Alex

Fine Tuning

Having ALPHA's voice in my head was strange, yet somehow, it made the training flow. My senses were sharper than ever—I could see farther, each detail vivid; hear the faintest sounds; even sense danger in the air. Every movement felt more intuitive, every reaction faster. ALPHA's presence streamlined my thoughts, feeding me probabilities of success with each step, guiding my instincts in real-time.

"On your left," ALPHA's calm tone chimed in my ear. I pivoted right, dodging the punch aimed at my blind spot, seizing my assailant's wrist and using their momentum to flip them to the ground. In one fluid motion, I struck downward, my palm finding its mark at their throat.

"Threat neutralized," ALPHA confirmed in that steady, reassuring tone.

"Impressive," Dr. Meyers commented, his satisfaction evident. He stepped closer, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face, his fingers lingering on my cheek for just a moment.

I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of his touch linger. "I feel... incredible," I replied, pulling myself back to reality, a small smile forming as I met his gaze.

Dr. Meyers cleared his throat, steadying himself. "Well then, sounds like it's time for the ultimate test of your skills."

I nodded, stretching my hands and feeling the tension in my knuckles. "Let's do it."

"ALPHA," Dr. Meyers called out, his voice firm, "initialize a full-scale simulation: target the Consortium facility, with objectives to neutralize the ACE soldiers."

"Processing..." ALPHA's voice resonated through the room, its tone even, calm.

"This simulation will push every ability you've gained," Dr. Meyers' voice echoed distantly through the comms. "Infiltrate the building, eliminate all hostiles, and when you reach the heart of the facility, destroy the primary data center. That's where they're keeping every last detail of their research."

I took a steadying breath, the city's cool simulated air filling my lungs. "All right, ALPHA. Let's bring them down."

Colors swirled until they solidified into the cityscape, sharp and vivid. Skyscrapers towered overhead, casting shadows over the bustling streets below. I found myself on a rooftop, crouched low with a vantage point overlooking The Consortium's headquarters. The building was a fortress, guarded at every entrance and patrolled by ACE soldiers moving in synchronized precision.

"ALPHA, assess threat levels," I whispered.

"Calculating... There are six active ACE soldiers on-site, all highly equipped and trained. Entry points are heavily secured, and security protocols are on high alert," ALPHA replied calmly in my mind.

"Alright, then," I muttered, taking a deep breath. "Let's see what these upgrades can really do."

Moving silently along the rooftop, I scoped out my first target—a guard at a security post near an open-air ventilation system on the lower level. ALPHA provided an analysis in real time, suggesting the best angle and approach for a silent takedown. With a silent leap, I crossed from the rooftop to a ledge, creeping down the side of the building until I was directly above him. I dropped down, wrapping an arm around his neck, and in one swift motion, rendered him unconscious.

"Entry point clear," ALPHA noted.

I removed the metal grate and hoisted myself up into the vent system. I crawled on my elbows, trying to be a silent as I could. I found an air return and peered down through the slits of the register. Inside the building, the lights were dimmed, casting long shadows. I could hear footsteps echoing down the hall, and ALPHA calculated the paths of the soldiers patrolling nearby. I slipped out of the ductwork and crept into the hallway moving from one shadow to the next, avoiding each patrol until I reached the central hallway leading to the main data center. Two ACE soldiers guarded the door, their alert stances indicating they were prepared for any breach.

"ALPHA, probability of stealth versus combat?" I asked.

"Probability of successful stealth approach: forty-five percent. Probability of successful combat engagement: eighty percent."

"Combat it is," I whispered, moving quickly and decisively.

As I approached, ALPHA calculated the angles for each strike, guiding my every move. I delivered a swift kick to the first soldier, knocking his weapon from his grasp, then followed with a punch that sent him sprawling. The second soldier lunged at me, but I sidestepped and twisted his arm behind his back, disarming him with ease. Driving my elbow into the base of his neck, I felt a crunch as he crumpled to the ground. I retrieved the pistol from the ground and fired two rounds into the chest of the first soldier as he rushed toward me. He dropped to his knees, falling face first to the floor.

"Threat neutralized," ALPHA confirmed.

The data center loomed ahead, its steel doors sealed tight. ALPHA guided me through the override commands, and the doors slowly slid open to reveal rows upon rows of servers humming with energy—the heart of The Consortium's operations.

"You're almost there, Alex," Dr. Meyers' voice echoed over the simulation speakers. "Take down the system."

Following ALPHA's instructions, I accessed the mainframe console. Lines of code flashed on the screen as ALPHA guided me through the data elimination process. Just as I initiated the final sequence, a warning flashed on the screen: "WARNING: SECURITY BREACH."

The doors behind me burst open, and I turned to see four ACE soldiers filing in, their faces expressionless, weapons drawn.

"ALPHA, probability of success?"

"Probability of success: sixty-five percent—advantage, tactical."

"Good enough."

I charged forward, engaging the one soldier, every movement sharpened by ALPHA's calculations. Blocking, dodging, and countering each strike, I moved like I had never moved before, a fusion of precision and speed. One by one, the soldiers fell until I was the last one standing.

As the simulation began to fade, Dr. Meyers' voice cut in. "Simulation complete. You did it, Alex. And I'd say you're more than ready for the real thing."

I took a deep breath, adrenaline still coursing through me as the room returned to its sterile, empty state. A small smile tugged at my lips.

"Bring it on."