The Organization-

The story of Barney Calhoun and Adrian Shepards' lives during the time period between The Incident and the Combine Invasion. Anything in this fan fiction that has to do with the Half-life franchise is owned by Valve Software and Sierra.


The Aftermath-

Barney Calhoun drove as fast as he could down the highway in the middle of the New Mexican desert. The SUV still had much gas left, which he found reassuring since he intended to leave the state. Barney had driven for hours, with, and it was already late afternoon. Escaping the research facility was living hell, but getting out of the state without being captured by government agents was an entirely different story. His thoughts were interrupted by an extremely loud blast from behind him. The ground started to rumble as if there were an earthquake. Looking at the rear view mirror he could see a huge, blinding white cloud that rose hundreds of feet in the air. The mushroom like smoke was right on top of where the Black Mesa Research Facility used to be. He stepped on the acceleration even harder which pushed the SUV from 90 mph to 110 mph.

"What in God's name was that!"

"They nuked Black Mesa!" Barney answered pointedly to the scientist sitting next to him, whose I.D. tag identified him as Dr. Michael Rosenberg.

The two scientists sitting in the back, Henry Graph, and Walter Bennett gaped in terror as they watched the scene unfold. Barney was just as petrified as they were. Yet he didn't show it. Having a scared security guard with you doesn't help the situation.

"Are we out of this cursed wasteland yet?" Walter asked nervously.

"Easy for you to say!" Henry snapped.

"We are about eighty miles away from the Arizona state border. We're lucky we got out of there before the nuclear bomb exploded." Barney said.

"But all those civilians, guards, and scientists, any survivors are dead. Even the soldiers." Dr. Rosenberg whispered as if he were talking to himself.

"I don't give a damn about those military death squads, Marine or Black Op. They slaughtered innocent people!" Barney yelled.

The four stayed silent afterwards. Soon afternoon slipped into evening, which scared the scientists sitting in the SUV even more than Barney. They kept traveling, eager to get to their destination. Finally, they had reached the border after a few hours of high speed driving a racecar driver would have been proud of. Excitement turned to dread as the found the border gate closed. Barney slammed on the breaks before they could crash into the gate, and ended just a few inches away from it.

"Why did you stop? Just keep going already! Salvation is just beyond that fence!" Walter screamed in desperation.

"Wait, I think it's a trap." Barney said instinctively.

"What now? Just drive right through the gate!" Henry declared.

"Everyone stop, listen to Barney. Something isn't right at all, they wouldn't close the gate on the state border now would they?" Rosenberg explained.

"I'll go outside and check the guard house." Barney said.

"You better be careful Barney, anything could be out there." Warned Dr. Rosenberg

The guard cautiously stepped out of the vehicle, searching the environment to check for any traps. He notices that there is someone sitting in the booth, but the chair is turned the other way. The person's head also slumped towards his chest. He then takes out his .357 magnum revolver from his holster and points it straight at the person sitting in the chair.

"Hey! Open the gate! Wake up!" Barney coaxed, thinking the guard was sleeping.

Barney turns the seat around, and steps back in horror when he looks upon the border guard. There was a knife jammed into the person's forehead. When he was about to go out the door, a bullet hit the dead guard, causing to Barney dive under the window for cover.

"Calhoun, what the hell is happening?" Henry said in dismay, attempting to get out of the SUV.

"Don't get out of the car! There's a sniper!" Barney yelled

But it was already too late. As soon as Henry stepped out of the SUV, several sniper slugs hit him. Dark red blotches started to form under his white lab coat. The lifeless body collapsed to the ground. Clicks can then be heard indicating the sniper was reloading

"No! You damn bastard!" Barney howled in rage. He was not about to lose another scientist to those government operatives now.

Barney got up and aimed his gun out the window, and scanned the area behind the car for the sniper. Even with all that driving, all his fatigue from fighting aliens and soldiers in Black Mesa, his reflexes weren't dulled. He quickly found the snipers hiding place due to the moonlight's reflection off the soldier's silvery Scout sniper rifle. When the black-clad assassin appeared from behind a boulder, Barney fired. Three loud booms can be heard. The first bullet missed the sniper all together, the second ricocheted off the rock, but the third hit its target. The .50 caliber slug tore through the Black Op's Kevlar, rupturing his lungs, and with the force of the impact sending him 10 feet in the air. With that accomplished, Barney stepped out of the booth and slowly walked to where Henry lay dead. The scientists stared blankly at the security guard, still amazed at Barney's adaptability to the situation when under fire. The guard picked up Henry and placed him in the back trunk.

When he was about to close the trunk's lid, a dart hit him right on his left ankle. He painfully turned around just to be hit square in the chest by two more darts. He fell to the ground, hating himself for lowering his guard while he completely blacked out. Before Walter or Rosenberg could act, a squad of Black Ops surrounded the SUV, holding their 9-millimeter MP5 submachine guns up, ready to shoot at any threat. The scientists surrendered, knowing that with Henry dead, and Barney knocked out, they had absolutely no chance of winning.

"Come out of the vehicle with your hands behind your head! No one is allowed to leave the border without proper verification. " A figure who seemed to be the squad leader loudly informed.

"Wait, don't shoot! We are scientists from the Black Mesa Research Facility!" Rosenberg was the first to answer, having a futile hope of getting passed this barricade in one piece.

But that was a mistake to say that, because now that they all had their sights on the two scientists.

'Damn, should have said we were civilians.' Rosenberg thought to himself.

Just when Walter was about to say something, a ball of green electricity appeared out of nowhere. All the Black Ops' attention totally switched to the teleport, as the scientists recognized. A dark, pale-skinned figure stepped out of the teleporter. The operatives slowly lowered their weapons realizing who it was. Upon closer examination, you can notice the slick black, brushed back hair. He wore a dark blue suit, and carried a metal suitcase with the Black Mesa logo on it. It was the government man, as everyone called him.

"You." That was all Rosenberg could say, clenching his fists. He glared at the g-man, in deep hatred, knowing he was the one who directed the entire resonance cascade.

"It seems we still have a few loose ends to tie up." The g-man said with that same scowl, in that same hesitant speech with the snake-like s sound that Rosenberg loathed.

"Hmm, your protector has been put to sleep, thanks to highly concentrated anesthetic, which by the way, the darts, contained. What are you going to do Rosenberg? Or shall I call you Mr. Rosenberg instead?

Both Michael and Walter stayed silent, no wanting to show their fright to the worm before them.

"Worm? Ah, but you will find more repulsive traits about me than that. You should better guard your thoughts."

Both scientists stared at disbelief. How could someone read his or her minds like that?

"You have two choices, gentlemen. Either the both of you join my, err…my employers' organization, or we will kill your favored security guard.

"We are not afraid of you! Employ this asshole!" Walter declares menacingly, while sticking up his middle finger at the g-man.

"Walter don't!" Rosenberg yelled. But it was too late.

The g-man then gazes evilly at Walter. He then turns away. Walter begins to feel something invading his mind. A shrieking voice then told him, "Now you will feel true pain inferior human!". Walter wails and puts his hands on his head, and starts to convulse violently. Only after a few minutes of disturbing whining, Walter finally drops to the ground. Rosenberg, who was watching Walter's seizure, winced back when he saw the white, lifeless eyes of his colleague. He turns fearfully to the g-man.

"Well, Mr. Rosenberg, it is time to choose." The g-man cackled harshly. Michael Rosenberg knew what he had to do.

End: The Aftermath


Author's Notes: I edited this chapter, so it makes more sense. I've revamped the plot, so the story includes the perspectives of both Calhoun and Shepard. It should sound better. I'll just have to see...