CH2V2:"Homecoming Party"

Once the Aperture brand sloop made it back to the mainland,it was a pleasantly quiet drive back to the facility,and back into the safety of home.

As they arrive in the main quarters,Atlas and P-body were waiting to greet the pair.

Grayson waves and heads to his quarters,to flop into a truly comfy bed.

He sighs softly as the cool air touched his skin.

It genuinely felt nice to be back in the underground confines of Aperture Science. While it was nice to be above ground...something didn't settle right. It was as if their every move had been watched.

Little did they know that they were indeed being watched...

As nightfall crept onto the field,a figure in black military armor with the Black Mesa logo on it slowly peeks over the hillside.

"General Lastimosa,I have sights on the facility entrance. Permission to engage?" They asked.

"Permission granted. Be careful down there Alpha."

The single soldier was followed by one squad of four. They began to investigate how to get into the facility..

(Below ground....)

Glados was running through some normal checks,ensuring the facility's security,when the surface entrance feed cuts out.

.

"Strange...." Glados mused.

After a few moments the feed came back on,revealing no change.

Just inside the shed was the Black Mesa team.

One of them casts a rope down into the inky blackness of the elevator shaft,tying the opposite end to a good anchor point.

With that,the team infiltrates the secure facility...

As they descend,they eventually come to a large spacious,chamber locked by the tube. "Moses,Diem, Get this tube open." The leading soldier commands.

Quietly the soldiers felt around the tube until they felt the ledge of the opening.

"One two three..." Moses starts as they both attempt to lift.

Slowly the ledge lifted,opening the area enough to allow the team through.

Alarms suddenly blare at maximum volume in Glados' chamber.

--WARNING!! WARNING!! WARNING!!--

--BLACK MESA TRANSPONDERS DETECTED--

--APERTURE SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AT RISK--

--INTERCEPT IMMEDIATELY--

"Ouuughh...just when I was getting comfortable too..." Grayson grumbled slightly at the muffled,but still loud alarm.

He quickly gets out of bed,slipping on a bullet proof vest and grabbing the multi-tool he owned from it's holster.

Grayson bursts into the main chamber like a policeman,gun raised.

" Oh put your gun back in your pants. They aren't even remotely close enough to threaten the likes of you OR myself." Glados spat as she turned off the alarm.

"So what the hell is going on? Its cutting into my off time." Grayson asked.

"Black Mesa. Seems like a simple reconnaissance infiltration of an unspecified count of marines. If it were an attack we would've heard them." Glados said.

"You should've seen them by now." Grayson adds as he points at the camera feed..

Occasionally the cameras would cut to static before returning to their normal feed.

"Something strange HAS been afoot. The same thing was happening to the surface camera." Glados explains.

Her eyes suddenly darken.

She quarantines the next sector a camera glitches at.

.

"FUCK! I think the System knows we're here!" One of the marines report,as the door into the next sector had been locked tighter than an impossible turret puzzle.

All of a sudden the whole section rumbled violently-

"This is really bad....worse than it lets on.." Moses said softly.

"Can we stop complaining about the situation and try to find a way out,then?" The leader asked.

The Marines spread out,carefully scanning through the office as it emitted quiet whispers of mechanics moving the section.

(In the Main chamber)

"So,what do you plan on doing with them?" Grayson asked.

"The only thing I can,and what I've always wanted to do. They're about to test without a HPD." Glados purrs sinisterly.

"Remember what happened with us okay..? Just because Theyre human,does not mean they cant think outside the room." Grayson warns.

"I don't need a lecture on something I've already learned about humans....Youre enough of a constant example for that..." Glados snips slightly.

She certainly didnt seem happy about the unannounced entrance...

"Sheesh....Ill...guard the door." Grayson said as he steps away.

"Dont move a muscle. I need you here for something important.." Glados said,lightening up some.

"Oh?" Grayson queries.

"You will...."convince" them to leave while they test." Glados said.

"How? Its not like I have heavy armor sitting around gathering dust." Grayson said.

"Not to mention i can barely intimidate you,and thats hard enough without a rocket turret or a portal gun." He adds.

"I do have the armor,and weapons. But i need to ask a couple things of you." Glados said.

"Im listening." Grayson responds.

Glados came to loom darkly over Grayson,as the chamber dimmed in response. Her optics were the only stable,bright enough light.

"If you EVER dare to mention my death again,Ill have you melted down and turned into a more useful appliance." Glados snarls.

"N-noted...." Grayson stammers.

"Second,dont kill them. I need them alive once you're successful in your persuasion." Glados adds.

The chamber lightens up.

"Ill try. No guarantees while my home is at risk." Grayson said as he crossed his arms.

