CHAPTER 12: THROUGH DIFFERENT EYES...

Quinn shoved the brunette away and struggled to her feet. The blonde was still slightly dizzy and her body felt heavy. She kept shaking her head no as she stared wide eyed at a sad looking Rachel. The brunette stood up raising her hands in surrender.

"Quinn.. Honey. I need you to list-"

"N-No! Your not-Your not real." Quinn said in panic.

"Yes, Yes I am, Qui-"

'NO! I-I-I WATCHED YOU DIE! I SHO-SHOT YOU IN THE HEAD! I SHO-I SHOT.." Quinns face crumbled as she began mumbling to herself as she cried. "I'm-I'm losing my-my mind, Your not real.. Thi-This is a-a-a dream or-or something." The Blonde kept muttering as she slid down the wall and wrapped her arms around her knees as she shut her eyes tight her body trembling as she rocked back and forth.

"Quinn, It's m-" The blonde screamed and crawled away scrambling to her feet as she sobbed hysterically at her self to 'WAKE UP, PLEASE! I JUST WANT TO WAKE UP!'

Rachel sighed she looked toward the two way mirror. On the other side stood Sue and Judy Fabray both in tears..

6 HOURS EARLIER...

"Since, I have my extra suit. You'll have protection but I still have to give you a quick run through of it as well as the van you will be using. So, let's go." Rachel said as she pulled her apartment door open. "After you." She said with a wave of her arm and a slight bow with a smile. Quinn giggled and stepped through.

As Quinn past The brunette. Rachel pulled a small silver and blue pistol from her back waist and shot Quinn in the back, catching the blonde around the waist before she could fall on her face. Rachel put the sedative gun away. She grunted a little as she stood the blonde upright against the wall than crouched down letting the blondes body drop over her left shoulder and hoisted her up, using her knees to stand up.

Rachel carried Quinn to the elevator and rode it to the training floor. She carried the blonde to a padded seat. She set her down and put a cap with protruding receptors on her. It had lines drawing patterns in spiral directions. Than she walked over to the counter and took out two syringes and two glass bottles with clear liquids in them. She filled one syringe then the other. She walked back over to the blonde and pulled up her sleeve than tied a rubber band around her bicep while she looked for a vein. After distributing the liquids into her body she used a cotton ball with tape to obsorb the little blood spots than she removed the band.

She walked over to the computer and began to type in Quinn's full name as the subject, filling all out the information needed. When she fininhed she typed in a code. Quinn's wrists, chest, thighs and ankles were strapped down. The brunette exited the room in search of Sue. She took the elevator up to the dining hall. She bumped into Sam on the way and assured him and the rest of the New Directions that she would be going out again and will have one of the robots take them down to the call center.

She spotted Sue and Corneilius watching over everyone eat. She walked up to them informing Cornielius of his assistance. The robot left soon after.

"Sue, I need your assistance for a moment." Rachel said calmly. Sue nodded and fell in line as the brunette walked off. The two took the elevator down to the training floor. Rachel and Sue stood outside of Rachel's glass office door in the lab. Quinn was right in front of them strapped to the slim chair like recliner.

"Do you think I'm making the right choice?" Rachel ask in concern for her friend. "I mean, you should have seen her when I went to evacuated her. She was trembling in fear."

"Ahh... Easy there. Q was my Head Cheerio for four years. I didn't choose her for her looks. A month before the first Cheerios practice started, I broke her mentally, emotionally and physically. I cursed her, called her all the most degrading names in the book. I attacked her physical features, intelligence and mocked her efforts. She had to get up at 2 am every morning and excercise all day long until she puked her guts out, sometimes I didn't allow her to eat so it was acids. I'm talking running, outdoor rock climbing with no shade it was summer and 92 degrees out, swimming, rowing, suicides, self defence all while wearing heavy burdening clothing with weights on her wrist, ankles and an upper body weight vest. Every winter she was to be at practice 2 hours before every else. While the others were scheduled to be there at 5 am. I made her run in the winter months in only tiny shorts and a sports bra while I drove beside her with a nice hot cup of cocoa with marshmellows and a heated car just barely within her reach, taunting her to take it, drink it and hop in where its nice and warm. She smacked the cocoa out of my hands once while still running and laughed in my face. She picked up the pace and shouted over her shoulder 'FAT CHANCE!'. It didn't matter what I threw at her. She took it in stride and never broke her cool of indifference. She's resilient and strong willed. Zombie apocolypse? Yeah, anyone would shit their bricks waking up to that but now she knows what she's up against. I don't think you could've picked a better partner for the job." Sue finished with Rachel feeling more secure with that knowledge.

