AN: This is a bit of a humor piece in Gordon's POV. What if Gordon tried something that was so obvious no one had tried it before? Don't own half life. Some quotes pulled from game. Part 1 of 2
As happens often at the resistance, I came upon two Vortigaunts communicating telepathically. Flux-shifting was what they called it. These two were particularly deep in conversation, as usually any Vortigaunt I came upon would say something to me.
The concept of flux-shifting was something very few humans were comfortable with, but I was fine with it. It was just how they naturally communicated, just like humans speak and write. So, having been around them for a few weeks, I decided I would try thinking at them. It wouldn't do anything, I was sure of that, but it would be kind of funny to act like I was participating in their conversation.
Hello, I thought, screwing up my brow in concentration.
To my great surprise, both Vortigaunts immediately turned in my direction, looking very surprised.
"The Freeman attempts to commune by flux-shifting! The Freeman must try again!" said one of them.
"We will assist the Freeman! We shall share the vortessance!" said the other, as they both began to hum.
Hello?
The Freeman has flux-shifted successfully with our help.
What makes this different than just thinking at you though?
We shall show you.
I then felt a prodding at the back of my mind, and a sensation of something loosening, like a muscle that had never been used.
The Freeman must try on his own now.
The Vortigaunts ceased their humming and looked at me expectantly.
Can you hear me now?
"Yesss! The Freeman is successful. The Freeman must come to a celebration. We shall roast the finest headcrab for you."
As much as the idea of a celebration appealed to me, roast headcrab did not. As one resistance member put it "they may be called headcrabs, but they sure don't taste like crab,".
Unfortunately for me the Vortigaunts seemed to have anticipated my reluctance and had come up a way to coerce me into coming.
"And we shall invite the Alyx as well."
There was no way I could not come now. I was smitten with her from the moment I first saw her.
You're doing this on purpose I thought irritatedly at them.
We do not know of what you speak
I entertained this thought as plausible for a few seconds until Alyx chose this moment to walk in the room. The Vortigaunts quickly and efficiently disabused me of the notion that they were innocent when one spoke up.
"The Alyx must come to a celebration."
"What? A celebration! What for?" Alyx inquired.
I wanted to crawl inside a supply crate and die of embarrassment here.
You are evil, you know that right I fluxed at them.
We do not know of what you speak
Yeah, right. I had a feeling that they would be saying that line a lot before the night was over.
"The Freeman has learned how to flux-shift. We shall all share the vortessance in celebration. We will be in the outer supply cave at sunset"
"Okay. See you then Gordon! I've got to get this reprogrammed first, but that shouldn't make me late."
Alyx flashed me a million watt smile, waved and left. Had I ever spoken to anyone but Vortigaunts since Black Mesa? It was strange- I had slaughtered so many of them, and yet here they were having a celebration for me.
"You have brought us grief and jubilation beyond measure" said one.
"Our life is worthless unless spent on freedom. You have freed us all." said the other.
Come to the celebration, Free Man. The Alyx will be there.
The Vortigaunts had given me a lot to think about.