The human jumped off the cliff with his sub-company and they all slowly descended down. This asteroid had a low gravity.

Alex ran forward with his sub-squad in tow. A combat was coming off ahead. He had a new objective. He should to outflank the enemy with his sub-company.

Numerous robots jumped in the crater, and ran through it. Then they climbed atop of the crater's side and the man saw a combat below.

The robots fought with the aliens. Both sides used advantages of terrain. Myriad laser and plasma beams propelled in the space. The alien bugs sent their plasma balls to their enemies in great numbers while the Commonwealth tanks advanced.

The Alex's sub-platoon attacked the enemy in the flank along with two others. Many robots carried laser machine guns, RPGs, and each had a big amount of grenades. The combined firepower were strong.

The Alex's sergeant ordered his squad to jump in the small crater. They obeyed and took cover there for a brief time while shooting in the enemy. Afterward they continued to advance along with their sub-company, using advantages of terrain.

The human noticed as a sergeant of his squad was destroyed, but he knew that the sergeant's AI took another robot from his squad. The chain of command wasn't broken.

A few more running metal soldiers were destroyed next to Alex.

The human threw a grenade in the crater, occupied by a group of zorks. It exploded and a hot plasma burned the aliens. No one survived.

Alex took cover and fired off. His laser beams hit two zorks.

One of the robots ceased its running next to the human and put a laser machine gun's barrel over the rock. Then the robot pulled the trigger and a long series of laser beams discharged from the weapon. It allowed a sub-platoon - in which was Alex - continue to advance.

In return the enemy's fire also intensified. More plasma beams propelled into the direction of the Commonwealth's army.

Currently all units of the Commonwealth's army - presented on the battlefield – advanced.

Some robots - which ran ahead of Alex - stepped on the alien's hidden mines and were destroyed into pieces instantly.

~~~~~~

Meanwhile, in the space a small number of battleships had been exchanging fire for a several hours. The human warships launched numeral projectiles from their railguns, which propelled toward the aliens' side with a great speed. The projectiles crushed in the alive ships of the Rag'zork, leaving enormous wounds in their flesh.

Currently all alien battleships were bleeding.

The Rag'zork replied with numerous golden rays that inflicted some damage to their enemy.

~~~~~~

On the asteroid the brutal battle continued. The aliens fought back fiercely.

Alex shot a few times and took cover to change a battery in his weapon. Right at that moment a blue zork rushed around the corner and attacked the man.

Alex jumped aside, seeing as a spear moved close to his head. Suddenly the said zork stepped forward and bashed the young man with his shield.

Alex couldn't feel pain in the robot's body, but he guessed that the impact should be strong, because a robot was knocked down.

At once the zork raised his spear and then moved it down to pierce the enemy. Alex rolled on the ground quickly. Then he jumped to his feet.

This time the human was prepared, thus he dodged the zork's attacks easily. His enhanced speed and reaction helped him a lot today.

Alex had lost his gun. Hence, he couldn't retaliate now. But the young man wasn't going to jump around the zork, evading its attacks. He ducked - allowing the spear moved above him - and closed the distance rapidly. Then Alex punched his enemy right in the helmet!

In the moment of impacting the human felt as if some kind of energy ran through his body and concentrated in his fist before releasing itself. As a result, the blue zork was forced to step back and Alex, to his surprise, saw a small dent on his helmet.

The alien attacked immediately. The creature performed a series of quick thrusts. It wasn't easy to dodge them for Alex. Each next thrust was linked with the previous one. Additionally, the blue zork moved after the human and used his shield as a second weapon actively.

Suddenly Alex felt a danger, and jumped back to see as a plasma ball propelled close to him. He turned his head aside and saw a green zork,. A little creature was aiming its gun at the human now.

The young man was forced to close the distance with the blue zork to avoid new plasma beams. He punched the shield that was quick enough to close its eye in time. The impact was strong enough to push the alien a little back. The creature attacked immediately. This time the tip of the spear moved too close to the Alex's head. He was forced to jump aside and got a shield bash. The alien was a good warrior.

Alex saw as the creature covered itself from laser beams. It gave enough time for the human to stand up. In the next moment he dash forward and grabbed the alien's spear. He tried to wrest the weapon to no avail. The alien – in his battle suit - was strong. Unexpectedly, the blue zork dropped his shield and grabbed the human. Then the creature released the spear. It grabbed the Alex robot's neck with other arm and the blue zork began pulling the robot's head.

This action shocked the man. He didn't expect that!

The young man tried to free himself, but the alien was too strong. He grasped the human steadily.

The robot's head was torn off and then its body was tossed away. But Alex didn't see that. He 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 felt as his heart beating fast. That scene of beheading looked scared. Now he hadn't desire to continue this mission.

The human looked at the timer. He fought about three hours.

The capsule's lid opened and Alex saw Mother. The hologram looked worried.

“How are you feeling, Alex?” the machine asked with concern in tone.

“I'm fine.” the man left the capsule. What does she want?

“Alex...” the hologram looked in the man's eyes. “Tell me, please... Do you feel bad urges now?”

The human was taken aback. Bad urges?

“What do you mean, Ma'am?”

“Alex, I'm afraid your condition has worsened. It seems your DNA continue to regress. I don't have a relevant data about the ancient people, but now I see that your combat talents are reactivated completely and they are developing with an abnormal speed. Your killing skills are getting better with each passing day. Your current level of aggression and violence is beyond my expectations, Alex! It's not how good boys and girls behave themselves. I'm worried about you, Alex! Therefore, I need to know if you have any bad urges.”

“Bad urges, Ma'am? I don't understand,” He was perplexed.

