The following week sped by as I helped to prepare Alexander for his first real villanus act going over the believed layout of the Basilica, the limitations of his armor and basic weapons training. Making use of the AI he had created, Alexander was able to create simulated combat scenarios using his real equipment without wasting any ammunition, the AI would stimulate all physical effects and create a false image within the helm.
It was during our last stress test as Alexander had started lovingly calling them that the true extent of what Alexander was capable of started to shine through.
“Alex, I'm ready to start the test.” I said standing in front of a small monitor connected to the lairs computer watching the feeds from his helmet, then without answer the simulation began the image changing between heartbeats from an empty section of the cave to what looked like the interior of some abandoned hotel, the patterned carpet stained and torn. The symmetry of the haul was ruined by broken doors and holes, some in the ceiling others in the floor and walls each of differing depth with some barely scraping onto the drywall while others gave a clear line of sight into the adjacent room.
“All set alastor what's my mission this time.” Alexander said cockeness driping from every word “Alex remember to take this seriously, if you dont it could get you killed down the road.”
I could tell he rolled his eyes by the dramatic roll of his vision to the right. “Yeah, yeah alastor I know, just tell me what I need to do.”
Loosening and tightening my weave I calmed myself before answering “The goal of this mission is rather simple.” I said, reading the mission information from the side of the screen “escape the building while being hunted by the local authorities.”
“That’s, It.” Alexander asked, clearly confused “That’s what is says and it won’t give me any more details."typing in the command that should have shown me more information but instead of showing me red text began to wright itself into existence,
It has been determined that decreasing the information provided greatly improves the skill and experience gained in the simulated combat scenario.
“Alex the AI is responsible for the limited information, do we need to stop the simulation.”, The way alexander's programs seemed to bud their heads into any situation they thought was in there domain was always discomforting to me despite alexander's nonchalants.
“No its fine, if it messed with the program then its found some way to help me get better at combat like it was created to do.” with that I watched the screen as alexander's vision started to move and bob slightly with each careful step.
Alexander moved with presion and care knees bent, feet planting with each move giving him the ability to fire or run without ever losing balance, he held the glock 19 at the ready with the M4 slung across his chest by the smart strap that godfrey had included in my order as a thank you and apology for a slight issue with there original scanning of alexander.
As he moved to the left wall of the hallway I watched as he pried the door across from him, each careful step and lean allowing him to check the room section by section, never exposing more than a sliver of his body to the section he was clearing.
Once he had visually checked most of the room ending up with his left shoulder no more than a centimeter from the wall he began the sam process with the door on his left with small adjustments to his stance feet always facing the wall as he put his weight on his front leg doing a slight lean to check each angle with minimal risk to himself.
After finishing the first two rooms he swapped his weapons the glock sliding into a holster on his belt as the smart strap loosed automatically at his touch allowing him to position his rifle, now prepared for a longer ranged fire fight he moved along the left wall clearing room after room stepping back from the left wall every other room to accommodate his now much longer barrel as walked down the curved hallway.
Reaching the end of the hall a large rounded lounge came into view. Its leftmost wall was made entirely of tall windows most supporting cracked or broken sheets, to the right was a set of elevators once pristine now chipped and neither seemed to close quite right.
The sense of loss they seemed to radiate was mirrored in the vaulted ceiling once it was pristine covered in circular medallions and imagery, now however it was an echo of a once extravagant lounge looking to be one stiff breeze away from collapsing on itself.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Movement on the edge of the screen caught my attention changing focus from the live feed of alexander's camera I saw the text box coming to life with red text once again
Alex is showing a 72 percent increase in his movement proficiency with an estimated 35 percent increase to information retainment and recognition.
Chances of completing the objective have increased by an estimated 19 percent.
At first I just watched the red text waiting for more after all it never spoke to me unless it concerned Alexander's combat training, even then it only told me what it deemed necessary, but nothing else came with no reason or notification for its actions, just silence.
So deciding not to bother Alexander about it I just returned to watching the live feed. Alexander had apparently cleared the room and was looking through one of the windows he appeared to be on the top floor of a roughly sixty story hotel, five armored sat in the front parking lot, multiple five man units hopping out of each.
However the only detail to truly catch my attention was the white logo on the side of one of the van I,X,C,U, alexander wasn't facing local cops, military or even heroes like he had in past simulations he was facing the International Xeno Control Unit the only world wide military force capable of taking down or capturing xenos with any kind of efficiency, then there was yet another burst of red letter appearing on the edge of my screen.
