The plant collapses in a catastrophic rumble, spewing up a cloud of dust.
There was nothing in the Scout Manual that accounted for a circumstance like this. Her mouth lies open and slack-jawed.
A synthetic earthquake—all to the "credit" of the maestro beside her.
X: cough
X: Even when you know what's coming, it still never ceases to amaze, am I right?
Eagle: Mr. X ...
X: Yeah?
Eagle: I thought ... I thought you said this was a smoke purification device.
X: I did say that. What better way of purifying smoke is there than getting rid of it altogether?
Eagle: But ... it's not—
X: I promise, kid, it's completely safe.
X: Before you got here, we evacuated the plant, so neither humans nor arcanists were harmed.
Eagle: And critters—
X: And none of them too!
X: No one will have even noticed. The Maze Net should prevent all the noise from leaking.
Eagle: But the Maze Net isn't working anymore! I came in through a seam in it!
X: Oh, alright. Well ... no big deal.
X: Just like it's no big deal that you're not really an intern from Laplace.
Eagle: What ...?!
Her heartbeat shoots up, her grip tightening on her pocket watch so hard that the clasp pokes into her skin.
X: Yeah, you're not from Laplace. Albeit, you've figured out some way in through the Maze Net. I'm impressed, Laplace technology isn't easily beat.
X: I'm curious, though. How did you locate me here? Did you use some arcane gadgets?
Eagle: No, just my arcane skill. Wait, who are you? Are you Xavier or not?
X: I'm "X."
The realization sets in, he never once accepted the name she labeled him with.
Eagle: Yes, right ... You did say that.
Eagle: So, then you're "X" ...
A gaggle of quarreling boy scouts interrupts her revelation.
Boy Scout I: Told you I'd figure it out!
Boy Scout I: That crash was huge! Must have freaked out Xavier. So, he'll probably run out from there!
Eagle: ...
X: Ah. The Maze Net has definitely failed then.
Eagle: I-I need to find the real Xavier. I—
Boy Scout I: Hey! Aren't you the girl that was bothering our scout leader? Hasn't he told you like a hundred times already? Girls CAN'T join the scouts!
Eagle: It wasn't a hundred times ...
Boy Scout I: Why don't you give up already? Whoever heard of a scout in a skirt!
X: I think the Scottish Scouts might hold a different opinion on that ...
Boy Scout I: Who are YOU? Don't tell me, because I don't care what they do there, here in Washington girls can't be scouts! Just look at that dumb old rag on her—not even close to a real sash!
Eagle: Step aside, please.
Boy Scout II: Wait a second, they were here when this place exploded!
Boy Scout I: It must be their fault! What if Xavier is buried down there! What if he's dead? Some scout you are!
Boy Scout I: Yeah, even if you did get let in, we'd never swap scarves with you!
Eagle: Xavier can't be ... Mr. X said no one was harmed!
Boy Scout I: Where's George? Are the rest of them still walking in circles?
Eagle: I'm leaving. Get out of the way, please.
Boy Scout I: Who says you can leave?
X: Sorry, why can't she leave?
Boy Scout II: Because if we can't find Xavier, then we've got to take her in. It's probably her fault this place blew up!
Eagle: I'm going to find Xavier.
Boy Scout I: Oh, yeah—How? You don't even know what he looks like!
The boys stand together blocking her way out.
She stops. The thought of barging right through them crosses her mind, but just looking at their uniforms makes her too bitter to start.
Eagle: If he's not here, then he's got to be somewhere else. No matter what, I—
X: You'll find him.
X: Now there's no place for him to hide. You'll find him sooner or later.
X: And you know what? Even if you don't, you can go back to Laplace with me.
X: I can tell you're a kid carrying a heavy burden, and kids like you always need to do something. Anything.
X: So, want to find something that you can do?
Eagle stares at him blankly, unsure of what he really means.
She decides to focus on her current mission.
Eagle: No, thank you, sir. I will find it on my own, with my arcane sk—
"Arcane skill." The moment she says it out loud, she'll have outed herself as an arcanist.
She won't need to hide anything anymore, but then the possibility of ever joining the scouts will shoot right down to zero.
Thankfully, a cheerful bark interrupts her words.
Puppy: Woof! Woof!
The missing puppy runs towards her, snuggling her feet like an old friend.
Eagle: Oh? It's you!
Boy Scout I: Xavier? Is that you?
The puppy barks back, as if confirming his identity.
"Xavier": Woof!
X: Oh.
