The cemetery was nearly empty. Understandable, given who passed. Dr. Fel Gladen, whose Time Flow Engine paper hinted at time travel, was mocked by most scholars, leaving him strapped for research funds. Only a handful attended his funeral, including me. I approach two young siblings—likely the chief mourners—and a middle-aged man with green hair.
"Sorry, are you Dr. Gladen's family?"
The brother startles, the sister glares. After a brief silence, the man speaks.
"And you are?"
"Axel Almer. I saw the news about Dr. Gladen's passing."
"Ah, you're that Axel," he nods, turning to the siblings—Raul and Fiona.
"Uncle Montoya?" Fiona asks.
So, this is Dr. Rom Montoya, Fel's research partner. He resembles Raj Montoya from Super Robot Wars R. Smiling at Fiona, he explains, "It's fine. He's Fel's friend. You know those letters Fel enjoyed reading? Axel sent them."
"Really!?" Fiona's glare vanishes, replaced by a grin. Raul looks thrilled too. Their father's work was ridiculed, so my support must mean a lot.
"Yeah. I sent a letter when Fel published his paper, and we've been in touch since. I've heard about you two from his letters, but this is our first meeting. Axel Almer, nice to meet you."
Raul counts something on his fingers, flustered. Montoya chuckles.
"Almost two years, right?"
"Yep. I read Fel's paper shortly after enrolling in the officer academy, so about two years," I confirm.
"You're a student, then? Almost a third-year?" Montoya asks.
"Yeah, in about a month."
A pastor arrives, cutting our chat short. "The pastor's here. Let's talk more after the ceremony, Axel."
I nod. The sparse funeral proceeds—sermon, burial, done. We gather in the church for a meal, like a Japanese wake. I brought food made by the dorm's chef.
"Axel, got a moment?" Montoya calls, joined by Raul, Fiona, and another kid—green hair, glasses, studying me. Probably Raj Montoya.
"This is my son, Raj. Raj, this is Axel, Fel's pen pal."
"Nice to meet you, Axel," Raj says, offering a handshake. More mature than Raul or Fiona, despite being their age.
"Let's make sure Fel rests easy. Enjoy yourself today," Montoya says.
"Will do," I reply, eating some terrine. Raj rejoins Raul and Fiona.
No Mizuho here—Exsala's main developer. Maybe she hasn't joined them yet? I turn to Montoya, my real reason for attending this funeral—beyond honoring Fel—clear in my mind.
"Dr. Montoya, what's next for the Time Flow Engine research?"
I check that no one's nearby. He sighs.
"Fel led it, but I'm no slouch. I can't abandon humanity's dream of a time machine."
"I get that. It's why I was drawn to it. But funding… is it manageable?"
His face sours. I hit a nerve.
"With Fel gone, we can't maintain the same scale. But I won't quit. I promised to take him to his mother," he says, glancing at Raj.
Right—Montoya's wife's death drove him to the Time Flow Engine, for Raj's sake.
"Fel was a renowned researcher before the paper, attracting investors. I'm not as famous, so funding's tough now."
Here's my chance. "Dr. Montoya, I have a proposal."
He looks surprised but curious. "What? I hate to say it, but a cadet can't fund research."
"No, not money. Well, I do have some savings from the academy stipend, but that's not it."
"The Time Flow Engine's features—you know them better than I do, right?"
"Of course. Time particles can be harvested anywhere time flows."
"Exactly. A machine powered by it needs no fuel. I'm a pilot course cadet. You see where I'm going?"
"You're suggesting… a PT with a Time Flow Engine?"
"Maybe a PT, an AM, or a new standard."
Montoya interrupts, "We didn't research this to build killing machines! You know that!"
"I do," I nod, pressing on. "But weaponizing it guarantees Federation funding. A perpetual-motion weapon? You'd never worry about money again."
Funding is a researcher's dream. His eyes waver.
"The military won't understand the engine. The academy laughed at us."
"The military's practical. If it works, they don't care about theory. You'd need a presentation to prove it, though."
Montoya ponders. Perfect. In the original, Exsala is built after Montoya's death. Starting now could yield a more refined machine—maybe Lightning or Eternal Frames—before Shadow-Mirror's rebellion. Whether I pilot it or it joins Hiryu Kai and Hagane's team doesn't matter. I'd ensure Raul and Fiona join them to keep the story on track.
"If research stalls, why not explore weaponization, even if it strays from the original goal?"
"…I can't promise now, but I'll consider it," he groans.
I hide my excitement. This could accelerate Exsala's development, surpassing the original. One last thing.
"No need to reply to me. I'm just a cadet—best I could do is pass it to an instructor. If you're serious, take it to someone with authority."
"Got it. Thanks for the advice."
I head to Raul, Fiona, and Raj. "Mind if I join?"
"Axel, you're welcome anytime!" Fiona beams, her earlier glare gone.
"It's our first time talking, but Fel's letters mentioned you so much it doesn't feel like it," I say.
"What'd he say?" Raul asks eagerly.
"That you're laid-back, always oversleeping. Fiona's the responsible one—looks like the older sibling."
Raul groans, Fiona smirks triumphantly.
"You're a real oddball," Raj says.
"Am I?"
"Yeah. Getting hooked on Dad's mocked paper, sending letters? Total oddball."
"Time machines are a boy's dream. Plus, time particles are fascinating."
"As a cadet?"
"Partly. I just gave your dad some advice about it."
"Advice?" Raj looks puzzled.
I explain the engine's funding plight. "If it's used as a weapon's power source, the military will fund it. But you'd need to demo it first."
"So, military money for a fuel-free machine?" Fiona asks.
"Exactly. It's just a possibility, though."
I'm confident it'll work. The military would jump at a perpetual-motion weapon—cost-effective and powerful. With Mizuho absent, we avoid her rescue-machine focus, a lucky break.
We chat enjoyably until evening. "Gotta go. Real-machine drill tomorrow, need to plan."
I approach Montoya. "Dr. Montoya, I'm heading out."
"Thanks for coming. Fel would be happy."
"No problem. Please consider our talk. Acting fast means more funding."
"I know."
I return to the academy.
"Axel Almer, reporting back."
I report to the instructor, eager to return to my room to catch up and prep for tomorrow's drill. Then—
"Axel, keep tomorrow afternoon free. Someone wants to meet you."
"Who?"
"Lieutenant Vindel Mauser."
…What?
Character Profile: Axel Almer
Level: 9
PP: 30
Melee: 142
Shooting: 160
Skill: 152
Defense: 149
Evasion: 177
Accuracy: 199
SP: 214
Ace Bonus: Unknown
Growth Type: All-Rounder/Special
Air: A
Land: S
Sea: B
Space: A
Spirit Commands:
Accelerate (SP 4)
Effort (SP 8)
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Skills:
EXP Up
SP Boost (SP Up Lv.9, SP Recovery, Focus)
Telekinesis Lv.4
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Kills: 4