diff --git a/context/decomp-reference.md b/context/decomp-reference.md
index be36662..e9964e4 100644
--- a/context/decomp-reference.md
+++ b/context/decomp-reference.md
@@ -274,6 +274,20 @@ From the weapon `.SUB` records + the charge-curve `.data` constants (PE-parsed a
   ResetFiringState); Emitter's faithful body existed as the orphaned "AdvanceSeekVoltage" (zero
   callers) -- both registered via MESSAGE_ENTRY (ids 9/0xb).  Verify: BT_SEEKTEST=1 +
   BT_SEEK_LOG=1 → `[seek] <name> -> gear N` cycling.  EjectAmmo remains unwired.
+  **LATENT ARCADE BUG found + diverged (issue #21, 2026-07-21) [T1 byte-verified + T2 repro]:**
+  the Emitter charge integrates toward the GENERATOR voltage (@004ba838 `fld [src+0x1dc]`), full
+  is detected only inside the +-1% snap window around `seekVoltage[idx]` (ComputeOutputVoltage
+  @004ba738: `|rl-1|<=0.01 -> 1.0`), and OVERCHARGE reads ZERO (`rl>1.01 -> 0`,
+  `_DAT_004ba830 = 0.0` byte-verified).  Toggle the seek gear while a charge is in flight and
+  the level lands ABOVE the new gear's window -> rechargeLevel pinned 0, the `==1.0` Loaded test
+  (`_DAT_004bac04`) never fires, charging continues to the generator ceiling where EVERY gear
+  reads overcharged -> the weapon is PERMANENTLY bricked (arc dark, ready-dot dark, no fire; gen
+  re-select cannot help).  The arcade shipped this (locked 60 fps + rare seek use hid it); the
+  port's clickable seek button triggers it in seconds.  **Deliberate divergence** (emitter.cpp
+  Loading tick): overcharge (`currentLevel > seekVoltage[idx]`) counts as fully charged ->
+  Loaded ("full == the gear's seek voltage" is the arcade's own discharge algebra).  Repro +
+  verify: BT_SEEKTEST seek-abuse -- pre-fix deadlocks at pct=0/alarm=3; post-fix 38 rescues,
+  ends Loaded/pct=1.  `[seek]` log prints the per-gear table + rescue events.
 - **MechRIOMapper** @0x51DD30: RE-REGISTERS the base ids 3..0x13 (Aux1Quad..ZoomOut) with the
   RIO override handlers @004d22fc..@004d24f8, + {0x19, Keypress→@004d2514} (RIO's OWN keypress,
   unreconstructed — we use the shared L4 0x17 @004d1bf0) + {0x1a, Hotbox→@004d2574} @0x51DE98.
diff --git a/game/reconstructed/emitter.cpp b/game/reconstructed/emitter.cpp
index 6988ed9..a34b0be 100644
--- a/game/reconstructed/emitter.cpp
+++ b/game/reconstructed/emitter.cpp
@@ -510,6 +510,32 @@ void
 					weaponAlarm.SetLevel(2);			// -> Loaded
 					break;
 				}
+				// OVERCHARGE RESCUE (issue #21, 2026-07-21) -- a DELIBERATE
+				// divergence from the binary, which DEADLOCKS here: change the
+				// seek gear while a charge is in flight and the level can land
+				// ABOVE the new gear's snap window (level/seekV > 1.01) -- the
+				// byte-verified ComputeOutputVoltage clamp then zeroes
+				// rechargeLevel (_DAT_004ba830 = 0.0) and the ==1.0 Loaded test
+				// can never fire again while TrackSeekVoltage keeps charging
+				// toward the generator voltage: the weapon is PERMANENTLY
+				// bricked (arc dark, dot dark, never fires -- reproduced
+				// headless, and trivial to trigger from the clickable seek
+				// button; the pod's locked 60 fps + rare seek use hid it).
+				// The arcade's own math says "full == the gear's seek voltage"
+				// (discharge energy computes from seekV[rec]), so an
+				// overcharged weapon IS fully charged -- treat it as Loaded.
+				if (currentLevel > seekVoltage[seekVoltageIndex]
+					&& seekVoltage[seekVoltageIndex] > 0.0f)
+				{
+					rechargeLevel = 1.0f;				// full (the display/damage ratio)
+					weaponAlarm.SetLevel(2);			// -> Loaded
+					if (getenv("BT_SEEK_LOG"))
+						DEBUG_STREAM << "[seek] " << GetName()
+							<< " overcharge rescue: level=" << currentLevel
+							<< " > seekV=" << seekVoltage[seekVoltageIndex]
+							<< " -> Loaded" << std::endl;
+					break;
+				}
 			}
 		}
 		break;
@@ -683,7 +709,16 @@ void
 		ResetFiringState();								// @004ba9a8
 	}
 	if (getenv("BT_SEEK_LOG"))
-		DEBUG_STREAM << "[seek] " << GetName() << " -> gear " << next << std::endl;
+	{
+		Generator *src = (Generator *)ResolveVoltageSource();
+		DEBUG_STREAM << "[seek] " << GetName() << " -> gear " << next
+			<< " seekV[" << next << "]=" << seekVoltage[next]
+			<< " table={" << seekVoltage[0] << "," << seekVoltage[1] << ","
+			<< seekVoltage[2] << "," << seekVoltage[3] << "," << seekVoltage[4]
+			<< "} max=" << maxSeekVoltageIndex << " level=" << currentLevel
+			<< " genV=" << (src ? src->MeasuredVoltage() : -1.0f)
+			<< " genRated=" << (src ? src->RatedVoltageOf() : -1.0f) << std::endl;
+	}
 }