"Fine. Leave one. Preferably the leader." She purrs.

"Want a side of curly fries with that or is that all?" Grayson jokes.

"White. This is no joking matter." She sighs.

"Alright. Where's my armor?" Grayson asked.

A panel lowers,and another rose with a really heavy set of armor on it. "Think we're going a bit overkill here?" Grayson asked,as he leans his head toward Glados.

"They did it first. They broke into OUR home,with the intent of theft" Glados said as she sets a hand on his shoulder.

"We assume...right..?" Grayson asked.

The question was met with a deafening silence.

"Right...Ill get in the armor." Grayson said as he prepared to embark into the armor.

The Armor resembled most common Hazardous EnVironment Suits,except built for more extreme conditions. These models were created after the U.S. Military Standard T-45 Exoarmor,used in the 7 Hour War before NFCs were neutralized by the Combine.

The back of the armor opens,allowing Grayson to get inside. "Aren't these models discontinued because of that whole 7 Hour War ordeal?" Grayson asked.

"Well,'Discontinued' implying there are others. The 7 Hour War depleted all Military equipment,humans were rendered conquered not even an hour after. Since then all military equipment had fallen under control of the Overwatch Army." Glados said

"How do you have one?" Grayson asked

"Armor is not hard to design and build,White." Glados said with a touch of pride

"For you,anyway." Grayson said as he heads to get into position.

As Grayson acclimated to the armor,Glados checked up on the intruders. On camera they appeared to be attempting to pry open whatever door seemed to let them out of the section,but their efforts were clearly in vain.

The door they were trying to open was mounted to a test chamber,and the door opens to allow the team to topple through.

[Welcome Test Subject(s) To the Aperture Science Enrichment Center. Here,we wish to warn you that there is no medical assistance within the chamber. If this violates your rights as a Human Being,Animal,Android or Augmentee,please address the issue with our Questionnaire Associate after the test.]

"This can't be real." The leader grumbles as his team pulled themselves back together.

"Hello Intruders. You have violated a critical regulation of mine..." Glados purrs over the intercom.

"The fuck did we do exactly?" The leader asked as he looks into the camera. "NEVER break into MY facility." Glados purrs

Suddenly Grayson was released from a side door,making the marines scream and clamor as the heavily armored test subject chased them through the testing chambers.

The marines eventually clamor through a door just small enough to prevent Grayson from following safely.

The Marines took the moment to catch their breath as Grayson paced in front of the door. The room itself was a dead end,no bigger than a closet,but the width of the door prevented the armor from passing through.

"So...what do we have?" The leader asked.

Alongside the Leader,everyone begins searching their bags. In total they had 3 P90M Submachine Guns,with a clip for each,one armor piecing primer,and a handful of smoke grenades and flashbangs.

"We wont even last 30 seconds against that thing!" Diem yelps.

"Cool your jets,Diem its not all grim. We can use the smokes and flashes to at least get out of this hard place. The problem is we can't get close enough to the door without getting grabbed." Moses assured.

"Im no fan of a blind throw,though. If we do,we aren't even sure it'll even effect that armor." Diem argues.

"We DO only have the one hole puncher.." The rookie mused.

"Its an easy solution. Moses,get the AP Primer ready. Rook,Diem,Flashes and Smokes. Ill distract and draw the machine away." The leader said.

'Good,sounds like they finally found out a way to get out of their corner..' Glados said over internal comms.

"What do you suppose I do?" Grayson asked.

'Give them a little confidence. Even an enemy can deserve a morale boost.' Glados said.

Just as she said that a flash suddenly rips across Grayson's vision,causing him to yelp and cover his eyes.

Bullets ricochet off his armor from the Rookie and Diem using the normal Submachine guns. They quickly return to cover as Rook deploys a smoke grenade just inside the doorway.

Before Grayson could charge,grey smoke began to bloom from the doorway. The bloom stopped short of his feet.

Something suddenly blazed past,but Grayson grabs whatever it was by the neck before it could pass.

He finds it was Diem playing as a distraction.

"Think fast,chucklenuts." Diem said as he pulls the pin to a flashbang on his vest,which quickly blinded Grayson again,to allow the rest of the group,Diem included to escape.

"Glados! I have an issue!" Grayson reported as he waits for his vision to recover.

"For science's sake they're humans! It shouldn't be hard!' Glados said over comms.

"Humans with flashbangs and smoke grenades." Grayson adds.

Glados sighs softly,"Can you move yet?"

"My optics are screwed until this overload passes. Can you patch through a camera feed?" Grayson requests.

"Patching....."

