(Untitled)

[a_mere_child]

Finally, the Resistance has had some good news. Oh, sure, they're still short on manpower, supplies, and transportation ( at least as far as Alyx knows), but Alyx thinks she may have hit a breakthrough on PIaDOS's systems. Assuming she can get the right parts

Comments

[acts_of_gord]

Gordon wouldn't dream of touching anything. This is a job way beyond his pay grade. He's just going to stand over here and wait.

[a_mere_child]

'Pay grade' implies he's actually getting paid.

"C'mon, c'mon, I know you're in there..."

[acts_of_gord]

And maybe lean over a bit, so as to dim the light a smidge without actually casting a direct shadow over Alyx's work. Bad luck to interrupt an engineer, y'know.

[a_mere_child]

Alyx catches the movement out of the corner of her eye. "Hi."

[acts_of_gord]

Gordon smiles a bit and pulls up one of the empty chairs. "Hey," he murmurs. "How's it coming?"

[a_mere_child]

"I think I'm on the edge of a breakthrough here," says Alyx. "If I can just pinpoint exactly which parts are vital..."

[acts_of_gord]

"You'd know better than I," Gordon says. "Anything I can do to help, though?"

[a_mere_child]

"Not unless you have some Aperture schematics you've been hiding in your other pants," replies Alyx wryly. "Thanks for the offer, though."

[acts_of_gord]

"Not that I know of, but I do have an Australian chemist you might find interesting."

[a_mere_child]

Someone else might have turned that into a saucy innuendo. Alyx just quirks an eyebrow. "How so?"

[acts_of_gord]

"Dr. Binh beat Floyd Mason in a card game," Gordon says. "He tells me he can make working engine fuel out of Floyd's alcohol stash."

[a_mere_child]

"Somehow, I'm not surprised," says Alyx with a hint of a smile. "And what about vehicles to put it in?"

[acts_of_gord]

"First things first," Gordon says. "Does the name 'Mad Max' mean anything to you? Or 'The Road Warrior'?"

[a_mere_child]

Alyx frowns and shakes her head. "N-o-o-o..."

[acts_of_gord]

"They're movies, from before the Combine," Gordon says. "About people living in a savage desert wasteland right before and right after the fall of civilization. Turns out they filmed those movies around here. They've still got the desert buggies they were using for the film shoot, and they'll run on what Dr. Binh's going to make with Floyd's stash."

[a_mere_child]

Alyx lets out a low whistle. "Nice. How many buggies are we talking? How many people can they carry?"