Chapter 2: A Desperate Struggle

Angel and Lucy had finally managed to get through the last of the guards and get to the control center. Lucy swiped her badge and the doors opened. In the center of the room, was a tall cylindrical containment tank, holding a shimmering rock or crystal, swirling with dark energy.

"So, is this… what's inside me?" asked Angel, looking it over.

"More or less. This is only a small part, but understand, it's not the original, not like what you have. This can be destroyed. They're fragile. I saw someone drop a crystal once and it just fizzled into dust. We need to start this power down sequence. You start on one side with these levers, I'll start on the other."

Angel ran to the other side. The levers look similar to ones that operated the turbines at the Electric City dam. She grabbed one, and using her weight, brought it down. She heard something powering down. Lucy had also turned down a lever. The energy inside the containment tank began to dissipate. Angel and Lucy moved on to the next lever, shutting them down.

"These things… they don't like to… BUDGE!" said Angel, heaving a bit, as she brought the next one down.

"They're designed based on a generator system. They wanted to signal to reach anywhere in Paradigm," said Lucy, pulling another switch down.

They continued working their way around the control room until all switches were off. Lucy checked the controls, but the containment container was still transmitting a signal. The energy, which had appeared to dissipate, now was expanding and filling the container.

"Okay, that's not good."

"What's not good?"

"At this point, the containment container has too much power, which means Big Gamma is apparently powering up for a powerful attack. Which means it might have received enough power to erase something or use its ultimate attack."

"The megadeus," whispered Angel, realizing that Roger was in trouble.

********************************

"Come on already, Negotiator! Is that the best you got?"

Roger was breathing hard. This was turning into a fight of endurance, and Big O had sustained a lot of damage, some areas reading Level 4 and Level 5. Roger tried to steady his breath.

"WHY DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT YOURSELF!" he yelled, and he brought the joy con back, twisting it once more, and grabbing the O Thunder con, and moving it into position, firing in the direction of Big Gamma. Roger found himself breathing hard once more.

"I'm not sure… how much more…. we can keep doing this," he said as the smoke cleared, Big Gamma now advancing towards him.

"Tch, tch, tch… the poor Negotiator is getting tired. Seems like he can't protect his unborn children and that slut of his."

Perhaps it was him tired from the fight, perhaps it was because of events earlier in the day, or perhaps it was a combination of both, but this comment was the one that set Roger off into a rage, which caught the doctors off guard. He began to move Big O, throwing punches at Big Gamma, advancing on it with a furious purpose.

"DON'T!" Bam! "YOU!" Bam! "CALL!" Bam! "DOROTHY!" Bam! "A SLUT!" WHAM!

Roger slammed both joycons forward, doing double punch maneuver, forcing Big Gamma back and off balance.

"AND DON'T YOU TOUCH MY KIDS EITHER!"

Roger fired an Arc Line beam, followed by a Chromebuster. It was immediately followed up by tank fire from the line of MP tanks by the shore. Roger panted hard.

"Where did that come from, Crow Boy? If you had started out like that from the get go…"

"Beck, shut up!"

Roger stared intently, the smoke clearing once more, but Big Gamma rose from the sea.

"Did we strike a nerve, Negotiator?"

"No, I'm just glad you got up again. I got some pent-up anger and you're gonna make a nice punching bag for me to vent that on!"

Roger charged at Big Gamma with Big O, getting locked into a power struggle once more, but then Big Gamma push down hard. Roger felt the joycons slip down halfway down the track, struggling to hold them in place.

"Tch… Damn… it!"

Big Gamma then kicked Big O back, Big O falling into the ocean. Roger panted. He felt himself getting tired.

"Big O, if we don't finish this soon, we're gonna be in trouble."

Roger steered Big O to his feet, standing as Big Gamma faced them down.

I've tried everything at this point. Nothing I've used has slowed this thing down.

"All talk and no show, Negotiator! Perhaps he needs a little motivation. Hmm… how about conducting tomato experiments on his children? We can give them the pleasure of them watching their father die in his last moments, a memory to haunt them forever, BWA HA HA HA!"

Roger eyes grew wide with anger, and he snapped. As he charged with Big O to lay another furious round of punches, the jewels on Big Gamma's arms and palms began to glow, readying for an attack to make Roger and Big O disappear from the world. Big O, sensing danger, stopped hard, Roger lurching forward. Roger couldn't move joy cons or the foot pedals.

"Big O? What's the matter? ATTACK!"

But Big O did not move. Big Gamma closed on them, reaching out to grab them. Roger tensed up and then saw the crystals glowing on Big Gamma, similar to the color that Big Fau had turned into before disappearing. Roger then understood and braced himself.

At the last second, he fired two hip anchors from his right side from Big O, anchoring themselves to the sea floor some distance away as Big Gamma lurched forward. As Big O used the anchors to move the side quickly, Big Gamma came crashing down into the water, the water blasting upward, covering the area in steam. Roger steadied himself and Big O.

