Chapter 1: Dorothy Wayneright Makes Her Decision

The two squads of MPs had arrived in time to see Big O take a direct hit from the Arc Line. Big O was falling into the sea when Michaelson roared on the radio.

"ASSIST THE BLACK MEGADEUS! FIRE AT WHATEVER THE HELL THAT THING IS!"

A volley of tank fire was aimed at Big Gamma, crashing into it. While the tanks didn't have the fire power to give it damage, it was enough to stop it from advancing on Big O to finish the attack.

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

Dorothy had stopped at the end of the bridge to watch the fight unfold with the two silhouettes of the two Bigs. She saw Roger take a direct hit from the eye beams of Big Gamma and then saw Big O fall for a few seconds until hip anchors shot out from his sides, trying to steady himself as Big Gamma was blasted by tank fire moments later. Dorothy held her breath.

He's losing. He's losing the fight…

Her eyes trembled at the sight. She had regretted her last words to him the moment she left, but her own pride and feelings would not let her turn back or page him on the car radio. However, as she had finished crossing the bridge, a bright flash of light and shock wave from an explosion from the Bigs fighting had caused her to serve and crash into the bridge wall, which in the process had disconnected the radio. She had been unable to fix it, and so she was looking, over the bridge wall, seeing the Bigs fight. The car was still drivable, but yet Dorothy remained, her guilt paralyzing her.

What if I caused this? What if him losing is the reason why Big Gamma is winning? All because of… me and what I said?

She felt her lip beginning to quiver, and then suddenly felt a powerful emotion come over her. She fought back at first until she began to see the memory in full. And, for the first time, instead of panicking, Dorothy relaxed and let the nightmare that had been haunting her for so long play out in her mind.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…"

Her father was praying as she walked in on him. She threw a file of her husband down at her father, the file opening, showing the symbol Dorothy recognized, with "Omega" written underneath it.

"Why did you ask him? Why did you ask him to pilot Big Omega? Why my husband?"

"I had no choice."

"Father, if you do this…"

"Dorothy dear, we shouldn't had meddled in matters that didn't concern us! I gave them the proposal for Omega, but I will build it how I see fit. He will be the Big to counter all the others, for when the others get out of line, he can fight and win! He will be the last Big I build, my last sin against the world. I'll make sure that Omega can use that energy that monster has against it. I've been testing those arms of his. I think the key is there. But good God, I hope they find a way to save us all. There's war coming, and if we don't do something, it will be the end of us all!"

"Father, he's my husband and we have a baby. You can't… you can't…"

Dr. Wayneright turned to look at her. "Dear, I have done some terrible things for the name of mankind. But if I can save you, your husband, and your child, maybe I can live with my sin. But this project, it has to stop. The information that we have has already been leaked to other nations, and now it's a race against time. Nuclear Armageddon will be the least of our worries if someone tries to create those other Bigs, especially the one with the ability to control time and the one to unleash the power of destruction. Out of all the Bigs, those are the two I have regretted from day one to have built. And now, there are reports that even the design concept for Omega got leaked to the enemy as well as Duo and Fau, and the Leviathans. So that's why I'm doing this. He'll remain the same on the outside, but on the inside… our Omega will save us all, I'll see to it myself. Forgive me, but your husband is the best pilot that we have, and Gordon hired him for the purpose to negotiate with the enemy, to bring peace. But negotiations have failed. If we do this right, we might be able to right the wrongs we have committed."

"Then if that's the case, do it your damn self! You made the mess, YOU clean it up. Do NOT involve my husband!"

Dorothy stormed out of the lab, and Dr. Wayneright sighed, looking crestfallen as his daughter walked away.

***

The memory now changed, and Dorothy recognized where she was. She was running with her baby and father, trying to find shelter. Her father was gaining ground ahead of her, but then Dorothy saw the shadow of Big Gamma and now its face appeared midst the buildings, now covered in fire and smoke. Dorothy realized it what it was going to do, as it ready itself for an attack. She felt the temperature rising around her. She turned around and saw it towering over her. She held the baby close and deep down she knew if they kept running, it would be in vain. They couldn't outrun Big Gamma chasing them.

"I don't care what you are! I won't run! I'm not scared of you!"

She now turned facing it, her last act of defiance. If she was going to die with her child, it would not be while running. She would face her death.

But there was a sudden rumbling and out came Big O, power sliding in front of her, as Big Gamma unleashed a powerful attack, bathing the area in red. Big O had some red cloak all around him, as if the Plasma Gimmick had molded Big O's frame. Big O held his hands up, holding the ball of energy back, barely, as it tried to crash into him and the ground.

"WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, ATTACKING MY WIFE AND CHILD? I'LL SEND YOU STRAIGHT TO HELL FOR THAT! FORGET THIS WAR! TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE DYING FOR YOUR STUPID PERFECT WORLD. My wife and child… they're more important than you and your twisted views!" came a voice from Big O, but it was on an intercom, and sounded so much like Roger's.

Big O struggled to hold the energy back. The voice from the intercom yelled again.

