Cave's dream was more of a memory. Or, rather, a collection of memories. As if his mind were torturing him with the recollections of how he'd gotten to this state. It went something like this:

I sit at my desk, as usual. And, also as usual, Greg is late. I told him to come about twenty minutes ago. I swear, he's the worst assistant a guy could have. How did he even get this job in the first place?

Oh, right. He said was okay with minimum wage.

When he comes in, he's all smiles, like he's done something to be proud of. I highly doubt it. "Mr. Johnson, have the blueprints arrived yet?"

I look at him confused. "Blueprints? I thought you were bringing me the blueprints."

"Well, see, I was." He says. "But on my way, I gave them to a guy who said you'd asked him to deliver them."

I don't like the sound of this. "What did you say this 'guy''s name was?"

He thinks for a minute or two. "Dr. Green, maybe? Something like that."

"Are you sure it wasn't Breen?"

"Yeah, that was it."

My voice is damn well calmer than it should be. "Are you telling me," I avoid eye contact with him. "That you gave the blueprints to the Laser Tripmine to Wallace Breen?" He's silent. He knows he's done something wrong. "You do realize who he is right?"

"N- no, sir."

"He works for Black freaking Mesa! And I can almost guarantee he's gonna get one hell of a promotion for this!" I stand from my chair abruptly. "Remember what I said when you told me about Rattmann's fiancée having her kid forty-five minutes later than you were supposed to? 'One more slip-up like this and I'll find a woman that can do your job twice as well'." He knows he's screwed now. "Give me your ID." He hands it over. "Alright. Now get the hell out of my facility." I never see Greg again.

I sigh and call up the secretary. "Send Manning to my office." It isn't long before he arrives. "I need you to put out an ad for a job position."

He nods. "Yes, but isn't that Greg's job?" He looks around. "Where is he, anyway?"

"Hopefully far away from here." I can see he understands now.

"I'll get right on that."

"Oh, and Manning," He turns back around to face me. "How's that girl you've had your eye on?"

He blushes a bit and smiles. "She's doing well, sir."

Some time passes, I'm looking at applications. There are no good ones yet, none worth looking at. There was one that was decent, but the guy had previously worked at Black Mesa, so he was out.

The very last one. I take one look at her picture and shake my head. She's beautiful, and if there's one thing I've learned, a woman can't be pretty and smart.

I look through it anyway. After all, it's kind of my responsibility. Her stats are good. Very impressive. I put it aside, but not before scribbling a note by her photo.

This is the woman I want for my assistant.

And for my wife.

The name sticks in my mind. Caroline Rilutdivene.

I'm instantly in love.

Years later. I want to tell her so much, but I keep it to myself.

That's only one of the issues on my mind when Breanna Rattmann leaves my office. Did I make the right decision? She knows she's dying. I offered her life. Eternal life. But I hadn't told her that I'm going down the same road. And what will Doug say? After his fiancée, Cassy, died, his girl became all he lives for. Will I regret it in the end? We've never successfully made an AI yet. What if something goes wrong? What if I kill my nephew's daughter?

The day of the transfer arrives. Caroline has no idea of what I'm planning. I'm keeping her busy. I meet Breanna outside my office. "You're sure you want to do this?" She's scared, I can see that. But she still wants to go through with it. She's a brave girl. I respect her for that. I try my best to cheer her up. I can only hope it works.

We enter the lab and greet Manning. If this works, he'll be the head of the robotics department. Before we hook her up, Breanna hands me a letter and asks me to give it to her father. Of course, I'll comply. I hate to watch as she's being strapped down, but I do anyway. While Manning and I are in the control room, he sets everything up. I try to make conversation. "So... You son doing alright?"

Manning nods. "He's with his mother in Chicago for the day. Figured he'd like to go visit his hometown, you know." He looks over at me, a concerned look on his face. "Are you sure about this?" I tell him I am. "And Dr. Rattmann, he agreed to this?"

"He... He doesn't know yet."

"What?" He runs a hand through his brown hair. "This is a bad idea, Mr. Johnson. Dr. Rattmann will be... I can't even describe it. If I were in his position and my son in hers..."

I look at him seriously. "I'm sure you heard about the accident seven years ago. This girl is dying. All I'm trying to do is save her." I glance through the glass at the fifteen-year-old strapped to the table. "Just do it. She's scared to death, why torture her any longer."

Another time lapse. I sit on my bed and watch as Caroline pulls on her dress. I've just learned that every inch of her body is even more beautiful than the last. This is all I want. For the rest of my life, though I know it won't be very long. But there is one thing I'm worried about. I'm no idiot. I know Anderson likes her. He's a quiet guy. He only talks to people he's made a connection with. He started talking to her the moment they met.

I get dressed and check my watch. "Crap! I have a meeting!" We manage to get looking decent before we get back to my office, minutes before there is a knock at the door. "Come in."

The door opens and he enters. "Afternoon, Mr. Johnson." He gives a sideways smile and pushes up his glasses with his knuckles. An odd quirk of his.

"Wheatley, have a seat." He does. "You have those designs for me?"

"Yes, sir." He puts the blueprints on my desk. "This new version of the portal device will be much more... well, portable. Figure the weight difference might improve test results, as well." I pull the design toward me. "Also, there're less materials needed to build it, so production'll save about five hundred of your American dollars per unit."

"Excellent."

The scene changes one more time. I'm in my office with Doug. He hasn't been the same since the incident with Breanna. His hair is a mess, and he rarely ever shaves anymore. "Doug," I begin. I'm sure to keep my voice kind. I'm asking a lot of him. "I need your help." Every so often, I cough. "I don't have much time left. Do you remember what I said to you the day Breanna powered up?"

"Y- yes." He looks at me, afraid.

I cough some more before I can continue. "I need you to design the chassis for me. You're the most qualified."

He stares at me in disbelief for a moment. "U- Uncle Johnson..." He must see just how serious I am. "I- I'll do it... But, what if..." His hand moves to rub where his beard is growing in. "What if... I'm too late...? If I don't finish it in time...?"

I consider it for a moment before quietly responding. "Caroline."

"Wh- what?"

"Use Caroline. If I die before it's finished, put her in it. Even if she refuses."

Doug can only shake his head. "No... I- I can't do that! I can't do that to another woman, not against her will!"

I go over to him and place my hands on his arms. "Please, Doug. Please, pro-" I succumb to a massive coughing fit and my vision blurrs for a second. I can feel my knees going weak, and I fall to the ground.

"Uncle Johnson!" Doug kneels next to me, his anisocoria making the fear in his eyes all the more prominent. I manage to tell him to get Caroline, and he rushes over to the phone on my desk. "This is Dr. Rattmann! I- I need medical personnel here now!"

The dream fades and the real world comes back into view.