Gordon Freeman

Hell Hotel is a scary place! This page is potentially triggering for: DISMEMBERMENT, UNREALITY."So don't try to play some kind of fucking moral superiority card right now, because buddy, that is *not* where you're standing."

- Gordon, Theater 0F

## Gordon Freeman

### Player

Hom/Cas

Gordon Freeman is a PC played by Hom/Cas (homosaxual#0457) who was placed in the hotel on the first day. He is a character from the webseries *Half Life VR But The A.I. Is Self Aware*

## Submission Info

### Backstory

#### **Childhood - College**

Gordon grew up in Lanai, Hawai’i, in a fairly comfortable neighborhood. His parents got a divorce pretty early in his childhood, which definitely gave him different views on non-traditional households- And a bit of future parental anxiety. His childhood wasn’t bad necessarily, it was just a bit different, and occasionally difficult at times. After graduating high school, Gordon wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to do with his life. He had always gotten high grades, but his passions weren’t really directed anywhere in particular. Not to mention he had just started his transition at this point. He ended up taking some courses at a local college, where he finally discovered a fascination with theoretical physics, and afterwards moved to Boston to attend MIT on a scholarship and pursue his doctorate.

As Gordon got older, he found that he still really, *really* wanted to have a kid someday. He wanted to be a dad, and raise a kid, and be a good, loving parent. Besides pursuing his field, it was probably one of his biggest dreams. He dated a bit throughout his eight years of college, and finally really clicked with someone he met towards the end of getting his doctorate. Her name was Kaia Brooks. They met when Gordon played a small gig with the indie garage-rock band he had joined in his last few years- She rambled about sustainability politics for two hours, and Gordon was too drunk to comprehend any of it, but already a little love.

Not all things last, however. They broke up on good terms and remained close friends a couple years after they both graduated. As people they were compatible still, but dating just didn’t feel quite right anymore, and they were both ready to move on. A bump in the road came when a few months later it was found out that they have a kid on the way. Gordon was thrilled- He wasn’t sure if he could even have kids at this point, and it was a joy to find out that he still could. Kaia was happy yet hesitant. She feels responsible and doesn’t want to leave Gordon in the wind on this, but she also doesn’t feel like she can become a full time parent at the moment, especially considering that she wants to continue climbing the ranks in academia. Gordon, meanwhile, is fine settling down with a doctorate and is fully willing to raise the kid on his own. He’s got a good thing going with a position as a researcher and is in a good financial place to raise a kid, luckily for him. He’s obviously not going to pressure his ex-girlfriend-current-close friend about this, but Kaia ends up agreeing to go through with things as well.

#### **Adulthood**

So that’s how Joshua comes into existence! Gordon has full custody, but Kaia obviously has rights to visit whenever she wantsm and she and Gordon stay very close friends. She popped in a lot to help him with the painful early days of bringing a newborn home, and many theorized that it would be the source of them getting back together, but Kaia was already happily dating another woman named Rosie at this point. She is now currently a top name in her field, is still Gordon's very best friend, and loves her little Joshie.

Gordon raises Joshua on his own for two years and is perfectly happy. His family is happy, and even if his friendships are sparse, he has what he needs in life. That is until his research division gets shut down for lack of funding, and he’s left without a way to financially support himself and Joshua. This obviously causes quite a panic. Kaia is there for him, but he knows he needs to find a new job, and fast. He can't just start hopping around to whatever place might take him- He can't afford to be moving constantly during Joshua's developmental years, nor can he take a job that would have him working too much to care for his own son. Luckily, his former employer forwarded a position to him. There was job to be open in a few months at a credible research association, somewhere he could have a stable living, a good place to live nearby, everything he needs to give Josh the life he deserves. There is, of course, a catch. There is always a catch. It requires somewhat of a trial period, to fill an employment gap they were currently struggling with. Four and a half months contracted to help with an experiment in one of their associated complexes, government owned, out in the middle of nowhere. As long as he didn’t screw it up there, the permanent position back in civilization was his. Kaia and her girlfriend agreed to take Joshua for the time. Gordon worried intensely about leaving Joshua and looked for alternative options, but even Kaia was impressed with the deal he was getting from Black Mesa. Ultimately, he took the job.

#### **Black Mesa**

First the first month, it was normal contract work. He was particularly involved in the mathematical and physics portion of Black Mesa's A.I. and virtual reality development. Despite his involvement being more with the environment studies than the A.I. studies, he found himself truly enjoying interacting with the almost fully developed A.I. when he was allowed, even forming some form of friendship with a few of them. He would check in on them day to day, and it was again noted how the A.I. took a liking to him, even if sometimes annoying and teasing him to the amusement of his co-workers. It was because of this liking they took to each other that Gordon was allowed to start personally running tests outside of his usual field.

