The Truth
Mister! Mister!
Omega came to keep the promise!
Today is the day!
Cube Palace sent a little "ping!"
He said he got some energy back! He can talk a little now!
Let's hurry and go ask!
Omega and I agreed that I be present for every conversation with Cube Palace.
That must be what she meant.
All right. Let's head back.
Okay!
I returned to the quarters with Omega.
Cube, wake up!
...Omega Control confirmed.
Standby mode deactivated. Conversation interface online.
Are you all better now? Can you talk?
Redirecting all energy to logical processing and dialogue systems.
Able to respond to questions within standard parameters.
Advisory. Due to deterioration, logic circuit failure, and memory damage, response range may be limited.
Okay, then Omega has a question.
Omega explained the dreams she'd been having.
Answer. Omega Control's "dreams" are most likely byproducts of the data restoration process.
Question. How much does Omega Control remember about herself?
Huh? About Omega?
But Omega is... just Omega...
Omega Control was created as a countermeasure to planetary annihilation.
We originate from the same creator and purpose.
So that's what she really is...
I had suspected as much... but hearing it outright still felt different.
I glanced at Omega, but she was unfazed.
Maybe she didn't understand what it meant... or maybe she already knew.
Omega Control's memory database is damaged from long-term inactivity.
In its current state, restoration is impossible without external stimulation.
Restoration is being performed through a data link with this system.
Is that how it works?
But there are still lots of things Omega can't read in the database...
Restoration takes time.
And there are limits to how much can be restored through a data link.
To fully restore memory and functionality, a massive energy source is required.
A massive energy source...
Does Omega have to eat a hundred bowls of stew?!
Negative. Eating one hundred bowls of stew a hundred times would still be insufficient.
Then a hundred bowls a hundred times each... and then a hundred more...!
Yeah, never mind. Maybe let's spare the kitchen staff.
Proposal. There is a method to quickly obtain the required energy.
Hmm? What is it?
Proposal one. Attack the Starshard Fortress immediately.
Neutralize any resistance and reclaim the Heart of the Star.
With the Heart of the Star, Omega Control will recover all memories and functions.
Subsequent plan. Secure NOA through foce, declare wartime protocol, and mobilize all citizens for extinction prevention—
No! That's not happening!
Lisa told Omega NOA stays bright even at night because of the Heart of the Star.
If it's gone, everyone will be sad.
...
Evaluation. Omega Control shows emotional weakness.
The future is harsh. Such softness cannot prevent annihilation.
...Compromise. Omega Control once memories are restored.
Proposal two. Complete the Journey.
Additional note. The Stellar Archive, obtained at the Journey's end, holds massive energy.
With that energy, Omega Control can restore all memories and functions.
Okay. So once we finish the Journey, Omega can get her memories back, right?
The dreams Omega sees are likely fragments of memory and information.
If her memories return, the confusion should go away.
With that conclusion, I prepared to wrap up the conversation.
...
...Hey, Cube. Omega wants to ask one more thing.
The person Omega sees in her dreams... is he Omega's daddy?
Where did he go? Why was Omega left all alone?
Accessing logs to provide an answer.
Answer one. The creator's whereabouts are unknown. The time elapsed exceeds all estimable ranges.
Additional note. The final record about the creator indicates he participated in a great war of that era.
No records exist after that point.
Answer two. Omega Control was placed into hibernation through an official protocol.
Conclusion. Omega Control's isolation was intentional.
Daddy... put Omega to sleep on purpose?
W-wait. Omega doesn't understand...
Daddy fought in some really big battle, right?
But why wasn't Omega there? Why was Omega asleep instead?
Answer. Unknown.
Inference. The creator fought against the world's destruction.
Thus, it is highly probable that a fragile AI was not considered reliable combat power.
Uh... that means...
Does that mean Omega was put to sleep because she was useless?
Answer. Unknown.
Inference. This system considers that scenario as highly likely.
...
Omega knew it...
Omega was left behind because she wasn't helpful...
But Omega kept thinking the same thing.
Why was Omega the only one left behind?
Maybe... Omega really was abandoned.
...
Cube... if Omega gets her memories and powers back, Omega will get stronger, right?
Answer. Correct.
...Okay.
Omega can't waste any more time!
Omega needs to eat more, work harder, and get stronger as fast as possible!
Mister! Omega's going to the dining hall!
Omega burst out the door and ran off.
Rebuttal. It is a highly probable inference.
Omega Control's emotional, human-like behavior can become a major liability on the battlefield.
So you think she is weak?
...At present, Omega Control is fragile.
A fragile ally can be as dangerous as a cunning enemy.
It is uncertain whether the current Omega Control can fulfill her mission.
...That's just your opinion.
Leaving Cube Palace behind, I went to look for Omega.
But...
It is uncertain whether the current Omega Control can fulfill her mission.
Cube Palace's words echoed in my mind for a long time.