Three days had passed since Squad Sigma had returned to their mission. In that time, the new recruits have reported to Captain Ritsu, still caught in the web of administrative procedures thanks to the controversy surrounding both Elora and Serah. Higher ups have demanded for their execution, but Lorenzo had kept them at bay, promising to resolve their cases soon. Pilot Sigma was assigned out from the squad for "classified reasons", but the most believed cause was the lapses of memory that she had experienced, rumored to be a memory disorder caused by a defect in the cloning process.
"You're releasing me from duty?" Elise screamed while in Ristu's office, and banged her fists against her desk. "I can still fight! You can't do this to me!"
Ritsu sighed heavily. "It can't be helped, Sargeant; your injuries are too grievous for you to be sent to any new missions. You would put not only yourself, but the rest of your squad at risk." Elise bit her lip, and looked aside. Ritsu continued. "This wouldn't normally be an issue, but the energy system your Framewerk operates on rejects cybernetic enhancements, which means you can't be fitted with artificial replacements." The red-headed girl clenched her fists. "I know that...But still, isn't that too drastic? And what about Squad Sigma?"
Ritsu typed on her laptop. "Don't worry, Romanovna will take on your duties. As for you, well, there's options. You could take on the duties of a quartermaster or a drill instructor, or begin commissioned officer training." Elise shook. "Fine. As long as I can be with P...Nevermind." She stood up straight. "Understood, Captain. I will take my lead, and report on my decision later." She made one last salute, and drifted off. She walked to the hangar, and looked up at Prometheus, holding back her tears. She then hesitantly reached out, and touched the Framewerk with her hand.
"...Papa..."
Elsewhere, in Lorenzo's laboratory, his beautiful and shapely assistant Dariya made a light-hearted giggle as she looked at Elora step out of the containment sphere, with a strange helmet that covered her entire head, wearing a black bodysuit with bright green lines running on it in a Tron-like fashion. Dariya wrote down a line on the clipboard she held in her hands. "Now Elly my dear, we're going to make a few tests, ok? If you'e a good girl, I'll give you a plushy toy and some sweet bars." She pet her head. The young ex-pilot slowly nodded, completely silent. "Professor, are you sure of this? We haven't got authorization to release her yet, and the Neuro-Mask is still in the prototype phase of testing. We are already treading on dangerous ground with the ESP research."
Lorenzo was on the other side of the vast room, typing a password to a terminal. "It is fine. Aside from the occasional noise, she's been stable, and her readings have only shown a minuscule rate of fluctuation, especially after Subject X was relocated downstairs. Besides, the Neuro-Mask works on the same principle as the Dampening Sphere; it is simply a mobile, and more importantly, adjustable version. Proceed with the experiment." "Very well then, Professor. We will start with the sensory testing, and then move on to telekinetic evaluation. Come on, Elly~"
Dariya smiled sweetly, and took Elora by her hand, as if she was a mother taking her daughter to a picnic. The two then disappeared past an automatic door that locked behind them.
Lorenzo scratched the back of his hand. "Liu'un is showing great progress. If I could just convince those idiots of her potential..."
He grumbled, and moved to a big, egg-shaped construct; it had XA-01 painted on it. "Ana..." he cooed in a creepy voice, and opened the pod; a young woman, or at least something resembling a young woman, was inside, her eyes closed, completely unmoving. He grinned, and caressed her cheek with his wrinkly palm while she was in sleep-mode.
"My masterpiece...My precious daughter. I may have lost you once, but now you are reborn. And you look as beautiful as your mother. You will avenge her..." Lorenzo then removed his touch, and took a moment to look aside, having become emotionally charged. After he calmed himself, he reached for his pocket to press a button on his device. "Wakey wakey." Ana was finally activated, and opened her eyes. Lorenzo smiled gently. "Anastasia, you are now a month old, which means it is time you take on new responsibilities. Today is the day of your integration to a pilot squad. Remember, your social skills will be tested even harder than in the simulations, so you must be prepared for anything. Also, you must keep your personal details as well as your Framewerk classified, level Red. Understood? Dismissed," he then said with a wide smile, very unlike his usual demeanor.