Chapter 5: Big O Makes His Decision

"YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!" bellowed Roger.

Roger and Big O had been successful with a few more hits. Stunned and now very afraid, the doctors and Big Gamma turned to run. Roger fired another hip anchor at Big Gamma, this time it went through the Big, and straight into the sea floor. Roger smirked.

"CROW BOY! YOU MORON! WHAT THE HELL IS A MATTER WITH YOU!!!!"

Beck appeared on the screen.

"Glad to see you too, Beck. I'm sorry. I think that energy I absorbed is helping us. I took a hit to the head, so it's hard to tell. But it's helped me realize some things…"

"Crow Boy…"

"When this is over and done with…"

"Crow Boy…"

"I got an apology I need to tell Dorothy."

"CROW BOY!"

"It's rude to talk over people, Beck."

"Someone's here to speak with you, you moron!"

"Roger Smith, I accept your apology, you louse!"

Dorothy had pushed Beck out of the screen and now Roger saw her face. She was trying to look serious, but Dorothy could not hold back her smile, wiping her tears off her face. Roger felt his breath get caught in his throat, happy to see her and relieved at first, then he became irritated.

"DOROTHY WAYNERIGHT! What are you doing here?"

"Don't sass me! I came back! I'm not leaving!"

"Dorothy Wayneright…"

"ROGER SMITH, YOU LISTEN TO ME AND YOU LISTEN TO ME RIGHT NOW! I'M. NOT. LEAVING! Besides, I have information that will help you win this fight."

"But Dorothy…" Roger began weakly.

"Hush and listen! I finally understand that nightmare I've been having. It's not my own, it's my father's. All these memories were my father's and were probably the ones he sealed inside of me when I was still an android, the ones I knew were so terrifying, but I couldn't even comprehend. I found out about Big O. His name is Big Omega. He was the last Big created by my father to counter all the Bigs, especially this one! Big O has ability to absorb energy and use it against the enemy. I don't know how, but probably it has to do something with the Sudden Impact arms and the energy banks inside them. I think he's cycling the energy you absorbed from the last attack, and we can now use it! Roger, we can win this fight if we time this right!"

"Dorothy, I'm not having you get yourself hurt…"

"Roger Smith, this is my fight too! This is their fight," she looked at her belly, before looking back up at Roger, "This is Beck's fight, Norman's fight, Dastun's fight, Angel's fight. This is your fight. We're all fighting Roger, but it's about time you got your head out from the clouds and understand you don't have to fight alone anymore! We're all fighting with you, and I'm not leaving your side. Not anymore!"

Big O's eyes flashed, catching Roger's attention. The red joy cons disappeared, with black ones now rotated to the front, outlined in red. Roger's seat reclined slightly as more screens appeared from behind his chair, now able to see what was behind him and alongside him, the foot pedals adjusting for the change in seating.

"What the…"

But if that was bizarre for Roger, it was much more bizarre for Dorothy. The console flashed wildly, and a keyboard opened up as well, showing multiple levers and buttons, all of which Dorothy recognized. Multiple screens began appearing, showing everything that Roger and Big O could see, but on her end.

"These are Big O's attack controls and his cameras, but I don't understand…"

Beck gently nudged her with the headset he had been wearing, not taking his eyes off the console, trying to process the change. Dorothy looked at it, then to Beck.

"It's… simple," said Beck slowly, "The Big Guy heard your cry. You want to fight together with your Crow Bird. So… apparently, this was already here, ready for him to call upon it when you two were ready. So… now, what are you going to do about it?"

Dorothy eyed the headset, and she looked back at Roger, who was still looking around him, but his gaze met Dorothy's.

"Roger, please let me help you. You're not alone anymore."

Roger stared back at her, and finally, he smiled.

"Alright. BUT, you have to promise me if you start feeling unwell, you'll stop. For their sake."

"Roger, I…"

"Dorothy, your word."

Dorothy sighed. "Fine, I will," and she put on the headset.

The console opened screen in front of the keyboard as soon as she did so, and Dorothy studied it.

"Roger, the console… I think I have access to your controls and attacks. It looks like, it's a command prompt. But how do I operate it?"

Big O answered her question by showing a list of all attacks and combos he could use. She selected one and it showed her screen that allowed her to adjust the strength and speed output of the attack.

