"Mission complete. Disengage from simulation," Rodriguez ordered.

I couldn't believe I was alive. My body was vibrating, and it was pure ecstasy. Escaping was the biggest adrenaline rush I’d experienced, albeit I only remembered two days.

“Soldiers remain seated as the medics analyze your cognitive feedback,” Rodriguez ordered.

“How was your first battle?”

“Not bad at all!” Luke yelled. “I’m getting the hang of this quickly,” he added.

“Good Luke. What about you, Maria?” Rodriguez asked as he chuckled at Luke’s excitement.

“I feel good. It was a lot, but I took it better than I imagined.”

“I’m glad. And you, John?”

“Pure relief,” I replied with a deep breath expanding my arms out in a stretch before rolling my shoulders.

“You did well, soldiers. The Xeno-throng was eliminated, and the zone is now under the authority of our search and rescue team. They’ll collect the soldiers' identities who died.”

"May I see one of the dog tags when they return?" Luke inquired.

"You could, if that were how we identified them. Instead, we use GPS to locate their Cognitron chips," Rodriguez explained.

"Incredible, right?" Foster chimed in, observing the mixed expressions on Maria, Luke, and my face.

"The only remnants we find are fragments of their uniforms and the rubber soles of boots. The Xenos have no use for those, so you'll see plenty of tattered clothing and boot soles," Rodriguez added.

"It's heartbreaking," Maria murmured. "Why do we even let people stay on Verterra?"

"They're laying the groundwork for a new civilization. Each person plays a part in preparing Verterra for life after we've eliminated the Xenobots," Dr. Li replied solemnly, her gaze fixed on the floor.

Rodriguez placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We never take the lives lost on Verterra lightly, Maria. No soldier is forced to serve there. However, brave individuals on this ship choose to help."

"I'm sorry, Dr. Li."

"It's alright, Maria. I'm still coming to terms with it myself. I apologize if I seemed irritated."

I found myself torn, relieved by the mission's success but unable to fully empathize with Dr. Li.

"Well done, Privates. Spend your time as you wish. You'll find a shipboard display in almost every corner of the vessel. If you'd like to explore," Rodriguez suggested.

Ship directory? I wonder what this place has to offer.

"Hey, John, want to explore the ship together?" Maria asked enthusiastically.

"Absolutely, that sounds fun!" I replied, trying to temper my eagerness.

"Hey Luke, care to join us?" Maria invited Luke.

"I'd love to! Let's do this!" Luke responded.

As we exited, Rodriguez comforted Dr. Li alongside Belsky and Aki.

"That was intense. I feel terrible," Maria confessed.

"I know! But I kind of enjoy the thrill!" Luke admitted.

"No, I feel terrible about what I said in front of Dr. Li," Maria clarified.

"It's alright, Maria. Dr. Li knows you didn't mean any harm, and she even apologized. Let's concentrate on exploring the ship. It's enormous, and we only have three hours," I suggested as we approached the nearest gleaming stainless steel shipboard display.

Luke stepped up to the display, “alright, there’s ship details, emergency services, ah, here it is, ship directory. Pool, that’s awesome! Oh, sweet guys, they have a game room!”

“Yea, and a movie theater! Holy shit!” I couldn’t help but yell. The fact that they had this many places was amazing.

“Shops!” Maria interjected.

“Hey, guys! Mind if I hang out with y’all?” Foster yelled about 20 feet away from us. His voice had a distinct twang, with elongated vowels and a slow, rhythmic cadence.

“Yeah, come on.”

“Figuring out how badass this ship is?” he asked.

“It's unbelievable,” Luke responded.

“Yea, it is. The ship is equipped with almost anything you could imagine so that people don’t become Cometheads," Foster grinned.

“What was that?” Luke asked.

"It's what we call those who lose their grip on reality. Some people can’t handle being aboard the ship due to the endless expanse of space and the seemingly crushing isolation. It’s one reason why some decide to serve on Verterra. The ship's amenities help keep everyone sane and connected, providing a sense of normalcy despite being light-years from Earth."

"Wow, Comethead. Maria said, a mix of amusement and concern in her voice.

