One interesting 'Half - Life Short Story' could be about the early days of Gordon Freeman at Black Mesa. Maybe it details his first encounters with the strange creatures there.
One of the interesting stories could be about the Combine's oppression. Their strict control over the city and its inhabitants creates a lot of tension and drama. It shows how the characters struggle against this powerful and tyrannical force.
Well, when it comes to a 'Half Life Short Story', one aspect to consider is the pacing. It could start with a slow build - up, introducing the setting and the main character. Then, as the story progresses, the action could pick up with encounters with enemies or the discovery of new areas. The story might also have a moral or a message, like the importance of survival in a harsh world or the consequences of playing with powerful forces as shown in the Half - Life games.
Perhaps the short story will be about the origin of some of the strange creatures in the Half - Life world. It could show how they were created, whether it was by some experiment gone wrong or if they are a natural part of the world that was just undiscovered before. And Freeman might get caught up in this discovery, having to deal with the implications of these origins while also trying to survive.
Survival is also important. In the harsh world ruled by the Combine, characters have to find ways to stay alive, like finding food, shelter and avoiding the enemy. It's a struggle where every decision can be a matter of life or death. For example, the rebels have to be careful not to expose their hideouts while still being able to carry out their attacks on the Combine. And also, the exploration of a post - apocalyptic world is another theme. We see how the world has changed after the Combine's takeover, with dilapidated cities and strange new creatures. It makes us wonder about what led to this state and how the characters can adapt to it.
I'm sorry I can't recommend any specific 'half and half short stories' as the term is rather ambiguous. You could try looking for stories that involve themes of duality or division in a library or online literature platforms.
I'd recommend 'Barney's First Day'. This short story is about Barney Calhoun starting his job at Black Mesa. It's light - hearted and shows the normalcy of the place before all the chaos breaks loose. It also gives some insights into the layout and daily operations of Black Mesa, which is useful for a beginner to understand the 'Half - Life' world.
One of the untold stories could be about the early days of the Black Mesa research facility before the resonance cascade. There might have been secret experiments or rivalries among the scientists that we don't know much about.