A window opens in Grayson's vision,revealing the camera's point of view. It was focused on Grayson.

"You're patched through...But ill have to work the cameras on my side to keep that program open." Glados said.

"Joy....Nothing makes my day more complete than when Im in a Half out of body experience.." Grayson grumbled.

'Well maybe think next time before you just grab a military professional by the neck." Glados warned.

"Ill keep that in mind next time we get such nice guests." Grayson replied sarcastically.

After a brief search,Grayson found them only a few complete tests ahead. "Gotta say though...they've got some smarts for being in here partially by force." He compliments.

The Marines were trapped behind a wall being monitored by Turrets. "Such a surprise you haven't moved yet." Grayson said in a pleased tone.

"Ah,you know how it is ...From one inescapable spot to another." Diem said.

"Ready to just give up,or do I still have to be the bad guy?" Grayson asked.

"And if you go for bad guy,you wont like me,nor will you like my business partner."

"...Naah...Black Mesa and Aperture still have shit to settle." Diem replies.

"Then why not take a step out and we can talk like reasonable adult homo-sapiens?" Grayson asked.

"Because Black Mesa is past reasonable now. Because of Aperture humanity is almost extinct."

"Well good riddance to 99.8% of the population. Serves you Black Mesa fucks right for not coming to us for help." Glados bit over the chamber intercoms.

"Well,looks like I did rub off on you." Grayson mused.

"Shut up." Glados spat.

"Look,are you two done with your little lover's quarrel?" The leader asked.

"Not even remotely. If you want to continue breathing,I'd recommend surrendering,or my partner White will turn you and your men to paste,and I burn paste for fuel." Glados said

"Gimme your worst you female God wannabe!" Moses growls.

"Female God you want,Female God you get." Glados growls as she lowers the wall the team was huddling behind.

"Hello~"

"Hello~ "

"There you are~~"

"Beg for your goddess' mercy. And she might even hesitate to let you live." Grayson said.

"Id listen to the Test Subject,Intruders. You're in no position to squirm out of this."

"Are we..?" Diem purrs as he tugs on another pin to a flashbang.

"I wouldn't. Or it'll be ME blinding YOU at the pull of a pin. Not to mention these turrets cant be optically overloaded." Grayson warns.

'No, they arent set for overload override.' Glados argues within his helmet.

"THEY dont need to know that do they?" Grayson asked very quietly as he guarded them.

'White,you know I CANT lie to anyone." Glados said.

'Youve probably lied more times than I can count on my hands and toes combined. Don't lie to me and say you are physically inept to lie.' He whispers.

'But i am-'

"But i dont give a shit. Our home is at risk." Grayson quickly interjects silently.

"Uhhh....hello..?" Moses asked.

"Give me a second,damn it." Grayson quickly snaps at Moses.

"Alright! Fine!" Moses growls.

The leader remained silent...

Grayson and Glados bicker for a few moments,and eventually Grayson returns to Moses..

"Now what do you want?" Grayson asked

"Think fast chucklenuts,again." Moses said as he yanks the pin to a flashbag.

The group attempts to flee again to be stopped by Grayson stomping in their path,"Okay,now Im REALLY pissed since my optics are already screwed as is,and now I have to wait longer for the reset. Who dies first?" He growls.

"Easy,now. No need to get morbid just yet." Glados interjects over the intercom.

"Oh Im PAST morbid." Grayson growls as he loudly pops the armor's knuckles.

"Just...hold off." Glados suggested.

Glados eventually turns up in the chamber.

"Who's the leader?" She asked.

The leading soldier steps up,"That would be me."

With terrifying speed Glados grabs the male by the neck,"Why are you here?"

"S-scouting mission- The bosses want to bust your bunker--" He strains.

Glados tightens her grip.

"Why?"

The leader began to choke. Grayson puts a hand on her shoulder,to ease her nerves. Her grip lightened,allowing the leader to gasp for air.

"Your...*pant,cough* Technology." He managed to get out.

"Called it." Glados said smugly.

"Yeah,yeah. Anything else you wanna add Mr.Leader?" Grayson asked.

"Youve only got a matter of days before General Lastimosa finds you. And boy i cant wait to see BOTH of you rusting in a landfill." He laughs.

"Can I kill him now?" Glados asked.

The laughter died down quickly.

"Mmmn...no. Punish the rest of the leader's squad,but make him comfy enough to watch." Grayson said.

"And here I thought the dark,murderous test subject had some mercy.." Glados mutters.

"Oh I do,but i ran out of mercy when I was blinded." Grayson inserts as he strips the marines of their equipment,save for their bulletproof vests and helmets.

--(LIVE UPDATE COMPLETE)--