Chapter Two
A Few Rules Broken
"I'm sorry sir, I'll need your clearence."
Ron stopped cold. The gaurd was standing at the front of the gangplank that lead to the tram. Ron planned to simply board the tram at the office complex station, travel down to the lower levels, get out, head to the Test Chamber at the AML, and watch the experiment. It was a simple plan, but just one small problem on the first step and the whole plan fell apart like a house of cards caught in a gust of wind.
"Ah yes, my clearance papers, hmmm."
Ron began to pat down his pockets in a vain hope to find clearance, though in reality, it was just to make sure he didn't look suspicious.
"I'm sorry, I must have left them in my office. I'll be right back."
Sweating heavilly, Ron turned around and head back around the corner into the hallway. The elevators that lead back up the office complex themselves were here, mixed in with pillars alongside the walls, and there were a few metal benchs in this little waiting lobby for the tram. Ron sat down on one of the benchs, but he lept back up when he found he had sat on something.
Now standing up, he turned around to investigate what he had sat upon. Sure enough, there was something on the seat, and he bent down and picked it up. It was just a cigerette lighter that some scientist or security gaurd had left. Tram stations were some of the few places that the 'NO-SMOKING' signs did not hang. In fact, now that Ron noticed it, there were two tall sand-filled cigerette butt holders in the small waiting room.
Another idea crossed Rons mind!
Ron reached into his pocket and pulled out a small note pad. He tore out half a dozen or so pages and tossed them in the cigerette bin at the far end of the room. Then he took out the lighter and lit the papers ablaze. Once he was satisifed he had a good fire going, he backed up and pushed his back up against one of the pillars so he was hidden from view.
"FIRE! FIRE!" shouted Ron loudly. Soon, he was greeted with the footfalls of the security gaurd coming to investigate.
"What the hell?"
The gaurd came rushing around the corner, totally unaware of Rons presence. He was carrying a fire extinguisher and he began to use it on the small fire. When he started to put the blaze out, Ron dashed quickly around the corner and headed for the ungaurded tram. However, when he reached it, he realized he need a passcode to operate it, and there was no way an employee like him would know that kind of infomation.
Rons eyes darted back and forth, looking for another way. He spotted a ladder near the end of the platform that said 'Matinence Acsess.' Ron smiled and ran towards it with new hope. There wasn't anything blocking it at all, and he was able to climb down the ladder quickly with ease. He was standing on a dark concrete path way below the tram on the right side. The only light came from the small opening in the canyon above, so Ron figured he'd spend most of his walk in the pitch black darkness.
Slowly, Ron began to make is way down the long dark walkway. His hands were out in front of him in case he ran into anything. He would have used the lighter he carried, but he was afraid that someone may see him, so it left it alone in his pocket. Regulations were scrict had Black Mesa, so if he was caught sneaking around the tram tunnels when he should have been in his office, waiting for another report order to be delivered to him, who knows what they would do to him! In fact, what would they do if they found his office empty? However, before this thought could progress any further, Ron heard a sound like grinding behind him. He trwirled around on his heels to see what it was.
A tram!
It's lights were too far off to spot him yet, but soon, he would be right square in its sights. Ron couldn't tell if the tram was occipied, but if it was, there was no way they would miss the white labcoat against the lit-up grey concrete walls. Ron looked back and forth, or rather felt back and forth, for something to hide behind. There was something nearby that felt beg enough for him to hide behind, so he slid against it, pushing his back firmly against it so he was least visible.
Ron was breathing heavilly, and his heart was pumping like a train engine. He hoped the trams lights wouldn't illuminate back here too much, otherwise his sceme was up! Light started to appear on the floor to his left, and the tram sounded like it was very close by. Soon, the front half of the tram appeared in the corner of Rons eye, and rsiked a glance to see if it was occupied.
