The plane ride was 15 hours long and Gordon was soar. He had never been on a flight that long. He was still excited though, because the expo would be a dream come true. Gordon was about ti witness his favorite science: teleportation. The expo building was large with huge stone columns outside. Inside was a huge confrence room the size of two football fields with an assortment of large inventions and instruments hanging from the ceiling. A huge group of scientists were walking everywhere to get a peek at the latest technologies.

Kliener looked over his shoulder at Gordon, whose face was filled with amazement.

"Well, Gordon, go have a look."

Gordon immediately walked towards the nearest booth for knowledge. As the young Gordon moved through the crowd, Dr. Kliener's face turned grave. He moved towards an escalator to move to the second floor balcony. On this level, Kliener could monitor Gordon's every move.

"Woah.", Gordon simply exclaims at the sights around him. He acted like a kid at a candy shop. After visiting a few booths and small speeches, Gordon spied a small sign saying "Institute for Experimental Physics: The Art of Teleportation". Gordon made a beeline for the testing area. Before entering the small plastic dome located in the middle of the building, Gordon was given safety goggles. Gordon enters and finds himself in the midst of a crowded "room" filled with scientists. In the middle of the room is a razed platform with an anouncer perched on the top next to a small device spanning a table possitioned on the stage.

"Can I get everyone's attention?" the anouncer on the platform shouts. The room goes quiet.

"We are about to begin the test. I need everybody to put on their goggles for protection."

-----

Dr. Kliener peers over the balcony watching Gordon enjoy himself inside the plastic Teleport dome. Behind him, a tall black man with grayish sideburns approaches and taps Kliener on the shoulder. Kliener turns to greet his old friend.

"Hello, Eli."

Eli Vance nods his head in a greeting. He then leans on the balcony rail to look upon the crowd below.

"So which one is our boy?"

"Well, Eli, he is the one with the glasses and the goatee in the teleport room."

Inside the dome a flash erupts and the device on the table transports a pencil from one side of the dome to the other. Eli can see Gordon's face light up in excitement.

"What can you tell me about him?" Eli asks in curiosity.

"His name is Gordon freeman, age 26, is very brilliant, and is intently interested in teleportation. His parents died two years ago in a car crash, im afraid. Right now, all he has is school for a life. He wants something more Eli, but are you sure about this?"

Eli releases a big sigh. "If Dr. Breen wants more brilliant minds on this project, he's gonna get more brilliant minds."

Kliener frowns for a moment. "Okay. Lets talk to him."

---

Down on the first floor of the expo, Gordon Freeman spies Dr. Kliener walking towards him. Gordon puzzles as a second man is walking next to his professor. Kliener gives a small smile towards Gordon as the pair approaches the young scientist.

"Gordon, I would like you to meet Dr. Eli Vance."

Gordon's eyes grow wide. He had heard of Dr. Vance and his expertise in the art of teleportation technology. This was Gordon's role model.

"How are you son?" Eli asks, extending his hand towards Gordon. Gordon shakes the hand and silently whispers "fine" under his breath.

"Gordon," Kliener speaks up, "Dr. Vance would like to offer you a proposition."

Gordon was stunned. The great Eli Vance wanted to offer Gordon Freeman a proposition?

"Would you like to have dinner at my, um, apartment later tonight so we can talk over some details?", Eli asks.

Gordon nods.

"Great. You and Izzy can come over around six o'clock."