The Day a New Demon was Born (episode)

The Day a New Demon Was Born is the first episode of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion.

Summary
On August 10, 2010, a.t.b., the Holy Empire of Britannia declared war on Japan and subsequently conquered it. Seven years later, teenage student Lelouch Lamperouge finds himself pulled into a battle between anti-government terrorists and the Britannian Army in the Shinjuku Ghetto. In the midst of the conflict, a mysterious, green-haired girl saves him from death by granting him "the power of the king," which allows him to compel others to do his bidding.

Plot
The episode begins with the image of Suzaku and Lelouch as kids, playing in an almost fairytale environment of nature, with the figure of C.C. apparently watching them. A swarm of bees is shown next, after which C.C.'s voice announces the event of the world, the conquering of Japan and Lelouch and Suzaku in the middle of it, to see everything. While Suzaku seemed detached but sad, Lelouch was angry and vowed to destroy Britannia.

Seven years later, in 2017 a.t.b., Britannia is shown to have complete control of Former Japan, now renamed Area 11, save for a minor fraction of Japanese Freedom Fighters which they consider terrorists. The military is shown in direct pursuit of a hijacked vehicle, which underlines the militaristic thoroughness and vigilance of the conquering power. On TV, propaganda is related about the "terrorist group", with the spokeswoman being of obvious European heritage.

The TV announcing the news is closed in a room where a chess match is apparently over, close to winning by a Britannian noble. At that time, Lelouch and his friend Rivalz enter the room, with Lelouch claiming he can turn the situation on the chess table in under 9 minutes. He starts his move with the King, foreshadowing a pivotal point later on.

At the Ashford Academy, Milly, Nina and Shirley are discussing Lelouch's gambling habits, with Shirley showing highly disapproving of it. Milly teases Shirley over her affection for him.

Next is a parallel scene between the hijackers lamenting at the fact that their comrades got them followed by not following the established plan, while the noble is surprised to have been beaten at chess by Lelouch. Rivalz compliments Lelouch on his victory, and is happy that the ego of the nobles will force them to pay, which he notes also make them loose. Rivalz also makes a hint on the difference between Elevens and Britannians (most likely in a prerogative manner), but as they walk out, they are interrupted by Clovis' "heart-breaking" speech which turns out to be an act, which he boasts to the other nobles gathered where he transmitted from. He is however surprised by pressing news and bursts, under the vigilant eyes of Diethard. Clovis orders all Knightmare pilots to recover the missing cargo now in the hands of the terrorists. Following the command, Jeremiah and Villetta enter their Knightmares.

On the road, Rivalz accidentally cuts the way of the terrorists, resulting in their vehicle's crash. People gather, but to Lelouch's disgust, they're more interested in putting blame and gawking over the incident than helping, prompting him to go and assess the situation. As he inspects the crash, he hears a voice, but is then thrown in the back of the truck, as Nagata, one of the hijackers, puts it in reverse for an attempted getaway. Seen that they are followed, Kallen gets in a Knightmare to facilitate their escape, to Lelouch's horror that he is trapped in a terrorist getaway. Kallen is outmatched against Jeremiah's Sutherland, while Lelouch plans to wait and assist the military for his freedom.

Meanwhile, Earl Lloyd deduces the military's mission is to track the terrorist back to their hideout and exterminate them, and offers his help, and he is told the terrorists gave captured a poison gas capsule which may be used as a weapon. Honorary Britannians are sent to retrieve it. Among them, Suzaku finds the vehicle and confronts Lelouch, who he believes is a terrorist. Nagata opens the capsule, to which Suzaku quickly puts his own gas mask on Lelouch's face. The capsule opens, instead of gas, as Suzaku expected, restrained C.C. appears. Before they can get answers, Suzaku's superiors come and tell him not to question his briefing, and to shoot the "terrorist", Lelouch. When he refuses, he is promptly shot in the back.

Clovis, believing they have eluded them, orders the purge of the entire Getto. The young and elderly are killed indiscriminately in this massacre, with Lelouch and C.C. taking the opportunity to escape. Just as they seem to have evaded detection, Lelouch's phone rings, giving him away. As they're about to kill him, C.C. jumps in front and is shot in the forehead. A desperate Lelouch now thinks of his impending death, the last thought being of Nunnally. He is grabbed by the hand by C.C., who proposes a contract which would allow him to live. He accepts, and stands up reinvigorated, ordering his pursuers to kill themselves, which they do with a smile.

He then retroactively contemplates this moment, noting his life is a lie, but that he accepts it as long as he has the power from it.

Other names
The Day the Evil was Born

Quotes

 * "The date was August 12, 2010 of the Imperial Calendar. The Holy Britannian Empire had just declared war upon Japan. The far-east island nation had held fast to its neutrality, and now Britannia looms as the world's only superpower. Rights to Japan's underground resources became a hotly disputed issue, straining the already deep-rooted diplomatic tensions between the two sides. In the deciding battle for the mainland, Britannian forces introduced into combat the Humanoid Autonomous Armored Knight, known as the Knightmare Frame. The enemy's forces were far greater than anticipated and the Knightmares obliterated the Japanese line of defense with little effort. Japan became a dominion of the empire; the country was stripped of its freedom, its rights and its name. Area 11: The defeated and once proud nation of Japan was rechristened with a mere number." - C.C.
 * "I swear... I swear Suzaku, so help me, I will one day... Obliterate Britannia!" - Lelouch Lamperouge
 * "Here's video footage of yesterday's terrorist bombings in Osaka. The secretary reported 59 casualties in this incidence. 8 Britannians, and 51 others." - Female News Reporter
 * "To all my imperial subjects, including of course the many cooperative Elevens who choose to serve the Empire of Britannia. Do you not see my pain? My heart was ripped from my chest only to be torn apart! The remnants are filled with rage and sadness. However, as ruler of Area 11, I will not tolerate terrorism of any kind! Because the battle we fight is a righteous one! A virtuous battle, to protect the well-being of one and all. Now then, everyone, I would like you to join me in observance of the eight who died for justice in the line of duty." - Clovis la Britannia
 * "Spilling tears over those people won't bring them back to life, now will it? It's all about self-satisfaction. It doesn't matter how hard you try, you can't do it. There's no way you can change the world." - Lelouch Lamperouge
 * "Destroy Shinjuku Ghetto! Leave no one alive!" - Clovis la Britannia
 * "You don't want it to end here, do you? You appear to have a reason for living. If I give you power, could you go on? I propose a deal. In exchange for this power, you must agree to make my one wish come true. Accept this contract and you accept its conditions: While living in the world of humans, you will live unlike any other. A different providence, a different time, a different life. The Power of the King will condemn you to a life of solitude. Are you prepared for this?" - C.C.
 * "Say... How should a Britannian who detests his country live his life?" - Lelouch Lamperouge
 * "What's wrong? Why not shoot? Your opponent is just a schoolboy. Or have you finally realized? The only ones who should kill are those who are prepared to be killed." - Lelouch Lamperouge
 * "That was the turning point; since that day, I've lived a lie. The lie of living. My name, too, was a lie. My personal history: a lie. Nothing but lies. I was sick to death of a world that couldn't be changed. But even in my lies, I refused to give up in despair." - Lelouch Lamperouge