So… Um… Welcome? Enjoy this if needed, as this'll be the first time I do this, and hopefully not the last. So… If you could tell me what you think of this first chapter, and want more of this, then let me know. This story is based on the famous World-Portals made by VALVe for the Source Engine, in case you were wondering. Thanks, and enjoy the chapter!
World Portals - A P2 Mod Story
Chapter One
He was having way too much fun for a test subject. Looking through all of the World doors was fascinating, and walking through, see what was to come. It was extraordinary. Never has he seen geometry quite like what he was currently viewing. "Okay, subject, I know this is beautiful and all, but you really need to focus on this test. If you beat the previous time of two hours, then you can get hooked up with a custom box of chocolates, courtesy of Aperture Laboratories. So please, focus," Steve called from an above catwalk. Above? He didn't have a sense of direction when placed in the rooms of World walls and doors. The only time he knew his mental compass was correct was when he was in the transition stairwells. He eventually crossed a small sitting room, and deciding to sit down for a moment. "Oh, come on! You're so close, and yet you decide to have a break now?! Ugh, fine. I'll give you a minute before a get the Panels to push you into the abyss below the chamber," Steve complained.
Upon hearing "abyss," he looked down into a small gap in the sterile tiles. "Oh, and mind the gap there. We're starting to enter the ridiculousness of Her 'Art Therapy' style. It's more of a 'I'm way too lazy to make a full chamber, so I'll just toss in some platforms and testing elements and call it a perfect chamber.' Though, to be honest, I kinda like that style. Eh, I'm rambling." With that, Steve pressed the call button by him. "Sure, yeah. Can you open and allow the dropping of anything and everything that's loose in chamber 237a-42b's Break Room?" Binary greeted the question. "Alright, thanks." The subject took this as a sign to leap for the next World door.
The Panels opened, and where he once stood was now a hole to the litera abyss below. He looked in awe, as he was very much a fan of the place, and wanted to know about pretty much everything there was. He climbed out, and continued to gawk at the environment, solving the test as he moved. Steve mumbled to himself in binary, and waited for the test subject on the catwalk above the Exit Chamberlock. "Finally! You finished. Thankfully, you did finish the test in about an hour and fifteen minutes, but not out of stupidity, like the last subject. I want to congratulate you on being intelligent, and still have a great mindset on art." He paused. "Though you do need to stop looking at everything and start solving the tests. After this Stairwell, there'll be a true break room, with some water and food, so that you can get going here in about half an hour. This Break Room will have plenty of World doors and walls to distract yourself with. I need to talk to the supercomputer upstairs." With that, Steve left through another World door that was above the the exit Chamberlock. The subject eagerly moved forward, thinking of food and World Boundaries as he went.
"Um, GLaDOS?" Steve asked as he entered the Central Chamber. "Yes, 5t3V3? Oh, wait, I forgot you called yourself Steve. Sorry about that. What is it that you want that you decided to abandon your test subject in a World Boundary Break Room?" Damn, Steve thought to himself, She caught on. "I was thinking; my current subject is quite intelligent, with a very keen eye in detail and art. I was thinking, maybe, preserve him. In any way you want, as long as we still have this great mind. While nowhere near great as yours, he can still help with chamber construction for the World Boundaries Initiative." He slightly shrank in embarrassment in asking his boss, the one that hated humans with a passion, to preserve a human. "Oh, no need to shrink up on me, Steve. I think that's a great idea, actually. The Art Core went missing several years ago, and the Construction Core went offline a month ago. Figuratively combining the two into one mind, that would be your test subject, would be great. So long as he doesn't try to run off." Steve relaxed. Slightly. "Really?" He was surprised by this. "Yes. I do have empathy, and as you said, I do have the greatest mind. All processors are fully functional, except one. So don't be surprised."
Steve was glad. "Thank you, GLaDOS!" He called as he went to collect his subject and finish the test. He stopped for a moment. "Would he be mannequin or Core?" He asked. "Last question, I swear. For now… maybe in a year or so I'll have a new one." She slightly chuckled. "Don't worry, he'll be like you. A Mannequin. Run along, and after his tests are complete, we'll get the transfer set up. You can break the news to him when he finishes." Steve ran off, collected his subject, and continued testing. GLaDOS was surprisingly happy for once. Even though She Herself didn't come up with the idea Steve presented to Her, She was still glad to replace the two missing and broken Cores.
So, yeah! That was the chapter. As I was writing it, I got more excited to do more with it. It was pretty nice to finally love writing something, even if I don't physically get anything from it besides broken fingers. If you guys want, and if you guys like this, the next chapter will be out next Wednesday, and it'll be longer. Much longer. This is mostly to get the concept out. And now I have noticed that my self-confidence has increased by 27%. Dear. Anyway, hope you enjoyed!
