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 Britannian Empire 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 untouched 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 now considered 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" by a spokeswoman 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 game by moving the King, foreshadowing a pivotal point later on.

At the Ashford Academy, Milly, Nina and Shirley are discussing Lelouch's gambling habits, with Shirley highly disapproving 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 derogatroy 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 placing the 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 into a Knightmare (Glasgow) 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 captured a poison gas capsule which may be used as a weapon against the Britannian Military. 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 Ghetto. 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, his last thought being of Nunnally. He is grabbed by the hand by C.C., who proposes a contract which would allow him to live and endow him with the power of kings. 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.

Battles

 * Invasion of Japan (concluded)
 * Skirmish in Shinjuku Ghetto (concluded)

Powers or Abilities used

 * Lelouch's Power of Absolute Obedience