#nebz.exe

[hlvraibots]

Ok... AI -Gordon- to physical form two, attempt number four.

[The scientist knocked on the screen of the robot idly while waiting for it to boot up. Everything seemed correct on the boot screen, though everything HAD seemed correct the last tries too. All he could do was hope for now]

Come on now.

[Suddenly the robots face lit up the screen]

...

Gordon! Hello, hi, are you all together? Everything feels like it's working right?

...

Of course, its still booting.

Hello?

Gordon, hello! How’s the body feel?

[hlvraibots]

[Nebula looks at the clock on the wall quickly before speaking.]

Ok, I'm gonna have to leave soon. Black Mesa has been strict on employees staying after work hours since- it doesnt matter, you dont need to care about legal troubles.

All's all I have to leave and you have 2 choices, be on alone in this room but confined to the shortest charging cord Black Mesa could get away with or I turn you off for the night.

On please.

C'mere

[Nebz opens a drawer from his desk and pulls out a few fidget toys.]

These might help with any boredom or restlessness.

[Gordon looks around and grabs one of the tangles, leaving the rest of the toys within its reach]

[Nebz gets the charging cable from a seperate drawer and moves Gordon's hair from his neck to plug him in]

Mkay, I'm gonna go now but I'll be back in the morning. Goodnight Gordon.

[hlvraibots]

[Gordon looked at the room around him and the form in front of him, whatever it was. The form held out its impossibly black briefcase and spoke.]

Good, evening Mr. Freeman

Who are you?

[In his own nervousness Gordon pulled at his sleeve. His sleeve? looking down he saw his body, his hands, instead of the robotic husk that he’d been in before coming into this place.]

Someone must’ve mentioned, the virus. 

The viru-

[Gordon suddenly felt pulled away from the space. Even the virus seemed surprised at the length of the visit]

Gordon come on come back online you are Not leaving me so fast.

wha?-

[Before Gordon could get a whole word out the doctor pulled it into a tight hug. Voi couldn’t even complain about the sharp edges poking voids chest and arms.]

Please don’t do that again, I know it wasn’t your fault and we can get Eli to patch up anything mechanical but please, be careful.

[hlvraibots]

I’m not all sure whats going on honestly.

[Gordon looks down at his hands, poking at the pseudo ball joints and flexing and un-flexing its fingers.]

Did they, not fill you in on the whole, being an AI thing before they put you in the suit?

[As the doctor spoke Gordon's screen went from angry to upset.]

SO YOU’RE TELLING ME?

YOU’RE TELLING ME?

WHERE’S EVERYONE ELSE THEN?

[He curls up slightly, pulling his knees as close to his chest as the mechanism can handle]

Wheres my friends?...

We, tried making others before and it was an issue. We’re focusing on getting rid of the bugs right now but for now you are the only one online.

What about where I WAS, where my friends ARE.

We may have, paused the rest of the AI due to a virus... Can I promise you you’ll see them again and this’ll be fine?

Can you promise anything? Really? I would like to see my friends, I would like to see my fam-

[Suddenly as Gordon spoke his screen shut off and Nebula scrambled make sure it didn’t fall hard and break anything]

SHI-