digibutter.nerr

[Chin Fish]

Welcome to the adventures of Gordon Freeman, an average guy with no real adventures. Especially ones that involve zombies or aliens.





I wonder what Barney's doing.

"Good morning, and welcome to the Black Mesa transit system. This automated train is provided for the security and convenience of the Black Mesa Research Facility personnel. The time is 8:47 A.M. Current topside temperature is 93 degrees with an estimated high of 105."

Cool, there's a voice in my head talking to me.





"The Black Mesa compound is maintained at a pleasant 68 degrees at all times. This train is inbound from level 3 dormitories to sector C test labs and control facilities. If your intended destination is a high security area beyond sector C, you will need to return to the central transit hub in area 9 and board a high security train. If you have not yet submitted your identity to the retinal clearance system, you must report to Black Mesa personnel for processing before you will be permitted into the high security branch of the transit system."

I don't care, voice, just tell me to go kill people with a crowbar already.







These doors make me feel important, you know?





Hey, a disabled person spot...





Lololool.



Where is this floating text coming from?

"Due to the high toxicity of material routinely handled in the Black Mesa compound, no smoking, eating, or drinking are permitted within the Black Mesa transit system. Please keep your limbs inside the train at all times.Do not attempt to open the doors until the train has come to a complete halt at the station platform. In the event of an emergency, passengers are to remain seated and await further instruction. If it is necessary to exit the train, disabled personnel should be evacuated first. Please, stay away from electrified rails and proceed to an emergency station until assistance arrives."

'Kay. I doubt there's going to be an emergency today.



"A reminder: that the Black Mesa Hazard Course decathalon will commence this evening at 1900 hours in the Level 3 facility. The semi-finals for high security personnel will be announced in a separate secure broadcast transmission. Remember: more lives than yours may depend on your fitness."





Hey, is that a Metal Gear? I wasn't told we had Metal Gears in Black Mesa.

"Do you have a friend or relative who would make a valuable addition to the Black Mesa Team? Immediate openings are available in the areas of: materials handling, and low clearance security. Please contact Black Mesa personnel for further information. If you have an associate with a background in the areas of: theoretical physics, biotechnology, or other high-tech disciplines, please contact our civilian recruiting team. The Black Mesa Facility is an equal opportunity employer."

I might be able to get Barney to join.

Oh, wait, I think I already did. Hundreds of times.



Look, a guy with a briefcase. He's probably not important in this series.

"A reminder to all Black Mesa personnel: regular radiation and biohazard screenings are a requirement of continued employment in the Black Mesa Research Facility. Missing a scheduled urinalysis or radiation checkup is grounds for immediate termination. If you feel you have been exposed to radioactive or other hazardous materials in the course of your duties, contact your radiation safety officer immediately. Work safe, work smart. Your future depends on it."



That's...I'm sure it's not anything to worry about.



"Now arriving at sector C test labs and control facilities. Please stand back from the automated door, and wait for the security officer to verify your identity. Before exiting the train, be sure to check your area for personal belongings. Thank you, and have a very safe and productive day."

GET OVER HERE AND OPEN THE DOOR, BARNEY!



"Mornin, Mr. Freeman. Looks like you're runnin late."

'Kay, work tiem.





So, what's going on in Black Mesa today?

"Hey, Mr. Freeman. I had a bunch of messages for you, but we had a system crash about 20 minutes ago, and I'm still tryin' to find my files. Just one of those days, I guess. They were havin' some problems down in the test chamber, too, but I think that's all straightened out. They told me to make sure you headed down there as soon as you got into your hazard suit."

OK, I'll wonder around until I find the suit.



Suit?



Is it in here, guys?



Here?



There it is.



And here's the battery stuff.





Lemme through, Barney.

"Go right on through, sir. Looks like you're in the barrel today."







Silly Barney, you don't stand in doors. You'll get killed.



"Ah, Gordon. Here you are. We just sent the sample down to the test chamber."

"We boosted the anti-mass spectrometer 105%. Bit of a gamble, but we need the extra resolution."

"The administrator is very concerned that we get a conclusive analysis of today's sample. I gather they went to some length to get it."

Don't worry, I'm sure that the sample won't cause anything bad to happen.

"They're waiting for, Gordon, in the test chamber."



What's going on here, guys? Those things aren't supposed to fly in random directions, that'll hurt someone.

"It's about to go critical!"

"What the hell is going on with our equipment?"

"It wasn't meant to do this in the first place."

Well, I gotta go to the test lab place.







"I'm afraid we'll be deviating a bit from standard analysis procedures today, Gordon."

"Yes, but with good reason. This is a rare opportunity for us. This is the purest sample we've seen yet."

"And, potentially, the most unstable."

"Now, now, if you follow standard insertion procedure, everything will be fine."

I mean, what could go wrong?

"I don't know how you can say that. Although I will admit that the possibility of a resonance cascade scenario is extremely unlikely."

"Gordon doesn't need to hear all this, he's a highly
trained professional. We've assured the administrator that nothing will
go wrong."

Oh...yeah, I know all about this stuff.

"Ah...yes, you're right. Gordon, we have complete confidence in you."

"Well, go ahead. Let's let him in now."



So, this is the test lab.

"Testing, testing..."

"Everything seems to be in order."

"All right, Gordon. your suit should keep you comfortable through all this. The specimen will be delivered to you in a few moments. If you would be so good as to climb up and start the rotors, we can bring the anti-mass spectrometer to 80 percent and hold it there until the carrier arrives."

'Kay...



"Very good. We'll take it from here."

"Power to stage 1 emitters in 3,2,1. I'm seeing predictable phase arrays."



"Stage 2 emitters activating...now."

"Gordon, we cannot predict how long the system can operate at this level, nor how long the readings will take. Please, work as quickly as you can."

"Overhead capacitors to one oh five percent. Uh, it's probably not a problem, probably, but I'm showing a small discrepancy in... well, no, it's well within acceptable bounds again. Sustaining sequence."



"I've just been informed that the sample is ready, Gordon. It should be coming up to you any moment now. Look to the delivery system for your specimen."



This thing looks like cheese.



"Oh dear!"

"Gordon, get away from the-"



I don't think this is supposed to happen.

"Shutting down-no, attempted shutdown. It's not-it's not, it's not shutting down! Auuugh!"



Well, this is bad.





Now I can't see anything.





WHERE AM I NOW





Hey, alien guys. Whatcha doing?



WHAT, HOW DID I GET HERE

WHERE DID THE OTHER ALIENS GO