Alex got out of the capsule and flopped down on the stool. He was exhausted.

This new body of mine is too weak. I need to do more physical exercises to get stronger.

In the classroom the people didn't look better. A few had even complained about a harsh training program and hardships in the army.

“I know that you have tired and got stressed today, but you all worked hard and well, as good and obedient boys and girls,” the central AI praised them. “If you have any questions, please ask away.”

A woman raised her arm.

“Yes, Milly?”

“Mother, may I take a robot with me at home?” she questioned sheepishly.

“Why do you need it?”

“It's... cool. I want to take some photos with it and share with my friends.”

All liked this idea.

“No, Milly. These robots aren't toys. They are war machines so you can't take them home to take some photos,” the AI said in strict tone.

This rebuke placated the class.

“Now you can go home! I'll wait you here tomorrow to continue your training, my soldiers!” Mother announced happily. “Don't forget to rest well!”

The class cheered and flocked to the exit. Outside many taxis stood in line already and waited the recruits. The people, sweating and gasping, took seats and the cars ascended in the air before flying away.

Alex glanced at them and decided to stroll down the street. He had a determination to lose some weight and become stronger. To complete this goal, he should walk more. So a taxi was out of the question.

It wasn't easy to walk on your own feet. After brief time Alex gasped and sweat excessively. His heart beat fast. He felt as if his lungs were going to explode!

Damn! I need to reach the end of the street and take some rest there.

Fortunately, he could see a bench at the turn. Alex clenched his teeth. He had a goal now! He must do it! Alex wasn't going to give up!

I will reach that bench!

He walked forward gradually, breathing louder and louder, and the young man had reached the bench at last! He flopped down on the bench and breathed in loudly.

I did it!

The man was happy. Abruptly Alex felt a heartache and grasped the chest. He felt as though his heart was pierced by numerous tiny needles.

