THE REIGN OF TERROR: 20th Anniversary Edition
CHAPTER 1: TRIGGERED
Gordon Freeman sat on the train as it passed through the dark tunnel of the Black Mesa Research Facility. As the safety announcement played, he looked out at the laboratories. Some of them already had the lights on and some scientists were working inside. There was a long steel bridge that connected the labs where Ryan Sullivan walked across Gordon knew him as the one security guard who was loyal to all the scientists. As the train continued along the rail, he saw the other scientists in their respected labs. One of them was Walter Bennett, hugging a black folder. Then, he saw the administrator, Wallace Breen. He appeared to be berating a scientist. To Gordon, most of these scientists had one thing in common, they all hated him. Last year, Walter always yelled at Gordon and insulted him. He was supposed to be the new administrator until tragedy struck. His wife and daughter were killed in a home invasion, causing Walter to enter a deep depression. Walter had no interaction with Gordon for quite some time. The train approached the platform at the Anomalous Materials lab. In the window, he saw a man with black hair and a blue suit. He did not know his name and all he knew about him was that he was part of the government. He had been visiting Black Mesa for the past week.
After Gordon left the office, he passed by more scientists who never bothered to look at him. Then, he passed by Laura Fuller who was speaking with another scientist. She got along well with the other scientists and Gordon felt a special attraction towards her. Laura's southern accent drove most of the men wild. When Gordon entered his lab, he put on his lab coat and looked at a fist sized yellow crystal on the counter. It was referred to as a Xen Crystal. He sat down and looked at the specimen. It was a chunk of a much larger piece. Then, the phone rang.
He was called into the supervisor's office. The supervisor was already sitting down as well as Dana.
"Have a seat Gordon," the supervisor instructed.
Gordon sat next to Dana. Gordon looked at him, but Dana stared straight ahead. He knew why he was there, and it had everything to do with what he said to Dana yesterday. Gordon did not agree with Dana's lifestyle. Dana had shoulder length pink hair and wore mascara to suit his lifestyle. He was easily triggered if someone disagreed with him.
"Gordon, we have been through this," the supervisor said, "You need to respect other employee's lifestyles."
"This is all an act," Gordon responded, "He's faking it."
"Don't assume my gender," Dana replied.
"This genderqueer act is getting old," Gordon snapped back, "Dan is looking for attention and finding ways to become a victim."
"It's not Dan anymore, I've told you, it's Dana now. You're also triggering my PTSD."
Gordon shook his head in disgust. Suddenly, he stood up and pulled out a gun from under his lab coat. He shot Dana in the head and then the supervisor. Then, he snapped back to reality.
"If this keeps up," the supervisor continued, "We will have no choice but the send you to sensitivity training."
Gordon remained disgusted. He stormed out of the office and headed back to his lab. Along the way, he ran into the janitor's cart. A spray bottle fell and splashed on the floor.
"Ah, shit!" He shouted in anger.
Estrella came out of the janitor's closet.
"Mr. Freeman, it is okay, I'll clean it up," she calmly stated.
"No, I'll clean it up," he replied as he grabbed a roll of towels.
He began cleaning the spill as Estrella placed the bottle back on the cart. She helped him clean up the spill.
"Sorry," he said, "I just came from the supervisor's office. That damn Dan."
"Oh, I see. Tell me something Mr. Freeman, is he a man or woman? I call him mister and he gets upset."
Gordon laughed.
"I wish I knew," he answered. "Well, I gotta get going."
As Gordon left, she smiled. Estrella was in her early twenties and had long black hair. She was born in Mexico and like Gordon was ridiculed by some of the scientists. As Gordon headed back to the office he looked back at Estrella and was ecstatic over the interaction. He wondered why Laura never engaged in conversation with him the way Estrella did.
Tim Brennan, the scientist who worked on the HEV suits, was standing outside his lab which was adjacent to Gordon's. Tim was one of the few scientists that was friendly towards him.
"Hello Gordon," Tim greeted.
"Hey Tim."
"Another day in this hellhole. One day it will all end."
"It can't come soon enough. I just got back from a meeting with the supervisor and Dan, Dana, whatever the fuck his name is. I need to be more sensitive apparently."
"Dana, the genderqueer. I hate those damn people. But that's what you get when the liberals are in charge."
Tim came off as a bit of a creep, but Gordon did not mind. He believed Tim was right on most issues, however, did not care much for his political thoughts. He just agreed with him because Tim never mistreated him. He was always looking for ways to improve them, even if it did not meet Black Mesa's agenda.
"Oh, Gordon," Tim continued, "That Xen Crystal you have, do you mind if I take some more samples?"
"Sure."
Gordon opened the door and they both entered. Tim saw the crystal sample.
"What do you need it for?" Gordon asked.
"An experiment. This crystal is from another world and must hold something special."
"I've been analyzing it and when it's broken in small pieces, it doesn't seem like anything special. But in larger portion, I feel some kind of energy."
"That's what I suspected. I've been researching the reports myself. The ones who found it said there was a strange presence."
Gordon grabbed a small chunk and handed it to Tim.
"This will do, thanks," Tim said.
