In Shadow Mirror's command room at Earth Cradle, Vindel and I smirk. Ouka's face burns with rage, Cuerbo pales with guilt, and mass-produced Ws work emotionlessly.
"Three factions here: Earth Cradle's originals, Neue DC, and us. You're the landlords, Neue DC's the biggest. What are we?" I ask.
Ouka frowns. "Mother said you're tied to Isurugi Heavy Industries."
Not wrong, but she misses why we're linked. "Close, but not the core reason. Dr. Cuerbo?"
"Technology," Cuerbo answers, unfazed by rivalry, unlike Agira.
"Mother and Cuerbo surpass you!" Ouka snaps.
I cut in. "Neue DC's cutting-edge Landgriz? We developed it." Technically, we brought it from my world, but close enough.
Ouka stammers. Vindel interrupts, "Hold on. The rat's ready for questioning."
"Efficient, Lemon," I note, following Vindel. Ouka and Cuerbo trail silently.
We reach a room with a one-way mirror. The intruder, dosed with truth serum, sits docilely. Vindel activates the intercom. "No need to enter—serum's working."
Vindel explains to Ouka and Cuerbo, "He infiltrated our restricted zone, tried to flee, got caught. Serum's in; we'll question him."
Vindel speaks through the mirror. "Who sent you?"
"Dr. Agira Setome," the man replies.
Ouka gasps. Vindel presses, "Purpose?"
"To steal Shadow Mirror's tech."
"Reward?"
"Higher status in Earth Cradle."
"No concern for getting caught?"
"Agira promised to cover me."
Explains his bravado. Ouka protests, "Lies! Mother wouldn't! You rigged the serum!"
Her conditioning holds. Cuerbo's face darkens with guilt.
I turn to Ouka. "Remember Arabia, fighting Hagane?"
"Of course! To save Lat!" she snaps.
"And what I said?"
"You… weren't there… or were you?" Confusion flickers.
Good—my words lingered despite tampering. Cuerbo interjects, "Captain Axel, what—?"
I signal a W to restrain him. "I said you're a machine, not human. Your implanted memories and emotions blind you. That's why you'd drag Latune to hell for Agira."
"No! I'm saving her!" Ouka insists.
"Are you? Do you truly believe Agira will save her?"
"Of course!"
"Dr. Cuerbo, what do you think?"
Cuerbo, too decent to be cruel like Agira, averts his gaze, unable to affirm. Ouka's shocked. "Dr. Sero…?"
The betrayal hits hard; she faints. Cuerbo lunges, but Ws hold him. "Ouka!"
"Let him go," Vindel orders. The Ws release Cuerbo, standing by.
"Vindel, let me handle Cuerbo," I say.
"Confident?" he asks.
"If it fails, we're back to square one."
"Fine, take it."
Vindel exits with the Ws. I approach Cuerbo, cradling Ouka. "Lada Byravan."
Cuerbo freezes. "Where'd you hear that?"
"Test subject, student, colleague, lover. Complicated. She's at Mao Industries on the moon, researching man-machine interfaces, doubling as a counselor. Helped Hagane and Hiryu Kai during DC and L5 wars."
"So?" Cuerbo asks warily.
"Arado and Latune are with them. Keep going, and you'll fight your School peers, even Lada. Is that what you want?"
"I've done unforgivable research! Join them? Impossible!" Cuerbo protests.
"And drag Ouka down? Agira will toy with her, a Boosted Child breaking under the Geim System."
"How do you know this!?" Cuerbo demands.
"Some know what others don't. That's me."
"Like Lada's foresight?"
"Maybe. If you do nothing, that future happens. What's your move?"
"Betray Dr. Setome?" he whispers.
"Agira's fated to die here, self-inflicted. Don't go down with her."
"She'll die?"
"I'll signal when. Grab Ouka, her backup memory, and join us. That's your atonement."
"Atonement…"
"Hiryu Kai or Hagane's your redemption. Ouka reunites with her siblings, you with Lada."
"…Fine. If it saves Ouka, I'll follow."
"Agira may strip Ouka's consciousness for Geim compatibility. Stop it. Call us if needed—though she might be gone by then."
Ouka's safe with her backup memory. Zeora should join Hagane or Hiryu Kai per the original story, no intervention needed.
"Deny the rat. Convince Ouka. You're too soft for spying, so act normal unless it's time."
"Thanks… for saving someone like me," Cuerbo says.
"Save thanks for when it's done. Go."
Cuerbo carries Ouka out. I return to the command room, where Vindel, Lemon, and Echidna wait.
"How'd it go?" Lemon asks.
"Solid. Cuerbo will join us with Ouka when it's time. Spying's beyond him, but planting a seed in Agira's circle is a win."