"RUN! GET OUT OF HERE!"

Dr. Wayneright now grabbed Dorothy's wrist, trying to pull her to safety.

"Dorothy dear, come on!" he cried.

"NO! I'm not leaving him, Father! Roger, I'm not leaving you!"

"GO!"

"I WON'T! I love you too much…"

Dr. Wayneright tugged at Dorothy pulling her along, but she resisted. She heard the sound of the Sudden Impact drawing back, getting ready to fire. She handed the baby to her father, but as piston released, she felt a massive amount of heat and then sensation of being thrown up in the air. She saw herself flying in the air, the baby flying upward while she felt herself get pushed back from the shock wave of the blast. And then Dorothy understood…

"These are not my memories. They're father's memories. The memories I couldn't access when I was an android, because they were too terrifying, and I could never break the seal. But when I got turned to human, they became a part of me…" she whispered.

She held on to the railing, steadying herself from the shock of the discovery. And now she understood that feelings she had were that of her father, observing her, placing his own interpretation of what he thought were her feelings in the memories she had written in her journals. No wonder she had felt a disconnect with the memories, but she had been so overwhelmed by the change in herself, it had slipped her mind. In other words, Dorothy had been free all along. Her feelings for Roger were those of her own. It was her father's past that had caught up to her, and began to haunt her. But how? Why? Was it related to all this business with the New World Order and trying to reset the world?

Dorothy found herself remembering something else. Roger had answered her second question from the Wise case, and then went off to fight Rosewater. Just for a moment, after he had answered her question, she had wished she had been human as she felt herself trying to regain consciousness. Didn't somehow, her desire get communicated to Angel, and Angel used it as a part of her decision? Hadn't Angel told her that she had to want the desire and Angel and Big Venus had to want the same desire as her in order to make it happen? She couldn't remember the end of the second reset too well now, the shock of finding out her father had implanted some memories in her impeding her ability to remember.

Just like Gordon did with Roger. He might've done this with Gordon's help.

It didn't matter now. What was more important was telling Roger how to defeat Big Gamma and as she lifted her sleeve of her blouse, she saw that the comm was not on her wrist. She then remembered Norman had it with him. And of course, the radio was not working in her car.

No! NO, NO, NO! Of all the times to think with your heart, and not your head, Dorothy Wayneright!

She heard a loud mechanical roar behind her, and saw MP tanks pull up in the opposite lane, but painted in the blue and green colors of the Electric City flag. The cover opened, and out came Governor Batter, wearing a very old battle helmet, his thick square frames peering right at Dorothy. He was also wearing some kind of battle armor, though it looked haphazardly put together.

"MISS DOROTHY! Thank goodness you're alright! I was worried sick, child!"

"Governor Batter! What… why…"

"When you didn't come by the designated time, I mobilized some of these nice tanks your friend, the Madam President, gave us and went looking for you. Child, you must hurry. Those monsters are looking like they are getting into it."

Dorothy looked back at the fight. Big O had risen to its feet, but it was throwing a series of desperate punches, but Big Gamma seized Big O by the arm and threw him across into the water. A large splash of water shot up and came crashing down. Big O was struggling to get up. Dorothy knew there was only one thing to do to change the tide of the fight.

"Governor Batter, I appreciate your assistance and hospitality, but I must get back to Paradigm City."

"Child, the city is covered in smoke! You can see it from the harbor."

Dorothy looked and indeed, there was smoke rising, but she did not care.

"I'm sorry, sir, this is a matter of life and death. I have to do this! I have information, from a memory long ago that just occurred to me. I can help the black megadeus win the fight and save us all, sir!"

Dorothy breathed hard as she ran back to the car, climbing in and starting it. She moved the gear into place and drove to the end of the bridge, stopping as Governor Batter got in the way. He ran to her side of the window.

"Governor, I'm…"

"Child, you're talking to the wrong person. I know better when a woman makes up her mind, best get out of her way. I was married for thirty years after all."

Dorothy was stunned by his response.

"Where do you need to go in Paradigm City?" he asked.

"Back home. I need to get home."

"Can your car keep up with the tanks?"

"Yes, with the turbo Norman installed and if I put in 5th gear."

"I take it you must be a good driver, so I won't harp on you to be careful, especially with those twins of yours."

"How do you…"

"My dear, Roger told me everything. He cares about you very much…"

"He's out fighting. I need to help him."

"Say no more! LET'S GO EVERYONE!" Governor Batter climbed back into his tank as Dorothy shifted into gear once more, letting the car get up to speed, before finally shifting the gear into five and hitting the turbo. The turbo could cut the time in half to get across the bridge, and from there, she could navigate the short cuts and get home. But even with the speed, Dorothy needed to figure out that shield on Big O and his special counterattack.

Please! I need to remember! Please help me remember, Father!

Bits and parts of the file she had in her hand now came into view in her mind. The weapons systems, the shield, the execution of the counterattack technique. Dorothy made a mental note of it all as she glared fiercely at the smoldering view of Paradigm City.

I'm coming, Roger. Just hang on until I get back.