Suzaku has Lelouch in check: if Lelouch's memories had not returned, he would not recognize Nunnally's voice; but if they have returned, he'd be unable to lie to his little sister. As it seems that Lelouch is trapped with no way out, Rolo appears behind Suzaku and uses his Geass to suspend his sense of time, warning Lelouch to keep in mind his Geass's time limit. Lelouch takes advantage of Rolo's help to confirm to Nunnally that he is, indeed, her big brother, but he needs her to play along and pretend that they were perfect strangers.
Once Rolo's Geass deactivates, Lelouch states that he had never met the new Viceroy before, to Suzaku's surprise. For now, Lelouch's secret remains safe...
Back at the California base in the Britannian homeland, preparations are made to bring Viceroy Nunnally to Area 11. Lloyd and Cecile are revealed to now work directly under Emperor Charles, and that Schneizel has given them an "item" to bring with them to Area 11.
As Tianzi, the sheltered Empress of the Chinese Federation, tries to glean information from the "outside world" beyond the Vermillion Forbidden City, Lelouch tries to plot his next move, the knowledge that Nunnally was to be the new Viceroy of Area 11 troubling him. C.C. explains to him that she knows little of the one who took her away, V.V., outside of the fact that he was Emperor Charles's closest accomplice.
At the Sword of Akasha, Charles declares his intent to V.V. to slay "God", as the terms of the contract he formed with V.V. to receive his Geass. When asked why he didn't tell Nunnally about Zero's identiy and Geass, Charles states that it wasn't necessary. V.V. teases Charles for being childish, and Charles agress with his "big brother" that maybe he is a little bit like a child...
Back in Area 11, Xingke explains to Suzaku that the Black Knights had departed from the consulate. Little do they know, the Black Knights were en route to intercept the Avalon over the Pacific Ocean, with Zero's mission to them being the capture of the Viceroy, who must not be harmed. As the Black Knights target the Avalon's Float Units, Zero makes his way inside the ship.
The Avalon's rear guard make their approach to the Avalon, including Guilford, piloting an upgraded Vincent Knightmare. As the general captaining the Avalon panics over the potential loss of his honor, Zero makes his way to the garden onboard the Avalon.
At last, Lelouch and Nunnally are reunited.
Outside the Avalon, Gino and the Tristan appear to turn the tide of the battle around and counterattack the Black Knights. As one of the escort ships for the Avalon loses control and is on a crash course with the Avalon, Anya's Mordred shoots it down with its enhanced Hadron Cannon. The general, in a panic, mans a turret to shoot at Todoh as Suzaku makes his approach to man the Lancelot, only for the general to shoot the Avalon's engine and die for his trouble.
In the garden, Nunnally condemns Zero for his acts of terrorism and the murders of Clovis and Euphemia. Zero tries to explain that she is being used as a pawn for the Empire, but Nunnally clarifies that she asked to be Area 11's Viceroy, surprising Lelouch. Further shocking him is the revelation that Nunnally wants to carry out Euphemia's wish and establish the Specially Administrative Zone of Japan!
Suzaku launches in the upgraded "Lancelot Conquista" to rescue Nunnally. He engages Kallen, using a shoulder-mounted Hadron Blaster to send Kallen falling towards the Pacific Ocean, the Guren's eject mechanism malfunctioning. Thankfully, Rakshata appears aboard the Black Knights' sub with upgrades for the Guren: a specially-made Glide Wing module; an improved gauntlet that allows the Guren to spread the microwave radiation from its Radiant Wave Surger in a wide range, or concentrate the radiation for long-ranged attacks, which Kallen uses to defeat Guilford; and a "Gefjun Net" that fires drones that can disable Knightmares.
With the Avalon about to crash into the ocean within the next minute, Lelouch is conflicted: he can't simply kidnap Nunnally, nor can he reveal his identity to her. The Lancelot breaks into the garden, having disengaged from the Guren to save Nunnally. Nunnally calls out to Suzaku as he rescues her, leaving Lelouch traumatized: after Suzaku had sold him out to the Emperor, she would remain with him?! The Lancelot escapes from the crashing Avalon with Nunnally, as Kallen rescues Zero and retreats.