"Get it together, Roger! Now they're getting in your head. Sorry Big O… I shouldn't had lost my temper," he panted.

Big O assumed a fighting stance as Big Gamma rose from the water.

"Clever, clever, clever. It seems your megadeus knows better. No matter. READY THE FINAL ATTACK!"

Roger braced himself as Beck came across the comm.

"Crow Boy, I'm getting a massive spike in the energy readings from that megadeus! DO SOMETHING!"

Roger grimaced, not sure of what he could do as he saw Big Gamma glowing brighter than before with energy forming in the palm of its hand.

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Dastun took cover. Webster's unit had broken off from the other units to hold back the robot assault. They had made some progress, but not much. More robots had now appeared along with a squad of tanks from the opposition. Norman had brought firearms and himself to the fight, using his motorcycle, which he had left behind two blocks ago. Slowly, they were pushing the tanks back, but the barrage of the flying crab robots and flying miniature leviathans were starting to become annoying, and slowing down their progress. Dastun aimed a rifle Norman had given him and shot one of the crab robots, flying towards Norman.

"Thank you very much for the cover, sir!" yelled Norman as he took out another leviathan coming down to attack the tank.

"WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS THIS PROFESSIONAL!" Dastun aimed again and took out another robot.

"Tis a mark of the Smith household, sir! Always treat family and friends with the utmost respect!"

Norman took out another crab robot while Dastun took out a leviathan. "Is it also a mark of the Smith household to have this much firepower?"

"Technically, we are outside the jurisdiction of the domes, and there are no laws regarding ownership of high powered, high caliber weapons, sir!"

A large group began to descend on them at once. The tank Norman was on fired, taking out part of the group, but the group remained unfazed and continued to descend.

"SONUVA BITCH!" roared Dastun, now firing erratically into the group.

A sudden volley of tank fire lit up the sky, taking out the robots descending upon them. Norman and Dastun took cover, covering their heads. Silence. Then they heard the continue fighting of tank fire further down the road. They peered out from cover.

"Chief Dastun, I have an unidentified group of tanks being led by a gray sedan. Shall I engage sir?"

"Uh…"

"Chief Dastun, what does the sedan look like?" yelled Norman, his eyes growing wide, trembling.

"Webster, I need a description of the sedan."

"Round hood, rounded end… looks like a bird on the hood… sir… I think the tanks are adjusting their guns."

"DO NOT FIRE! THAT'S DOROTHY!" roared Norman and he ran out in front of the tank, yelling, "DO NOT FIRE! DO NOT FIRE!"

"Sir?"

"Cease fire, Webster! CEASE FIRE, WEBSTER'S UNIT ONLY! EVERYONE ELSE, CONTINUE YOUR ASSAULT!"

Dastun ran behind Norman. Norman running as fast as his legs would carry him, reaching the car and opening the door. Dorothy hugged Norman tightly.

"Norman! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!"

"Goodness gracious Miss Dorothy, you gave me a fright. But what are you doing here and who are they?"

Governor Batter opened the hatch of the tank. "Hello! I am here to assist the Madam President of the Paradigm Corp. Are you the person I speak to about that?"

He climbed out and jumped down, offering his hand for Dastun to shake. Dastun, who had been fighting for a nearly an hour or two (he had lost track), look dumbfounded.

"You came all the way here to help us?" he asked as he shook his hand.

"Yes and no. We also escorted Miss Dorothy back. She says she has information that could turn the tide of this fight. But unfortunately, her radio didn't work, and we weren't sure which channel would be safe to use to contact the good MPs, I daresay."

Norman turned Dorothy. "What do you have dear?"

"That memory, that memory that keeps haunting me. It's not mine. Father implanted memories in me when I was android, the ones that were sealed and I could never access them. When I turned human, the seal broke. Big O… that symbol… his name is Omega. He was the last Big built. He was meant to counter all the other Bigs. I don't know how, but father said he was going to build him to his design because apparently the plans for him got leaked to some enemy. There's an attack that Big Gamma has… it's powerful and dreadful. It could probably take out a good chunk of the city…"

Dorothy caught her breath, before continuing.

"There's a process… Roger can use the attack against him, but it's all on timing. He has to use the Plasma Gimmick, and it becomes shield molded to Big O's body, and then he uses the Sudden Impact to push it back, I think… there's something in the arms that holds or absorbs the energy, and then uses the enemy's energy against it, I think it's related to the O Thunder power banks, I'm not sure. The memory ends and I'm not sure what happens. I think… because I was there, he held it too long, and something happened… But I need my comm. My radio doesn't work."

Norman looked at the men.

"What streets are secured?"

Dastun got his radio and clicked it.

"I need a status report on all secured streets by the Smith Mansion!"

"72ND street, 71st, 73rd, and Hammond Streets are secured sir!"

Dastun looked at Norman. "Are any of those a route that can be used?"

