January 12, 2025
The sun highly went on the cloudless sky and everything was shining above the whole Pacific Ocean. One single, small, black patch appeared on the endless, huge, blue water field. The little object was an escape pod, which floated soundlessly where the current carried it with its only passenger. Chuck Hansen stared into the distance while his elbow propped up on his knee and he wrapped in complete silence. How long had he wasted his time in the escape pod, for half an hour, an hour or half a day? Who knows? His thoughts whirled on the past, on the future and finally those lost in the present.
He thought ironically after he survived the clash with Scunner and Slattern, finally he had to die in a damaged escape pod. The device wasn't able to send his coordinates to the headquarters.
"Maybe did Pentecost sacrifice himself for me unnecessarily? Maybe if the kaijus didn't kill me, then the thirst and hunger will do? How long am I able to endure without food and drink on the open water? 1-2-3 days, a little bit longer?" he asked himself.
He didn't have any illusions, he knew, they wouldn't look for him after Striker Eureka exploded and the central system didn't observe the escape pod.
"Maybe Gipsy Danger fell over in the battle and PPDC and the rescue unit don't exist any longer which would search for me." Pondering on this, the last moments of the battle came into his mind.
"Sir,primary weapons are damaged. Hull is compromised. The half of system don't work, the structure damage is almost 80%. We're unable to fight. We don't have any chance without help to take up the fight against the two kaijus," Chuck said tensely. He couldn't blow his cool and started to swear like a trooper to himself.
"Soldier, stop cursing. What about the bomb?" Pentecost's voice sounded firmly.
"We can't deliver the payload because the release jammed."
"Then we can clear a path for the Lady," Pentecost said quietly.
Then Striker Eureka's Conn-Pod was silence but the two rangers' thoughts echoed in each other's mind.
"Ranger, it's time to leave the deck. I finish the mission alone."
„Sir, I'm not leaving you alone in the trouble."
"I really appreciate your loyalty, but I'm going to detonate the payload alone, because I promised my best friend that I look after his son."
"But Sir…"
"Damn it, Hansen! I'm dying and I can't avoid it. So, I have nothing to lose. But you have got a future, for this you have to live! Do you see what I mean? You have to live! And now, get out of here. This is my last order for you."
Chuck stared at his commander for a long moment, after that he thought sadly: "It's been a pleasure serving with you, Sir!"
For answer Pentecost nodded his head and waited till Chuck's escape pod ejected.
A moment later, a terrible explosion shook the ocean floor and the LOCCENT lost Striker Eureka's signal.
It seemed the sun didn't move as if spiked onto the sky. The heat, the thirst started to become more and more unbearable. Chuck's mouth became dry, his throat tickled because of thirst. His eyes were stung by sweat which flowed down from his forehead and his eyesight was blinded by the reflecting sunlight from the giant, blue water. He felt the death stalks mutely nearer to him. But he didn't want to struggle desperately between obsession and waiting for death.
The thought of destruction prompted him to meditation which recalled memories from the past.
