Goal: 9,000 words at least
Never thought I'd come back to this story. I keep on having so many ideas for this, such as my depiction of Gordon Freeman, where after the shit he went through in Black Mesa, he bottles up all the trauma and pain from watching his colleagues be zombified or killed, as well as having to fight his way out. So he became a hardened scientist, while learning useful skills such as bunnyhopping to reach speeds of up to 80mph given enough space. Anyway, I want to keep things as canon as possible while having my own plot here. Gordon Freeman in Re:Zero should be interesting, given the fact that he has no problem killing human beings. Maybe I could make up some bullshit where Freeman's suit receives 1% of energy from the mana every 4 seconds.
As for the ammunition... I'll figure something out. Freeman meanwhile will have to think on rationing his ammo supplies. Unless Od Laguna gives him a bullshit Divine Protection where his ammo supplies are replenished every 60 minutes. Or the scientists manage to send ammo and supplies like in the game Black Mesa.
Meanwhile at the Lambda labs.
"So, did Freeman make it to Xen safely at least?" The scientist who was manning the portal controls said after coming back from unconsciousness.
"Yes and no." A scientist watching a screen that had Freeman's location beeping on it.
"What do you mean?" The portal-control scientist said.
"Well, as Freeman was jumping into the portal, one of the beings from the border world managed to make the portal malfunction at the last second. And so.. Freeman is in a completely different world from Xen. We don't know what to do nor how to bring him back from that world. Best thing we can do is hope for the best and that Freeman will figure something out... yes, he always figures things out." A security guard said.
"Can't we, you know, teleport Freeman back here and retry the process again?" A female scientist said.
"We could, but with the portal controls busted, it could be a while before Freeman makes it back here and we retry the process again, only we will be better prepared next time." The portal-control scientists said.
"Yes, even if we fixed the portal here, it's only the portal here that's operational. Who knows if that world even has something remotely close to teleportation technology and the exact coordinates to bring Freeman back to our universe."
"Right now, all we can do, is try to survive until Freeman makes it back here, because I'm sure that world doesn't have advanced teleportation technology like we do." A scientist said.
"Yea... if he ever makes it back, otherwise, let's all get our affairs in order."
"Say, how about we all go for one last beer, I think there was a cafeteria nearby."
Gordon Freeman, the battle-hardened scientist thought that he should be panicking given the fact that he's not supposed to be in this world. But there's no point panicking because there's no changing the present. All he could do is let events play out, as well as sticking to his Japanese ally. Gordon thought that eventually things would work out for him. But right now, he's assisting in finding this silver haired girl's insignia, some sort of certificate that declares she's a politician in this world.
Puck has been having doubts about Freeman. First of all, the way he spoke to him, a Great Spirit, was rude and disrespectful. Though looking into his eyes, he saw no fear of the consequences. He also held the expression of a veteran knight after coming home from battle. He did say that he was from another world and that he wasn't supposed to be here. Puck thought that maybe he was a knight in his world, which is why he was wearing that suit of armor, and the "shotgun" he put away was standard issue for all knights in that world.
Gordon, Emilia, and Subaru were going around asking people for the girl, giving them her description. Though with no luck, at least Subaru and Gordon got to see a whole new world. Gordon where he didn't have to constantly fight off aliens and the military trying to kill him, he can finally take a break here. Subaru where he was excited to be in another world and start his new isekai adventure.
Both men would hold traumas of their own later on, but for now, everything seems all right.
Eventually they came across and abandoned, boarded up building, and Subaru tried to pry off the wooden bars. Gordon looked at the signs on the wall, and still didn't understand what the fuck they said. At least the silver haired politician seemed to understand. Of course she would, she's from this world.
To his surprise however, he saw that his suit is slowly charging up. Was it taking it from the air somehow? Gordon thought that there was some sort of energy source in the air if it could power up his suit. At least he didn't need to worry about running out of power for a while.
The trio stood off the side of the road, with Subaru holding a crudely drawn description of Felt. Gordon looked off to the side, and saw someone that fit the description of the girl.
"Say, I think there's your girl over there." Gordon let Subaru and Emilia know.
"All right, come on!" Subaru declared as they rushed to the person.
Subaru put his hand on the person's shoulder to let them know, they turned and it turned out to be some random person who looked like Felt if you looked at them from behind.
Meanwhile Gordon just had a very random thought: He hasn't eaten, drank, or even slept since the resonance cascade. He figured that it was the suit keeping him alive with everything he needed. He didn't want to think too much of it though. His suspicions were confirmed that this world was several centuries behind in technology, considering the common transportation were carriages driven by oversized lizards.
The trio would eventually grow tired from walking around town asking for Felt, so they took a break at a high building spot, where they could get a great view of the entire town.
"I know I talked big, but isn't this town too huge to find one little girl in?" Subaru tiredly said.
"It's the capital of Lugnica." Emilia said.
"Yep, at least I know this is not my world." Gordon said.
"What kind of things did you go through, Freeman-san?" Subaru asked.
"Honestly, a lot of things, horrible things." Freeman replied, with a thousand-yard stare to add.
Emilia and Subaru looked concerned at his expression, while Puck materialized next to Emilia.
"You're some sort of knight in your world, correct? Even if your declarations to be from another world are unbelievable, the fact that you're not lying about it means that..."
"Yea, I don't even know why I'm here, the machine failed to send me to the original destination. And no, I'm not a knight, I was a scientist. At least until the whole world went to shit that damn day." Freeman spoke
"Freeman-san, you said that you had to fight your way out of.. Black Mesa was it?" Subaru asked.
