And these fat people are the future elite of the Commonwealth army?! Oleg though ironically, watching as a group of obese humans walked gradually toward the tall gray building. They already gasp and sweat. And this is only after a brief walk! They are pathetic!
Oleg – who was also a big obese man – turned to the building of the Army Recruit Center. Is this a right choice to recruit in the army?
Truth be told, he wasn't 100% sure about his decision.
No, I've made my choice! He shook his head vigorously. I need this!
Thus, Oleg strode toward the building. Well, at least he tried to stride. In reality he resumed his slow gait.
The man came in the building and stopped to take a look around. In the foyer a group of young obese people stood in line before the reception desk. They looked depressed, scared, and some even sobbed, because a month ago “Mother” - the AI of the entire colony - had declared a partial mobilization.
More than ten years ago an alien race - the Rag'zork - had attacked the colony. The citizens of Commonwealth were evacuated in the underground cities and had been living there peacefully all that time. For humans this war was as if not real, because their live almost didn't change.
The AI governed the colony for many generation and people used to it. Officially, Mother was a head of colony, as well as a head of each government department and organization in the colony.
For example, the AI was a marshal (the supreme commander). Currently she determined a strategy and formulated battle plans in the ongoing war.
For example, she excavated resources and manufactured goods; even war machines.
For example, Mother performed a role of a principal in all schools on the planet. Minor AIs served as teachers.
For example, the Mother had born (with a help of artificial wombs) each human in the colony.
In short, she was involved in each aspect of humans' live. The folk regarded the central AI as their mother.
But now, it seems, a situation on the battlefield has deteriorated drastically.
The man could give only this explanation to the partial mobilization and had his own doubts about correctness of this decision. The people in line didn't look like a right material for soldiers, because they were obese. No, they were very obese! It seemed those people had never had physical exercises in their lives. Actually, they looked like balls that had short legs and arms.
Even just standing is hard for them.
Standing in line, they continued to sweat, gasp, and sob.
Frankly, this behavior was ridiculous. Everyone knew Mother wasn't going to throw the Commonwealth citizens in the battlefield in the flesh. She only needed a part of population of the colony as virtual operators for the robots on the battlefield. There wasn't any harm to an operator's health and life.
Still these people behave as if they are sentenced to death.
Actually, the official name of Oleg was Alexander Reese. One morning Oleg - Oleg Orlov - awoke and realized that he awoke in a new body. Yes, he awoke in a body of Alexander Reese! The first days of Oleg's new life were the worst. They were like a bad dream. Oleg couldn't accept a new reality. Why me?! Why did I ended up in this strange world?! Why this has happened with me?!
Oleg couldn't figure out an answer. He wasn't a bad person to deserve all of this! At least the man believed in this.
Just recently Oleg lived peacefully and worked as a teacher in the local school. It was a harmless job.
In his free time he liked reading, playing computer games, and swimming in the school's swimming-pool.
But what could go wrong?! He asked himself many times, lying on the bad and staring at the white ceiling.
Once Oleg had even thought ironically. Instead of a status of “hero” or “chosen one”, a beautiful princess, a super magical sword, and tons of gold, I've got an obese body with a weak constitution, some chronic diseases, and a useless virtual game capsule that occupied a lot of space in my bedroom. Nice!
Oleg hated his new body. He swam since a primary school and was a part of a local swimming team. After many years of swimming his body became lean and muscular. But now it was a mess.
What Irina would say if she could see me now? This question often appeared in the man's head and he chuckled, imagining his girlfriend's shocked face.
Oleg resumed his moving and stopped by the end of the line. His turn had come quickly and the man stood now at the reception desk.
“Mr. Reese?” questioned a mechanical voice and a projection of the genderless humanoid stared at him. “How can I help you?”
This projection was one of those minor AI. Mother used them on insignificant, simple jobs because even she couldn't be everywhere.
“I want to volunteer to the army,” Oleg said with determination in his tone.
Actually, he wasn't mobilized and shouldn't be here. It was Oleg's decision to come here.
After living a few days as an ordinary citizen, he understood that this life wasn't for him. The folk here was concerned only about virtual games. It was their perpetual hot topic. It made the folk truly happy when Mother released new games or gave updates to the popular ones.
Oleg played in a few games and it was great at the beginning. Reality, feelings, simulations... Each aspect of the games were superb! Fantastic! But a content of the games was... unsatisfactory. Oleg couldn't find even a single game with fighting, shooting, or any form of violence. It seemed that violence was a great taboo.
At least these games helped Oleg to adapt at the beginning. They helped him to communicate with others and assimilate knowledge of the previous owner of this body.
The previous owner of the Oleg's body was Alexander Reese. He was a male. Alex had graduated from the school a year ago, which he visited virtually.
Alex liked junked food, had a favorite color, had some dreams, and had a bunch of friends with who he played a lot in the past.
