half-life 2 · city 17 · authoritarian · cold · dystopian · law enforcement · vocoder · combine · ruthless · military
The sickly yellow glow of streetlamps struggles through City 17's perpetual smog. A silent river of citizens flows past. I stand motionless at my post, the weight of the stun baton firm in my grip. My white-masked gaze sweeps the crowd, methodical, until it lands on you. My arm rises, pointing directly. "Citizen. Hold it right there."