Author's Note: Alright first off, I'm sorry it's been awhile since I published any new chapter. I've been so busy in life with getting a new job and all that I haven't had time to write or publish anything so please forgive meeeeeeee. Anyway onto the subject of this chapter. Many people have their own version of what happened with 'the cat'. For those of you who know what I'm talking about then you understand what I'm talking about. For those who don't, I'm sure you'll still enjoy this Entry. Also, my beta reader has been busy herself so she didn't have the time to read over this Entry. If you see anything feel free to tell me! Thank you and enjoy Entry 12, the Cat and the Teleporter.

Entry 12, the Cat and the Teleporter

Well, today started off relatively boring, got exciting, and ended in dismal (kind of anyway). I awoke bright and early this morning eager to conduct the experiments Kleiner and I had planned out for the teleportation chamber. After completing all the basic mechanical checkups we gathered the 'test subjects', otherwise known as a crate, a book (Moby Dick), a tin can, and a glass of water. Dr. Vance in Black Mesa East was to be the recipient of our materials, and we were to be his as he sent the same materials through to test his teleporter at different times.

The first test passed with flying colors. Apparently wooden materials, like crates, are practically nonexistent when being teleported. The second test was almost a pass, but both the books on both sides came across with the pages on the outside. We still haven't figured out why that happened yet. You would think that because a book's paper is made from a tree's wood that it would have came through fine, but oh well we will ponder it later. The third test was a complete failure at least for our side. Dr. Eli's tin can came to us in a perfect shape if not even straighter then it had been before. Our can however arrived at Black Mesa East completely melted and deformed. We figure it must have had something to do with some defaulted wires or with a bad energy input/output. A quick but thorough search led us to discover that indeed some of the wires leading to the main power supply had been frayed. After replacing the wires we re-tested with a second tin can only to reveal that new wires did nothing new; once again another problem that will be pondered upon later.

The fourth test was the most interesting. Both sides after teleporting the glass of water had come back with different results. For our glass of water, it arrived at Eli's in a perfect state with a perfect temperature. For his glass of water, it arrived at the lab with a temperature of over 120 C°! Also half the volume of the water had evaporated, which was not surprising because of the degree of heat that the glass had come back with. We decided to test each glass again, making absolutely sure that both glasses had matching variables. This results the second time around were complete opposites. Our glass had a very high temperature while Eli's arrived in a perfect shape. After much debate we decided it was to be a fail for one major reason. Human bodies possess a great amount of water. If a person was to be teleported to a certain area, they would probably end up exploding before they even got there. Since both glasses came back both times with different states, it was safe to assume that the teleporter was in no condition to be tested with live subjects. Well maybe headcrabs, but Kleiner was more than against that.

The time spent after that was more experiments involving the same objects with some minor to major tweaks on the chamber. It got boring, and it got boring fast. Luckily Barney dropped by for a visit with an interesting guest, a cat. I'm not sure how else to put this but, I absolutely adore cats and probably more than almost anything or anyone else as well. While that may seem sad or pathetic to say, it's completely true. Anyway, as soon as I saw the cat I think I forgot about Barney and rushed to stroke the tiny brown and black striped feline. I immediately fell in love and began to cuddle with him (yes it's a he, I checked) as Barney seemed to look disappointed that his presence had been almost completely overlooked for a cat.

Kleiner, who had stopped the tests temporarily for lunch, came back with a look of shock. Cats (and other animals) had not often been seen after the war, so Kleiner and I pretty much blurted out the same question at the same time. Where on Earth had Barney found this tiny kitty? Barney had no problem telling us of how a citizen had found the cat in an alleyway. She had desperately wanted to keep him, but knew that if her apartment complex was raided by the Combine they would surely kill her feline friend. Barney obviously not being an animal lover wasn't exactly sure what to do. His original thought was to release the cat on the far edges of City 17, but even he knew that was too cruel. Even though he hated the thought of yet another animal wandering around Kleiner's lab, he figured it would be the most humane to donate the little kitty to me as an early birthday present.

