Del and the group of the marines moved out of the supply room. They traveled into the next building which look like a kitchen mess hall. The lights were on and it looked like the people here left in a hurry. There were food and drinks on the tables. The chairs were moved on the tables and some of the furniture were broken.

"Okay guys, let's spread out. You two move to the back kitchen. If you see anything, call out. New recruit, be careful. Don't get yourself killed. We haven't seen the aliens yet."

He followed the the soldier towards the left and moved toward the back of the kitchen area. They pushed through a set of double doors. He saw an opened area with a large wood table for cooking food and preparing for and a large five burner stove and grill. Everything was stark white and clean. Food implements, cutting knives and utensils were laid out on the wood table. On the right side was a gigantic white refrigerator. There was a partially cooked scrambled egg in a pan. The fire was turned off.

The marine next to him said, "Be careful. Watch our backs. There might be something still here. Check your sensors. It should work in this building."

Del checked his sensors and didn't see anything moving beside the marines.

The marine said, "You don't have the latest sensors. Look at this."

The soldier showed him his sensors which was attached to his arm. It showed the area in the back with its furnishings and food implements in 3D and also footprints and handprints. Del didn't have this his own sensors.

The marine said, "Don't worry about that."

The soldier went over to the cutting board elected the cut tomatoes and the celery and well as the lettuce. He was peering around there looking at something that Del couldn't see. He moved closer to the marine.

Del saw on his 3D screen small footprints like six in all on the table at different intervals which moved down the floor and also the walls.

Soldier pressed on to his comm. "Hey, we are inside the back area by the kitchen. He found some unusual prints."

He heard garbled static and silence. They both moved back into the dining area. He saw scattered against the tables and on the walls fresh blood. Several of the soldiers were gutted dying on the floor. Del was surprised at the level of detail in this game. The dead soldiers and blood looked so real.

He saw something in the corner of his eyes. He couldn't see it. It moved too fast. Del wished he had the upgraded sensors because he couldn't see it register on his screens. Del took out his gun started to shoot. He saw something along the walls and shot at it. He hit something. The marine next to him yelled as he was gutted and then decapitated.

Del turned to see a large creature rise up before him. It was blurry as if the alien was in a static field. The last thing saw before he was killed was a large claw striking at him.

Then on the screen it read. "You died! Game over. Play again? Yes or No."

Del shook his head. What the hell just happened? He hadn't died in the game Stricker Blast in a long time. He sat back in his chair. Dell was tempted to go back into the game but then he saw a timer on the screen. He forgot about the timer. Only newbies saw this. He cannot start a new game until another hour. Del shook his fists.

He saw the time. It was seven pm. He been playing for hours but it felt like only one hour. Getting up from his chair, he stretched. He needed to get something to eat, but he looked in his wallet to find the two business cards he was given last night. He was smashed last night and almost forgot about it. Scanning the card, he saw the phone number. Yet, he decided to wait. He wanted to a bar and get some drinks. He would get something to eat before he went to the bar.

He changed his clothes and moved out his room toward his car. He went to a fast food joint and decided to eat inside instead of going through the drive through. Walking inside of the Hamburger Joint, he was greeted by a cute brunette behind the counter. He ordered a cheeseburger and soda. The sales lady smiled at him. Del couldn't tell if she was interested or just doing her job.

He took a seat near the back of the food place. The brunette sales girl at the counter kept looking at him as she worked and talked to the other customers. She called his number and he got up and got his food.

She said, "I've seen you here before."

"Yes, I usually go through the drive thru," Del said.

"My name is Jill."

"I'm Del."

There was an awkward silence between them.

He said, "It was nice to meet you." He felt somebody was behind him. It was another customer. Grabbing his tray with his food, he walked back to his seat. Yet, while he ate his cheeseburger and fries, he thought about his wife and daughter. He was tempted to keep talking to Jill and get her number but he didn't.

He finished his food and he thought about drinking. He knew across the street he could buy some more beer and hard liquor. Nothing really mattered to him really right now except the alcohol. He walked up the trash can and threw away his discarded wrapper and cups.

Jill smiled and said, "I hope to see around. I get off later around ten if you want to get drinks or coffee. Whatever."

Del looked at her. She was cute and very young. He didn't like to think how young she was. If his wife new and his daughter knew he had been doing for a couple months they'll be shocked. And he knew his wife would never go back to him.

Del thought the reason why he slept around was because he felt betrayed and that she is wife was seeing somebody else. But he didn't know if that was true.

"Another time, Jill," Del said, "I have some things to do tonight."

Del walked out without listening to her response. He felt terrible that he did that to her, but he had to get his marriage back and find a job. Walking outside, he took out his cell phone. He really needed at drink tonight. He saw a text from John.

"Hey, I played the new area and I got killed. What are you doing?"

"Having dinner. Do you want to get some drinks?" Del texted back.

Del waited for him to text back. Sometimes his cell phone provider was sketchy and he would get his messages later. He walked through the parking lot and opened his car door. He heard a notification that came from his phone.

A response came. John texted, "Sorry, I got some plans tonight, Maybe, tomorrow."

"You have a date?"

Del sat in his car. He looked across the street and saw the liquor store. He lowered his window and wondered if he should wait for John's text, but he was getting thirsty.

Del's phone dinged. "Yes, with the blond girl I talked to. You should hit up the other girl. I can get her number."

"Nah. I need some rest."

"Ok."

He drove onto the street and into the parking lot of the liquor store. Del caroused at the alcohol behind the counter. A man stood by the cash register. He was short with dark skin.

Del bought a liter pack of Diet soda, a pint of cheap rum and six pack of beer. The sales man looked at him skeptically.

"Hello Sir, is that all?" the man said in a slight Indian accent.

Del paid for his purchases. He had seen this man before and he always looked at him with sadness. He walked out. As he walked back to his car, he thought he saw somebody watching him in the darkness of an alleyway. He peered into the back alley but he didn't see anybody there. He shook his head. Rushing toward his car, he jumped inside. He locked his door and drove away.

He walked into his motel and felt like somebody was here before he came home. Del looked through his clothes, belongings and laptop. Everything looked like to be in place. Drinking his beer, he was thinking what he was going to do tonight. He lay in his bed and flipped the channels on the small TV. Thinking about the young girl, Jill, at the burger joint reminded him of his wife. It was a way she looked at him like Marion used to look at him. He shook his head.

Tomorrow, he thought, he would have a bettered way of thinking about finding a job and getting his wife back. He scanned at the rum and soda. He should have got ice but the soda was still cold. Fixing himself and drink, he heard the fizz of the soda as he poured the rum in a plastic cup. He took a swig of his drink and like the taste. He made it strong.

Then he saw it, he knew somebody was in his room. He saw a letter, propped against small table next to his bed. His name was printed in a spidery handwriting. He broke it opened with his finger. The letter was creme colored. He read it quickly.

"You have been invited to try our new prototype game. Please we extend every courtesy for your response."

It was not signed but the logo of the game was embossed on the paper. Del took out the business card. It was still in his wallet. Why not he thought.