Foreword

Hello!

I have a bunch of people I need to thank first before I go into some more details about how and why this came to be. So, without further ado:

THANK YOU TO….

To The Big O community on Twitter, specifically my followers and a shout out to DailyBigO, EnginVIR, and Redfox1. Thank you for posting information, pictures, talking through the greater concepts of The Big O (didn't realize there WAS SO MUCH), clips, you name it! I appreciate the help and support. I hope you enjoy this.

To my Church!!! I love it that were a bunch of fellow nerds!!! Thank you for the love, the support, and for talking through ideas related to the fic. I appreciate you taking the time to read over my draft of this and giving me your opinion. It means a lot! You guys ARE AWESOME!!!!!

And lastly, to you, the reader. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to spend time reading this story. I'll be honest, I never finished a fanfiction story before, and this is my first for The Big O. So, thank you again for spending some time to read this.

Honestly, I don't know how this really came to be. Around the end of May, I rewatched the Big O for the first time in a very looooonnnnggg time. I'm talking like almost a decade since the last time season 2 aired on the Toonami block of Cartoon Network back 2013-2014. And it literally was because I needed to kill time during my lunch break at work. And all of the things I love about The Big O were still there in my heart. The film noir, the giant robots, the soundtrack, the characters, and the themes. But the one thing that changed with me was the themes.

I saw this when I was kid and it hit so much different back then. Back then, I thought it was cool and different and not like other shows on the schedule for that day. It's also one of the few shows my dad actually watched with me, with the others being Voltron and Inspector Gadget, and many of my best memories are with him are watching this show as I got ready for softball practice in between commercial breaks when it was on its run during the Toonami block when it was on in the afternoon.

But as an adult, the themes hit different to the point I felt like I got suckered punch. I guess maybe it's because you lived more, seen more, and experienced more. While writing this fanfic, I had a realization that somehow, in some shape and form, I had pursued a career path similar to that of Roger. I worked in law enforcement, left after my health couldn't keep up with the demanding 16 hour shifts back-to-back, and became an administrative assistant known for my no-nonsense approach and willingness to negotiate and find compromises with the different parties I work with. Even my watch looks somewhat like Roger's.

I laughed so hard for a while when I realized this. I even have a black suit for formal meetings. What a life! Compared to what I wanted to be when I wanted to grow up in high school vs now, somehow, subconsciously or consciously, I chose a career path similar to one of my heroes growing up when I was younger, forgot about as I got older, and have the outfit, to boot. But in high school and later in life, I just sort of forgot about The Big O, and anytime someone mentioned, I would nod and say, "Yeah, I remember that," as I had moved on to other fandoms.

Then one day this year at the end of May, instead of watching episodes here and there, or one season, I just buckled down and began rewatching the series, noticing things I hadn't noticed before, going, "Well that makes sense now," or "Guess I didn't see that growing up." But, I guess the one thing that irritated me the most was how Season 2 ended. I know the reasons back in day why the show didn't get renewed for a 3rd season, which considering now that it's 2022, it might've had a chance to get renewed or at least put online if aired now. Who knows. But the one thing that irritated me the most about the ending was about Roger and Dorothy. I wanted to see something with these two!!! It irritated me as a kid, but legitimately pissed me off as an adult.

It's been heavily suggested these two care for each other in the anime, manga, or official artwork released by the creators (let's face it, Roger let Paradigm burn to go save Dorothy from the enemy). Maybe it's just me, but I like to see things wrapped up nice and neat and ready for the next person to use. I couldn't stand it! It was so irritating! And then of course, the bigger question I had [SPOILER ALERT! IF YOU HADN'T SEEN ACT 26, I WOULD STOP HERE AND GO WATCH IT! SKIP THE NEXT PARAGRAPH]

was with Angel. She was the director of the resets, but what if there was someone above her? [/END SPOILER]

Like an executive producer, studio boss, or studio exec that had more power to direct the show in what they wanted and had some of her abilities to control how the show was produced and what they wanted instead of what she wanted? And what does she want, and does she even want this power? Could she make this real? Well, these are the questions I explored in my fanfic while also exploring the relationship between Roger and Dorothy. And, I guess that's how this fanfic story came to be…

I know this may not be everyone's cup of tea, but here in lies the biggest secret about The Big O and I feel it's of one of its greatest attributes: The Big O subject to interpretation. Don't believe me? Google The Big O reviews right now and you'll find podcasts, blogs, comic con site reviews of the show, and you'll get a mix of opinions on how people view the show. Some stuff makes sense and others, well, I guess there's no pleasing them. But you can't deny The Big O is a timeless, classic, and stylish show and even after 20 years after its initial debut in Japan, it still holds up well today. Let's also face it, while the show did not do well in Japan, it did so well in America, that it is one of the first examples where a Japanese studio worked with American studio to get a second season produced. Talk about negotiating at its finest. I think even Roger would be proud!

I'm not gonna lie, I also wrote this because this WOULDN'T LEAVE ME ALONE! Never have I experienced an idea that flowed from me from start to finish without any major writing blocks. It flowed and flowed. The final word count is 269,618 and the final page count is 613 pages, right now. I have broken it down into Acts made easier for reading. I am in the process of editing the remaining Acts, so the final word count and page count may change, but after reviewing the foundation for the first act, I feel confident and proud of what I have accomplished to post. As I continue editing, I will finish posting the other Acts. In other words, I sat down, and I wrote my version of Season 3, trying to wrap it up nicely. And of course, I'm pretty sure there are other interpretations of the show out there and other timelines to consider. Again, that is the beauty of The Big O, it's open for interpretation on how you saw the events from the first two seasons.

It's very unlike me to do something like this, and like I said, I know this may not be everyone's cup of tea. A lot of it was just exploring what if scenarios that came to mind and just played out. And as I soon as I got them out of my head and onto paper, my mind began to feel peaceful once again.

When I buckled down and finished this story, I was so happy! Then I became sad because this story was a part of me, but now on the paper. I mean, it will always be a part of me, but now, seeing fleshed out and take shape, it's ready to go into the world and be its own thing.

I know the first few acts are laying the groundwork for what will later come. It might too slow for some, too fast for others, or just the right pacing. Either way, I appreciate your patience with me as I finish editing and posting the acts as well as your flexibility. After all, bills got to paid.

At the time I wrote this, there's bunch of stuff going on in the world right now and it just seems so negative. My goal was to that in spite in all of the negativity, doom, and gloom was to write something that even in the face of adversity, we can still turn things around. Roger's always the man of action and I don't see him as one to sit idly by while all this doom and gloom is going on. He would forge his own path along with those he cares about and with a little faith, may be things would work out in the long run.

Anyway, I've prattled on long enough. It's time to bring out the stars of the show! Do your thing Roger and Dorothy! IT'S SHOWTIME!

Love,

ReikaR-33