Gordon Freeman

The robot makes a happy mwoop! noise, wriggling about like some cross between a dog and a gorilla. Dr. Kleiner offers a small smile and looks to the rest of the escort party. "We did intend to have him bringing up the rear," he notes, "but I suppose he wanted to see you first. Shall we go?"

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Charlie watches this strange but charming reunion, falls into what passes for formation, and is glad that the robot in on their side.

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"Too bad he hasn't got saddlebags," observes Sonia as she and two other civilians emerge from Kleiner's lab. "We could use the extra cargo capacity. Let's head for the alley, Dr. Kleiner. There's gonna be scanners if we keep standing around here."

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vance_prime

"Go on, D0G, get in back and cover us."

Bwoop, says the robot, and obediently lumbers to the back of the group. Alyx remains in front, gun drawn and ready for whatever challenges might be ahead of them.

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"Alyx, should I put a portal here to cover the entry point?"

She's got her gun cocked.

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Charlie pulls his gun from its holster, and feels like he should be quoting something dark and somber at the occasion. It feels wrong in his hand, but he's sure he can handle it.

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vance_prime

"Can't hurt," says Alyx. "But keep making new entrances when you can. We don't want to have to bring the wounded all the way back to the lab."

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"I do hope you've got your galoshes on," says Kleiner as the column starts moving. "We may have to take to the canals- assuming Civil Protection hasn't locked them down, of course."

"Let's stay out of the wet as long as we can," says one of his other companions, a short, round-faced rebel whose voice is the only thing about her that betrays her gender. "It's only going to slow us down."

"The old city light rail tunnels might be viable," says the last human member of the party. In better days he probably played college football, if his build is anything to go by. He's been given the largest load to haul. "Anybody here afraid of the dark?"

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Chell shakes her head in response. "I'll wait until we're past these canals then, Alyx."

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"I've played in the sewers and subway tunnels from time to time." He tries to sound cheerful, but he's getting the feeling that even Hub City was a safer place than where they are.

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vance_prime

"I can handle it," says Alyx with confidence. "Come on."

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Most of the Combine's trains run aboveground, some of them utilizing the old light rail network. Before the light rail, though, there was the city subway- narrow tunnels just barely wide enough to keep two trains running in opposite directions. The nearest passage into such a place lies directly in front of what used to be a respectable business building, a bakery by the look of things. It's mostly wrecked now.

It's also guarded by a couple of Civil Protection officers. They're masked, of course, but their postures suggest a general desire to be somewhere else- anywhere else.

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Chell peeks around the corner, and sees the CPs, which were on the factsheet of Gordon's that she studied.

"Alyx!" she hisses, coming back to the group. "Civil Protection!"

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"They likely to shoot first and ask questions later?" He'd bet yes.

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vance_prime

"Not if we shoot first," says Alyx darkly, and rounds the corner with gun blazing.

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Civil Protection officers aren't augmented, and have no particular advantages in terms of speed or strength. They are, however, generally bullies and sneaks by nature, and such men are prone to reacting quickly and with force. Gunfire rings out immediately in response, even as one of the CPs dives for cover and a better vantage point.

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Chell dives for cover behind a wall--she knows better than to let herself get shot at.

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Charlie follows Chell's lead, and studies the terrain, looking for a way to somehow get behind the CPs and take them out. He's not really finding it.

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vance_prime

Alyx doesn't even hesitate.

Five seconds later, she's oozing blood in three places, but the cops are dead.

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Luckily, Chell's well-conditioned eye spots a vial of something very similar to what Gordon once gave her, rolling off into the sewer. She catches it in the nick of time, and gives it to Alyx. "Here. This will help."

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vance_prime

Alyx waves her off, shaking her head. "Doesn't work on me. I'll be fine, I heal fast..."

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Chell nods, still wary, and pockets it for use later. If she's going to be support, she might as well be useful.

She positions her gun, and sets up another portal, marking progress in a clear zone.

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"Oh my!" says Kleiner, adjusting his glasses. The death of the metrocops doesn't even rate batting an eye when there's a portal to investigate. "How on Earth did you manage that, miss? Is it replicatable?"

It's something of a pity Gordon isn't here. The crowbar may be needed to pry Kleiner away.

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Charlie just watches. Alyx and Chell both have reflexes that make even Shiva look clumsy. He's really not sure if he's needed. It's like working with Batman again.

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