Half Life: Path to The Borealis

Note: This chapter takes place in Episode 2, right after the defeat of the striders.

"Hey! Gordon Freeman!"

"Good job Gordon!"

"Woo hoo!"

"Wow!"

"Thanks Freeman!" The rebels cheered as Gordon Freeman returned to the base of White Forest. Gordon has a slightly messy haircut, a goatee, glasses and wears a suit known as the HEV suit. HEV stands for Hazardous Environment suit, its orange at the legs, orange at the chest. It has gray shoulders, black arms and gloves, and on the chest is the Greek symbol, lambda. He walked through the passage way when he head his name called.

"Hey Gordon." He looked and saw that is was Alyx. She wore a head band, a brown jacket with a hood. She wears fingerless gloves, bandages on her right arm, a necklace and a grey t-shirt. She also wears jeens, a belt loosely and brown shoes. "Wow Gordon, you were amazing out there! Come on, we have a rocket to launch." She said as she headed back into the hallway were she came out of. "We are at the final stage of the launch. The portal is almost open, but Dr. Magnusson said we should still have time." She said as she punched in a code on a number pad, the door opened and they headed through. They passed by some civilians, Alyx puched in another code at a different door.

"Hold on a minute Kleiner." They heard a voice from the other side of the door. When it opened, they met up with an aged man with a sky blue suit with a red tie. He was wearing a name tag and had three different colored pens in his pocket. He has brown pants with black shoes. "Ah, Freeman. I see that the Magnusson device worked flawlessly. I feel that I must... thank you for saving my rocket. If it was not for you, we would be at a severe disadvantage. So... thank you. Well that was enough chitchat, now hurry along, I have a portal to close." He said as he walked back into the room and closed the door, he then started to talk with someone else over the rocket.

"Wow, for a second, I thought Magnusson was going to give you a hug." Alyx said with a smile. "We'll, let's get going. Let's head to the control room, we can get a great view of the launch from there." She said as she headed for the elevator. Gordon mentally laughed at the thought of Dr. Magnusson giving anyone a hug. He followed Alyx to the elevator and headed inside. "Well, here we go." She said as she set the elevator for the control room floor. "Well, while you were having your fun, I found an old helicopter and fixed it up. It's packed up and ready to go. There is never a dull moment, is there?" She asked. Gordon simply shook his head with a smirk.

"Wait a moment, I'm receiving a payload anomaly of approximately eight and a half pounds." A voice said. Gordon thought about this, and remembered how the scientist's pet got into the rocket. He again, laughed in his head.

"Well... that's within tollorance level, certainly not worth worrying about. Now lets-" Dr. Magnusson said, but was cut off by Alyx.

"We're back." She said happily.

"At last." A scientist in a white lab coat said. He wore glasses and has a bald head.

"Ah, Gordon." A dark man said. He wore a green jacket, kakis and a brown shoe. His left leg is an artificial running leg. "Hell of a job you did out there son." He complimented Gordon, who smiled in return.

"Let us not forget Eli, that with those Magnusson devices, those striders practically destroyed themselves." Dr. Magnusson said.

"Yes, well, I'm sure Gordon had something to do with their success." Dr. Kleiner said. Magnusson grumbled something under his breath.

"Well, I suggest we adjourn this meeting of mutual admiration society until after we have launched our rocket!" Dr. Magnusson said. "I believe we're ready to start the auto sequence."

"I believe Gordon should have the honor." Eli said.

"You here no objection from me Gordon." Kleiner said as he open the button to start the sequence.

"It's all yours Gordon." Alyx said. Gordon looked at the red button that stood before him, he brought his hand down on it and pressed it. The numbers on the top of the machine stated to count down.

"Silo doors open." Dr. Magnusson said. Gordon moved to the front of the room to get as close as he could to see the rocket. "Stations everyone. Power to main thrusters. Steady on."

"T minus ten, nine..." Dr. Kleiner started to count down.

"We are launching."

"eight, seven, six, five..."

"Steady, steady."

"four, three, two.."

"We..."

"one..."

"We have lift-off!" Dr. Magnusson cheered. The three stared in wordless awe, Gordon silently cheered. "Lift-off! Oh it worked... it worked!

"Yeah!" Eli cheered.

"We did it!" Kleiner cheered.

"Oh, oh, I must get control over myself. Oh, deep breaths, deep breaths." Magnusson said to himself.

"Whoa..." Was all that Alyx could force out.

"We sure did it." Eli said.

"Yes." Dr. Kleiner said.

"Excellent! Heh."

"Now... now, it's to early to celebrate. We still need to reach altitude and transmit the signal." Dr. Magnusson said.

"Too right, the clock is ticking." Kleiner said.

"We could not have cut it any closer if that was our intentions."

"It's going to work, right?" Alyx asked a little worried.

"It has to work." Eli said.

"Once the rocket is in range of the portal, we shall switch on the xenium resonator." Kleiner said.

"Well then, let's go outside, I want a better view of the fireworks." Eli said as he headed for the door.

"It shall be quite a show. Regrettably, I can't come with you." Kleiner said sadly. "Magnusson and I will need to keep an eye on the rockets trajectory."

"Aren't you going to see us off?" Alyx asked.

