When Grey first called in to the Guardians, it was the Model ZX user, Aile, who answered. It started out sweet enough. She asked if he was ok, he answered about being a little beat up, she asked him about the Model W signals and Grey told her happily about Pandora and Prometheus still being alive... and then Omega got fed up and shoved his sword less then an inch from Grey's face and told him to get on with it. Aile was decidedly less enthused about the apparent hostage situation, and Omega could almost feel the motherly hatred aimed at him for daring to threaten a charge of hers. The red reploid could give less of a fuck really, and ordered her to get his own charges some medical attention, stat, or Grey was coming back to her in halves. Quarters if he felt like it.

The leader of the Guardians needed no second bidding. Less than a minute later he could hear an airship in the distance, and had to admit to some respect when a severely damaged, but nonetheless sturdy looking airship flew overhead. A shape plummeted from above, and before anyone knew it the other Model ZX Mega Man, Vent, was glaring at the group from atop a lump of ruins. He especially frowned at Omega, who had taken his sword out and placed it under Grey's neck the moment he'd seen the potential threat.

"I'm just here to make sure no funny business goes on," Vent growled. He was on high alert, and also high temper. If it had been possible, his long hair would have been raised like a cat's hackles. As it was, there was clear tension in his posture. He nodded towards the Model W duo, "Now let's get those two into medical."

Omega let him approach. If Vent's similarity to Zero (damnable Zero!) was any indication, he feared no trickery. All the same, he held grimly onto Grey's arm, not giving the boy an inch. The ship landed as best it could nearby, and some medical staff nervously approached. Vent and Omega didn't dare take eyes off one another and the staff knew it was dangerous. The moment Pandora and Prometheus were safely on some stretchers (Prometheus complaining as much as possible despite profusely spitting blood), Omega followed closely behind them. Aile appeared, watching every movement from her position inside the door to the ship's interior. She was guarding it, and the soldiers inside no doubt. It was a very high-strung situation. As much as Omega hated to admit it, he needed everyone to relax a little lest he risk a mistake in his charges' treatment.

When all were aboard the ship, he jostled Grey a bit. The boy gave him rapt attention (something about the sword nearby may have helped with that). "You. Grey was it?" Omega shoved him back between himself and Vent. "Get lost."

Grey seemed a little taken aback. "Uh? You're just letting me go?"

Pandora, of all people, seemed to grasp the situation all too well and spoke up, "Our guardian... If you attempt to harm us... is inside your ship. One hostage like yourself... is nothing... when we could cause irreparable harm... to anyone on board."

It was a threat. Hurt us, and there's no way you could stop Omega from killing most of your force in a heartbeat. It was a threat they all knew too well. Fights between Mega Men tended to cause some serious collateral damage after all, and Omega had more than proved himself able to handle Grey, much less anyone else. It was something of a bluff too. No one could ignore the fact that the threat was coming from someone currently strapped to a medical stretcher and bleeding. Badly. Omega was just starting to see blood inside her mouth that hadn't come from the sudden nosebleed earlier.

He tried to hide his own concern, mainly because his programming was screaming at him to help out the Model W users. He was no medic though. The best he could do was watch over them in the medical bay. "Pandora, Prometheus. Focus on recovering. I will ensure that they do not try anything while you are unconscious."

The glare he received from Prometheus told him very well that the Grim Reaper had no intention of letting himself become vulnerable. Pandora also tensed, glancing around furtively at the medics on standby. "We will not fall asleep."

Omega just snorted. "Suit yourselves."

The God of Destruction fell silent, keeping pace as his charges kept a wary eye on the medics leading them to the medical wing of the ship. In the background, Omega couldn't help but notice that both Model ZX Mega Men had watched the exchange with interest, and even some understanding. Whatever. As long as the Grim Reaper and the Witch were given medical attention, he couldn't give less of a shit what the others thought about all this. He missed Vent slipping away elsewhere, curiosity and a strange and hidden knowledge glinting in his eyes.

In the meantime, Omega had other concerns. The medics had clearly figured out that they need not fear harm as long as they did their jobs, because Pandora and Prometheus definitely needed their help and Omega couldn't lay a finger on them if he wanted their cooperation. After all, he was clearly concerned with the lives of the Model Ws, and if Omega wanted to keep his charges safe, he had to keep the people treating his charges safe. As in, not hurt them himself. So in short order the medical staff had gone from being afraid to fully taking advantage of his presence.

