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ESPR

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.