Half-Life

Chapter 8: Apprehension

Gordon eventually made it to the industrial Complex. An older area in the facility. On the left was a security booth, a scientist and a guard opened the door for gordon.

"You're Gordon Freeman, aren't you?" The scientist asked, almost amazed as if he was meeting a real life superhero.

"Yes. I am." Gordon simply replied, even in the company of these two... Gordon felt alone.

"Well you're going the right way to reach the Lambda Complex. We've been tracking you through your HEV suits systems, but unfortunately so has the military. We have discovered they are the HECU division, or Hazardous Environment Combat Unit." The scientist happily explained, handing gordon a few keycards he could use to get through the next areas of the facility.

"Yeah... top secret stuff Doc, alright, ill open this blast door for ya. If you stick to the older areas of the facility, it'll be ten times harder for the HECU to track you, there's a load of holes in the security system in these parts." The guard explained. He moved over to his control panel and glided his hands along the controls. Without warning the big blast door to the industrial complex slid up and open.

Gordon nodded, appreciating the rare assistance from the scientist and the guard. The revelation that the military was actively tracking him through his suit added a layer of urgency to his journey. The Lambda Complex, now a beacon of hope and a potential sanctuary, became his primary destination.

The industrial complex stretched out before him, a maze of machinery and catwalks that whispered with the echoes of past activity. The air hung heavy with the scent of lubricants and the distant hum of machines at work. As Gordon delved deeper into this older section of Black Mesa, he couldn't help but reflect on the profound changes the facility had undergone.

The scientist and the guard guided him through the complex, pointing out shortcuts and hidden passageways to avoid military patrols. Gordon's footsteps echoed in the metallic corridors as they wound their way through the industrial labyrinth. The scientist, nervously adjusting his glasses, shared snippets of information about the Lambda team and the critical role they played in understanding and combating the unfolding crisis.

As they reached a junction, the guard looked at Gordon, his eyes reflecting a mix of determination and concern. "This is as far as we go, Freeman. You'll have to navigate the rest on your own. The Lambda Complex is your best bet. Just keep moving, and you'll get there."

Gordon, ever the silent protagonist, nodded in acknowledgment. The guard handed him a makeshift map, hastily drawn on a piece of scrap paper. "Follow this, stay out of sight, and watch your back. Godspeed, Freeman."

The guard called for freeman to say one last thing, and the guard spoke a few words that echoed in gordons mind. "Oh and Doc! We will probably be dead by the time you reach Lambda freeman, so... Avenge us... Avenge us Freeman."

Gordon Freeman nodded solemnly, the weight of the guard's words settling on his shoulders like a heavy burden. The plea for vengeance resonated in the air, and as the guard and scientist disappeared into the depths of the industrial complex, Gordon pressed on. His journey became a quest not just for survival, but for justice.

The industrial complex presented its own set of challenges—crumbling infrastructure, malfunctioning machinery, and the ever-present threat of alien creatures that had been unleashed upon Black Mesa. Gordon maneuvered through the labyrinthine corridors, guided by the makeshift map provided by the guard.

As he navigated the dimly lit passages, the distant echoes of gunfire and distorted announcements from the facility's intercom system reached his ears. The sense of isolation deepened, but so did his determination. Gordon Freeman, the physicist turned reluctant hero, pressed on through the shadows and uncertainties.