Does Omega Dream of Electric Friends? · Chapter 8
Reservoir Saviors

Omega
Pew! Pew! Pew!
Khan
Urgh..!
Robber A
W-wait a sec, that hit me right in the bone...
Robber B
Damn it, I knew this was a bad idea!!
Cube Palace
Warning. Transmission for Omega Control. Use energy efficient—
Omega
Hehe, Omega's still got plenty!
Database search complete! The biggest, coolest one!
Omega's gonna show you something really cool!
Robber C
No, you really don't have to show us?!
Omega
Maximum output projection!
Here it cooomes!!
Robber C
Eeeek!
Huh?
Omega
...H-huh?
Why's nothing coming out?
H-hold on! If I grip the staff tighter and try one more time...
Eh.
Omega's... left hand...
It's gone...?
Cube Palace
Omega Control has depleted energy to critical levels.
Body projection density rapidly declining.
Khan
Don't know what's happening... but looks like the tables have turned.
It's round two for us, you brat.
Omega
P-pew!!
Khan
Hah, that was you shooting? Didn't even tickle!
This enhanced exoskeleton is the source of my confidence, the cornerstone of my social life, my everything!
A flashlight beam like that couldn't scratch it!
Omega
Ghk!
Omega
Oww… Wh-what does Omega do…
Omega has no strength left to shoot harder...
Cube Palace
Omega Control, retreat immediately.
Any further use of abilities risks frame collapse.
Omega
B-but...
Cube is still here... Omega has to take Cube too...!
Cube Palace
Think rationally.
This unit is not worth the risk to Omega Control.
Omega
You're wrong, Cube!
Cube Palace is cold. Always says only what Cube wants to say.
But... but Cube is Omega's friend.
What it feels like to be lonely. What it feels like to be one of only two left in the world.
So... so Omega can't just leave Cube behind!
Cube Palace
...
Khan
All this "friend, friend"... it's getting on my nerves.
I was just going to scare you off, but... I've changed my mind.
Omega
Re-pair-r...!
Omega's... hungry...
Can't moooove...
Khan
Good, stay right there...
I'll make you pay for treating me like junk...!
First I'll stuff you with food till you burst, and then...!
...?
What... where did this dagger come from?!
???
Per—
Khan
U-up there?!
Trish
—fect!
Omega
Trish?!
Trish
How about it, you ever seen a cooler entrance?
When Aselus's top-tier hunter sets her mind to it, this is what you get!
The way of the top-tier hunter!
Always check the kid got home safe!
Cube Palace
Objection. Rather than sending a child off alone, an adult should escort her home—
Trish
I-I came back, didn't I!
So, I track you down and find this whole mess.
Looks like there's a hefty bounty involved. Bounty or no bounty, this one's on the house!
Khan
How is that supposed to count as 'on the house'? You're after the money, you damn vulture!
Trish
Shut up and come at me!
Omega
Omega... should help...
But Omega's too hungry to move... grrumble...
???
*Sneak* *Sneak*
Okay, that big guy and the hunter are too busy fighting to notice!
Now's our chance, Elisa!
Elisa
R-right! Now's our chance...! Which one are you planning to ambush, Saintess Muriel?
Muriel
Why would I ambush them, you idiot?! Let those fools fight each other! We just grab the spirit and the sacred relic and run!
Elisa
Oh, now I understand!
Use her as a shield and just grab the spirit...! How selfish and cowardly...!
It's okay... when Saintess Muriel is judged before Lord Gaph one day... I'll be right by your side...!
Omega
Ungh... huh? You two...
Muriel
Spirit, shh! It's me, 116th Saintess Muriel, here to rescue you!
Please remember this! 116! 116!
Elisa! You handle Cube Palace.
Now, quietly... quietly...
Elisa
Ugh... Cube Palace... is heavier than I thought...!
Aah, I'm gonna trip...!
Khan
Huh?
Trish
Oh?
Elisa
Ah.
Khan
...And who the hell are you?
Trish
Huh? You're those two con artists...?
Elisa
H-hello there...
Trish
What are you two doing? One's holding my assistant, the other's holding the tin can...
Elisa
Well, you see, while you two fought, we snuck in to do a little burgla—
Muriel
Th-th-th-th-the top-tier hunter! O-o-o-our plan's been exposed!
While you drew their attention, we were going to rescue the spirit and escape, remember?!
We were a-all on the s-same side, weren't we?! Right?!
Elisa
I knew it...! To fool the enemy, first fool your allies! You planned this all along, Saintess Muriel!
Muriel
Like hell I did! Anything's better than being on both their bad sides!
Trish
There was a plan like that...?
Whoa!
Khan
What is this, a comedy skit?
Muriel
P-please, top-tier hunter, cover me!
Let's get out of here, Elisa!
Elisa
Yeeees!

Muriel
Phew, we made it out.
Spirit? Spirit, your arm is gone, a-are you all right?
Omega
Omega's arm doesn't hurt. But Omega's tummy hurts...
How did you find Omega...?
Elisa
Well, after you left like that, I-I started to worry...!
So I went to Saintess Muriel for advice...
She said, [How could you let the spirit slip away without earning a single point with her?]
Muriel
[The spirit seems troubled, we should help her!], she said!
Omega
You all came to help Omega...
Omega's grateful... but Omega can't move at all...
Cube Palace
Omega Control is currently in a state of energy depletion.
If energy replenishment is delayed further, frame collapse is a risk.
Top priority is not enemy elimination, but rapid evacuation.
Muriel
All right, the top-tier hunter's tough. She'll buy us time!
Meanwhile, we'll quickly—
Elisa
S-someone just burst through the wall...!
Trish
Whoops! Pretty quick on your feet, huh?!
The way of the hunter! Never let attacks send you flying!
I was just using the recoil of your attack to shift the battlefield!
Muriel
So you did get sent flying!
If you had to fly off, why here?!
Trish
But that guy's machinery is way more annoying than I thought!
Khan
Y-you little brat...
...You said you were lonely! Said you had no friends! But you have a bunch!
You... fraud!!
Forget the alliance. I'll crush you all into the ground...!
Come out before I bury you all! Surround them!
Muriel
Th-they've got us surrounded...
L-Lord Gaph! Cast your holy flame and keep these guys back!!
Khan
Huh?! Flames in my way...?!
Muriel
Hehe, that's the power of Lord Gaph! You can't cross this, can you?!
Take that, take that! Now go quietly back to your hideout! The spirit's ou—
Ah... right, it's supposed to rain today...

Muriel
Eek... it's r-raining...
Elisa
The flames went out! Wh-what do we do?
Cube Palace
...
Transmission. Notice to Omega Control.
Omega
Huh...?
Cube Palace
Lightning is striking.
Omega
Lightning...?
Cube Palace
There is a way to turn the situation around.
Story and illustrations © Studio B-Side. An unofficial reading archive — for questions or requests, see the About page.
