"Subject 008, designation "Adam." Oh eight forty-eight, Interrogation begins." Dr. Vahlen pursed her lips from behind the glass. The alien, the snake man, the Thin Man, Adam, stood stock still inside his prison of glass and steel. To Barney's eyes, his spine angled a bit even as he remained fully upright, and his limbs did not look like they properly belonged. They had already taken an x-ray – hell he had even seen it – but no matter how hard Dr. Mossman explained, he just could not understand what he was looking at beyond "snake."

"Adam" had remained rather quiet during his past couple of days of imprisonment, acquiescing to every request and only responding to the occasional question, such as what he ate. The sight of the man unhinging his jaw and attempting to swallow a bowl of headcrab stew whole would remain with Barney until probably the rest of his days. So far, the only antipathy the alien had exhibited had been towards the vortigaunts, and the feeling appeared quite mutual. Even now, as Igor typed the transcript into his computer for the record, he cast a burning glance through the one-way mirror at Adam.

Dr. Vahlen cleared her throat and glanced back at Igor. The vortigaunt nodded. Barney also gave a thumbs up, but the doctor continued not to acknowledge his presence, which remained the sole stipulation of Eli Vance for this interrogation. Barney could not tell if that was to act as some check on the doctor's questionable ethics, or to try and slow her down somehow. The questions that rose to his mind for this alien sure as hell didn't feel scientific, and he knew Doctor Mossman had requested the job in his place, but Eli insisted. Well, he's the smartest guy I know. He must have a good reason.

Dr. Vahlen cleared her throat. "Can you hear me?"

"Yes." The "s" was drown out just a little bit, halfway between a lisp and an outright hiss. Behind them, the vortigaunt began to type.

"What is your designation?"

"Dr. Freeman is content to refer to me as Adam," replied the alien, voice mostly monotone, just a little smug. "That will be sufficient."

"You wish to be referred to as Adam?" asked Dr. Vahlen. He just answered the question, doc!

"I have no other name to give." The tapping of the keyboard continued behind them. Barney decided to speak up.

"You mean you got no other name we'd understand, or you have no other name at all?"

Adam blinked. A forked tongue slipped from his lips for a moment, making Barney remember how snakes tasted the air. He wondered if that was the same here.

"Adam is the name I have selected for myself. For you. The Ethereal Ones do not deem it necessary to grant their servants names under most circumstances."

"I have conducted multiple autopsies," began Dr. Vahlen, "and several specimens were genetically the exact same individual. You are the first of your kind we have captured, alive or otherwise, so let me ask – are you a product of genetic cloning?"

"No." Dr. Vahlen ground her teeth. The vortigaunt stopped typing and glanced from his keyboard.

"Parthogenesis."

Dr. Vahlen gave a small start, then nodded. Barney wanted to ask what it meant, then thought better of it.

"Parthogenesis?"

"Yes."

"The creatures you have designated as "sectoids,"" continued Dr. Vahlen, beginning to sound excited, "are they the products of parthogenesis or cloning?"

"Cloning." Adam sounded bored. "How is Dr. Freeman? Is he recovered?"

"We ask the questions-" started Dr. Vahlen, but Barney felt Adam had been a good boy.

"He's gotten a lot of sleep, and now he's ready to wake up and smell the bacon," said Barney. "He said he'd come see you later, if Dr. Vance allows it. Don't see why he wouldn't."

"Good. I thank you, Barney Calhoun." Barney grinned.

"I like him, doc. He's polite."

"He." Dr. Vahlen smirked, then leaned towards the mic. "Are you biologically male or female?"

"Female." Barney gave a start at this, and then gave Adam a renewed stare. What has science done?! "I thought I had already answered that question."

"In a sense. But you are not of this planet." Dr. Vahlen gave Barney a warning glance. "You are being awfully open. You have been awfully compliant. Is there a reason?"

"Nothing I have revealed to you is of any consequence to the Ethereal Ones." Adam shrugged, and Barney did not like the way his joints moved – it more resembled a marionette than a human. "My mission was to intercept a train and look for high value humans. In this I was successful. But I was never retrieved for extraction – and I was only ordered to self-terminate if captured by Harvesters."

"Harvesters?" asked Barney. Dr. Vahlen rolled her eyes.

