Experiments
Warning: I feel obliged to give an emergency disclaimer. This is not for the faint of heart. This chapter of, "The Freeman Chronicles", includes a bit of sexual content, and some emotional moments. If you don't think you can handle it, get someone to help you read it, in a friendlier way.
You have been warned.
Gordon, Barney and the others are in a strange room, with a DNA symbol on the floor. The door was locked with a retinal scanner. Dr. Randall tried the scanner.
Dr. Randall: Damn. The scanner is malfunctioning. This door probably has a emergency unlock console.
Gordon:Alright. Here's the plan. Dr. Cross, you're with me. Dr. Green, Barney, keep the rest of them safe.
Barney: Not a problem. Lucky dog.
Dr. Cross:Shut up, Barney.
Gordon:You get used to him.
They went up the stairs, where a Crossbow lay on the ground.
Gordon:Goodies.
A squad of grunts were fighting head crabs and bull squids.
Dr. Cross dashed out to fight, but Gordon pulled her back, by the arm.
Gordon:Stop. You might as well be dead if you go getting involved in unnecessary fights. Just wait a minute.
When the fighting was over, there were 2 Bull squids hanging around.
Gordon quietly signaled to follow. After eliminating the remaining bull squids, they examined the layout of the room. There were 5 separate rooms, with laser devices.
Dr. Cross:I think I understand. The other 4 laser devices power this larger one. I'll stay here and examine the device. You should go and turn on the other devices.
Gordon:Right. Watch yourself. If something comes up, use your suit radio.
He went over and turned on the first device. A laser shot out of a crystal exactly like the one in the test chamber, and traveled through a pipe to the main device.
Gordon(Radio):I noticed something strange.
Dr. Cross(Radio):What?
Gordon(Radio):The crystals that are used as a focus point are the exact same ones that caused the resonance cascade.
Gina(Radio): How strange. Maybe the Lambda scientists had been studying these crystals. I wonder where they came from?
Gordon went and turned on the other two.
Gina(Radio): Hurry up, I think I just saw something.
Gordon(Radio): Alright, alright.
The last switch room was blocked by some computers. A scientist and security guard were testing a weapon.
Guard:What is this thing, a gun?
Scientist:Put it down. It's a prototype.
The weapon shot a laser that went through the computer bank, and scorched the wall.
Guard:Man! Why aren't we using this?
Scientist:It's too unpredictable. Don't let it overcharge.
Guard:What do you mean "over..."
The computer banks exploded.
The weapon was lying on a pile of bones.
Gordon picked up the prototype weapon.
Gordon:Mark IV, got any information on this?
Suit(Gordon):No, but Dr. Green took part in development. She might know.
Gordon activated the last device, powering up the laser grid.
Gina(Radio): Alright, it's all set up. Head on back, and....AAIIIEE!
Gordon(radio):Gina! Gina, are you there! GINA!
Gordon quickly dashed over to the main device room.
Shepard tied Gina to the wall, by her hands. He stripped off her suit. She was wearing a standard lab coat, and shirt, and a dress.
Shepard:Gina, I see you haven't become any less ravishing.
Gina:My response is the same: Get away from me, you creep!
Shepard:Lady, the more you shun me, the better you look.
Gina delivered a ball of spit into Adrian's left eye. He rubbed it out and laughed.
Gordon rushed at him. Without looking, Adrian roundhouse kicked Gordon into the wall.
Adrian:I'll deal with you, but not before I take some liberties with your little girlfriend.
He tore open her shirt, red bra gleaming in the sunlight coming from the window. Tears rolled down her face.
Gina(Sobbing):Why can't you just leave me alone?
Adrian:I don't compromise, sexy.
Gina: Screw you.
Adrian pulled the pin out of Gina's hair, causing it to flop over her eyes.
Adrian tried to forcibly kiss her, but she bites him on the lip.
Adrian begins tugging at her dress, when Gordon finally gets up to his feet.
Gordon:How dare you treat my friends so shamefully!
Adrian turns around, and Gordon clocks him in the jaw, sending him flying into the wall. Gordon pulls Adrian to his feet again, and headbutts him 5 times, before punching him in the mouth, sending Shepard flying out into the hallway. As he got up, he spit out 7 teeth, and a pint of blood. Gordon lays him over, and puts his foot on Adrian's chest.
Adrian:Why? Why me?
Gordon: You are the damn sickest asshole I have ever seen. A whole invasion of aliens, and all you can think about is taking liberties with an old love, and I use that term very loosely. How dare you treat my friends so shamefully, with utter disregard for the world around you. Before I leave you for the aliens, I will impart some wisdom. You can get away with hurting your friends. You can get away with hurting me. But trying to hurt my friends punches your ticket for the most painful day of your life. I hope I won't see your face here anymore. Next time, I WILL kill you!
He shoots Adrian in the chest with the shotgun, and knocks him unconscious with a blow to the head from the butt end of the gun.
Gordon:Now, to get back to business.
He turned to Gina, and smiled.
Gordon:Gina! Are you okay? Did he hurt you?
Gina:No, not really. Did you have to be so rough?
