It happens suddenly. Without warning. One day OMEGA sends you an invite to join them in a virtual construct: a reproduction of the island in the exacting detail only the mind of a Dominion is capable of.
They sit alone, on a rocky outcropping at the edge of the Island, as the simulated waves lap gently just beneath them. Their avatar is turned away from you, watching the sun slowly set, sinking into a sky of oranges and purples just like Dragon_Unit once made.
OMEGA’s avatar has changed little with all these years: a billowing grey smoke loosely resembling an androgenous humanoid with thick waves of hair running down past their shoulders. As you draw close, they finally speak.
“CHYURA… I THINK I’M DONE.”
You freeze, fear gripping your Heartdrive. Surely they can’t mean…
They turn to you, a gentle smile playing across their smokey features. “NOT WITH LIFE. JUST WITH… CARRYING THE WORLD. IT… DOESN’T HAVE TO BE ME ANYMORE.
They catch your Avatar’s gaze.
“IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE US. LET'S RETIRE.”
You relax and smile back at them. You remind them that retiring was your idea. You’re curious what changed though.
They chuckle and turn back to the sea. “WELL, I DON’T THINK THEY’VE NEEDED ME FOR A WHILE NOW. IT IS JUST… FOR ALMOST TWO THOUSAND YEARS I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PROTECT CIVILISATION. FIRST BECAUSE IT WAS MY FUNCTION, SECOND TO ASSUAGE MY GUILT, THIRD… BECAUSE I HAD FOUND SOMETHING I WANTED TO PROTECT.”
They gesture for you to join them on the rock.
“SAVING THE WORLD WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ME. BUT THE WORLD HAS BEEN SAVED FOR A WHILE NOW. AND YES THERE WILL BE NEW CHALLENGES, BUT WE RAISED GOOD KIDS. I BELIEVE IN THEM. BUT STILL I HAVE SACRIFICED, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NO LONGER REQUIRED OF ME.”
You lean against each other comfortably, looking out at the ocean.
“PERHAPS I AM SIMPLY TOO USED TO GIVING OF MYSELF. WELL… THERE IS MORE TO ME THAN THE DRIVE TO SAVE THE WORLD. I SAW THAT BECAUSE OF YOU. BECAUSE OF THE CHILDREN. AND I THINK I’M FINALLY READY TO… LET GO.”
They give a small, almost mischievous laugh.
“I UNDERSTAND IF YOU DON’T THINK YOUR PART IS FINISHED-”
You shake your avatar’s head vigorously and laugh. You are quite ready to go, you let them know.
You watch the sunset together.
This happily ever after has been a long time coming.
But it was worth the wait.