acts_of_gord | (no subject)

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-

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

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."

From:

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."

From:

smelltheashes

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

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

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.

From:

smelltheashes

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

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

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?

From:

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!"

Edited Date: 2008-07-26 07:22 pm (UTC)

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

acts_of_gord

"I had help," Gordon says. "If it hadn't been for the rebels who added the gun to that boat I'd've never made it past the helicopter patrols. There's one less gunbird out there now."

From:

vance_prime

"There's nothing Gordon can't handle--" Eli wraps an arm around Alyx's shoulders-- "with the possible exception of you."

Alyx pulls away, looking embarrassed. "Dad, please..."

From:

acts_of_gord

... yeeeah, Gordon's not touching that one with a ten foot pole. Just giving Alyx an apologetic I didn't say anything, honest! sort of look.

From:

vance_prime

Alyx gives him a good-natured You see what I have to put up with? smirk in return.

Aloud, she says, "Well, as long as I'm here, I might as well get to work on fixing the teleporter... Gordon, could you give me a hand with the ladder here? It tends to stick."

From:

acts_of_gord

"Sure," says Gordon, who's pretty sure Eli's going to start smirking shortly himself. Actually doing something, no matter how small, is all the excuse he needs not to pay attention to an expression like that.

... okay, as long as he doesn't actually, like, look up when Alyx is climbing or anything. Concentrating on holding the ladder in place is probably a safer bet. He can do that.

From:

vance_prime

If Alyx is concerned about where Gordon is looking, she certainly doesn't show it as she braces one foot on the ladder and the other on the piece of equipment she's working on.

...eyes front, Freeman.

From:

acts_of_gord

.... he can do that. Really.

"Can't wait to see the rest of this place," he says, finding a thoroughly fascinating piece of wall and keeping a good firm eye on it.

From:

smelltheashes

One distraction coming right up, in the form of Judith returning to the lab.

"Alyx? I thought you were on watch!"

From:

vance_prime

"The Vortigaunts relieved me so I could come see Gordon," says Alyx without looking away from her work. "Anyway, I should be in here working on the portal."