Chell sat across from the Companion Cube at her tiny dining table, staring at the leaves floating in her teacup. The Cube was always humming the Turret Opera, and it made her sad. She lived in a decent community, mostly farmers, not far from the wheat field where the shed stood. Sometimes she would overhear the farmers complaining about it – apparently, anyone who dared too close to the shed was granted an electric shock. Chell had smirked when she first heard it; GLaDOS was the queen bee of her Aperture hive, and she guarded it well. Turning to the window, an idea struck Chell.

The Companion Cube loved it when Chell took it out into town, ignoring all of the strange looks the townsfolk would give them. It never hummed in the presence of others. The Cube just sat in the wagon that Chell toted behind her bicycle and absorbed the atmosphere of the outside world. Today, it watched as Chell's feet pedaled, causing the wheels of the apparatus to rotate furiously. Cube always knew when Chell was going to the shed – at first, it had been several times a week. Chell nearly stopped going once she got her job, but the Cube was well-familiar with the longing look on Chell's face as she spaced out over cereal, or art, or when she saw the cakes at the bakery. Cube simply observed, humming constantly in an attempt to ease Chell's inner….whatever it was. As least it knew it could offer her some company.

It was true that Chell frequented the shed far more than any other citizen, much to the town's gossip, but she could care less. It had been months since she had left Aperture, but her curiosity burned too much to ignore the farmers' words any longer. Jumping off the bike, she allowed the Cube to watch as se plodded through the wheat to the shed. She stopped when she was about ten feet away, breathing heavily. Chell was torn – give GLaDOS the satisfaction of actually touching the shed, or appease her curiosity about being shocked. Breathing in, she took slow, determined steps to the shed. The closer she got, the less she cared what GLaDOS thought – it wasn't like she would ever again see the bot. Yet, something kept her from touching the door, hand stopping only inches from touching the metal. Was being shocked worth it?

Yes it was.

She slammed her hand onto the door; the metal, heated by the sun, felt warm on her skin. Otherwise….

Nothing.

Chell removed her hand, shrugging: how anti-climactic. Turning, she went back to her bike, patting the Companion Cube before they set off for home.

GLaDOS was the only one who knew that Chell was the singular person she would not attack if they got close to the shed, the opening of her sanctum. Despite this, she would have to remark on how much more weight Chell had gained if she ever returned to Aperture….if she ever came back.

GLaDOS could hope.