Faster Than Angels

[Jonny]

Faster Than Angels
Jennterista Racing Chronicles

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Her Name was Aurora

Chapter 6/23: Aurora’s Disaster


1st May 2164
Temtesh Bay, Australia
15:45.21

The 15 minute signal played through the starting grid of the Temtesh Bay Circuit in Australia. Pilots started to get ready, system checks have been made as countless times before.
Aurora was going to start from a solid 3rd position, her new teammate for this season, the Polish newcomer Dariusz Kowitz, from the 6th position.

15:56.01
Aurora climbed into her Jennter craft, began to fasten herself into the seat and put on her helmet. The final system checks completed and the cockpit closed. With the pit bay being evacuated, she started the craft’s dual ion thrusters.

16:00.00
The 18 competing craft were raised onto the starting grid. With the pit bay gates being shut, the start procession began. As the typical “Go!” play, the field leaped away from the grid, into the mine section.

“Looking solid up front, both started with the boost” a race engineer reported to Jonathan, who observed as always the action for himself in the command box of his team.
“Just as usual” he commented “Nothing spectacular into the first-”

Suddenly an ear shattering noise roared across the entire area, telemetry to both craft cut off and the race broadcast got interrupted.
“What happened!?” Jonathan shouted, but his personnel has been just as confused.
Resuming broadcast revealed the entire mine section of the track having collapsed. A massive dust cloud covered both the entrance and exit area, the former beginning to compromise the pit facilities as well.
Spectators began panically leaving the grandstands, while the speakers urged calmness.

The teams however were worrying about their pilots.
A handful of craft managed to escape the tunnel section, namely the FEISAR of Daniel Johnson, both Piranhas, the Xios of Nathasha Belmondo, EG.r pilot Paul Cheung and the Jennter of Dariusz.
The rest remained inside.



Something happened.
That was the first thing Aurora could comprehend when she woke up again.
It was dark and...the canopy of her craft collapsed. The load of boulders squeezed her into the seat.
“I am...alive…?” she uttered, realizing the situation.

Reboot successful. Engaging Emergency Protocol.

Something was going through her mind which she couldn’t fully understand. She tried to free her right arm, it was surprisingly easy.
Then she realized that the lower section of her limb teared off.
She screamed in horror, at the sight and realization. Suddenly, there was light.
It wasn’t coming from the outside, but rather her own eyes began to glow.
Silenced by the confusion, she looked at the remaining stump of her arm. While a red fluid dripped from the wound, she was surprised at the little amount and the lack of viscosity it had. Furthermore, she spotted wires.

She chuckled “What the hell!? I must be dreaming!”
With astonishing strength she began pushing the rocks restricting her movement aside, but only more dirt fell onto her.
“Come on! Let me out!” she shouted “Help!”

Aurora struggled, trying to free herself from what used to be the ceiling of a race track now resting on her body. And trying to free herself from the realization slowly creeping into her mind.

Spotting another gaping wound on her stomach after pushing aside some of the rocks, it became clear to her.


My lack of memories.
My special senses.
The frequent mental care.
My lack of human connection.
The...wires…

I am…
A robot!?

Core instability. Engaging Extended Emergency Protocol.