Chapter 4: Apprehension
Apple Bloom yawned and slowly opened her eyes. She felt something warm around her. Mia had wrapped her arm around her, smiling in her sleep.
Ah’m like a daughter for them. And for some reason, they’re like parents to me. Apple Bloom smiled at the care they showed for her.
She also that Konrad was asleep. Even in his sleep, he had his gas mask on. How’s that even comfortable in sleep?
Jacob yawned. “Good morning Apple Bloom, did you sleep well?”
“Yes Ah did.”
Mia woke up. “Good morning, sweetheart.”
“Morning.”
They let Konrad sleep. The rest of the marines were already outside. “Morning, kid.” Michael greeted, cigar in his mouth.
Konrad was right; he does never run out of cigars. “Why are you smoking?”
“Calms the nerves, Apple Bloom.”
Tanner was talking with Tower about their next move on a map.
“We’re next to the Advanced Biological Research Lab. If we can make it there, we should be able to go the surface and get into an Osprey. I heard from other Squads that they have heavy losses.”
Konrad joined them. “Morning, sir.”
“Morning. Listen, we make a quick breakfast and then, we will move to the Advanced Biological Research Lab where we should make it to the surface.”
“Are you hungry, Apple Bloom?” Her stomach growled.
“Yes.”
After a good breakfast consisting of some Ready-to-Eat packs, they started to move. Apple Bloom saw Konrad’s face for the first time without his mask while they had breakfast.
He had brown hair and blue eyes. He smiled at her. She returned the smile.
After Breakfast, they used an old rail car. But as soon as it started, it increased in speed. Konrad’s squad, Mia and Jacob managed to jump off. Konrad fell with Apple Bloom into the water, but he had clenched her protectively. He swam to the surface.
“Everything alright, down there?” Tanner called down from the hole, the car had created. “Not a scratch. The car destroyed the bridge. I saw some barrels in the water. We can use them to get over the gap.”
He dived to use his knife to destroy a padlock to open a cage. The barrels formed a bridge. The rest of the team jumped over the barrels.
As they continued their journey to the surface, they saw more dead marines and some dead Zombies who had no headcrab. One of them was a scientist, the other a security guard.
Apple Bloom was disgusted by this as the heads were disfigured, the scientist’s head was cut open and his right eye socket was revealed. The guard was like him but his jaw was torn. She hoped that she wouldn’t have the same fate.
“Can you swim, Apple Bloom?”
“But of course.” They swam trough the overflow rooms. With a loud gasp, Apple Bloom gasped for air as they had finally reached land.
Tower pointed to a dead fish.
“What is that?”
“An Ichthyosaur I think. The Scientists call it so. They said it was hauled from the Challenger Deep. I'm sure that fish wasn’t here before this mess. Guess we have to dive again,” Jacob replied. He dived to open a gate with a wheel to let the others through.
In the next room was some shotgun ammo. As the shotgun Konrad took, had only 8 bullets, he decided to take it. But as he took it, two Vortigaunts teleported in.
They were no match for the shotgun. Jacob helped Apple Bloom across the slippery floor in the next room and to jump through a hole to the generator room.
The floor was destroyed. “Turning on the generators would be too dangerous. If we push this crate to the green crates, we should be able to get over,” Tanner suggested.
Jacob helped Apple Bloom up, while Konrad helped Mia up. He was a gentleman and respected woman.
“Thank you, Corporal.”
“Konrad is just fine, Mrs. Johnson.” He replied politely.
A Bullsquid teleported in. The marines killed it quickly, before Mia or Apple Bloom, were hit by his acid.
In the next room, a Scientist stood in a room. “Let us in, the marines are on our site.” Jacob said to the Scientist. After a short pause, he opened the door.
“You are heading for the surface, aren’t you?”
Yes.”
“Then be careful. It’s cold in there. Since the technology of your vests is similar to the HEV suit, it could sap the power in a matter of moments. Also, I heard that some marines are interested in her.” The Scientist pointed at Apple Bloom.
“Don’t worry; we will protect her from all harm.” Tanner assured him.
Mia picked Apple Bloom gently up as they prepared to cross the freezer.
It was very cold in the freezer. After crossing it, Jacob rubbed his hands to warm himself up. Konrad noticed that his PCV power was drained to 30%. Apple Bloom pressed herself against Mia to keep herself warm.
A wounded marine was leaning against a wall. "I don't think I'm gonna make it. I need a Medic... bad."
"Don't worry, soldier. I'll have you fixed up in no time." Tower patched him up.