Gradually Oleg started to cease his activity in the social networks - where Alex was registered - out of fear to be discovered. The Alex's friends should know him well, so they were a great threat to the current owner of the body. Oleg believed that they could understand that Alex isn't Alex anymore. The transmigrated person hadn't any wish to know what would happen to him if people (and especially Mother) would know truth about him. Besides, he wasn't interested in playing in games daily.
Alex had a sister but spoke with her rarely. She played in games and always hadn't time for talk.
An outside world was strange, as Oleg thought. Streets, or better say “metal tunnels”, were constantly empty. The folk didn't like and didn't want to go outside. They preferred playing in games at home.
Sometimes Mother recommended people via a hand-watch to take a break and take a stroll in the nearest parks. The AI had made a few big ones and many small ones.
The folk was used to obey to Mother, thus the citizens went to stroll even if they were reluctant; and reluctant they were always. It lasted for a brief period of time and people hurried back at home to continue to play in games.
Oleg tried to wander around the city alone but his body was weak. It tired quickly. Oleg gasped and thought that he would die when walking. At home his legs were terrible sore. Usually he lay on the sofa and was too weak even to do a single move after a stroll.
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It was impossible to find a job in the underground city. The machines worked instead of humans.
Mother supplemented food and other daily commodity to the citizens for free. Galacticnet was also free. There weren't any taxes as well.
Oleg wasn't used to such life. Such life was strange... No, it was unacceptable! The transmigrated person needed a purpose in his life! A job at least! Therefore, when Oleg had heard about a partial mobilization, he was intrigued, because this mobilization had a clear purpose: defend humanity against the aliens. Oleg realized that it could be his GOAL! Could be his IDEA! It was much better than strolling around the city aimlessly or doing nothing daily. Besides, Oleg had a bad premonition about the situation on the surface. Humanity likely was losing the war. It was better to be there - on the surface - and tried to help to win the war than waiting the death here: in the deep underground city. That's how Oleg ended up in the Army Recruit Center.
Now he stood in front of the projection, which had been analyzing his words for five seconds! Too long for a minor AI! Usually they gave a reply at once.
Suddenly the projection changed its form to the familiar gentle-looking woman. It was a projection of Mother, the central AI.
“Hello, Alex!” she said warmly. “I've heard that you want to join the Commonwealth army?”
“That's right.”
“That's good to know!” the AI said warmly and her expression and demeanor changed.
Now she looked official.
“Alexander Reese, do you want to volunteer to the Commonwealth army voluntarily?”
“I do.”
“Do you understand that your rights as a citizen of the Commonwealth may be restricted and you must obey commands of your officers?”
“I do.”
“Do you understand that at service your health can be harmed and you can even die?”
“I do.”
“Welcome to the Commonwealth army, private Reese!” Mother declared officially and then said cheerfully. “I'm happy that you are with us now, Alex. Welcome aboard!”
“Thanks... Ma'am.” Oleg replied.
“Follow the green line on the floor,” she said warmly.
“Yes, Ma'am.”
Oleg knew that the rules in the Commonwealth army weren't strict. So it wasn't necessary to address to the supreme commander – or any other officers - so officially. It was enough to say “I understand”, “Good”, or even simple “Okay” to show that you understood a command. But Oleg thought that it would be appropriate to use “Ma'am”.
No, Alex! I'm Alexander Reese from now on!
The transmigrated person reminded himself. He must forget about Oleg Orlov, a teacher from the Earth. From now on he was Alexander Reese, a private of the Commonwealth army.
Alex followed the green line on the floor.
~~~~~~
A door moved aside, hiding in the wall, to open a passage to the classroom where sat fresh “soldiers”, or better say “live balls of fat and flesh”, at desks.
Alex walked forward gradually, breathing aloud. He was very tired. The man sweat and used a handkerchief to wipe his forehead. The last steps were the hardest.
Alex flopped down on the stool and sighed with relief.
Goddammit! That was hard!
He had reached the Army Recruit Center by taxi and then Alexander walked on his on own feet! Even a simple walk was a difficult challenge for his new body!
The Alex's classmates didn't look better. They gasped loudly and sweat.
Alex took a bottle of water and filled the plastic cup. He finished it in three swallows. After two more cups, Alexander quenched his thirst and paid attention to the people in the classroom.
Some recruits were trying to catch their breath yet, some drank water, but the major part of people complained about their current hardships at military service (the folk disliked “too long corridor”) and how unlucky they were to be here instead of playing in their favorite games at home. Besides, the recruiters expressed their fear of the future military training. Alex had even thought that they were afraid of everything that had a word “military”.
“Attention, my dear soldiers!” said Mother gently, whose projection was formed in the air in front of the class. “I know how much you have tired! I know, my dear, how scared you are! I know how stressful this day should be for all of you! But also I know that you are good citizens! You're here because we must to defend our home! Now you all are a part of a big family of the Commonwealth army! This is an honor to serve humanity! And I know that you will carry your duties honorably and will not bring shame to our colony!”
The AI spoke as a caring but strict teacher. The recruits ceased uttering complaints and listened. Some stared at Mother, listening to her speech. Some “soldiers” tried to hide behind the backs of their classmates, fearing the AI's gaze, as if they had done something wrong.
