(no subject)

[acts_of_gord]

The toxic waters underfoot in the tunnel had been no better going out than coming in, but the medkits in the Vortigaunt's cave had given Gordon all the edge he needed to cross them and come out in one piece. There'd been a pair of dispensers on the wall in the building where the CPs had hidden, too, along with enough ammo to make him wonder why they hadn't tried to charge him earlier. Not that he minded. The more mistakes his enemies made, the happier it made him. He stocked up with what he could and continued on his way.

The sun was inching on towards evening when one slanting orange streak of light through clouds lit up a well-concealed lambda painted on the wall of what might very well be a former hydro plant. Good; the airboat's condition was starting to get a little precarious. He pulled up to the rudimentary dock, cut the engines, and clambered out to look for the door. There wasn't much searching to do, really; around the cart, up the inclined patch of concrete beside the building, past the mutilated propaganda posters on the wall, and... there. A fenced alcove with danger signs and barrels ringing the door. No sign of anyone on the premises, though, and no guards or surveillance cameras that he could see. That was odd. Dr. Kleiner's lab hadn't had any visible security, either, but at least it had windows. Frowning, he slid his crowbar loose from his belt and eased the door open.

No response. The lights were on, but nobody seemed to be home- was he too late after all? He stepped through-

WHAM.

The door slammed shut, the lights went out, and for half a second he was absolutely totally completely oh dear God no NOT AGAIN NO sure he could hear the breathing of Marines-

Comments

[smelltheashes]

"Well--"

As the elevator begins to descend, Judith launches into a detailed explanation of how the new portal system works. Gordon may find it a little hard to follow, though, given what can be seen through the open door as they go.

An open lounge area in which a bearded man and a Vortigaunt are deeply engaged in a game of chess.

A large kitchen, with Vortigaunts in chef's hats bustling back and forth.

A firing range, crackling with gunfire and electricity as human and alien alike take aim at the targets on the far wall.

And finally...

"Oh, here's Eli now."

[acts_of_gord]

Normally Gordon listens carefully to this kind of thing. Really, he does. But honestly, the view from the elevator is just- it's something. It's really something. So much to see, so much to learn...

The elevator grinds to a halt, and he looks up sharply.

[smelltheashes]

Eli's lab is a bit sparser and less cluttered than Dr. Kleiner's, but there is still plenty of capital-S Science to take in. The man himself is currently engaged in conversation with a Vortigaunt. "Alright, good. You keep right up."

"Eli!" calls Judith as they enter the lab. "Look who I found in the airlock!"

Eli turns away from the Vort to approach Gordon--slowly, limping on one good leg and one curved metal prosthetic. "Gordon Freeman! Huh, let me get a look at you, man..." He squints at the younger man. "My God, you haven't changed one iota, how do you do it?"

[acts_of_gord]

The age, Gordon had expected. He saw the transmission at Kleiner's, after all. The leg, not so much. He spreads his hands a little at the question, the past few minutes' radical change in tensions- and everything else- catching up with him at once and robbing him of any words beyond, "It's a... really long story. I-" He shakes his head. "I'll tell you later."

[smelltheashes]

Eli nods. "Now, let's see... last time I saw you, I sent you up for help after the resonance cascade. I never thought it would take you this long to get back to me!" A good-natured chuckle. "Welcome to the lab anyway. It's not Black Mesa, but it's served us well enough."

[smelltheashes]

"It's going to be a lot more like Black Mesa with Gordon here to help."

[acts_of_gord]

Remember the chills that went down Shenzi the hyena's spine in The Lion King whenever somebody said the name 'Mufasa'?

Yeah. Like that. Gordon does his best to hide it by murmuring that he'll be happy to do whatever needs doing, but there's still just the faintest tinge of prickled skin that doesn't want to go away.

[smelltheashes]

"Right you are!" says Eli, seemingly oblivious. "MIT graduates are few and far between these days. We'll get you out of that hazard suit and back into your lab coat where you belong."

...that's probably not gonna help with Gordon's discomfort.

[acts_of_gord]

No. It's really not. At least all it triggers is a rush of momentary panic rather than sick dread?

And at least Eli hasn't suggested taking away the crowbar. That would go... poorly.

