The episode opens with C.C.’s narration describing the
attempted union of two of the three nations that control the world: the Holy Britannian Empire and the Chinese
Federation are attempting to unite via political marriage. She goes on to say that because this would
greatly threaten the United States of Japan, Zero intervened and kidnapped the Tianzi,
the Empress of the Chinese Federation, as scenes from the last episode
play. The narration asks if dreams can
cut through destiny, if passion can overcome everything, as ephemeral as those
things are.
Opening credits.
The episode picks up in the Vermillion Forbidden City, where
Xianglin is getting a status report about the fleeing wedding guests and Zero’s
arrival. When she contacts some of her
subordinates, they give no response, and the scene shows them being subdued by
Knightmare Frames, as Xianglin wonders if Zero used their plan for his own
ends.
Back at the confrontation in the wedding hall, Xingke asks
Zero if he will release the Tianzi or not, as Zero continues holding her at
gunpoint. While Lelouch thinks to
himself that Xingke is mistaken if he thinks he can save the Empress, a
Knightmare Frame bursts into the church with Tohdoh piloting it. He refers to it as his new Knightmare Frame,
“Zangetsu.” Zero orders him to take care
of Schneizel, but before he can do so, Suzaku arrives in the Lancelot Conquista
and fires down a shot with one of his Slash Harkens to stop Tohdoh from
attacking the princes (Odysseus is there as well, obviously, since it is his
wedding). Tohdoh flies up to meet Suzaku
in battle.
Meanwhile, Schneizel and Odysseus take the opportunity to
escape, escorted by Anya and Gino. The
Chief Eunuchs depart as well. Chiba
arrives in her Knightmare Frame, bearing a crate that carries the Guren Mk-II,
reporting to Zero that all is going smoothly.
He instructs the Black Knights to enter Phase Three, as Zero (with
Tianzi), Kallen, and Kaguya make their way up to the crate once it opens.
Outside, up in the air, Suzaku and Tohdoh are locked in
combat. Tohdoh is impressed with the
features of his new Zangetsu, as he blocks a shot from the Lancelot by its
Radiation Wave shielding system. Tohdoh
shows his strategic prowess as he places himself in direct line with the
Vermillion Forbidden City so that Suzaku will be unable to fire on him with his
more powerful weapons. As Suzaku catches
sight of the other Knightmare Frames escaping from the church, he moves to
react. Tohdoh attacks him then and
destroys his Float Unit. Suzaku
continues to fight, and the two are locked in combat.
From within the crate, Zero tells Tohdoh to retreat, that
destroying that Float Unit is good enough, as it will leave the Lancelot unable
to pursue them. Kaguya and Tianzi are
also within the crate, as Kaguya tells the Tianzi that she will soon be outside
of the Vermillion Forbidden City, to her surprise.
Back on the ground, Xingke begins giving instructions for
pursuit. He is interrupted by the Chief
Eunuchs, who tell him that is now their job, much to his displeasure. The Lancelot touches down safely. Within a control room, the Chief Eunuchs
discuss the situation, with one wondering if the Order of the Black Knights
means to make its escape using a gap in the radar surveillance network, while
another insists that they could not possibly know of such a gap, having only
been in the country for ten days (clearly, these guys have not dealt with Zero
before).
Back with the OotBK, the crate with Zero and the others has
been lowered onto a truck, which is being driven by C.C. (she has Cheese-kun
stickers on the side window and the plush Cheese-kun next to her on the
driver’s seat) with directions from Tamaki (who is a little incompetent at the
task, causing C.C. to do a little wild driving). It is reported via communicator to Tohdoh
that Chiba’s Knightmare Frame, the Akatsuki, will be resupplied by the truck,
while he plans for the Guren and Zangetsu to recharge aboard the Ikaruga.
Inside the back of the truck, Tianzi and Kaguya are jostled
by C.C.’s sharp turn. Tianzi asks if
they are now outside, and Kaguya confirms that they are. She apologizes for making Tianzi’s dream come
true through such violent methods, but Tianzi seems happily touched by the fact
that Kaguya remembers her dream to leave the Vermillion Forbidden City.
Outside, Kallen is in the Guren Mk-II, as she and Tohdoh
readily handle their pursuit from the Chinese Federation forces. Back in the truck, Tamaki continues to give
bad directions, but C.C. corrects him.
He is surprised that she knows the way, and she reveals that she was
here once long ago.
In the truck’s compartment, Zero is talking with Tianzi, while Chiba and
Sugiyama are working to refuel Chiba’s Knightmare Frame in the background. Zero explains his idea of the United States
of Japan as a part of a giant union of united states, and he tells her that he
needs her help to include a United States of China in that union. In response, Tianzi says that they already
received word from the Indian military, and that Mongolia and Burma are also
likely to make their move within the Chinese Federation. Zero says that together, they can form an
axis to oppose Britannia.
Code Geass R2 10 Page 1