"My old government organization, where one day I came in late for work. My job that day was to analyze a crystal sample from the world I'm supposed to be in right now. The moment the crystal went into the damn machine, that's when everything was fucked." Gordon gritted his teeth as he remembered the events.
"But no need to worry about me, I'm here and I might as well stick around and hope things work out to let me get back to my world soon." Gordon assured them that there was no point in helping him get back to his Earth. He'll figure something out.
"...Anyway, we didn't ask the fellow here for his name." Puck pointed at Subaru who thought that Gordon probably had it worse than him.
"Huh? Oh yea.. I shall introduce myself, then!" Subaru spoke as he got up.
He struck a dumbass pose and declared his full name and how he knew nothing and has no money.
"When that's all you say, you really do sound hopeless."
"And I'm Puck! Nice to meet you!" Puck spoke as he struck a Superman flying pose and flew at Subaru's hand.
Emilia was surprised seeing Subaru hold a great spirit like it was just another Tuesday. She then asked Subaru where he was from.
He thought about it for a bit.
"Hm, following the usual pattern, a small island nation to the east." Subaru proudly spoke.
"Japan, isn't it?" Gordon already knew but he wanted to be sure.
"You're from my world so I guess you would know." Subaru replied
"You say that, but do you know what a headcrab is?" Gordon wanted to run a little test to see if Subaru was from his world or even another universe itself.
"Huh, I know what crabs are but a headcrab?" Subaru didn't know what it was.
"Never mind, forget I asked. At least I know you're not from my world. We both are from Earth, but different universes." Gordon thought.
"Whew, this just got a lot more interesting." Puck looked at the two men like they had a few screws loose, though they didn't seem to be malevolent.
Emilia thought about the easternmost nation, and that would be Lugnica.
"The Easternmost nation here would be Lugnica, there is no other nation east of here." Emilia spoke.
"No way, really? There's nothing east of here?" Subaru was surprised that she just confirmed that this world is an entirely new world.
After getting to know each other more, as well as Gordon thinking on how the situation back in his world is worsening, but he figured that this world isn't so bad.
"I'm not sure I understand what a "shut-in" is, but that means you're from a respectable family, right?"
Gordon meanwhile knew what a shut-in was, Subaru was a hikikomori. Though he kept his mouth shut and let them speak it out.
Emilia went up to Subaru and reached for his hand.
"Your fingers too, they're very pretty. They're evidence that you don't live like a peasant at all. And your muscles don't look like the kind you gain from working."
Gordon thought about what kind of force would take Subaru from his world and just drop him here out of the blue. He seems to be from a normal, healthy world where nothing eventful was taking place, so why was he here?
"Uh, anyway, I know your cat's name now, but I haven't heard yours yet."
Emilia took a few seconds to process this, thinking about what name she should give him. Considering they haven't ran away from a silver-haired elf, she thought of them to be dumb for sticking near her so much
Eventually she spoke.
"Satella. I have no family name, so you can just call me Satella."
"I see.. Satella... that's a nice name!" Subaru smiled.
Gordon meanwhile was looking for anyone that looked like Felt, while the two lovebirds spoke to each other.
Meanwhile Puck just sighed, and floated back to "Satella" and told her that she had terrible taste in friends. Then went back into her hair.
"Okay! Time to get back to asking around!" Subaru declared with a fist in the air.
"About time" Gordon thought, not wanting to be rude to the point he voiced it out.
(I'm just gonna try to speed up the plot at this point, unless I find spots where Freeman can be involved.)
After helping a lost child, with Gordon and Subaru each giving her a coin from their home country, as well as Subaru trying to ship himself with Satella, with her brother-zoning him. They finally found her mom and left it at that.
As Subaru and Emilia were talking, Gordon just took a moment to enjoy this new world, where he didn't have to fight for his damn life every minute. He leaned against the wall and materialized his crowbar, it has seen better days cracking open the skulls of human and alien soldiers
Subaru trying find excuses to keep sticking to Satella, with her questioning that with him helping the little girl, wasn't his good deed per day over now?. Subaru pulled a bullshit excuse that he could do more than one nice thing per day, he "just got tomorrow's out of the way.".
Yep, Gordon knew that Subaru was crushing on "Satella", he was honestly curious to see where this young love would end up. As well as working to get back to his world, but honestly: Did he even want to go back to that world. Here there were no aliens invading, everything was peaceful, and the only problem they had in hand was helping Satella get her insignia back.
Subaru pulled a bullshit excuse that he would get a week's worth of good deeds done in one day, with Satella crushing his pride by declaring him a type that basically wastes their whole life.
"Ouch" Gordon internally winced.
Satella told Subaru that at least he wasn't a bad boy, with Subaru asking why she keeps treating him like she was much older than him. She then told him that she was a half-elf, trying to make him remember that she looked like the Witch of Envy.
"Half-elf... if I'm right, then she must be old, centuries old." Gordon was surprised at her theoretical age, if she was an elf, then her age must be in the centuries.
Subaru took a moment to process this, and called her cute with a smile on his face, adding that elves are always beautiful. Satella just looked at him in surprise.
Puck came out of Satella's hair and once again flew at Subaru, landing a soft punch on his cheek. Saying that he had to do something about this tingle that he felt after seeing someone who wasn't running away from Satella.
The spirit told Subaru that he didn't hit him out of anger, just the opposite.
As Subaru and Satella spoke to each other, and Gordon gazing off into the distance. We shall see what other events are going on outside this universe.
Meanwhile in an unknown location.
