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Tokyo, 6:21 a.m. The Ikaruga and Avalon still remained motionless, in the air, as the Yatagarasu arrived. Schneizel awoke in his seat, on the bridge of the Avalon, still feeling shaken at what he had witnessed, the previous night.

Kanon: How was your sleep?
Schneizel: I can never unsee such anger, Kanon. That man, my surrogate brother, had fought against forces that matched that WMD, maybe even beyond that. And, he just...unbirthed the Knight of Ten. There was no body, no Knightmare, nothing. I'm fairly certain no one's gonna remember his name.
Kanon: I hope not. I'm actually trying to forget. So, are you ready?
Schneizel: Coffee, first. Then, Lelouch gets closure.

Aboard the Ikaruga, Lelouch woke up, and yawned.

Lelouch: Best sleep I've had, in a while. Guess stress can sometimes disappear, with fear. (looks at clothes) And, I'm still in my Zero outfit. Glad I went to the bathroom, after coming back.
C.C.: I felt something happening, last night. What happened?
Lelouch: Don't worry about it, C.C. The problem's been resolved, for now. Wow, my heart's still beating, too. No depression, this time. God damn, was it mortifying, though.

Rolo entered the room, yawning and scratching the back of his head.

Rolo: Morning, Lelouch.
Lelouch: Rolo! It's been a while, since I last saw you. How are you holding up?
Rolo: Good, good. Just slept on the Yatagarasu, best bed I ever slept in.
Lelouch: Alistair paid plenty enough, for comfort, huh?
Rolo: Yeah, I think I saw Asahina in the medical bay.
Lelouch: What?! What happened?!
Rolo: He was about to join up with Tohdoh, when Zanzibar showed up, but got hit, from behind.
Lelouch: He's alright, though... Right?
Rolo: He'll live. My guess is that he never experienced pain, quite like that.
Lelouch: Ah. So...how are you and Nunnally getting along?
Rolo: I'll be honest... I can see why you cared for her, so much. From what she told me, you had to carry her, the whole damn time. And, during childhood, no less... I'm, uh... I'm glad that...she's my sister, as well.
Lelouch: Well, with two Knightmare piloting brothers, she'll definitely be safe, especially behind the Hadron Cannons she uses, so much.
Rolo: (chuckles) Right. Oh, dammit! (brings out phone) I forgot to give her the locket you gave me! This was for her, right?
Lelouch: It was, yeah. But, it's yours.
Rolo: No, she deserves it, more than I-
Lelouch: Rolo. (smiles) It's yours. She's already got something special. You.
Rolo: (slowly puts phone back in pocket, tears up)
Lelouch: Hey, Rolo. If you're still tired, go on back to sleep, in my bed. Have some good dreams.

3 hours later, Ohgi went up to the bridge, checking on the condition of the Black Knights, since last night's battle.

Ohgi: Everyone alright?
Tamaki: We'll live. That was definitely our closest call, though.
Sugiyama: You're telling me. Never thought Britannia would have something akin to a nuke...
Villetta: Probably a substitute to it. But, the comparison is uncanny.
Tohdoh: Villetta, do you know about Asahina's whereabouts? We didn't see him, when we came back.
Villetta: He got shot down, when he tried to join up with you. He's alright, and recovering on the Yatagarasu.
Tohdoh: (sighs in relief) Good... That's good. I didn't want to lose another friend.
Chiba: I've been thinking... And, I believe that Zero feels the same way, about us, with how much he's treated us, bonded with us.
Urabe: I've helped him, when you guys were captured, and I agree. He's a good man.
Tohdoh: Not just a leader, but a friend. Maybe, that's what we've all been needing.
Ohgi: I second that.
Hinata: Incoming transmission from the Avalon!
Ohgi: Schneizel. Put him on.

The screen at the front of the Ikaruga's bridge showed Schneizel, in his seat on the Avalon.

Schneizel: (over screen) Black Knights, I would like to negotiate, with you.
Ohgi: Specifically, us? Or, should the Tokyo Mavericks be involved?
Schneizel: Just you. You're the ones closest to Zero, after all.
Ohgi: Now, that's just oddly specific.
Schneizel: I shall come aboard, peacefully, if that's alright with you.
Tamaki: Be on your best behavior, Schneizel. You don't want to accidentally do something you'll regret, forever.
Ohgi: Took the words right out of my mouth, Tamaki.
Schneizel: Considering what happened, last night, yes. (screen turns off)
Tohdoh: What do you think this is about?
Ohgi: I don't know. But, from what we've seen, and what Zero's told us, he's crafty.
Villetta: Definitely a chessmaster type. If Alistair hadn't stepped in, back in China, Zero probably would've challenged Schneizel to a chess game, and lost.
Ohgi: Everyone, be relaxed, but on guard. Hear every word, but don't completely take them to heart.
Tohdoh: Yes, sir.

A few minutes later, Schneizel boarded the Ikaruga, with Kanon, with the recorder in his hand.

Kanon: You're sure this will work?
Schneizel: I sincerely hope so. Morale needs to be so high that it can never go down, ever again. This entire conversation will enlighten these newfound friends on the kind of person, behind the mask.
Kanon: It will have to work, then.

As Schneizel and Kanon kept walking down a corridor, they suddenly felt syringes, in their necks, as they suddenly passed out.