Bookworms and Shadow Bugs

[trustycrowbar]

[Video, to students taking his class]

Greetings. To the newbies in the school, my name is Dr. Gordon Freeman and I'm the physics teacher here. Now, much as no one wants to admit it, the school year is coming up on us fast. Enclosed with this transmission is a list of supplies and books you'll need for my class this fall.

[Private, to Mac]

Hey kid, are you ready for another year?

[To faculty, plus Ishimaru]

Hey, has anyone learned anything new on this shadow bug situation? Best I can figure is that it's all coming from the world on the other side of those rifts up above us. Those clones might be part of their life-cycle, a sort of parasitic larva-to-adult transition... I wish I could say that it's the first time I've seen something like that. If anyone has any information, I want to know.

Comments

[star_punched]

[He might not completely understand all of that, but "it could be worse" wasn't really good to hear.]

Y'heard about the Aparoid War though, right? I heard nothin' but stories since I got here 'bout four years ago.

I mean, things've gotten really serious before. If people are really gettin' scared and if that sky means anything...?

I mean, I'm all for thinkin' like an optimistic sort but I ain't likin' this at all.

[trustycrowbar]

Yeah, I heard about the Aparoid War before. Sounded like something straight out of someone's nightmares... Don't worry. If anything like that ever happens again, we'll be ready for it.

[star_punched]

[...]

Y'think there's anythin' I can do? I ain't a soldier or some tech genius but there's gotta be somethin' I can do durin' this.

[Through everything he's seen, this was starting to scare him. He had to do something to counteract it, if it meant he would be helping the situation.

He didn't want another Aparoid War for this place.]

[trustycrowbar]

You don't have to be a soldier or a tech genius in order to make a difference. You just have to know what's right, and not hesitate to fight for it. I know you, and I know that's what you would do.