Tim left the lab and Gordon sat in front of the crystal. He chipped off a few chunks and used a small rotary grinder to make it into a powder. Next, he poured it into a small vile and put it in his lab coat. Gordon was not in the mood for working. Walter was supposed to supervise him, but he no longer had the energy or motivation to do it. Instead, he would ask Laura to do it for him. Something else had been on Gordon's mind. He opened a cabinet and inside was a pipe attached to a metal handle wrapped in duct tape. The pipe was taped to a small piece of wood. In between the handle and wood, there was a small metal pin. Gordon had almost completed his pipe gun. Black Mesa had banned the use of guns, but Gordon found a way to construct one. The only thing he did not have was the .38 caliber bullets. Ammunition was scarce. He had to make his own ammo at his home but needed more. On the mind of Gordon Freeman was revenge. The jingle from his phone was heard. He received a text message from Tim which read "We should head down for the meeting."
Gordon and Tim arrived at a large room which resembled a college classroom. They sat down near the back row. All the scientists from Anomalous Materials were there. Gordon saw Laura sitting next to Walter. He gazed at Laura as she brushed back her dirt blonde hair. As she spoke with Walter, she smiled and laughed. He could not tell what Walter's expression was. He was slumped over hugging his black leather folder. As Gordon stared at Walter with vicious intent, Tim gazed at Laura with an unnerving obsession. He pretended to stroke her hair with his fingers. Gordon remembered the way Walter used to treat him.
When Gordon first arrived at Black Mesa a few years ago, he had to meet with Walter. Gordon was dressed in a suit and tie and entered Walter's office. He was sitting at a computer typing a document. Gordon approached him.
"Walter? My name is Gordon Freeman, I'm supposed to meet with you today," Gordon said.
Walter ignored him.
"Excuse me," Gordon continued.
Walter stared at the screen, getting angry and annoyed at Gordon.
"Walter?" Gordon asked.
"WHAT!" Walter screamed, "What the fuck do want?"
"I was... "
"What? What? What?" Walter shouted.
Walter stood up and walked out to the hall.
"Get your ass over here!" Walter demanded.
Gordon walked towards him.
"See that room over there? Get your ass in there and stay in there."
Walter walked back into his lab and closed the door.
Gordon never forgot the way he was treated. One thing he could never figure out was why Laura liked Walter. They were on the opposite side of politics and yet remained friends. He thought about Laura a lot and how much he wanted her. Laura never mistreated him; she just did not interact with him as much. Gordon also thought about getting revenge on Walter as well as the other scientists. Sick thoughts would cross his mind, but he could never carry them out. They remained just fantasies.
Wallace Breen stood behind the podium. Next to him was Roger Moss. He was perhaps the biggest suck up at Black Mesa. Roger had this assumption that Gordon was a pro-gun nut and would berate him daily. He complained endlessly about gun violence and would take his frustrations out verbally on Gordon. Gordon would dream about blowing Roger's brain's out. Also, up on the podium was Ryan Sullivan.
"Attention everyone," Wallace announced, "We have a very important issue to discuss. As you know, crime in this city has run rampant. One reason is due to the fact that there are too many people with guns. We have decided to no longer arm our security guards."
Almost every scientist reacted with gleefulness. Gordon had a blank expression and Tim was visibly upset. Laura shook her head in disgust.
"We will demonstrate how much more peaceful our facility can be without the use of unnecessary weapons," Wallace continued, "No guns means no violence. We shall set an example and maybe this city will follow suit."
A thought triggered in Gordon's mind. Now it would be easier to do what he has been planning. Wallace continued to speak but Gordon had tuned out. He stared straight ahead thinking about revenge.
Later that night, Gordon was back in his home. He laid out the bullets he had made on the dining room table. Every scientist that had wronged him would be dead soon. He held up a sharp knife which had been made of hard black plastic. Gordon put the knife into a fabric sheath and then placed it in his lab coat. Then, his neighbor had arrived home. He could tell by the loud music that was playing from his car. Sometimes the neighbor would play it late at night. Gordon took out the knife and went outside.
The neighbor had his window down and was smoking a cigarette. Gordon walked closer using the darkness as cover. When Gordon got close, he stabbed his throat. Within a few seconds, he fell dead. Gordon turned off the car and ran back to his house. When he got inside, he rinsed the blood off while breathing heavily. He was extremely nervous and looked out the window to see if anyone came near the neighbor. He went to bed, still nervous and staring at the ceiling. He couldn't sleep despite the silence.
When Gordon left his home, he saw his dead neighbor still in the car. He felt different, like a problematic solution had been resolved. When Gordon arrived at the security check point at Black Mesa, he realized he still had the plastic knife with him. He couldn't take it out and toss it aside without being seen. He looked around the gray halls seeking out a hide-a-away spot. Maybe he could turn around go back to his car. If he did, he would be late. Without realization, Gordon saw that he was next in line. He walked through the gate and there was no sound. He sighed in relief as he walked towards his lab. As the nervousness wore off, Roger saw him.
"No more guns for you Barry," he berated.
Gordon kept walking and Roger followed.
"I'm talking to you Barry."
For some reason, Roger referred to Gordon as Barry.
"Barry," he continued, "Where are all your guns?"
Gordon reached his lab.
"I said, where are your guns? You want to shoot me?"
Gordon smiled.
"Yeah," he coldly replied.
Roger screamed and walked away.