"So, I can pre-program attacks to send to Roger, and he can follow through on them, or I can select the action while he's doing something else? Roger this is like… it's like the piano, dancing…"

"One leads and the other follows, switching occasionally. All this is just synchronization."

Dorothy nodded. "Exactly, and we got this."

"ROGER! YOU BASTARD! I'M GONNA KILL YOU MYSELF WHEN I SEE YOU NEXT!"

Dastun yelled into his comm. Dastun and Norman, along with his three squads and Electric City tanks, had pushed the opposition and the robots back, and now he and his men had access to the shoreline to meet up with the other units that had been supporting Roger.

"Jolly good show, Master Roger! It's great to see you're okay, sir."

"Thanks Norman. And Dastun, you can hit me when you see me, just avoid my head."

Dorothy giggled.

A car came screeching to a halt in front of Dastun, Norman, and the group of tanks behind them. Angel stepped out of the car, along with Lucy. Dastun was happy to see Angel, but not happy to see Lucy and pointed his gun at her. Angel quickly got out of the car and stepped in front of her, shielding her, breathing hard.

"What the?"

"Dan, no! I wouldn't be here if it were not for her. She helped me escape. The base for the New World Order is gone. Self-destructed."

"Forgive me, I don't trust her, even if she helped you."

"Chief Dastun, put the gun down!"

Dastun fumbled for his words, but then lowered his gun.

"You pulled rank again," he muttered, looking at her with shocked eyes.

"She can help us. She knows about this Big and what powers it. Roger, can you hear me?" Angel asked as she put her comm close to her chin.

"Loud and clear. Glad you're okay. I see you got yourself into trouble again. Blowing up things again, Angel?"

"You're a comedian. But listen. Lucy has info on this Big." Angel brought her comm link to Lucy.

"Negotiator, listen up. We got less than seven minutes before that Big causes the end of Paradigm. By destroying the signal at the base, we've activated a fail safe in the unit. We have to destroy the entire Big. Not a bit, or a part, the entire thing. If we don't, Paradigm City will cease to exist."

"Is it a bomb that's in there? Big O's not picking up anything on his sensors."

"No, it's worse than that. It's hard to explain and there's not much time. But if you destroy it, the battle is yours for the taking."

Dastun walked over to Angel and handed her his radio.

"You're technically my boss. So, what do we do?"

Angel looked at him and pushed the radio back towards him.

"I've never commanded officers in battle like this. For this, I yield to your judgment. Just make sure you save the city and minimize civilian casualties. And property damage if you can."

Dastun put his coat over Angel's back.

"It's good to see you again, Madam President," Dastun said, smiling. Angel smiled back.

Dastun looked over at his group of tanks, grabbing the radio.

"Alright, listen up! I need the rest of you to continue pursuing the opposition and those robots. Keep them on the run. Press them until they feel desperate and jump in the sea for all I care! I need two more tanks along the shore here with Michaelson's units, and I want you to support the Black Megadeus with all the fire power he needs. Do you understand me?"

"Yes sir!"

The tanks began to fall into line, following their orders. Governor Batter pulled up and opened the hatch. Angel smiled.

"Madam President, lovely to see you. I'm glad you're alright."

"I've been better Governor, but seeing you here, I'm appreciative of the support."

"Nonsense, Miss Dorothy made that lovely pact for us. It's only natural that I follow through on it. Chief Dastun, sir, where would like us?"

"Can half of your units go back to the Smith Residence and protect that mansion and the other half finish the pursuit against the opposition? I got a squad there at the mansion, but they might need help." Dastun grabbed his radio, "Mulberry! You have relief coming to back you up at the Smith Residence. They're from Electric City!"

"10-4! About time! Thank you, sir!"

Governor Batter nodded. "You heard the man, half you follow those tanks! The rest of you, follow me!" And the Electric City tanks began to fall out.

"ALRIGHT THEN LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! If you would be so kind, I HAVE A STATUS BRIEFING FOR THE CROW BIRDS, SO GET OFF THE LINE AND LET ME DO MY THING!" yelled Beck.

Roger jerked his neck away from the comm, annoyed by Beck's yelling.

