Where did the time go?

[alyx_vance]

A rapid report of gunshots can be heard from a recently darker-than-usual part of the Nexus. A bit later Alyx emerges from the darkness, holding the very pistol responsible for the noise. Maybe she was attacking the darkness? She looks exhausted and high-strung, always good signs to look for in someone entering a populated area bearing small

Comments

[__ryu]

"Conquer the Nexus? It's been tried a few times, for various reasons. Invariably by people with no understanding of the Nexus, which results in their failure."

He holds out a white plastic bottle.

"No need for violence."

[alyx_vance]

Oh hey, a person. "Yeah? What kind of numbers are we talking about here? What level of tech?" She's doubting that it's anywhere near what the Combine sent through.

She lowers her pistol so that it's not pointing it at anyone, but she's not putting away just yet. "Figure of speech, but thanks muchly." She taps one out onto her palm, knocking it back with a dry-swallow and a grimace once she's determined it with a critical eye to be nothing more than common head-ache medicine.

"Ugh. Feel like a Strider stepped on my head."

[__ryu]

Ryu shakes his head. "I didn't pay that much attention, as they were irrelevant. Anyone who attempts such a thing ignores a very important rule here: There is always something bigger than you out there. There are gods that frequent this place, and I would not be surprised to learn that there are beings as far above them as they are above you and I."

The aspirin is indeed mundane. It was probably purchased in an airport somewhere, Sydney maybe.

"Had a run in with something disagreeable?"

[alyx_vance]

"From what I've seen the Combine are pretty high up on that scale, but I hope for everyone's sake you're right."

Yay for Sydney. "She rubs a temple with her finger. "It's been a long day. Last thing I remember is climbing up the side a building and getting jumped by a dropship of Combine troops."

[fireandlife]

"It wouldn't work. This place is inherently weird, and they'd find those near-infinite military resources all turned into giant platters of banana-nut muffins, which would immediately turn anyone who ate one into a sentient plush squid. Or something like that. Sorry, I don't have any aspirin on me."

[alyx_vance]

"...Does that happen... a lot?"

Damn. Now she's thinking about muffins. She can't remember the last time she grabbed something to eat.

[fireandlife]

"Attempted invasions? Not too often. Plushie squid type incidents? Fairly regularly."

[h_hollister]

"Well, if a couple billion zombies didn't do it, I doubt anything else would."

[alyx_vance]

A billion, huh? That gets a raised eyebrow, whether it's hyperbole or not. But wait... "What kind of zombies?"

[h_hollister]

"Um. ThesamekindRamonis. Nice weather we're having, isn't it?"

[alyx_vance]

"Who's Ramon? ...It's not too bad."

[man_of_means]

"Probably all the other guys with that, really."

[alyx_vance]

"If there's anyone else like the Combine..." Ergh. Not something she wants to think about.