Chapter 1: Dark Energy
Dr. Wallace Breen raced down the hall as fast as he could. He entered a room with a large monitor and turned on said monitor. Something appeared on the screen.
"There's been a mishap," said Dr. Breen out of breath. "I need to get out of here now!"
"You were suppose to maintain the Citadel until the Event date," said the mysterious figure on the screen. "I do not know if… is that a piece of gold in your hand?"
"What? No, I don't even have anything in--"
"Because you know how we feel about the auric material, Dr. Breen."
"Yes, I understand, but there is something more serious happening right now! Freeman has breached the Citadel, and he will kill me and possibly you if we do not find a way to rid of him immediately!"
"What would like us to do, Dr. Breen, seeing how you cannot solve this problem yourself?
"It would seem now would be the best time to start the Event. All I ask is that you teleport me to a location outside of the Event area."
"Start the Event now? The Combine forces may have a firm control of Earth now, but even we do not have the resources to start a military-scale invasion so quickly. Even is we did create the superportal now, it would take some time before the first units would arrive."
"Yes, I know the risk involved, but it's the only way we can get Freeman out of the way for certain. Now, can you please provide a location for me to escape?"
"Very well, Dr. Breen, we will allow you to make the Combine homeworld your residence until further notice."
"What? The Combine homeworld? Surely, you can set the relay destination elsewhere? There is no way I can survive in that environment."
"I admit the Combine homeworld may not be the most hospitable planet in the galaxy, but I guarantee your current location will be far less forgiving in the near future, Dr. Breen."
"Oh, alright damn it. If that is what it takes. Just hurry! He's right behind me!"
The room shakes with a loud bang. Dr. Breen can see Gordon Freeman trying to break in.
"Oh shit," Dr. Breen shouted as he headed towards the Citadel teleporter.
Dr. Breen ultimately entered the teleporter without injury. Thinking the worst was over, Breen began mocking Gordon Freeman out of relief.
"Dr. Freeman, you really shouldn't be out there. At the moment of synapse, as I teleport, this chamber will be bathed in deadly particles that have yet to be named by human science. Perhaps when I have the leisure to do the work myself, I will name one after you. That way you won't be completely forgotten," Dr Breen gloated. "When the singularity collapses, I will be far away from here, in another universe in fact. You, on the other hand, will be destroyed in every way possible, and even some essentially impossible!"
As Dr. Breen was beginning the teleportation process, he could see Gordon Freeman attempting to climb up the dark energy reactor.
"I could have told you that was pointless, Dr. Freeman," said Dr. Breen. "I warned you this was futile. I hope you have said your farewells!"
Just as the teleportation process neared completion, Gordon Freeman began attacking the dark energy reactor above the teleporter. The entire area started shaking violently and buzzing with alarms.
"Go back Freeman, you have no idea what you are doing," shouted Dr. Breen as his teleporter was taking damage. Gordon Freeman continued his assault on the reactor even as Combine soldiers and gunships were surrounding him.
"You do not know what you will unleash," pleaded Dr. Breen. "You could bring down this whole Citadel! Think, man! Think of the people below!"
Dr. Breen could see the teleportation process nearing its final stages, but he also noticed the amount of damage the dark energy reactor had taken. Suddenly, the teleporter experienced complete failure due to the amount of damage the reactor had taken.
"No! This can't be," Dr. Breen screamed.
The reactor had reached its limit. It obliterated the entire top of the Citadel.
*BOOM*