A.G. Sims is a fire fighter in the Utrecht fire brigade. Today he has to do his monthly training with some of his teammates. While putting on his tactile suit and VR helmet, A.G. thinks about the old days when training mainly consisted of reading books and watching movies with only very rarely a small "real" training. Simulated trainings as done nowadays are much more fun and make it possible to train highly complex situations, thus preparing him much better for what to expect and how to react. Of course his progress will be monitored constantly and failure can have important consequences, so this is clearly a serious game to play.

There has been a terrorist attack on the Galgenwaard soccer stadium and he is called into immediate action. He runs to his simulated fire truck, waits for the other simulated fire fighters to arrive and drives his way through the busy traffic in a virtual model of Utrecht. A few police cars with loud sirens pass him and on the radio the situation is explained. People on the street are nervous. Clearly something big is happening. Getting closer to the stadium a large crowd has gathered and only with great difficulty A.G. manages to steer his fire truck amidst them. Reaching the destination he sees black smoke above the stadium and smells the fire. A large number of police cars, ambulances and other fire trucks are arriving and rescue workers run around attending to victims. Most of the workers and all victims are computer-simulated autonomous agents but some workers are actual people, taking this test together with him. A.G. does not notice any difference.

He is ordered to enter the stadium to search for other victims. Together with his simulated team he enters the building. People are running around him, most in blind panic. When he reaches a stairway there is a sudden explosion; he feels the heat and the pressure wave. This seems to be the wrong direction to proceed in. He briefly discusses the further strategy with his computer teammates before continuing. They reach a room filled with smoke and he shouts for survivors. He hears a faint reaction and enters the room to search further. Smoke reduces his visibility and he is using tactile information to find his way. After a while they find an injured victim who needs medical attention. After calming the person down and applying first-aid, he orders two of his team members to carry the person outside the stadium. Together with his other teammate he continues. Then he makes a fatal mistake. He opens a door without feeling its temperature. A huge explosion follows.

Fortunately it is only a simulation. A.G. removes his helmet and suit. He is shaking and sweating, not only because he failed the test but because the experience was so real. He will never make that mistake again.