diff --git a/docs/v4.0.0/plans/2026-10-29-stick-5-proxy-zuse-and-real-zuse.md b/docs/v4.0.0/plans/2026-10-29-stick-5-proxy-zuse-and-real-zuse.md
index 766c1534..20de255c 100644
--- a/docs/v4.0.0/plans/2026-10-29-stick-5-proxy-zuse-and-real-zuse.md
+++ b/docs/v4.0.0/plans/2026-10-29-stick-5-proxy-zuse-and-real-zuse.md
@@ -364,9 +364,9 @@ Tasks 1-3 accepted and merged (#159, master 594d2f93); #155 merged with them.
 **Task 5, the fixed screen** (increments, as Task 4's):
 - [x] 5.1 the first failing test: mode `fallback` (a mint, then the data stick booted alone: the four lines, no prompt, keys dropped; her stick added: the prompt; pulled: the screen again; R with no stick: the plug-in line, any key stops it)
 - [x] 5.2 run `fallback` before any kernel change: FAIL -- no fixed screen, R does nothing (logs/20261110-062351, -062543); her stick added, the prompt, typed keys dropped, the session ended on its pull all PASS already
-- [ ] 5.3 the fixed screen in `sk_v4_identity_wait()`: shown while `g_proxy_fallback`; R runs `sk_v4_mint_zuse()`; every other key dropped
-- [ ] 5.4 her stick pulled: the fixed screen again (not headless)
-- [ ] 5.5 the system stick pulled while hers is in: hers let go first (the chain's tail)
+- [~] 5.3 the fixed screen in `sk_v4_identity_wait()`: shown while `g_proxy_fallback`; R runs `sk_v4_mint_zuse()`; every other key dropped
+- [~] 5.4 her stick pulled: the fixed screen again (not headless)
+- [~] 5.5 the system stick pulled while hers is in: hers let go first (the chain's tail). 5.3-5.5 written in `sk_v4_identity.c` (`sk_v4_fixed_screen`, `sk_v4_session_end`, `g_real_drive`); build on three ISAs; `fallback` running (build/t5/fallback-53.txt)
 - [ ] 5.6 the other sessions: `replace` (R, a new stick, the old one refused), `mint_fail` (blkdebug write errors), `real_pull`, `system_pull_real`
 - [ ] 5.7 regressions, full acceptance, FABRIC entry, commit; then the SER5 bench steps in `boards/BRINGUP.md` (Task 5 step 6)
 
diff --git a/kernel/src/v4/sk_v4_identity.c b/kernel/src/v4/sk_v4_identity.c
index 6ea0f5d8..63e3553a 100644
--- a/kernel/src/v4/sk_v4_identity.c
+++ b/kernel/src/v4/sk_v4_identity.c
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 #include "starkernel/gpt.h"
 #include "starkernel/v4/sk_v4_marker.h"
 #include "starkernel/v4/sk_v4_grow.h"
+#include "starkernel/v4/sk_v4_mint.h"
 #ifdef ARCH_AMD64
 #include "starkernel/ioapic.h"
 #include "starkernel/i8042.h"
@@ -110,6 +111,8 @@ static sk_v4_drive_t *g_spare;
  * Artemis) and arrived before the system stick: checked once it is in
  * (plan 2026-10-29-stick-5, Review Focus 1) */
 static sk_v4_drive_t *g_pending_real;
+/* the real Zuse's stick, while it is attached */
+static sk_v4_drive_t *g_real_drive;
 static const BootDisk *g_boot_disk;     /* the loader's: the disk it booted from */
 static int      g_stick_in;             /* a stick's Artemis partition is attached */
 
@@ -300,6 +303,7 @@ static int sk_v4_real_zuse_arrived(sk_v4_drive_t *d, unsigned nparts)
         return 1;
     }
     d->used = &d->part;
+    g_real_drive = d;
     g_proxy_fallback = 0;
     sk_v4_login(&d->part, seed, pubkey, "Zuse: identity confirmed from attached thumbdrive");
     memset(seed, 0, sizeof seed);
@@ -426,10 +430,38 @@ static int sk_v4_drive_arrived(sk_v4_drive_t *d)
 /* A drive that has left: its identity partition is let go, then its Artemis
  * partition -- in that order, because blk_subsys_detach_device() removes
  * only the chain's tail, and the identity partition was attached last. */
+/* Zuse's session ends: nothing of it stays on the screen */
+static void sk_v4_session_end(void)
+{
+    g_zuse_session = 0;
+    g_zuse_dev = (struct blkio_dev *)0;
+#if !EMERGENCY_CONSOLE_ENABLED
+    console_fb_clear();
+    console_fb_mirror(0);
+#endif
+    console_println("Zuse: session ended -- reattach to re-authenticate");
+}
+
 static void sk_v4_drive_left(sk_v4_drive_t *d)
 {
     blkio_dev_t *dev = d->used;
 
