Read This: I'm so sorry for not updating this in so long! I'll try to get the next chapter written soon! The beginning of this chapter is Chapter 2, but in the G-Man's point of view. The rest is in random points of view.
He teleported to a random place in Aperture Laboratories, since he didn't know the layout of the facility. He ended up in a dark chamber. Looking around, he saw a massive machine hanging in the center of the room, a faint, yellow glow coming from one of its lights.
Impressive. He thought to himself. Looks like the humans have really outdone themselves. Suddenly, bright light flooded the room. He could hear gears turning behind the walls.
He took a step to the side to get a better look at the machine. It seemed to follow his movement. Before he could take another step, something hit the back of his head. He felt his cold blood run down the back of his neck.
Strange security. He mused. He was expecting alarms, but this was a very different place than Black Mesa. Not only that, but just the feeling he got from the place. Very dark…maybe even evil.
He had once overheard Black Mesa employees say the Aperture scientists had disappeared one day, without a trace and no explanation. That was years ago, though. So, how was this place still running?
A mechanical voice echoed all around him. He would have jumped, but he kept his statue-like posture.
"Hello, and welcome to the Computer-Aided Enrichment Center. Please remain patient as we complete the test building process." the voice stated.
Test building process? What is that? For the second time that day, he felt the feeling of confusion.
The voice cut through his thoughts again. "At the end of your participation, there will be cake."
This was getting too weird. He shook his head, trying to figure this out. He started to walk forward, closer to the center of the room, when he heard something behind him.
He had no time to even try to turn around as glass shattered over his back. Cold metal forced him down, pressing him against the floor.
He tried to move, making the thing on him press down even more, the glass in it starting to cut into his arms. He raised an eyebrow, wondering if he should just teleport away or stick around.
Now sounding slightly annoyed, the voice said "Fine, we will no longer lie to you. I would appreciate it if you would stop struggling."
He stopped moving in surprise. Did it...or she...just say 'I'? He thought it was just an automated voice. The more he concentrated, however, the more he realized there was something thinking in the room with him.
She spoke again. "To test your...cognitive thinking...ask any question you like. It can be anything. Whatever it is, I promise, there will be no penalties or punishments for it."
It sounded like she was lying, but he wasn't certain. He decided to take his chances. "Do you...honessstly...think this is...hurting me? Hmm?"
Now angry, she almost yelled "Well, maybe this will!"
He felt something slash his back. She obviously wanted him to feel pain, but that wasn't going to happen. "I am…truly…ssorry to…disappoint…you." He finally realized that yellow light was what she was using to see. Starring straight into it, he said "But…your efforts…are going to waste."
Her optic narrowed, but she didn't say anything. Hearing something above him move, he tried to look up, only cringing when wires started shocking him. Electricity wouldn't have bothered him any other time, but that thing's rage, and satisfaction, was too strong to ignore. Gathering his power, he made time freeze.
She knew she could make her voice glitch to confuse her test subjects, but not her optic. Her vision turned black and white, slightly blurry to.
Her new test subject vanished into thin air. This scared her. She was sure she was going crazy now.
He reappeared seconds later as her eyesight returned to normal.
"What was…that about? Test building?" he asked calmly, as if nothing had happened.
GLaDOS backed her chassis as far away from him as she could. "Yes, I was referring to the test chambers."
''For what,…exactly?''
Quickly, she stated "The Aperture Science Handheld Portal Dev-"
"Did you say 'portal'?" he asked, interrupting her.
"The Portal Device or 'Portal Gun'. Why does it matter?"
He hesitated. "May I see…one of these…Portal Guns?"
"Of course..." The G-Man slightly perked up, only for a moment though. "...not! They're worth more than you ever could." she said in a mocking tone.
The G-Man gave a small laugh. "Well then…I want to ask you something."
She only squinted.
"Those…tests of yours are not…for the Portal Guns, are they?"
Something told her lying right now would be a bad idea. She sighed. "No…they're for the useless humans. To shred every little piece of hope they have." Annoyance rose in her voice just from speaking about them.
The G-Man thought for a moment. "…I think you…would be pleased to meet…a few of my sla-"He gave a small cough. "employers." He quickly saved himself. "How would you like…a job? More of a deal…you could say."
GLaDOS lowered herself a bit. "That depends."
"I'll be…right…back. My employers will be glad…to hear thisss."
"I didn't say yes!" she said angrily, but he was already gone.
The sudden weight startled her. Turning around, she said "I really hate tha-" She stopped. On either side of the G-Man (She felt like she should call him that, for some reason.) were two floating grubs.
"These are Combine Advisors. At least…that is what the…humans call them."
An echoing, almost raspy voice came from the back of her mind. "You probably haven't heard of us, being so secluded under the Earth, but all we want to know is this. Could we borrow your facility?"
"I don't care what you are. Why would I give you my facility?"
One of the Advisors stuck his long tongue out, licking his face. "Our prison and our most important Citadel were destroyed. Could we use this as a replacement?"
"I'm not sure…"
"All we need is a base, hidden from the world."
The G-Man cut into the conversation. "You'll be able…'test' as many…humans as you want…and other intelligent species also."
"All you need to do is to get information from them and add a few punishments for a few."
GLaDOS lowered herself until she was in front of them. "It sounds like this is too good to be true. What's the catch?"
"There are none"
"It seems like I have nothing to lose." she glanced at the G-Man. "…I accept."
Instantly, two more Advisors appeared, carrying a blue-grey device. They placed it on the floor as it began to slowly eat away at the panels. GLaDOS gave a pained shriek. "What are you doing!?"
The G-Man turned back around, facing her. "You…can feel that?"
"Yes, I can. You two, stop that!" The wall panels near the Advisors shoved both of them away from the machine.
One of the Advisors shivered as the cold metal panel pushed him. "We have to replace these walls with our own technology."
Glaring at them, the G-Man stepped forward. "You…must admit, the architecture of this facility…could be useful…Why not just add…your designs?"
The Advisors nodded while the other two went to reprogram the device.
Quietly, the G-Man said to GLaDOS "Now that I have…saved you from agonizing pain, I would like a small…repayment. There is an individual I would…like for you to test. I want to see the…worst…you can do to him."
"What for?" she asked nervously. Something about his tone made her feel uneasy.
He seemed to sigh. "That doesss… not matter right now."
"Fine," She looked at the Advisors' device, which was now forming blue-grey metal and wires, slowly intertwining with her wires and panels. "...but, I have a few subjects I want."
"Perfect." He whispered.
"What?"
"I can let…you see these subjects again."
"Good." She sighed and, to herself, whispered "I'm going to need a lot more power for this."
"Oh?...I can help with that." Crystals, all different colors, appeared in the G-Man's hands.
Finally getting a little closer, GLaDOS noticed they were glowing.
As his eyes glowed brighter, so did the crystals. He gave a small smirk. "Choose your favorite."
The machine I was referencing to is the thing in Nova Prospekt that was replacing the old prison walls with Combine technology.
Thank you for reading!