Omega would have been a lot more offended if it wasn't so bloody necessary.

The twins needed to be sedated. That was for sure. Even hooked up to machines, having fluid pumped in and repair nanites injected, surgery was needed. A quick scan had apparently shown that there was a lot of shrapnel stuck in the pair, bones were cracked or displaced here and there, and in general the two were a wreck. Of course, being the paranoid prisses that they were, they were having none of it. Pandora harshly objected to the sedatives, claiming that her and her brother would rather shoulder the pain than be put under. In one light, Omega felt that their perspective was fair. There was nothing wrong with being less than comfortable with falling unconscious under the eyes of an enemy. Fearing unknown doctors? That was more than understandable.

On the other hand, they were being stupid. It was going to impede their recovery severely if they didn't get some sedation, and more importantly, some sleep. The red reploid growled internally at having to play diplomat yet again.

"You need sedatives or you're going to react and twitch every time the scalpel goes in. They are trying to help you recover. Unnecessary nerve reactions will only cause more harm than help."

Prometheus glared yet again, but was obviously in pain by his gritted teeth and his fingers putting dents in the medical table he was on. Pandora started to object, sitting up, but then it was her turn to start spitting blood. Omega growled out loud this time. This was getting him nowhere!

"I am programmed to obey Weil, and protect him. You share his Genetic information, therefore I have to protect you. If I must protect you from your own idiocy, so be it!"

Needless to say the pair weren't happy when he trotted over Pandora and slammed her back down onto the table. "Sedatives. NOW."

The doctors quite happily complied. Prometheus looked like he wanted to get up and rip Omega a new one but unfortunately for him his body just wasn't listening to him. Some sneaky woman with long purple hair had taken advantage of his distraction to stab a needle into him and that was that. Not at all comfortable, but it did the job.

Omega did have to hand it to the crew. They were capable combat medics. No amount of crazy bull from the two most feared Mega Men in the world had thrown them off their duties.

With little else to do now, Omega sauntered to a corner and watched the proceedings like a hawk. He wasn't too pleased about the current situation. Trying to guard two badly injured Mega Men in enemy territory was bad enough as it was. It was fortunate that said enemies were moral goody two-shoes because heavens forbid they actually tried to pull something. Omega pretended to have all the cards, but everyone with half a brain could realize that he was in a very desperate situation himself. He was in unfamiliar territory, outnumbered, and on an escort mission to boot.

Sometimes life just really sucked.

Before he knew it the two Model W Mega Men were shunted off to a side room to recover. A single door provided privacy, but a medical facility was a medical facility and the doctors were always nearby, peering through the window or coming in to check vitals. The ZX Mega Men were also nearby. About halfway through the surgery he had seen one pop their nose in and get a briefing by the head nurse. Glances were exchanged his way too, but Omega sensed no ill will. Just caution.

He couldn't really blame them for that.

Day turned to evening, and then night. Throughout the long hours the pattern of peekaboos from the ZX siblings continued, just as watchful of the twins as he was. Every once in a while one of the Guardian leaders would patrol the area, on guard for trouble. Even Grey and another silver-haired girl showed up. Ashe, presumed Omega. Again, there was clear caution in their gazes, but no open animosity. If anything, they seemed more curious and concerned about Pandora and Prometheus' condition. Grey even made to go to the bedside of the pair once, former scuffle with Omega clearly forgotten. A snarl and a jerk of movement from Omega, and Grey got the message very clearly about getting too close. He backed off. The rest of the night passed uneventfully.

Morning came. The tension that had slowly petered throughout the night finally dissipated when Pandora and Prometheus woke up. Prometheus groaned, clearly in no mood to move, and Pandora shoved a pillow over her face to guard against morning's rays. That's when Prometheus' mind finally caught up, and he looked over confused at Omega.

"Er. Where are we?"

Guardian HQ apparently," Omega answered dutifully. "We are in the medical bay. Do try to stay still, you are still recovering," cautioned the devil reploid, Prometheus guiltily leaning back from where he'd looked ready to jump into action.