Gordon:He had it coming. I can't stand people who think it's funny to harm my friends.
He went and removed the chains binding her to the wall. She put her hands around his neck and they locked lips for a whole 10 seconds. Then, Gina backed off, with a mildly embarrassed, shy little smile.
Gina: Well, I think I definitely owe you.
Gordon:It's not really necessary....
Gina put her arms on Gordon's shoulders.
Gina:I think so.
Then they both remembered their mission.
Gordon:I won't look.
Gina mended her shirt, and put the suit back on. Finally, she put the pin back in her hair.
Gina:Now, then. Since the device is active, we can blast through the wall.
She activated the laser. A shield wall came and blocked the shield.
Gordon: Hold on. I have an idea.
Gordon pushed the crate under the shield wall.
Gina:Fire.
The shield wall failed to lower because of the crate.
The laser burned a large hole in the wall. Gordon motioned to follow.
There was an improvised path involving a ledge, and a bunch of crates. They carefully traversed the pathway to the bottom.
Up ahead was a room with a switch.
Gina:I bet that's the emergency override switch.
Gordon:Yes, but take a good look at what's in the way.
A surgical unit was malfunctioning, causing the blades to spin wildly.
Gina: Hmm. It looks like the power switch for the surgical unit is on the other side.
Gordon: Well, ladies first?
Gina:Keep dreaming.
Gordon:I thought so.
Gordon carefully ducked the blades, and crawled to the switch, and killed the power.
The blades grind to a halt.
Gina walked over and pushed the red button.
Colette(Radio): Good. The door just opened. Try to get back here. [Gunfire] Damn! We're under attack. Hurry!
Gordon(Radio):Copy that.
The door in front of them opened. They started to make their way to the lobby, when some holding cages broke, and head crabs attacked. Gordon quickly batted 3 of the 4 away. The fourth one latched onto Gina's head.
Gina: Ugh! OW! Help, somebody please help! It's got me!
The pain brought her to bended knee.
Her vision began to blur.....
Gordon finally noticed what was happening.
He quickly put leverage between Gina and the head crab, then wrenched the little bugger off her.
She fell to the floor with a visceral thud.
Gordon quickly pumped the head crab full of holes with the assault rifle.
He ran over to Gina's unconscious body.
Gordon: Oh, no. No, no, no, no! Gina? Gina? God, no. Why? WHY!
Suit(Freeman): Are you okay, Dr. Freeman?
Gordon(Through heavy sobbing): No. Oh my god. Is.....Mark IV, please tell me she'll be okay. Please.
Suit(Freeman): Initial scans show a 33% survival rate alone, and dropping.
Gordon:Well.....We have to do something.
Colette(Radio): What is taking you so long? We could have really used your help. Dr. Keller is dead!
Gordon(Radio): Unless you want to lose Dr. Cross, (Sobs) get down here now. She is gravely injured, and needs assistance!
Dr. Green(Radio):What? Okay, don't move. We'll be there shortly.
Gordon grabbed Gina's hand and checked for a pulse. Very weak,but clinging on.
Gordon: Please hang on. How could I have been so careless? God, please forgive me!
The others finally reached them. Dr. Green went and performed a scan.
Suit(Dr. Green): The scans show serious brain callouses. Overall, she is going into shock. I would highly suggest we force reboot her HEV suit.
Colette: Let's go. We don't have a moment to spare.
They turned her over, and Dr. Green opened a panel on the back, and pulled a greenish wire.
Suit(Cross): Rebooting.......
Red alert! User is in severe shock. I require more supplies to assist recovery.
Gordon opened a panel, and took out all the med kits, and inserted them into the open slots. Suit(Cross): Automated Medical Assistance activated.
After a few minutes, Gina finally, slowly, opened her eyes.
Gina: Ugh....G...Gordon? What happened?
Gordon: A head crab latched onto your head. I sorry I didn't act quicker. I'm such an idiot!
Barney:Don't beat yourself up about it, Gordon. I think you did better than I would have, considering the circumstances.
Gordon: God. I was so worried that I might lose you.
Dr. Rosenberg: I hate to interrupt, but I think we should try to make a dash for the exit. We have a better chance outside.
Gordon:Alright. In a minute.
Colette: Gina, do you think you can get up?
Gina:If not, I might as well stay here.
She managed to let out a small chuckle.
Gordon and Colette helped steady Gina.
Gina:Okay. I think I can make it.
They carefully released her. She proceeded to stretch.
Gina:Yeah. I'm a little stiff, but otherwise, I'm fine.
They quickly headed on over to the door.
Dr. Randall:I'm sorry, but I can't join you. I will stay behind and help you via radio. I'd only slow you down. You will have to sneak, fight, and run to the Lambda complex, on the other side of the base. I doubt you will find any of our peers along the way, but if you do make it, you can find yourself at the Lambda complex, where the rest of the science team has taken shelter. I will let them know you're coming. Good luck!
He ran over to the radio room and patched in.
Gordon:Let's go. I need some fresh air.
Sorry about such a morbid chapter. I was feeling depressed for some reason. Well, it is fun to watch Shepard get clobbered! Keep watching for the next chapter, Marathon!