Beck took a sudden inhale of breath before exhaling it. "Alright you two, listen up. Here's the rundown of weapons available. Missile Cannon Party is done. Crow Boy has used up all physical ammunition. On your hip anchors, you have two complete sets left, one for a Moby Dick Party attack and one for Final Stage. Your energy levels are through the roof and keep rising, so the Big Guy is gonna need some exercise. Be liberal for the time being with your eye beams, Chromebuster, and that O Thunder… thing. Might help keep it under control. But don't get too carried away and save some for the Final Stage, if you're gonna use it."

Big Gamma took its arm and finally freed itself from the chain that Roger had used to render it immobile with its saw cuff.

"ENOUGH OF THIS PRATTLE! All we have to do stall for time! Paradigm City will fall. If it cannot be reborn in our perfect world, it shouldn't exist at all!"

Roger gripped the joy cons tightly, his eyes calm and determined.

"Dorothy, are you ready?" asked Roger, smirking.

"I'm ready. Let's finish this," replied Dorothy, grinning.

"GET ON WITH IT ALREADY!" yelled Beck.

And Roger and Dorothy both cried out together, "BIIIIIGGG OOOOO! ACTION!"

Big O's eyes flashed, and Roger charged with Big O, Dorothy placing her hands on the keyboard, watching the screens in front of her. Big Gamma fired its eye beams at Big O. Dorothy typed quickly, selecting the Arc Line attack and modifying its power output, pressing ENTER. Big O fired his eye beams meeting Big Gamma's, causing them to explode on contact. There was a cloud of smoke, but Roger continued the rush, coming through the cloud, drawing back the right joy con and rushing it forward, Big O's fist making contact with Big Gamma. The punch dented the armor on Big Gamma, and Roger moved forward again, continuing his attack, delivering an uppercut to the cockpit area, smashing the globe that concealed it. As Big Gamma fell back, Dastun gave the signal to his men.

"FIRE!" and volley of tank fire soared into the harbor, hitting Big Gamma, causing it to stumble once more.

"Roger! Keep going! Give it another round!" yelled Dorothy.

Roger and Big O rushed, closing the distance, throwing another round of punches into Big Gamma, each hit leaving noticeable dents in the armor, the spikes around its collar, now breaking off from the impacts. Roger pushed it away, giving himself distance. Dorothy, working fast on the keyboard, selected the Moby Dick Party attack, adjusting the output and energy to its maximum, before sending the command.

Roger saw the attack command appear, and he took his fist and smashed the button, a dozen hip anchors flying out at once from Big O, being propelled by jets. They zoomed around, all of them meeting their target in Big Gamma, before sending it upward into the sky. Roger felt the joy cons move back and change into the O Thunder controls, also now in black outline in red. Dorothy had sent the command for a double O Thunder attack.

"Okay, now I get it," said Roger as he placed his hands on the new controls, "BIG O! FINAL THUNDER!"

He rushed the controls forward and fired, the bright pink plasma gatling guns erupting from both of Big O's arms, firing into Big Gamma, meeting their target. Two circles of plasma approached Big Gamma, closing in on it, and finally exploded, the hip chains finally breaking. A large cloud of gray smoke fell back into the sea, a large wave erupting upward before coming down once again.

"YEAH! ALRIGHT! That thing's energy is dropping! Keep it up Crow Birds!" Beck yelled, jumping for joy.

***

Meanwhile, Angel and Dastun were watching the fight a top of one of the MP tanks, Lucy standing nearby, also watching the fight. Dastun's radio crackled.

"Chief Dastun sir, it seems the robot reinforcements have stopped. Now we are dealing with the opposition. We also have had multiple squads asking to join our command from other areas of the city. It seems some areas have been successful at stopping the opposition."

"If they want to join us, then fine! Tell them to detain the opposition for now! We'll deal with them after the megadeus is done fighting!"

"Yes sir!"

Angel was staring out at the sea, seeing Big Gamma rise from the water. She grimaced and turned to look at Lucy.

"How much longer?"

Lucy looked at her watch. "They have about five minutes to finish this, maybe less…"

Norman joined Dastun on top of the tank.

"It seems the robots have stopped for now, and your men are successfully pushing back the opposition. Now, it seems we need to wait for Master Roger to finish this…"

Dastun nodded as Angel spoke into her comm.

