Disclaimer: We do not own Portal.

Aurthor Note: This is what happens when TheCrazyArtist and I talk non-stop for a week: Monsters are born. This one was born from ideas about how an alternet sequal could have been set up. This is our first attmpt doing something like this together, so be nice, and enjoy.

Breaking the loop

By: Tora Marikama and TheCrazyArtist

Chapter 1

"Congratulations, the test is now over." Thank goodness! My shoulders slumped in relief.

The platform came to a halt in a small room and I stepped off. In one corner, there was an opened hatch, like the incinerator, but when I looked inside, there was no fire, just a small chamber below.

"Please drop the device in the Aperture Science Equipment Recovery Annex and you may proceed to your party," announced the robotic voice. I did so, and a portal appeared on the opposite wall.

Stepping into it, I found that it led me to an empty office room. A small table had been set up, decorated with some haphazardly thrown confetti, where the repeatedly mentioned cake sat. "This doesn't look like much of a party…"

"None of the off duty personal wanted to attend. I would have invited the weighted companion cube, but you murdered it. "

Oh well, the cake looked good at least. That's all that really mattered, and the fact that I would get to leave after this.

The cake looked like it was coated with chocolate sprinkles and had eight cherries nestled into little dabs of white frosting and claiming the center was a little candle. That made me giddy, for some strange reason. "Make a wish, Chell," I whispered to myself. I blew the flame out and removed the candle before any wax could melt onto the cake.

I looked around the small room for a minute. The whole cake was mine so…smiling, I swiped my finger over the edge and licked the icing off of the digit. I couldn't stop a squeal of delight. That was some cake!

I was on my third slice when I suddenly became drowsy. Guess all of that excitement finely caught up to me…I pushed the plate out of the way and laid… my head… down…

A sweet aroma. Silence. Beneath my eyelids, I sensed light, not too bright, not too dim. Warmth. Then coolness, as I felt something slide off from over me. I groggily sat up and opened my eyes. For a second, I was dizzy, disoriented.

The room slowly came together.

Clear walls.

A toilet.

A radio, a clipboard and a fresh pair of an orange jumpsuit occupied a small table.

No.

No, no no no no!

"Hello and again, welcome to the Aperture Science Computer Aided Enrichment Center. We are glad that you decided to partake in another test-"

"I didn't decide anything, you crazy computer!" Not this again...please no...

"You have exactly 60 more minutes in the relaxation vault. Please take this time to refresh yourself and attend to your needs as no bathroom breaks will be allowed once the test begins. A nourishing meal will be delivered shortly."

Ticked off, I yelled, "Hey, what about that grief counseling you promised!?" Because heaven knows I'm going to need it.

"The Enrichment Center apologizes; our grief counselors are currently preoccupied with a suicidal weighted companion cube. However, I am more than qualified to-"

I cut her off, "That's okay...just forget I asked."

"Request denied. A special code is needed to delete recordings. I will not bother asking you for the code because I am already aware of the fact that you do not know it."

I slammed my head into my palm. Death by turrets was starting to look appealing... which meant I was probably starting to lose it. Ugh...I don't know how much more of this I could take...

I turned to a new occupant of the room: a shower. At least the computer was being considerate...

I felt much better after bathing and eating. I was still pissed at that crazy voice, But I felt like I could tolerate another round now.

"Hello. We hope you enjoyed your brief detention in the Relaxation Vault. The Portal will open in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1!"

Sighing, I stepped though the portal. "Let's get this other with."

I walked through the hallway that wrapped around the room and followed it calmly, secretly resisting the urge to flip off the camera that followed my movements. The computer probably wouldn't understand the gesture, anyway. The hallway opened into a single small room with a red button connected to a door by a strip of orange lights. Just like before... but when I looked to my left, where the box drop was, I saw another entrance.

And out of that entrance walked a big beefcake of a man, wearing a red jumpsuit and heel springs. He seemed as surprised as I was. I...I couldn't believe it...

Suddenly, the computer-voice spoke again. "In this test, you will be expected to work with a partner in order to achieve your goal to reach the exit of each testing chamber. The Enrichment center reminds you that you will be rewarded cake once the test is complete." yeah, the cake you spiked! "Please use this time to get to know your partner." I stared at the beefcake for a moment before another thought occurred to me.

I finally broke my long silence. "Compu-"

"I am the Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System. You may refer to me as GLaDoS" it supplied.

"Yeah, whatever. You mean to say, I'm not the only one who did this?"

"Affirmative. The Enrichment Center has many test subjects. After running a test, the test subject is returned to..t-t-t-ooo..."

The lights flickered for a moment, then the computer came back on, "Then the test subject is released." Beefcake and I shared an unconvinced look.

"I took a considerate amount of time to choose two candidates to work together. [Insert Male test Subjects name here]'s best time is ten minutes shorter then [insert Female Test Subject's name here]'s worst time. He also showed great reluctance to incinerate his Aperture Science Weighted Companion Cube and is the most stubborn test subject on record." At this, the beefcake looked crestfallen. "He does, however, have a superior strength in comparison to other test subjects and a very strong understanding of how to use the Aperture Science handheld portal device to his advantage."

"Wait, hold on a minute!" I exploded. "YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT THERE WERE MORE CUBES?" I had to admit, I had grown a bit attached to it. I had thought it was unique. And it hadn't threatened to stab me.

GlaDoS ignored me and continued, "[insert Female Test Subject's name here] holds the record of best over all time, and the best time of all previous chambers, except one. She shows signs of superior thinking skills and agility. However, she has a nasty disposition."

What?!!

"Together, you will make a well balanced team."

I could see where she was coming from a logical standpoint, but we're humans; there is more to use then a few calculations.

This wasn't going to work.

I looked at the beefcake. This wasn't what I was expecting. Of course, none of this was.

I hadn't seen another human in... I didn't know how long... and then I get a big guy who probably had less brains than the cube waiting in the box drop.

Great.

"The Enrichment Center reminds you that a strong bond with your partner is needed in order to succeed in the testing. Please use this time to get to know your partner", the computer repeated.

I walked up to the beefcake, muttering "Just don't get in my way."

To my surprise, he smiled and said, "look, I get it. After that cube thing... there's no telling what she has planned. But if we have to do this, we might as well be on a name basses, because I'm not going to call you 'insert name here'. I'm Dustin."

"Chell." I held my hand out, but to my horror he reached around me and lifted me up in a hug.

"WHooaaa! O…okay! That's enough of that! Put me down! Put me down!" I blushed, realizing that I sounded like a turret. Dustin let me go with a sheepish grin.

Apparently, that was all the computer required, because the Vital Apparatus Vent opened, and a nondescript cube tumbled down. I picked it up, and balancing it on one knee, carried it over to the red button. The door opened. Easy.

Behind it, the emancipation grille and the elevator waited.