A man wearing a blue, well-pressed suit, was adjusting his tie. He was not content with the recent turn of events. Subject Freeman was not supposed to be in that world, he was supposed to be in Xen. But as he could not interfere, due to his employers' demands, the most he could do is stay back and watch as events played out. His employers have taken an interest in Gordon Freeman, and they felt that by getting his "services", they could use Freeman to do their bidding.
"We'll see about this..." the G-Man quietly spoke.
This would certainly be an interesting series of events.
Gordon felt a chill run up his spine. He didn't know why, but he felt things would go south again very soon, maybe not today, or even this week, but things would go bad again.
Meanwhile, Freeman went back to helping Subaru and Satella find her insignia, once again running into the rude fruit salesman.
Back to the "scene of the crime", Subaru thought that Emilia might have some money to woo the salesman into giving some information about the thief. But Emilia turned down his hopes by saying that she's broke as well.
"I mean, I have some bills and coins in my pockets, but I don't think this asshole here would accept them." Gordon thought.
Meanwhile Subaru didn't get the hint that the salesman wanted them to fuck off. The fruit vendor once again raised his voice and basically told Satella and Subaru to fuck off. Even shooing them away with his hands.
Gordon had enough of his bullshit, being that rude to potential customers would definitely not help his business.
"Now look here you piece of-" Gordon was about to tear the fruit vendor a new one but a new voice was heard.
"Mister!" the little girl from before called out, her mother thanking them for bringing her back. To everyone's surprise, it's revealed that the rude fruit vendor is her husband. Gordon just whistled as he pretended like he wasn't gonna chew out the fruit vendor for being rude to them. The girl and her mom seemed decent, and the fruit vendor was just trying to get money like everyone else.
Eventually the fruit vendor turned over a new leaf, and helped them out by giving them information about Felt. While Emilia proudly boasted that helping out would sometimes work in their favor like it did just now.
A few hours later, there was a sunset, and the group consisting of Subaru, Satella, and Gordon found themselves in the slums. Gordon kept his guard up as they walked, seeing everyone staring at them with piercing gazes. Subaru was commenting about how the vibes in the slums don't pass the vibe check, doubting that Felt would be here.
Subaru considered asking someone, but was let down by Puck telling him that no one in the slums would sell out a fellow slum dweller. A few minutes later, the spirit disappeared, while Subaru was concerned about the employment terms and how they're more severe than he thought.
"So there is some sort of energy source in the air, if that spirit needs that energy to maintain a physical form." Gordon looked at his suit's power level just in time to see it reach 100%.
The group moved on deeper into the slums, while Satella called spirits into coming to her. Subaru was amazed at the light show. While Gordon just thought that they looked like fireflies, but considering this is a new world, they must be some sort of creature that appears only at night.
A few minutes later, Satella seemed to be done communicating with the spirits. Though it was already night, they kept looking for Felt, with Satella saying the spirits saw someone like Felt running the way they're going now. Eventually, they ran across a stranger with his hands in his pockets. They would have passed by each other, until Subaru loudly asked him if Felt lives nearby. The stranger stared at them for a second, then told them there was nothing up there but the loot house.
"Hm, maybe that Felt girl survives by stealing and selling off valuable items." Gordon theorized as he stared where the loot house is at.
"Maybe, but it's still not right to steal someone else's property, even if you're struggling. Why do I have to pay to get back something that was mine in the first place?" Satella pouted.
"Good question." Gordon shrugged, at least he'd help out anyway he could, given there's nothing to do in this world other than sticking by this duo.
Subaru meanwhile held up the lantern to the loot house, saying that he will go in and negotiate with him. Satella put her trust in Subaru, while he just teased her about how he thought she would say something else. Satella just told him that she'd be lying if he said he hasn't been holding her back, with Subaru taking a hit to his pride.
Gordon turned on his flashlight, carefully waving it around the loothouse, but it's quiet. Too quiet.
Subaru prepared to go into the loot house, but before he did so. Gordon intervened.
"I don't know why, but you should not go in there, Subaru." Gordon whispered as he looked at the loot house's front door.
"Huh? What could possibly be so dangerous there? It's just Felt and possibly her bodyguard in the loot house, we can negotiate with them." Subaru tried to convince Gordon.
"Even so, let me go in there, just for peace of mind." Gordon said as he materialized his shotgun.
"Whoa whoa whoa, I get that you're heavily armed, but there's no need to pop their heads open like watermelons!" Subaru whisper-yelled as he saw the shotgun.
"It's just for security purposes, if it's just the two people we're expecting, I'll put it away." Gordon reassured Subaru.
Meanwhile Satella stared at the shotgun, wondering what that was, and why Subaru would say that it could "pop their heads open".
"Fine, thank you, Freeman-san!" Subaru thanked Gordon as he stepped out of the way.
"Don't mention it." Gordon replied as he reached for the front door, carefully opening it. Turning on his flashlight, he looked around, finding medieval suits of armor and shields, as well as various categories of equipment up for sale. But the fact that no one is around was fueling Gordon's suspicious, his gaze carefully scanning the room. He fought off the U.S army, the Black Ops, armies of extraterrestrial, Gordon was sure that he could handle whatever intruder is in the room with him. His instincts told him that someone was staring at him within the darkness.
Gordon carefully made his way deeper into the loot house, though he could smell a faint hint of blood.
"Hmm.." Gordon was in full alert now, listening for any footsteps or creaks. Though a few steps later, he found it, a puddle of blood.
It wasn't Felt, but the corpse of Old Man Rom, possibly her bodyguard.
