Ethan sat in the pilot's chair of his ship, a vessel still lacking a name but brimming with potential. The soft hum of the ship's systems filled the cockpit as he glanced at the sleek VR headset lying on the console before him.
"Iris, let's run a final check on the gear before we start the simulation," he said, reaching for the headset.
"Affirmative. The dual laser pistols are calibrated for optimal range and accuracy. The plasma dagger has been tested for stability, effective in both quick slashes and precision strikes. Your new armor is integrated with my systems, offering night vision, heat vision, UV scanning, and a heads-up display for tactical support," Iris responded, her voice flat, efficient and cold.
He slid the VR headset over his eyes. Instantly, the world around him dissolved, the familiar cockpit replaced by a stark white void as the simulation loaded. Soon, it shifted into a rugged canyon landscape, the sun high above, casting long shadows between the cliffs.
His new armor felt snug but light, the material sleek and firm. His hands gripped the dual laser pistols, which hummed faintly in his grasp. He never got used to how everything felt so real in VR.
"Simulation environment is fully operational. Enemy units are approaching from the northeast," Iris said, the same flat, emotionless tone in her voice.
Ethan squinted as red markers appeared in his heads-up display, showing the positions of the incoming hostiles. Human-like targets armed with rifles and melee weapons. He flexed his fingers, feeling the weight of the pistols in each hand.
"Let's see what these can do," Ethan muttered to himself.
He dashed toward the nearest outcropping for cover, his movements smooth and fast, the new armor allowing for agility while providing protection. As the targets closed in, Ethan leaned out and fired. The laser pistols discharged with sharp, precise blasts, each shot landing cleanly on the simulated enemies.
"Target eliminated," Iris stated flatly as one of the enemies disintegrated. "Recommend faster target switching. You are wasting time between shots."
Ethan ignored the comment, focusing instead on his movements. He rolled to the side, avoiding incoming fire, and repositioned behind another rock formation. The HUD updated instantly, showing the heat signatures of enemies attempting to flank him.
The enemy units weren't relentless, but they were persistent. As more of them advanced, Ethan fired in controlled bursts, picking them off one by one. His HUD adjusted continuously, tracking threats and providing real-time feedback on enemy positions and tactics.
"Performance is acceptable," Iris said. "Your reaction time remains suboptimal in close-quarters situations."
"Noted," Ethan muttered under his breath, holstering his pistols and pulling out the plasma dagger.
The blade ignited with a faint hiss, glowing a soft blue. The last enemy advanced quickly, and Ethan sprinted forward to close the gap, ducking under the target's plasma rifle and driving his dagger into its side. The enemy dissolved into shimmering pixels, leaving the canyon eerily quiet.
"Close-quarters combat assessment: efficiency at 87%. Further improvement recommended," Iris remarked, her tone unchanging.
Ethan caught his breath as the simulation reset. The canyon disappeared, and the stark white void returned for a few seconds before the next scenario materialized. This time, it was a shadowy cityscape, crumbling buildings towering overhead in the dead of night. A faint breeze stirred the dust around his feet as his helmet's night vision activated, bathing the scene in shades of green.
He crouched low, scanning the area. The heat signatures of an enemy patrol glowed faintly in the distance, their movements slow but deliberate. He activated the plasma dagger again, moving silently across the ruined streets.
"Stealth approach initiated. Recommend use of thermal vision to avoid hidden traps," Iris instructed.
Ethan switched to thermal vision, his HUD highlighting faint tripwires and motion sensors scattered across the area. He navigated past them with ease, his new armor's enhanced silence allowing him to approach the patrol unnoticed. As the first enemy passed by, Ethan struck quickly, his plasma dagger cutting through the target before it could react.
"Target neutralized. Continue forward," Iris said.
Ethan moved forward, taking down the remaining targets one by one. His movements were fluid and precise.
When the final target fell, the simulation faded once more, leaving him standing in the blank void of the VR space. He removed the headset, blinking as the familiar interior of the cockpit reappeared around him.
"Simulation complete. Overall performance: 82%. Areas of improvement include speed of decision-making and optimal use of available equipment," Iris stated, her voice devoid of any encouragement or criticism.
Ethan set the headset down on the console and leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. The training had been intense, and though it had gone well, there was always something missing. An edge he hadn't quite mastered yet.
"I'm getting there," he said aloud, more to himself than to Iris.
"Affirmative," Iris replied. "You are progressing toward acceptable efficiency. However, further missions will provide a more comprehensive understanding of your capabilities."
Ethan couldn't help but smirk. "Yeah, because everything's just numbers and metrics to you, huh?"
"Correct."
Shaking his head, Ethan stood up. "Let's hope real missions aren't as cold as your simulations."
"The probability of encountering significantly more complex variables in real-world missions is high," Iris responded. "Prepare accordingly."
As he left the cockpit, Ethan glanced back at the console, knowing that despite Iris' emotionless demeanor, her calculations were likely correct. There was still a lot to learn, and he wasn't about to let the VR simulations give him a false sense of security.