[Contest Entry -- Part 2]

“Hostiles gone!”

As the scout’s announcement echoed, Lieutenant Panzerkom breathed a quiet sigh of relief. “We’ll stay a little longer to make sure. Relax a bit, but do stay awake,” he ordered his stealth bomber squad. After issuing the order, he heeded his own advice and opened a comm-link to his favorite game -- “Information Age.” In the role-playing game, Panzerkom’s character was a writer for an entertainment company called Massively -- a peaceful life that was a far cry from the frantic combat and bloodshed he faced everyday.

The game was wildly popular, with millions of players across the entire galaxy that is New Eden. The game was immersive with intense in-game social interaction, so much so that Panzerkom would sometimes think that he was really living with his wife and kids in a primitive time when inter-stellar travel was still just a dream. The best thing about the game was that one could manage in-game communication and character development without logging into the game. It was a feature greatly appreciated by those working for mega-corporations where entertainment during work-hours was strictly forbidden and opening a game-link could get one fired, if not worse.

[End of Contest Entry]