Code Geass Stage 17: Knight

While posing as a model for art class, Lelouch thinks about the revelation that Suzaku killed Genbu and is surprised that Suzaku has carried such a secret for so many years. Nina asks Shirley why they don’t have math class, and Shirley explains that it’s time for the Arts Week that Clovis created. Part of the celebration includes the opening of the Clovis Arts Museum. At the museum, Euphemia reviews several paintings from an art contest to decide the winner. Ohgi eats a bento lunch prepared by Viletta and is informed that they have guests: Senba, Uraba, Asahina and Chiba – the Four Holy Swords. Senba asks for Ohgi’s help because Tohdoh has been captured by Britannia. Ohgi calls Lelouch about their request, and Lelouch approves it. C.C. talks to him briefly about the Chinese Federation, and he tells her he doesn’t want her role in the plan to change. With Tohdoh’s execution set for later in the day, Cornelia tells Guilford that she doesn’t expect any resistance since the JLF doesn’t exist anymore. Euphemia asks Cornelia about reports of trouble in Ishikawa prefecture, and Cornelia explains that the elements there are probably backed by the EU or the Chinese. Cornelia then gives Euphemia a book with a list of knight candidates so she can select her personal knight. Elsewhere, Suzaku, Nunnally and Lelouch sit on the clubhouse’s porch. Lelouch thinks to himself that if another incident like Mao’s occurs, he’ll need someone who can protect Nunnally if he’s not around. Suddenly, Cecile runs over and tells Suzaku that Lloyd has important news for him. Lelouch tells Suzaku that he has to talk to him about something important when he gets back. While getting dressed to go out, Shirley drops her hairpin in between a gap in her desk and finds a crumpled piece of paper. Euphemia holds a press conference at the art museum, but Darlton deflects sensitive questions. Underneath a highway overpass, the Guren is reassembled after it was taken apart for transport. Tamaki argues with the mechanics and is told in turn to be careful by Rakshata Chawla, the Guren’s designer. Lelouch then arrives and greets Rakshata, and she shows him new pilot suits from Kyoto that are designed to increase their rate of survival. At the Britannian military base Suzaku is shocked by the news that he is to be Tohdoh’s executioner. He recalls when he was a boy and trained in martial arts at Tohdoh’s dojo. Suddenly, the base is rocked by an explosion. A squad of Sutherlands deploy to the site of the explosion and come under fire from new Gekka Knightmares piloted by the Holy Swords. An officer is ordered to execute Tohdoh before he escapes, but just then Lelouch and Kallen smash into the jail. Lelouch wants Tohdoh to serve him, but Tohdoh says that his master, Katase, is dead.

Lelouch says that resistance in Area 11 is greater than other Areas because Japan was forced into submission while it still had power. People want to see the continuation of Tohdoh’s victory seven years ago, and Lelouch wants Tohdoh to fight until the nickname “Tohdoh the Miracle” is destroyed. Tohdoh asks if the Japanese will finally accept the truth of their loss after that, and Lelouch says they will because it’s necessary. At the art museum, Euphemia is asked to select the winner by placing a white flower next to the painting. Back at the military base, the Holy Swords make short work of the Sutherlands. A truck smashes into the base with a custom Gekka designed for Tohdoh, and Lelouch transports Tohdoh to the truck in his Burai. The Holy Swords greet Tohdoh, and he orders them to assist Zero. Lelouch thinks to himself that all his goals have been accomplished, and he can now select a knight to protect Nunnally. Suddenly, Kallen deflects an incoming slash harken from the Lancelot, and Lelouch says to himself that the last problem is coming his way on its own. At the art museum, the reporters’ cell phones all ring simultaneously as news comes in about Tohdoh. At the base, Suzaku fights alone against Tohdoh, the Holy Swords, Kallen and Lelouch. The crowd at the art museum watches the battle on a monitor and cheer for the Lancelot. Tohdoh asks Lelouch if he knows anything about the Lancelot’s abilities, and Lelouch says he has a plan to deal with it. Having analyzed the Lancelot’s attack pattern, Lelouch directs their movements. Kallen dodges Suzaku’s attack, and Suzaku is surprised when he rounds a corner and finds Asahina waiting for him. Tohdoh then attacks from behind and slices off the top of the Lancelot’s cockpit. Lloyd panics because he never got around to installing an ejectable cockpit. With the cockpit’s top sliced away, Lelouch, Kallen and Tohdoh are shocked to see that Suzaku is the Lancelot’s pilot. Kallen asks Lelouch for orders, but he’s too shocked to respond. Tohdoh attacks Suzaku, and he opens his cockpit and tells Suzaku to stop. Suzaku asks Tohdoh if he’s going to live on after breaking his own principles, and Tohdoh replies that if Suzaku is disappointed, he should carry out the execution. He asks Suzaku if he’s satisfied with the present, and Suzaku says it’s meaningless to challenge the current society, but one can accept that and begin to change it. Senba orders the rest of the Holy Swords to kill Suzaku, but Kallen wants to wait for Zero’s orders. As the five close in, Lloyd tells Suzaku to use the harken booster, which fires out all four slash harkens and knocks away everyone’s weapons. They continue to attack, but Lelouch orders them to retreat because they’ve achieved their objective. As Britannian reinforcements arrive, the Gekkas use chaff smoke to cover their escape. At the art museum, Euphemia shocks the crowd by pointing to the monitor and announcing that she’s chosen Suzaku as her knight. Elsewhere, Lelouch refuses to come out of the Burai’s cockpit and laughs about the situation.