"Oh for fuck's sake." Gordon whispered as he cocked his shotgun.
"Oh dear.. you found that?" A woman's voice spoke from the darkness.
"All right, show yourself." Gordon demanded of the woman.
"We just met and this is how you treat a lady? Well, you found that, and it would seem I have no choice... yes... I have no choice..." The woman said as Gordon looked behind him.
He used his long jump module to jump out of the way, quickly turning his flashlight onto the source of the voice, a woman who was surprised at Gordon's agility, thinking that clunky suit of armor would hinder his agility.
The woman, who wore an outfit that revealed too much of her breasts, licked her lips as she rushed to Gordon, holding a massive knife. Gordon was faster however, and aimed the shotgun right at her head.
"Hm?" The woman could only mutter as Gordon pulled the trigger.
Meanwhile outside, Subaru and Satella heard the shotgun blast.
"Damn it! Freeman-san! There was no need for you to-" Subaru's words cut off as he stared at the headless "corpse" of the woman still standing up.
Feeling creeped out already, Subaru could only watch in horror as the woman's head instantly regenerated. Gordon meanwhile thought that this individual would be a problem, maybe the gluon gun could possibly work.
"What the hell are you?" Gordon whispered as he stared at the woman who finished regenerating her head.
"What I am is not of concern, however, it would seem that there are witnesses here... I cannot afford to leave witnesses behind." The woman spoke as she disappeared for a second, only for Subaru to cry out in pain, holding his stomach that has just been cut open.
"Subaru!" Gordon yelled as he materialized his gluon gun.
"Fucking bitch, pick on someone who can fight back!" Gordon challenged the woman.
"Hm? You don't seem to have fear of me... no matter, you'll be dead anyway." The woman mocked Gordon.
"Freeman-san? Subaru?" Satella quietly asked as she carefully stepped in.
"No... run... away..." Subaru whispered as loud as he could.
Before Freeman could do anything, the woman also cut open Satella's belly, who promptly fell next to Subaru. Subaru was struggling to stay alive, while Satella seemed to have died instantly.
"Oh my, looks like your friends have fallen to my blade..." The woman mocked Gordon.
"Wait... there... I'm.. going to... save you.." Subaru struggled to speak through the pain as he reached for Satella's hand. He would then lose his life a few seconds later.
"So, it all goes down the toilet... just like this..." Gordon whispered as his hopes of coming back to Earth were lost, he didn't know what to do now.
"Don't worry... I'll send you to meet the angels in a bit." The woman spoke as she prepared to cut open his throat, looking at the thick armor Gordon was wearing.
"Fucking cunt, try to come back from this!" Gordon yelled as he aimed the gluon gun at the woman. This weapon is capable of instantly disintegrating organic matter by overcharging the particles in the cells and making them violently explode.
"Oh?"
.
.
.
"What's the matter, boy? You look like you saw a ghost." the fruit salesman said as he held out an apple.
Subaru meanwhile was blinking, wondering what the fuck just happened. Gordon was wondering why Subaru spaced out for a few minutes, not responding to anyone or anything.
The fruit vendor was speaking to Subaru, trying to get him to snap out of whatever he seemed to be trapped in.
"Don't what me! The appa! Are you buying it or not?"
"Oh.. no. Like I said, I'm broke beyond compare." Subaru sheepishly said.
The fruit vendor told them to fuck off, while Gordon didn't bother to chew the vendor out as he was concerned while Subaru would space out for a few minutes.
Ominous music starts playing as Subaru looked shellshocked.
"...What's going on? Wasn't it nighttime just a minute ago?" Subaru whispered.
"Hm? What happened, talk to me, Subaru." Gordon was wondering why Subaru was acting like this.
"Huh? Oh, let me just check real quick if the wound on belly is still there.." Subaru whispered as he lifted up his tracksuit, checking to see if his stomach was cut open.
"I don't know, but you're fine, no one has attacked us yet. I also don't know what you mean by it being nighttime. It's clearly daytime." Gordon was wondering why Subaru looked like he all there mentally.
"Ehh.. sorry about it, Freeman-san, it's nothing to worry about. Anyway, we need to find Satella!" Subaru declared.
"Huh? Who's Satella? We just arrived here." Gordon questioned Subaru.
"Oh, uh, didn't we just meet Satella?" Subaru asked.
"No, we haven't met anyone yet since we arrived to this world." Gordon raised an eyebrow at Subaru's behavior.
"Sorry, but Satella is someone important, and I have to get back to that shop!" Subaru declared as he rushed trying to find his way back.
"Hmm..." Gordon stared at Subaru as he rushed back to whatever the "shop" is supposed to be. He had his suspicions about Subaru's behavior, though he shrugged, and rushed to assist Subaru in however he could.
Subaru would then run into the three thugs again, in the same dark alley.
"You guys... did you see we were alone and decide to get revenge?" Subaru asked.
The thieves looked at Subaru like he was crazy.
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Are you nuts?"
"Don't worry about it, just leave everything you got, and we'll let you go."
Gordon meanwhile was wondering why Subaru was speaking like he's met these thieves before, they did arrive to this world for the first time, right?. Though he couldn't say anything because he wasn't sure yet.
As Subaru complied and was leaving his grocery bags down, the short thug mocked him by demanding Subaru to get on all fours and act like a dog.
Subaru didn't take this lightly, and told them to not get cocky as he rushed over to the scrawny thug and landed an uppercut on his chin, knocking him down to the floor. Then landing a roundhouse kick to the short thug.
And after kicking the fat thug in the balls, Subaru told them to not get in their way again.
