Well now, I'm trying something different. This is an idea I've had for a long, long time. It's a journal entry sort of thing based on Alyx's life after the incident at Black Mesa, but before the events of Half-Life 2. Basically this chapter is just an introduction and an example of how I plan to write it: it will open with a journal entry from Alyx, then a third-person narration will take over and explain what she's talking about. Check out the pilot for a better example.
Note: These entries will NOT be in chronological order, so pretend that Alyx's journal got seriously ripped up or something and she put it in the wrong order. Please enjoy!
Based on: Half-Life 2 (Valve)
Rating: K+
Author's Notes: Sorry it's short, it's just an example. I wrote this while having writer's block, so it may not be THAT exciting.
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If you are reading this, than that could only be for two reasons:
1. I let you.
2. You stole it, which means that Dog wasn't as great of a guard as I thought he was.
This is my private journal of things I have written throughout my life, up until now. I am a perfectly healthy twenty-four year old, whether or not I'm happy really depends on which story you will read. I have been through many bad times—the incident at Black Mesa did nothing but create hell.
Can you imagine this place in ruin? I'll bet you've asked yourself that before, but you've never really thought about it happening. I ask the opposite each day—Can you imagine this place as it used to be, before the Combine invasion?
I have lost those dear to me, I have seen death flash before my eyes, and I've been on the verge of loosing my life as well. I've found some friends, saved some lives, and done things you probably haven't or plan to. I can use a gun, I can drive anything, you can show me something and I'll most likely be able to fix it.
My mother is gone, and after her death I've realized how important family is to me. I've lived through hammy-downs of my mother's old clothing, wearing the same thing for years and years until I can hardly move in it. While you were learning about ancient empires, I was learning how to use a sniper rifle. You learned how to read and write in first grade, I learned how to survive on my own. The list goes on and on.
This is my life. I only hope that as you read each event I have written down, you will realize how lucky you are.
-Alyx Vance
A sigh erupted from the young woman as she closed the cover of her old, now tattered, journal. The light of her father's scrap yard was just barely enough for her to write in. Memories of her past experiences circled throughout her mind in a never ending loop. Dog's humungous posture stood next to her, electronic barking noises coming out from his synthetic mouth. Alyx turned around a slipped a smile at him.
"Now Dog," she began, "I want you to guard this, ok? Don't let anyone see it unless I tell you."
Dog shook up and down as another electronic bark could be heard from him. Alyx pat the metal flaps of his head.
"Good Doggie," she said in a childish-like tone, slipping the journal into Dog's shack that could be counted as a dog house. "I'll see you later, ok?"
Another electronic bark, another smile. Alyx walked towards the airlock, waving good-bye to her pet. "Take care of that!"
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Just another quick note, I tend to think of Alyx as a twnety-four year old. I have no idea how long ago Half-Life 1 was supposed to take place--the concepts say ten years, but I hear from others that it's twenty--but I'll assume that it's been twenty years. Also, there was a note in the book "Raising the Bar", a book filled with concepts of the game, that had brainstorms of Black Mesa's name, along with a date from 2003. I'll go ahead and say that's when Half-Life 1 took place, and we're in 2023 now.