A battle for the mine was happening yet. The Commonwealth army advanced, losing numerous robots and armored vehicles. The enemy fought back violently. The zorks often counterattacked but, it seemed, the aliens didn't pay attention to their casualties; especially to casualties of the green zorks.

Currently a few squads of metal soldiers fought in the narrow corridor. The aliens barricaded at its end. Plasma and laser beams “rushed” along the corridor in both directions. Two sides were exchanging fire. Four robots were down, as well as several zorks.

Suddenly a rocket propelled and its warhead detonated in the alien's barricade. It was ruined instantly while the robots dashed down the corridor. Alex stormed in the barricade as well and aimed his rifle at the green zork. He pulled the trigger. The creature was killed instantly, but in the next moment the man saw a tip of spear that was moving towards him. The operator didn't have time to react properly, thus his robot was pierced. The machine dropped down and Alex saw as the same blue zork destroyed two more of his metal comrades.

This alien is quick. Alex thought and his robot's camera deactivated.

The young man lay in the capsule now.

[Corporal Alexander Reese, your robot was destroyed!]

[Now you can take a break or continue your mission]

[Continue mission: [Yes] [No]]

Alex looked at time. He fought for a little over five hours.

I need to have some rest.

The young man left the capsule and moved to the lift. He was exhausted.

The lift took him up. Finally Alex had reached his apartment where he went to bed.

~~~~~~

~Electronic noise~

{New earned points are available.}

~Electronic noise~

{Choose your perk}

What's it?

Alex saw as before his sight appeared some images. They looked vaguely. It was even difficult to focus on them. They were as though floating in the thick fog.

Alex could only guess what every image looked like.

The young man thought that he was in a dream. All these pictures looked vaguely and had a tendency to lose their solid form if you didn't focus on them.

Alex chose a “brain” image.

~Electronic noise~

{Distribute your points}

This time Alex had to distribute some points among his attributes. It felt unrealistic yet.

The young man had improved his strength and speed stats. Additionally, he added some points to the reaction attribute.

{All points are distributed.}

~Electronic noise~

In the next moment Alex felt headache. He felt as if his brain was pierced by numerous tiny needles, which were pulsating; sending electrical impulses along his nerves.

Alex didn't know how much time it lasted. It just ceased suddenly and he felt relieved.

~Electronic noise~

~~~~~~

Alex woke up and sit in his bed. Now he could remember his dream clearer than before. He'd remembered about that headache. It wasn't a pleasant feeling.

Or was this headache just a dream?

Alex touched his head carefully. It doesn't hurt.

He thought about those images and stats. That scene - where he upgraded his attributes - looked like... in a computer game?

Am I getting mad? No, it shall be just a bad dream. Right?

The young man shook his head. Of course, it is just a bad dream!

Suddenly Alex realized that his body was soaked in sweat. He stood up and went to the bathroom to take a shower.

In the mirror Alex saw his bloodshot eyes. It seems I worked out too much yesterday.

The young man had a hypertension, as well as each obese human in the colony. He ate a medicine to normalize his blood pressure. Hence, it wasn't unusual for Alex to see his eyes bloodshot sometimes.

The man came up to the mirror and studied his reflection. It seems my biceps got bigger.

The human touched them and looked at his reflection. I guess now my physical condition looks a little better than before.

After taking a shower Alex left the bathroom. He put his clothes on in the bedroom.

The human ate his law-cal meal in the kitchen.

In the gym Alex did some physical exercises. To his surprise, it was much easier to do them than yesterday. He had even jogged four solid laps in a slow pace!

That's fantastic! I've improved much!

The young man was satisfied with his achievements. His daily efforts were paid off now!

In a good mood Alex went to the “Operators' room” where he connected to the capsule.

[Welcome, corporal Alexander Reese!]

[This is a virtual military capsule of the Commonwealth: X-10040!]

[Available missions: 1]

[Description of mission: The mine “Max Corbert” is still occupied by the enemy. Right now the Commonwealth has seized over 75% of the mine]

[Main objective: Help to free the rest of the mine]

[Start a mission: [Yes] [No]]

Alex chose “Yes” and his vision blurred. This time a process of connection to the robot felt smoother and easier. At least an operator believed in it.

[New objective: Scout the storehouse]

Alex got a new goal and saw as hundreds of robots moved forward around him in the gigantic storehouse.

There are at least a few sub-companies.

The young man ordered his sub-squad via radio to move with their sub-company. The robots obeyed.

The robots walked among the damaged containers. Numerous alien corpses and destroyed robots lay on the metal floor. This storehouse had many marks of a tough battle that had happened here recently.

Alex looked down. His metal legs stepped on the alien flesh and blood. It was disgusting... but after the previous battle he used to this scene.

The young man looked aside and saw a damaged tank. It hadn't a turret. Perhaps, a plasma ball destroyed it?

Alex's sub-squad walked past the dead big bug which lay in a pool of its own blood. Its legs were torn off.

The corporal halted by the red container. He had a feeling that this container wasn't alright. Something is wrong.

The human ordered a robot from his sub-squad to open the container while the rest of his sub-squad covered the Alex's subordinate. It came up to the door and tried to open it in vain. The door was close.