"I looked over the files for Judy and Quinn. You know, questionnaire?" Sue nodded in response. "Did you know Judy has a masters in analytics?"

"Yes." Rachel looked at Sue in surprise.

"Oh don't look so surprised. Do you think I would give the title of Head Cheerio to some airhead who only knows how to smile and say prayers. No, I had background checks done on all my girls. When I chose Q, I knew she came from a strong gene of intelligence. I need a leader not a stepford wife and Q had the balls and the brains not to mention the beauty. She had all the qualities of her mother and that's why she was chosen." Rachel stared at Sue after her little speech, dumbfounded but understood. A leader didn't need to be led but understood there was no 'I' in team. Quinn had that in spades.

"Well, as I was saying. I think I found the perfect position for her. She can be our analyst for Quinn's training. Quinn's going to need a lot of help after this and I think having Judy on board would help move her along and keep Quinn sane when I'm not here. What do you think?" Rachel ask.

"I think it's a great idea." Sue said with a smile.

"Great I'll go talk to her. I'll be back, Can you set the screening room up?" Rachel ask. Sue nodded.

Rachel took the elevators up to the 4th floor the floor the Fabrays were assigned to. Rachel lifted her hand and knocked. A muffled 'Just a minute.' was heard. a few seconds later the door opened revealing Judy.

"Rachel, it's nice of you to stop in. How are you feeling?" Judy ask sweetly as she allowed the brunette entrance and shutting the door behind her.

"I feel a little better. I had good rest and Quinn stopped by to bring me something to eat plus I'm clean. So no complaints." Rachel replied with a smile. Judy chuckled and motioned to the sofa. Rachel followed suit.

"I'm glad to hear that. So, since Quinn brought you lunch, I take it she spoke to you about a matter that I'm not too happy about but she's an adult. I have to respect that." Judy spoke sighing. Rachel chuckled.

"Yes, she did. Which, brings me by, actually but I'll get to that in a moment." Judy nodded for the brunette to continue. "I went over your questionnaire and I found something interesting along with it. Your background information shows you graduated from Princeton with a masters in analytics."

"Yes, I did."

"I have a job placement to offer you and it's a level 10 position."

"What is a level 10?" Judy ask confused.

"Well, The levels are what level of clearance you have and responsibility within the facility as a whole. For example, if we have someone who has no real skill set. He would be placed at entry-level 1. That level has no real clearance and only looks over what position he's given. There is no access to any confidential flies or go on evacs which is short for evacuation missions. Level 10 is one of the of the most important clearances to have because you have access to all the data in whatever department I put you in. You will not only go over confidential files but also various testing subjects and draw up reports. You will sit in on screenings, meetings and anything else the job requires." Rachel finished.

"And if I take this offer, I'll be the only analyst?"

"Yes but you will have Sue or I working with you. We have to teach you all that you need along the way until you are equipped to handle it on your own as head of analytics and build your own team and train them on your own. In doing so I will be relieved of that department and all I'll need are file report so I know what your doing and how far along you are with your subject. Once you've mastered the position you will also be tied in with the head of the medical department, whomever I choose for that position."

"Well, alright. I'm sold." Judy beamed.

Rachel beamed right back. "Great!"

"So, what was your thought of Quinn's proposel, or should I say debate?" Judy ask with a smile.

"Honestly, she made a very, albeit, aggressive arguement. So.. I agreed and when I told her she had to get the ok from you she said she already had it?" Rachel said with a smile and shake of her head and sighed. "She knows me too well."

"That she does."