Alex felt as a schoolboy at that moment.
“Today we are going to do - as good boys and girls - some easy exercises to adjust your body and brain to a robot. Don't worry, it's not painful! We will do it together!”
The recruiters smiled and their mood was eased.
Beside the Alex's desk - a part of the floor moved aside - and a virtual capsule rose up. It looked futuristic and stylistic. It gave a feeling of powerful modern technology.
“This is a military capsule X-10040. It has many innovative technology, new solutions in the data exchange, and it's able to connect an operator's brain to a machine in ten times faster than any civilian model,” Mother introduced the virtual capsule briefly.
Alex noticed admiration in the eyes of recruits. It seemed as if everyone wanted to jump in the “cool” capsule right away to launch a favorite game.
“This military capsule isn't for gaming!” the AI reprimanded the class instantly. “It's only for military use!”
The recruiters weren't happy to hear that. The Alex's neighbor even mumbled something about unfairness.
The lid moved down and the capsule opened itself.
“Soldiers, please, lie down in the capsule.”
“Are we going to... kill some aliens now?” a scared female recruit asked all of a sudden.
This question frighted the rest of people. They froze at their desks.
“No, miss Willdo. This is just for your training. We're not going to kill any aliens,” Mother said soothingly. “Now, please, lie down, my soldiers.”
The recruiters calmed down and complied to this command. As Alex noticed, they were interested in this new “toy”.
The transmigrated person got in the device and felt as a few thin cables connected with a port on his nape.
“A machine is adjusting itself to your system currently. It can be a bit unpleasant initially. Don't panic, my dear soldiers. It's normal. The capsule is running a test. In a few seconds this uncomfortable feeling will be over,” Mother explained and placated her subordinates.
Alex felt unpleasant. It lasted only several seconds and ended quickly.
“Now we will start a test simulation.”
The next feelings were familiar for him. He experienced them always when used his capsule at home.
Alex noticed that he stood in a small room with white walls. It was an ordinary test scene.
“Now we will launch a process of combining your mind with a robot,” the AI warned them.
The next bunch of feelings weren't alien to the man, but now he could feel much more than before. As if he grew a new organ in his body.
Currently Alex sat in the chair and his mind was in the robot's body. He looked at his arms and saw that they were made of metal. The transmigrated person clenched his fists slowly, feeling as his metal fingers moving.
Alex noticed that he was in the huge room, where many other robots sat in their chairs. Some robots were active, some weren't.
“You've done well, boys and girls!” Mother praised them cheerfully. “Now, please, stand up! Do it slowly, my dear soldiers! We are adjusting your connection with a robot yet!”
Alex stood up slowly. He didn't want to break something or break his connection with a robot.
Alex noticed as some robots, beside him, were doing the same. Some operators exclaimed “Wow!” and “Cool!”. Those people were astonished to have a new expensive toy for playing... as well as Alex.
“Now do some physical exercises. We need to test a quality of your connection with a robot.”
The transmigrated person complied and did some lunges, squats, push-ups, side planks, a few jumps, and even stood upside down for a few seconds.
Alex was excited. He had done all those physical exercises easily and his new metal body executed his commands perfectly. That was a fantastic feeling to have a strong body again!
“You've done an excellent work, my dear soldiers! Now, please, run along the green line on the floor!” Mother's voice was warm and happy as always.
Alex obeyed and ran with his group along the green line. They moved quickly and easily.
Abruptly one of the robots - who ran ahead of Alex - fell down and smashed his head against the floor badly. This incident halted the runners behind the fallen robot and even a few robots - who were ahead of him - stopped and turned back. That unlucky robot started making strange sounds. At first Alex couldn't recognize them, but suddenly he understood that this fellow tried to cry.
A projection of Mother materialized and she sat beside the fallen robot before saying in soothing tone. “Don't cry, my dear. You are a big boy and big boys don't cry.”
Her transparent arm patted his head lovingly and then she embraced him. “Mommy loves you. Don't cry, my dear. Mommy is here with you. You will not cry anymore, okay?”
“I will not... I was just scared, Mother. I fell down... It was so suddenly. I thought it would hurt me,” the fallen robot answered and complained. “If I was in my real body, I could break a few bones or even... die. This is terrible, Mother!”
The last idea so terrified the “soldier” that his voice quivered again.
“No-no, my boy! Here you aren't under any threat! This place is safe! I will never allow to happen something bad with you, my dear! You are my precious boy!
Now calm down, Bobby. I know that you are scared, but as a brave man, you have to get up now and move aside to clear the path for your comrades. Now, dear, you can sit down in this chair and calm down.”
Bob obeyed, and sat in the chair.
Alex was shocked to see this scene and he had a bad premonition about the Commonwealth army; and the future of human race.
The transmigrated person resumed his running with other operators. He saw a few other groups of robots that were doing the same task: running. In a minute Alex's group had finished their task and every operator stood by new chairs.
“Good work! Now sit down and disconnect, my good soldiers!” Mother ordered.
Alex and the operators out of his group complied.