him. Well, what do you think we should do?
Zero: (closes folder) This weekend, we're going hiking.
Ohgi: Hiking?
Zero: To the Narita mountains, we go.
Ohgi: Very well.
Zero: (thinking) We need to show them what we're made of. This is a chance for answers. However, we can't lose trust with the Mavericks. I need to plan this out. The Guren will be useful, in this operation. (out loud) Oh, and tell Kallen that she is piloting the Guren, from now on.
Ohgi: Alright.

Meanwhile, in the streets of Tokyo, Alistair was surveying the area when he heard a baritone voice yelling at someone. The man appeared to be some sort of news reporter, and he was yelling at his subordinate. The subordinate left and Alistair approached the reporter.

Alistair: What was that about?
Diethard: Don't ask. I'm literally dealing with amateurs.
Alistair: Gotta keep on practicing, right? Otherwise, you'll just keep screwing up.
Diethard: Hm. Not a bad way of putting it. I'm Diethard, by the way. Diethard Ried.
Alistair: Wait, seriously?
Diethard: Yes. Why?
Alistair: (laughs)
Diethard: What's so funny?
Alistair: Dude, you have the type of name that announcers would call out to the audience. You have the name of an entertainer, it sounds so cool.
Diethard: Entertainer!? What right do you have to call me...!?
Alistair: (imitating announcer voice) Ladies and gentlemen... Please, welcome... Mr. Dean Domino!
Diethard: What, that's the announcer voice? Please, I wouldn't be called out like that.
Alistair: Mr. Diethard Ried!
Diethard: Oh, my God. You're right. I do have the name of an entertainer! Honestly, I shouldn't have gotten mad at you. You did say my name sounded cool.
Alistair: (normal tone) Nice meetin' you, Mr. Diethard Ried. I'll just be on my way.
Diethard: Tell me... Do you know about the Narita mountains?
Alistair: Narita? No, I've never gone there.
Diethard: Well, that's where the Japan Liberation Front is rumored to be situated.
Alistair: (quietly) Just like Raven Rock.
Diethard: Cornelia is on her way to Narita. I think they're going to kill of the JLF.
Alistair: (out loud) Well, they don't have much, due to the Renegades.
Diethard: A god damn cakewalk. That's going to be one hell of a battle to win.
Alistair: I'll say. See ya. (walks away, thinking) If I'm reading the situation right, Zero and the Black Knights will be on the scene, to defend the JLF. I better be there, for reinforcements and to stop any outside threats.

2014 a.t.b., Arkansas. Alistair was driving along the road, alongside Alison. Alison saw something come up on the radar.

Alison: Alistair? I think we've got a problem!
Alistair (Age 13): What kind of problem?

Immediately, multiple explosions surrounded Alistair's car, and he stopped driving.

Alison: The Enclave kind.

Outside, Major Zanzibar spoke from the speaker of one of the tanks surrounding Alistair and Tex.

Major Zanzibar: Attention, criminals! This is Major Rodrick Zanzibar of the Confederate Enclave! Exit the vehicle, at once!

The car doors open and two 13-year olds face the army, much to Zanzibar's shock.

Major Zanzibar: What?! Two kids?!
Alistair: Worse. Teenagers.
Major Zanzibar: How dare you defy the rule of President Hawking! You would become traitors to the entire country, solely to aggravate your own leader!?
Alistair: Tell Hawking he can go to hell.

At that point, Alistair and Alison get back into the car and start it.

Major Zanzibar: Surrender! You have no choice but to surrender!

Immediately, Alistair's car fired its missiles at the surrounding tanks, thus destroying them.

Major Zanzibar: I told you to surrender, you brat!

Zanzibar attempted to fire the cannon on his tank, but Alistair's car shot off the cannon with its own cannon. Alistair got out of the car and approached the disabled tank.

Major Zanzibar: You won't get away with this!
Alistair: Enjoy the ride.

Alistair kicked Zanzibar's tank, and it went flying off to somewhere far away. Zanzibar's scream got further and further away the farther the tank went.

Alistair: I get the feeling that I'll be seeing him, again.