"First, let me tell you that I'm happy to hear your taking the position and welcome to the team." She pulled the elder woman into a hug and recieved one in return. "Secondly, You should know that I will never take anyone with me who is not trained. I have to make sure that the people I take with me are capable of handling themselves and will not put me in a position over who I should save the survivor or my teammate." Judy nodded in understanding. "That is why Quinn has to go through training first." Judy smiled in relief but soon her smile fell into confusion. "But she doesn't know she's in training. I sedated her and hooked her up to our virtual reality training system. As my head analyst it is your job to sit in during the training and viewing of her survival instincts. In the module she will be replaying the last few minutes she remembers of me speaking with her and the VR will pick up from there. My fathers have created a system called DC it's short for dream catcher, that picks up the nerve receptors in our brains from our memories, desires and deepest darkest fears. The system transforms that into picture and sound which basically is like watching someones dreams in a movie format. They don't know their dreaming. The DC system sends this film of a dream to the VR. The VR takes it and maps out everything. Every choice you make leads to a different outcome. So if you were running from a zombie and tripped it's because that's your fear and if you stay down than you didn't have the survival instinct to get up and keep going therefore you die and the system shuts down your film and your pulled out. In this comatose state of dream you feel everything that happens in the VR in your mind but your body doesn't feel a thing. The main goal in the VR is to get from Wherever your starting point is to the mid point to my fathers location. We put states in between to see how far your willing to travel on foot, test to see your capabilities physically, how quick you are on your feet in a state of unexpectancy, how well you take isolation and just who would you take down to save lives if you had to and so on. The training is standard military training but on steriods and LSD combined. It's to break you down mentally, emotionally and physically to build you up into a fearless leader and soldier." Rachel finished, Judy swallowed thickly.

"OK.. I'm glad she won't have to go out there unprepared at least."

"That's not all. I must warn you. I want you to know my fathers put me through the same training and speaking from experience it will leave you a mess for a little while. So when she wakes up she will think she's losing her mind because that's how real it feels in the VR. She will have nightmares and she will have bouts of hysterics. Whether she dies quickly in there or not it will hurt you to watch but if she does survive. After she recieves her therapy from Sue she will be more than ready for anything." Rachel finished.

"Alright.." Judy replied nervously.

"Lastly, she is your first subject.." Rachel said Judy's eyes widen. "Can you handle it because honestly she'll need you more than you know." Rachel spoke seriously.

"Yes, you both can count on me." Judy replied resolutely. She'd do anything for her children.

SCREENING ROOM..

Judy and Rachel entered the screening room which was a small room with 10 seats. There was a 80 inch screen up front. Rachel, Judy and Sue sat down with the lights off.

"Judy what your about to see is Quinn's VR channel. Remember, it will play out like a movie. Try to pretend she's an actress just staring in a role it will help, understand that what you see will be extreme. There are no stopping points when it gets too bad it will play anyway. Any voice overs you hear are Quinn's thoughts anything spoken out loud are Quinn's thoughts and the VR contributing to her responses. Alright?" Judy nodded her understanding.

Rachel and Sue had their clip boards and pens ready. Rachel typed into a small keyboard on the small table next to her and the screen lit up. The first thing they saw was Rachel and Quinn standing from the couch as Rachel told Quinn about the extra suit but instead of Quinn passing out from a sedative to her back. She walked through and Rachel shut the door behind her as she exited the apartment.

All 3 women watched Quinn's survival unfold before them. All in various stages of tears when Beth's death happened and surprised by Judy's turn, terrified at Finns attack, remorsful of all the friends and families deaths. Proud at her emotional strength to keep fighting. They cried silently at Rachel's death and became curious with Quinn's reaction to said death.

They gasp at her getting rammed by a car into another and pleaded with her to get up as the zombies were getting close. They cheered her on when she took down the men. Rachel would be lying to herself if she said it wasn't hot. They gasp in fear when she fell from the tree.

They 'Oh my God!'(Rachel), 'Oh goodness!'(Judy) and ' Thats My head Cheerio!' (Sue) When she jumped into the freezing lake and swam across only to keep running. They hissed when she cut her forearm and nodded in approval when she continued to open the rest.

They welled with tears as she woke from her nightmare. They watched Quinn rise from the ashes of near defeat, time and again by the time she reached the Chicago sign Rachel and Judy were on their feet cheering and hugging jumping up and down shouting 'She made it!'(Judy) 'She did it!(Rachel) and 'I knew she would!' (Sue). Sue stood clapping and whistling.

They sat at the edge of their seats watching Quinn manuver through Chicago to find a safe spot, choosing the tree. They cried as she cried explaining Rachel's death to her fathers and taking all the blame with deep remorse. They watched her mind flash with Beth and everyone else as zombies and Rachel's last words before she died.

They cried silently as she crawled into the bed with deep circles under her eyes looking thinner than she ever has in her life, all traces of full cheeks now sunken in with sharp cheekbones her body frame frail her bones promenant.