“Do you have any desire – well, a sexual desire - to take by force... other human?” Alex was stunned by the hologram's question. Does this machine imply that I have a desire to rape someone?!

“Or do you have an urge to harm someone for fun? See your victim's blood and tears? Does it excite you?”

“I don't have such urges, Ma'am,” the man replied coldly.

“That's good to hear, Alex!” She looked relieved.

“Alex, forgive me my rudeness. I didn't want to offend you. As I said earlier, I have none relevant data about the ancient people, but we all do know that they were aggressive, violent, and cruel. Their culture was evil.

The time before the vaccination was terrible for humanity. The ancient humans were pure monsters, who thrived in violence. That's why I'm worried about you, my dear boy!”

Alex - the real Alex - read about the ancient humans. They were described as evil monsters, who liked to harm each other.

A proof of their cruel nature were numerous movies, computer games, and books that were produced in the ancient times. They all contained aggression, violence, and pain. The most scary were the horror movies, the shooter games, and the detective novels.

It was stated that blood, death, pain, fear, desperation, and wars were what the ancient humans loved the most.

Alex knew it was useless to argue with Mother. The machine had her directives. So Alex uttered. “I... understand, Ma'am.”

They spoke for a while and in the end Mother convinced him to give a blood sample for a test. She also convinced Alex to get through a medical examination right away. Thus he went to the lab. It lasted for an hour or a bit over.

Finally, the medical examination was over and the central AI said with worry in tone. “Alex, my suspicion was correct. So far, your DNA has regressed... much.

This is your 3D brain model. I've marked in red abnormalities in your brain. As you can see there a lot of them. Fortunately, it doesn't pose any harm to your health.”

Alex observed the said 3D model, which had appeared beside the hologram. He could see many red zones.

“Besides, you have massive changes in your nervous system and also gained some muscle weight. As a result, your own strength, speed, and reaction are improved drastically.”

Mother paused before saying with worry in tone. “Alex, I'm afraid you are becoming an ancient human, my dear boy.”

The young man didn't know what to say, thus he just uttered. “I see.”

“This day was stressful for you. I guess, you need to have some rest, Alex?”

He nodded and soon left the lab.

Currently he lay in the bed in his apartment. The young man thought about the today's battle and especially about the result of his medical examination.

I've really changed. I've become stronger.

Alex had remembered about that weird dream.

Does this have any connection with my current condition?

Pondering, he drifted off.

~~~~~~

~Electronic noise~

{New earned points are available.}

~Electronic noise~

{Distribute your points}

Alex wasn't sure this was dream or not. He couldn't even control his thoughts properly. These messages looked a bit vaguely. He didn't know why but felt that they could disappear in any moment. It was even difficult to concentrate on them.

Gradually the young man had improved his strength, speed, and reaction stats evenly.

{All points are distributed.}

~ Electronic noise~

~~~~~~

Alex woke up in the evening. He had that weird dream again and couldn't remember it clearly, but this time the man didn't think that he was getting mad.

It can't be a coincidence. My improvement is likely linked with those dreams; with those... points distribution?

He massaged his temples. I guess I need to test this hypothesis somehow.

Alex left the bed and went to the bathroom. He came up to the mirror.

It seems my biceps look a little bigger than yesterday.

The human touched them. Tough!

It wasn't possible to improve so quickly naturally.

Alex ate some low-cal food and went to the gym. He entered the gym and was stunned to see a young woman with a slender shape who worked out. She was dressed in a black uniform, tactical boots, and had a holster with a gun in on her leg.

What a beauty! Is this a mirage?

The man closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them. No, the stranger hasn't disappear! The gorgeous with white hairs is still in the gym!

The woman noticed Alex and ceased her working out at once. “Alexander Reese?”

The young man nodded.

She came up to the man and stretched out her hand for a handshake. “Hello, my name is Nixie!”

“Alex!” he blurted and felt as his cheeks reddened.

Goddammit! I'm not a teenager anymore!

They shook hands and had a small talk.

Suddenly a hologram of Mother appeared beside them. “Do you like Nixie, Alex?”

The transmigrated person wanted to say “I do” at first, but he killed this impulse. Now he was suspicious. Alex glanced at Nixie and thought. Such a beauty here all of a sudden? It looks strange.

“She seems... a nice person, Ma'am.”

“I'm glad to hear this, Alex, because she is my creation.”

“Creation? She isn't a human?” he was taken aback and disappointed as well.

“Nixie is an android, Alex. She was fabricated specially for you, my dear boy.”

Fabricated for me?!

“Fabricated for me?”

“I've noticed that you have banned your friends in your social networks, Alex, and don't speak with anyone. You should feel lonely. Thus, I thought that you need a companion, with whom you can speak at any moment.”

Suddenly Alex felt a bad premonition and glanced at the gun in the holster on the Nixie's leg suspiciously. “I see... But why does she has a gun, Ma'am?”

“She is your bodyguard.”

“Am I in danger, Ma'am?”

“You are not. This is just a precaution. The Rag'zork is a cunning race. Who does know what they are planning now? Besides, Nixie can help you in your physical and combat training. She is an excellent fighter and your adjutant.”

“My adjutant?”

“You are an excellent soldier, Alex. Your future in the Commonwealth army is brilliant! Therefore, taking your potential and current achievements into consideration, I've decided to promote you to a sergeant and give you a personal adjutant.”

“Okay, Ma'am. Thanks.”

That was all that he could say at that moment. Mother – as the central AI - could do whatever she wished here.

The hologram smiled and bid farewell before disappearing in the air.

Alex turned to Nixie. A bodyguard, you say?

He glanced at her gun again.

“So... are you a good fighter, Nixie?”

“Um... I think so?”