"Yeah, there have been some wild cases of people losing it out here in space. I remember hearing about a guy who went full comet and actually tried to shatter the panoramic astro-viewport on another ship called the Washington. You see, the Washington wasn't as well-equipped as our vessel; their amenities were more basic, and they didn't have as many recreational facilities for the crew. It's believed that the lack of distractions and opportunities for relaxation played a part in the crew's mental health decline.

Not long after that incident, the Washington mysteriously vanished. We lost all communication with them, and no one's been able to track them down since. The popular theory is that a group of Cometheads somehow took over the ship and caused its disappearance. That's why we're so fortunate to have these top-notch facilities on our ship. They play a crucial role in keeping us all grounded, helping us maintain our sanity and well-being in the vast expanse of space," Foster added, highlighting the significance of the amenities and recreational options available to them.”

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“Yea, it sounds like it,” I commented again, nervous after finally feeling relieved. What the fuck Foster.

“Don’t worry about it, though. We’ve only had one person go comet, and they’re still alive!” Foster responded.

“Who was it?” I asked.

“Some guy that works maintenance or something. You guys were selected to be pilots for a reason. Were you not listening to Sargeant Rodriguez?” Foster responded.

“No, I did. It’s just been a lot. I’m sure I’ll feel better in the next few days.”

“You will. I was worried I would go comet a while back, and then I saw the guy who lost his shit. If you witness it, you’ll realize you’re not close to that level of insanity. They told you how you were selected to be pilots, right? Well, they picked people for various reasons, and the less intense tasks tend to be managed by people who weren’t as adrenaline-aligned back on earth. For them, just walking in the halls is insane. Make sense?” Foster replied.

That did make sense. “Yea.”

“Alright, good. Where are we headed on our first adventure?”

I couldn’t see all the options because Luke was all over the display, but the list was long. And I did feel better knowing that Cosmoheads freaked out just being in the hall because so far, I’ve just been scared about the simulation, but even then, it’s not like I backed down. It’s hard to pinpoint how I feel because I have no memory. So I have no foundation on which to base my confidence.

“The arcade sounds like a place we would all enjoy,” Maria said.

“Yea, let’s do it!” Luke exclaimed.

“Good choice. Follow me, guys,” Foster said as he led the three of us.

The lively sounds of the arcade machines echoed through the corridor, audible even from more than ten meters away. The vibrant neon light illuminated the left side of the hallway, casting an orange glow across the floor in front of us.

The interior of the arcade was a sleek black, accented with neon stripes that ran along the walls near the ceiling. The machines were neatly organized into three rows, while a separate area dedicated to more interactive games occupied one-third of the room. Groups of people, young and old, filled the space, immersed in the excitement and energy of the games.

"That section over there is my favorite," Foster shouted over the buzz of the crowd, noticing my interest. "I highly recommend giving the air hockey table and basketball game a try!

Maria met eyes with me and asked, “want to play a round?”

“Let’s do it! Which one?”

“The air hockey table!”

We jogged over to the table, and each grabbed a mallet.

“I’m taking the first shot!” Maria yelled.

“Of course, ladies first. Shouldn’t make a difference.”

“Oh, you asshole! Well, let’s see!” she responded.

She grabbed the red puck and swiftly flicked her wrist, sending it gliding across the table. The air hockey table emitted a satisfying "clack-thunk" as the puck zipped along the slick surface and slammed into the goal.

"Goaaaaaaaal!" Maria exclaimed, beaming with pride.

Well, not the best look for me, but hopefully, she doesn't judge me based on air hockey prowess alone.

"6-0, one more, and I win," she declared with a grin and a delighted giggle.

"Alright, alright, don't let it go to your head. There's still a chance for a comeback. Just you wait," I teased.

Clack-thunk.

"I win! You lose. So much for saying it wouldn't matter if I went first."

After admitting defeat in the first round of air hockey, Maria and I went head-to-head for a few more games. I was determined to prove I could at least put up a fight, but it seemed like Maria was an air hockey prodigy.

"Okay, I'll admit it. You're way better at this game than me. How about we try another game? I think that basketball machine Foster pointed out might be more my speed."

"If you say so. I think you're just making excuses for losing to a girl who's a foot shorter than you," she teased back.

"Exactly! That's why I'm choosing basketball," I said, laughing as we moved on to the next challenge.

