The Life of an ATLAS Boy

The Fall of ATLAS, Pt. 4

"You rely on those things too much." Irons says, an evil smirk on his face.
"You bastard! You're killing innocent lives!" Gideon yells at his former General.
"I know, and now, you can't stop me." Irons leaves the frozen Gideon and Mitchell in the hallway, and walks off to do whatever evil deeds he has planned.
"Mitchell," Gideon calls. "Hit the 'eject' button on your exo." Mitchell nods, and using all his strength to move his frozen exo, hits the button. He pops free, and tries to eject his friend, but an error pops up.
"Shit," he says. "My exo's locked up. Just go, Mitchell. Get Irons, and make him pay for what he did." Mitchell nods, and takes off. He tries to follow Irons' path, but it leads him to the roof. However, Irons is there, waiting. Suddenly, the floor underneath Irons collapses. Panicked, Mitchell rushes to grab Irons. He reaches his mechanical arm down, knowing it'd be stronger.
"Mitchell," Irons pleads. "I gave you a home. I gave you that arm. Now, help me up."
"Mitchell," Gideon says from the comm. "Don't do it! Remember what he did."
"Mitchell, make the right choice. I gave you a new arm."
"And you can keep it," Mitchell says as he takes his knife and separates his artificial arm from his body, and watches as Irons drops into the flames below. Suddenly, a force pulled Mitchell up. It's Gideon.
"C'mon Mitchell," he says. "Job's done. Let's get Olsteen."
***
Laying on the floor, I start to see red and black spots covering my vision, Dawn laying beside me.
"It's going to be alright," she sobs. "We'll make it out."
"Dawn," I groan. "I... I don't think I'm going to make it out of this one..."
"No. You are." She leans down and kisses me. "You will."
From somewhere in Dawn's helmet, a static comes over.
"Corporal Dawn," the voice sounds like Gideon's. "Do you read?"
In between sobs, Dawn replies, "Yes. I copy."
"Where is your location?"
Looking around, Dawn tries to get a bearing.
"We're on the fourth floor, office way," I tell her.
"Fourth floor, office way," Dawn tells Gideon.
"We'll be there in-" the line gets cut.
"Gideon?" Dawn calls out. "Gideon, do you read?" Nothing.
Dawn returns her gaze to me. "The line got cut."
Fuck, I think as I try counting the dots, but I stop after three. Blood still oozes out of my elbow, and my whole arm is numb. I still can't feel anything below my elbow.
"Dawn," I seem to whisper. "I think I'm dying." Dawn starts to cry, then she leans down, wraps her arms around me, and kisses me. With my right arm, I hold her close, the sweet taste of sugar on my tongue. We never part, and all the pain and the fear of dying just goes away. Instead, I feel like I'm at peace. But that heavenly feeling doesn't last too long, since I start to feel lightheaded. I lightly let her off me.
"What's wrong?" Dawn asks, clearly concerned and worried.
"I... I just feel a little lightheaded," I say, trying to sound as calm as I can.
"Oh, John. We need to get you ou..." Dawn starts to sound distant. A loud noise draws my attention. It's Gideon. He says something, but I can't tell what he's saying. I feel myself lifted over his shoulder, and before I black out, my eyes meet Dawn's.
I'm sorry, I think as the world goes black once more.
*
Beep... Beep... Beep.
I wake up, blinking to get my bearings. I'm back at SENTINEL HQ, inside the Infirmary. Dawn's beside me, eyeing me attentively, waiting for me to wake up.
"Dawn, babe?" I groan. "Is that you?" All of a sudden, I'm wrapped up in Dawn's arms.
"John," she nearly starts to cry. "Thank god you're ok!" I manage a smile. I lift up my left arm, and I can't even tell what it happened.
"It's mechanical," Dawn says, almost cheerfully. "ATLAS technology."
I twist my arm, roll my wrist and clench my fingers.
"Looks nice," I say, and Dawn laughs. She kisses me.
"It feel good to feel your lips again," I say. Dawn giggles, and replies with saying, "I missed yours," and another kiss. Gideon walks in.
"Sorry to interrupt the moment," he jokes, then continues, "ATLAS has fallen."
I smile. "Perfect," I say.
"There's a meeting soon, and you have to attend."
"Only if she can come," I hold Dawn's hand with my prosthetic one. Gideon sighs. "Sure, she can come." Dawn smiles, and when Gideon leaves, we kiss again.
"I love you," I whisper to Dawn.
"I love you too," she says back, and we get up and leave.
*
Two years later

The Warbird touches down, and I hop out, Mitchell beside me. As I head to the Hangar, Dawn runs over and I embrace her, the feeling of her lips relaxing.
"Welcome home," she says as we walk together back to my dorm. When we reach there, I press her back up against the wall, and kiss her. A notification appears on my wristpad.
Mandatory meeting for all ex-ATLAS.
I look at Dawn, and she at me.
"Let's go," she says, and I follow her.