I Will Give My Life For Love, For I Am Winter Born

[eeeonetwothree]

Omega is quiet on the first Monday after Snow White’s execution. He keeps to himself mostly, patrolling dutifully, keeping to his thoughts to himself.

It’s after the sun goes down that he decides to act on those thoughts, sliding a poorly scrawled note under Ferdinand’s door. The writing is barely legible, but it reads: “MEET ME AT THE ARENA.”

It’s there that he waits for his friend, staring up at the moon, nervousness and guilt weighing on his mechanical heart.

Comments

[eeeonetwothree]

Omega’s torso turns back and forth-shaking his head no.

”THERE IS NO OTHER WAY. I HAVE RUN THE SCENARIO IN MY SYSTEMS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I CAN FIND NO OTHER ANSWER.

SHADOW WOULD FIND A SOLUTION. SHADOW WOULD KNOW WHAT TO DO. SHADOW…WOULD NOT BE SO WEAK AS THIS…”

[markofnobility]

"Shh, shh... Shadow is not here. Tell, what needs to be done."

There is something stiffening in his heart and spine. He is not even completely aware he has decided something, but he has.

[eeeonetwothree]

Omega does not look up. But he does as Ferdinand asks. Thank his maker that his natural monotone does not allow his voice to shake.

”I NEED TO FINISH THE NECCESSARY MODIFICATIONS TO MY BODY. THE NEW FORGE SHALL SUFFICE. THEN I MUST KILL SOMEONE. I MUST BE DISCOVERED, AND SENTENCED TO DEATH. THEN, WHEN TYPHON TRIES TO EXECUTE ME, I MUST TAKE THE SHOT.”

[markofnobility]

"It can not be done while someone else is being taken?" It feels like a coward's way, but he must be sure.

[eeeonetwothree]

”NO. I MUST BE THE FOCUS OF HIS ATTENTION. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY.”

[markofnobility]

"I see." He stands, gaze steel-sharp. He feels an odd coldness settle over him- similar to when he first used his power. His emotions do not vanish, but they drift into a dull softness that he can observe without any of the painful edges. It reminds him, as it did then, of battle.

"Then we should start as soon as possible."

[eeeonetwothree]

Omega looks up.

”START? START WHAT?”

As if he doesn’t know.

1/2

[markofnobility]

His own words from the night of the trial ring in his head:

"If the chance comes to snatch this so-called story from it's bindings I must be ready for it."

He can not let his people die around him due to his own passivity. Not again.

"The only thing there is to do-"

[markofnobility]

"-preparing for you to kill me.."

[eeeonetwothree]

Omega stared at him for a long moment. His face is not equipped to show the despair he feels at hearing such words spoken aloud. But he feels them all the same.

After a moment, he stands, looking Ferdinand in the eye.

”OF COURSE. IT IS, AFTER ALL, ALL I AM GOOD FOR.”

It would be better that he never learned to feel remorse. Better that he never learned to reflect on the value of a life. Better that he never learned to see the worth in others beyond Shadow and Rouge.

It would be better that he never left that dark room to begin with.

[markofnobility]

"That is not true!" Some of the bubbling emotion he was holding back under his calm peeks theough.

"You wish to be a protector- and I am no defenseless victim or faceless foe. We, the two of us, shall fulfill our godhead titles as is proper. There is no shame in that."

He is glad Omega did not try to argue on the 'who'- who else could it even be? No one they could both bear to allow to die and who would not fight back or expose the plan. And an ambush is too cowardly for Omega.

There was only ever one choice.

Still, Ferdinand allows empathy and fear into his voice when he says:

"We do not have to do this. There is still the chest. We can wait."

But even as he says it he knows it is not an option. Not really. Not if they wish to preserve enough of their pantheon's soul to make saving this broken world even worthwhile. Still, he has to offer it for his friend's sake at least.

[eeeonetwothree]

Omega does not let anymore fear or doubt betray his emotions or resolve. He simply stands there, and places his hands on Ferdinand’s shoulders.

”FERDINAND. I AM WHAT I AM. I WILL ALWAYS BE WHAT DR. EGGMAN CREATED ME FOR. I AM SORRY I CANNOT BE WHAT YOU WANTED ME TO BE.”

He then does something he’s never done: He pulls the other godhead into a hug.

”WE WILL HAVE A FINAL BATTLE WORTHY OF YOU. I PROMISE. IT WILL BE GLORIOUS. AND TYPHON. BUT WE CANNOT WAIT. EVEN WITH THE CHEST, WE MUST ENSURE TYPHON IS AT HIS WEAKEST. WE MUST PURSUE THE OPTIMAL CHANCE FOR VICTORY. WE MUST PURSUE EVERY CHANCE WE HAVE.”

[markofnobility]

He allows the hug. Needs it even. Even though Omega is all sharp edges and cold steel. He can hear his inner workings humming under his ear.

He wonders if this reverting to a killer mindset is armor for Omega as much as his soldier stoisim is for him. If it is, it is not his place to try and deny Omega it. He simply hates that they both are having to discard the people they were hoping to become.

It's much too cruel.

"No, no... you are right. Of course you are right." He laughs a little bitterly. "A glorious battle... yes, that sounds just fine. My pride could not bear me being slaughtered like cattle."

[eeeonetwothree]

Omega holds Ferdinand as gently as possible. His gears and servos and engines hum. He is warm. There is no question that he is alive.

”I WILL ENSURE IT IS ONE EVERYONE WILL REMEMBER, AND THAT THEY WILL KNOW YOU GAVE IT YOUR ALL. UNTIL THEN, YOU MUST LIVE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, FERDINAND. GIVE VELVET A LIFETIME OF LOVE IN THE SHORT TIME YOU HAVE LEFT. LEAVE NOTHING UNSAID.”

