The Dream Returns

Cold, so cold.

The nightmare hit Nico before he knew what was happening. He opened his eyes and saw a vast expanse of blinding ice and snow in all directions. *What the hell . . .* he thought was the bone-numbing cold washed over him.

Not knowing where he was or how he got there, Nico took stock of his situation. He quickly realized that whatever happened, it was grim. No supplies of any kind and no survival gear. As he attempted to scan the horizon through the blinding white, Nico realized that he was truly stuck.

The rational part of his brain was attempting to tell him that this was a dream, he was safe in his quarters on Serenity, but the rest of brain was refusing to believe it. Nico tried using the techniques that he had been taught on Earth to pull him free of the dream. He closed his eyes and chanted in his mind, *It’s just in my head, I am not here. Wake up, Nico.*

Feeling the temperature drop and the wind start gusting, Nico opened his eyes and his mind went into panic mode. The environment had drastically changed from a dreamscape to a nightmare. On the horizon, he saw black storm clouds moving towards him.

*Great maker! Wake up, Nico! This is just a dream!* The clouds raced closer as he stood, rooted in fear, mind racing into panic. *WAKE UP! I’M JUST DREAMING! THIS ISN’T HAPPENING!!!!*.

The storm front hit Nico like a wave, throwing him backwards. At the same time, Nico’s vision was instantly clouded with snow. Curling into a ball on the frozen ground, Nico felt the ice start forming on his body. He felt his arms and legs shut down from the intense cold, as he struggled for breath.

Suddenly, the cold was gone and Nico shot up from the ground. He opened his eyes and realized that he was in total darkness, his heart racing wildly. Nico started to feel around him and realized that he was in his quarters at the Marine compound and not stuck in his dream.

Throwing his legs over the side of his bed, Nico attempted to stand. “Computer, lights.” As the lights snapped on, he willed his legs to work, but they wouldn’t obey him. Nico stared down at them, *Damn you, WORK!* As if hearing his order, Nico was able to stand.

He walked over to his desk and slumped down at the terminal. He ran his hands over his face and willing his heartbeat to slow, he activated the comm.. “Computer, schedule an appointment with the counsellor as early as possible tomorrow.”