"You would know them as the Combine. Or the Universal Union. The Ethereal Ones do not see fit to grant them any title that elevates them."

"A worthy sentiment," murmured Igor from behind them. First positive thing I've heard from the vortigaunts about our newest guests.

"You designated Gordon Freeman as a high value target?" asked Dr. Vahlen.

"Yes. It was immediately obvious. He does not smell of this place."

"Where does he smell of?" asked Barney. Adam paused.

"Cold. Outside." Dr. Vahlen actually cocked her head at this.

"Clarify."

"I cannot." Adam clicked his tongue. "I see in an ultraviolet spectrum. I can taste the temperature of the air. I can no more explain to you what I feel from Gordon Freeman than I can describe the hues of a shade you can never see. Gordon Freeman resonates with power. Most of it is not his own."

"Does anyone else on this base resonate with power?" asked Barney, privately hoping the answer was "yes, you are a badass."

"Dr. Vance. Your many-eyed friends." Adam shrugged again. "Little from anyone else. You have the Gift, but it is spread thin, and growing thinner with every life lost. The Harvesters are squandering your genetic potential."

Dr. Vahlen's nostrils flared. "They have laid waste to it." Adam inclined his head.

"You have my sympathies, and the sympathy of the Elders. We wish to liberate you from these shackles you find yourself chained to."

"Yeah, we're gonna have a go of it alone first," replied Barney, earning an approving stare from the vortigaunt, who continued typing even as he turned to him. "Seems like your bosses want to do some genetic exploitation of their own."

"This parthogenesis," began Dr. Vahlen, "is it forced?"

"We cannot control our baser natures without the Elder's input," said Adam. "We require a leash until we can master ourselves."

What little color Barney could see in Dr. Vahlen's cheeks fled. The vortigaunt paused typing for a moment.

"I see."

"We serve the Elder Ones loyally, in hopes of achieving enlightenment," continued Adam. "We were base beasts once, crawling through the dirt on our bellies. Now we travel through the stars in ships of light and crystal. I hope you will know this as well, one day."

"I see," repeated Dr. Vahlen. "This "Gift…" are you referring to psionics? The ability to manipulate the physical world through mental processes."

"Yes!" Adam took a step forward. "A rare thing it is, the Gift. So many are physically able, but either mentally weak or simply unable to manifest it." Adam smiled. "We are among the Elder's favorites – strong and intelligent … but we do not possess the Gift. Not a one of us has ever burned with that inner fire. Some of us took to these changes…" He (she?) paused.

"Go ahead, Adam," said Barney.

"In imitating humans, their physical form, we hoped that, somehow, we might develop the Gift ourselves. That your form was the key." Adam gave a hiss that was almost a sad chuckle. "A silly notion. A selfish notion. Hopefully the Elders did not realize. I think some wondered why we so readily volunteered for the task." He took another step towards the glass, placed his hand on it, fingers splayed. "You are so lucky."

"Pal, you think we're lucky?" Barney could not help but issue a bark of laughter. "Between you guys and the Combine, we've got a planet on fire and haven't seen a baby in about eighteen years."

"But there is a chance," whispered Adam. "There is hope. You can be more than you are, still. My people must remain here. To serve."

"Would you serve us?" asked Dr. Vahlen, making Barney start.

"The Elders would have it so. You would have a place at their side. Together, you would sweep the Harvesters from this land."

"What about as partners?" asked Barney, stepping past Dr. Vahlen. "Y'know? Equals?"

"You have the Gift." Adam sounded confused. "Why would you ever … we are not equals. Just as you are not yet equals with those vortigaunts."

"Lies," said Igor, his voice all angry gravel. "We will strike this from the record."

"Nah, leave it in, buddy." Barney licked his lips. "Humans and vortigaunts stand together, side by side. Have been for almost twenty years now."

"Twenty years late to realize…" Adam began to chuckle. "You do not see how they wish to shape you? Restrain you?"

"Is it yet time to begin the autopsy?" asked Igor, fingers bent, lips drawn back in a snarl. "This one is rapidly exhausting his usefulness … and our patience."

"This guy … uh, girl? Adam, I mean – they're Gordon's friend. They're not going anywhere unless Eli Vance says so." Barney folded his arms. "Simple as that. You want Adam, you gotta go through me, first."

