The man awoke me with a cryptic message. I was hoping to maybe gather some information, but his words were empty. I appeared in a train car in a city I do not know, hopefully a familiar face would notice me.

'Didn't see you get on' a man said to me. That snapped me back to reality, the realization that I am being perceived. We're all wearing Blue jumpsuits, I definitely did not put mine on. Jarring.

'Welp, end of the line' I stepped off the train. For a brief moment I saw a large display with my boss on it. To be fair I am not surprised. He was giving some public service announcement but I am genuinely disinterested in anything he says. A drone came near my head and took a picture, I am unsure why that would be. There must be some new technology. The drone that came by was in no way aerodynamic, and the display with Breen's face on it was slightly transparent.

I don't know how long it's been, and that fills me with dread. I start wandering to find an exit into the city. I see a Xenian alien sweeping the floor. It scared me, I was sure it would lunge at me, but I remember in Xen that near the end of my journey they did not attack me but instead simply wept in fear. I stopped hurting them after that.

There is a presence of some sort of militia, they wear body armor and a helmet. Completely unidentifiable, very intimidating. The metro is littered with garbage and although I would consider that typical, there is virtually nobody here.

I see one of the cops hit a citizen with what looks to be an electrified baton, telling him to move along. The air was knocked out of him, he almost fell. Nobody batted an eye, truly horrific to see that such brutality is normal here. I walk through a rotating metal barrier into what appears to be a food court. A man paces back and forth, muttering something about the trains. Another catches my attention. 'Don't drink the water. They put something in it. To make you forget.' That made me bite my tongue. What happened? Why?

I walked into a queue for what I assume to be another train, empty but the gate is open. The sign says 'Nova Prospekt'. I'm in Europe but everyone is speaking English. I have so many questions.

A siren sounds and one of the cops asks me to follow them. I hear someone argue about a 'relocation coupon'.

I walk into a room with a desk, a very odd computer, and a chair like they'd use at a dentist's office with blood splattered all over it. Two cops talk, and one leaves. The remaining one goes to the computer and makes a camera retreat into the ceiling. The silence is thick. He reaches for his mask.

'Gordon, buddy, you're alive!'

It's Barney, he's safe but he looks far older than when we last spoke. I really need to know how long it's been. That makes me horribly sad.

"You haven't changed a bit, how do ya do it? Oh just wait until Dr. Kleiner hears about this."

He giggles to himself a bit, that makes me smile. He presses some buttons and turns on some sort of video phone, Kleiner pops up on the display.

"What now Barney? I am quite busy!"

"Doc, you won't believe who I just found."

Kleiner looks up at the display. He looks older too, his hair is white now but considering the circumstances maybe I haven't been gone too long. He goes from annoyed to shocked.

"Great scott! Gordon Freeman! We were sure that you had died… but that's evidently irrelevant now."

I nod, feeling relieved that I was missed for god knows how long. Long enough to have me presumed dead. Five years maybe? Considering what we were working on at Black Mesa it is completely possible that this technology has surfaced in a short amount of time.

"Yeah, he was gonna board the express to Nova Prospekt. Good thing I caught him when I did."

Barney pokes at me. Glad to see he still has his playful attitude, considering what's happened.

"Alyx is around here… somewhere. I'll send a message her way. In the meantime Barney, if you could send Gordon in the direction of the lab? Oh, and Gordon? Good to see you."

Kleiner hangs up, he's obviously preoccupied with something important. Barney looks back at me, a tad more seriously.

"Alright Gordon, you're gonna have to stack some boxes to get out through the window. Don't stop walkin' until you're in the center. There's an apartment complex you'll find, I'm sure Alyx can find you there."

He waves at me and shoves me in a storage room, a knock on the door rings out.

"Agh! That's what I was afraid of."

He shuts the door behind me and I climb up a ladder to the window, landing on a platform. The window is about 8 feet up the wall, I bring a box over so I can hoist myself over the jamb and onto another box at the bottom.

I walk through a small section of courtyard into another part of the station. A cop tells me to throw away some trash, a cruel joke. I still do it though. I walk past him and out the main doors.

More drones take pictures of me. I walk to a fenced alley, it's the only way out of the center so I jump it. I see the apartment building. Two men talk outside. 'Here it goes again. First one building then the whole block.'

'They have no reason to come to our place.'

'Don't worry, they'll find one.'

I walk into the building and up the stairs, it looks like a raid is taking place. An apartment is open, so I walk in to possibly get an alternative route.