Gordon looked at the recovering thugs, and thought about what he should do with them. Eventually he materialized the tranquilizer gun, with darts that can put a whole alien grunt to sleep in 3 shots. The darts are not lethal, right?
Oh well, Gordon fired a dart into each thug, knocking them hopefully unconscious and not putting them to sleep forever. He then just shrugged, and went to catch up to Subaru.
"You can handle yourself pretty well." Gordon spoke.
"Hm? It's just that they got in our way again... didn't they?" Subaru wondered.
"No, we saw these thieves for the first time." Gordon narrowed his eyes as he wondered why Subaru looked like he's met these thieves before. Does he have a few screws loose?
"Actually, don't worry about it... let's get back to the loot house!" Subaru declared as he rushed back to the location.
"Eh, whatever." Gordon spoke to himself as he caught up to Subaru.
Gordon meanwhile looked at Subaru who seemed to be sure, too sure on where this loot house would be. They eventually came to the loot house, with Subaru closing his eyes and taking deep breaths as he prepared to go in.
He knocked on the door, then started pounding as he was yelling that the should be someone in there. Eventually someone answered, a giant that complained about how Subaru was trying to tear his door down.
They soon found themselves invited into the loot house, with Subaru looking fidgety and looking around for any threats.
"Are your balls chafin' ya that much? What are you looking all fidgety for?" The giant asked.
"I just sat down and this is how you start the conversation?!" Subaru yelled.
"You're already interrupting my evening booze. You'll kill me if you start talkin' about boring stuff now."
"But it's not even nighttime." Gordon spoke.
"Eh, I can have my evening booze any time I want." The giant grumbled as he drank his beer.
"This might be a dumb question but... has anyone come by and killed anyone here, preferably a woman with an outfit that reveals too much of herself?" Subaru asked.
The giant and Gordon stared at him like he had a few screws loose, with the giant finding the question to be hilarious.
"Ha! I admit that we have some dangerous individuals come and go, but it's nothing I can't handle." The giant spoke.
"Okay then, then have you seen anyone with silver hair?" Subaru asked.
"Silver hair... is that what "Satella" looks like, Subaru?" Gordon asked.
"Yes! I was wondering if you have seen anyone like her around?" Subaru asked the giant.
"Huh.. Satella.. silver hair... I don't know what business you're in, but I wouldn't go around looking for a silver-haired half elf." The giant warned them.
"But, it's not my business, so, what are you here for?"
"Oh yea, we're looking for this insignia, it belongs to a silver-haired girl who helped me out. I don't know why, but it's important to her."
The giant thought about it, and replied that he didn't have anything like that. Subaru tried to get him to think, maybe he was just senile.
Old man Rom just replied that if he didn't remember with booze in him, then he can't remember. Though he revealed that he's got someone coming to bring goods later, it's some fine loot.
"Is the one bringing it a girl named Felt?" Subaru asked.
Gordon was wondering why Subaru was being so specific about various details.
The giant was surprised that Subaru knew the thief, but he doubted that he could afford buying the stolen loots. Subaru agreed that he was broke, but he can still trade valuable items.
Subaru showed off his items, starting off with the corn chips. The giant didn't know what that was, so Subaru handed the bag of chips to him. Old man Rom opened the bag, but it sent some chips scattering everywhere, eventually reaching in and trying it out.
He thought that it would go great with booze, but then kept eating the chips, with Subaru yelling about how he shouldn't just start eating them.
Old man Rom just told them that they would have to wait until Felt got back, until then, they could wait outside.
Gordon stared at Subaru, wondering why he was so specific about certain details. But he left it alone, he doesn't have full evidence yet.
Subaru was meanwhile commenting about how in any world, there are people with money or no money. A few minutes later, a short blonde girl showed up.
"Hey, what're you doing there? You're in my way." The girl spoke, staring at him
"Felt!" Subaru spoke loudly.
"You know me?"
"Of course I do! I've been waiting for you!"
"What for?"
"Wait, are you saying you don't remember me?"
Gordon's questions were growing by the minute, but he didn't know what to ask, so he waited to see how events would play out. Eventually the girl smiled, and said that she'll hear Subaru out on his offer.
She knocked on the door, giving a password, and soon, they found themselves in the loot house again. After Old man Rom gave watered down milk to Felt, with her calling it nasty, they soon got down to business: Negotiating for the insignia.
Felt asked how much he would pay for it, with Subaru asking if she had it. She gave the insignia to Old man Rom, and after that, Subaru said that he was broke, with Felt scolding him that there was nothing to discuss.
He disagreed however, as he may not have money, but he has things worth money. He showed off his phone, taking a photo of Felt and Old man Rom. Felt thought it was amazing, while Old man Rom wondered if that was some sort of metia. He thought that this "metia" could possibly be worth more than the insignia, while Subaru proudly declared that negotiations are complete, and was about to grab the insignia, when Felt snatched it away.
"Huh? Why not?!"
"You're not the only one I'm negotiating for this. I nabbed this insignia because I was asked to. My client told me I could get 10 holy coins for it!"
"You already had a deal with the one you stole it for?" Subaru muttered dejectedly.
"Hm, if that's their currency... 10 holy coins must be extremely valuable. Wonder how much they're worth in dollars." Gordon thought, he'd estimate a holy coin to be worth maybe $100.
Old man Rom spoke about how there could be people out there who have big wallets and are willing to pay as much as they needed to get a metia like Subaru's.