Sure enough, it had one rider aboard. A tall man, very tall, and very pale, wearing a dark blue suit and a black tie. In his right hand held a black briefcase with the Black Mesa insignia on it in bold yellow print. His hair was jet-black and was shaved to a small V on his forehead, and his eyes were set foreward, as if glued to the front of the tram. Just as he dissapeared out of view, he reached up and straightened his tie. The move was very mechanical, and looked like it had been practiced many times. Then, just as fast as it had come, it was gone.
Ron waited until the sounds of the tram were all but gone before stepping back out unto the walkway.
"Whew," he sighed out loud, "that was close!"
A thought lept into Rons mind like a frog hopping across a still pond. It made some sense, but it still dogged him on whether it was true or not.
Was that the Administrator?
Since he had never seen the man before, it could have been him. He had never seen the man before, and since he had never seen the administrator eithier, he had nothing to compare the man on the tram with, so for now his identity would remain a mystery
After a quick glance back, just to be safe, and then started back down the long dark path. He walked on and one, until he came came to a tram station, however, he knew that this was just a security checkpoint, and that he'd be in serious trouble if he went up there now. Since there was light above, he could just make out a small door with the words 'MATINENCE ACESS' on his right. Again, he looked back to check to see if anyone was watching, then opened the metal door and entered the tunnel.
Everything in the long matinence tunnels looked alike, and somtimes it was hard to tell one place from another. Not that it was a maze, just more of a long tunnel with walls, floors, and ceilings that all looked alike. Ron just kept on walking down the tunnels, hopping down the stairs, and riding a couple of elevators down a few levels. When the signs on the walls next to the doors read Sector-C Test Lab, he knew he had reached his destination.
Now standing nearly six-hundred feet below his old office, he could see that he was directly underneath the AML tram station. Ron hadn't been down here for so long, he barely remembered it, but he did remember that there was a lone gaurd at the door to the AML itself, which was located on the tram station and the door could only be opened by a code entered by the gaurd currently on duty.
Guess I've just got to find out a way to sneak past him too, thought Ron as he climbed up the small ladder. When he reached the top, he peeked out unto the platform to see what he was up against. Sure enough, there was one gaurd, a catwalk going sticking out into the open tunnel where the trams could pull up against, and a large metal door that opened vertically. The gaurd was totally unaware of Rons presence, which was good, since again, if he was caught, punishments would be severe.
Well, if I come out from this ladder, Ron started to think, he'll suspect something is wrong, but I can't very well go back to the office tram, since the gaurd there will have already returned to his post. I've got to come up with some excuse why I'm coming out of a matinence tunnel, why I don't have clearence, and why I need to get into the lab and watch the experiment!
As if on cue, a desperate, yet workable.
It's the only chance I've got anyway, thought Ron and climbed out of the tram platform. At frist, the gaurd just stood there, looking foward as if he was being inspected by his supieriors. However, he soon spotted Ron out of the corner of his eyes, and lept about a foot in the air, turned to face Ron, and placed his hand on his holstered pistol.
Jumpy nerves, thought Ron, glad to see we're protected by the most competent security force in the world.
"Halt right there," he stuttered, "who are you? Where'd you come from?"
"Look, we got a problem," started Ron.
"Yeah, we do," said the gaurd, "we've got a scientist who just appeared out of nowhere and starts blabing about problems!"
His voice was jittery, and it was appearent he was very startaled by Rons sudden appearence.
"Never mind about that, we've got real problems out our hands. The trams are down in this sector. I was en route to this station when the tram just stopped dead! I was stuck in it for about a quarter of an hour! Finally, I gathered up enough courage to leap unto the platform below and make way way here through the matinence tunnels. It looks like I'm just in time for the experiment."
Ron took a good step foward before the gaurd placed his hand up.
"Hold it right there, buddy," he spoke sternly, "where's your clearence?"
Now for the tough part, thought Ron.
"Right," started Ron, and then began to reach into his coat pocket and fumble around to fake like he was looking for clearence papers like he had done for the previous gaurd at the previous platoform. The guarded folded his arms skeptically and glared at Ron with impatience and annoyance.
