Amelia was only twenty-four years old but she was in charge of an underground facility for refugees whose families worked in Black Mesa. Everyone in the facility contributed in some way or another to make life easier for each other. Amelia's mother had founded the establishment but she was killed on the surface just as the others were scrambling into the safety below. Her main goal had been to discover what had happened in Aperture and to rescue any survivors. Leah Oates had left her nine-year-old daughter to continue her work and lead a small society of people.

Amelia shuffled into her apartment and headed straight for the kitchen. They hadn't found a single clue that could lead them to believe there was anyone still alive in Aperture so far. It was beginning to wear out her patience. She took a bottle of dark ale out of her refrigerator and popped off the cap. The beer was nice and cool as it ran down her throat.

As she leaned against the kitchen counter, she took her hair out of its neat bun and let it fall freely around her shoulders. It was in knots now but she was too stressed to brush her hair right now. She just wanted to relax and watch some of her mother's old movies.

She had another sip of her beer and headed for her living room. She stopped abruptly, though, when she saw a man sitting on her couch. He had rich, copper-colored skin and straight black hair that partially covered his eyes. His dark facial hair and narrow features reminded her of an artist. He was wearing dark clothes and a long gray scarf that only seemed to add to his artistic style. But his eyes were dark green and primal. He may as well have been a monster, despite his charming grin.

"How did you get in here?" Amelia asked. "And who are you? I don't think I've seen you around the compound before."

"Call me Lee," the man said in a rich, lovely voice. "I'm here to help you. You'd really like to see the inside of Aperture, wouldn't you?"

"Of course I would," Amelia said. "But everyone down here knows that already so your little 'mystery man' act isn't very effective."

"All you need is a little bit of evidence that there is someone worth saving there, right?" Lee continued, choosing to ignore her last comment. "Why waste the time and resources if you only show up at an empty facility?"

"What exactly are you getting at?" Amelia asked. She walked over to her coffee table and set her beer down so that she could cross her arms. It was obvious that she was trying her best not to show her anxiety.

Lee grinned and revealed two rows of perfectly white teeth. "There's no need to put on your 'brave, independent woman' façade with me, Amelia," he said. "You're scared. You're sad. You feel alone here when there are so many people around you. But you're not weak."

"You don't live down here," Amelia said as realization slowly mixed with fear. "If….If you're here to kill me, could you make it painless?"

Lee's grin disappeared. His brow pulled up a bit and he almost looked sad for her. "Amelia," he said softly. "I'm not here to kill you. Please don't wish that upon yourself."

Tears started to form in her eyes but she refused to let them fall as she glared at him. "Cut to the fucking chase, will you?" she muttered.

"Go to Aperture," Lee said, leaning forward so that his elbows were resting on his knees. He never broke eye-contact with her. "Someone there will need your help."

"What do you mean by 'will' need my help?" Amelia asked in a shaky voice. "And anyway, I need proof. Grant won't help me lead a team of people there if I don't have any proof that there's someone to save."

"You don't need Grant," Lee said. "You can lead a team all by yourself."

"No one will go with me without proof."

"You sure like that word, don't you? Ask Mikey for help."

"Mikey?" Amelia asked with confusion. "I…I haven't really spoken to him in years."

"But you used to be best friends," Lee said. "Trust me. He'll go wherever you want him to. There are others, too. Arin in robotics. His friend Jon. Natalie. Nate. All you need to do is ask."

"Will you talk to them with me?" Amelia pleaded. "I need help."

"I can't," Lee said. "You must do this alone. Believe in your own capabilities. After all, you are your mother's daughter."

With the blink of an eye, Lee silently vanished. Amelia wondered if she had just hallucinated the whole conversation.