The ball bounced on the floor, making a thumping sound. Alyx started to throw the ball against a small toy robot for a different change of pace. The headcrab silently crawled on the floor toward its prey. Before the crab could lunge at its meal, a hammer slammed against its back, sending yellow blood all over the place. Alyx jumped to her feet and backed away from the demolished creature. Dr. Kliener looked up toward the little girl with the wet hammer in his hand.

"Are you okay, dear?"

Alyx nods.

"I'm sorry for not watching you. I'm almost done with your father. We should be heading out soon."

---

Eli slept in the back seat while Dr. Kliener drove. Kliener's plan was to reach San Diego before the portal storms spread to far.

"Uncle Izzy?", Alyx said, "Where are we going?"

Alyx was becoming curious again, the last thing Dr. Kliener wanted.

"Well, dear, we are going to California."

"Are there any monsters there?"

Dr. Kliener looked at the girl but didn't answer the question.

"Is daddy going to be okay?"

"Yes." It was Eli talking now, propping himself up. Alyx practically jumped into the back seat with joy.

"Daddy!"

The little girl hugs her father. Eli hisses out of pain.

"Careful, baby. Daddy is still a bit hurt. Izzy?"

Dr. Kliener looks into the back of the car.

"Thank you.", Eli says, respect filling his eyes.

Kliener smiles and is about to say something when a huge flash erupts from the dark clouds.

"Kliener! Pull over!"

The car parks at the side of the road. All three persons exit the vehicle and stare at the sky.

"My god." In the sky was a large, black alien space craft.

"Eli . . . "

Before he could finish, three more flashes erupted in the sky. Three more alien spacecraft appeared. The two scientist stood dumbfounded. Alyx was confused, not knowing what the three flying objects were.

"We need to leave.", Eli said bluntly, grabbing Alyx's shoulder, pulling his daughter toward the car. They stumbled back into the vehicle and drove.

The drive to San Diego was not an easy one. More alien spacecraft teleported into earth's hemisphere. Eli tried counting the ships, but lost count after thirty minutes of keeping track. The highway began choking up with traffic and people trying to escape from the major cities. After hours of fighting there way into the city, Dr. Kliener beheld a sight that made him question his objective. San Diego was burning. Huge tripod aliens were tearing buildings apart with a canons attached to their small bodies. Smaller tripod aliens dealt with the human army's trying to keep the overpowering alien force at bay. Civilians ran like chickens with their heads cut off, as the aliens pushed deeper into the city. Dr. Kliener noticed one thing: there were no Vortigaunts. These aliens that were attacking were not the same as the ones they encountered at Black Mesa. Kliener knew that he could not escape the way he came; there was too much traffic. Instead, he drove farther in, hoping to find a boat or some kind of transport.

Kliener tried to travel farther in the city to get to the boats, but the fighting was becoming more intense. A laser impacted a car near their position and burst into flames, melting anything within a short radius. He turned to Eli with fear filling his eyes.

"Eli, we need to get out of here."

They were near the middle of the city and the Aliens were slowly closing on their position. Empty cars blocked their passageway both in front and back. Alyx began crying, watching people outside the car getting gunned down. Eli looked around and spied a near alleyway.

"Lets go!"