+    /* the system stick going while the real Zuse's is in: hers is the block
+     * chain's tail (blk_subsys_detach_device removes only the tail), so it is
+     * let go first -- remembered, to be checked again when the system stick
+     * is back (plan 2026-10-29-stick-5, Task 5, system_pull_real) */
+    if (d->art_used && g_real_drive && g_real_drive != d) {
+        sk_v4_drive_t *r = g_real_drive;
+        g_real_drive = (sk_v4_drive_t *)0;
+        if (r->used) {
+            if (r->used == g_zuse_dev) sk_v4_session_end();
+            blk_subsys_detach_device(r->used);
+            r->used = (blkio_dev_t *)0;
+        }
+        g_pending_real = r;
+    }
+    if (d == g_real_drive) g_real_drive = (sk_v4_drive_t *)0;
+
     if (d == g_offered) g_offered = (sk_v4_drive_t *)0;     /* the offered stick, pulled */
     if (d == g_spare) g_spare = (sk_v4_drive_t *)0;
     if (d == g_pending_real) g_pending_real = (sk_v4_drive_t *)0;
@@ -442,20 +474,23 @@ static void sk_v4_drive_left(sk_v4_drive_t *d)
         blk_subsys_detach_device(d->art_used);
         d->art_used = (blkio_dev_t *)0;
         g_stick_in = 0;
-        g_proxy_fallback = 0;
+        if (g_proxy_fallback) {                 /* the fixed screen goes with the system stick */
+            g_proxy_fallback = 0;
+#if !EMERGENCY_CONSOLE_ENABLED
+            console_fb_clear();
+            console_fb_mirror(0);
+#endif
+        }
         memset(&g_marker, 0, sizeof(g_marker));
     }
     if (!dev || dev != g_zuse_dev) return;
-    g_zuse_session = 0;
-    g_zuse_dev = (struct blkio_dev *)0;
     /* nothing of her session is left on the screen; it is dark again --
      * except in a build with EMERGENCY_CONSOLE_ENABLED, whose console needs
      * no login and goes on running (the stick's increment 1 final review) */
-#if !EMERGENCY_CONSOLE_ENABLED
-    console_fb_clear();
-    console_fb_mirror(0);
-#endif
-    console_println("Zuse: session ended -- reattach to re-authenticate");
+    sk_v4_session_end();
+    /* the real Zuse's stick pulled, the system stick still in: the fixed
+     * screen comes back (STICK.md 6a), not a dark one */
+    if (g_stick_in && g_marker.present && g_marker.has_real) g_proxy_fallback = 1;
 }
 
 /* One idle beat: the xHCI event ring, then every drive that has arrived or
@@ -581,10 +616,40 @@ static void sk_v4_discard_input(void)
     sk_input_drop();
 }
 
+/* The fixed screen (docs/v4.0.0/STICK.md 6a; plan 2026-10-29-stick-5, Task
+ * 5): the system stick's proxy recognised, a real Zuse in the marker, and
+ * her stick not here. On the screen and on serial. */
+static void sk_v4_fixed_screen(void)
+{
+    console_fb_clear();
+    console_fb_mirror(1);
+    console_fb_enable_ttf();
+    console_println("Zuse's stick is not here.");
+    console_println("Plug it in to log in.");
+    console_println("Or plug in another stick and press R to mint a replacement");
+    console_println("-- the old Zuse stick will stop working.");
+}
+
 void sk_v4_identity_wait(void)
 {
+    int shown = 0;
+
     while (!g_zuse_session) {
-        sk_v4_discard_input();
+        if (g_proxy_fallback) {
+            /* the proxy can only mint a replacement: R does it, every other
+             * key is read and dropped */
+            int c;
+            if (!shown) { sk_v4_fixed_screen(); shown = 1; }
+            c = sk_input_getc();
+            if (c == 'R' || c == 'r') {
+                (void)sk_v4_mint_zuse();
+                shown = 0;                       /* stopped or failed: the screen again */
+                continue;
+            }
+        } else {
+            shown = 0;
+            sk_v4_discard_input();
+        }
         sk_v4_identity_beat();
         arch_halt();                 /* headless, until Zuse: wait for the next tick, not a spin (#151) */
     }