"Ah, you know what?" piped Ron suddenly, removing his hands from his coats, " I left the papers on the tram, which as I said earlier is stuck in the tram tunnels."
"Two trams passed by here in the last hour," stated the guard, "one was empty and the other one had some guy in blue suit on board. He got off here and went into lab, and you know why?"
"Why?"
"Because he had papers! Now go on and get outta' here!"
Ron gulped in a terror.
"Look, I'm a big part of todays experiment! I'm needed in there! I'm a key man in the project!"
"Then why don't you have papers, buddy?"
"Like I said, I left them on the tram. In fact, my tram was probably the one that went by here that was empty."
The guards eyes rolled with boredom.
"Whatever."
"I'm not joking around, I need to get in there! Now open that door immediently!"
Suddenly, the large doors of the AML opened and out stepped the tall man in the blue suit with the briefcase. Ron didn't notice who it was right away, and he just kept arguing with the guard.
"I'm telling you, I'm with the science team for the experiment today!"
The blue suited man turned toward Ron, and he suddenly became aware who he was and went cold when their eyes met.
"Ah, Dr. Daniels, glad to s-s-s-s-see your here at las-s-st! I heard about the the tram failure, and I figured that's-s-s-s what happened to you. Anyway, come on. I've got to finish up some buis-s-s-sness-s-s-s-s, so I'm afraid I'm going to have to mis-s-s-s-s the experiment. Make sure you write a report on it, and turn in into the Administrators-s-s office. Good day to you, doctor."
Without another word, the man started off towards the tram platform. When he got near the edge, a tram suddenly appeared around the corner and pulled up to the boarding platform and the man got on board. All his movements and voice, with the exception of the lisp on his 'S's' were so robotic, so smooth and quick, it was like the were rehearsed. The tram began to move, and it dissapeared out of sight.
When Ron turned around, he was greeted with the AML doors open, and the formerly hostile guard standing over the code panel.
"Sorry for the delay sir, just head on in."
Ron steped through the first door and in the airlock-style doorway that lead into the Alominous Materials Lab.
A Few Rules Broken
"I'm sorry sir, I'll need your clearence."
Ron stopped cold. The gaurd was standing at the front of the gangplank that lead to the tram. Ron planned to simply board the tram at the office complex station, travel down to the lower levels, get out, head to the Test Chamber at the AML, and watch the experiment. It was a simple plan, but just one small problem on the first step and the whole plan fell apart like a house of cards caught in a gust of wind.
"Ah yes, my clearance papers, hmmm."
Ron began to pat down his pockets in a vain hope to find clearance, though in reality, it was just to make sure he didn't look suspicious.
"I'm sorry, I must have left them in my office. I'll be right back."
Sweating heavilly, Ron turned around and head back around the corner into the hallway. The elevators that lead back up the office complex themselves were here, mixed in with pillars alongside the walls, and there were a few metal benchs in this little waiting lobby for the tram. Ron sat down on one of the benchs, but he lept back up when he found he had sat on something.
Now standing up, he turned around to investigate what he had sat upon. Sure enough, there was something on the seat, and he bent down and picked it up. It was just a cigerette lighter that some scientist or security gaurd had left. Tram stations were some of the few places that the 'NO-SMOKING' signs did not hang. In fact, now that Ron noticed it, there were two tall sand-filled cigerette butt holders in the small waiting room.
Another idea crossed Rons mind!
Ron reached into his pocket and pulled out a small note pad. He tore out half a dozen or so pages and tossed them in the cigerette bin at the far end of the room. Then he took out the lighter and lit the papers ablaze. Once he was satisifed he had a good fire going, he backed up and pushed his back up against one of the pillars so he was hidden from view.
"FIRE! FIRE!" shouted Ron loudly. Soon, he was greeted with the footfalls of the security gaurd coming to investigate.
"What the hell?"
The gaurd came rushing around the corner, totally unaware of Rons presence. He was carrying a fire extinguisher and he began to use it on the small fire. When he started to put the blaze out, Ron dashed quickly around the corner and headed for the ungaurded tram. However, when he reached it, he realized he need a passcode to operate it, and there was no way an employee like him would know that kind of infomation.
