one more time

chapter 6:omega

As Ame landed in a new realm, the unbearable pain she had just endured felt like a distant memory. The air was different here—crisp, cool, and filled with the sound of distant stars humming in harmony. She stood on a floating platform, surrounded by the infinite expanse of the galaxy. Planets, nebulae, and comets drifted by like cosmic ballet dancers, performing a silent dance in the void. The endless sky stretched in every direction, dotted with distant suns and swirling galaxies.

In front of her, hovering just above the platform, was Omega—the Watcher of the Galaxy.

Omega’s presence was both serene and overwhelming. A towering figure cloaked in silvery robes, her form shimmered with stardust, and her eyes gleamed like the heart of a supernova. Her gaze was piercing yet calm, as though she had seen every event in the universe unfold and knew exactly how things would end.

"You've been through much, Amelia," Omega said, her voice soft yet echoing across the stars. "But time is running out. Your transmitter only holds enough power for one more journey. One more chance to correct the timeline."

Ame, still catching her breath from the ordeal with Ina, held the transmitter tightly in her hand. She looked down at it, the weight of the decision heavy on her shoulders. One more chance. That was it. If she pressed the button again, she could return to the past and stop everything—stop the Ancient One from corrupting Ina, save Atlantis, prevent the collapse of worlds. But the risk was immense. What if she failed again? There would be no second chance.

"I... I don’t know if I can do it," Ame said, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "What if I make things worse?"

Omega floated closer, her luminous eyes filled with both wisdom and compassion. "The future is not set in stone, Amelia. Even I cannot see every outcome. But the choice is yours. You must decide if the past is worth saving, and if you believe you are the one who can save it."

Ame’s grip on the transmitter tightened. The images of Ina’s twisted form, the collapsing city of Atlantis, and the untold horrors lurking in the void flashed through her mind. She had come so far, endured so much pain and loss. Could she walk away now, knowing what would happen if she didn’t try?

Just as she was about to make her decision, a faint whisper of movement caught her attention. From the shadows, a figure emerged, cloaked in darkness. Ame’s heart skipped a beat as she recognized her.

Sana.

The figure, shrouded in the void itself, stepped forward gracefully, her presence ominous yet calm. She had been watching, waiting. Sana's face was hidden beneath a hood, but Ame could feel her gaze, cold and calculating. The void energy that had consumed Ina seemed to pulse from her, but unlike Ina, Sama was in full control of it.

Omega turned slightly, acknowledging Sana's presence without alarm.

"I see you’ve been observing," Omega said, her voice neutral, though tinged with the understanding that their meeting was no coincidence.

Sama lowered her hood slightly and bowed to Omega, a gesture of respect that sent a chill down Ame’s spine. "Watcher," Sana said softly, her voice like the echo of a distant storm. "I have no quarrel with you. My interest lies only in the outcome of this... experiment."

Ame’s mind raced. What was Sana doing here? What was she planning? Could she be aligned with the Ancient One, or was her agenda something entirely different?

As Sana stepped back into the shadows, Ame knew time was running out. She looked down at the transmitter once more. The decision had to be made now.

Her hand shook as she lifted the device, her mind screaming with doubt. But then she remembered Ina’s eyes—her true eyes, before the corruption. The weight of her friendship, her mission, and the fate of Atlantis bore down on her. She couldn't give up. Not now.

With a deep breath, Ame pressed the button.

The world around her dissolved into light, the stars fading as the fabric of space and time twisted and bent once more. As she disappeared, Sana watched silently from the darkness. A faint, almost imperceptible smile curved at the corner of her lips before she turned and vanished into the shadows, her motives still a mystery.