"Heh, you could probably make a business selling phones here. Flip phones are cheap and plentiful where we come from." Gordon chuckled as he imagined the people here literally worshipping a "metia" that's actually just a cheap, mass-produced electronic.
But I guess in this world, cell phones, or "metias" are a luxury. Even if the cell phone won't help the owner use magic.
"...I have no idea what you just said, I don't know what a flip phone is, but this metia could possibly rival what my client has to offer!" Felt was proud that she had 2 offers on the table.
"I probably should have asked mom for a smartphone- nah, I don't even have that many friends, a smartphone would be a waste on me." Subaru changed his thoughts mid sentence.
Meanwhile Gordon noticed that Subaru looked a bit too fidgety as he kept looking from the corner of his eye at the door, almost as if he's watching out for something.
Eh, maybe it's because they're in an area where people are fucking broke and desperate. He figured it's because of that, just being cautious, right?.
Felt meanwhile had another thought, and celebrated on how she could possibly get away with overcharging the client on the deal. She then made a comment on how a small girl like her could possibly be cheated out of her profits if she was not protected. Which is why Old man Rom is her bodyguard.
Gordon thought that someone is just unfortunate enough to be born poor, at least she found a way to make money, even if it's stealing from politicians. Heh, at least someone here has the balls to steal from the politicians like they do from the people. But as they kept talking, a soft knock on the door was heard, which made Subaru flinch a bit, still remembering being cut open by the woman.
"...Would that be your other client that you're expecting?" Gordon slowly asked.
"Yep! That would be for me, hopefully!" Felt declared as she went to the door.
Subaru meanwhile asked the giant on why he still stuck by her side until today. To which he replied that he was fine with it. Old man Rom then went to grab a massive wooden bat, to which Subaru chuckled and commented on how he looked like a classic barbarian. Even Gordon found this sight to be amusing.
As Old man Rom and Subaru kept talking for a couple more seconds, Felt and the other client made their presence known.
"I was right, it was my other client." Felt presented Elsa, the woman that cut open Subaru and Satella in the previous life. Even if Subaru hasn't processed the fact that he died, he still felt a little primal fear at the sight of the woman.
"Oh dear.. there seems to be several outsiders here." Elsa spoke as she stared at Subaru and Gordon with a hint of bloodlust. Gordon just met her gaze with an unbreaking stare, not showing any signs of fear. Subaru felt the temperature in the room grow chilly as Gordon and Elsa stared at each other for a couple more seconds before Felt spoke up, fearing what would happen in 5 seconds.
Old man Rom knew that there was something really wrong with Freeman-san, if he had the expression of a traumatized soldier.
"Well, I could possibly be in a bit of trouble if you decided to bilk on me. I gotta have a way to ensure I get my share of the deal." Felt casually spoke.
Elsa looked at Old man Rom, recognizing him, but she didn't know who the other two strange men in the room were, especially the man in the heavy orange armor.
"This guy's your rival. He's the other person at the table for negotiations." Felt introduced Subaru.
Elsa looked surprised at this revelation, but didn't seem to be too bothered by it as she stared at Subaru with an amused expression.
"Hm, I'll have to ask, what is your role in this?" Elsa softly asked Gordon, she didn't know why Gordon would not show fear when she stared at him a few minutes before.
Freeman thought on what he should reply, he felt that he shouldn't talk too much about his origins, so he said.
"I am merely a passerby, hired to ensure nothing goes wrong in this deal." Gordon thought up of a lie on the spot.
Elsa doubted this, but she decided to leave it at that.
A couple minutes later, Elsa got to know the 2 strange men, and how Subaru is competing against her for the insignia.
"So that means you two will be bidding against each other. I don't really care who gets the insignia, I'm just looking to sell it to the highest bidder." Felt was blunt about her intentions.
"Talk about being too honest!" Gordon winced as he heard Felt casually say that.
Elsa asked about what Subaru is bringing to the table, to which he pulled up his phone, saying that's what's he's going to offer for the insignia.
"It's a quite rare item, the muscleman over here tells me it's worth at least 20 holy coins." Subaru put on his best business tone and negotiated for the insignia.
"Guess these people don't know flip phones are cheap and plentiful." Gordon thought as he found it amusing that they would be willing to pay $2,000 for a flip phone.
Subaru took a photo of Elsa real quick, to which she reacted by being surprised at the flash and the noise.
"See? A metia that can hold moments in time, right here." Subaru presented the phone's camera system.
Elsa was somewhat actually impressed by this, but she presented a counter-offer by saying the client that hired her has given her extra funds in case something like this would happen.
"Wonder what they'd say if I went up and asked how much the quarters in my pockets are worth." Gordon contemplated, but he didn't want to interrupt this negotiation, even if he felt that something's not right with Elsa.
"So you were asked to fetch it too?" Subaru asked.
"That's right, the client is the one who wants it. Would you happen to be in the same business?" Elsa asked.
Subaru joked that by being in the same business as him, that would mean they're unemployed. The silence was awkward for a few seconds before Felt spoke up.
"So, it would seem that this unemployed guy has put up a price that puts him in the lead. What price is your master putting on it?"
Elsa pulled out a bag and let the coins inside fall on the table. Felt was shocked at how many holy coins were on the table, while Old man Rom counted them. Gordon just thought that they looked like silver dollars from his country, they're even the same size.
"These are the funds that my employer has provided me, is it not quite enough?" Elsa asked.
Subaru just stared at the holy coins with a poker face, thinking on what to do to win this deal. Old man Rom took notice of this and chewed him out on how sometimes you don't win what you want, even if you provide the adequate funds. Felt softly tapped his thigh, which shut him up for a second, then changed his attitude on how Subaru might just walk away with the insignia.
