Barney Calhoun hated his job. Not only was it tedious and boring, but required him to awaken at six in the morning every morning, get into a freezing cold metal box, and sit in that for an hour waiting to arrive at his post. Oh, and he had to actually live at the facility. Barney would've seriously considered resignation if not for his best friend Gordon Freeman, a scientist at the facility who didn't have to go through what Barney did, due to the fact he spent most of his day in the staffroom with the other Anomalous Materials scientists, waiting for something to do, and his girlfriend Lauren, also a scientist, but Barney didn't even know what she did. Barney, however, had to complete useless patrols every single morning, afternoon and night. He was paid more than some, however there was nothing to spend it on, as a night out would require a four-hour drive to the only civilized city near the facility, which would drain half his money on petrol. He would then proceed to coax drinks out of everyone he drove out with, ending up owing more than he could, losing the rest of his money on a motel room and waking up Saturday morning with a splitting headache in a dirty room covered in vomit. Every year he told himself it was the last year, but he always ended up staying. Lauren worked at Black Mesa as well, but down in Sector G so there was no chance that they'd bump into each other during work unless Barney was called down for an emergency. Barney, at this point in time, sat in a so-called 'freezing cold metal box' (a Black Mesa Research Facility Automated Transit System Inbound Tram, or a Black Mesa Tram) and waiting to arrive at the Sector C guard posts, hoping to finally beat Gordon to it. They were both always late, and therefore competed to see who could be the less late. The sky outside the tram was dark, and Barney settled into his chair, closing his eyes. His tram ride was a long one, and he could definitely afford a nap before arrival. He sat back comfortably, and slowly drifted into sleep.
Barney Calhoun awoke. It took him a second to realize where he was, and another to clock that the sun was shining. He must have been asleep for at least an hour. The Black Mesa Announcement System had begun to drone on in its monotonous robotic tones about the weather, upcoming events and safety procedures. Barney looked out the windows and realized that he only had five minutes of his tram ride left, and would soon be at work. It didn't surprise him that no one had gotten on while he was asleep; as there were so many trams that everyone normally took their own. A helicopter flew overhead, drowning the BMAS's voice for a minute, and the tram began to descend into a tunnel. The BMAS continued speaking, notifying Barney of the time: 8:42am. As the tram went lower into the dark, pink-rock tunnels Barney nervously wondered how late he was. If the time was 8:42, then that was only roughly twelve minutes, maybe fifteen by the time he got there. Not a long time, and definitely the fault of the tram. An hour and forty-five minute journey from the staff dormitories to Sector C is definitely a fault in the system. Too bad he wasn't awake to witness it. The tram finally exited the dark tunnels and emerged into a half metallic area with metal platforms and long windows looking into test facilities. Scientists and guards milled about on the platforms, waiting for their day to officially start, marked by most by the first sip of their coffee. Barney's tram arrived at a circular metal hatch in the wall, which opened after a quick pause and allowed the tram to zip through into the next tunnel on its journey.
The tram rounded a corner and passed by the staff cafeteria. Scientists sat around at tables eating and drinking a variety of items, from freshly created pizza (by real Italians born in Mexico!) to burgers to sandwiches. The tram continued through the facility, and came to a stop at a platform where a scientist was crossing a bridge to the other side. Barney began nervously tapping against the chair in front of him. Hurry up! Finally, the scientist got to the other side and tram jolted into life again, moving swiftly through the tunnels. Scientists began moving into their laboratories, setting up equipment and jotting down notes needed for the coming day. Barney's tram turned a corner and came to a stop at a platform holding a guard with an extremely annoying Canadian accent and a bushy moustache, "Hey Calhoun. Let me just swipe you down." Barney thought he looked more like a police officer from The Simpsons than a security guard. Barney passed into the final stretch of tunnel on his way to work. He was now passing by the Sector C Living Quarters, for scientists working in the Anomalous Materials department. There were walls lined with vending machines and rooms up at the top for the elite scientists, such as the Administrator. A man in a white lab coat with brown hair and a small goatee and glasses emerged from a hallway, bought something from the vending machine, and walked towards the empty tram behind Barney's, entering it. It was Gordon Freeman. "Hey Gordon!" Barney yelled at the tram, but the BMAS would be too loud for Gordon to hear, adding onto the factor that the tram was already far behind him, stopping for the doors to close and the mechanisms to reprogram themselves to the destination on his security pass. This reminded Barney, and he pulled out his security pass, his tram nearing the door. The text on it told the reader of Barney's education, his position and his priorities, yet not his age. Barney shook his head and kept the pass in his hand, waiting to arrive at the door. The BMAS let him know of his arrival, and he left the tram through the automatically opening electronic door.
Barney stepped onto the stone platform, walked up to the metal door and swiped his pass on the sensor. Nothing happened. He tried again. There was a beep, but the door stayed locked. Barney pounded his fist on the door. "Hey! What the hell? I'm already late and frickin' door doesn't even work." He nearly fell onto the track in shock when a voice responded. "Yeah, sorry Calhoun, the door isn't responding to your pass." Barney bashed on the door a couple times, before turning around to find the source of a noise from behind him. Gordon Freeman's tram had caught up to him, and Gordon stood in there laughing at his expense. "Yeah, yeah, really funny, Gordon." Barney flipped him the finger, and Gordon replied with "You still owe me that beer!" Barney didn't have time to think of a reply before Gordon's tram rounded the corner. Barney settled back to banging on the security door, "Hurry up in there! Jesus Christ, the tram's screwing up and now this?" The guard replied, "Yeah, there's been problems with the facility all day, I think it's probably got something to do with the experiment they're doing in the Anomalous Materials Test Chamber." Barney thought for a second. Gordon was in the test chamber that day. Hopefully nothing bad happened. "What, is it the equipment or…?" Barney's voice faltered as the door beeped and whirred, "I've got it." The door slid open to reveal a guard behind it with a wrench. "Better hurry up, Calhoun." Barney nodded and ran through into the lobby.