I had seen the Civil Protection Recruitment Centre many times in the last few years here, but only as I passed. Now, standing before it, it looked so different.
As an object in the street, the Metrocop Centre was oppressive, a symbol of their hold over us... no, over the citizens. Can't think of myself as one of them now.
I walked up the steps towards the building. It was like most other Combine structures, with their strange navy-blue architecture. Only the sign describing its purpose served to distinguish it from anything else 'Our Benefactors' had built in their time here, as well as the barracks and training ground visible from the entrance.
The door rose as I approached it, revealing a small passage leading into a room. In this room was a desk, constructed from the same dark steel as the building, and behind that sat two CPs.
"Don't piss around filling out forms, I guess," I muttered to myself. I took a seat before the two officers. They looked me up and down.
"Your looking to join Civil Protection. Is that right, citizen?" Barked the one on the left. His ivory facemask was scratched from eye to breather. I decided to nickname him Scarface.
"That's right, officer." I replied calmly.
"Why?" Asked the one on the right. Unlike the other CPs, his mask was resplendent and shining. I decided to nickname this one Captain Clean.
"Because I wish to aid the community in any way I can." Scarface chuckled.
"Why really."
"I like beating the crap out of people, and I'd like the right to do it."
They both laughed. Apparently this was sufficient for an interview, as the desk then rose up on a hinge I hadn't noticed and slotted itself into the wall. The CPs stood up from chairs which promptly sank into the ground. Much to my surprise, mine did the same.
"Welcome aboard, recruit," said Captain Clean, gesturing behind him to a door which had just now slid open. "Go through there and meet the Sergeant. He'll sign you up for training."
The Metrocops stood aside to let me pass, and I did.
This isn't right, a voice in my head spoke, you're betraying everything and everyone you've known since you arrived here.
'Survival comes first,' I answered to my thoughts, 'I have to do what I can to get by.'
At what cost? Said the voice. And then, when I remained silent, What would Stephen and mother say?
'They would understand. They would know... they would know it was right.'
But I wasn't trying to convince the voice anymore.