The Golden Titan stood motionless amidst the battlefield, its massive form a silent testament to the ferocity of the fight. Dominic's hands gripped the controls, knuckles white with the tension that still buzzed beneath his skin. He could feel the thrum of the core beneath him, like a heartbeat he could never fully escape. But for now, the implant was quiet. The battle had momentarily paused, and Dominic used the brief lull to assess the damage.
His mech's chest was scorched, metal plating cracked and scorched from the plasma blast. The left leg had been nearly shredded by the enemy juggernaut's retaliatory strike, and several of the weapons systems were offline. It wasn't enough to take him out of the fight, but it was a reminder of how close he had come to losing control completely.
"Dominic!" Lox's voice came through the comms again, a sense of urgency still evident. "What the hell was that? Are you still with us?"
Dominic paused for a moment before responding, his voice tight. "Yeah. I'm still here. Just... recalibrating."
The words felt hollow even to him. He wasn't sure if he was recalibrating, or if he was trying to piece together the fragments of his shattered mind. He could feel the aftershock of the implant's influence, like a lingering shadow over his thoughts.
"Don't get too comfortable. We've got more CMC mechs incoming. You need to get your ass back in the fight, or we're all going to be outnumbered."
Dominic didn't respond immediately. His fingers hovered over the control panel, and he glanced at the damage reports flashing across his screens. The core was still drawing too much power, and the system was overheating. His chances of surviving another direct hit were slim unless he repaired it quickly.
But his mind was elsewhere. The implant. That nagging feeling. The connection between him and the mech was too strong. It wasn't just a tool; it was a parasite. He had to destroy it. He had to sever the bond before it took him over completely.
"Dominic, come in!" Lox's voice snapped him back to reality.
He quickly keyed in a response. "Right. On it."
He took a deep breath and activated the mech's emergency repair protocols, bringing up a schematic of the Golden Titan. The repair systems hummed to life, and he could feel the soft whirring of the internal machinery working to patch up the damaged systems. It was a race against time. The CMC was regrouping, and the next wave of mechs was already making their way across the battlefield.
The cockpit screens blinked with new data, and Dominic's heart skipped a beat. There were dozens of enemy mechs on the horizon, and they were coming fast. Juggernaut-class, several lighter assault mechs, and at least one more titan-class unit, all advancing in a coordinated formation. He had to move, and he had to move now.
"Dominic, we've got a problem!" Lox's voice broke through again. "We're getting reinforcements on our end, but they're going to hit us from all sides. We need to push back before they flank us!"
Dominic's mind cleared for a moment as he took in the battlefield, assessing his options. His Golden Titan was still functional, though damaged. He couldn't just sit idly by. He had to make a stand.
With a grim expression, he flipped a series of switches, engaging the combat systems. The mech's massive fists clenched, and the thrusters flared to life, sending the machine charging forward. The roar of battle filled his ears as the enemy forces drew closer, but for a brief moment, he felt like he was in control again.
No more hesitation, he thought, focusing entirely on the fight ahead.
As he advanced, the Golden Titan's cannon roared to life, sending a devastating barrage of fire toward the approaching CMC juggernaut. The first few shots connected with the enemy mech, tearing through its armor and causing it to stagger backward.
Dominic grinned, adrenaline coursing through him. "This time, I'm in control."
But just as the thought crossed his mind, the implant flickered, a brief, sharp pain stabbing through his temple. He fought to ignore it, but the sensation of the core's growing influence gnawed at the edges of his consciousness.
He couldn't let it take hold again.
The Golden Titan clashed with one of the lighter CMC mechs, swinging its massive arm and crushing it beneath the weight of its fist. Sparks and debris flew in every direction. Dominic barely registered the enemy's counterattack—an explosive round that slammed into the Titan's side, rocking him violently.
His vision blurred for a moment, the implant's interference forcing him to fight to stay focused. He had to end this, and fast.
With a growl of frustration, Dominic engaged the Golden Titan's jump jets and launched himself into the air, landing on top of the juggernaut he'd been targeting. The impact sent shockwaves through both mechs, and with a roar of energy, the Titan's weapons fired point-blank into the juggernaut's core.
The juggernaut's massive form buckled and collapsed as its internal systems overloaded, exploding in a fiery spectacle. Dominic's mech stood victorious, but the cost was high. His right arm was damaged from the impact, and the cockpit systems were flashing warning signs.
"That was too close," Dominic muttered, hands tight on the controls.
Another CMC juggernaut emerged from the smoke, its weapons aimed directly at Dominic's mech. It was clear that this battle was far from over. And with every move, every attack, the implant's whispers in his mind grew louder. He was running out of time.
But this time, Dominic was ready. He wasn't going to let the core control him.
With a quick glance at the enemy forces closing in, Dominic prepared for his next move. He had to push through. His future, his life, depended on it.