Gordon's hand slowly let up on the gas of the vehicle. The airboat made a crackling sound as it slowed to a stop. A few supply crates lay on an empty sand island, sprouting from the thick toxic waste. The sand was dark and gray, rather depressing to Gordon. He put his foot down on the ground and it started to seep through the already wet ground. He swung his other foot onto the ground and stood in the mushy earth starring blankly at the crates.

The sky was heavy with orange as dawn came among him, another day in this place called City 17. Gordon had not slept in days he had began to feel the effects of it. His eyes were rusty and his muscles worn, but he knew that the only choice was, move on and die or stay put and die.

Walking over to the crates he heard the faint sound of seagull's wings flapping in the distance and the echo of they're yelp as they set off to another wasteland. Gordon snapped his head, ready for an ambush but realizing it was only a bird. He walked over to the crate, and welt his crowbar. Pulling his arm back and lamenting the loud smashing sound that pierces his eardrums every time he cracks open a new box. A feeling of annoyance went through him as he saw a few submachine gun clips lay on the shattered pieces of wood, for he had already had as much as he could carry.

As he smashed the other box he was happy to find two unused power cells which the combine used to power they're armor and the special attachment that Dr. Kliener had made, gave the same purpose to Freeman.

He walked back to the airboat and jumped into the moldy seat. Gordon wasn't a huge fan of unsanitary vehicles, but had no choice.

He kicked the power on and the motor popped violently and began to run. He revved it a few times and took off. The wind hit his face like a wet towel, as he squinted from the air slamming into his eyes.

His mouth tasted of salt and his sense of smell was nothing more than the stench of rotting flesh and biological waste. Almost every minute he felt the urge to gag but he knew, there was no time for petty acts like that.

The citadel rose to the clouds in the distance, the massive structure was as intimidating. It was a surprise to Gordon the first time he'd seen it, but it was nothing more than a backdrop now.

Air was rushing through is hair as he built up speed. It was a narrow stretch of goopy waste and Freeman was not excited to keep going. He then saw a few more crates to his left.

Drawing the boat to the right he parked it near the stretch of wood. That they sat on.

He killed the engine off once again, only to have the nervous feeling of it not starting again. His foot made a hollow sound as it hit the old board on the dock.

Then he caught something in the corner of his eye, he pivoted to see what it was, it was a dark object falling from the sky. It was moving at an alarming rate, the question is, What?

It couldn't have been a head crab pod, because there would have been more. It couldn't have been a gunship or drop ship, it was much to small.

It kept falling and falling until it disappeared behind a warehouse. Anxious to see what it is, he hopped back on the airboat, started the engine and left the crates in the dust.

He didn't think about anything else but what this was, he drove faster to get to the location of this object.

Finally he came to a concrete landing, turned off the engine and got off. He took out his submachine gun and began to walk slowly into the array of burnout warehouses. He took a stealth stance and moved closer to door of the dreary metal building. The door crept open and he peaked inside, nothing was there.

He turned on his flashlight and saw nothing but old oil barrels and wooden beams, covered in decades of dust.

He closed the door behind him to keep anyone else from getting a sneaky edge and moved into the musty building. He felt pain almost as the dust careened into his eyes.

There was a metal staircase, he decided to take a look upstairs, moving slowly as the metal of his H.E.V suit and the structure clanged ever so slightly he felt a familiar feeling in his face. He kept his keen pose and continued up the stairs. The exact moment that he had reached the top and success went through his mind, something else blared from his face, a sneeze.

As he swiftly put his hand to his face to keep anymore from coming, and as he stood there in the dead silence, he heard an new noise arise in the eerie place, a long and chirpy clicking sound.