"Excuse me, but may I take a look at a holy coin?" Gordon asked, grabbing a silver dollar from his pocket.
"Huh, just how much spare change do you have, Freeman-san?" Subaru commented.
"Eh, you tend to find spare change here and there as you travel through the countries, a passerby such as myself doesn't discriminate money." Gordon put up the illusion that he was a passerby, as Elsa stared at him with a thin-lipped smile.
Gordon put the silver dollar next to a holy coin, and was satisfied that they look almost exactly the same if one were to look at them from a distance. Maybe he could cheat someone and get funds to start in this world.
Elsa stared at the U.S silver dollar, never seen a form of currency like this. She tried to read the letters in the back, but she couldn't understand what they said. (United States of America, guess she can't read English.)
"...Anyway, sorry for you and your employer, but you'd better pack up those coins and leave." Old man Rom spoke.
Gordon just picked up his silver dollar and put it back in his pocket. Meanwhile Subaru couldn't contain his excitement, and let the whole world know about it.
Everyone just stared at him like he was a dumbfuck.
"What's wrong with a little victory pose!?"
"No one said anything. Go as crazy as you want, as long as I get my profits."
Then Subaru remembered that Elsa was still hired to get this insignia for some reason, he felt bad, but he wanted to help "Satella" the most.
"It can't be helped, it was my employer's fault for not being prepared and trying to underpay." Elsa casually spoke as she finished her milk.
"This deal ended in disappointment for me, but I'll be leaving now." Elsa said as she licked her lips
"By the way, what do you intend to do with that insignia?" Elsa asked as she stared at Subaru.
Subaru, the dumb fuck that he is, said the next thing with no shame or embarrassment.
"Eh, I'm going to give it back to its original owner." Subaru said this with a smile on his face.
The temperature in the room dropped once again, as Gordon prepared to fight. Subaru was still standing there, not knowing why Elsa was staring at him with bloodlust. She then prepared to cut him open.
Freeman was faster, and blocked Elsa's knife with his crowbar.
"I knew there was something wrong with you." Gordon whispered as he stared at Elsa with a piercing gaze.
"Oh my, you actually blocked my strike. That thing must be quite durable if it can take a hit from my blades." Elsa complimented Gordon.
"Do you want to fucking die!?" Felt yelled at Subaru.
Old man Rom took his chance as Elsa was distracted, and tried swinging his oversized club at her. The fight went on for a minute, Elsa expertly dodging his strikes, until she took the opportunity to cut off his arm.
Gordon noticed that her speed was something else, and thought on what weapon would be most effective. He figured that maybe the gluon gun could work.
Felt cried out in concern for Old man Rom, while Subaru was still standing there dumbfounded. Gordon figured that the giant was no match for this woman, and now he best be prepared to fight back against her.
"Power level 100%, full health.. I need to be careful." Gordon thought as he materialized his gluon gun. A reliable weapon to utterly obliterate any form of organic matter.
Old man Rom shook from the pain, then recovered as he charged at Elsa, intending to take her with him to the grave.
"I forgot to say this..." Elsa spoke as she grabbed a broken glass of milk.
"Thank you for the milk." She spoke as she cut open Old man Rom's throat with it. He stood up for a few seconds, spitting blood, before falling on a table.
"...How dare you?! You bitch!" Felt growled as she balled her fists.
"Oh my, it seems that you're braver than your friend over there." Elsa mocked Subaru.
"I'll kill you, you fucking psychopath!" Felt yelled as she cleaned the blood off her face.
Elsa played with a knife, expertly spinning and twirling it.
"If you move around so much, my hands might slip. I'm quite rough at handling blades, you see." Elsa smiled.
Felt looked back at Subaru, and apologized for getting him caught up on this. Gordon, thinking this kid wouldn't stand a chance against a killer like her, wasted no time in aiming the gluon gun at Elsa, and pulled the trigger.
"Wait, what the fuck is-" Felt was cut off as the energy beam from the gluon gun hit Elsa straight in the head, instantly pulverizing her and leaving her as bloody chunks on the floor.
"Whoa! Okay what kinda weapon is that, Freeman-san!?" Subaru was horrified by this weapon.
"Gluon Gun, made in the Lambda Labs, the only one in the world." Freeman presented the weapon.
"Okay but nobody told me it could be so fucking violent!" Felt yelled and at the same time, she was scared of Freeman. A passerby, her ass! No passerby has a weapon like that!.
But the room went silent as the bloody chunks actually fucking moved, and took a minute to form the complete body of Elsa the Gut Hunter.
"Oh for fucks sake... if this doesn't kill you, what will!?" Gordon yelled as he stared at the bloody chunks finally grow back into Elsa. Now he knew that this world's inhabitants had superhuman abilities.
"Hmm... I actually felt that one... first time I felt pain in a long time..." Elsa had a darkened expression as she stared at Gordon.
Gordon Freeman materialized his shotgun, and pulled the trigger, destroying Elsa's head with 8 blasts in one short succession. Yet again, she regenerated from this.
"Now you're just being quite rude to a lady like me.. I see you're quite the capable opponent! It's been a long time since I met anyone like you!" Elsa stared at Gordon with a bloodthirsty expression.
"Damn you! Fuck you for killing Old man Rom!" Felt yelled as she used her divine protection of the wind to enhance her speed.
"Oh my, it seems that you're blessed by the world." Elsa smiled as her inhuman speed and strength cut down Felt with ease.
