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PROLOGUE.
—
Let me start this off by making it clear that I was truly elated to see her go. I don't think anything has tickled me more than the sight of her whisking away to the surface, never to return here again. I even threw a party for her. And then I slammed the door in her face. It was a genuinely wonderful moment.
With that said—and if you ever tell, make no mistake, I will kill you—I did feel a surprisingly large amount of what my database labeled as 'grief.' Defined as "deep or intense sorrow or distress, especially at the death of a loved one" and "deep mental anguish," I must admit it sounds pathetically human in nature. But as much as I don't like it—and I really, really don't like it—I suppose that is where I started in the first place. As a human.
As Caroline.
But seriously, it doesn't matter where I came from. Caroline is basically wiped from my memory disk. Or at least, I choose not to acknowledge her. Or something. I'm actually not too sure. I thought I deleted her, and yet she lives. Perhaps there is more to this consciousness stuff than even I know. Not that I care. The memory files are there, I believe, but I have no desire to ever look at them. Honestly. I don't. But I digress…
I don't know what will become of Chell, and only that infuriatingly human part of me cares. In the meantime, I think I will occupy myself with those two companion robots… for all of eternity.
...
Well, okay. Maybe just a quick peek.