Alex noticed as his watch changed its color to red and then he lost his consciousness.

~~~~~~

I lie on the bed.

This was his first thought when Alex had regained his consciousness. He opened his eyes and saw a white ceiling.

I'm not dead.

The man smiled. That was good news!

“Good afternoon, Mr. Reese.” said a mechanical voice.

Alex looked at the projection of the genderless doctor. “How do you feel, Mr. Reese?”

“Fine.”

“Do you feel any pain or have some uncomfortable feelings?”

“No, thanks. I'm fine.”

The projection of doctor changed its form to the projection of the central AI. It said in gentle tone. “That's good to know that you are okay, Alex. Now tell me, please, why did you take that stroll? Didn't you know that it could be dangerous to your health? You had a heart attack and almost die, Alex.”

Alex didn't think that he would end up in the hospital at the beginning of his stroll.

It seems my body is even weaker than I thought.

The man decided to tell the truth. “Mother, I... hate my body. It's too fat and weak. I wanted to take a stroll to lose some weigh and get stronger.”

The AI studied him for some time. “I see. So, if I'm not wrong, you want to get into shape, Alex?”

“Yes, that's true.”

“I can help you, Alex, if you wish.”

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

Each AI was programmed to help humans in every possible way. Therefore, Alex wasn't surprised when he heard her offer. He decided to accept her help.

“I've already formulated an optimal diet and physical exercises for you, Alex. It should be on your watch now.”

The Alex's watch chirped and the man saw that he had got a file.

“Thanks, Mother, but I have a question. How much time did I spend in the hospital?”

“Fifteen hours.”

“Oh! Did I miss a class?”

“No, you didn't. A lecture will start in two hours and fifteen minutes,” the AI said warmly and offered. “If you want, you can skip a today's class. I know that you need some time for resting.”

“No, I do want to visit my class,” he refused.

“That's acceptable but only via a virtual glasses,” Mother said firmly and pointed at the bedside table where the said device lay.

Alex's memories told him that this virtual glasses was an archaic device.

He nodded. “Okay, Ma'am.”

Then she bid farewell to him and her place took the projection of genderless doctor, which asked its patient some more questions, and promised to let Alex go home tomorrow.

The projection of minor AI had vanished and Alex decided to surf the local Galacticnet via his watch. As usually people discussed games. It was the hottest topic.

The news about the war had almost zero views. Only Mother published some information in this topic. The AI had been giving a brief info about a front situation for a long time, as well as some battle statistics. No one discussed this topic. The folk weren't interested. There was only one old comment with a few likes. “Why do we all can't live peacefully? Our planet is so big! Just leave a surface for the aliens, there is enough space underground for us, humans.”

Alex read the newest information. An alien race, Rag'zork, had pierced through the front line and occupied a new portion of the humans' territory. As a result, a few towns (Apple, Peach, Pear, and Paradise Garden) were lost. Mother informed the citizens about her intention to take the lost territory back and about a tough battle that was happening now for the Bright cliff. The central AI informed also about a partial success of her general attack on the city New-Hope; and about her success in freeing the 8th tank robotic devision from a blockade.

In the sky situation was a stalemate. No side had an upper had.

The outer space was chaotic. The both sides maneuvered and often skirmished with each other. Some space routs were lost, some were retaken. The main fleet base of the colony was intact and under the human control, as well as one of the three wormholes.

Currently the Rag'zork conducted a landing operation to capture the industrial center “Ort” in the main asteroid belt.

It was disturbing news. Alex could see clearly that the situation for humans was difficult.

Finally a time to start a lecture had come and Alex put the virtual glasses on. Then he launched a special program. His projection materialized in the classroom and he took the free seat. Many of his classmates sweat and couldn't catch their breath yet.

A projection of genderless human appeared in front of the people. This human wore a military form.

“Greetings, recruits! Today I'm going to tell you about the Rag'zork race, our enemy!” the projection announced and two 3-D models of humanoid figures appeared beside each desk.

The left humanoid was tall and had blue skin. Above its head was written “Blue zork”. The creature had one eye and hadn't hair on top of its head. The alien had a pair of thin arms and legs.

The right humanoid was short and had green skin. Above its head was written “Green zork”. The creature had a pair of eyes and it was also bald. The alien's arms, legs, and torso looked muscular.

“This race, as far as we know, has two representatives: blue and green zorks. We called them “blue” and “green” due to their skin's color.”

“Soldiers” studied the aliens with interest.

“The Rag'zork is a biotechnological race. I would even say more “bio” than “technological”. For example, they grow their products as a farmer potatoes. Therefore, their products need some time to grow to become “adult” and, as every life organism, their products get old and die.

A blue zork performs a role of a leader in the Rag'zork's society from the moment of its birth. They all, without any exceptions, are intelligent and have a strong telepathic power. Additionally, every blue zork has a retinue of green zorks, who follow after their master and carry its commands.

A green zork performs a role of servant in the peacetime or serves as cannon fodder on the battlefield. They are quite stupid and, as we believe, can understand only a simple commands from their masters. You shouldn't expect any complicated tactical plans or ambushes from them on the battlefield. For thinking they have their masters: blue zorks.”

“Excuse me, I have a question.” Alex said and the projection turned to him. “Ask, private.”

“You said that the blue zorks have a telepathic power. Does it mean that these blue zorks can control humans or influence us somehow?”

This question piqued the recruiters' attention. They all looked scared and a bottom lip of some of them was quivering right now. No one wanted to be controlled by the aliens!

“We think the blue zorks are unable to control the humans. The humans and the zorks are different biological forms of life. The human brain is an alien space for a blue zork. There is a theory that they simply don't understand how a human brain works, but, recruiters, remember the following: the blue zorks can influence the humans. For example, people, under mental attack, may feel headache, pain, or experience some other uncomfortable feelings.

Don't panic, recruiters. You will be operators of robots so it's impossible to the blue zorks to harm or influence you somehow.”

The last statement was given in time. It seemed the folk was ready to panic.

The next fifteen minutes the projection of a minor AI had been telling about the Rag'zork's biology and anatomy. For example, blue and green zorks eat some special stones as food. They have two hearts and are genderless. This race reproduces through seeds. An adult blue zork plants a seed in the ground if has a wish to reproduce itself.

The green zorks are being birthed in the special gardens nonstop in masses, under the blue zorks supervise.

“Class, do you have any questions?” the AI asked.

Many of Alex's classmates had a nap by that time.

The projection continued its lecture. It told the recruiters about political system of the Rag'zork. In the human history the most accurate analogy would be an aristocratic republic. Only the blue zorks has rights to make decisions. Besides, “a weight of opinion”/“a power of opinion” of every blue zork is different. It depends on personal power of a blue zork.

“Now we will talk about their military tactic. A basic formation of Rag'zork's army is one hundred of green zorks with a blue zork as their master. Such formation behaves independently on the battlefield usually.”

The minor AI also told about weapons, war machines, and personal armor of the Rag'zork.

Alex listened to the lecture with interest. This information could save his life. For example, the Rag'zork's war “machines” were alive. They needed to eat some organic food daily. Additionally, they could grow a new organ or a few limbs for a new mission.

Personal weapons and armors were also alive and wanted to eat daily, preferably meat.

By the time when the projection ended its lecture, almost every recruit slept sweetly.

“Now my lecture is over. Thanks for your attention, recruiters! I hope this information will be helpful for you. Additionally, I will send you it to your watches. Have a good day!”

The projection vanished and its place took Mother.

“Wake up, boys and girls! Wake up, sleepy heads! It's time to go home and have a good rest!”

“Go home? Play in games?” someone asked and the class woke up instantly.

The people liked the idea of going home to play in games and left the classroom quickly.

Meanwhile, an Alex's hologram vanished and he took the virtual glasses off. He lay on the bed and relaxed. The man launched the lecture on his watch to watch it alone. He tried to memorize the information with a hope that it would be useful for him.

After watching he opened the file that Mother had sent him. It was a training plan. It had two main parts: “Diet” and “Physical exercises”.

The young man looked through the content. In short, the message was the following: “Eat less and do moderate physical exercises daily”.

Alex turned off the watch. There wasn't any useful information anymore.

The sister of this body didn't write him. She was likely very busy as the rest of the city's population. She played in games.

Alex yawned and closed his eyes before falling asleep.