Three months since meeting Vindel, and it's been relentless. Balancing pilot course classes, reviewing piles of pilot data from Vindel's disk, coordinating with him on Shadow-Mirror, emailing Montoya, Raul, and Fiona to track progress, and handling third-year valedictorian duties. The only saving grace? My instructor's been covering for me, understanding my situation.
Vindel says Shadow-Mirror's base is set: Langley Base, North America—home of the ATX Project, where Alteisen and Weissritter were born, and where Marion, the mod-crazy scientist, resides. I probed my instructor—no Kyousuke, no ATX Project. Good. Post-shuttle crash, Kyousuke's likely Einst-infected, so I'm steering clear. In this world, Alteisen's probably replaced by Gespenst Mk-III for him. Wait… no ATX Project means no Marion?
"You okay?" Barison asks, concerned.
"Just the busiest time. Can't be helped."
I don't like worrying Barison, my partner for three years, so I change the topic. "Got your post-graduation assignment?"
"Yeah, can't say where, but Africa. PT squad leader."
Third-year midterms mean assignments are locking in.
"You were the first in our course to get assigned, right? Valedictorian perks?" he teases.
"Feels bittersweet."
Busy or fulfilling? Hard to say. Barison suddenly remembers something.
"Oh, forgot. Instructor asked me to give you this."
He hands me a data disk. My gut screams trouble—more work in this chaos?
"What's this?"
"No clue. Instructor just said to pass it to you."
Probably Shadow-Mirror-related, routed through the instructor. Digital comms can be hacked; physical handoffs are safer.
"Got it. I'll check it in my room."
I thank Barison and head to the dorm.
"What's this about?"
I load the disk. Two files: "001" (image data) and "002" (text). The bland names feel ominous. Opening "001" reveals a detailed blueprint of the mass-produced Gespenst Mk-II.
"No way."
Cold sweat drips. I close it fast. A military weapon's blueprint—mass-produced or not—is critical. Tech officers might access it, but a cadet? No chance.
"What's Vindel thinking?"
I open "002." A brief message: "Time Flow Engine team contacted me. Used captain's authority to secure funding. Take this data and meet them."
Captain? When did he get promoted? I'm not even a second lieutenant. Vindel's sharing the blueprint to jumpstart Time Flow Engine weapon development.
"Gotta meet them ASAP."
My tasks are mostly done, so a few days off won't hurt. Let others taste my workload—not that I'm bitter. It's Vindel's orders, so I have to comply.
"Hey, Axel. Been a while," Montoya greets me at the Time Flow Engine Institute—his home, apparently.
"Dr. Montoya, been a few months. You look… worn out."
He's visibly thinner since the funeral, stress etched on his face.
"With Fel gone, it's just me. What's up?"
"Got something to discuss. Preferably somewhere private."
He glances around the empty lobby. "As you can see, it's just us. No issue, right?"
True, the mocked institute's deserted, but my data's too sensitive. "Just to be safe."
He relents, leading me to his room, marked by a child's sign: "Director's Room." Raul and Fiona's work, he says, chuckling. The room's surprisingly tidy, not the research-cluttered mess I expected.
"What's so secret you need this privacy?"
I hand him the disk. "From my future CO. Thought it'd help."
"Already got a job lined up, fresh off third-year promotion? Well, not quite a job yet."
"Something like that. Your military contact led to this."
Intrigued, he loads the disk. "Two files: 001 and 002."
"002's a message for me. 001's the important one."
He opens 001, eyes widening. "Axel, this is—"
"The detailed blueprint of the Federation's mainline mass-produced Gespenst Mk-II."
"But this—"
"Could get us in trouble for leaking secrets. My CO knows the risk and gave it to me anyway."
"They're that invested in the Time Flow Engine?"
I nod.
"My CO's handling funding too. That's how promising it is."
Silence fills the room. After a full minute, Montoya speaks.
"This is invaluable. I'll use it. Recently, I met a kid—Raj's age, but a mechanical genius. I want their help weaponizing the engine."
My blood runs cold. A kid Raj's age, a mechanical prodigy joining the Exsala team? It's Mizuho. Didn't expect her this soon. Good thing I pushed weaponization early.
Hiding my shock, I say, "A genius at 13? Impressive. Can I meet them?"
"Sure. They're studying together now."
I follow Montoya out of the director's room.