A knock sounded at the door. Omega hadn't the chance to answer when Vent and a female wearing pink slowly entered as politely as possible. Omega couldn't help the sudden feeling of recognition, but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't place why he felt he knew her.

"Ah, the enigmatic leader of the Guardians... Prairie. It is... most interesting to see you..." Pandora started. Vent and Prairie stood still as Pandora tried to sit up, but there was some obvious wincing on her end.

"Pandora. Can't say I'm pleased to see you," spat the blonde female. There was some clear history here, Omega realized, but the animosity from whatever history was between the group didn't help his charges out in the slightest. He decided to shown some force. He stepped into the middle of the room, placing himself between both pairs of people, and simply stood his ground wordlessly. Nothing really needed to be said when you were the God of Destruction. Just stand in the middle of the room and people would know you meant business.

He was mildly surprised when the Guardians before him showed no fear. In fact, Prairie stepped forwards. "It's been a very long time. Omega... was your name, wasn't it?"

He saw familiarity and pain in her eyes, but... not for him. It was odd. "You know my name? I don't remember giving it."

"I was with the Resistance. You may not remember me." She looked around the group, "It does not leave this room, but... my old name, I was known as Allouette." And with this, she stared down Omega.

Omega stared right back. "I don't recall you. You must not have been that important."

Prairie frowned, "So much like Zero, but so lacking in comparison." There was sadness in her voice. True regret.

It stung Omega. It grated his pride. Being compared to Zero, and coming up lacking... It angered and humiliated him on so many levels. Especially since he'd thought those thoughts already to himself so many times. And Prairie didn't seem to even acknowledge him. No, all tones in her voice were from her thoughts of Zero. He was nothing in her eyes.

He tensed, and she caught onto her mistake. Vent also stiffened, but Omega didn't dare act on his anger. His eyes blazed however, and bore into Prairie's. "I'm not Zero. I'm who Zero should have been been. And maybe I'm not to your liking, but at least I'm still here."

It was Prairie's turn to be hurt. But she took the wound with grace. "Indeed, Omega. You are still here."

"And he is our Guardian," spoke Pandora, her voice firm, "he obeys our whims. You... hold no power here... not even in your own ship... as long as he is with us."

"And that's where you're wrong," snorted Vent. Both Pandora and Prometheus gritted their teeth in response, but Prairie took the floor.

"Omega just so happened to let slip that he must protect you, above all else. And you just so happen to be damaged and in need of our help," she started, "which means that in turn, Omega is dependent on us to treat you. I don't imagine you're keen on running off and begging Legion for help any time soon." She grimaced along with the injured siblings. That was, apparently, a shared regret. "In an ideal world the lot of us could get along and help each other recover from what happened. But an ideal world wouldn't have led us to where we are. You two will be allowed to recover in peace. Legion doesn't know everything that happens on this ship, and I don't intend to start tattling now. But in the meantime, I will have your cooperation." A pointed look at Omega told the trio of mavericks all they needed to know about who held the cards here. And it wasn't them. The Guardians may have been a force for good, but it was only their good will that was leaving the three mavericks alive right now.

"Are you threatening us?" Omega warned anyways. He wasn't about to let the Guardians do what they will.

"Not a threat. A warning," she finished, "As much as I would wish that we could get along, I know that's not likely to happen right away. So you three can back off on any of your own threats, and we'll pretend that when Legion comes calling and asking us what our findings were, we found nothing to report."

At this, Prairie turned and stared directly at Omega, "I know all of you have been forced into this situation, but I'm not about to forget what you've all done." She turned to Pandora and Prometheus, "Giro isn't here because of you," she started, voice cracking, before turning back to Omega, "and billions more aren't here because of you. But remember. You lost. You all did. And we have the numbers to ensure another failure on your part if you so much as squint out of line." And with that she turned around and stomped from the room, her posture as sharp as her retort. Vent gave them all a glare and left as well.

Well. That explained some of the history, Omega mused. The murder of Giro... It seemed there were still some very sore egos over that. All in the room were silent. Then, Prometheus piped up mournfully.

"Man, we just got told."

Pandora and Omega whined in agreement. There was definitely no arguing that!