The hangar's bigger than expected, but with Shadow-Mirror's ten or so machines, it feels empty. More units will come as the squad grows.
"Which machine are you picking?" Lemon asks.
"Hmm… a Garion? Rare find."
Unlike the other world, this Federation mostly uses Gespenst Mk-IIs. Garions are uncommon.
"Rare, sure, but not bad. Want it?" Lemon says.
"Nah, Lions feel fragile."
My original knowledge paints Lions as weak. Scanning the hangar, a blue machine catches my eye, reminiscent of an unknown Gundam. Its six shoulder-mounted Sword Breakers stand out.
"Lemon, that Ashsaver with Sword Breakers—is it a commander model, not mass-produced?"
"Sharp eye," she says, pleased.
I'd requested a commander-model Ashsaver for Shadow-Mirror, but budget constraints meant mass-produced units only.
"You didn't know?" Lemon asks, curious.
"Know what?"
"Why the commander model's here. You've got telekinesis, right? So you can use the T-LINK system. That Ashsaver's an experimental unit for T-LINK enhancement."
"Experimental?"
"Yeah. I don't know details, but there's a special team using T-LINK-controlled weapons like Sword Breakers for precise all-range attacks."
It's unmodded, she adds. Like R-3's Strike Shield. But Aya's just a brain in a cylinder, not piloting. Another telekinetic on the SRX team?
"I'll take that Ashsaver."
"Got it. I'll handle the paperwork." She types rapidly on a nearby computer.
"Done. One more thing—can you stick around?"
"Sure. What's up?"
"Don't rush me. Forgot why I was called here?"
Her reason? T-LINK development? No… "Time Flow Engine."
I'd assumed Exsala would handle it, so it slipped my mind.
"You forgot?" Her gaze is teasing, eyes glinting mischievously.
"Sorry, I figured the developers would build it. We're funding them, so we might get a few samples."
"That's enough for now. Vindel showed me Fel's paper. If the Time Flow Engine's perfected, time travel's possible."
"Montoya was aiming for that with it."
Her eyes light up. "You know Montoya too? Vindel said you corresponded with Fel."
"Met him at Fel's funeral. We've emailed since."
"Interesting. Come to my lab? I want to hear more about the Time Flow Engine."
As R&D head, a scientist like her would have a lab. "Fine by me."
She leads me out, chuckling. "It's a bit from the hangar, not fully set up yet."
Ten minutes later, we reach her lab. Inside, rows of two-meter cylinders filled with liquid and human-like forms line the room. Unlike Aya's brain, these don't unnerve me—maybe because I know they're W-Numbers, or their human shapes. These seem like mass-produced W-Units, not unique ones like Wodan Ymir, Echidna Isaki, or Lamia Loveless, yet to be created.
"W-Numbers," I mutter.
"What?" Lemon reacts sharply.
Damn, another slip-up like Shadow-Mirror's name.
"What'd you say, Axel?" Her smile doesn't reach her predator-like eyes.
"Vindel mentioned your research. I thought these were it."
"Vindel, huh?"
"Yeah, definitely."
I try to bluff, but her next words crush it. "Vindel knows I'm researching artificial humans, but I never mentioned W-Numbers."
She's a cat toying with a mouse. I'm the mouse, cornered.
"Vindel would research his recruits, right?"
"Maybe, but that doesn't explain your odd behavior."
Kill her to silence her? No, losing Lemon, Shadow-Mirror's lifeline, would doom our rebellion. Einst-infected Kyousuke could destroy Earth.
"No choice," I sigh.
"Giving up?" she asks, curious.
"My mistake. Total blunder."
"So, how'd you know about my research?"
"I'll explain, but not in public. Somewhere private?"
"This is my lab. No one enters without my say."
Right, I forgot in my panic. "It'll take time. That okay?"
"Fine. Training starts tomorrow, and your story sounds more important than my schedule."
"Alright. Let's sit. Tea would help my tongue."
No avoiding it. Lemon's curiosity-driven scientist nature might keep her from ratting me out. If she tells Vindel… worst-case future or present despair? Tough call.