As we approached the basketball machine, I couldn't help but feel a bit more confident. This arcade-style game, designed to test one's shooting accuracy, featured a sturdy metal frame that housed a mini basketball court. The backboard and hoop were positioned above an inclined ramp, which returned the balls to the player after each shot.

Multiple basketballs were provided for rapid-fire shooting, and a brightly lit digital scoreboard hung overhead to keep track of scores and remaining time. A clear, protective net surrounded the sides and top of the game, ensuring the balls stayed within the playing area.

I turned to Maria, smirking. "Alright, now it's my turn to show off some skills. Prepare for some serious competition on this basketball machine."

I picked up one of the mini basketballs, feeling the seemingly familiar texture and grooves beneath my fingertips.

"Alright, Maria, let's see how you fare in this game," I said with a grin, ready to show off my skills.

Maria shot me a playful smirk, grabbing a ball of her own. "Don't get too confident just yet, John. You might be in for another surprise."

The timer on the digital scoreboard started counting down, and we both began shooting hoops with determination. The rhythmic thud of the balls hitting the backboard and swishing through the net filled the air. Each successful shot only fueled my drive to outscore Maria.

I could see Maria's focus intensifying with every basket she made, her eyes locked on the target. It was clear she wasn't going to go down without a fight.

Despite her shorter stature, she had a natural finesse and accuracy that caught me off guard.

As the seconds ticked away, our scores remained neck and neck. The friendly rivalry between us only made the game more exhilarating. Sweat beaded on our foreheads, and our breaths grew heavier as we raced against the clock.

When the buzzer finally sounded, signaling the end of the game, we both stepped back and looked at the scoreboard, panting. Our scores were remarkably close, and I couldn't help but feel a newfound respect for Maria's abilities on the court.

"Well, I have to say, Maria, you've got some serious skills there. This game was much closer than I expected," I admitted, catching my breath.

Maria flashed a proud grin. "I told you not to underestimate me, John. Besides, it's all in good fun, right?" She asked with a wink.

I nodded after trying my hardest, still breathing heavily. "Absolutely. Win or lose. I had a blast playing against you."

"Looks like Maria's been giving John a run for his money, soldiers," I said, turning around to see Sergeant Rodriguez standing there with the rest of our team.

"These two have been at it the whole time, Sergeant," Foster remarked, laughing.

"Is that right?" Rodriguez replied with a smile.

"Well, you see, sir, John thought he could outdo me in air hockey, so we played five games, wasn't it, John? Anyway, I won each time. Now he's challenged me to basketball, thinking he's got a physical advantage. But guess what? I only lost by 2 points, Sergeant, and who's to say I didn't let him win?" Maria glanced over at John and winked.

"It's good to see someone got him to focus on something other than combat. These facilities are available 24/7, so feel free to use them in your free time. However, I wouldn't recommend staying out late. If you do, I'll be notified. The first time, you'll receive a verbal reprimand. The second time, extra duty. The third time, loss of privileges."

Sergeant Rodriguez had a way of deflating the energy in the room.

"Understood?" he asked.

"Yes, sir," John responded.

"Not just John—does everyone understand?"

"Yes, sir," we replied in unison.

"Very good. Alright, soldiers, you have about 30 minutes," Rodriguez said as he checked the time on his Omnicom.

"Spend it however you'd like, but keep in mind that you're approximately 12 minutes from the briefing room," he advised.

Luke walked up to Maria and John. "This place is awesome," he exclaimed.

"I know, right!" Maria agreed enthusiastically.

"Yeah, this place is incredible. I want to try some of the video games another time. How were they, Luke?" Maria asked.

"Absolutely amazing. Every game was unique and incredibly interactive. Foster told me the air hockey game is from the 20th century. They have some video games from the same era too. Apparently, the most popular one was Pac-Man. It wasn't as immersive as the other games, but the simplicity and mechanical input were brilliant," Luke responded, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

"Oh, that's cool!" Maria exclaimed.

"I think we ought to get moving, guys," I suggested, glancing at the time.

As Luke, Maria, and I ambled toward the arcade exit, Maria abruptly remembered she had left her hair tie in one of the game cabinets. We retraced our steps to fetch it, and as we approached the cabinet, I noticed a loose panel on the back of an adjacent arcade machine. I attempted to reattach the panel when I spotted a small, inconspicuous latch near the wall's baseboard.