Chapter 02 – Funeral
Gordon Freeman woke up next to Alyx Vance. She was laying next to him sleeping peacefully. Gordon couldn't exactly remember when he had fallen asleep. All he could remember was him and Alyx embracing in their first revelation of love. He was still wearing his HEV suit and she was fully clothed, so he could guess what they didn't do. Gordon could only stare at Alyx, until he got up to check on the other survivors in the next room. He left Alyx to wake up when she was ready. There was no need for her to experience any more stress today. Gordon walked through the door to the lab. Dr. Kliener was waiting for him with Barney by his side over at an examination table to Gordon's left. The lab wasn't much different from a normal lab. There was assorted medical equipment all around the room and a giant computer taking up the entire right wall. Gordon turned to look at Kliener once again.
"I hope you're happy Gordon, I'm out fifty dollars because of you and Alyx." Gordon chuckled at that. Barney spoke.
"I have really got to buy you that beer Gordon. You deserve it." Gordon smiled again, but quickly switched subjects and went to the topic on everyone's mind.
"What happened while I was out?" he asked.
"I see you got your voice back. Knew it was just a matter of time. That's another fifty bucks Doc." Barney said.
"Barney! This is not the time, Gordon asked a serious question." Kliener got serious. "Gordon…Eli is dead. His body is being stored in the next room." he said. "I wanted to wait for Alyx so we could arrange a funeral. It's the least we could do. Also, the Combine scattered after DOG scared off the Advisers in the hanger. With the giant portal closed, I see no reason for them to attack anytime soon. We're safe here, for now at least." At that moment the door opened behind Gordon. Almost as if on cue, Alyx walked in.
"Hello Gordon, Kliener, Barney." Alyx was met with looks of mixed pity and surprise. "Um, what's going on here?" She wrapped her right arm around Gordon's left.
"Well, Alyx. I'm sorry to bring up the topic, but we're burying your father today."
"Oh…okay…" Alyx was visibly hurting, still coping with the loss of her father.
"We won't trouble you to see the body, but we are burying him in the forest today. It's what he would have wanted. Magnusson is outside now digging a proper grave with DOG."
"Yeah…Um, I'm gonna go get some air." With that she walked out the door to the White Forest."
"I think I'd better follow her, just in case the Combine decide to get tricky." Gordon ran after Alyx.
Once Gordon was outside a sharp pain hit him in the head. A massive migraine that quickly escalated took over his head. Gordon clutched his head as a high pitched ringing struck his ears. He fell to his knees. Then, the ringing stopped along with the headache and was replaced with silence. Gordon looked around. The trees had stopped swaying. There were leaves in the air that did not fall. Gordon guessed at what was happening. This was the work of him. His voice filled the air, The G-Man's voice.
"Well, Well, Well. Gordon Freeman…" Gordon turned around to see that wicked man. The demon in the gray suit they called the G-Man. "Alyx seems well. How is Eli?"
"You bastard! You killed him! You made the Adviser kill him! You're the cause of all of this!" Gordon yelled. Another headache hit him. He fell as before.
"No Freeman. I am simply an adviser myself, an adviser to the highest bidder. Your contract is mine. I am just here to advise you now." The G-Man said.
"Why did you manipulate us? Why did you cause all of this? The Black Mesa incident was because of you! It allowed the Combine to take over the world! You are responsible for this!" Gordon yelled.
"Now, Now. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have met your precious Alyx Vance." Gordon stopped at this. As much as he hated to admit it, he was right. Gordon almost spoke again, but was cut off by a bright spark behind him and the voice of a familiar friend.
"Freeman! Take this quick!" A Vortigaunt had teleported behind Gordon with a Pistol in hand. He quickly tossed the handgun at Gordon. He caught it quick and turned to aim it at the G-Man.
"Fine, I'll cut this meeting short. Just remember Eli's last wish. Find the Borealis. That ship holds your answers." With that, the G-Man walked off to the trees in the forest behind him and let time run normal again, indicated by the leaves finally falling to the ground. Gordon turned to the Vortigaunt behind him. Gordon was forever in the Vortigaunts' debts. After all the time they devoted to the resistance movement and them saving Alyx from an early death, Gordon was eternally grateful.
"The suited man speaks the unholy truth. The Freeman must travel to the Borealis to finish the battle. New answers and questions will be revealed there."
"Thank you…um, I'm sorry, do you have a name?" Gordon asked.
"Yes, I am Zenlo, a seer of the Vortigaunt race. I have a special gift. I can see into the future whenever I please."
"If you can, can you tell me anything else?"
"Unfortunately, the Freeman cannot know more about his fate. Doing so could cause a number of unfortunate things to occur. I will only tell you this. Protect the Alyx Vance. Yours and her lives are intertwined. Do not let harm fall on her."
"That is one thing I will not let happen in a million years. She will be completely safe in my care. Do I have your support?"
"The Freeman will always have the support of the Vortigaunt brethren. Farewell Dr. Freeman." The Vortigaunt began to glow a purple color and suddenly disappeared before Gordon's eyes. Gordon tried to process what had just happened. His thoughts quickly shifted to Alyx once again and he ran off to comfort her over the loss of Eli.
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Hours later the funeral was held. Eli's body laid in a makeshift wooden coffin suspended over the six foot deep hole in the ground about a mile into the forest. The sun shone through the gaps in the ceiling that the towering trees created. All Eli's friends stood over the grave. Alyx held onto Gordon's arm and squeezed tightly, trying to hold back the tears. DOG's towering form stood behind the couple and Dr. Kliener stood to their left. Kliener's odd de-clawed headcrab LaMarr was present as well. This was the first time Gordon had ever seen the creature stand still since meeting it. Barney and Arne Magnusson stood on the other side of the grave. Everyone present, who could, said a few words in memory of their fallen comrade. Then it was Gordon's turn. Everyone knew he was a man of few words. But he hadn't shown any extreme emotion towards his friend's death. Everyone was anxious to see what he had to say.
"Eli Vance was a good man. He was the first man I met at Black Mesa and the only man who ever really showed me respect there. I wish him peace in the next world." Gordon bent down to the pile of dirt next to the grave to deposit his handful of dirt into the grave as the others did. That's when it finally hit. Tears began to fall onto Gordon's glasses lenses. Gordon dropped his dirt in and slumped down on the dirt behind him. Alyx knelt down next to him and hugged Gordon once again. Embracing and appreciating the importance of the funeral of Eli Vance. The inscription of his grave marker read "Eli Vance Father Friend Rebel." All Gordon could do at that time is stare at the marker, let the tears flow, and silently curse the existence of the G-Man.