A drunk man looks at me, glassy. 'Was that you knocking? Didn't know we still had a door." he rests his head on the table he's sitting at. I approach two people looking out the window.

'Oh, I thought you were a cop.'

'No, he's one of us.'

I walk out another set of doors, which will take me around the police.

I walk up another set of stairs, someone yells at me

'Hey! Over here! Make your way to the roof, fast.'

I run through their apartment and up one more set of stairs, reaching the roof. I worm my way along the edge of the roof. Cops fire sloppy shots at me. I climb in an open window into an attic, down a staircase into a hall. I reach for the door but some cops break it down. They surround me, striking me with the electric baton.

I hear a girl exclaim. 'Ha! No you don't' I hear flatline noises harmonize, those armored suits must take vitals.

My vision is taken over by white, I crumple to the ground. The girl makes her way to me and shakes me. 'Dr. Freeman I presume?'

She helps me up and leads me to a lift

'The Combine can be slow to wake, but once they're up you really don't wanna get in their way.'

She waves me into the lift and as I enter she presses the button. 'I'm Alyx Vance, my father worked with you back in Black Mesa.' God, I've been gone longer than I thought. Last time I saw Alyx she was a little girl. So maybe I've been gone more like 10 years.

The lift finishes lowering and comes to a stop in what I can assume is a basement.

'Man of few words, aren't you?'

I nod, she's not wrong. I have a hard time finding what to say.

We walk towards a poster of Breen.

'Remember him? Your old administrator? Don't even get my dad started on him.'

I sigh. Even after all of the things I've done, I wouldn't consider myself a violent man, but something about Breen is very punchable. I wouldn't need any words to get my point across.

Alyx punches in a code on a lock which opens a secret door behind the poster. She hoists herself over a railing, I take the stairs. I've done enough jumping as it is.

'Funny you come on this day in particular. The route to my father's lab through the canals is very dangerous. we're finally on the verge of finding a better way.'

'Here, let me buy you a drink.' She puts a coin in a vending machine and presses a series of buttons, then hits the machine. It swings open revealing the lab.

'Oh, and nice to finally meet you.'

I walk in to find Kleiner frantically searching in and around a dog kennel.

'Lamarr? Lamarr, where are you! If I didn't know Barney like I do I'd suspect him of trapping and-'

'Hey Dr. Kleiner.' Alyx approaches Kleiner, slightly annoyed. He is one to get caught up in himself.

'Oh, Alyx would you have any idea where Lamarr could be?'

'No but look who I found. He was just wandering around, bit of a troublemaker isn't he?'

Kleiner looks up at me and gets up on his feet, he looks almost relieved.

'It really is you! Gordon, we've missed you greatly during your absence. We have finally perfected localized teleport technology, something the Combine has not figured out yet.'

Barney bursts through the door.

'Well, is he here? Oh, there ya are. Gordon, you've really stirred up the hive!'

Barney makes his way to a computer console in the corner of the room near a closet. A headcrab appears and nearly makes Barney topple over.

'Agh, I thought you got rid of that thing!' Barney exclaims. I jump back and subconsciously reach at my waist for a weapon that's not there.

'Nonsense!' Kleiner says, walking towards the headcrab. I relax myself after noticing the lack of action, this one may not be hostile. The headcrab jumps onto a filing cabinet.

'Never fear, Gordon, she's debeaked and completely harmless. All she may do is attempt to couple with your head. Fruitlessly, of course.' Gross.

'Barney, you're not an animal person?' Alyx asks, although it sounded more like a statement. Barney dramatically pretends to gag.

Kleiner pats at his head 'Here my pet. Up.'

Lamarr lunges up onto a platform filled with equipment instead.

'No not there! Those are quite fragile! Lamarr!'

Lamarr leaps into a vent.

'Oh, fie! It'll be another week until I coax her out of there.'

Barney groans 'Good.' He says under his breath.

'Gordon, you've come at a very opportune time. We have just made the finishing touches on our local teleport.'

Kleiner walks to his desk again.

'And conditions couldn't be more ideal.'

'You said that last time. Poor cat.' Barney shakes his head and sighs.

'What cat?' asks Alyx

'I had to turn it right side out again to be sure it was a cat.'

Alyx grimaces.

'We've made major strides since then. Major strides.' Kleiner waves his index finger in the air confidently.

'Today is a red letter day, and to commemorate we will launch with a double transport. Gordon and Alyx can make their way to Eli's lab without trouble from Civil Protection or any of the other risks in the canals.'