Hollow depths of green hazel stare out the window in silence until the system put her mind to sleep. it took 5 hours and 32 minutes for Quinn to make it to her last scene on the bed. All 3 women sat for a moment absorbing everything they just witnessed.

Rachel and Judy hugged holding eachother as they did their best to stop crying. Sue left the room trying to get her emotions in check. They waited 20 minutes taking the time to get themselves in order. They came together with Sue and Judy on the double sided mirror waiting for her to wake from her sleep induced state. Rachel looked over at the mirror sadly. She knew what was going to happen next.

PRESENT TIME..

Rachel walked down the corridoor with a heavy heart. She knew what it was like to go through what Quinn's going through. She remembers waking up with her fathers there and though it brought relief. It also made you feel as if your reality wasn't real. You feel lost and scared that the people you love most standing in front of you will vanish before your eyes and it will all be a really fucked up dream your sub concious created. The only reason she realized that she wasn't going crazy, was because of Sue. In the VR Sue was the only one who she hadn't seen and with Sue's counseling she started realizing everything was real. That's why she will leave Quinn in Sue's care and with the help of Mrs. Fabray, Quinn would realize it too.

"Excuse me, Rachel?"

The brunette turned to Sam in silent question with a raised eyebrow.

"I was wondering if I could talk to you?"

"Of course, follow me." The brunette replied. She really didn't feel like speaking to anyone at the moment. She was on her way to her office to contact her fathers and go over Quinn's VR screening. She had stopped on the main floor to grab some thing to eat from the dining hall to bring to her office. However; she was there for every one and has to listen to them when they need something. After riding the elevator to Rachel's floor, they walked the hall in silence to Rachel's office.

"Have a seat." Rachel said as they entered the office. Sam took a seat but was mesmerised by the office. It was amazing. "So, what did you need to speak to me about?"

"Oh, yeah.. um-my dad was former miliary. He was a marine and when I called him the first time, he said he would get every one that he could and bring them to the house. The second time I spoke to him, he said he brought most of every one in our niehborhood and some of the other New Directions families that he knew from nearby was with him as well. He said that he was getting any one he found. The third time I spoke to him he said they were in our fallout shelter. See, when my parents bought the house, my dad tore up the basement floor and startred building it when I was 5. He made sure it had enough food and water for us to get us at least 3 months worth until he could find help and there's a lot of room down there. But now, he said there were a lot of people and that it's tight. He said the food would only last them 2 to 3 weeks tops and I was just wondering when or if you'd be able to get them." Sam finished humbly.

"First, I want you to thank your father for his bravery. Then, I want you ask your father for names. Make a list of all the people down there but they need to be in order of family. When, you get that info, tell your dad I will be out there but it won't be for about another week because I have things I need to take care of here." Sam swallowed thickly. She knew he thought she would get out there sooner but she needed to rest or she was liable to get someone killed and Quinn just finishing her VR. She needed to be there for her. She could tell that Sam was scared she'd never get them in time.

"Listen, Sam. I know your worried but I promise you. I will be out there as soon as I can. Now, Barnaby will escort you down to the call center. I will let you know what day I choose to head out." Rachel spoke softly and Sam nodded. He was doing his best to stay strong but the brunette could see his eyes becoming glassy and pink with tears.

"Thank you for everything, Rachel." Sam spoke sincerely. Rachel sighed. She watched as he and Barnaby walked back down the corridoor to the elevators. She took a deep breath and shook her head slowly.

"Brice, connect me to my fathers."

"Yes, Ms. Berry."

The brunette waited for the call to connect. The screen not 5 seconds later lit up with her father Hiram.

"Hey, honey. How is everything?" Hiram ask.

"Everything is running as it should. Where's dad?" Rachel ask curiously.

"He's out securing survivors."

"So, you watched the screening. What do you think?" Rachel ask.

"Definitely a leader that one. Her critical thinking and stress response were both high and strong. She was very calculated by the time she was hit by the car. She held control of her emotions as well as you have. I'd say she was a more than capable soldier. We saw nothing wrong with anything. She did what she had to do and made the tough choices. She has my vote for second in command, in fact." Hiram said impressed.

"Well, did you expect any thing less of Sue's head cheerio?" Rachel said with a soft chuckle.

