Date: October 12 2014 1:43 PM Title: Surrender
Bridget deserves all of this, this is all on her. Alexandra deserves better. I've really felt pissed since the whole " Immortal Gods" reveal.
Author's Response:
It's definitely a big mess, and Bridget won't be feeling very good about it.
Date: October 12 2014 1:28 PM Title: Surrender
Wow. Talk about twisting the knife. The guilt is going to be overwhelming for Bridget. Do Omegas even have procedures for punishing Betas that harm Alphas? I know it sounds ludicrous, but it seems the entire system is designed to punish Alphas, which is why you're getting Betas that are bold enough to frame Alphas. Again I say, for Alphas that are anti-Omega and/or anti-Beta, this is a public relations dream. I look forward to your conclusion.
Thanks! Omegas don't put Betas through sessions for hurting Alphas as they do when it's the other way around, since the sessions are meant to simulate the actions Alphas put Betas through (something Betas can't actually do back to them), but there are still definite consequences for what Nathaniel did. I know it can look like it's designed to get Alphas, though it really just looks that way because Alphas, far and away, are the ones committing the most crime.
Author's Response:
Date: October 12 2014 1:21 PM Title: Surrender
Wow. What a pulse-pounding and psychologically explosive climax. If Alexandra dies, I definitely wouldn't have expected it. Although with Omega tech, she'll probably be fine. I don't quite understand how she was framed though, so I hope this is explained. I eagerly await the next two chapters.
Author's Response:
Thanks for reviewing! There will be more explanation about how she was framed in the next chapter.
Date: October 12 2014 12:30 PM Title: Surrender
Yeeaaah…
I’m both sad for Bridget and Lexi right now. While Bridget gets some hate, I’m not going to ignore the upbringing her generation of Omegas have and the near indoctrination like teaching they receive involving beta cruelty and instilling in them the desire to protect betas at all costs. Aegis is more at fault for this and I hope this makes Kayla think about making some changes to the organization. Bridget and Lexi and their friendship both got screwed by the system.
As for Lexi, it was hard seeing her crack like that but I don’t think she’s actually going to turn into a beta killing criminal or harbor violent tendencies toward them. I’m not too worried about her injuries due to the super advanced medical care Aegis have and frankly doing all they can to treat her is the least they could do.
Excellent chapter, good sir. The Omega series always produces high quality work.
Author's Response:
You're right about Lexi; she didn't necessarily crack and become what they were accusing her of, it was just her anger swelling up in that moment. The physical injuries, while serious, are indeed fixable. Thanks for reading!
Date: October 12 2014 12:08 PM Title: Disorientation
@aaron
Technically, Bridget did nothing wrong but her complete and total lack of confidence in someone shes known for this long (Evelyn too) is heartbreaking. And as much as Im angry at Bridget for going along with this so easily theres a certain degree of sympathy to be had for her too.
Author's Response:
Right, Bridget won't be singled out for this. It's important to remember too that she's had the Fire inside her in overdrive this whole time.
Date: October 12 2014 11:20 AM Title: Surrender
Dang Evelyn was just a bit too late. But how does Bridget even begin to atone for her treatment of Alexandra? Maybe this experience will cause Bridget to leave the agency(place were the omegas work, just forgot the name) or be forced to leave. There should definitely be severe some ramifications for what she's done to Alexandra, even though it was technically her job. But if that doesn't happen I feel Alexandra will get more of the suffocating cuddling she seems to despise.
Anyways great chapter. This has been one hell of a rollercoaster ride.
aaron
PS if nothing can be done legally to Bridget, will Evelyn take matters into her own hands?(a long shot I know but it seems plausible right haha)
Author's Response:
Thanks for reading/reviewing. I won't comment on your questions to avoid spoiling, but I will say Evelyn's not going to single out Bridget for blame here; all the Omegas will be sharing the fault.
Date: October 12 2014 11:09 AM Title: Surrender
Another great chapter ! It didn't happen quite the way I imagined but it was very well done.
Actually, I left a comment about Lexi confessing her "guilt" a few chapters back; guess I was just a few chapters early. ^^
I'm pretty sure Lexi is gonna survive but will she suffer permanent injury ?
Author's Response:
Thanks for reading! And I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
Date: October 12 2014 10:55 AM Title: Surrender
Wow, I almost don't even know what to say about this one. Firstly, did Alex snap at the end there? I almost feel like if anything, these so called "punishments" actually succeded in converting Lexi into the very monster they were punishing her for being.
It's similar to how when people get sent to prisons there is a good chance they come out worse than they went in. Is Lexi gonna hold a grudge against Bridget and all of Aigis? I kinda think so. Is she gonna hold a grudge against Betas? Now that one, is telling...
I, for one would distance myself from both Omegas AND Betas if this happened to me. I would even argue that some people might become so bitter that they might ACTUALLY attack and hurt Betas. Lexi already seems to have developed a deep and ugly sourness inside her, and she wasn't even at the end of her torture yet!
Author's Response:
Lexi didn't actually snap there, it was more that her rage got the best of her in that moment. It was really to show that even when Lexi admitted to everything she was accused of, Bridget couldn't accept it. Regardless, you may be right that Lexi wants some space from Omegas and Betas after this.
Date: October 12 2014 10:55 AM Title: Disorientation
This could be as tragic as it gets if there's nothing that can be done for her. Whether she lives or dies the Omegas better do some serious soul searching about their policies after this.
Author's Response:
Thanks for reviewing. And you're right that the Omegas will have some thinking to do.
Date: October 09 2014 9:31 AM Title: Revelation
No this won't end ugly at all. Everyone will have a nice conversation about trust and believing in family and those "fun" little sessions, don't forget that. But it's fine I'm sure Bridget and Alex aren't completely scarred for life their perceived relationship forever skewed and perverted by these tragic events. Maybe even re-evalute AEGIS and the Omegas and what a bunch of suckers they were played for.
