Zatrion Presents: A Half-Life 2/Aliens Crossover

Fate of a Free Man

(I wish to thank earthrise for the review provided. For that review, you shall receive my gratitude. As for how the story began, I can see parallels between the two stories (Ordinary person in the middle of scary ET action, fighting for survival.) However, there is something that stuck in my mind. After the incident in the test chamber (In the original Half-Life), one of the scientists says something along the lines of wanting to study one of the aliens that you killed. I assume that you can draw your own conclusions.)

Chapter 1: Prep

"Man, look at all this hardware. These employers must have enough to obliterate a planet!" Barney is in awe of all the weapons that lie in front of him. If this were in another universe, the scene before his eyes would show a striking similarity to the Construct Armory scene from the first Matrix movie.

"Less gawking and more walking, Barn." Looking at the weapon rack to her left, Alyx notices something familiar; it's her custom pistol. Pulling it out from the rack, she inspects it. Seeing that is has never been used, she decides to holster it. Looking around, she finds an SMG in mint condition. Grabbing a shoulder strap, she clips it onto the SMG for easy access. Continuing on down the line, she finds a SPAS-12 shotgun, never used. Grabbing another shoulder strap, she clips it onto the shotgun. "No sign of deterioration, no GSR, nothing. None of these weapons have ever been used."

"I know. It's just creepy. Even weapons from the Combine show wear and tear, but these ones show no such characteristics." He grabs one the Overwatch Pulse Rifles.

"Aren't you gonna grab a shoulder strap for that?" Alyx looks at him, with a bemused but serious expression on her face.

"Straps could become a liability down the line, so I don't even bother with them." Looking down the line, he find something reminiscent of Black Mesa; a Glock 17 9mm handgun. He picks it up, grabs a hip holster, and places the gun inside of it. "All these weapons could be something similar to a walk down Memory Lane."

"Really? What makes you say that?"

"Just look around, Alyx. I know very little in the way of weapons, but the ones that I do know are here, including any that I had in City 17 or Black Mesa." Continuing on down, he finds an MP5. "Seeing these MP5s bring back some bad memories, Alyx. Back when the Government wanted to get rid of any survivors from the Incident, they would send in Paramilitary guys equipped with SPAS 12s and MP5s. I was lucky enough to get out by the skin of my teeth. Unfortunately, that's how your dad lost his leg, and we also lost countless other scientists because the government didn't want any leaked information." His head is faced down, with a crestfallen look.

Alyx looks at Barney with sympathy. She never knew the full extent of what happened at Black Mesa. Whenever she asked her father about it, he would try and steer clear of the subject. It wasn't until just before Gordon's arrival that he began to tell her what he knew. Although he was there, he never really dealt with the problems like Gordon or Barney. Turning away from him, she lets out a small "I'm sorry." She turns her head back to see Barney grabbing an MP5 and loading it. "I'd think you stay away from them." Her eyes are pointing to the MP5 in his hands.

"Well, we have to face our demons sometime. It might as well be today." Barney looks back at her. He watched her grow up from a small rambunctious tyke to a beautiful, intelligent young woman. Gordon's one lucky man, Barney thinks. Shaking his head, he turns around. Looking underneath the weapons rack, he finds cases filled with ammunition. "Stock up on ammo, Alyx. We don't know how long this mission is going to take, or the amount of enemies, or even if the enemies use weapons."

"Got it." To see him like this, this really concerned her. When growing up, he always played the part of the funny surrogate uncle. He was only very serious when under extreme pressure, and that only happened once; when her father was captured by the Combine. However, she realizes that he is right, and grabs all the ammo that she can carry, including grenades. Looking back, she sees Barney doing the same. "How are we supposed to carry all this?"

"Try using the duffel bags." Turning around, they find the G-Man standing there, his right hand pointing to above the weapon racks. "Don't worry; my employers have more than enough. And I would also suggest taking multiple weapons of the same type."

Barney looks up and sees the duffel bags that the G-Man mentions. "Why do you say that?"

The G-Man continues. "You are going to encounter other people who will need these weapons. I suggest that you take al least twelve more weapons, 2 for six people, with ammunition, to insure that these people stay alive. There are others, but they are expendable."

"No one's expendable!" Alyx is now pointing the pistol at the G-Man. "How many are there, besides those six?"

"I will explain this when you reach Mr. Freeman. Once again, I suggest you make haste." With those words, the G-Man walks ahead, disappearing into a light door.

"Damn, we almost forgot about Gordon!" Turning around, Barney grabs some duffel bags and fills them up with weapons.

Almost simultaneously, Alyx grabs some more duffel bags. "What weapons are you grabbing?"

