1 Final Moments
The cockpit continued to get hotter and hotter. A dozen different alarms were wailing their warnings, doing their best to point out the obvious fact that the Atlas was nearing its demise.
Mikhail's vision swam as one of his opponents fired a flamer at his 'mech. 'Which one did that?' Mikhail thought as he desperately tried to fight off the killing heat.
An explosion rocked his 'mech forward.
"Shit," Mikhail swore, "why now?"
He grimaced as a wave of nausea from the neural feedback tried to overtake him. Another explosion rocked him, but this time it came from his CASE launching his remaining Autocannon ammunition from his machine before it exploded.
Another wave of heat overcame him, baking his skin slightly. He could smell his hair as it burned away. Time seemed to slow for him.
His mind took him back to his youth on Tharkad. His father had been a chief researcher for TharHes Industries, and the family had want for nothing. He could see his sister as they ran around the house, pretending to be mechwarriors in the AFFC.
His thoughts next took him to the day his mother had died. His father was crying on his shoulder now. He saw her in the open casket, beautiful and at peace.
Another explosion rocked the Atlas, but Mikhail didn't notice it at all. The heat was wrapping around him like a blanket, which took him back to his nineteenth birthday.
Maggie, his longtime friend, took him by the hand and led him away from the rollicking crowd. They walked together until they were outside, alone. She smiled and kissed him.
A blast from a laser brought him back. Checking his equipment, he was shocked to see that he only had his small laser left. He reached down and grabbed the ejection switch firmly, and pulled.
He was taken back this time to his wedding day. Maggie looked cold, due to the unseasonably cold wind. She had warmed when he took her hand after reciting their vows and kissing. His father had looked so proud of him.
The cockpit lurched upward, slamming him into his seat. Nothing happened. 'The ejection system is out!' he realized all too late. Heat swallowed Mikhail again, and this time he could hear himself scream.
Then he saw his mother standing beside him. She took him by the hand, her skin cool and smooth to touch. Mikhail stopped screaming, and stood up. He walked away from the ruined mass of steel that had once been a war machine.
The cockpit continued to get hotter and hotter. A dozen different alarms were wailing their warnings, doing their best to point out the obvious fact that the Atlas was nearing its demise.
Mikhail's vision swam as one of his opponents fired a flamer at his 'mech. 'Which one did that?' Mikhail thought as he desperately tried to fight off the killing heat.
An explosion rocked his 'mech forward.
"Shit," Mikhail swore, "why now?"
He grimaced as a wave of nausea from the neural feedback tried to overtake him. Another explosion rocked him, but this time it came from his CASE launching his remaining Autocannon ammunition from his machine before it exploded.
Another wave of heat overcame him, baking his skin slightly. He could smell his hair as it burned away. Time seemed to slow for him.
His mind took him back to his youth on Tharkad. His father had been a chief researcher for TharHes Industries, and the family had want for nothing. He could see his sister as they ran around the house, pretending to be mechwarriors in the AFFC.
His thoughts next took him to the day his mother had died. His father was crying on his shoulder now. He saw her in the open casket, beautiful and at peace.
Another explosion rocked the Atlas, but Mikhail didn't notice it at all. The heat was wrapping around him like a blanket, which took him back to his nineteenth birthday.
Maggie, his longtime friend, took him by the hand and led him away from the rollicking crowd. They walked together until they were outside, alone. She smiled and kissed him.
A blast from a laser brought him back. Checking his equipment, he was shocked to see that he only had his small laser left. He reached down and grabbed the ejection switch firmly, and pulled.
He was taken back this time to his wedding day. Maggie looked cold, due to the unseasonably cold wind. She had warmed when he took her hand after reciting their vows and kissing. His father had looked so proud of him.
The cockpit lurched upward, slamming him into his seat. Nothing happened. 'The ejection system is out!' he realized all too late. Heat swallowed Mikhail again, and this time he could hear himself scream.
Then he saw his mother standing beside him. She took him by the hand, her skin cool and smooth to touch. Mikhail stopped screaming, and stood up. He walked away from the ruined mass of steel that had once been a war machine.