After getting Alex's permission, one of the robots placed explosive on the lock box. The sub-squad withdrew immediately to take cover.

Three, two, one... BAM!

In the airless storehouse the explosive detonated. In consequence, the door was open and - in a few seconds - the green zorks in battle suits poured out from the container.

“Open fire!” Alex gave a command to his sub-squad and pulled the trigger.

Laser beams hit the first green zork. The dead creature dropped down instantly.

The robots from other units had joined to the skirmish. As a result, the green zorks - with their leader: a blue zork - were surrounded.

A bit later several robots were down and over ten green zorks were killed. Both sides were exchanging fire ferociously now. Even a few RPG discharges were added to the skirmish.

Suddenly numerous containers around the storehouse were also open and green zorks poured out. Immediately they clashed with the Commonwealth's metal soldiers. It was an ambush!

The human side had lost many its robots in the first minute of the combat.

Currently Alex killed his enemies one by one. He did it much faster and easier than before. The man admitted that his accuracy also increased a lot. It surprised him!

During the combat many grenades - and alien “sticks” - were thrown into both directions.

Abruptly the group of green zorks, - under their master command - stormed in the Alex's sub-squad position and a hand-to-hand fight broke out.

Around the storehouse the majority of zorks discharged their plasma beams in their opponents from the close distance. The metal soldiers answered likewise.

A small part of the green creatures took out long knives that vibrated visibly. They jumped at the robots.

Alex side stepped, seeing as a plasma beam propelled next to him. He shot an alien in return.

Meanwhile, more and more metal soldiers were joining the hand-to-hand combat. It was getting crueler, bloodier, and more violent with each passing second.

The human saw as two rifles clashed close to him and a robot - as heavier - pushed his opponent back.

Suddenly a plasma beam propelled close to Alex and destroyed a metal soldier behind him. The man glanced aside and saw as an alien fell on the floor. In the next moment a robot stomped on the said alien's head. It was crushed into meat paste! Even a helmet didn't help that creature!

A fierce combat was happening around Alex. It was difficult to think properly right now, thus he relied on his instincts. They told him only one thing in those moments: “Pull the trigger!”. So the human pulled it tirelessly. Laser beams were discharged one by one from the Alex's rifle.

The young man noticed a green zork with a long knife, which was close to him. The creature cut off the robot's leg easily and then jumped on Alex. The time as if slowed down. The human could see the alien as though in a slow motion. The creature looked frenzied! The man could feel its killing desire.

Oleg had some street fight experience, therefore now his instincts kicked in again. He dashed towards the alien and his rifle's butt crushed in the zork's helmet. As a result, it was broken and an alien seemed had lost its consciousness. The creature lay on the floor now.

Alex lowered his rifle and fired off. Now the zork was dead. The human shifted his gun's position quickly and pulled the trigger. A new enemy was down.

Alex noticed as a “stick” fell down next to him. He felt it again! The time as if slowed down! The young man kicked the unique-looking alien grenade. It detonate a little later in the air. A plasma wave knocked down the closest robots and aliens. The alive were killed; the metal soldiers were deactivated.

Alex had managed to jump aside rapidly and the plasma wave didn't damage his robot.

~~~~~~

Meanwhile, an elder destroyed some “Notalives” relatively easily. The elder covered himself with a tower shield. Behind him moved a small group of “followers”: his personal retinue. They protected their master's back. That's why the alien could focus all his attention on the battle before him. His group moved through the combat like a hot knife through butter.

Suddenly the elder halted and hid behind the shield. A series of laser beams hit his shield. The alien peeked around and saw a “Notalive”, which moved quicker than the rest of its kind.

The elder sent a command - which consisted of series of mental pictures and his intentions - to his “followers”. They obeyed.

The followers concentrated their fire on the said Notalive while the elder stabbed the closest enemy.

~~~~~~

Alex was firing off while ran among the robots and aliens. A bit early he tried to kill the blue zork, but that creature was too cautious. The alien had managed to block his laser beams.

Currently the human felt fantastic. His speed, reaction, and accuracy were superb. Even his perception of time was different in the dangerous situations! The time as if slowed down for Alex in such situations!

But this is odd!

Indeed, it wasn't normal. It looked as if Alex got a boost to his skills. The young man remembered about that strange dream. That dream was real?

He wasn't sure yet, but it looked like “it was”.

Now isn't a good time to think it over. It seems that the nearby zorks concentrate their fire on me.

Alex dodged each beam, but it wasn't easy. Currently he was on his limits. The human hadn't even time to return fire. He focused his attention on an evasion. Plasma beams propelled close to him one by one.

After some time the robots killed the majority of the zorks and Alex felt that it got easier for him. He wasn't under the intense fire anymore. The human discharged his rifle a few times, but the blue zork was quick enough to cover himself, thus Alex threw his grenade under the creature's shield. It exploded.

In return the green zorks threw their sticks. A series of explosions deactivated a few robots, but Alex was quick enough to withdraw. He saw as intense laser beams and grenades destroyed the alien's shield. The creature was killed.

Soon the battle ended. Later Alex was given a new order and his sub-company moved out from the storehouse.