You are showing an estimated 45 percent increase in information recognition.
How was it even determining what I'm looking at I don't have physical eyes to track
Glancing back at Alexander's feed, I saw he was in the process of searching rooms in the previously cleared hallway probably looking for supplies he could make use of.
Then something new happened red text typed itself into existence but the text box in the corner was empty, the new sentence stretched across the top of my screen.
What is your objective
“Objective? What is it talking about.” unable to find a reason or meaning in the words I decided to just ask it, clicking on the box on the side of my screen a small chat box opened
[What do you mean by objective] I typed not having to wait long before red text started flowing in.
Why are you here.
For a moment I paused trying to find the best way to describe my job to a program designed for warfare, eventually I decided it was best to keep it simple and just give it a surface level understanding of my job.
[Alex owes a lot of money to some people I am here to help him pay it back ]
Silence followed, well digital silence at least as no more text appeared “hey alastor you seem, quieter than usual is everything ok on your side.”
Turning I saw Alexander had moved on from the top floor and was now prying open the an elevator shaft with what looked like a iron rod
“Yes everything is fine alex the AI was just sharing some data.” the elevator door shook and finally seemed to give a little as alexander responded, “Al,RIGHt, well did it share anything about this building or why I’m facing the FRIKIN I,X,C,U!”
“No alex it didn't just your estimated improvement from yesterday's simulation, If you want i can sent them to you but i would advise waiting until after your current training session to get more accurate numbers.”
The only sound to meet my words was the dull pop and click of the elevator doors finally giving way.
The shaft itself looked to be in a bit better shape then the rest of the hotel with small spots of rust in its frame with layers of dust covering everything as a single cord hung near the center of the shaft.
I watched as alexander placed his M4 against his chest the smart strap pulling it tight then he reached out grabbed the cord turned planting his feet and began repelling from floor to floor
“Well after this run the numbers won't be all that useful after all tomorrow night I get the stone.”
There was a confidence in alexander's words that, worried me, “Alex while I do believe you will succeed it is always helpful to check the numbers and maybe even prepare for possible issues.”
“What could possibly go wrong alastor i have a suite, weapons, and not to mention a AI designed for combat assistance and strategy, acting as a second set of eyes with nearly perfect prediction models.”
“I am aware alex but I would still advise prepare for any possible issues that the data” alexander's helmet snapped forward as an echoing crack roared threw alexanders mic, alexander was quick to respond pulling the pistol from his side and change his grip on the cable in his hand all at once followed by the a quick burst of at least four shots.
There was no return fire, “I hate this sim already.” alexander hissed voice barely audible. “What happened alex.” for a moment the was no response as alexander maneuvered his way into an standing position in front of the nearest set of doors that looked to be in much worse shape then the pair he entered.
“They had a team climbing up the shaft with some hand held motor things, witch is stupid because I nearly blind fired and still managed to shoot the first guy and he fell into the rest of his squad knocking them back to floor, OnE.'' With a grunt the doors in front of him separated opening into a nearly identical lounge as the top floor, the only visible difference being what looked like a large possibly marble bar running the length of the wall of windows.
“Why would they use the elevator shafts at all.” ,
“they probably didn't expect me to be in here and if I wasn't I would now be completely surrounded all they would have to do is push from both sides and I would have lost.”
As alexander spoke he moved thru the lobby pistol stowed and rife ready as he moved towards the bar “Hey acts do you know how make a molotov cocktail.” I stopped myself before answering as I realized what Alexander had said.
“Alex who is acts.” I asked “Oh, I forgot to tell you I finally came up with a name for the AI he is Asistent Combat and Tactics System, or A.C.T.S for short,”
“I see, do you name all your AIs alex.” the snort that came from alexander made me both doubt whatever he was about to say and feel foolish all at once “No, of course not just the important ones.”
A moment later a sterile monton voice joined the conversation “Thank you alex I will adjust my settings to recognise my new designation, as for the molotov you will need to mane components, the first being a glass bottle filled with a flammable liquid and the second being a rag or wic I will send you the exact instructions, if you lack a bottle with the liquid i can provide instructions to create a substance.”
“Got it.'' Alexander had apparently cleared the room enough to be comfortable to move freely as he jogged to the broken down bar and bent over to start fishing around for something he could use.