Hello, Readers! This story takes place after Eli's death and centers around Alyx Vance and her feelings after her father's tragic death. She begins to assess her life, thinking about who matters to her, who doesn't, and what she will do when an old friend makes an unexpected return. By the way, this story ties to my other story, At Black Mesa East. I will be writing another story that will tie to THIS one, about Barney joining the Civil Protection in City 17. If you want to read At Black Mesa East, just visit my profile!
As always, reviews are warmly welcomed and much appreciated.
Eli was dead. No one could fully comprehend it. Nonetheless, the Vortigaunts whisked his body away from the helicopter hangar and buried him. Others picked up broken glass and debris and boarded up broken windows.
That entire evening, no words were really said among the rebels, because no words in the human or even Vortigaunt language could accurately describe the mood in the air. Every single person was sad, beaten-down, worried, gloomy and confused. However, even these heavy words didn't penetrate the many complex levels of their despair. The resistance had lost two important figures in a very short amount of time. The mortality of the resistance stung everyone like a knife in their chest.
Initially the revolution seemed hopeful, possible, and exciting. Now, however, everyone felt doubt, fear, hopelessness, and anguish. While everyone felt the same way, no one wanted to say it- no one could say it or dared to try. How could anyone utter the words that spoke of the possibility that, perhaps in their haste to overthrow the combine, they might have signed the death sentence of humanity?
Alyx Vance was particularly withdrawn. She spent 30 straight minutes crying over her father's deceased body, and violently lashed out at Gordon for pulling her away. She went into her room and sobbed hard the rest of the afternoon and well into the night.
In the dining area and all the sitting areas, silent anguish hung over like a steel cloud- stifling everyone and everything. Even the wind and the crickets didn't have the audacity to make a sound. Gordon Freeman sat alone in a corner of a hangar, staring into a fire numbly.
Suddenly, faint rustling came from outside. Normally the sounds would have been so faint that they would be impossible to hear; but on this silent, somber night the faint sounds exploded into the night like cannon fire. Gordon and some other rebels, fearing that the combine were trying to attack during this weak time, quietly made their way into the forest, searching for the source of such defiant interruption.
Gordon heard footsteps around the building. He quickly whirled around and planted the butt of his gun into Combine armor. Unfortunately, the disheveled looking man with a mane of black hair didn't look amused.
"JESUS, Gordon! What the hell's wrong with ya?" Barney Calhoun yelled into the night- his voice booming with agitation.
Gordon looked slightly mortified, "Barney?" he gasped.
"No, I'm Dr. Breen, now get me UP!" Barney said, holding out his arm.
Gordon hoisted Barney up. Barney surveyed Gordon's group and then his own. Barney's group looked tired and injured, while Gordon's looked solemn and depressed.
"Wh…what's going on, guys?" Barney asked cautiously, his voice lowered.
"Eli….There was an ambush earlier and….they killed Eli. The advisors did." Gordon mumbled, looking down at his feet.
Barney's mouth dropped open and his eyes stared just past Gordon, painting a lock of shock and horror on Barney's face.
"No," Barney whispered, shaking his head slowly, "No. No, no no."
Barney looked at Gordon weakly, hoping that Gordon would bust out a wicked grin and tell him that it was his own sick form of humor. Unfortunately, that grin didn't come.
"What….what are we gonna do?" Barney whispered to no one in particular.
Gordon was almost amazed- Barney was able to ask the question that failed everyone else's mouths.
Barney suddenly shook himself, as if out of a bad dream. He looked back to his group, "You all get to the infirmary if you need to. The rest of you, go see a white forest rebel leader and see if you can make yourselves useful."
Barney then uncharacteristically slumped into the base, Gordon following close behind. In light of the base, Gordon could see Barney's injured and slightly mangled face. He had a cut going over his right eye, a bruise on the cheek below that, and a gash on the lower part of the left side of his lip. Barney's eyes illustrated a sense of weariness that Gordon had never seen on another human being.
As they walked, Barney suddenly turned to Gordon.
"Where's Alyx?" he asked.
"In her room. Down that hall and the last door on the right," Gordon answered, "But I wouldn't go in there, she's really distressed."
Through the exhaustion, Gordon saw a weird determination in Barney's eyes.
"I'm gonna go see her," Barney said flatly.
"I wouldn't. Maybe she just needs some space." Gordon suggested.
However, upon seeing Barney's unwavering determination, Gordon frowned, half-shrugged and simply replied, "Good luck, then."
Barney marched down the hall to the last door on the right. At her door, he tore off his armor and tossed it on the ground, not wanting to wear anything that would remind Alyx of the combine. He slowly turned the knob and walked into her room. She was lying on the bed, facing away from the door. Her body was bouncing with her sorrowful sobbing.
"Alyx?" Barney said softly.
Alyx turned over and practically jumped out of her bed. Her eyes were swollen and red, and were clearly visible in the dim light of her room.
"Barney?" Alxy whispered, stepping towards him.
"Al," Barney mumbled, "I am so…"
However, Barney wasn't able to finish the sentiment before Alyx lunged towards him.
"WHERE WERE YOU!" Alyx shrieked as she cocked a fist and lunged towards Barney. Barney quickly jumped aside and caught her arm with his hand. She tried to swing at him with her other arm, but Barney caught that one too. He wrapped her arms around herself and pulled her close to him. He enveloped her entire body with his arms and held her tight.
"Alyx! Alyx! Don't do this," Barney pleaded.
"YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE! YOU COULD HAVE HELPED US! YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE TO HELP! WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?" Alyx sobbed, writhing in his arms, trying to break free. She pushed hard against Barney's chest, trying to shove him away. Barney only held her tighter.
"Alyx!" Barney yelled over her sobs and screams, "Alyx! It's okay! It's okay!"
"NO IT'S NOT, YOU BASTARD! YOU ABANDONED US! WE HELPED YOU OUT OF THE CITY AND YOU LET US HERE TO DEFEND OURSELVES- TO LET MY DAD DIE! YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Alyx cried.
She pounded her fists against Barney's chest, but he still didn't let go.
"Alyx, don't fight it. Just let it out," Barney said soothingly.
Alyx finally slumped into Barney's arms, giving up her struggle. She sobbed hard into his chest, soaking his shirt with tears. Barney gently rubbed her back, not saying anything.
After several long minutes, Barney finally released Alyx, who looked at him painfully.
"What took you so long?" Alyx mumbled miserably, "I was so scared…"
"I am SO sorry, Al." Barney said, as if begging for forgiveness, "I got here as FAST as I could. The com….We got our asses kicked the whole way up here."
"By the combine?" Alyx said, tears streaming down her face.
Barney put a hand on each of Alyx's shoulders and looked straight into her eyes, "We WILL pay them back. We will take them down. Do you understand? We are NOT giving up until we kill every last goddamn Combine THING on this planet. Do you hear me?"
Alyx looked into his burning eyes and nodded. She finally gave him a warm hug, embracing her long-lost older brother.
"I'm so happy you're okay! Do NOT ever leave anywhere without me, please?" Alyx begged.
"Absolutely, kiddo," Barney said, hugging her back.