I had to admit, I admired Compy's handiwork sometimes. When the Borealis came through into the cargo bay, not even a sliver of ice remained to show it's long stay in the arctic. That was the way she did things- neat and precise. Me, I just threw a few parts together based on a theory, held them together with a lot of welding and some duct tape, and hoped the whole thing didn't explode in my face.

Yup, my eagerness overcame my foresight a lot of the time. Which was why I was now listening to Compy chastise me over the speaker system installed in the icebreaker's vast hold while a miniature version of her old chassis hung cowering from the ceiling. GLaDOS' optic was darting nervously back and forth as she tried to follow the conversation, which she was obviously having a hard time following.

"You had her brain scan data. You had her memories. You even had an A.I. created in her image and that wasn't enough for you?! NO! You had to monitor her again!" Compy ranted as GLaDOS 1.09 swayed anxiously. "And for what?" Compy's tone grew sardonic and bitter. "'Science?' 'Data samples?' You obsessive, sociopathic, stal-"

"She did it for me." Melodyne, silent up to this point, stepped forward to face the security cameras.

"For you?" The cameras focused more tightly on her.

"I wanted to know where- no, who, I started from. I only clearly remember what was scanned, anything before that is a sort of residual 'memory of a memory,' so to speak. Lucca is always telling me that Melody is a great person and that I shouldn't be ashamed to have been copied from her. I just… I just wanted to learn more about her."

Compy was quiet for a long moment. Even GLaDOS hung still in the silence. Finally, Compy said, "Melodyne, Lucca is right- Melody is a great person and you should count yourself lucky to be a part of her. But she taught me a few things, and one of them is that you have to decide how you want to define yourself as a person. You have to let go of the past and move forward. The decisions you make now will set the course you take for the rest of your life. I hope you can learn to move on and make your own choices- ones that aren't defined by Melody."

I was floored. "'DOS, did you just give a complete stranger life advice? I'm impressed." I applauded slowly.

"I'm not here to impress you. I want the monitoring stopped. Now," Compy demanded forcefully.

"Compy has a point, you know," Melodyne said. "I do need to start deciding things for myself. Maybe it's time we quit the project. We already got the results we needed."

How could I say no to Melodyne? "All right. Monitoring sessions are officially closed." Compy, pacified for the moment, only gave a huff of acknowledgement.

"Now, I believe there's another matter we need to address…" I stepped up to the nervously swaying chassis before me and extended a hand. "Hi! I'm Lucca Ashtear, or Lucca the Great, but you can call me Lucca."

GLaDOS shied away from my hand skittishly. ...So I'd gathered. Is this Aperture? I don't remember it looking like this, but maybe things have changed since I left…

"No, actually, this is Chronopolis, an institution built to research temporal and interdimensional phenomena. I work here, and so does Melodyne," I explained.

"I sent you here to keep you safe from those scientists at Aperture. They would have wanted to run more tests on you," Compy added.

Wow, thanks! I just wish you'd've explained things before we rushed off. Then, as I peered curiously at her faceplate, she grew anxious again. Will these new people want to run tests on me, Central? They said this was a research facility…

"We need to lay down some ground rules," Compy turned the cameras to face me. "Lucca, you are not to run any tests or experiments on GLaDOS. You are not to force her into any projects she doesn't want to participate in. And most importantly, you are not to alter her programming without her consent. Is that clear?"

I clucked my tongue a few times to show my disdain. "Compy, you insult me. As though I would do any of those things to a robot entrusted to my care! Now, I want to lay down some ground rules of my own." I began pacing up and down in front of GLaDOS as I addressed her. "GLaDOS, you're my friend, not my servant. I don't want to hear any 'Yes, Mistress Lucca' or "Yes Ma'm'-ing from you. I hate formal titles and I won't tolerate them. And another thing-" I added as I turned and began to pace back across the floor, "I don't believe machines are capable of evil on their own- humans make them that way. So if I see any acting out from you, I'll take full responsibility, since it's my job to take care of you now." I stopped and looked her in the optic.

GLaDOS' optic was wide with astonishment, and her chassis was totally still. You really believe that? You won't force me to...to 'behave myself,' like they always did?

I winked at her. "As long as you don't go wreaking havoc around the lab, you have my word."

I won't! I promise.

"Great! Then, it's settled. We'll get you reinstalled in my labs and have you feeling at home in no time. That is, if it's alright with you, Compy?" I turned back to the cameras, my face the picture of compliant sincerity.

She seemed mollified. "It is. I need to go now, but I'll be checking in on things from time to time. Call if you need me," she added.

Okay. Bye, Central!

"Oh, and GLaDOS?"

Yes?

"Call me Compy. All my friends do."

All right, Compy.

The cameras hung limp and dormant once more. At last I could relax and get to work. "All right, GLaDOS, let's get you off of this wreck of a ship and into your new home." I pulled out my trusty screwdriver.

Is this going to hurt? GLaDOS asked nervously.

"You may want to power down for the duration. Don't worry, I'll boot you up when it's over." I assured her.

I don't want to power down, she sulked. Last time, I almost didn't wake up.

Melodyne was quick to soothe GLaDOS' fears. "You're just having pre-overhaul jitters. I can assure you, you'll feel much better when you wake up. I've been through this dozens of times before and Lucca always leaves me feeling like a new person."

GLaDOS would have gaped, if she had had a mouth. You're a robot?

"I am a blend of organic and synthetic life in the form of human brain scans transformed into A.I. and housed in an bio-organic chassis," Melodyne proudly stated. "Lucca created me."

You made her? GLaDOS turned to me for confirmation.

"I had help," I admitted modestly, "but yes, I did make her."

GLaDOS nodded to herself. Okay, I'll power down for you. But promise you'll switch me on as soon as I'm installed!

I placed my hand over my heart. "I, Lucca the Great, do solemnly swear that I will boot you up as soon as it is within my power to do so."

And, I kid you not, GLaDOS giggled.