This ungratefulness doesn't exactly help you NOT become a dictator…

You saved the Combine, you saved civilization, you fucking saved humanity, you aren't going to let it fall apart after all the shit you've been through. Not after you finally believe in it.

Using the newly acquired technology from the cyborg base you establish a more intimidating presence in the Combine towns. Having depleted most of their fighting power during the CE War they really can't do much to stop you. There are a few initial protests, but a few executions squash any hint of rebellion.


Five years pass…

It's been ten years since the bombs dropped and you first entered Fort Justice when it was only known as "The Compound". Of course Fort Justice goes by the name Fort Bane

Expansion eventually occurs again, in a less diplomatic way now though. Typically the option is given for the town to submit peacefully to the Combine, or else it will be incorporated by force. The first town to suffer this fate of the new Combine ruthlessness is that old remote town you found nine years ago, Lost Springs.

The next one is a distant place called Ashtown. They put up a good fight, but eventually they too fall and put under martial law. When you come across them, you even start forcing open the underground Shelters that were created by GZS and incorporate the misguided souls who decided to hide during the nuclear holocaust under your ever expanding territory. Most of those folks put up little to no resistance. While they were cowering under the Earth YOU were surviving and making the blasted world a safer place for humanity.

Despite the whispered discussions among everyone wishing you were dead, nobody actually does anything. The reason? The same as always. Your way works and has shown results.

Yes you've had to be brutal; yes you've had to make some harsh decisions, but you've done it for the greater good. You've completely eliminated lawlessness within most areas, as most of the nearby raiders have asked for Combine citizenship since it's actually more profitable to be a soldier than a bandit. You gladly accept them. (Amusingly they're some of the most loyal citizens) Trade thrives, and the only thing the Combine citizens need to fear is YOU.

The Combine is no longer a collection of small towns and a fort, it's an Empire and it can only grow. You've made all this possible, yet you know it is only you who can hold it together. You begin to ponder successors and while you know there are many who would covet your position, you also know that none of them are worthy. Its times like this that you wish had a child with Marina. Someone who could carry on the divine right as it were. As you know Marina's never once gotten pregnant in all your years with her, but you wonder if it's you, for all you know maybe that trip to the city didn't make you sterile. Maybe SHE'S sterile.

You wonder…

You stay true to Marina

You've undergone a lot of changes after the bombs hit. Many changes. Not all of them for the better, but there's still one thing that hasn't changed, and that's your love and loyalty to Marina. She's been there with you from day one. You're not going to betray that for the thin hope of creating some bastard that probably won't do as good a job as you anyway. Besides, regardless of Marina's fertility, you're damn sure you're sterile anyway, you're just still glad your balls didn't turn green and shrivel up after your trip to the city.

Sometimes you get so wrapped up in your Empire that you forget to spend time with those who are REALLY important.

"Fuck it, I'll be dead anyway. Really what the hell do I care who takes over?" you mumble to yourself and go spend some time with Marina. In fact from this time forward you vow to take more time out to spend with Marina, she seems very happy with this new attitude.

Oddly this revelation makes you slightly more agreeable and as a result some of the more restrictive laws are lightened in time. The average Combine citizen is a little happier as a result. (Though mostly all of them still think you're a son of a bitch)

Ten more years pass…

Twenty years since the bombs hit, and you're the head of the largest known area of civilization. Hard to believe sometimes.

You're thinking about this on your death bed. You're very sick and the best physician you have doesn't know what it is As usual, you're convinced it has something to do with that trip to the city so long ago, and you're probably right. Radiation shit is probably finally catching up with you. If Harry wasn't a pile of rotten bones underground, you'd kill him again for sending you to that fucked up place.

Right now you're surrounded by advisors, military leaders and doctors, but right now you just want all of them to leave except Marina.

"But…but whose's taking over after you die?" one of them asks.
"Goddamn it I ain't dead yet! But if you don't get the fuck outta here I'm gonna make sure I outlive YOU! Now leave!"

Soon you're left alone with Marina, who stays with you until the end.

"Well it is a valid question, who is going to take over?" Marina asks.
"Why don't you do it? I mean I've never understood why you never wanted it, you're certainly capable."
"Maybe…but I prefer to be behind the scenes I guess…you know there's a lot less assassination attempts on the puppet master rather than the puppet." Marina half-jokes.
"Ha ha, well, I hope you find another."
"Never. I'll never find another like you." she says touching your face.

You and Marina are just silent as you look at each other for awhile. Finally you begin to close your eyes and feel one last kiss.

After composing herself, she exits the room to inform the top brass of the news. They of course are like vultures fighting over scraps.

"So did he say who was taking over?"
"Is it me?"
"No! It's me!"
"What did he say?"

"Whoever can hold it." Marina answers and walks off.

The years that follow your death aren't pretty for the Combine. A civil war occurs as several factions vie for control. Eventually it collapses into petty warlord fiefdoms. Your accomplishments are soon forgotten as other would be dictators try to establish their own "legacies".

As for Marina, she moves on from the Combine after your death to parts unknown, always carrying your ashes in an urn with the inscription:

"I'll never find another like you."