"Not at all..." Hiram said with a chuckle until his mood became somber. Rachel could tell something was off.

"What is it, dad?" The brunette ask softly.

"Your father just recieved word that if they can not contain this than it would be red flagged." Rachel's eyes widened.

"The military are doing all that they can right now but if it reaches the 25 state mark. They will fire the nuclear warheads. They don't care how many it will kill. Casualties they say are a necessary evil." Hiram finished.

"How many states are infected, now?" Rachel ask seriously.

"6." Hiram replied.

"How much time does that give us?"

"Statistically, Factoring in the alloted time it takes the turn to occur... 2 month, 3 weeks and 6 days starting from today." Hiram said.

"Dammit, I haven't even finished Lima, yet." Rachel replied as she began to pace in anger.

"Rachel your father, myself and Sue, have spoke while you were speaking to Judy Fabray. Sue was instructed to compile a list of possible candidates because you need to build a team, now while you still have time. You do not have time to find the others so you'll have to make do. You must choose people who you believe will have your back not get every one killed." Hiram spoke.

"Well, I have the list ready. If you care to hear it now that is." Sue spoke from the doorway. Rachel nodded her consent for the older woman to enter.

"Sue." Hiram said with a nod of acknowledgement.

"Hiram." Sue replied in the same gesture.

"Alright, let's hear this list." Rachel said with her arms crossed over her chest as she leaned her body against the front of her desk. Sue pulled out a sheet of paper and put her glasses to the bridge of her nose. Completely serious. The second Sue started reading from her lips. Rachel eyes widen and her mouth fell agape with a 'What the fuck' look directed at Sue.

"trouty mouth."

"McCripplepants."

"Streisand 2.0"

"Delinquent 2.0"

"Tubbers 2.0"

"Boobs Mcghee."

"Other Asian."

"Swayzee."

"Shaft."

"And Britney."

Sue removed her glasses and took in the looks of the occupants around. "That's my list." She said with a light shrug until Rachel burst into the first geniune laughter she's laughed in quite sometime. It caused her father's heart to warm at the sound. It had been a long time since he's seen his daughter's eyes shine that way. He too succombed to the fit of laughter. Sue only smirked but you could tell she was doing her best to hold back. After the laughter died down Rachel wiped at her happy tears and cleared her throat.

"Alright, daddy. I'll get started and give you a call when every one is set for training tomorrow. I love you, have a good night and send dad my love." Rachel said sweetly. Hiram chuckled.

"I love you, too. Sweetheart, I'll let your father know. Sue do I need to say it?" He said with an adoring smile sent her way. Sue just shook her head in defiance.

"Have a good night, Hiram." Sue said and the screen disconnected. The two women looked at each other.

"Ok, Let's line up our troops." Rachel said all traces of humour gone as she stood at full height of intimitadation. She and Sue took the elevator to the main floor and Rachel walked over to the intercome against the far wall. Pushing the button she spoke into it calm.

"Ladies and gentlemen, if I could have your attention, please." Rachel voice came over the intercom of every room in the facility including the bathrooms. Their was no where she wouldn't be heard. "I will call a list of names. If your name is called. I need you to come straight to the main floor at the front entrance immediately. If you have children or siblings, you are advised to turn them over to a close relative you trust or close friend you trust. If you have neither you are to escort them to the main floor seating area, they will be taken care of from there. This is not a drill. I need you all down her immediately. The following names are:"

"Samuel Evans."

"Artie Abrams."

"Marley Rose."

"Jacob Puckerman."

"Kitty Wilde."

"Santana Lopez."

"Michael Chang."

"Ryder Lynn."

"Matthew Rutherford."

"Britney Pierce."

"Please be at the main entrance, I will be waiting." Rachel finished. Sue and Rachel only had to wait 23 minutes for every one to join them. They walked each individual to the elevator once they reached the floor they intented everyone began to file out in a straight line as instructed but they hadn't notice from the back of the line Ryder was shot in the back with Sue catching him to silence the fall as Rachel walked ahead of every one else explaining that they were chosen as recruits which all of them were shocked and listening intently until they weren't listening anymore Santana Being the last to go down. Once every was checked over both women went to retrieve strechers. One by one they were all fastened to the bed and kept there. One at time they were set to the VR seat and one by one woke to disbelief and a psychotic break that Quinn herself had succomb to when they woke to find Rachel Berry standing in front of them.

.