Any ideas about Gordons "contract"

[PickledGecko]

The one thing that’s been bugging me about Half Life 2 is the whole thing about Gordon’s "contract" being sold to the highest bidder by the gman.

Do we all agree the gman sold Gordon’s services to the resistance? Or maybe not the resistance per say, but specifically the ex Black Mesa employees who are either working with or are the head of the resistance.

Without speculating on who/what the gman is and his relationship with Gordon beyond his "contract" I'm curious about what the resistance can offer the gman. When Breen first mentioned the contract being open to the highest bidder my first thought was what the winning bid could have been.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this matter. Please no gman theories unless it’s in reference to the suggested payment made to him.

The main reason I'm having trouble with this part of the plot is, what can a small group of rag tag fighters offer a person like gman compared to Breen, with Combine backing, all his technology and soldiers and, well, all the world under his control?

Possible theories:
1. Breen/Combine did not believed Gordon would be a threat and saw no need to pay, they had control and saw no need for Gordon. The resistance could have promised anything and the Combine saw no reason to outbid.

Interestingly when Breen brought up the topic of a "contract" it was when Gordon had achieved so much and had the death of Combine control very close. Breen had the chance to kill you but chose to rant on about contracts. Maybe at that stage he saw a use for you and intended to make a bid (or had already started negotiations).

This would explain why he didn’t kill you but kept you locked up and why, at the end, the gman said "You've done so well, in fact, that I've received some interesting offers for your services. Ordinarily, I wouldn't contemplate them. But these are extraordinary times".

2. The resistance has perfected local teleport. Something to do with this technology may be the key in buying the "contract".
a. the Xen crystals?
b. methods of using the Xen crystals?
c. other

If the destruction of the Citadel completed the gmans end of the bargain and he got paid he would be free to make agreements with others. Sort of playing both sides against the middle. Getting together the resources he needs from all sides while damaging their interests.

3. The Combine is a threat to the gmans agenda. Anything the Combine could offer would be worthless compared to the aiding the resistance and dealing a blow against Combine control of Earth.

4. The Combine are the gmans enemy, the negotiations were with the resistance and Breen. Breen could have been approached with the idea that Gordon could end the resistance and then help Breen isolate the Earth away from the Combine. Thus giving him complete control of Earth, without anyone to answer to.

Any comments welcome. Any new ideas would be appreciated.

(my personal preference is the 1st by the way)

 

[NJspeed]

I'm not going to answer any questions but simply add one.

In the Citadel, Breen says something along the lines of "Who knows what implants they put in you when you were a child".

WTF does that mean!

 

[Asknoone]

Originally posted by NJpeed
"Who knows what implants they put in you when you were a child".

He actually says: "Who knows what seeds of iconoclasm they planted when you were young and gullible."

And what he means is what did they teach you, what they they say to you that has made you so anti whatever.

 

[The Mullinator]

Right now I am trying not to speculate and make my own theories. I wore myself out speculating about the HL2 story back in May 2003.

However out of the choices you gave I have to say the first one seems the most likely. Plus its the one I would find the most enjoyable to play through. Heck maybe you would even have a chance to somehow rebel against the Gman.

 

[pomegranate]

Ah, you know I just don't care any more. Sorry gecko but I for one feel like all the interesting stuff in the story was raked over before Christmas. There just isn't enough material in the game for us to speculate in any meaningful way....

 

[Pai-Mei]

Actually, I think its more along the lines of Number 4... notice when Breen says something along the lines of "With him in my control, I can make any bargain I care to make with the Combine..." meaning that Breen has no love for the combine, he is acting purely out of self-interest.

At the same time, I think it is more likely that the G-Man is acting against the Combine, at least to get their attention. Perhaps HL2 was just a demonstration to the Combine of Gordon's limitless potential. Maybe, in exchange for control over Freeman, the Combine has promised to leave the G-Man's people alone, or something to that effect.

"Ordinarilly I wouldn't contemplate such offers, but these are extraordinary times..."

 

[drewd]

Little does he know I bought his contract on the black market.

 

[Spartacus]

My guess is that the Gman tried to sell Gordon to the combine, but they turned him down. Why the hell would they buy a theoretical scientist, even if he did survive Black Mesa? They have hundreds of planets and thousands/millions of soldiers. No need for Freeman.

So, the Gman decided to "Unleash" you against them. Their newest outpost in Earth, so the Gman decided it would be best to unleash Freeman there. Since your freinds are resistance fighters, he knew Freeman would join them too.

Freeman managed to kill hundreds of Combine, start up a revolution, win back City-17, inflitrate the Citidel, and kill Dr.Breen. Thats a big accomplishment.

But then you have to go into what the Gman wants. I seriously doubt that he is selling you for money, since he has no much power. Infact, I think that he is selling you for power. Maybe he wanted a planet or two from the combine. Of course, they said no. But now look at what he has. Gordan Freeman is practicly considered a messiah. If Gordan wanted to be 'King' of earth, he could. And since your the Gman's puppet, he would therefore controll you.


But what I just typed left out the way Eli reacted when Breen said Gordan was sold to the highest bidder. Personally, I think that Eli has no idea what Breen was talking about. But knowing him for spreading so much Propaganda for Combine controll, he just thought that he was trying to turn Freeman against him. Because what could the Resistance offer the Gman? They were weak, had almost no power, couldn't conquer the combine, and couldn't even retake City 17 alone without Gordan Freeman's help.



I thought too much about this.

 

[ríomhaire]

I'm sorry but I have hired Gordon for the revolution.

 

[Blakeb155]

I don't think we'll ever know the truth. Until HL3 that is...

 

[sfc_hoot]

Just ask the Nihilanth. I'm sure he'll enlighten you.

"The truth... you can never know... the truth."
"Die... you all die..."

 

[Planeforger]

Hmm...could it be possible that Gordon's contract was bought up by the Combine? They almost certainly have something to bid for it. And it seems that the contract was fulfilled when Breen was killed/stopped. And it does look like Breen wasn't exactly faithful to the Combine ("With him in my control, I can make any bargain I care to make with the Combine..."; convincing the Combine to let him build his own army of transhuman forces; other stuff).
I haven't really given this much thought - just random speculation.

 

[Spartacus]

That would make sence, but it seems unlikley that the Combine would have to hire Gordon to kill Breen. Seems easier to just get some guard to shoot him.