The three exited the car and bee lined for the alleyway. An explosion erupted behind them sending the group to the ground. Alyx screamed, not out of pain, but at the sight of three tripod aliens heading their way. They had two blue "eyes" and shot exploding fletches. Dr. Kliener grabbed Alyx's hand and leaned Eli onto his shoulder. They moved into the alleyway, thankful to get out of the street. Spying a back door to a hotel, Kliener walked towards the entrance. He peered through the window, making sure it was safe. He opened the door softly, wearily looking around. They were in the dinning room of the hotel. The three moved in and proceeded to a set of stairs and moved to the second floor.

Dr. Kliener opened the nearest room door. He made sure it was empty.

"Ok, Alyx, get in."

Alyx moved into the hotel room and walked over toward the window. Dr. Kliener moved Eli to the bed where he rested the wounded man.

"Alyx. Please get away from the window." Eli called out. Alyx obeyed. Eli then looked out the window, seeing large tripod aliens above the rooftops. The sound of numerous explosions and gun fire reached his ears.

"What did we do?", he whispered. Dr. Kliener looked down at his friend. He did not have the answer.

Kliener heard a sound of the room door being opened. He turned to find that the door was open, revealing a Vortigaunt. His heart raised to his throat. In a panic, he picked up a lamp and held it like a club. Eli moved in front of Alyx, ready to protect her. The Vortigaunt raised its hands.

"Please. I mean you no harm."

Dr. Kliener blinked. "Mean us no harm?" he thought, " these aliens exterminated the people at Black Mesa."

The Vortigaunt continued. "I am here to take you to a safe haven. I have been ordered by one of your military commanders to evacuate all citizens."

Now Dr. Kliener was confused. This thing was working with our military? How could this be? Kliner stood there for a moment thinking. He lowered his wepon. Kliner had no choice but to trust this creature. They were dead anyway.

"I will carry the Eli Vance."

Eli frowned, "How do you know my name?"

"A formidable question. One that will have to wait for another time." The Vort slid his hands under Eli's body and raised him off the bed. The Vort moved towards the door followed by Dr. Kliener. Alyx hesitated before following.

---

The Vortigaunt moved through the city like he knew it like the back of his hand. He avoided contact with the hostile aliens, but some times it was unavoidable. The group had to cross perilous streets where both human and alien forces battled. Dr. Kliener carried Alyx the whole way through the city, trying to dodge gunfire from both sides. After an hour of running, They finally reached their destination: a warehouse that had already been cleared by the alien forces. The Vort turns to face Kliener.

"We shall stay here for a while. Inside we will find more of your kin and supplies."

Dr. Kliener nods, thankful that the sounds of fighting were far off now. The warehouse had gaping holes throughout it, but was still standing. The Vort knocked on a big metal door. Behind it, Dr. Kliener could hear a human inquire who was at the door.

"It is Uriah!", the Vort Spoke up," I have more human survivors."

A "clack!" could be heard behind the door and it swung open revealing a large room. The floor was covered in soot and ash. Smoke still emitted from parts of the debris. Most of the ceiling was gone and all types of factory machinery was melted. About five civilians and two soldiers were sitting on the ground or walking around. All of them looked up to greet the newcomers, but the group was met with silence.

Dr. Vance walked over towards a broken stove half buried in the black ash. He set Alyx on top of the metal box. Uria walked over towards a stretcher on a makeshift table and laid Eli down softly. One of the soldiers walked over to Uriah and started whispering to the Vortigaunt. Eli propped himself up so he could see the Vort.

"What are those creatures out there?"

Uria turned with an almost hurt expression in his red eyes.

"The Combine: A massive army that is spreading through the galaxy, destroying the populace of many worlds. They were about to destroy our last world when my kin found a faint teleport signal, which brought our race into your world. However, the Combine followed us through the portal and now is here to conquer your world."

Eli laid there for a few seconds, dumbfounded. He then rested his head back down and covered his eyes with his hands.

"Why? It just keeps getting worse.", he groaned.

Dr. Kliener was standing nearby, listening to everything that was being said.

"Do you mean," asked Dr. Kliener to Uriah, "that this 'Combine' army is here to eradicate the human race?"

"No. They are here to defeat the armies of earth, then enslave them for resources. Then after taking your world's precious commodities, the human race will be destroyed."

"Great Scott! What will we do?"

Eli then lean upwards again. "Survive."

Uriah focused on this peculiar human's resolve. He began to respect Eli. Uriah then looked upon this human's severed leg. The Vort began chanting an alien language and energy began erupting from it's hands. Dr. Kliener recognized this process: it was when a Vortigaunt was about to discharge an energy blast at a foe. Dr. Kliener stepped forward to stop Uriah from killing Eli. But he was stopped by one of the civilians.

"Eli! No!"

Alyx jumped from the stove and ran towards her father. However, another civilian stopped the little girl.

The energy discharged from the Vort's hands and hit Eli on his leg. To Dr. Kliener's surprise, Eli was not dead. He sat up on the table and looked at his leg amazed.

"I don't feel a thing.", Eli said in surprise. He chuckled as he started to pull back the dirty bandages. The skin underneath was fussed together without a scar. Eli looked in amazement at Uriah.

"Thank you."

The Vortigaunt gave a small groan and bowed slightly.

"So," one of the civilians spoke up, "what do we do now?"

Eli frowned, his eyes filled with determination.

"Find me a crutch. We have some work to do."