Rons eyes darted back and forth, looking for another way. He spotted a ladder near the end of the platform that said 'Matinence Acsess.' Ron smiled and ran towards it with new hope. There wasn't anything blocking it at all, and he was able to climb down the ladder quickly with ease. He was standing on a dark concrete path way below the tram on the right side. The only light came from the small opening in the canyon above, so Ron figured he'd spend most of his walk in the pitch black darkness.
Slowly, Ron began to make is way down the long dark walkway. His hands were out in front of him in case he ran into anything. He would have used the lighter he carried, but he was afraid that someone may see him, so it left it alone in his pocket. Regulations were scrict had Black Mesa, so if he was caught sneaking around the tram tunnels when he should have been in his office, waiting for another report order to be delivered to him, who knows what they would do to him! In fact, what would they do if they found his office empty? However, before this thought could progress any further, Ron heard a sound like grinding behind him. He trwirled around on his heels to see what it was.
A tram!
It's lights were too far off to spot him yet, but soon, he would be right square in its sights. Ron couldn't tell if the tram was occipied, but if it was, there was no way they would miss the white labcoat against the lit-up grey concrete walls. Ron looked back and forth, or rather felt back and forth, for something to hide behind. There was something nearby that felt beg enough for him to hide behind, so he slid against it, pushing his back firmly against it so he was least visible.
Ron was breathing heavilly, and his heart was pumping like a train engine. He hoped the trams lights wouldn't illuminate back here too much, otherwise his sceme was up! Light started to appear on the floor to his left, and the tram sounded like it was very close by. Soon, the front half of the tram appeared in the corner of Rons eye, and rsiked a glance to see if it was occupied.
Sure enough, it had one rider aboard. A tall man, very tall, and very pale, wearing a dark blue suit and a black tie. In his right hand held a black briefcase with the Black Mesa insignia on it in bold yellow print. His hair was jet-black and was shaved to a small V on his forehead, and his eyes were set foreward, as if glued to the front of the tram. Just as he dissapeared out of view, he reached up and straightened his tie. The move was very mechanical, and looked like it had been practiced many times. Then, just as fast as it had come, it was gone.
Ron waited until the sounds of the tram were all but gone before stepping back out unto the walkway.
"Whew," he sighed out loud, "that was close!"
A thought lept into Rons mind like a frog hopping across a still pond. It made some sense, but it still dogged him on whether it was true or not.
Was that the Administrator?
Since he had never seen the man before, it could have been him. He had never seen the man before, and since he had never seen the administrator eithier, he had nothing to compare the man on the tram with, so for now his identity would remain a mystery
After a quick glance back, just to be safe, and then started back down the long dark path. He walked on and one, until he came came to a tram station, however, he knew that this was just a security checkpoint, and that he'd be in serious trouble if he went up there now. Since there was light above, he could just make out a small door with the words 'MATINENCE ACESS' on his right. Again, he looked back to check to see if anyone was watching, then opened the metal door and entered the tunnel.
Everything in the long matinence tunnels looked alike, and somtimes it was hard to tell one place from another. Not that it was a maze, just more of a long tunnel with walls, floors, and ceilings that all looked alike. Ron just kept on walking down the tunnels, hopping down the stairs, and riding a couple of elevators down a few levels. When the signs on the walls next to the doors read Sector-C Test Lab, he knew he had reached his destination.
Now standing nearly six-hundred feet below his old office, he could see that he was directly underneath the AML tram station. Ron hadn't been down here for so long, he barely remembered it, but he did remember that there was a lone gaurd at the door to the AML itself, which was located on the tram station and the door could only be opened by a code entered by the gaurd currently on duty.
Guess I've just got to find out a way to sneak past him too, thought Ron as he climbed up the small ladder. When he reached the top, he peeked out unto the platform to see what he was up against. Sure enough, there was one gaurd, a catwalk going sticking out into the open tunnel where the trams could pull up against, and a large metal door that opened vertically. The gaurd was totally unaware of Rons presence, which was good, since again, if he was caught, punishments would be severe.
