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Something went wrong.
Something went wrong, and it scared GMan.
Tommy was screaming as he flailed in Bubby and Coomer's arms, trying to get to Benrey, who was pinned to the floor, Gordon standing over them with a mangled crowbar in what was left of his hands.
Benrey held their arms in front of their face, shielding themself from further blows. "h-hey feetman, hows it hangin havent seen you in a bit, your arm looks-" Benrey rambled on in panic, trying to reach something in Gordon, what was left of him, hoping that they could find a little spark. Something.
Anything.
GMan shook himself out of his stupor and let his energy fizzle into the air. He had to get Benrey out of the trap and away from Gordon, before Tommy got himself in there as well.
Don't let him hurt Tommy...
"Don't let IT hurt Tommy," GMan corrected himself quietly. This was not Gordon Freeman. Not in the slightest. This was... them.
He scowled to himself, but shifted his focus to freezing Gordon in place and dragging Benrey out of the trap.
Benrey blinked up at him as Tommy threw his arms around them. "i couldve uh-"
"No... you couldn't." GMan sighed, ignoring whatever nonsense his son's unfortunate friend was about to spew.
The trap closed around Gordon, and GMan stepped back.
Bubby was first to speak. "Fucking christ. What the hell was that? Why'd he attack?"
GMan pressed his lips together, thinking. "Some... one. Has a hold over him... and they feed off. Others." As he spoke, he stepped closer to where Gordon was encased, examining him. "...he. Fought. Tried to."
Tommy glanced at his father.
"Fought? Tried to?"
"His condition." GMan motioned to Gordon, to the metal and glass sticking from him.
They all stared at Gordon with his horrible wounds, trying to find a single patch of unmarked skin.
"You mean-"
"The Entity... wants killers who are willing." Tommy looked to his father, tilting his head.
"Dad?"
The room was silent as GMan closed his eyes and blew out a slow breath.
What had become of them? They used to be friends.
"Torture makes people willing." he said softly.
The trap buzzed loudly as Gordon threw himself against the wall, growling as he did so. Black sludge bubbled out of his mouth as he did so, and Dr. Coomer frowned.
“Is that why he’s attacking Benrey?” he asked.
“I… believe so. The Entity will use… memories. Twist them to make the subjects... willing,” GMan replied. “It most likely… showed itself as Benrey.”
GMan stepped closer to view Gordon and his injuries better.
The pieces of metal were fused to Gordon’s skin, the flesh covered in angry blisters from the heat that had melded the two together. There were deep scratches in certain spots, as if…
“He tried to tear it off.” Bubby said. His eyes were locked to the same spot GMan was looking at.
GMan nodded grimly.
Out of the corner of his eye, GMan could see Tommy crying, the glowing tears streaming down his face. “Is this… our fault?” Tommy whispered.
No, but you didn’t make it any better. GMan thought.
As brilliant as his son was, he had a habit of not thinking plans through. Plus, while his knowledge of humans was significantly much broader than his own or Benrey’s, or other beings like them, Tommy still forgot that Gordon and other humans had absolutely no knowledge of their kind. Gordon didn’t understand, or know, about how their kind did things. Their habits, biology… courtship rituals.
And Tommy and Benrey had absolutely failed to consider this in their plans.
Gordon gurgled again, seeming to give up on attacking Benrey. “Go… go home… free…” he swayed as he spoke, eyes drifting between Benrey and GMan.
GMan’s blood ran cold as Gordon spoke again.
“X...Xen…”
The Entity…
He looked at Tommy and Benrey, trying to tamp down his panic.
“When… you two came up with your plan.” he started, watching as Tommy seemed to shrink in on himself. “What was your… reasoning?”
The two shifted uncomfortably. “They realized that Gordon was in pain because of the interdimensional portals appearing. We all figured that distance would keep the portals away from him.” Dr. Coomer said.
“Obviously, it didn’t fuckin work.” Bubby added.
Tommy took a deep breath. “We didn’t really, really think that- Well. We kept physical distance? I, went into your study.” Tommy paused, but hurried on when he saw his dad’s face. “I didn’t, you know. I didn’t want, to, to bother you. And I found a book? It said, that, keep… keeping physical distance helped when… the spaces focused on one person.”
Well, that makes sense.
“Mr. Freeman said that… we’d left him on read? But, I know, I know that we responded to him!” Tommy said, tears falling down his face again.
Bubby nodded. “Yes, I do recall responding to him and not getting anything in return.”
“Phones.” GMan said, holding his hand out. He knew already what he would find.
"The Entity will... manipulate reality around… its victims to wear them… down," GMan started, letting the energy from the phones crackle momentarily. There was silence, and then red and black vines shuttered around the phones.
"What-"
"It blocked… everything from him." GMan said. "The messages… were never… truly delivered."
Bubby sat up, realization dawning on his face. "It made sure Gordon felt alone so it could take him easier."
Gordon gurgled within his cage before sitting on the ground, head swaying left and right.
Dr. Coomer stared, hands twitching. "Gordon was terrified of being alone. He was terrified of Xen." He turned to GMan. "It used his fears-"
"To destroy him." GMan finished.
Dr. Freeman was the easiest target. He would do anything for his friends… remember when you would do anything for yours…?
A sizzling sound shook GMan out of his thoughts.
Sweet Voice bubbles floated from Benrey's mouth to the walls of the energy cage keeping Gordon confined. "hes upset." Benrey mumbled, spitting out a few more in a futile attempt to calm Gordon.
"Is there… a song that Dr. Freeman… enjoyed or… associated with one of you?" GMan asked. "It may help reach… any memories."
If any truly remain.
Tommy fumbled with something in his coat pocket before pulling it out and holding it towards his father. "He, uh. He made this? For Benrey." Tommy said.
It was a small blue USB drive.
Everything about it radiated love and adoration.
After some fumbling around for the proper technology, the group managed to get the USB to start playing.
Soft glockenspiel notes started playing from the speakers, and Gordon stopped his swaying. As the notes continued, he tilted head, trying to listen closer.
"You…" he mumbled.
Everyone held their breath, hopeful.
Gordon started singing in a broken voice.
"You are my sunshine… my only sun… shine…"
His eyes fluttered shut as he continued to sing. Benrey sat on the floor in front of Gordon, their hands out as if they would try to grab him.
"please dont …" Benrey swallowed thickly. "take… my sunshine away."
Gordon looked up at Benrey. "Ben… rey."
Benrey nodded, tears pricking their eyes. "thats… thats me bro. youre right."
"Benrey… friend?" Gordon said, tilting his head.
"were best friends feetman, the best of friends we are. super poggers and…" Benrey trailed off, their voice hitching.
But Gordon nodded slowly, black tar dripping from his mouth, seeming satisfied.
"Friend...rey." Gordon closed his eyes.
Benrey looked at GMan, hopeful.
"It is… a start." GMan said.
But I don't know if we will ever save him.