"6 of those 9mm's from City 17, 3 SMGs, and 3 Overwatch Pulse Rifles."

"Double that, Barney, and add 6 shotguns, too." Alyx then proceeds to fill the bags with dozens of clips for the mentioned weapons.

"Won't that be overkill, Alyx?"

"Trust me."

1111

Let's skip by those two for a while and focus once again on Gordon Freeman. He is once again in a black room, holding 4 duffel bags.

"So, I see that you got everything that you needed, Mr. Freeman." The G-Man walks in from a light door behind Gordon.

"More or less. You mind telling me what this is about." Gordon's look is one of a man who is very unamused.

"It shall be revealed in due time, Mr. Freeman. Until then, we have to wait for your companions."

"Companions? What are you…?" Gordon looks at the G-Man with a look of curiosity. Soon that look fades to one of anger. "Damn it, leave them out of this!"

"You have no choice, Mr. Freeman. They chose to come with you to insure your survival." The G-Man couldn't really lie, although he can really screw with the truth, such as leaving out important things, or twisting the words he uses.

"More like threatened some people." Barney and Alyx walk out of the light door, carrying 8 duffel bags between them.

"I see that you got everything that you needed, and more. It seems that I underestimated your tenacity." The G-Man has a small smirk on his face. "However, you can't save them all."

"We'll do our damnedest to see that they do survive. All of them." Alyx looks at Gordon, seeing his anger. "Gordon, don't lose your cool. We're in this for the long haul." She sees that he drops his shoulders, showing that he can't win.

"This is most humorous, Mr. Freeman. You are more than capable of talking to me, but when you are around others, you seem to become mute. It is quite perplexing. I'm curious, why don't you speak to them."

Gordon looks into the G-Man's face. Sighing, he finally speaks. "It's true I don't usually speak, but I do so with good meaning."

"What would that meaning be, Mr. Freeman? I am rather curious."

"I follow an old human axiom; Actions speak louder than words!" Pulling out his crowbar, he swings it at the G-Man's case, knocking it out of his hands. He then flips it over and jams the straight end into the G-Man's left eye.

"Was that really necessary?" The G-Man asks this, oblivious to the crowbar poking out of his ocular orifice. "I realize that you are angry at me, but now is not the time to vent your anger. Use this anger during your mission." Pulling out the crowbar, he hands it back to Gordon. It looks as if he wasn't even touched

"So are you going to tell us about the mission, or are you going to lead us into the dark?" Alyx is getting very impatient, shown by minor tapping of her right foot. By this time, the duffel bags from both Gordon and herself are on the floor.

"Ah, yes. This mission is essentially a rescue operation, coupled with a seek and destroy mission."

"Savior and Slaughter type, huh?" Barney finally speaks up after entering the room.

"Yes, Mr. Calhoun. A 'Savior and Slaughter', as you put it. It seems that some time ago, a small terraforming colony on another planet lost contact with the outside. A squad of Marines are en route to this planet to reestablish contact."

"Sounds like we aren't needed, then. The marines can do the rescuing, and clean up any problems they can tackle." He drops the duffel bags with a loud CLUNK and crosses his arms.

"Who said you are rescuing colonists? All but one are dead."

"So you're saying we have to rescue the marines? HAH! Who knew that you had a humorous side?"

"I don't, Mr. Calhoun. These Marines know what they are up against, but only through data from another source. They have never encountered the creatures living there, save for one of the non-military personnel."

"Creatures? Why do I get the feeling this will be Black Mesa all over again?"

"Not now, Barney, not now." Gordon looks intently at the G-Man. "Please, continue."

"Thank you, Mr. Freeman. These creatures have been dubbed 'xenomorphs' and have the potential of being a biological weapon. Another of the non-military personnel is a representative of a company with a keen interest in the creatures. However, trying to bring back one could be disastrous due to the quarantine surrounding Earth. If you need any more information, please watch this disc. You will leave in 9 hours." He hands the disc over to Gordon

"What is it?" Alyx walks up to Gordon, looking at the disc.

"This disc contains a movie, if you will, of events that are to occur. By observing what transpires, you can prevent what is to happen." The G-Man turns around to leave.

"But won't messing with what's already happened change the future?" Barney grabs the duffel bags and walks towards Alyx and Gordon.

"That is a chance that my employers are willing to take." Another door of light opens, and the G-Man walks through it, to wherever he comes from.

"So, are we going to watch it, or sit with our thumbs up our asses?" Barney drops the 4 duffel bags he carries next to the other eight.

"Might as well watch it, Gordon." Alyx puts in her 2 cents worth.

Sighing, Gordon nods his head.

