The tension lingering from Banjo's question had not fully faded.
Even after the discussion ended.
Even after the recruits returned to speaking amongst themselves.
Even after Androsha walked away.
Something remained.
An uncertainty.
A question hanging above the auditorium.
The towering hall of Flex City hummed with yellow-green light. Pillars stretched toward impossible heights. Countless recruits stood beneath them, speaking quietly, wondering what came next.
Then suddenly—
The atmosphere changed.
Not violently.
Not dramatically.
Simply...
present.
Like someone had entered a room.
The yellow-green currents flowing throughout the auditorium shifted.
The recruits froze.
The Deviant Elites immediately recognized it.
Jason straightened.
Jair stopped talking.
Eugene's grin faded.
Even Banjo's probability cube stopped rolling.
A figure stepped forward from the center of the hall.
Humanoid.
Yet not entirely.
Its form flowed like liquid possibility.
Yellow-green light danced across its body.
One moment it appeared masculine.
The next feminine.
Then neither.
Then both.
Its appearance changed subtly every few seconds, as though reality itself couldn't decide what shape companionship should take.
The recruits immediately understood.
Or at least...
they thought they did.
One by one.
Then dozens.
Then hundreds.
They bowed.
Heads lowered.
Bodies bent.
Respect.
Fear.
Reverence.
Worship.
The entire auditorium followed.
Even some of the newer recruits who barely understood what was happening copied the others.
Silence spread.
Omega Devia stared.
Blinking.
Once.
Twice.
Then frowned.
Not angrily.
Not threateningly.
Confused.
Deeply confused.
The recruits noticed immediately.
The expression was so genuine that several people became nervous.
Omega Devia slowly looked around the room.
Then pointed at them.
"What are you doing?"
Nobody answered.
The question caught them completely off guard.
Omega Devia tilted its head.
"No."
It shook its head.
"No, no, no."
The entity stepped forward.
Its voice carried throughout the entire auditorium.
Warm.
Disappointed.
Almost hurt.
"Why are you bowing to me?"
The recruits exchanged glances.
Nobody knew what to say.
Omega Devia placed a hand against its chest.
"Our connection isn't worship."
Its voice softened.
"It was never worship."
Another step.
"I'm your friend."
The words echoed through the auditorium.
Simple.
Yet strangely powerful.
"I'm not something you're supposed to fear."
Its eyes drifted from recruit to recruit.
"I'm not a king."
Another pause.
"I'm not a god."
The confusion in its expression deepened.
"I'm certainly not your master."
A few recruits awkwardly straightened their posture.
Omega Devia pointed at them.
"Stand up."
More stood.
"All of you."
The rest quickly followed.
An uncomfortable wave spread throughout the auditorium.
Several recruits rubbed the backs of their necks.
Others looked embarrassed.
Timmy stared at the floor.
Sandra looked away.
Adrian coughed awkwardly.
The realization struck them simultaneously.
They had completely misunderstood.
They had expected some supreme cosmic authority.
Some impossible entity demanding obedience.
Instead...
they were being scolded for showing too much reverence.
Manu chuckled.
Kari covered her mouth.
Jason laughed first.
Then Jair.
Then Eugene.
Soon the entire elite group was struggling not to laugh.
Even Banjo cracked a smile.
The contrast from moments earlier was absurd.
Omega Devia sighed dramatically.
"Thank you."
It rubbed its forehead.
"That was getting weird."
Laughter spread through the crowd.
The tension finally broke.
The recruits relaxed.
The atmosphere became lighter.
More human.
More natural.
More Omega Devia.
Then the entity's gaze shifted.
Directly toward Banjo.
Immediately.
The smile on its face softened.
"I know what happened."
Banjo stiffened.
Omega Devia stepped closer.
The crowd instinctively moved aside.
Its footsteps made no sound.
"I know what you're thinking."
Banjo looked away.
The probability cube rolled between his fingers.
Omega Devia smiled knowingly.
"The Nicronians weren't as loyal as you thought they were."
The statement landed heavily.
Androsha's eyes widened slightly.
Several Nicronians exchanged uncertain glances.
Banjo said nothing.
Because he couldn't deny it.
Not completely.
Omega Devia stepped beside him.
"In a way..."
The entity folded its arms.
"...isn't that good news?"
Banjo blinked.
"What?"
Omega Devia laughed softly.
"You were worried."
Its voice carried no judgment.
"You thought Avia was losing something priceless."
Banjo hesitated.
Maybe.
A little.
Omega Devia nodded.
"I understand."
Then suddenly—
It cupped Banjo's face.
The entire auditorium froze.
Banjo's brain immediately stopped functioning.
"E-Eh?!"
Laughter exploded throughout the room.
Jair nearly collapsed.
Jason was already wheezing.
Eugene pointed.
"Oh this is priceless."
Banjo looked mortified.
Omega Devia ignored everyone.
"Hey."
Its voice became gentle.
"Don't be sad."
Banjo's expression faltered.
The teasing vanished instantly.
Omega Devia's eyes softened.
"We synchronized because you stopped doubting me."
The auditorium grew quiet again.
The entity smiled.
"I've seen your inner realm."
Banjo swallowed.
"And frankly..."
Omega Devia shrugged.
"...deep down, nobody likes being lectured all the time."
A few recruits immediately nodded.
Others laughed.
Even some of the Nicronian elders looked offended by how accurate the statement was.
Banjo couldn't help smiling.
Just slightly.
"I know."
His voice lowered.
"I know, Omega."
The probability cube slowed.
"But what I saw over there..."
His thoughts drifted back to Airious.
The students.
The resistance.
The conviction.
The war.
The corruption.
The uncertainty.
Omega Devia interrupted him.
Not harshly.
Firmly.
"What you saw..."
Its gaze shifted toward Androsha.
"...was important."
The entire auditorium followed its eyes.
Androsha froze.
"What she did..."
Omega Devia continued.
"...was important too."
The Nicronian girl immediately looked uncomfortable.
Which only made everyone stare harder.
Omega Devia smiled.
"Banjo."
The entity pointed toward her.
"She didn't just recruit them."
Androsha blinked.
Omega Devia's voice softened.
"She saved them."
The words struck the auditorium differently.
Not because they were loud.
Because they were sincere.
Androsha's blue skin immediately darkened.
Embarrassment.
Real embarrassment.
The Deviant Elites noticed instantly.
Jason grinned.
Jair smirked.
Eugene looked delighted.
"Oh my gosh she's blushing."
"Shut up."
"No, seriously, look at her."
"I said shut up."
Laughter erupted again.
Androsha covered her face.
Omega Devia chuckled.
Then turned toward everyone.
The recruits.
The elites.
The teachers.
The uncertain.
The convinced.
The broken.
The hopeful.
All of them.
Pride shone within its expression.
Not pride in itself.
Pride in them.
"I'm proud of you."
The words were simple.
Yet every person heard them differently.
Some smiled.
Some cried.
Some looked away.
Some stood taller.
Omega Devia spread its arms.
Yellow-green light flowed throughout the auditorium.
Warm.
Welcoming.
Familiar.
"Keep going."
Its voice echoed through Flex City itself.
"Keep questioning."
"Keep growing."
"Keep struggling."
The entity grinned.
A friend encouraging friends.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
"Because this?"
Omega Devia gestured toward the recruits.
Toward the elites.
Toward the city.
Toward the movement itself.
Its smile widened.
"This is only the beginning."