Disclaimer: Sadly I own nothing of the Half-Life series. That all belongs to Valve. Any original characters here belong to me.

A/N: First Half-Life story. Any feedback welcome. Also, I'm relatively new to the FanFiction text format, so please bare with me until I can fully figure it out.

July 1st, 2012 - 8:00a.m.

San Diego, California

The morning was like any other morning. The clock went off at 8; it took several pushes of the snooze button before I finally was able to work up the energy to get out of bed. I sat up and looked around the room. There was a closet in one corner, clothes, books, and computer hardware spewing out, an average sized desk with a laptop on it in the other, and a 42 inch Plasma on the wall.

I turned my attention to the TV and turned it on. Channel 31, CNN, was the current channel. I stood up and slouched over to the bathroom and started the shower. I walked back into my room to set out my clothes when I noticed what was playing on CNN. Apparently a governmental research facility in New Mexico had suffered catastrophic damages and the U.S. Army was being sent in to clean up the mess.

I sat there and watched the news footage three more times. There was something about it that didn't seem right. Maybe it was because it was extremely odd to see a government accident of this magnitude on the news.

I got up and went to the bathroom to take my shower. I stepped out of the bathroom and put my clothes on. I walked over to my laptop and powered it up. After it turned on, I began typing an e-mail to a business associate of mine regarding our latest project – Zychpacillin, an extremely advanced treatment for Cancer.

It was at that time that I heard a knock on my door. I walked down stairs and opened the door. It was my friend Mitch.

Mitch was tall. 6'6'' to be precise. He had short blond hair, and dark blue eyes. He was wearing a black tee shirt with blue jeans and a pair of hiking boots. This was unusual. It wasn't like Mitch at all. He usually wore a white tee, board shorts, and flip flops. He had a small black bag with him.

"What's up man?" I asked "Come in."

Mitch bursts through the door and looks at me. "This is serious. This isn't good at all." He says, sounding scared.

"What's serious?" I ask

"This disaster in New Mexico; the research facility."

"What the hell is going on?" I ask, becoming increasingly worried.

"The research facility in New Mexico, Black Mesa I believe it's called. Have you seen the news lately?" He asks.

"Yeah, I saw something about that earlier. Something about an explosion."

"Well I have a friend there who was able to make it out alive and he says that what's going on underground is serious. As in 'end of the world' serious. I got a call from him earlier after he made it to the surface. He's hiding out in a small town in Arizona - Yuma - I was hoping you'd come with me to get him." Mitch said.

"Yeah, I'd be glad to help. Just let me get a few things first, okay? Wait here."

I walked back upstairs and into my room where I reached under my bed and pulled out a large, black case. I looked at the digital display for a second, and then I pushed the green enter button. The display came to life. "Please enter PIN" flashed on the screen. 0-4-2-1-9-3-7-1-1. I entered these numbers on the touch-pad and the latch on the case made a loud clicking noise. I opened the case and removed a Beretta 9mm handgun, two extra clips, a small amount of cash, and a satellite cell phone. I put the gun in my waistband, stuck the rest in my pockets and walked back downstairs.

"Okay, let's roll." I said.

As we were walking to the car, I said to Mitch "So how do you know this guy anyway?" He told me that he was a good friend of his dad's from collage, and that he used to help Mitch with his Math and Science homework when he was younger.

When we got to the parking space in the garage, I got in and started the jet black Humvee. Mitch followed soon thereafter.

I put the truck in gear and drove up the two ramps and through the exit of the parking garage. I made a right onto Pacific Coast Highway, and drove north to get on the freeway.

"So why do you need my help with this, anyway? I mean, you're only going to pick him up right?" I asked Mitch.

"When he called me, he told me that it'd probably be a good idea to bring some backup since by the time we get there, this thing most likely will have been blown way out of proportion. We need to stop and pick up Geoff, too."

"Okay." I said. "By the way, what is this guys name?"

"Gordon… Gordon Freeman." He replied.

Even though I'd never heard the name before in my life, I felt like I had. I don't know why. I shook off the thought as I pulled into our friend Geoff's driveway.

"You can stay here, I'll go get him." I volunteered.

"Alright." He said.

July 1st, 2012 – 9:28a.m.

San Diego, California

I walked up to the door and rang the bell. Nothing. I rang the bell once more. Again, nothing. It was at that time that I continuously started beating on the door.

Geoff finally opened the door.

Geoff was about your average height. He was about your average body type too. Everything about him screamed average except his brain. He was extremely smart. Matter of fact, that's probably why he was coming along; for his brain. He had lengthy brown hair that seemed to curl on just the ends.

"What the fuck man? Its 9:30."

"Get your ass up, were going to Yuma."

"Yuma..? Why Yuma..? Who's we?? What the hell is going on?" He said.

He peered over my shoulder and saw Mitch in my Hummer.

"Dude, I'm not in the mood for a fucking road trip." He said, irritated.

He then began to shut the door, when I pushed my way into his living room.

"This isn't a fucking road trip. This is serious. I'm not sure what exactly is going on, but whatever it is, it's serious. Mitch came to my house this morning at about 8:30 frantic about the situation in New Mexico."

"What situation in New Mexico?" Geoff asked with a yawn.

I grabbed the remote and turned the TV on to CNN. He sat there for 5-6 minutes, just like I did, watching in awe. It was at about that time that Mitch walked in the front door.

"What the hell is taking you guys so long?" he asked.

"Geoff was sleeping." I replied.

"Dude, we have to go." Mitch said to us. "I don't know how much longer we have."

"Alright, alright. Geoff, get dressed and get your Glock. We'll be in the truck." I said.

Mitch and I walked back to the Hummer and got in. I turned the radio on to the local alternative station.

"I'm glad you think ahead… I completely forgot to tell you to get your gun." Mitch said to me.

"I take it you brought yours then." I said.

Mitch pulled out his Sig Sauer P239.

"Yup…"

"Great… guys driving down the highway armed to the teeth… Let's hope we don't get pulled over." I muttered.

Geoff then hopped into the backseat.

"Alright guys, I'm ready."

I put the car in gear, backed out of the driveway, and drove onto the highway.

A/N: Alright, I know there weren't many Half-Life references in that first chapter, but I promise more to come. Constructive criticism welcomed.