"Come on Gordon, we know you can talk, so why don't you?" Alyx puts her hand on Gordon's shoulder. She feels him shudder, but ignores it.

"I'm not what you would call a 'people person', Alyx. I was an outcast in school, at home, even at Black Mesa. The only person that knew some semblance of who I really was is Barney." He turns to her and looks into her hazel eyes. "I just don't belong anywhere."

"I'm sorry you feel that way, but a lot of people respect, even idolize you."

"They idolize my actions, not who I really am. Let's say Barney was the one who was in the test chamber that day. They wouldn't know who he really was, just what he did that made him great."

"Hell, I wouldn't mind if that happened. I'd even prefer it over them knowing who I really was."

"Barney, you're not helping, so SHUT UP!" By this time, Gordon has lost all semblance of patience.

"Gordon, this isn't the time…"

"No Alyx, this is the perfect time. You know, after Black Mesa, I was completely deprived of all my senses and memories. Do you know what it's like to not know where you are, or who you even were for years. YEARS! I've been a nice guy for far too long. Maybe it's time to get a little dirty." With that, he throws Alyx's hand off his shoulder and walks over to Barney.

"Gordon, calm down. There's no need to… UUUF!" Barney is punched in his stomach. Damn, he's stronger than I thought!

Not finished, Gordon grabs Barney by the hair and head butts him, drawing blood. Ignoring the pain in his forehead, he kicks Barney in the groin

With a high pitched squeal, Barney drops down to his knees. With tears in his own eyes and blood flowing down his face, Barney looks up into the eyes of his friend. Gone are the eyes of an intelligent warrior. Instead he only sees the eyes of a feral beast.

"Gordon, stop! Please!" Alyx walks up to him, placing a hand on his right shoulder.

Gordon, in a blind rage, knocks the hand off, turns around, and backhands Alyx. He puts so much force, behind it, she is sent flying back for feet.

"Alyx!" Barney stands up, although weakly. Shaking loose any cobwebs in his head, he reaches in one of the duffel bags and pulls out a stun stick. "Hey, Gordon!"

Gordon turns his head to see Barney pull back the stun stick. Realizing what it is, he snarls and bats the offending weapon away. He then proceeds to choke Barney with both of his hands.

Alyx gets to her knees, holding the back of her head. Seeing Barney being strangled by Gordon, she picks up the discarded stun stick, sneaks up behind Gordon, and hits him in the base of the neck. Activating its shock ability, she renders Gordon unconscious. Still holding on to the weapon, she checks on Barney. "Are you okay?"

"No problem. I get my ass beat every day. This is minor at most." He says this with a hoarse voice, while massaging this throat. "Who knew he could hit so hard?"

"We should get that wound bandaged up, before any infection decides to creep in." Alyx turns and grabs a medical kit from one of the duffel bags. "You know, next time you attack someone, don't call out to them. It makes you an obvious target."

"I'll keep that in mind." Barney goes past Gordon's prone body and picks up the disk. "We should watch this… Wait a minute!"

"What?"

"I'm looking around here, and I don't see anything to place it in. The more I think about it, the more I begin to believe this is a joke!"

The light door from which the G-Man walked out of lights up, and the G-Man arrives once again. "I told you before, Mr. Calhoun, I do not joke. May I enquire as to what happened while I was away?"

"Plain and simple, Gordon went berserk and beat my ass! Considering what he told us about this place, though, I don't blame him. Anyway, how are we supposed to watch this if there is no TV or DVD player around?" By this time, Barney sat down and was being treated.

"My apologies. I forgot about that. Despite how I act, I am far from perfect." To his side, a pillar of light appears, when the pillar vanishes, there sits a massive 72" Plasma TV, a surround sound stereo system, a high-grade DVD player, and a portable power supply. "This should more than suffice. Also, before you leave, I have something to give to you." With that, the G-Man leaves again.

"Let me pop it in, Barn. You need to relax." Alyx takes the disk and walks over to the entertainment center. Before putting the disk in, she reads the title. "Aliens, huh? Let's hope it's not very cheesy." She places the disk in, goes back to Barney, sits down, and watches the movie.

I know you want some Aliens action, but be patient. Rome wasn't built in a day, you know. As for my Digital Gold Star challenge, it is still in effect.

Expect me to use other outside sources as parts for this story, including a Mjolnir Armor-wearing badass!

POLL TIME!

String with this chapter, I will open a poll on a subject. The subject will change every two chapters. The first poll is as follows:

Which is better: Facehugger of Headcrab?

I will keep inventory and tally the votes. Tune in at Chapter 3 for the results!

REVIEW, AND REJOICE!