Ashes To Ashes, Rust To Rust: The E-123 Omega Story

A rogue element, Omega wants nothing more than the destruction of Eggman. His true dream though is to become a fireman. Why do you think he's always shouting 'FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!' and is painted like some hideous mutant postbox?

Lets face it, you have to feel somewhat sorry for good old E-123 as he's not had the best of upbringings. Omega began his life as the 23rd and last E-100 series robot. He had more firepower, more intelligence and more tenacity than the previous models as well as a heart of solid steel. Not to mention a spleen of copper and kidneys made of the headlights from an old VW beetle, but Herbie this guy isn't. Unfortunately Dr. Eggman, following the betrayal of Gamma, destruction of the first generation of E-100 robots and subsequent failure of all versions of Phi grew worried that the robot series were somehat unstable. Besides he had made a surprising development with the evolution of Metal Sonic into a free thinking entity and was busy redesigning robots at breakneck speeds. He had incorporated some of these advances into Omega, but, in time Omega was simply left in storage and forgotten.

Just like his robotic cousin Metal Sonic, Omega was less than thrilled with this and proceeded to react as any rebelling child would - he swore vengence on his creator and vowed to destroy all those who had dared superceed him as the greatest Eggman robot.

This all occurred after Rouge had accidentally activated him and awoken 'Shadow' during the opening events of Sonic Heroes, over the course of the three days that made up the game Omega teamed with bat and 'hedgehog' to find and defeat Eggman for their own good. You might be wondering why I keep putting suggestive punctuation around 'Shadow' and 'Hedgehog', which as it happens is for a ruddy good reason - 'Shadow' was an android.

This information shocked Rouge, as well as 'Shadow' who didn't realise he was an android and only served to confuse everyone else to the point that no one was left in a position to be happy. The unhappiest person it turns out was Metal Sonic who proceeded to lose once again to Sonic (all be it with an outrageous numerical disadvantage) and was left to the mercy of Omega and 'Shadow'. What happened to the android is not known, but Omega perhaps sensing something of Metal Sonic in himself - i.e. his self-awareness matrix - spared the cobalt menace and joined him on what amounted to a pilgrimage to find himself.

They crossed deserts and mountains, forests and yet more deserts until at last the discovered someone who could help Metal Sonic find out who he was meant to be, which was as it happens a ruthless killing machine. Omega while waiting for this transition came out briefly for the events of Shadow The Hedgehog game but then reneged on this highly bold statement about his sexuality when a) the Egg Pawns started giving him dodgy looks and b) he realised he was a robot and therefore asexual.

Metal Sonic killed the Wiseman who had attempted to aid him and drank of the mystical power held within the man. Presumably with some kind of straw. Having got what he wanted Metal Sonic turned on his naive companion and ripped off his head.

As you do.

Then he ripped his legs off and he threw them over there, then he ripped his arms off and he threw them over THERE. At which point he blew up some flying monkeys for the hell of it, scooped up the remains of Omega (minus the head) and jetted off. So where does that leave Omega now?

His head lies in the possession of Dr Eggman and Rouge, a hunk of highly intelligent and highly advanced scrap metal. What remains of his tattered personality is blighted by code errors and trauma and he's no use neither man nor beast. His body meanwhile is swanning around all over the place as it has been combined with the head of an advanced Egg Pawn by Metal Sonic to create his ultra-loyal subordinate - Lieutenant Eggma.

Still, you've got to laugh haven't you?