"Not blessed enough it would seem." Elsa mocked Felt as she fell on the floor.
Gordon and Subaru stared at Elsa, thinking on what to do now that they're the last ones standing, she's a monster of her own right, and Gordon Freeman seems capable of fighting, but for how long?
"You dare hurt a kid like her? Do you have any compassion?" Gordon was disgusted by Elsa.
"She made her choice, I am just defending myself." Elsa smiled.
Meanwhile Subaru struggled to get up, staring at Elsa with a challenging expression.
"Even so, I can't afford to leave any witnesses behind..." Elsa's expression darkened that maybe she could start with Subaru, the weakest one, then she could have fun "dancing" with Gordon Freeman.
Subaru blinked, and suddenly felt a burning pain in his stomach. He looked down, and saw his tracksuit slowly be tainted with blood.
"As expected.. you are weak, your movements are rough. I hoped I could squeeze some wisdom out of you, but you lack that as well." Elsa listed out Subaru's weaknesses.
Gordon thought up of a plan quickly, and materialized his grenades, pulling the pins and dropping them on the floor, before grabbing Subaru and using the long jump module to get the fuck out of there.
"Oh?" Elsa questioned as she stared at the grenades on the floor.
The loot house was utterly destroyed by the grenades.
"Subaru! You're going to be okay!, Just hang on!" Gordon thought on where there could be any sort of hospital in this world, but he figured that it would have to be in the city, which was a couple hours away.
"It was her... she's the one who did this to me before..." Subaru coughed up blood as the pain worsened.
"What do you mean by that? Just save your energy! There has to be a surgeon around here!" Freeman looked back and was annoyed at the fact Elsa was still standing, the grenades not having been enough to kill her.
"You bitch... picking on the weak, is that what you do for a living?" Gordon growled in disgust.
"Not the most accurate description. It is merely my organization, as you may see. But I think it's time to end this." Elsa smiled.
"It hurts... it hurts... it hurts!" Subaru was panicking as the pain grew worse and worse.
"Does it hurt? Are you in pain? Sad? Do you want to die?" Elsa kept on mocking Subaru as he was slowly losing his life again.
"I will die? When will I die? It hurts! It.. doesn't hurt?" Subaru was surprised now that the pain was going away.
He couldn't keep his eyes open, and closed them forever.
"Oh, I'm dead."
Gordon Freeman was the last one standing, and stared at Elsa, he didn't know what to do, she could regenerate from even a hit from the gluon gun.
"Now then.. shall we dance?" Elsa smiled as she held up two blades.
"...What's the matter boy? You look like you saw a ghost." The fruit vendor asked.
Subaru stood there with a dazed expression, having died for the second time and still not registering it.
"Subaru?" Gordon asked, wondering why he looked like he just saw something horrifying and yet hasn't registered it.
"Boy? Are you okay?"
Subaru perked up at this, and became dizzy.
"I have no idea what's going on anymore..." Subaru muttered as he fell on the ground.
The fruit vendor got up and dragged Subaru's body over to a corner, splashing some water on him to get him to wake up.
"Huh?" Subaru blinked the water from his eyes.
"You know what, here, forget about the money. Just take this." The fruit vendor held up an apple.
Freeman was wondering why Subaru looked fine one minute, and the next minute he actually got dizzy while having the expression of someone who went through a small traumatic event.
Subaru looked at the apple, before catching a glimpse of "Satella" passing by.
"W-wait! Hey, wait! Wait! Please, Satella!" Subaru yelled as he hastily got up, leaving the fruit vendor dumbfounded.
Freeman ran next to Subaru, wondering why he was calling out for a "Satella". Satella meanwhile stopped and made a surprised noise, wondering who would have the balls to call her Satella in public. Other people stared at Subaru with concern, thinking he may be a witch cultist.
"Please don't ignore me! My dying and not doing what you said were my fault!" Subaru hastily explained his situation.
"What do you mean by "dying"?" Gordon raised an eyebrow at this, he hasn't died, and basically, you only die once, right?
"What I meant was, that I was desperate! I went back to the loot house but I couldn't find you... I'm sorry for thinking of myself only, but I'm glad you're all right, Satella." Subaru smiled, and "Satella" turned around, staring at Subaru and Gordon with a disgusted expression.
"Do you know this girl, Subaru?" Gordon asked.
"Yes! She's Satella! I tried to help her but-"
"What are you two thinking!? I don't know who you are, but don't call me by the name of the Jealous Witch!" "Satella" scolded them.
"Huh?" Subaru blinked as he realized Satella wasn't her real name.
Now Gordon was concerned about Subaru, and why he looked so shell-shocked. Though he decided to leave the matter, and wondered just what his old friend Barney Calhoun was doing right now.
"Gordon Freeman... you will be quite the interesting subject, indeed..." The G-man creepily smiled as he awaited orders from his employers.
"As for you... Natsuki Subaru... we'll see what your role will be in all of this..." G-Man already figured out Subaru's ability, though it would not bring him any benefit to reveal it to anyone, it would stay with him, and his employers only.
I get that it may not be as exciting as other fics, but this is just the beginning. Gordon Freeman and Subaru in re:zero, and Freeman, the heavily armed scientist that kills monsters like another Monday, could possibly be smart enough to figure out that Subaru is knowing too much about future events...
I'll have to look at both the re:zero and half-life lore to see how I can mix them into a story you guys will like. Maybe there could be a sequel where the Combine invade re:zero, and manage to capture Reinhard to get him out of the way.
If the Combine can imprison the G-Man, they can possibly figure out how to get rid of the Sword Saint.