"The Barney Calhoun cut many of our cords at Black Mesa," said the vortigaunt, turning fully away from the computer now and sidling up to Barney. Dr. Vahlen did not walk away, instead viewing all of the proceedings with a look of extreme interest. "We have not forgotten."

"Had to. Wish it could have been some other way." Barney did not budge. "Way you're acting, feels like Adam might have a point."

"We would not have humanity tread a path that leads to the fate of the Elder Ones." Igor sighed. "Matters of Vortessence are … sensitive. To invite humanity into our chorus – it cannot be undone. So it must be done properly." He placed his own hand against the glass now, on the other side of Adam's, and rested his head against it. "They would rush this. They would remake you into their image."

"What aren't you telling us?" asked Dr. Vahlen quietly. "How much?"

"Much. In ignorance, you have a chance." The vortigaunt straightened. "Adam – we would know if you have any familiarity with Freeman's contract?"

"Contract?" Adam sounded confused. "No … Freeman is new to me. I only sensed…"

"I see." The vortigaunt nodded. "They remain tethered here, on this plane…" For some reason, Barney felt cold. For a moment he swore someone stood behind the glass, behind Adam, a mirror image in a suit, all gauntness and piercing eyes. But it must have been a trick of the glass, or of the light. Still, for some reason, the vortigaunt shuddered.

"Too much has been said. In time, we will clarify. As we must."

"I will be asking Dr. Vance about this," said Dr. Vahlen, steel in her voice. "Over and over he has told me to trust in you and yours and that your intentions are noble, that we are in this together … and now you are hiding secrets in plain view."

"Yeah, gotta side with the doc on this one." Barney scratched his neck. "Whatever you're hiding, it better not bite us in the ass."

"They are the ones conducting the ass biting," said Igor, extending a single long finger towards Adam, who now withdrew from the glass. "They have disrupted all."

"I think we've heard enough for the moment." Dr. Vahlen paused. "Thank you for your time … Adam. I hope I do not have to kill you anytime soon."

"Likewise, Dr. Vahlen." This time when Adam smiled, it was all long teeth. Dr. Vahlen shut off the microphone with a snap of feedback before rounding on the two of them.

"Of the two of you, I thought he was going to be the bigger disruption!" began Dr. Vahlen, jabbing a finger at Barney, who had to inwardly acknowledge the lady was right. "Instead here you are…" Dr. Vahlen struggled for a few moments, trying to find the word. "…conspirafying!"

"I know English ain't your first language, doc, but I'm pretty sure that isn't a word."

"Shut up!" barked Dr. Vahlen in a tone that invited silence, not argument. "Is this vengeance for those autopsies all those years ago? For those killed at Black Mesa, and in the months after the Portal Storms?"

"No." Igor was stone, firm and immovable. "This is a matter of Vortessence."

"That is your go to cop out, isn't it?" snapped Dr. Vahlen. "Vortessence. Impaired inputs. Flux shifting. Matters beyond our comprehension. I speak three languages and possess two doctorates – I think I can manage the elements of your little religion beyond the shooting of the lightning!"

"Doc," mumbled Barney, "might be going a little far there."

"Excuse me?" Dr. Vahlen rounded on him, but Barney had also had enough.

"Vortigaunts power half our base, prepare our food, and have been shooting goddamn lightning at the bad guys for decades, doc," said Barney, loud now. "I think we can give them the benefit of the doubt! I mean, we still haven't told them everything!"

Vahlen's nostrils flared. "Like what?"

"Like … where our babies come from," said Barney. For a moment, the air chilled into a dangerous stillness.

"This mystery … still vexes us," rasped Igor. Barney's lips twitched.

Dr. Vahlen said nothing. With a swish of her lab coat she vanished out the door, presumably to have an aneurysm. Barney breathed a sigh of relief.

"Sometimes you gotta be too stupid for words to handle scientists. Learned that back in Black Mesa. Glad to see you caught on." Barney patted Igor on the shoulder. The vortigaunt remained oddly stiff.

"She meddles in matters outside of her concern…"

"Hey." Barney brought himself around, brought Igor face to face. "I trust you guys, all right? Please don't make me regret it. Or make Eli regret it."

"We appreciate this." Igor paused. "And the Eli Vance knows all. Be assured of it."