[smelltheashes]

That expression, Eli manages to catch. "We have airlocks for a reason, Gordon," he reassures the younger man. "Nothing gets in or out of the facility without us knowing it. And if worse comes to worst? We've got forty-two trained soldiers quartered here. On our side this time."

[acts_of_gord]

"Sorry," Gordon says a little sheepishly. "Reflex, there. Thank you, Eli."

[smelltheashes]

"Think nothing of it," says Eli with a dismissive wave of his hand. "But I'll bet you'll want to get out of that suit before too long."

The HEV suit is, after all, far from clean despite the solvent shower.

[smelltheashes]

"Let me just finish up some work and I'll see what I can dig up," says Judith. "Dr. Freeman? It's been an honor."

[acts_of_gord]

"It doesn't exactly have a deodorant delivery system," Gordon admits. "Thank you, Dr. Mossman. Same here."

After she leaves he runs a hand over his face. It's been a long day. Maybe not in terms of hours- he lost track of time early on- but any day in which you get shot, patched up, and then shot again as often as Gordon's done is automatically a long day.

"Hell of a place you have here," he nevertheless says. "I got a look at a little of it on the way in."

[smelltheashes]

"Feel free to look around. We weren't expecting you just yet, but we'll get you settled in soon enough."

[acts_of_gord]

"Thanks," Gordon says, and puts his hands carefully behind his back. He knows better than to start poking at any of Eli's things, but really, why take a chance?

Although he does pause for a moment at the sight of the family picture next to one of the more fascinating data displays. That's the face he remembers.

[smelltheashes]

"You remember my wife, Azian, don't you?" Eli's smile has a touch of sadness to it now. "That picture and Alyx were all I managed to carry out of Black Mesa."

[acts_of_gord]

"I'm sorry," Gordon murmurs. For the loss, for the disaster, for not being able to stop this- for everything.

... maybe he should look at something else.

[smelltheashes]

"Don't be. Things would have been a lot worse if it weren't for you."

[acts_of_gord]

( "And all the effort in the world would have gone to waste until... well." )

Gordon nods, though he's still not entirely convinced, and turns away with a certain amount of deliberate effort. Just his luck that he happens to spot the newspaper wall next. The clippings in Dr. Kleiner's lab weren't the half of it, apparently.

[smelltheashes]

There's a lot to take in on that wall. '"Portal" Storm Continues.' 'Black Mesa Admin Charged with Human Affairs Bureau.' '7 Hour War Ends in Combine Victory.' 'Wallace Breen Declared Interim Administrator.'

Right in the center, above an image of the smoking rubble that was once a city, is a two-word headline: 'EARTH SURRENDERS.'

"Doctor Breen," growls Eli, his cheeful demeanor suddenly gone. "He's the administrator of this whole vile business now. He ended the Seven Hours War by managing Earth's surrender. The Combine rewarded him with power."

[acts_of_gord]

"I heard," Gordon says grimly, straightening up. As he pushes his glasses back up his nose, he says, "Can you tell me-"

Is that someone at the door?

[vance_prime]

That it is.

A few minutes ago, Alyx was on guard duty on the western perimeter of the complex when a Vortigaunt came to greet her. "The Alyx Vance will return to shelter," it said.

Alyx quirked an eyebrow. "I've still got two hours left on my shift..."

The Vortigaunt shook its head. "This one will take up your post. The Alyx Vance will return to shelter and give greetings to the Freeman."

"--the what?!"

And she sprinted back into the building and down the hall to her father's lab. "Ah! Gordon!" she calls as she barrels through the door. "The Vortigaunts said you were here--I can't believe you made it so quickly on foot!"

[acts_of_gord]

"There was an airboat involved," Gordon says, and looks guiltily at Eli. "I couldn't find any cover for it, or I'd've hidden it before I opened the door."

Still, he smiles a little; it's good to see Alyx again.

[vance_prime]

"Even with a vehicle, that was a fast getaway." Eli smirks at his daughter. "I believe he broke your record, honey."

"Well, he earned it," says Alyx, eyeing Gordon's blood-splattered armor and the guns duct-taped to it. "I guess you proved you can handle yourself out there."