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Benrey opened his eyes and let his head spin for a moment before he stood. The rest of the Science Team seemed to be in the same state as him- dazed and peeling themselves off of the floor. Benrey couldn’t remember the last time he felt so dizzy. So unstable. Benrey looked around while waiting for the rest of the team to stand. He knew this room. No doubt it was the Nihalanth’s lair- or at least, was, before being gifted to whomever killed the big headed thing. Benrey was lucky enough to never be inside the room himself, but he’s had dreams of it. Visions.
What was surprising was the emptiness. There was no big headed monster. No sounds except for Bubby groaning about his back and the sound of sloshing water underneath their feet as they stood. Benrey kind of expected a loud bang or maybe something to be lurking above. Maybe something screaming in his head or an overabundance of power to come washing over him. Not… this. Not the gentle hand of Tommy or the uncanny stillness. The water was too stagnant. It only made him more uncomfortable.
The group wandered around in their small area and took it in. It was too dark to see everything clearly on the other side of the room. “I thought there was supposed to be something here,” Bubby griped.
“Should,” Benrey mumbled.
“Now we’re stuck in this big ass chamber! No way out!” Bubby threw his arms up and huffed. Benrey jumped at the sudden feeling of a hand on his shoulder. Benrey turned to where Tommy faced. There was something in the shallow pool in the center of the room. Just dark enough that it could not be made out, but obvious that it was something foreign- a bright orange that contrasted with the dark, clear red of the water and the dark ground beneath. Soft whispers in the back of his mind became louder and more prominent. His name was being spoken. It was voice he couldn't quite place, but still made his brain itch like it was important.
Dr. Coomer looked over, too. His eyes widened and his mustache curled up on the ends.
“Benrey.”
Benrey went rigid.
It was that voice again, but this time, there was an uncanny sense of familiarity. A huge rush of cold air slid down his back and made his hair stand on end. He seemed to be the only one that felt it.
Benrey understood now. Why it wanted him.
“Gordon?”
Dr. Coomer called out and waved his hands. Benrey felt his heart rate pick up and he clutched his chest.
“Over here! It’s us, Dr. Freeman!”
The thing in the water turned around. It was impossible to make out his features from here, but Benrey could feel that ice cold stare from dozens of yards away. Tommy spoke Benrey’s name in question as the former slowly collapsed to his knee and placed his hand on the ground, moving into a shaky kneel as he found himself staring at his reflection in the water with widened eyes. He was well aware of what was in this room with them now, and his body forced itself to go down, his brain acknowledging his inferiority to what being presented itself. Benrey waited for the water to move.
“What the hell are you doing?” Bubby asked. Tommy’s feet shuffled awkwardly and caused light ripples.
“Finally," the voice spoke, hurting Benrey's brain in a way that was so familiar, yet undeicpherable.
“You gotta go,” Benrey whispered.
The next few seconds were a blur. Benrey bolted up and grabbed the Science Team by their arms, quickly using the little power he was able to accumulate in such a short time period to zap the Science Team somewhere. Wherever. Anywhere but here. They didn’t need to witness this. Gordon lunged forward with an inhumane speed and grabbed Benrey by the throat with his left hand. From the distance, the glow in his eyes and that tell-tale shadow and those puncturing teeth were obvious. His hair seemed darker and it fell around his face in an intimidating display. Gordon’s brows were contorted in anger, yet it was obvious he was being gentle with Benrey. He was just playing with his prey. Gordon’s right hand made disturbing noises as the flesh contorted and pushed outwards. The metal tubing on his arm crashed to the ground with a splash as his hand grew back in a sickening display. He stuck one long nail of his newly regrown hand into Benrey’s abdomen before he twisted his shoulder and all but threw Benrey across the room. A series of sickening cracks sounded from Gordon as his form contorted. The HEV suit creaked under the pressure of the shifting form beneath it.
“I told you I would kill you,” Gordon yelled out. Benrey clutched his stomach and skittered to the wall. He used it as support and tried to move around. “And you didn’t believe me.” Black and deep red dropped from his razor sharp teeth. He could already hear Tommy’s translation: “black to crimson red means ‘I want you dead.’” Benrey kept his eyes trained on Gordon in shock.
“How?” Benrey whispered.