Norman looked at Dorothy. "Your comm is in the hanger on the console. I can relay the message to Master Roger, though you may need to explain the details to him. But, you need to get to the mansion. I have to help Chief Dastun with this fight…" he looked up, hearing the sound of more robots approaching.

"Norman, I…"

"Miss Dorothy, LISTEN TO ME. You go back home, stay on the streets Chief Dastun mentioned, and you do NOT come out under any circumstances. Master Roger will not be happy, but we'll deal with that later. There are robots in the area, and they're looking for you. Do you understand me? Once you get back into the hangar, you shut it, seal it. Use this code…." And he whispered it in her ear, "to lock the hanger door. DO NOT OPEN IT FOR ANYONE! Unless me or Master Roger return home to you."

He handed her a remote to access the hangar garage and he hugged her tightly.

"For the love of all that's dear to me, please listen. Please stay safe. Do you have my gun still?"

Dorothy nodded, now becoming visibly upset. Norman wiped her tears.

"None of those now. Keep the gun on you. What do we say in times like this?"

"Have faith."

"That's right. You may have well turned the tide, Miss Dorothy. I'm proud of you, of your bravery, and the love you have for Master Roger. Now… GO!"

Dorothy climbed in the car, Norman shutting her door. She drove off to mansion, the men watching her go as Dastun radioed Mulberry's unit.

"Mulberry! You have a gray sedan approaching the mansion with a bird on the hood. Let it pass! It's Dorothy Wayneright!"

"10-4, sir!"

Dastun then turned to Governor Batter.

"Would you mind helping us take out these robots? They keep trying to pin us down here. I'm hoping this is the last of them," said Dastun as he looked over to Governor Batter. The Governor nodded.

"I would be more than happy too."

"OI! GRAMPS! I GOT SERIOUS PROBLEM HERE!"

As everyone got into their positions, Norman raised the comm to his chin.

"Mr. Beck, what's seems to be the trouble?"

"Big Gamma is charging up for a major attack. Its energy readings are giving your console errors. I don't think we got anything to counter this!"

"Mr. Beck, listen to me very carefully. Miss Dorothy is on her way home…"

"TOOTS IS BACK?"

"MR. BECK! Master Roger needs to activate the Plasma Gimmick on Big O and find a way to use it as a shield. It specifically has to mold to his body… SONS OF BITCHES!"

Norman had come under fire from two robots and took cover behind a building. He was trapped. He turned to fire with his rifle, Beck still screaming at him from the comm.

******************

"CROW BOY! GET YOUR PLASMA GIMMICK THINGY READY TO GO! YOU GOTTA TURN IN INTO A SHIELD THAT FORMS TO THE BIG GUY!"

Roger was grimacing seeing a giant ball of red energy growing in one of the hands of Big Gamma, now being raised above its head, ready to come bearing down on Roger and Big O.

"CROW BOY!"

"I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT, BECK!"

Roger felt his breath catching in this throat, but powered through it and asked a question.

"Big O… help, I don't know how to do that."

The light suddenly appeared by Roger's right foot, and he pressed a button. The familiar circular disk appeared before of him, surrounding his chair. Next, a green light appeared near the switch to unleash the attack. He pressed the green button. A model of Big O came across the center com, showing the Party Gimmick shield, powering up and molding to Big O's body.

"GODDAMN IT GRAMPS! WHAT'S NEXT?… UHHH… CROWBOY, GET THEM ARMS UP AND DRAW THE PISTONS BACK! DON'T FIRE YET! YOU GOTTA CATCH THAT ATTACK!"

"WHAT? THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE! IT WON'T…"

But Roger didn't finish his sentence as Big Gamma launched the attack toward Big O and Roger moved the joycons forward, catching the attack, surprising him momentarily, but Roger pushed back as hard he could. He pushed tops up on the joycons, the pistons firing back.

"OKAY, WE'RE DOING THIS! WHAT'S NEXT?" Roger struggled to hold the attack back.

"Gramps has come under fire, and he's pinned down… I don't know, I'm not sure, no… HOLD IT! JUST HOLD IT! HOLY SHIT! HOLD IT! This is… I think you're absorbing it!"

Roger became aware that the center comm was beeping erratically, but he was keeping an eye on the attack in front of him, bearing down hard now. He felt Big O beginning to drop to one knee and felt the joy cons pushing back.

"HANG IN THERE, BIG O! BECK, GOD DAMNNIT! WHAT'S NEXT?"

"I'm waiting on Gramps! But the console, another screen just appeared and…"

The temperature in the cockpit began to rise as the joy cons steadily lost ground.

"I CAN'T KEEP THIS UP FOR MUCH LONGER!"

"What the…"

"BECK!"

Roger heard screeching tires in the background on the com, but it was too late. Big O dropped to one knee, hard, the ground giving way beneath. Roger clicked the Tri-Sudden Impact and tried to fire the attack back toward Big Gamma, but now he was free falling. The enormous energy, pushed away at first, then came back down onto the ground, smashing into a loud blast, Roger yelling as he fell with Big O into the hole that had opened up in the ground beneath them.