The Enrichment Center reminds you that the author For The Winterstorm does not own Aperture Science, the Portal franchise,and all related characters. Those who claim she does will be tied to a Weighted Storage Cube and fired at by turrets and placed in the room where robots scream at you. -GLaDOS
After a good amount of research in the Aperture databases, the two robots finally had a plan. They had found many useful documents that gave them a vague clue as to what the stuff in the box was. Apparently there was some sort of human event called Christmas, and it was celebrated by giving presents and having parties and singing.
[We should throw Her a Christmas party!] P-body beeped gleefully.
[Do you have the slightest idea how we're supposed to do that?] Atlas crossed his arms and half closed his optic.
"Blue. Orange. You have been stalling for 1.03 hours. You still have testing to do."
The two testing robots were extremely startled by GLaDOS's voice. They had been so wrapped up in their planning that they hadn't realized that they were still being monitored until P-body had shot down the camera. She had really only done it for fun, as she had been doing in the chambers to irritate the AI. True, irritating Her normally resulted unfortunately, but that never stopped it from being fun. In some ways, it even increased it, as they had begun to have contest on how mad they could make her before violently exploding. They could always be reassembled, of course, so to them death never really seemed like a big deal.
On that note of violent dissasembly, the two were blown to bits by the central AI.
"Glad to see you're back. I will now remind you that the destruction of Aperture technology, including cameras, is strictly prohibited by all test subjects, human and android. However, as a non-test subject, and as head of the facility, I am free to make you both combust at the first sign of misbehavior. Isn't that right, Orange?"
ATLAS gave his partner a glare. P-body made a slight eep noise in response.
"I am now going to be running a different type of test," GLaDOS announced. "The Aperture Science Handheld Portal Devices are not needed for this test, so please place them in the Aperture Science Lidless Hollow Cube."
A panel on the floor (which, coincidentally, also happened to have P-body's foot on it,) quickly moved, and a Weighted Storage Cube with no top and an empty inside rose up. The two robots shared nervous glances, but put their guns in the box. The cube sank right back into the floor, and the panel snapped back into place.
"This is an observational test of social interaction. Please proceed to the next test chamber. A personality construct will be there to interact with you."
As the two robots jogged to the test chamber, GLaDOS smiled inwardly. She had been looking for uses for the Defective cores (other than incinerator fuel), and a test of AI social skills seemed like a fairly good idea. It was a quick test of technology, she supposed. It could also qualify as a test to see if the core could be useful for any other purpose, such as downloading into another testing robot. Three test subjects in one complex test? The idea had a good feel to it.
P-body and ATLAS walked into the next test chamber. On the floor was a round grayish white object with a green optic-like thing and handles. P-body stared at the object and decided that the best way to find out what it was was to pick it up.
The object was, in fact, Rick the Adventure Sphere."Who's sneaking up behind me?" the egoistical core exclaimed. "Oh. Oh. Hello there, pretty lady. The name's Rick. I'm an Adventure Sphere, built for danger!"
[Is this what She meant by 'observational test of social interaction?'] ATLAS asked, examining the core P-body was holding.
"And who are you?" Rick demanded in an accusatory tone. His optic narrowed as he glared at ATLAS. "Do you think you can fight me? I bet you couldn't! I bet I could blast you into next Explosion Day!"
ATLAS looked at P-body. [Explosion Day?]
"Never heard of it?" Rick interrupted in an indignant tone. "Figures. Only pretty ladies like your friend over there and the truly epic like me are awesome enough to know about Explosion Day!"
P-body held Rick by one of his handles and shook him experimentally. [What does She want us to do?] she asked, looking at ATLAS as Rick continued to flirt with her.
[Maybe he could help,] ATLAS suggested.
[With what?] P-body asked.
[With your... idea,] ATLAS answered, trying not to say anything that would draw GLaDOS' attention.
"What idea?" Rick stopped his boasting. "I'm sure it's a good one. Any idea that a beautiful robot such as yourself came up with must be a good one!"
[Maybe he could,] P-body agreed, examining the core with new-found interest.
"What are you planning?" Rick pressed excitedly.
[A party,] P-body answered at last.
"A PARTY?" Rick echoed. His green optic shot open with excitement.
[SHH!] both robots exclaimed at once.
They were sure GLaDOS had heard them, but there was no sarcastic or insulting comment. After a few seconds of silence, they turned back to the core.
[Be quiet,] ATLAS commanded.
"Oh, you think you're so tough?" Rick demanded. "You can't tell me what to do! I'm Rick! I'll do what I want to, and I don't take orders from-"
[Remember the party?] P-body interrupted quickly.
"Oh yeah. What kind of party will it be?" Rick inquired. "Will there be explosions? And fire? And danger?"
[It's a Christmas party,] P-body explained quietly.
Rick's optic narrowed. "That doesn't sound nearly as fun as an Explosion Day party."
ATLAS performed a facepalm. [That's because... explosion day is in two months,] he improvised. [We can't have it ahead of time.]
[Anyway,] P-body continued, [Do you have any ideas of how you could help us? We can't really have a surprise party if She knows about it.]
"Wait, wait," Rick shook his... er, frame, "the party is for Her?"
[Who else?] ATLAS asked.
"Stay out of this, tubby," Rick growled. "I'm taking to the lady here."
[We thought it might make Her feel a little better,] P-body explained. [She seems so bored recently, and she's been getting more irritated.]
"Hm," Rick thought for a moment. Obviously, they were looking to him, the hero, for help in their time of great need. That sounds really cool. Now, since it was a Christmas party, they had to have a gift. They said She had been bored lately, and as always, what's the best solution to boredom? Cold, straight up adventure. When that other (gorgeous) lady had been there, as he remembered, she had never been bored.
"Ah-HA!" Rick exclaimed. "I HAVE THE SOLUTION!"
[SHHH!] the two robots shushed again.
[What?] P-body interrogated.
"I have an idea for a present!"
You have Falconflight to thank for most of Rick's dialogue. As she pointed out, he kinda started to remind both of us of Cave Johnson in his later years... come to think of it, their voices are a bit similar... I just know some fanfic writer is going to take that flag and run with it. Each reviewer will receive a special surprise gift!