He then pulls away, and steps back before turning around.

”AS FOR ME, I WILL RETURN TO THE WAY I WAS WHEN I ARRIVED. I WILL BURN MY BRIDGES. I WILL ARMOR MYSELF WITH THEIR HATRED, AND THEN, WHEN THE TIME COMES, AND TYPHON IS WOUNDED, I WILL SACRIFICE MY BODY SO THEY MAY FASHION MY BODY INTO A MEANS TO TAKE THE BATTLE TO HIM. THAT WAY THEY WILL HAVE NO REGRETS.”

There’s a pause, and he says:

”BECAUSE I MUST…I WILL FIGHT, AS I ALWAYS HAVE.”

[markofnobility]

It is the mention of Velvet that makes his eyes finaly start leaking. And poor Omega, willing to put himself as the villian and letting Ferdinand's image stay clean.

It's not fair. But he will not insult his determination by questioning it.

"I... I will not waste the time given me. Never again."

He puts his fist over his heart... and bows deep. A sign of military respect from one sacrifical beast to another.

"I will see you on the field of battle once preperations are done, my friend."

[eeeonetwothree]

Omega nods.

”IT WILL TAKE TIME. UNTIL THEN, THE TWO OF US MUST ACT AS IF STRIFE HAS DIVIDED US. AS IF OUR FRIENDSHIP HAS ENDED.”

There is a distortion, static in his voice in what he says next:

”WE MUST PRETEND WE HATE EACH OTHER.”

[markofnobility]

He winces and nods, hating it- but to make the mumer's farce land there must be lead up.

"Acting is not my forte... but I will manage.

... and Omega. Good luck."

He turns on his heels and marches away before he his heart breaks too much and he recants the entire plot.

[pariunt]

There's a slow, sardonic clapping that comes from the other side of the arena as approaches from the shadows. Astarion reveals himself, a dangerous smile on his lips. "My, my. This is one of the most twisted plots I've heard, and I spent two hundred years luring beautiful men and women to their dooms."

He laughs, a clipped little noise. "After what happened with Snow White, how can either of you possibly think this will work?"

[eeeonetwothree]

Omega doesn’t seem surprised. In fact, he invited Astarion here.

”ON THE CONTRARY. THIS PLAN HAS ONLY 33% CHANCE OF SUCCESS. THE ODDS ARE NOT IN OUR FAVOR.”

[pariunt]

No, they aren't. Astarion lets out an exaggerated sigh. "This entire plan is suicide," is what he starts with. "One single shot is not going to do much damage. I have fought against a god's avatar before— not the real thing. And it was still one of the most powerful entities we slew in our travels."

From his perspective, this is just going to anger Typhon. Make things worse for the people left.

...and what of Velvet? Astarion isn't the sort to talk people out of plans they're already set on, but he does pity the girl. She doesn't know what happens next.

[eeeonetwothree]

Omega’s hands tighten into a fist.

”ASTARION. I HAVE ALSO CALCULATED THE ODDS OF VICTORY IF WE DO NOT DO THIS. I HAVE COMPARED TYPHON’S ENERGY TO ATHENA’S. IF WE DO NOT WEAKEN HIM, IF WE DO NOT FIND A MEANS OF WOUNDING HIM, SHE WILL HAVE NO CHANCE, EVEN ACCOUNTING FOR THE UNKNOWN VARIABLE OF A MORE POWERFUL WEAPON.”

He turns and looks at Astarion directly. ”I HAVE TO TRY. I CANNOT SIT BY AND DO NOTHING.”

[pariunt]

He's silent for a long while, looking anywhere but Omega. "So that's it, then? More violence. More sacrifice."

At least it doesn't involve someone unwilling. Astarion is here because he wants to be. Ferdinand agreed... "If this is what you think is our best option, our only option, I won't disagree." However, he's not certain where his involvement comes in. "Though I'll be honest, I don't know what my role in this should be. This does seem to be a two-person job, so to speak."

[eeeonetwothree]

”I NEED YOUR HANDS. I KNOW YOU SCARCELY COMPREHEND WHAT I EVEN AM, BUT TO INSTALL NEW EQUIPMENT, I NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN FOLLOW DIRECTIONS, DEFTLY USE THEIR FINGERS, AND KEEP A TERRIBLE SECRET. YOU MEET ALL THOSE QUALIFICATIONS, ASTARION.”

There’s a pause before he continues.

”THAT, AND…I NEED SOMEONE TO PASS ON MY INSTRUCTIONS AFTER I AM GONE. I WILL HAVE MESSAGES FOR YOU TO GIVE AWAY AFTER MY BODY IS LEFT INERT.”

[pariunt]

Astarion dips his head. "Very well."

He's quiet for a long, long moment. "I'm quite dexterous. I'll need you to give me instructions, of course, but I can follow them. Add whatever delightful modifications you need in order to make things extremely painful for Typhon."

Astarion doesn't think he's the sort who should be giving final messages, but after an even longer moment he sighs. "...and I'll pass on your words. Tell Ferdinand I can do the same for him."

[eeeonetwothree]

"VERY WELL. I WILL BEGIN BURNING BRIDGES TOMORROW WHEN TYPHON DELIVERS HIS SO-CALLED MOTIVE. THEN OUR WORK CAN BEGIN. WE WILL MAKE OUR MOVE IN TWO WEEKS. AFTER MY WORK IS DONE...IT WILL BE YOUR JOB TO DELIVER FERDINAND AND I'S MESSAGES TO OUR COMRADES."

He thinks for a moment. Would a simple message absolve him of everything? Make them forgive him? Likely not. But at least...they may come to understand.

"THANK YOU, ASTARION. FOR DOING THIS. YOU HAVE MY GRATITUDE."