At Black Mesa East, Alyx Vance and a group of rebels were sitting in the common area. All of the rebels were on edge because of Barney's cryptic warning that the Combine were possibly going to be attacking people suspected of being rebels. The rebellion so far was a very under-rooted concept that had been, for the time, very well-concealed from the combine. However, every so-often combine patrols would round up random people suspected of anarchy or treason and were shipped off to Nova Prospeckt or arrested.
However, Barney's message earlier seemed like there might have been an attack coming that was larger than the normal round-up because, as Barney said, MANY CP's were buzzing about it rather than one or two here and there. Naturally, the Underground Railroad and Black Mesa east, being the biggest resistance focuses, were on high-alert for a possible attack.
Suddenly a faint sound of an explosion rumbled through the air, followed by another. And then there were two more.
Many of the rebels began buzzing with panic. Alyx, herself, was only 18 years old and was, admittedly, panicked. However, her pride kept her from showing any sign of fear or distress. Instead, she sat obediently on an old couch awaiting further information.
Suddenly a voice rang from down the above the stair way, "Barney's here!"
Alyx ran up the stairs to meet Barney, who was in the airlock. He was cursing the airlock loudly as it scanned him thoroughly.
"GODDAMN stupid AIRLOCK cycle! Taking forever. WORTHLESS waste of TIME!"
When the cycle was complete the door opened and Barney emerged, looking very flustered.
"THEY'RE ATTACKING RAVENLHOLM!" Barney said, "Head-crab shells! Dozens of them. If not hundreds!"
There was a loud gasp and a shockwave ran through the air.
"We need all hands on deck. We gotta help evacuate the citizens there!"
Barney and Alyx ran down the stairs, followed by a large group of rebels. They went through the tunnel, up the elevator and were in the entrance of Ravelholm.
"Alright, you guys" Barney said, motioning to a large group of rebels, "Wait here, cover anyone who comes through, and send them down the lift to Black Mesa East.
The rebels obediently stayed by the lift. Alyx, Barney and another group of rebels ran through Ravelholm and split up. They were directing frantic citizens to the exit area, but many, many more were running around with head-crabs on their faces. The rebels tried their best to de-crab the Ravelholm people, but to no avail as most of the head-crabbed people were already turning into zombies.
The zombification process was quick and qrotesque- a headcrab would leap onto your head, stabbing through your skull with its sharp spiked claws. The spike claws would puncture your brain, destroying all higher brain function. The headcrab becomes in complete control, and trying to detach only the headcrab will still result in the death of the host. If a headcrab fully latched onto your face, you were immediately a lost cause.
In Ravenholm, it was a horrifying sight. Shells were continuing to fall into the small town; many zombies were shambling around, attacking everyone indiscriminately; and fires erupted around the town, in futile attempts to keep zombies away.
Alyx came upon a man dressed in a priest outfit in the middle of a small common square. He was shaking violently, wielding an old shotgun with a box of shells at his feet.
"Father!" Alyx said, "We have to go. Follow me."
"I CANNOT!" The priest growled in a thick accent, "I must stay with my people! This is my congregation! If I let them remain in…in this…state they will never find salvation in heaven!"
"But, FATHER!" Alyx begged.
"GO, my dear! Save yourself! My work is of salvation! I must remain here!"
Alyx ran off to find Barney or someone who could help coax this man into evacuating. Meanwhile, shells were now pouring down like rain as Alyx ran around, dodging them. Finally she ran into Barney, who was looking very frantic.
"We have to get out of here!" he yelled.
"NO! There's still people around!" Alyx protested.
"It's too late! We have to get out!" Barney yelled, pulling on her.
"NOOO!" Alyx yelled as she tried to run back to the priest.
Barney had his arms fully around her now and was literally dragging her back to the elevator. They rode the elevator back down to Black Mesa east where citizens were being triaged from injuries they sustained in the attack.
Alyx turned angrily to Barney, prodding his finger into his chest.
"WHY did you take me out of there! There were citizens still there!" She yelled.
"Al, it was completely overrun!" Barney replied, "I'm sorry, but I was just lookin' out for you!"
"No you weren't!" Alyx said, storming off into her room.
After thirty minutes of fuming, Eli walked into the room Alyx was in.
"Sweetie, are you okay?" Eli asked softly.
"No," Alyx said, wiping tears from her eyes, "I never really doubted Barney before, but he made us leave when there were still people in Ravenholm."
"I know, baby," Eli said, hugging Alyx softly, "But the combine are over-running the place with those shells. With limited forces, you sometimes have to make tough decisions. If you wouldn't have gotten out of there when you did, who knows what would have happened. It's a tough situation and he's just as frustrated as you are about it. Try to see it from his shoes."
Alys sighed, "I guess you're right. I should probably go apologize and help out with the evacuees."
Alyx hugged her dad and went out of the room. She went into the common room where everyone was being treated for their injuries. Barney was attending to a rebel who was especially beat up and clawed up. Barney, himself, had a long slash on his left cheek, from his hairline to the middle of his cheek that was causing blood to run down his face and neck.
Alyx walked up to Barney, who looked solemn.
"Barney," Alyx said, "Are you okay? That looks pretty bad."
"Nah, I'm okay," Barney mumbled, clearly on edge around Alyx.
Alyx felt thoroughly terrible that Barney was tense around her, "Look, Barney, I'm really sorry for getting angry at you. I'm just upset, but I shouldn't have taken it out on you."
Barney stood up and smiled wearily, "It's okay, kiddo. I'm right there with you- I wish we could have saved everyone, but…it was getting really dangerous."
"I know, you're right," Alyx said. She gave Barney a warm hug before surveying his face.
"That looks bad. Are you sure you don't need anything?" she noted, looking at his face.
He shook his head, "I'm good. Just stings a little and needs to be cleaned up, but my face isn't gonna fall of in the meantime or anything."
"What happened?" Alyx asked.
"A stupid head-humper tried to jump on my face. I barely smacked it away in time," Barney replied with a look of deep disdain.
Alyx put her hand over her mouth, gasping. She almost cried at the thought of Barney- who was like an uncle to her-turning into a zombie. She now realized that he was right to make them leave when they did.
"Geez, Barney! Are you going to be okay?" Alyx asked.
"Don't worry so much! It's just a scratch." Barney said with a small smile. He was being quite modest, as the "scratch" was actually a pretty deep gash that was still causing blood to run completely down the left side of his face and neck.
"I got nothing as bad as this poor kid," Barney continued, nodding down at the person below him.
The man was severely injured. Zombies had clawed his chest and face and he was bruised pretty bad. Alyx surveyed him. Without the blood and scratches and bruises he looked like he was probably a pretty handsome man. He looked like he was in his twenties with dark brown hair. However, now he was bloodied and bruised almost beyond recognition. Alyx frowned, saddened by the poor man's misfortune.
"What happened to him?" Alyx asked, frowning.
"A bunch of zombies cornered him and were beating and clawing the hell out of him." Barney said with a frown, "Poor guy."
Alyx looked at the man, who was breathing shallowly and was completely passed out.
"Is he gonna be okay?" Alyx asked.
"Yeah, should be fine. Just some scratches and maybe a concussion. Just make sure he keeps breathing," Barney said with a sinister smirk.
Alyx nodded, "So you gotta go?"
"Yeah," Barney said, "Gotta sneak back into my barracks. I'll come back when I can. Probably a few days or so."
Alyx nodded and hugged Barney before he took off.