Well, if I come out from this ladder, Ron started to think, he'll suspect something is wrong, but I can't very well go back to the office tram, since the gaurd there will have already returned to his post. I've got to come up with some excuse why I'm coming out of a matinence tunnel, why I don't have clearence, and why I need to get into the lab and watch the experiment!
As if on cue, a desperate, yet workable.
It's the only chance I've got anyway, thought Ron and climbed out of the tram platform. At frist, the gaurd just stood there, looking foward as if he was being inspected by his supieriors. However, he soon spotted Ron out of the corner of his eyes, and lept about a foot in the air, turned to face Ron, and placed his hand on his holstered pistol.
Jumpy nerves, thought Ron, glad to see we're protected by the most competent security force in the world.
"Halt right there," he stuttered, "who are you? Where'd you come from?"
"Look, we got a problem," started Ron.
"Yeah, we do," said the gaurd, "we've got a scientist who just appeared out of nowhere and starts blabing about problems!"
His voice was jittery, and it was appearent he was very startaled by Rons sudden appearence.
"Never mind about that, we've got real problems out our hands. The trams are down in this sector. I was en route to this station when the tram just stopped dead! I was stuck in it for about a quarter of an hour! Finally, I gathered up enough courage to leap unto the platform below and make way way here through the matinence tunnels. It looks like I'm just in time for the experiment."
Ron took a good step foward before the gaurd placed his hand up.
"Hold it right there, buddy," he spoke sternly, "where's your clearence?"
Now for the tough part, thought Ron.
"Right," started Ron, and then began to reach into his coat pocket and fumble around to fake like he was looking for clearence papers like he had done for the previous gaurd at the previous platoform. The guarded folded his arms skeptically and glared at Ron with impatience and annoyance.
"Ah, you know what?" piped Ron suddenly, removing his hands from his coats, " I left the papers on the tram, which as I said earlier is stuck in the tram tunnels."
"Two trams passed by here in the last hour," stated the guard, "one was empty and the other one had some guy in blue suit on board. He got off here and went into lab, and you know why?"
"Why?"
"Because he had papers! Now go on and get outta' here!"
Ron gulped in a terror.
"Look, I'm a big part of todays experiment! I'm needed in there! I'm a key man in the project!"
"Then why don't you have papers, buddy?"
"Like I said, I left them on the tram. In fact, my tram was probably the one that went by here that was empty."
The guards eyes rolled with boredom.
"Whatever."
"I'm not joking around, I need to get in there! Now open that door immediently!"
Suddenly, the large doors of the AML opened and out stepped the tall man in the blue suit with the briefcase. Ron didn't notice who it was right away, and he just kept arguing with the guard.
"I'm telling you, I'm with the science team for the experiment today!"
The blue suited man turned toward Ron, and he suddenly became aware who he was and went cold when their eyes met.
"Ah, Dr. Daniels, glad to s-s-s-s-see your here at las-s-st! I heard about the the tram failure, and I figured that's-s-s-s what happened to you. Anyway, come on. I've got to finish up some buis-s-s-sness-s-s-s-s, so I'm afraid I'm going to have to mis-s-s-s-s the experiment. Make sure you write a report on it, and turn in into the Administrators-s-s office. Good day to you, doctor."
Without another word, the man started off towards the tram platform. When he got near the edge, a tram suddenly appeared around the corner and pulled up to the boarding platform and the man got on board. All his movements and voice, with the exception of the lisp on his 'S's' were so robotic, so smooth and quick, it was like the were rehearsed. The tram began to move, and it dissapeared out of sight.
When Ron turned around, he was greeted with the AML doors open, and the formerly hostile guard standing over the code panel.
"Sorry for the delay sir, just head on in."
Ron steped through the first door and in the airlock-style doorway that lead into the Alominous Materials Lab.