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

Chapter 5: Trial and Error

We agreed to try The Wastes first. After surveying them, we decided it would be safer as JFK Mark had been fenced off for an unknown reason and we didn't linger to find out. Dastun agreed the Military Police wouldn't go any further than the city limits and there were enough fallen buildings to hide what we were doing along the edge of The Wastes. Beck had his team work around the clock, looking over Dr. Wayneright's notes, making components that could possibly give Big O an edge in the upcoming fight.

While waiting for Beck to finish, I began researching the symbol Dorothy had told me about. I thought it would be safe to consult Big Ear for this one. He told me what Dr. Plebanski had told Norman, however there were other rumors regarding the meaning of the symbol during the founding of Paradigm. One persistent rumor was it was to be translated into "The Great." But these discussions didn't amount to anything, so the meaning was dropped eventually by the Paradigm Health Board. Another meaning that was considered was "End" and was strictly to be used in terms related to death or cycling out equipment, but this too was also dropped. As Paradigm began to get stricter with their printing laws, eventually they would drop the symbol altogether from the books Dr. Plebanski had in her possession, the symbol now a lost memory within the City of Amnesia.

The expansion quarterly meeting in June was... strange. Paradigm, for once, did not protest anything. Beck had complained that people were sabotaging the project, he attributed them to illegal scrappers, but we both knew better. However, Paradigm didn't take the bait. They only said if problems were to continue, they would consult the Military Police to see if they could provide additional assistance in patrols in the area. The meeting made me and Beck feel uneasy. Angel also noticed this same behavior with the council. The four members of the council that normally protested her, were now letting her pass pretty much anything she wanted without any complications.

We took this as a sign the enemy was getting ready to make a big move, and were focusing their efforts on getting prepared. Beck doubled down and managed to get the last remaining components built and installed on Big O. Big O, who normally hated Beck working on him, must've sensed our urgency, and was cooperating with Beck on the maintenance upkeep. Many of the components were small in nature that were either installed around the cockpit or as amplifiers near the weapon system in slots that already existed in Big O, but Norman and I had no idea how to use them.

The day of the test arrived. I took Big O out in the Prairie Dog while Beck, Dorothy, and Norman stayed behind to man the console in the hangar. Angel and Dastun decided to ride over a lookout point in the city so they could view the test from across the bay to keep an eye on things.

Big O crashed through the ground as Dastun watched through a set of binoculars.

"You didn't have to come, y'know," he said to Angel, watching the debris cloud settle.

"I needed to get away from the office. I've been feeling on edge. I don't like this change in the council's attitude. Makes me feel uneasy and I feel like I'm being watched..."

"You're not the only one, even Roger said something to me the other day that he was feeling the same way after the expansion meeting. Some upper brass in the MP have been pulling a bunch of people lately, and doing some last-minute transfers. While I'm getting people I can work with, I can't help but wonder what Paradigm is doing with the ones that are leaving."

Their comm links established a connection, with Beck on the comm.

"Okay, Crow Boy! Systems are ready to go on my end. Whenever you're ready."

Dastun handed the binoculars over to Angel.

"It's weird seeing the megadeus like this."

"How so?" asked Angel.