(Untitled)

[blueshifted]

The Combine razor train speeds along toward its destination, black metal gleaming in the sun like knife efficiently cutting through all the chaos of the world. Even from the outside, it looks evil. Deadly. Unearthly.

Inside, suspicions are confirmed; the spartan, narrow corridors are filled with all forms of munitions and turrets - the weapons of

Comments

[blueshifted]

There's a face--

a human face

--the eyes aren't glowing, they're swimming, stop that need to focus Marine the sea?

"Take me to the sea," he mumbles, dilated eyes moving as if trying to focus on Adrian and utterly failing. His pulse is fast, and his breathing is woefully uneven. Not too fast, or too slow. Just... uneven.

[blueshifted]

Barney doesn't nod, but grunts again and leans on Adrian.

No one may be kept forever.

"Thank you."

[remindmeof_me]

"That's what I'm here for." Shephard smiles a fraction and stands up as fast as he figures Barney can take it. "Okay, now. This way. Watch where you're puttin' your feet. Don't want you trippin' just now... Hey! Chell! You got anythin'?"

[subject_lj_here]

In the distance, there's the clatter of some turrets being knocked out of their slots, and Chell comes barreling down the narrow aisle of the train.

"Yeah!" she says, when she gets there. "Looks like... a few pistols, and... a pulse rifle, I think they were called. There might be some normal machine guns around, too... if I can find them."

[remindmeof_me]

"Good," says Shephard. "Take what you can carry. See if you can find anything to patch up Mr. Calhoun. And if you see any paint around here, bring it with you. I got some changes to make to that chopper."

[subject_lj_here]

"There was some kind of... supply locker? that I found... could try busting the lock on that to check for paint. And I've just been unloading everything back into the helicopter?"

[remindmeof_me]

"Works for me," Shephard says. "We're gonna have to lie Mr. Calhoun here down, though. There ain't a third seat in that fucker. We got room in there for that?"

[subject_lj_here]

"Now that we've used some mines... I think there's some room in the storage facilities in the copter. ...provided we don't open fire from that pod again."

[remindmeof_me]

Adrian glances sidelong at Barney, then nods. "It's gonna have to do. Okay, Mr. Calhoun. Let's go get you good 'n comfortable and then we can figure out where the fuck we're goin' next."

[blueshifted]

"Yea-ah," Barney says, moving to try out stepping forward. The floor's swimming less now that they're gone, but he's not sure if the headache rolling in is better than the shivering he had before. At least it dulls the rest of the pain.

[remindmeof_me]

The walk is slow and careful, but that's okay. Adrian's used to that. People get drunk, people get sick, people need help getting home. That's just how it is. When they get to the helicopter he says, "Hey, Mr. Calhoun? You want some head protection before you lie down? I'll loan you my helmet."

[blueshifted]

It--

hurts.

"Please?" he says, eyes facing the ground so the fire'll go away.

[remindmeof_me]

Shephard doesn't say anything else. He just takes off his helmet and silently offers it to the older man- although he'll help him put it on if need be. He just doesn't wanna make any existing injuries worse.

"You good there, sir?"

[blueshifted]

"Yes," Barney hisses from behind the mask, his own voice scaring him

(are his eyes glowing?)

as he looks at Adrian.

"'m fine."

[remindmeof_me]

"Okay. Here goes nothin'," says Shephard. "Step on up, here, we're up to the chopper now. We got you a padded spot to lie down in. Used to have explosives in it, and you don't want that bangin' around."

[blueshifted]

"Thanks.

"Explosives... noise from earlier?"