Huh. Barney wanted to know more, but the vortigaunt made for the door with a slow but decisive speed, leaving him alone with Adam behind the glass. Adam, who as Barney watched, let his torso descent to the floor, knees not even folding, so that he could lie on his belly. All right. Enough weirdness for today. Time to go see Eli.

The weirdness immediately continued. Barney descended the elevator to Eli's lab just in time to see Dr. Kleiner emerge from their now-active teleporter, a cat carrier clutched under his arm. No sooner had Barney stepped from the elevator, the headcrab inside actually hissed at him.

"Barney!" Alyx Vance came out of nowhere and gave him a hug. "Glad to see you in one piece. You just missed our first successful test of the teleporter."

"I am afraid that was quite by design," said Kleiner, stepping from the machine as the rings slid back into their rear position. "Given your misgivings about a certain incident with a cat, I felt the proceedings would best go without your latent anxieties regarding our resurrected teleport."

Alyx pulled away from Barney. "What cat?"

"Is that why you had me do the interrogation thing, doc?" asked Barney, half-accusatory, half-amused. Dr. Vance chuckled from where he stood by the Rotat-O.

"Well, that and I felt you would curb Dr. Vahlen's enthusiasm a bit. Although it sounded like that went a tad too well."

"Hey – she was freaking out at the vortigaunt, not me! The vort has it all on record!"

Eli frowned. "Well, regardless, I hope no one went too far. We can talk about our mutual friend later."

"Uhh, what cat?" asked Alyx again.

"It's good to see you too, doc." Barney extended a hand to Kleiner, who started.

"Wha – oh, yes, very good to see you Barney." His handshake felt limp and hurried. "I do hope the trip over was not too arduous. If anything, I am glad you left City 17 when you did – CP units have been disappearing left and right, and for the life of me I can't find out why."

Barney's eyebrow shot up. "Disappearing?"

"City's getting more locked down than ever," said Alyx. The teleporter flashed again, revealing a pile of suitcases stacked neatly. Wait, who's on the other side now? "Ever since Durand's attack and what happened to City 14 … I couldn't even go on the streets anymore. Air's thick with scanners. And they're starting to build again…"

"Another Citadel?" asked Barney, but Alyx shook her head.

"Looks like a big gun."

"That why we're picking up sticks?" asked Barney, picking up an armful of luggage. He left it in a much less neat pile by Lamar's carrier, which shook as he passed by. Miserable little head humper.

"Annette advised as much, right before Cubbage broadcasted. Took Dr. Mossman and Dr. Kleiner some convincing-"

"We have to destroy the other side," said Eli gently. "It's difficult to let that work go."

"But we can rebuild!" said Kleiner, voice shaking a little. "As we did after Black Mesa! And we still have-"

The teleporter flashed again. This time a cactus, a stack of books, and the twin miniature teleporters came into view. Man, we're teleporting teleporters now?

"My miniature teleport!" said Kleiner proudly. "I have some ideas on how our R&D department here and at White Forest can more readily collaborate!"

"We would need someone to ship it over," said Barney, heart sinking, but Eli shook his head.

"I believe they intend to come get it themselves. We're not sending you out there again this time."

"This time." Barney sighed in relief, but also trepidation. The teleporter flashed yet again, revealing a stack of rickety crates. Barney hefted two while Alyx grabbed a third. "How is White Forest anyway?"

"Just suffered an attack from our uninvited guests. Bradford is livid." Eli sounded a little nervous. "He wants to go on the offensive … and start developing some weapons of our own. Between Shen, Magnusson, Vahlen, and myself…"

"We'll have our own striders built in no time!" Barney grinned. No one else seemed to find it funny. "Wait – who do we have on the other side of this thing, anyway?"

The teleporter whirred a final time. A figure stepped from it, clad in orange. He straightened, smiled at Barney, and pushed his glasses up his nose. With the other, he pressed the button on the detonator. As one, the room sighed.

"So much work undone," muttered Dr. Kleiner. "But it is all for the best, isn't it?"

The teleporter rings slid to the back, then powered down. Dr. Gordon Freeman, freshly clad in his HEV suit, strode forward, clearly ready for anything. But, first thing's first.

"Good to see you're up Gordon. Adam says hi."

Gordon nodded, brushed some of the dust from the lambda emblazoned from his chest. For a moment, Barney thought he understood what Adam meant.