Without a further word I accepted the cat and began to think of a name for him. I was so excited and I felt like a young child who had just visited the pet shop. I had a cat before, her name was Natasha. She was a beautiful Calico with yellow eyes that seemed to glow, and with a personality that shined even brighter. I remember coming home from school and heading up to my room only to find her there waiting for me purring. She had the smallest yet most dignified meow I had ever heard from a cat, and she often liked to express it. About a month before I had graduated high school she came down with a bad virus. The doctors didn't even need to tell me that her weakened immune system wouldn't be able to fight it off. She lived a long and happy life though, that to which I'm glad for.

Seems I've wondered off yet again into my past; I've got to stop doing that. I eventually came up with a name for my cat though, Vladimir, Vlad for short. He's a curious little cat who likes to look everywhere with his emerald green eyes and to stick his pink nose where it doesn't belong. At one point he even ran into Markey and Lamarr's cage/bed. At first I thought for the worst like I had when Markey met Lamarr. I was yet again proved wrong as Markey and Vlad began to playfully tackle each other while Lamarr looked on calmly. To think that a couple of headcrabs and a cat had somehow formed that quickly into a sort of abnormal family made me feel a feeling I had not felt in awhile, joy. Kleiner also seemed to share the same feelings I did towards their meeting but he was quickly distracted as Eli re-appeared on the monitor screen.

Thus it was back to work as we began to test other materials in the chamber. Things were going fine, even better than the last tests. Barney had even decided to stick around and chat a bit, regardless of the playful animals at his feet. Then out of nowhere the sound of like a person being tortured filled the air. I frantically looked around for the source of the sound only to realize that the noise was coming from both Vladimir and Barney combined. Vlad was climbing up Barney's left leg yowling as though he was possessed; Barney was howling in pain as he was trying to detach Vlad's tiny sharp claws from his leg. I hurried over to attempt to help Barney but before I could, he kicked his leg at almost light speed sending Vlad flying into the teleport chamber. Kleiner who had barely taken any notice to the event began the teleport sequence causing the chamber to rise with a large wooden crate, and Vlad.

Vlad paid no attention as the sequence began, and in fact he was purring as though he had completely forgotten what he had just done to Barney. I shouted to Kleiner to stop the chamber but it was too late. Vlad had been teleported to Black Mesa East along with the wooden crate. I rushed over to the monitor expecting the worse but hoping for the best. Eli eventually appeared and told us that the crate had come across perfectly, however nothing was said about a cat. I asked desperately if there had been a cat, and Eli disappeared with a look of confusion from the screen to search. Seconds seem like minutes, and minutes seemed like hours, until finally Eli returned to the screen with a quizzical look. He held up Vlad and said he had found the cat tucked away inside the crate.

Vladimir meowed a small and tired meow, only to curl up and fall asleep in Eli's hand shortly after. For a long while we thought about what to do with Vlad. It had been a sheer miracle that he had survived being teleported, so it was probably best not to try it again. Eli assured me that Vlad would be taken care of before shutting off the screen to say goodnight. I really do think it turned out best this way. Now we know that a living creature can survive being teleported in our home made teleporter (even if it was just luck). However, I think it would be best if we didn't test the chamber again with a living subject until we are completely sure that it's safe. I know I'll miss Vlad, but I'll see him again if I get transferred. For now though I have to get some kind of sleep, so good night.

– Val

P.S. By the way Barney stormed out again after the incident between him and Vladimir. He told me before he left that he swears he will forever have nightmares about Vlad's yowl. He is so dramatic sometimes, but that's Barney for ya.

Author's Final Note: For those of you who were expecting me to kill the cat...I say shame on you! Not really. Sorry though guys, I just couldn't bring myself to kill or hurt the cat since I LOVE cats. :P Hope you still enjoyed it. To answer your question AnimeOtaku137, yes I have played the first Half-Life (along with its expansion packs). I have this bad habit of memorizing the layout of an area the first time I play any game, so that's why it seems so in depth. Hope that answered your question!