The Big O: The Final Act - Act 32: Out Of The Blue

Chapter 1: Wishes of a Different Life

"YOU INSIGNIFICANT FOOL!"

Dr. Paneel threw a beaker at Lucille. Lucille swiped at it with her hand, cutting it in half.

"He brought the damn megadeus and friends who could shoot! What could I do!"

"KILL HIM!" screeched Dr. Pallack, "You're more than capable of doing that!"

"Goldilocks got the drop on me. He's a better shot than I pegged him to be."

"EXCUSES! Now they know or have a better idea than before!"

"SHUT UP!" roared Lucille. The twin doctors glared at her. "I've been doing this since Gordon was around. I'm tired of trying to fix everything! I've helped you with your tomato experiments. I've gone into the deeper parts of the subway and activated killer androids. I've paid those to assassinate politicians, and those who have gotten in your way, wrapped up loose ends! And the one mistake I do, you're reacting like I have screwed up every time since! Did you forget, it was me who noticed that Big Gamma was the one reacting on certain days for no reason at all, and now because of whatever is going on with the megadeus, we're now ahead of schedule for its awakening? While you were trying to save its life, I was monitoring the signals. Forgive me for not following every single step of your plan down to the letter!"

"They could potentially stop us! Letting the Negotiator go with that book on his megadeus and android was the most careless thing you could've done!"

"You're forgetting he doesn't have the android! She's a human. She may have stopped the first reset in her human form, but I managed to get that rep to talk before I killed him. She has no idea what happened during the first reset. This is a different version of her! Even if she has memories of the past, there's a good chance they're not hers, and she won't make the connection. She and the Negotiator won't be able to activate the megadeus' true potential. He's also protecting her now! If we go after her, we can get rid of the threat the Negotiator presents to us! She wasn't here today."

Dr. Paneel threw another beaker, but Lucille dodged. Dr. Pallack spoke.

"How will we get to her? The Negotiator won't have his guard down now. Don't you understand my brother's concern? They know! They could come after Big Gamma and destroy everything!"

"Then we fast track the plan. The electricity is reviving the Big's core memories. I'll have them work around the clock remodeling the power plant. If we start now, the Big could be up by the end of July, a month early, maybe sooner! We're certain the President has been contacting Big Venus. And since Big Gamma's energy is connected to Big Venus, it'll continue to absorb the energy emitted from those interactions, if that's the case! It'll take the energy, make it its own, and use it to revive itself!"

"Then see that it does! Find a way to get the President and former android here so that we can finish the awakening. Just be sure to not overdo it on the President because if she dies, the energy dies with her, which will result in the death of Big Gamma! Don't screw this up, or it'll be your head!"

The twin doctors stormed out of the lab Lucille was in. She waited for the door to shut, before slumping to the floor, bringing her knees to her chest.

For forty years, she had been doing this. Perhaps even longer. She couldn't remember. Though she looked young and no more than 24, she felt so much older. Today was the most action she had seen in years. Never had the doctors treated her this way. Now she felt used and abused, a mere lapdog to do their bidding. But how could they? She believed in this New World, the one they've always talked about. All they were trying to do was right the wrong Gordon, Dr. Wayneright, and the other scientists had committed during the first reset, well at least according to the notes they had. Had it not been for them, the world would've been a much better place. The twins were the only ones trying to correct it.

But, the Negotiator. He had to know something. Why else would he risk coming down into the facility, especially after being stabbed a month ago? Why was he so desperate to find out what they were doing? She was pretty sure he didn't know about the Big, or at least what it was capable of doing. She had been careful dispatching notes to the foremen desks, preferring to save news about Big Gamma during their in-person briefings.

No, the Negotiator knew something, or someone did. But she couldn't get to the President, not with her detail. And the twin doctors were right. Wayneright's brat would be under the watchful eye of the Negotiator and his butler. She would be shot dead before she even had the chance to get to them. But if she didn't do it... she didn't want to think what the doctors would do to her if she failed. There had to be some way. Perhaps she could consult her contacts in the Military Police. Perhaps a special unit could be formed to storm the Negotiator's place. There's a good chance that the President and the brat would be there at the same time. They just needed to keep an eye on the place... but...

Was there another answer to this cursed world? Never in forty years had she doubted the doctors. They too were cyborgs just like her. But maybe... that was the problem. They had told her a long time ago, they given up their humanity to save humanity so they could remain objective, but maybe... they were wrong. Maybe they had lost sight of their objective, or they had become the very thing they sought to change and/or end.

The children she had killed from Cavanaugh's family appeared in her mind. They had been plaguing her since that fateful night. They wouldn't leave her alone, their terrified faces seeing her face as she slaughtered their parents in cold blood. She buried her head, trying to block out the images, her teeth gritted.

For the first time, in a very long time, Lucille found herself crying, wishing she had a much more different life.