"Thanks, doc. We must be careful. We got ambushed by-" Before he could finish, he was killed by a silenced gunshot.
"What was that?" Jacob scanned for enemies.
"I don't know, stay alert for everything." Tanner replied.
“Are those guys Black Ops?” Michael pointed to two men in black in the distance after riding a lift up. Some dead Marines were next to them.
“I guess so. What are they doing here? Nobody told us about Black Ops in the mission briefing.”
“Why do we always have to clean up a mess the grunts can't handle?”
“Tell me about it. I just wanna deliver the package and get out of here.”
“Yeah. Sooner or later the grunts are gonna figure it out.”
Tanner gave Jacob and Konrad a sign to wait. After the Black Ops walked away, they killed them before they could react.
“So the Black Ops are here to finish the job, we couldn’t do. They will kill any Black Mesa personal they can find, including us. Now we need to get to the surface as fast as possible,” Tanner tried to think.
“Any idea what this ‘package’ could be?” Mia asked but everyone shook his head in response.
As the doors to the surface access were locked, they searched the switch. It was on a helipad.
Mia and Apple Bloom wanted to use a first aid station, as suddenly the door closed.
“What the? Let us out!” Apple Bloom panicked.
“The Door is locked! Guess we have to blow it. Stay back.” Michael planted some charges.
Before he could detonate it, they heard Mia scream, “Wait! Don’t shoot! We’re only residents!”
Then there was a sound of beating and a, “Nice hit. Alright, we got them.”
“Mia! Quick, blow that door!”
“I am on it. Fire in the hole!”
Apple Blooms vision returned slowly. She was dragged by a Marine while Mia was dragged by two other Marines.
“Where are we taking this…Apple Bloom?”
“Topside. For questioning.”
“And her?” He pointed to Mia.
“Her too. I just feel bad about hurting a child.”
Her vision went black again. Apple Bloom woke up as someone tried to wake her.
“Wake up!” a marine screamed. Apple Bloom was frightened. “Ah, you’re awake. Now, you will answer me some Questions, is this clear?” Apple Bloom was cuffed and trembled in fear.
“Pl-please don’t hurt me.” She begged.
“Then tell me what you know!” The marine screamed.
“A- Ah don’t, know anything about the experiment. Ah only know that Freeman was the one who caused it indirectly. Please don’t kill me.”
She pleaded for her life. The marine smiled. “Thank you for the information.” He leaved. Mia was right next to her. She also awoke.
“M-mommy, Ah’m scared.” Apple Bloom was crying.
“Shh, don’t worry; I’m sure that my husband and Konrad’s squad will rescue us.”
The door opened. A commander with two marines walked in. “Your information’s are very useful for us. But we have order to let no witnesses alive.” The marines pointed their MP5’s at them.
“No, please! Spare her, she's still a child!” Mia pleaded.
“We will as she is able to tell us where Freeman is. You however, have no further use for us.”
“Please spare my mommy! We have nothing to do with the experiment!” Apple Bloom closed her eyes. She had a flashback
Were am Ah? Looks like a facility. She looked around. She was in somekind of storage room. In the distance was a creature she never saw before in a lab coat. A scientist! Maybe he can help me.
"If you'll just hold on a moment, I can provide you with my ID Card!" He was killed by the same creatures in military uniforms.
In fear, she hide behind some crates. Pl-pease... don't find me.
"I killed twelve dumb ass scientists and not one of 'em fought back. This sucks." They were about to leave before they were attacked by some alien creatures.
“Move in!” Konrad kicked the door open. He and Jacob killed the two marines.
“Nobody hurts my wife and gets away with it!” The commander however, used Apple Bloom as shield.
“Come any closer, and I will kill her.” Before he could do anything to her, he took a crowbar to the head from behind.
“Gordon!”
“So, we meet again, Jacob.”
“Did they hurt you?” Jacob freed his wife.
“No but they…” She pointed to Apple Bloom. Konrad freed her and patted her.
“Shh, it’s over, you’re safe now.”
“Ah thought Ah would die!” She cried her heart out. It was heartbreaking.
“Konrad, if we team up, we have a better chance of getting out of here.”
“I won’t stop you, Gordon.” “Neither, we do. Hey, look where we are.” Tanner pointed to a sign.
Advanced Biological Research Lab.
“Almost at the surface. Almost out of here.” Jacob sighed in relief.
“Ready for the final step to the surface?” Gordon took an MP5 from the dead marines. They all nodded, even Apple Bloom as she had calmed down.
