Chapter 33

Chapter 33 is the thirty-third chapter of the Astra Lost in Space manga. It is the seventh chapter of the Icriss arc and, in the compiled volumes, the fifth chapter of the fourth volume.

Synopsis
In a flashback, Kanata recalls his younger self speaking with his father after returning from the trip on which his teacher died. Kanata tells Rei that he plans to pursue his dream of going to space rather than become an athlete, but that he still wishes to become physically stronger for the sake of his future crew. His father is dismissive of Kanata's dreams, regarding them as void of merit and implying that he should just dedicate himself to keeping his body in peak condition. Alone in his quarters, Kanata realizes the implications of his father's words.

Meanwhile, Zack calls a meeting with the entire crew, where he reveals that he conducted a DNA test to discover if Quitterie and Funicia are biological sisters. The crew erupts in excitement, thrilled by the possibility of a life-changing moment for the two; glancing over at Kanata, Aries notices that his eyes are downcast, his expression dark. When Zack announces that the pair's DNA are exactly identical, the crew reacts with confusion. He explains to them that although DNA can be very similar, having completely identical DNA is functionally impossible, which means that they are two iterations of the same person.

Quitterie protests, thinking that Zack has fabricated, but Zack has prepared several theories to explain the results. His first is that the two are identical, or monozygotic twins, which occur when a single zygote splits into two embryos, creating two individuals with the same genetic makeup. The theory in question is invalidated by the difference in their ages; Zack suspects that Funicia was placed into cryostasis for seven years, but Funicia replies she has no memory of being in cryostasis. Kanata states that the "twins" theory requires too many assumptions, and brings up the second theory, which requires fewer jumps in logic and fully explains what links them all together: every single person in Group B-5 is a clone.

The revelation shakes them to their cores, and they erupt in objections upon hearing it, but Kanata steadily responds that if their parents are their originals, the theory makes sense. Zack explains that Funicia was likely cloned from Quitterie's cells when she was six years old and gestated in a surrogate mother, a method that lends credence to the theory by explaining the seven-year time gap. Ulgar argues that since cloning is a serious crime resulting in a substantial jail sentence, the theory makes no sense, but Zack offers his father's work on memory transferrence as a counterpoint. He explains that his father's research hit an impasse when he found that the procedure only worked if the individual receiving the transplanted memories possessed identical DNA to the donor.

The procedure would result in the personality of the recipient being overwritten and destroyed by the donor's memories, effectively killing the recipient. The possibility of twins being used was ruled out, since twins have their personalities of their own; he eventually suggested that if the subject made a clone of themselves and transferred all their memories and experience into their newer, younger body, they could regain their youth. Since this application is both immoral and illegal, his father chose to keep it secret and instead contacted wealthy individuals who were willing to pay a hefty sum to regain their youth. All of the students' parents were somehow involved in the research, from Quitterie's mother being the head of the hospital which controlled the clones to Ulgar's father being the school leader to hide the clones' activity. Zack does remark that he does not know how Aries fits into this, but suspects that Funicia was meant to be some sort of backup for Quitterie.

Luca protests that this is all a theory without hard evidence, but Zack pulls out his father's portable ashtray; Zack borrowed one of his father's duffel bags for the trip and found the ashtray in one of the pockets. He plans to use the spent stubs inside to determine if he is his father's clone; in addition, Yun-Hua volunteers a toothbrush of her mother's which she has accidentally brought. Zack uses the samples of DNA from the items to run the test and returns to the crew with the devastating results, resting the display on the table in the lounge for all to see: Zack and Yun-Hua are both perfectly identical to their parents.