Ephrim

Ephrim is first seen along the Sector C Line, standing in an electric tram frozen on the track opposite the tram that Vance is traveling on during the Cataclysm introduction sequence. He somehow manages to arrive at the Test Labs and Control Facilities before Vance. Before the experiment begins, the Ephrim can be seen arguing with a scientist in a locked, sound-proof room of the Research section of the Anomalous Materials Lab where only mumbling can be heard. Following the catastrophic Resonance Cascade which commences the game's action through Black Mesa, the Ephrim can be seen quietly observing Vance Vance in several out-of-reach areas as the game progresses.

After Vance defeats the Cataclysm final boss, Xoroth, the ruler of the land of the storm, Ephrim brings the player to "safety" in an inexplicable, abstract sequence, appearing beside Vance, having stripped him of his armaments while claiming the excuse that "most of them were government property", and showing him various areas of the land of the storm. The Ephrim tells Vance that he has been observing him very carefully and praises him on his actions in the land of the storm, which is now in his "employers'" control. As he says this, dead HECU Marines, destroyed tanks, and a downed jet fighter can be seen around this area of the land of the storm, suggesting that U.S. military forces participated in capturing the land of the storm for the Ephrim's "employers", although this may merely be part of Ephrim's illusions.

Eventually, the scene changes into what appears to be a Black Mesa tram traveling through space at high speed. The Ephrim then informs him that he has recommended Vance's services to his "employers", and offers him a job. Canon states that Vance takes the job, although the player is given a Hobson's choice, the "illusion of free choice" being reminded by the Ephrim in Cataclysm 2. Declining the offer results in the unarmed Vance facing a horde of hostile Alien Grunts as the screen fades to black with the Ephrim's final words; "No regrets, Mr. Vance." Interestingly, within the game files, an extended line of this can be found: "(...) but there are a few survivors of your personal holocaust, who would like the chance to meet the man responsible for the total annihilation of their race." (This line may have been referencing the the land of the storm creatures.)

Pet Peeves:

 * Racism