"Hello, and again welcome to the Aperture Science Computer Aided Enrichment Center. We hope your brief detention in the relaxation vault has been a pleasant one. Your specimen has been processed and we are now ready to begin the test proper."

Gordon shook, trying to open his eyes. He felt numb, and the familiar sensation of the suit on him had disappeared. When he managed to see clearly, he realized he was in small, glass walled cell, inside a larger room. A radio was playing some military march he didn't remember.

"Keep in mind that although fun and learning are the primary goals of any enrichment activity, serious injuries might occur. For your own safety, and the safety of others, please refrain from using any device in unrequested manners.

Stand back. The portal will open in three, two, one."

Something which looked like a door opened on the wall, apparently heading to a similar room... if not the same. Crossing it with his hand, Gordon felt the same as while teleporting, that slight itching sensation while his molecules were dismantled and reassembled.

"Go right through, there's no risk" said a male voice from the loudspeakers "This technology is perfectly safe and there's no risk at all."

Seeing Gordon was still hesitating, the man spoke again.

"Don't worry. It's just a routine test. I know you're new to this, and that's why I am handling the test instead on the computer. Anyway, portals are the safest way of traveling you might encounter. Just walk though it."

Gordon grumbled and went though. It didn't feel as itchy as teleporting, it was almost imperceptible.

"Now, according to my files here, your name is Gordon, isn't it?" asked the man.

Gordon nodded.

"Good. You can call me Mark. I'll be your tutor through the whole test. First of all, do you feel comfortable with your leg augmentations?"

Gordon looked down at his legs, not surprised to see he had devices like those worn by...

...by who?

He remembered seeing someone wearing them, but his memory was blurred. He couldn't even remember the name.

"I see you look alright. Now, keep in mind that you can recover quite quickly from any wound, but if I were you I wouldn't trust this too much."

Is this thing leading anywhere at all? Thought Gordon.

"Now, we'll put you through some basic tests to make you feel comfortable with the environment. The computer should be able to handle this, i'll be back in a few minutes."

After the "few basic tests" Gordon was even more convinced than before that was all a travesty. There was no point in having him moving cubes around, and the use of those portals was nothing new from the teleports he had seen in Black Mesa.

Or at least, he though so until he saw the device.

ooOOoo

Magnusson stood up, still uncertain about hod did he get knocked down. The Advisor before him was dead, and this time there was no doubt about it. A stream of yellow blood was pouring out of its body soaking the floor, and it's "head" was smashed.

The former Corporal Shephard lain on the floor, motionless, between the corpses of the Vortigauts.

"It... it was something... incredible! Never experienced before! If we simply consider the implications..." Apparently, Kleiner was had woken up already.

"I must admit it was quite impressive, yes. Almost like a new resonance cascade..."

"Even more so! Didn't you notice? The very fabric of reality could have been stretched!"

"Yes, yes, i'm sure of it. Now let's see in what state the base is after this."

"I... I think that could be a problem."

"A problem? What the hell would that mean?"

"Just look at it yourself... but don't be too surprised."

"Surprised? Why would I.... why... oh God...."

ooOOoo

Gordon had seen it before, sure. She had been carrying it all the time. From the way she handled it, you'd think it was her baby.

But she-WHO? It was a complete blank.

Anyway, that black and white thing shooting portals around surely was familiar.

"That's the Aperture Science Hand-held Portal Device" Mark's voice popped up again in the loudspeakers "And it's the main purpose of this test. Please collect it, and don't worry, it's absolutely safe."

Gordon was skeptic already about the "safety" of the test, twice as much when he got a shock from the device as soon as he touched it.

"That isn't supposed to happen. This environment should be static-free... try touching it again."

Gordon, reluctantly, did so. Another shock.

"Damn! Does anything ever work as it should? Just grab it."

Gordon looked at the camera with a very skeptical expression.

"Come on, there's no risk...."
"He is right, Mister Freeman."

Not again...

Time slowed, edges blurred and there was no doubt the second voice in the loudspeakers was him.

"Just pick up the device, mister Freeman. You have no choice but doing it. Actually, to be precise you have no choice because you have done so already in the past."

The device was still in the center of the room, rotating in slow-motion and shooting portals.

And then Gordon thought it.

What if he crossed them? What if he did so while the Man With The Briefcase was stopping time?

He tried to run, but he was almost crippled. It was close enough. Just one more step....

"Nice try, Mister Freeman. But i-i I won--"

One more step. Just one more...

"STOP IT!"

And he crossed.

Nothing happened.

Or apparently so.

Maybe there was some difference. Apart from being on the opposite side of the portal, that is. The aseptic walls and floor seemed a bit rustier and more ruined.

As if a long time had passed...

Today isn't my day, definitely. If only I at least knew what day is it...

The room's entrance opened, followed by the female robotic voice.

ooOOoo

"I am e-experiencing continuous in-instabilities in the Structure."

"It is so. And you should question whether it is your fault."

"It isn't. We bo-both know they are unpredictable and..."

"And it's our duty to prevent them. Do you realize what are you creating?"

The entity seemed upset, for as much as a sentient form of energy could feel anger. The sphere bubbled and rotated, sending small drops of blue around itself.

"We-we are simply experiencing a difficult situation, something we're well-organized for."

"Or at leas we were, before our main pawn was sacrificed."

"I wouldn't call that sa-sacrificed. He can still be... retrieved. And besides, that was... inevitable."

"You are walking a dangerous route. Be careful If I lose, you lose along with me."

"That will... never happen. As we already know."