"As soon as things are wrapped up here. I wouldn't dream of sending you off without a proper good bye."

"Okay, I'll hold you to that. You too Dr. Magnusson."

"Indeed." Was his only reply. Eli punched in a code on the number pad that opened a door to the outside.

"We'll catch up with you in a minute sweetheart." He said to Alyx, who in response kissed him as she went out side.

"DOG! there you are!" She said as she ran out. Gordon was about to follow, but he was stopped by Eli.

"Gordon, hold up a second. The more I think about that warning from our friend, the more I am convinced it has to do with Borealis. Don't be deceived, that ship must never be used. It must be destroyed, whatever the cost."

"Where are you two, you're gonna miss it." Alyx asked around the corner.

"Be right there Alyx. Gordon... thanks for everything you've done, for Alyx, for all of us. I couldn't be prouder if you were my own son. Now when you get back, we have a lot of talk about." He said as he headed outside, with Gordon following.

"Come on!"Alyx said. They all gathered outside and looked at the portal.

"Eli! Gordon! Alyx! Look at the portal!" Dr. Kleiner said.

"Dear god, this has to work." Eli said under his breath.

"We've activated the resonator!" Kleiner said. The portal began to shrink. "This is it!"

"Whoa..." Alyx uttered.

"My goodness...

"Yes. Yes! Yes!" Alyx said, excited.

"It's working! Eli said. The portal fully closed, an explosion followed the portal closing.

"The portal as been neutralized!" Kleiner said.

"We did it!" Alyx said as he hugged her farther.

"Oh my rocket! My rocket worked! Ah..." Magnusson said.

"We did it Gordon!" She said as she turned to Gordon.

"We sure as hell did it!" Eli said. "And not a moment too soon."

"I told you it would work! I knew it would work!" Magnusson said. "I'm a genius!"

"Now, Magnusson..." Dr. Kleiner said, trying to calm him down.

"I'll bet the combine aren't too happy right now." Alyx said.

"You got that right sweetheart, but we have plenty to celebrate." Eli said. "I wish you didn't have to head head off so soon. If only it weren't so critical."

"It's okay dad, we'll find Judith and bring her back." Alyx said. They heard DOG start to climb over the building." DOG? DOG! Where are you... What a nut." She said as they proceeded inside. "Don't go to far." She called out to him. Gordon had a bad feeling about something. All this seemed... too easy. But he pushed the thought aside and followed them inside. "Well, this is it, all gassed up and ready to go." Alyx said, pointing to the helicopter.

"Remember to keep in contact." Eli said. "We have no idea what to expect."

"Don't worry dad, we'll be alright." Alyx said reassuringly.

"I know, I just wish this all didn't have to fall on you, Alyx. Your mother would be so proud." He said as he kissed Alyx on the forehead.

"Dad..." She said, after a moment she turned to Gordon. "Come on Gordon, the chopper's waiting for us." She said as they all headed for the lift.

"Are you sure you have everything you need." Eli asked.

"I think so, Dr. Kleiner gave us the coordinates to Borealis. We'll keep the hailing frequency open on the chopper radio, incase Judith tries to reach us."

"Good idea, she might make another attempt." They we than all blinded by a bright light.

"Oh no, dad! Gordon! Help!" She said as they were all pushed back, Eli grunted in pain. Gordon looked up and saw that an Advisor had come through the building. They have a olive green body with a white face, two eyes on one side and two mechanical limbs used as arms.

"Alyx!" Eli said, reaching for his daughter. The Advisor took a hold of her using telekisesis. It also grabbed Gordon and pinned them on the wall.

"Dad!" She yelled. "Get away from him!" Eli reached for a loose pipe on the ground and pushed himself up.

"Listen to me! Destroy that ship! Whatever it takes! Destroy it!" He yelled as he headed for the Advisor.

"Don't!" Alyx yelled. Eli whacked it with the pipe, it flinched at the attack. It proceded to take his pipe and throw it away, it used its arm to pin him to the ground. Gordon saw another advisor come in from the back, tearing apart the building. The first one let go of Eli as the second one took hold of him, bringing him to its face. "No! Dad! Let go of him!"

"I love you sweetheart. Close your eyes honey!"

"I love you dad."

"Don't look." Was his final words as the advisor penetrated the back of his skull with its tongue.

"NO!" Alyx yelled. The other advisor grabbed her and Gordon and brought them up to its face. "Gordon!" She tried to resist the advisor but to no success. She looked up and saw DOG about to attack. "DOG!" She said as the robot jumped from the roof and landed on the advisor. It started to shriek in panic as DOG started to hit it. It got away and hurriedly crawled away before taking flight. The other advisor saw this and threw the corpse of Eli away is it flew away. "Dad!" Alyx yelled as she ran to the corpse. "Oh god, dad? Dad! Dad please, dad. Oh my god, no..." She said as she began to cry into her fathers chest. "No, dad, oh my god. Dad... don't leave me." She continued to sob.

"What is going on here!?" Dr. Kleiner asked as he entered the building. "I just saw two advisors flee from... oh my, Eli!" He said as he came down the lift. He ran to the corpse and got on his knees. "My god, not Eli." He silently said as he tried to comfort Alyx.