And All It Took Was One Bullet

Dream

The minute my head touched the pillow I was out like a light. The frozen forest had engraved itself in my dreams ever since the first time I died, and the virus was in me. I don't mind it anymore. It doesn't freak me out any more. As I tread through the snow and heading deeper into the forest, Taylor appeared next to me, smiling at me. "What's up new me? I see your still alive." He said as he gives me a handshake. "Yea, not for long if you keep getting me lost out here." I reply while I dream up a campsite and cushions for me to rest. "Hey, some exorcise never killed anyone." He said as he dragged a cushion his way. "So, you want to talk to me about this new assignment right?" He asks while taking a sip of the drink I dreamed up for him. "Hmm...spiked hot chocolate. Must really be a problem." He knows me too well. If I come to him just to talk I typically dream up soda or tea, but with problems like this, (depending on how big it is) I dream up something with a little kick to it. Last time it was fruit punch with a shot of whiskey, that was from a long tired day. I dreamed up a camp fire and a picnic spread. (Hey, even in a dream, you get hungry!) "Oh, getting romantic aren't we? Well I'm sorry to disappoint you but I'm way to old for you dear." He said with this big grin on his face. I snap my fingers as if to say "darn it!". He laughed so hard he nearly fell backwards. "Well, I ain't as handsome as Hendricks, but I'm flattered." I turned my head quick to look at him. He pointed to his head as if to say "you don't think I listen in on your thoughts?" I sat there with a shocked look on my face as he laughed a little more. "I may be dead but I'm not stupid. Now back to business. What's so wrong about training a new team? I trained you, and Hendricks. And zombies are easy to kill, don't listen to that old wives tale of having to shoot them in the head, its just extra points, nothing big." I laughed at his little joke but it didn't make me feel any better. "Well I believe you on the zombie part but I'm afraid that I won't be able to train them like you did with me. You trained me using Hall and the others through my coma, not while I was awake." "It's no different, look...that's what happens when your leader. You get the job of training newbies. All I can say is that visual learning and physical learning are too different things, but they both work together to get the job done. You can do it, you just need to remember what I did with you, try to...recreate it, but use an event that is important to you, and use it as a simulation." I thought about it. "So the simulation you gave me, it was important to you?" "Yes it was. With out the train and the terrorist attack, we wouldn't have had a team. I wouldn't be who I am." That made sense. Taylor was always talking about the old team and how he wished that this never happened and that its all his fault but he knows that you can't change your mistakes, you just have to live with it. "So your saying that during the time before each surgery I should put them through a similar simulation but use events that are important to me." "That's right. It's better to do it while in a coma before the surgery so they don't get killed in real life." I understood completely. At least in a coma your chances of surviving are a little better than in real life where your mistake kills you in the process. Taylor goes on and on about how to start the simulation and how to help them understand what they are being taught. But he also told me that all I have to do is be in one mind, but keep an open channel to the others so I only have to do this once. "Thanks for your guidance. I think it's about time I wake up." I say as I get up from my comfortable cushion and dust off the snow on me. "I agree, time for you to train others and prepare for the end of the day. See you later tonight?" "See you later tonight Taylor. Thanks for the advice." I say as I wake up from my dream. The forest is replaced with the safe house dorm I was given. I prepare myself and download the map of the place I need to go. Newbies...ready or not...here I come.