Chapter 8: Of Screwdrivers and Morphine

Meh, really having to stretch to think of titles. Oh well. At least I have my paper HEV suit built. Glee…

Hah, the song "We love you, Dr. Freeman" cracks me up every time I hear it. Time to set it onto repeat….for inspiration, yeah.

Anyway, I have some bad news, this is the last chapter I have written up, so I have to think of stuff for the next chapter, it might be late. I'll try to have something up next Tuesday. That should give me plenty of time.

EDIT: As of Nov 21 I still have nothing. I don't know when I will have something. Um, after Thanksgiving maybe. So, um...sorry. I won't be updating for alittle while longer. I, um, found the game Phychonauts and it is currently causing me to be unable to focus on anything else. In other words, I have writer's block and my current obsession with Sasha Nein isn't helping at all...

Alyx reached Dr. Kleiner's lab quickly. Breathlessly, she opened the door, not caring if she disturbed her father and Dr. Kleiner.

"Dad!" she yelled from the doorway, "We found a headcrab in the air ducts."

Eli Vance looked up concerned, interrupting his conversation with Isaac Kleiner. Dr. Kleiner looked over at Alyx with a puzzled expression on his face. "I don't see why that's so odd; Lamarr is always crawling through the air ducts. I think it's instinctive."

As Isaac spoke, there was movement in air duct above the two men. With a loud squeak, a small object flung itself down towards the two men below. It landed with a thump at Dr. Kleiner's feet.

"Look out!" Alyx cried.

"What? Is something after Lamarr?" Dr. Kleiner asked. He patted the top of his head, "Quick jump up, I'll protect you."

Before Alyx could protest, the small headcrab jumped up onto Dr. Kleiner's exposed head. Flinching, Alyx prepared for the worst, but to her surprise, nothing happened.

Dr. Kleiner continued speaking. "Now, what was it you were yelling about when you barged into the room?"

"Gordon found a headcrab in the vents, and it wasn't Lamarr. I was trying to warn you."

"Ah, I see. Well, it is quite fortunate that Lamarr has such distinctive coloring then."

"Distinctive?" Alyx asked in shock. "She looks like every other headcrab I've seen."

"Nonsense." Dr. Kleiner replied. "When you look at her, you can easily tell the difference. Her spots are a bit darker than most head crabs, and her skin is a more cream color while I'd say most other headcrabs are a rather beige color."

"Whatever you say, Doc." Alyx said, shaking her head. "I don't see any difference. I'm just glad you were right."

"Of course I am. It's like people, really. To the Vortigaunts we all look alike, but we can easily tell each other apart."

Eli smiled slightly. "You could also say that to us, the Vortigaunts all look alike, but to each other they are very distinctive. If Izzy says he can recognize Lamarr, I trust him. But, we should put the cover back over the air duct."

"Indeed. I wouldn't want one of those feral headcrabs to come in here and scare Lamarr," Dr. Kleiner said.

"Ok then, where is the grate that covers the opening?" Alyx asked.

Dr. Kleiner looked around the room. "Hmm, it should be around here somewhere." He wandered over to a corner, and looked under the papers piled there. "I think I left it around here," he said.

Sighing, Alyx said, "This might take a while. It might be quicker to steal a vent from the combine."

Eli smiled. "Maybe, but let's not get carried away." He paused and looked up at the vent. "Do you hear something?" He asked.

Alyx listened. "Yeah, I do. I think it's coming from the air ducts. Hang on, let me get a chair and I'll check it out."

"Be careful," her father cautioned.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine." Alyx said as she pulled over a chair until it was aligned under the air duct opening. She climbed up onto the chair and looked in the duct, coming face to face with Gordon. Surprised, she screamed and fell backwards of the chair, landing ungracefully on the ground.

"Oww." She groaned.

Gordon pulled himself out of the vent and landed beside Alyx. He offered her his hand, which she used to pull herself up.

"Alyx, are you ok?" Eli asked.

"I'm a little sore, but I'll be fine. Jeez, Gordon, I didn't expect to see you up there."

Gordon grunted. "Barney's idea. Wanted me to check to make sure there wasn't anymore headcrabs in the ducts." He noticed Lamarr on top of Kleiner's head. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Lamarr?"

"Yeah, she jumped out of the duct shortly before you did." Alyx replied.

Gordon said, "So, that's what I saw."

"I found it!" Dr. Kleiner exclaimed, holding the grate up in the air over his head. Lamarr squeaked triumphantly. He faced Gordon and said, "Oh, Gordon, I didn't see you come in."

Instead of answering, Gordon merely shrugged.

Alyx took the air grate from Kleiner's hands. "Thanks. I'll put this back." She removed a screwdriver from her pocket and got up on the chair to put the grate back in place.

"Isaac," Gordon said.

"Hmm, yes?"

"Should I be concerned about the morphine my suit administers?"

Isaac scowled. "I really do wish they had given it its proper name. Serum 857-9 is a type of morphine, but it really isn't accurate to call it that. I really should have changed that when I remodeled your suit."

"What does it do?"

"Well, it has the same analgesic capability to dull pain as morphine. While it still has some of the side-effects of morphine, they are mostly minor and it's much less addictive. You should be fine."

Gordon nodded. He was somewhat relieved to hear that it wasn't as addictive as true morphine. However, he was still going to cut back on his use of it. He didn't like the sound of there being side effects, even if the were as Dr. Kleiner said, mostly minor.

"There. Done," Alyx said as she stepped down off of the chair. "We should probably go find Barney."

"He's outside," Gordon said.

"Wait," Dr Kleiner said, "What about Lamarr?"

"Sorry Doc, but she should probably stay here. Most people can't tell her apart from other headcrabs. I'll make it up to you, I'll baby-sit her another time."

"Very well," Kleiner said. "Lamarr will be disappointed to learn that. She was looking forward to spending time with you. Sometimes, I just can't give her all the attention she needs." As if she understood what Dr. Kleiner was saying, Lamarr squeaked sadly.

Eli Vance put his arm over his daughter's shoulder and guided her towards the door. "Don't worry about it; you run along with Gordon. We can handle Lamarr for now."

As the door shut behind Gordon and Alyx, Alyx said, "Well, let's head outside and catch up to Barney."