'Whatever you say, doc. If Gordon's here we should at least get him out of his civvies, right?' Barney asks

'Ah yes. Gordon, behind that door is a new and improved Mark V Hazardous Environment Suit. Barney, will you do the honor?' Civvies must be whatever uniform I'm wearing, this sickly navy.

Barney walks to the closet door and presses a button, as the door opens he waves me to the side.

'Hey, bud. Ya know if you're not comfortable with the whole teleporter, say something because Dr. Kleiner 'll listen to ya. I can understand not wanting to end up like that cat. Ugh, poor thing.'

I nod in reassurance. Barney steps back from the closet as I walk in. I trust Kleiner in his judgment. Sure, he's crazy but he knows what he's doing.

'I'll give ya some privacy.'

He closes the door and I begin putting on the suit. It feels like It's only been maybe a day since I've had the suit on. It's like a bad omen, the suit holds so many bad memories I have yet to process. And here I am, putting it on again.

I finish up and press a button to open the door again.

'Doc, I really gotta get back on my shift.' Barney complains.

'You may return when the teleport sequence is finished, we are in dire need of assistance if we're doing a double teleport. Oh Gordon, there you are. I'm glad to see the suit fits you like a glove… At least the glove part does.' Says Kleiner, desperately searching for some document in his drawers.

Barney snickers. 'Lil tight in the back.'

Kleiner sighs and pulls out a manual for the suit, skimming pages.

'I don't have time for this!' Barney groans

'Yeah, c'mon let's get this show on the road.' Alyx says, nodding impatiently.

'I have modified the Mark V HEV Suit to draw power from Combine power outlets. And where the Combine operates there will be plenty.' Says Kleiner.

'Get that thing juiced up will ya Gordon? There's a charger over here.' Barney points me in the direction of the charger. As I charge my suit, Kleiner walks over and tilts a picture frame to open yet another secret door behind a bulletin board. The picture in the frame is of the science team back at Black Mesa with white-out painted over Breen and a big red X.

I follow everyone into the room. Another video call has started between Eli and Kleiner, though Barney seems to be controlling it. I stand behind him to observe. Kleiner is up on a balcony decked out with lot's of fancy equipment.

'Are ya there, Izzy?'

'Yes, yes.' Kleiner responds

'Look who made his way to the lab.' Barney introjects. He moves over bringing me into view on the other side.

'Wha- Gordon Freeman! I never thought I'd see you again!'

'And we will be sending him packing in the company of your lovely daughter. Eli, is everything ready on your end?' Kleiner twists his view to the screen below

'Yep, all ready.' Eli assures, focusing his attention to his controls.

'Eh, Gordon? Do you mind positioning yourself near the panel?'

I shake my head and scoot myself towards a switch and three power outlets, Alyx walks into the teleporter. It has motion sensor doors.

I disassociate for a while while Kleiner reads out the status of the machinery out to Eli. It's been hard adjusting already, I can't imagine how I will feel down the line. This feels like some sick joke. Maybe I will wake up in my own bed soon. Hopefully.

'Gordon could you plug us in?'

I plug in in the third and final wire.

'You gonna let gordon throw the switch?' asks Alyx.

'Go ahead now.' Kleiner says, the plastic door over the switch opens.

'Agh I can't look' Barney covers his face.

I flip the switch. Alyx laughs nervously and in a flash, she's gone.

'Well, is she there?' Kleiner looks over the railing to the video call.

'Hi guys!' Alyx excitedly says, she kisses her father on the cheek.

I sigh in relief, so does the rest of the crew.

'My relief is almost palpable.' Kleiner exclaims, looking far more confident than before.

'Alright, Gordon, you can come through now.'

Eli presses a few more buttons and looks up to the camera again.

I step into the teleporter, it raises me up.

'Very well. Barney, will you do the honor?'

He groans, walking over to the panel.

'Gordon?' I'm now eye level with Kleiner situated at his equipment on the other side of the room.

'Bon voyage, and best of luck in your future endeavors.'

That goodbye was far too final. It makes me uneasy. They didn't do that with Alyx. Kleiner nods at Barney and he flips the switch.

All of a sudden, Lamarr jumps out of the ceiling vent into the teleporter.

'It's your pet, the freakin' head humper! Get him the heck outta there ya hear me!' Barney yells in panic at Kleiner.

Everything goes wrong at once. I can't move, my body aches like it's being split atom by atom. I can't see anything at all.

I should have known it was too good to be true.

Gordon Freeman, PhD.