Chapter 5: Black Mesa East

In this chapter you don’t have to worry about fighting or being killed. Nothing can or will harm you.

Pilot the airboat towards the concrete dock, get out, and climb up onto the dock. Ahead of you you’ll see a big electrical tower; go under it and follow the path around to the left 1. On your right there will be a fence and a big door on the other side; go into that door. You’re now inside Black Mesa East, headquarters of Dr. Eli Vance. Once you enter the bunker, a decontamination sequence starts after it’s determined you’re human. On the other side you see Dr. Judith Mossman, an associate of Eli’s. When the sequence finishes, exit to your left and start following Judith. She’s very eager to see you so you’ll have to bear with her conversation (fortunately as a silent character, you don’t need to say anything).

At the bottom of the elevator, you meet Eli, who is now missing the lower portion of his left leg, replaced with a bent piece of metal that clunks on the floor as he walks. Excited to see you, Eli remarks that he didn’t think it would’ve taken you so long to get back to him after he sent you to the surface for help. (In Half-Life 1, Eli is the first living black scientist you meet after the resonance cascade; he implores you to make your way to the surface to call for help). Not much happens at this point; in fact, you don’t have to worry about dying in this section as it’s the only part of the game where you’re completely safe. If you want, look around the room at what’s there; certain things will trigger Eli to say something, such as the bulletin board on the wall talking about how Dr. Breen "negotiated Earth’s surrender.”

In a few minutes, Alyx shows up and is surprised you made it so quickly. Judith at this point returns into the room (you’ll find out later what she was doing locked in the adjacent room). She and Alyx have a minor spat, and Alyx storms out of the room; follow her. In the next area, Alyx gives you the gravity gun 2. Listen closely to what she tells you to do and follow the key cues the game provides: this will teach you how to properly use the gravity gun. She explains how the gun can both pull and push objects; you’ll have to grab some barrels at a distance with it, and then use it to stack crates to reach the next area. Once here, you meet "Dog,” a large robot that Eli built when Alyx was young to protect her 3. Over the years, she says, she and her father added on to Dog until he looks as he does now. In this section, you’ll play catch with Dog. He first throws crates at you; catch them with the gravity gun and drop them. Then, with Alyx’s instruction, Dog will fetch his ball (which is actually a roller mine you’ll see later in the game). When he tosses it to you, throw it back to him 4. He’s got a gravity gun built into one of his hands that he uses to throw and catch with. Alyx will then tell Dog to fetch something bigger, but when he goes to lob a dumpster at you, she stops him. At this point, scanners come into the area, and the combine start bombarding the scrap yard with headcrab canisters. Follow Alyx back inside. During the decontamination sequence, the power is shut off; you’re stuck inside momentarily. Eli, over an intercom, explains what’s happening; Alyx then orders Dog to break open the door. Here you see his true strength as he tears a four-inch solid steel door open.

Follow Alyx out, but don’t panic when the ceiling collapses and you’re on the wrong end; that’s supposed to happen. She tells you she can’t leave her father and instructs Dog to lead you to the entrance to Ravenholm. (If you listen carefully to what Eli says when you’re in the decontamination chamber, you hear him start to say "Don’t go to Ravenholm,” but he’s cut off when the interface is cut). Follow Dog; he’ll open a door for you. Go through it, but don’t expect Dog to follow: he has to go back to help Alyx. Follow the path around, using the gravity gun to move furniture out of your way. You’ll eventually reach an abandoned elevator shaft 5. A dead headcrab falls down in front of you. On the left is a ladder with a grate blocking it; blast the lock with the gravity gun. Climb the ladder to the top and follow the dark hallway outside. Welcome to Hell...

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