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Sword of Akasha, 1:15 p.m. Charles turned and looked at Lelouch, perplexed by his question.

Charles: What do you mean?
Lelouch: What do you think will happen, once existence is erased? Do you...think life will be anything like it is, right now?
Charles: ...Yes. But, better.
Lelouch: Of course, of course. Now, bear with me, as I try to understand this. You’ve been planning all this, without telling me, Nunnally, any of my other brothers and sisters, or even your own people, the ones you rule over...because your mom died?
Charles: (pauses) Basically, yes, but-
Lelouch: No wonder Alistair’s so pissed at you! This whole thing is so goddamn stupid, it’s bound to fail!
Charles: It can’t fail! The only reason it could possibly fail would be due to people like Wake! His yammering is nothing but obnoxious! What good has freedom ever brought to humanity? The freedom to do harm, the freedom to steal, the freedom to kill!
Lelouch: The same kind of freedom you have?
Charles: Don’t...ever say that, again. I have no freedom, I purged it!
Lelouch: Are you-? Are you trying to paint yourself...as a victim, in all this? You see freedom as this awful thing, yet you’ve been using yours, the whole time! From what I’m gathering, you see yourself as some kind of slave to the whims of freedom, so you want freedom...from freedom. You get what I’m saying, Charles? Or, are you still thinking, ever so childishly?
Charles: It seems I have no choice but to force you to realize the poison that is free will. (raises bare hand, showing the Geass symbol on his palm to Lelouch)

Outside the Sword of Akasha, the coffin-like device opened, and Marianne stepped out, in her real body.

Marianne: Stupid C.C., saying the plan won’t work… (notices Hawking) How...long have you been there?
Hawking: Few minutes. Hi, Marianne. You’re lookin’ pretty spry, for someone that just bit the dust, years ago. No wonder Charlie didn’t give a damp shit.
Marianne: That tone of voice… Hawking? Why do you look like your Vice President?
Hawking: Geass, V.V. gave it to him, now I’m back.
Marianne: Ah. How is he?
Hawking: Dead.
Marianne: Jealous twerp deserved it. He totally overreacted.
Hawking: He did regret killing you. For about a few seconds.
Marianne: Well, that’s just great, but now it’s just me and Charles.
Hawking: Basically. Oh, and I got this for you. (hands Marianne a strange vial) This was an even bigger headache to get than the migraine you had, when I first met Lelouch. Speaking of which, how did you manage to get that bitch of a headache, to begin with?
Marianne: Growing up, for one thing. Also, I may have salted that wound, by watching all four seasons of The Tudors, in one sitting.
Hawking: Christ, lady! Even I knew when to take a damn break!
Marianne: Well, excuse me, for not being used to the new life I just got into!
Hawking: Save the sob story. Get in that weird-ass dimension and reunite with your kid.
Marianne: You’re not coming with me? It’ll be a fun new world.
Hawking: Nah, not interested.

Marianne shrugged as she ran towards the ruins, while Hawking put on a metallic collar, which activated and began projecting his voice, instead of Sears’.

Hawking: Mostly because you two were fucked, from the start.

Meanwhile, the Black Knights and Tokyo Mavericks reloaded their weapons and prepared for a confrontation with the Confederate Enclave.

Ohgi: Where are you, you evil bastard...?
Alistair: He’ll be here, but I’m not missing out on sending Charles to his grave.
C.C.: I can get you into the Sword of Akasha. Suzaku, Alistair, come with me, quick!
Suzaku: What about the others?
Kallen: We’ll hold the fort!
Tohdoh: Let us handle Hawking. You’ve dealt with him, long enough.
Ohgi: We’ve got plenty of hateful comments to say, to his face and eardrums.
Alistair: Thanks, guys. We’ll make sure Zero gets out of there, too!

C.C.’s Akatsuki led the Lancelot and Masakado to the ruins, all three pilots exiting the Knightmares and running inside. When Alistair, C.C. and Suzaku reached the gate, Marianne was already there, waving in a taunting way as she was transported to the other dimension.

Alistair: Who the hell was that?
Suzaku: She looked like...Lelouch.
C.C.: That was his mom. Marianne.
Alistair: She didn’t seem anything like what Nunnally told me. I smell traces of ego, coming from her.
C.C.: That’s...the thing, actually.
Alistair: Here we go...

Back within the Sword of Akasha, Lelouch found himself in some sort of library, still able to see the sky of the dimension he was in, along with a strange dark pillar going upwards.

Lelouch: What kind of batshit insanity is this...?
Charles: That is the manifestation of humanity, itself. (takes book from a shelf, opens it) And, I think it ironic that you speak of insanity, when you have been lying to get where you are, while fighting against one who wants to be rid of all lies.
Lelouch: So, stopping short of lying means nothing, to you?
Charles: The very fact that you used lies is enough of a sin. There must be understanding, in this world, for without lies, there will be peace. Lies have no meaning.
Lelouch: By that, you mean life has no meaning. Lying is part of human nature, I don’t doubt that. But, what you’re suggesting is that humanity has to have no personality, in order for it to prosper.
Charles: You think too deeply into this. Think of it in more basic terms. No more lies, no more strife. No more freedom, no more hardships.
Lelouch: I’ve been thinking about it, basically. And, you want to do nothing, but erase humanity, from existence. Because of stupidly petty reasons.

As Charles put the book back on the shelf, he turned around, as the bookshelves moved aside, the room turning into a type of museum.

Charles: It seems you don’t fully grasp the true concept of the Ragnarok Connection, Lelouch.
Lelouch: I very much do. You’re smart, “dad”. You’ve done your studies. Tell me, what is “Ragnarok”?
Charles: Simple. A climactic battle between those that are beyond humanity, gods and beasts akin to gods.
Lelouch: And, the end result of that battle?
Charles: Peace, for each and every realm.
Lelouch: (chuckles, shakes his head) Not even close. The end result of Ragnarok...is the end. The apocalypse. While such beings of titanic might duke it out, who do you think suffers, from the shockwaves? Humanity couldn’t survive such an event. And, this plan you’ve been cooking up? It’s going to bring about an end to humanity that can’t be undone.
Marianne: Now, what kind of attitude is that? I surely didn’t raise you to be such a stick in the mud.
Lelouch: (looks at Marianne, eyes widen) It...can’t be...

Back at Kamine Island, the Yorktown began approaching the island, with a fleet of other airships, the Black Knights and Tokyo Mavericks ready to fight.

Ohgi: I’ve waited my whole life, for this moment.
Tohdoh: He’s the remaining part of what’s keeping Alistair’s future prisoner.
Kallen: Once more, we fight for not just the future of humanity, but for our friend.
Ohgi: You can hear us, right, Hawking!?
Hawking: Mike check! Testing, testing, one, two, three! This collar isn’t messing up the speakers, is it?
Ohgi: No wonder Alistair hates you, if he had to hear that egotistical voice, for years...
Hawking: Aww, thank you!