The gun kicked back and the metal slug flew out of the barrel. 18-year-old Gordon Freeman pulled the trigger a second time, sending a second shell into his enemy down the range. Gordon pulls the trigger a third time, but only a click resonates from the gun. He sets the gun on the shelf next to him and removes the ear protection around his head. Gordon presses a red button next to him and a paper with an outline of a man down range slowly travels to his position. Gordon examines the paper to collect his score. One bullet to the heart and five to the head. "Good." he thought. He was getting better.

The range master walked up to his apprentice and checked the bullet holes on the paper.

"Great job, Gordon. You're becoming a real dead eye."

Gordon smiles. "Thank you, Mr. Henderson."

"Alright, pack up. Your gonna be late for class."

-----

"My parents made me very involved in different activities. I was on a chess team, I practiced shooting, piano, and in my free time, practiced molecular dissipation." Gordon says, explaining more.

"Oh, so you were a nerd." Alyx replies playfully. Gordon grins.

"Yes." He says reluctantly, "I was a nerd. In my next years in college, I would spend 8 years taking classes in advanced sciences. My mentor and professor was a man named Dr. Isaac Kliener."

Alyx's ears prick. She leans in closer.

"So that's how you met Uncle Kliener."

-----

As the pages flipped through his hands, Dr. Kliener looked over the test scores with great interest. He was ecstatic in finding out if his prized student had passed this most important test. After flipping over numerous documents, Kliener finally reached Gordon's test results. With his eyes flying over the page, the test results were found: grade 100. Kliener smiled in admiration.

Gordon jumped as the school bell rang indicating that the class was over. Professor Isaac Kliener looked at his watch and frowned.

"It's that time again, eh? Well, class, remember that you have critical problems for chapter's 23 and 24 due in two days."

As the teacher was talking, the class was already moving out the door. The last to reach the exit was Gordon.

"Um, Mr. Freeman!" Kliener called out, "Would you mind staying behind for a few minutes?"

" Sure, Dr. Kliener." Gordon sits down in one of the desks located in front of Kliener's desk.

"Gordon, you are an excellent student."

The student smiles sheepishly, "Thank you."

"I have been monitoring your progress through this school, and you have been doing exceedingly well. I have heard that you have an interest in the technological advances in teleportation."

Gordon was now listening intently. "Yes I have."

"Well, I was wondering if you would like to accompany me to a scientific expo in Innsbruck, Austria? There will be many tests with the advancements in teleportation."

Gordon's eyes light up. "Wha . . .I . . .Well, of course I'll go!"

Kliener grins, " Very good. We leave Tuesday."