I gradually awoke from my deep sleep. I opened my eyes slowly, just to shut them again when luminous light leaked through the slits of my eyelids. After getting used to the new brightness, I looked around a little, only to find I was inside some sort of hospital room with huge lights in the ceiling. Almost everything was white. I inspected my attire, which showed I had a hospital patient garb on. A slight sting sliced through my right hand, making me wince. There was a thick-gauged bandage that covered my entire hand.
"So that chat with that g-man was real after all." I muttered to myself.
As I attempted to get up, throbbing aches filled my whole body, causing me to moan and drop back onto the bed.
"Getting up right now is not a smart thing to do right now. I suggest you rest for a little bit and get used to moving around." A person who stood by the door asserted.
"Oh really? I didn't notice." I said sarcastically.
"Adrian, now's not the time to act up." The person said.
"Alright, the fact there are people who know me, and yet I don't know them, really bewilders me."
"Calm down Adrian, I'm not the right guy to quarrel with."
"Can you tell me who your are then?"
"Well, it seems you've had enough anyway. I'm Dr. Michael Rosenberg, former head scientist of the now demolished Black Mesa Research Facility."
"They got you too, eh? I wonder how many other escapees were employed into this network of conspiracy."
"Very few actually, there are only four of us in total."
"They probably killed the rest who refused. Poor bastards."
"Did it ever occur to you that some of those "poor bastards" were my friends?"
A grim silence broke out between them. Michael just standing by the door, whilst Adrian laying on the bed. Both just staring at things that just happened to come in their field of vision.
"Do you know of the others who are in it with us?" Adrian asked suddenly, wishing to befriend this man he personally admired.
"Only one. His name is Barney Calhoun. He was the only security guard who was still alive to help me, and a few other colleagues escape that god-forsaken Research Facility."
"Do you know where Barney is? You're here with me, and the other "employee" is no where to be seen."
"To tell you the truth, after we were caught by Black Ops on the Arizona state border, they seperated us. I'm only here because they made stay here to supervise you until you wake up."
"You can leave, I can handle myself right now. Still have some wounds that disable movement right now. Damn my hand hurts like a bitch."
"I thought Marines were supposed to show their pain?"
"Well I have two reasons for you. One, technically, I'm not a Marine anymore, and two, we're only supposed suppress pain when engaged with the enemy. So I'm safe to whine about my wounds right now."
Dr. Rosenberg left the room with a slightly amused look on his face. I respected the man, he kept his cool even with an ex-Marine. I didn't kill any innocents, nor did my squad mates do so. But most of the Army and Marines that were sent in to clean the Facility killed whatever they were ordered to kill. Aliens, civilians, scientists, anyone who witnessed or were part of the entire event. Dr. Rosenberg probably assumed I was one part of the whole Death Squad, since thats the image the rest gave the scientists and guards that were left. When I got the chance I would tell him I didn't shoot any civilian. That would probably ease things between us. Michael would prove to be a valuable ally against whatever odds that faced me when the time came. My body, eagerly wanting rest, I was forced to sleep again. I lied back down on the bed and began the slow step of recuperation, amidst a large flow of thoughts that hurdled through my mind at random.
I slowly woke up, a little dazed. Trying to make sense of what was happening, I felt around. It seemed I was lying down in a leathery bed, like the ones psychiatrists use when they study people. Hearing a conversation going on a few feet away from me, I stayed still, trying to listen to what the people were saying:
"Is he the new one?" An unknown voice asked.
"I'm not so sure, but he's been sleeping like that for days." Another person replied.
"Must have taken a few darts for him to be put out for that long."
"I'll say, they're really desperate to round up some new recruits."
"They didn't just abduct this one, I heard that he was one of the survivors of Black Mesa."
"Didn't they exterminate all the Black Mesa personnel and the soldiers sent in?"
"All except for a few who were deemed "worthy" to be employed. Look, he still has his old uniform on."
"How the hell would you know Mitchell?"
"Because I have a higher rank than you do, so they tell me more. You're just a low grunt that's expendable."
"That was cold Mitch."
"I'm just messing around Rey. But no, they didn't tell me. I was the guard on duty when they dragged this guy in. I just saw the Black Mesa logo on him."
"Who are "they" anyway? I could never figure it out."
"Well, we are not supposed to be told. But I assume "they" are the administrators that run this organization, and the other sources that fund it."
"…You know what, lets get a beer while no ones' noticing. I'm bored of guarding some survivor from Black Mesa that's in a comatose. Its not like he's ever going to get out. The door is going to be locked, and he's disarmed anyway."
"Fine, but if we get caught off duty, and then assassinated, I'll be sure to kill you first before the Black Ops do. That's a promise Rey."
"Okay, whatever."
That's the last thing I heard from them as they walked out of the corridor. Whoever "Mitchell" and "Rey" are, they are probably not here to help me. It was funny how I instantly noticed they didn't really act like soldiers. They talked like I did before the resonance cascade occured. I thought a little of the previous events. Where was I? The last thing I remember was getting shot with tranquilizer darts by Black Ops. Dr. Rosenberg and Walter were still alive when I blacked out... Rosenberg and Walter! They should be in this place too! I've got to find them. It took me a while before I was able to find balance after I got off the bed. My limbs were still a little numb. I searched around the room for anything that would enable me to depart. Then I spotted the vent that on the wall to the left of the door. Yes, the vents. It was one of the best things that helped me out during the escapade at the BMRF (Black Mesa Research Facility). I was about to move, when I heard a strange snake-like voice from behind me.
"Going somewhere Mr. Calhoun?"
"Not you…"
Feeling the presence of someone alerted my instincts, forcing me to wake up yet again. Piercing eyes met my gaze, and gave me shivers. It was "he"...
"How are you feeling Mr. Shepard?"
"Now that you're here, I feel like going back to sleep."
"Sarcasm is really a strong attribute to your personality."
"How professional of you to say that g-man. May I call you g-man? I think I should call you "freak", but that would probably get me killed wouldn't it?"
"No matter how much you revile me, I'm not going to change my mind."
"Since you only speak to me if its in your own interest, what do you need?"
"Its not a need Mr. Shepard, more like neccessity. I think it best for you to get up. Now."
"I wish I could, but you sort of incapacitated me, remember?"
"Ah, but your forgetting Mr. Shepard."
"Forgetting what exactly?"
"You'll know what I mean when you stand on the floor."
Not wanting another dangerous encounter with death, I sat up, and amazingly, placed my feet on the ground without pain at all. I looked at my hand, which was also fully cured. I looked to where the g-man was, but as usual, he was gone. Now, totally healed, I walked to the door. Finding it locked, I turned around to face a glass tube that wasn't there before. It wasn't the glass tube that surprised me, but what was inside it. I stepped closer to get a better examination of the contents. The g-man must really value me if he wanted me to wear this. After a few minutes of staring, the tube opened…
End: Awakening
Author's Note: Sorry for the time delay of this chapter, but I was busy doing a lot of other things. The time spent was mostly for holiday preperations too. I promise I'll get chapter 4 in next week, I still have to finish editing it. I also found that the reason why the text couldn't be indented, or anything was because I had to use Text Document to insert my story, since doesn't accept "wps" documents. It doesn't really matter though. I've redone the previous 2 chapters also. I really suggest you guys reread chapters 1 and 2, since a lot has changed. Happy Holidays everyone!