Author's Response:
Hehe. Yeah, the ending is not exactly a nice little tea and cakes party for these people, to say the least.
Date: October 08 2014 3:07 PM Title: Revelation
@SpookyTaco : it's been heavily implied in other Omega stories that Omegas (especially the second generation like Bridget) are hardwired, like DNA programed, to feel intense anger at Beta abuse and to desire revenge for it.
Hence, I assume, the surprising "switch off" mentality Bridget displays in this story : once she's convinced Lexie did abuse Betas, her brain is on autopilot.
Which makes Omegas even scarier (as if they need to be).
Author's Response:
Thanks for making that point. The fire is definitely a contributing factor here.
Date: October 08 2014 12:16 PM Title: Revelation
Ok, so finally caught up. Great stuff. In some ways, your writing style matches Ackbar's.
The trickiest thing with the Omega series is the punishments. Those are just so hard to justify, perhaps because they're so different than what we do in the US. Sure, we incarcerate but we don't torture based on the details of the crime. I'm interested in the psychology behind it. Perhaps we'll get a chapter where the Omega who conceived these punishments elucidates how they facilitate behavior modification in criminals. Don't get me wrong, the punishments add a great deal to the stories, but I still like to try to justify them in my mind, to find the slice of realism.
As for Bridget, sorry, not sure I'd ever talk to her again if I were Lexi. I might, but it wouldn't be easy. How could someone invoke the first punishment without ever having an open discussion with her best friend? I mean, the blurry video feed showed no 100% evidence that proved Lexi did the crime.
I suppose Bridget's only redeeming factor is that she never physically harmed Lexi in a serious way. And that she practiced the mouth thing for a week to ensure no harm would come. But the emotional harm has been done. I really, really hope we get a Bridget pov and see her reaction to the news. This needs to change her on a fundamental level before Lexi would let her back in.
Author's Response:
Glad to hear that about our styles. Hopefully it helps lend this story some cohesion with the Omegaverse.
I can't speak for Ackbar, of course, but from what I know of the world, there will indeed be some explanation in later stories of the justification for a punishment system like this.
You're right that emotional harm has definitely been done, and Lexi is by no means going to turn right around and want hugs afterward. And we will indeed see Bridget's POV.
Date: October 08 2014 12:02 PM Title: Monster
I don't think monster is a bad enough word to describe Alma. How did Lexi turn out so well with a mother like that?
I can't imagine anyone like Alma existing. There's no gray area with her, just pure black. I'd put a gun to my head and pull the trigger before living in the same house with someone like her. I can only imagine what it would be like as her daughter. :(
I'm glad I didn't read this story as you released the chapters. This would ruin my day if chapter 11 didn't exist.
Author's Response:
Alma's definitely something else. Lexi really only turned out this way because Alma never revealed her true self to her daughter until this night, and before it, had emotionally distanced her. Glad to hear 11 helped alleviate the pain of 10.
Date: October 08 2014 10:31 AM Title: Disorientation
I hope there's an adequate process for forgiveness. Not instantly. Emotional healing takes time. Everyone that should have stood by her were Omegas and believed in their system and her guilt. The Omega and Beta haters are going to have a field day if this goes public. I can't wait to see how you're going to conclude this!
Author's Response:
Thanks for reviewing! There will definitely not be instant forgiveness, and that's all I'll say for now. You're right that Omega and Beta haters will not be taking it well; that's something that will definitely be addressed eventually.
Date: October 08 2014 5:19 AM Title: Address
Only read through chapter 2 so far and I'm horrified. Absolutely horrified. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Clearly, Lexi is innocent. Arg, I just feel so bad for her. Bridget is a terrible, terrible person to treat her friend this way and I sense it will only get worse!
Unfortunately, however, I'm hooked and have to find out what happens.
I do have a message for Bridget: Take it easy on your friend. REMEMBER that she's your friend. Or at least she was. Give Lexi a chance to explain. Hear her side of the story!!!
Author's Response:
Thanks for reading! Horror is definitely a good feeling, considering what the situation is.
Date: October 07 2014 6:35 PM Title: Disorientation
Ah-ha, so the truth finally starts to be revealed. I've been waiting for this moment for ages, ever since the story started. More then that, I want to see just how hard this news hots people, and how Alexandra reacts to being told they made a mistake. She better not forgive them easily. I know I wouldn't.
Author's Response:
Thanks for reviewing! I won't spoil, but it's probably no secret to say the truth will hit pretty hard, particularly for those who've been punishing Alexandra.
Date: October 07 2014 6:30 PM Title: Revelation
Ooh! Scandalous! Unfortunately for me, my theory for what is happening might not be as correct as I thought. Still no details, but it involves a second blood relative of Alexandra. Anyway, I hope this story has a somewhat happy ending, but I don't think any of the characters will recover from this ordeal correctly. Especially Bridget and Alexandra. I really want to see how each of them will interact at the end of all this.
Author's Response:
You'll see soon enough if your theory was right. And you'll also see how they interact in a couple chapters. Thanks for reading!
Date: October 07 2014 6:28 PM Title: Revelation
Why'd you leave us on such a big fucking cliffhanger!!!!!!!!!
ARGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good chapta too.
Author's Response:
Why thank you very much. :)
Date: October 07 2014 6:11 PM Title: Revelation
Redemption!!!
I hope...great stuff as always.
Author's Response:
Redemption, at least in some form, is coming. Thanks for reading!
Date: October 07 2014 6:05 PM Title: Revelation
I've been waiting for this for awhile now, and now we get to see something else I've been waiting for: how they react to this news.
Author's Response:
We do indeed. That'll be what the final chapters address in full.