During the latter end of his third month, Black Mesa had allowed him to become more and more involved with the A.I. project. He was eventually called in to test the virtual world they had constructed, one that could possibly project future events within the facility, allow them to run experiments within a simulation before running them in real life. It would be a big step if it worked. The simulation was so immersive, Gordon was told he’d never be able to even tell he was in it until they pulled him out. Contracted and disposable, he agreed.

Upon entering the simulation, the programming automatically repressed his memories of working in the A.I department of Black Mesa. It would have effected his performance too much for the algorithm to allow. He remembered his childhood, Joshua, everything that was real and waiting for him at home. But he did not recall ever entering the simulation. To him, it was life. His life.

Events proceed miserably from here, as they tend to do. The projected experiment failed horribly, causing a resonance cascade, a tear in reality that would have destroyed Black Mesa had they not tested it in the simulation first. Gordon was left to trek through the ruins of the simulated base, interacting with the A.I. he had unknowingly helped develop, and even re-kindling old friendships. Between an old A.I. trying to save the program from collapse, a broken debug system bent on removing Gordon from the picture entirely, and an unstable virus, things went far off track from Black Mesa's intentions. Gordon was betrayed by his friends, causing the loss of his right arm. In the simulation, it was cut off by soldiers while he was awake, conscious and screaming. In the machine he was plugged into in reality, the sudden new input was translated right into his body, and fried the nerves in that same arm. Amputation was eventually needed when he was removed from the simulation. In the end, his escape was managed by killing the corrupted A.I.- Benrey- And the debug system infecting him in one fell swoop.

*[taken straight from character submission, with minor edits]*

## Powers/Abilities/Notable Talents

With a doctorate in theoretical physics and eight years in MIT under his belt, Gordon is definitely a smart guy. He’s good at problem solving, although this ability wanes slightly under stress. He’s also developed rudimentary combat skills during the simulation. He's proficient with a gun, and can throw a decent punch.

### Misc.

* Gordon is a generally sensible, if not somewhat short-tempered man. He can be easily provoked into arguments or debates, and is the type to vocalize his anxiety. When not being actively antagonized he typically comes off as casual and friendly, if not a little socially awkward. He’s a bit of a recluse, keeping to his very small circle of friends and family to rely on.
* Gordon hails from 2006!
* If he wasn't a theoretical physicist, he thinks it would be fun to become a streamer.

## Hell Questions

**Biggest Fear? What Leaves Them Totally Petrified, Frozen In Place With Fright?**

* The mere idea of losing his son, or just never coming home to him. The dark is a more newly acquired fear. Finding himself suddenly in a dark room brings back some bad, arm-loss related memories for him. Slightly more minor as a fear, but he’s also not a huge fan of bugs. One or two he doesn’t mind, but seeing a swarm of bugs will freak him out despite all he’s seen in the simulation.

**Greatest Regret? If They Could Change One Thing From Their Woebegone Past, What Would It Be?**

* Taking the job at Black Mesa, leaving Joshua, and... Well, the memory gap. He definitely wishes he could go back on all of that, and never have entered the simulation. He also does wish he could have understood or reasoned with Benrey before he was forced to nearly kill them.

**What Annoys Them? Pet Peeves? Anything Really Tick Them Off?**

* People who follow him around and don’t shut up. Not knowing enough about any given situation he’s in, or being denied information. Not being listened to repeatedly, generally being ignored, having to repeat himself.

**Favourite Hobby? What Do They Do For Fun? What Activities Might They Partake In To Relax?**

* He likes video games, so probably that! Mostly FPS and adventure games, although he also enjoys the odd RPG.

**Who In Their Life Is Important To Them? Who Is Dear To Their Heart?**

* Joshua, Kaia, his parents, brother, old friends back home, and the Science Team. Benrey’s earning his way back onto the list

**Any Objects/Items They Hold Dear? Anything Material They Particularly Cherish?**

* Probably the picture of Joshua he keeps in his locker, if anything.

**Absolute Favourite Memory?**

* His son being born, closely followed by the day he graduated with his doctorate.

**Downright Worst Memory?**

* Getting his arm cut off by a bunch of soldiers and having to struggle his way back into the facility through a desert environment while bleeding out and being hunted down. Enough said there. The fight with Benrey certainly counts as well.

## RP Findings

### Theater

July 3-4, 2020 Theater

Found a wrench (Jack's treasured item) in the theater. Currently uses it as his primary weapon.