"Roger! You have about five minutes, maybe less! I amend my contract with you! No more negotiating with that thing! Finish it and save Paradigm!"

They all stared intently at the fight out at sea between Big O and Big Gamma, silently praying for a victory.

*****

"That makes things much easier now!" yelled Roger.

Dorothy heard Angel's cry on the comm and turned to Beck.

"Crow Boy's cooking in there, Toots. We need to finish this now. That last attacked help, but the Big Guy's energy levels are rising again."

Dorothy turned back to the screen, finding Roger looking at her.

"Dorothy, can you activate the Final Stage cannon from where you're at?" he asked calmly.

"I think so, but Roger… the temperature…"

Roger adjusted his tie, loosening it. "We can handle this. Remember, have faith." He smiled and winked at her.

Dorothy smiled back. "Right."

She selected the command prompt for the Final Stage attack, pausing as she saw on the screen Big Gamma rise, raising its arm, creating another ball of energy. Dorothy saw Roger grimace on the screen.

"Beck, what's the energy output right now for Big O?"

"I'm getting errors, so it won't be an accurate reading."

"Fine then! Big O! Max out the Final Stage attack!" She finished the command, waiting for her to execute it, and she pressed the ENTER button.

"Dan, I need two minutes while Big O charges up! Give Roger and Big O all the cover fire you can!" yelled Dorothy into her comm.

"WHAT? Okay, fine! We'll do what we can!"

Big O fired the last of its hip anchors into the ground. As he did so, the joy con controls disappeared inside the cockpit, instead being replaced with singular disc control module. A lever activated in the center, and Roger placed his hands around it, steadying himself.

"WHAT COULD YOU POSSIBLY HAVE THAT IS GREATER THAN OUR POWER?" yelled the scientists. Roger smirked.

"DOROTHY! LET'S GIVE THEM OUR ANSWER!" He roared.

"DO IT, CROW BIRDS!!!"

Big O began to unlock its panels on each of its arms. First the left, then the right, assuming his fighting stance. The center panel around Big O's chest then opened up, his shoulders expanding as the main firing gun came forth from the center plate, readying itself, charging for the attack. While it charged, Dastun ordered another volley of tank fire onto Big Gamma, causing it to stumble, still holding the ball of energy with its arm. Dorothy kept an eye on the numbers, frantically typing, sending the excess energy that Big O had absorb from Big Gamma's last energy attack into the main gun, praying she wouldn't overload it.

"Roger, you're almost there!"

Dastun realized how close he and everyone were to the attack.

"EVERYONE ON SHORE, ANCHOR THE TANKS! FIND COVER!"

As the MP tanks anchored themselves to the ground and those outside found cover inside them, Big O, readied the Tri-Sudden Impact arms to steady itself. Roger was having difficulty locking onto the target, his vision becoming blurry again. Dorothy noticed on her screen that he was having trouble, taking over via the console, and locking in the target for him. Roger felt the joy con move, and for the briefest moment, felt Dorothy's presence around him. The cannon finally finished charging, Dorothy pressing ENTER, holding onto her headset while Roger gripped the lever tightly.

"YOU WILL FAIL!" screamed the doctors.

"NO, WE WON'T!" yelled Roger and Dorothy together.

"IN ORDER TO CREATE THE MEMORIES OF TOMORROW…" Dorothy shouted.

"WE WILL FIGHT FOR PRESERVATION OF TODAY!" bellowed Roger.

"THIS IS OUR POWER! WE WILL DEFEAT YOU! BIIIIIGGGG OOOOO! FINAL STAGE! GRAANNNNDD FINALLLEEE!!!!" they roared in unison and Roger pressed the button on top of the lever.

Big O released the energy as Big Gamma released its attack, a bright light covering the surrounding area. However, its attack was no match for the Final Stage, as it got absorbed, the yellow-orange blast of the attack hitting Big Gamma in full force as Big O fired the Sudden Impact to steady itself. The attack, much more massive than the one used against Big Fau thanks to the additional stored energy, created massive shock waves, sending huge sea waves to the shoreline that pounded the MP tanks and everyone inside. Norman, Dastun, Angel, and Lucy had managed to find shelter in one, each holding on for dear life as they felt the effects of the attack.