“‘How’ what? You didn’t really think I was human, did you? You didn’t notice? You are such an idiot! I had my arm cut off, and you couldn’t even tell by the scent when I was right next to you!” Gordon yelled. “And you constantly fucked with me-“ a smudge of black shot through the air, grabbing Benrey and pulling him closer to Gordon, “- you belittled me-“ Gordon grabbed Benrey’s jaw and forced him to stare him in his eyes, “-and now you come here to fight me because you want to save humanity?” Gordon scraped his nails down Benrey’s jaw, leaving small cuts and an immediate redness. “Black Mesa is gone, and all of those dipshit humans are next with it. But since you want to be one so bad,” Gordon spat, “you’ll just have to get the same treatment.” Gordon traced a nail along Benrey’s cheek before Benrey began to struggle. He kicked his feet out and his arms morphed into black smudges, not too unlike Gordon’s own. He reached up to grab Gordon’s hands and pry them off, but it only seemed to infuriate Gordon more. “You’re not even trying.” Gordon stabbed his hand into Benrey’s shoulder and pulled it out just as swiftly. Blood spurted from his wound only the front of Gordon’s dented HEV suit. He dropped Benrey on the ground again.
“You did this,” Benrey hissed through gritted teeth. Gordon raised a brow and grimaced as he flicked his fingers. “Res cascade.”
“No, I didn’t cause it. But I was responsible for keeping the rift open. And now I’m the reason there’s no more Black Mesa. No more scientists poking and prodding in my territory and ruining my planet. No more of this-“ Gordon motioned to Benrey’s form on the ground, struggling to get his breaths to even out. “- traitorous, idiotic behavior.” Benrey sat heaving. No way he was that hurt yet as to not be able to move. It must’ve been the sheer fear keeping him in place.
“Don’t hurt Tommy,” Benrey breathed out.
Benrey didn't miss the moment of hesitstion. “Don’t worry about them,” Gordon said. He leaned down and grabbed Benrey by the collar. “You should worry about yourself,” Gordon lifted Benrey to his eye level and studied his face. Gordon’s stare made Benrey shiver. Benrey studied him a moment longer before clicking his tongue and sneering. “But why won’t you fight back?” Benrey hung silently from Gordon’s fist. Gordon’s brows furrowed at the lack of response and he brought his free hand to Benrey’s stomach. Benrey lurched back and his eyes widened before a spurt of blood shot through his lips. His teeth were stained a dark red. Almost black.
“I-“ Benrey started. “Why kill the… the humans?” Benrey asked. Gordon had to admit the question threw him off. At Black Mesa, Benrey had done nothing but shoot random people and show no mercy doing it.
“You’ve never given a shit about them! Look what they did! Ruined my home. Our home! This is your home too!” Gordon laughed at the absurdity. He didn’t understand why Benrey didn't get it. Benrey grew up here. This was his home as well for much of his life, yet Benrey didn’t seem to want to fight for it. “I would say you could join me, but it’s too late for that. We could've been so good toegther,” Gordon mumbled. He whipped his arm around and let out an exasperated groan. “God… I’ve dreamt about killing you for so long. You know how fucking hard it is to hard to prevent my arm from growing back?!” Gordon slammed his arm down into Benrey’s stomach again. He plunged his fingers into the flesh and twisted. Benrey let out a wretched scream and tried to pull back, but Gordon’s hand kept him pinned to the floor.
“Stop, stop, stop- shit that hurts- please!” Benrey pleaded. He placed a hand on Gordon’s wrist and gave a light push, but to no avail as Gordon kept his hand firm. He gave one more quick twist before pulling his hand out, exposing the gaping hole in Benrey’s stomach. Gordon flicked off the chunks and liquid from his fingers.
“It’s not fun, is it?! And you aren’t even fighting back!” Gordon spat. He pressed his heel to the wound on Benrey’s stomach and twisted. Blood spurted up and covered the foot of the suit. “Why aren’t you trying?” Gordon furrowed his brows. Benrey gasped and fought to catch his breath. His eyes widened and he panted in a pathetic display. Gordon leaned over and pulled Benrey up by his throat. “I asked you a question,” Gordon stared into Benrey’s eyes. “And I’m getting tired of this little game.” Gordon squeezed on Benrey’s throat. He felt a tightness in Benrey’s throat- like he was about to expel sweet voice. Gordon thought to squeeze harder and make Benrey choke on his own feelings, but ultimately decided that maybe it would be more pleasing to watch Benrey express his fear one last time. Gordon loosened his grip just enough to open the throat. Blue dripped from Benrey’s lips. Gray and purple.
Pink?
Blue and pink.
Pink to blue.
Gordon’s eyes widened and he dropped Benrey to the ground. Benrey coughed and spit out blood and sweet voice. Gordon took a step back in conflicted emotion. Before he could regain his composure and take his final hit, Benrey had already used up the little energy he had to zap away. Gordon let out an inhumane roar that shook the entire lair.