^_^ chaptah four!

small warning: possible spoilers for portal 2 dlc...i won't tell you what it is, just in case you haven't played and don't want to be spoiled...but I'm sure you might figure it out...and if you have played or watched the ending...well youll see ^_^

Chapter 4: The Little Clone

Mora took a deep breath. She had been given special clearance to visit Aaron one last time. The mere thought of him being killed tore her up, but she had to see him. She had to feel his hand in hers, hear his voice, feel his lips on hers. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she brushed them away. She would refuse to show how weak she would become without her other half.

The woman tapped away at the key pad, inputting the number code. What she was met with was appalling and made her heart drop. Aaron wasn't there. The cell was completely empty. Fear ripped through her. She was told noon, so why weren't they here?

Mora's eyes darted to the clock and saw that she was still early. Cursing met her ears, unfortunately not being Aaron's. She walked over to a small office and saw the two guards who were usually stationed during the day.

One had an ice pack on his head, "How the hell did they even get out?" the girl shrugged, a worried expression on her face.

'They got out?' hope filled Mora, "What's going on here?"

Both looked up, but it became apparent neither wanted to talk, but the girl spoke u pa few minutes later, "They managed to get out and knock us out in the process..."

The man growled, not liking to be reminded of how those people managed to sneak up behind him. "I've already called out the squads...they'll be hunting them down and finding them soon..."

Mora backed out of the room slowly, and turned the corner, pressing herself against the wall. Tears of joy slipped from her eyes and ran down her cheeks. Aaron was possibly safe for the moment. She just had to find him before the guards units did.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Rick sighed a breath of relief as the three of them settled in a small secluded air duct. Aaron was in pain, so they had to stop for the moment being. The green-eyed man looked at Cyan, who still had said nothing. He had a feeling they were going to be in the duct until they were well rested. Then...well Rick hadn't actually thought that far ahead. He knew Aaron would want to see Mora, but with Aaron escaped, everyone would know that, too. She wouldn't be safe to go to.

It scared the older man to hear stomping pass by as people searched for them. He felt something was off, though, since he hadn't once heard Glados' voice come over the intercom. Usually, she'd be taunting Aaron about how she had Mora and Mora was going to die, or maybe even taunt Rick with freedom or something... but there was nothing. What was that crooked woman up to?

He settled back against the metal of the duct and closed his eyes, trying to think of their next move. The peace was soon disturbed by voices coming through the shaft. He growled and prepared to protect his two companions.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Chell walked alongside Wheatley and Mel as they traversed the underground facility. She was worried that they wouldn't be able to find their way out. She wasn't recognizing any of the areas and the only other way out was through the testing spheres, which would be difficult to get through with only one portal device for three people (one of which had never used one).

Mel frowned and gripped the sides of her arms, looking around, "Chell...this place is scary...why did GLaDOS put us here?"

'Because she wants to see us die long and agonizing deaths...' Chell thought to herself, turning the corner. She sighed. Another door to a testing track. 'No choice...' she gripped the handle and pushed forward.

"We aren't actually going in there, are we , love?" she heard Wheatley ask. Chell gave him a sad look and he nodded knowing it could be their only hope of getting out.

As the three walked into the room, the lights came out and Chell saw purple gel falling from a metal tube. More gels?

"Hello, this is Cave Johnson here. Today, you'll be testing Adhesion Gel, something the lab boys say should be discontinued since it makes testers disoriented." the recording paused, "Well, I say screw that! You've got more guts than these eggheads! You can handle it! So get out there and let's show them how we really do science!" it stopped.

"Cave Johnson? Isn't that the man who owned the place before he died?" Mel walked into the room, "Wow...the testing chambers look way different than GLaDOS'."

The orange clad test subject nodded and looked around at the room. It was simple. No buttons. No Emancipation Grills. Nothing. Except the exit was on a non portal surface, next to a non portal ledge. How in the hell was she supposed to get them all the way up there?

She searched the rest of the room. There was a long wall strip with portal material on it, but none below it, so going to the top and falling were out of the question, not to mention Wheatley didn't have long fall boots on.

It had to be the gel. Adhesion as Cave had called it. Did that mean it was sticky? Great. She shot her first portal beneath the gel flow and then one toward the top of the wall. A long stream of violet gel shot across the room and splattered against the ledge wall. Chell aimed another portal slightly lower, covering more of the wall.

Once it was all covered, Chell shot the portal extra low, so that the gel would be aimed elsewhere. She walked over the gel and reached out and touched it. Her hand stuck to it, but released when she twisted her hand and pulled away. It was odd, to say the least.

She motioned for the others to walk over, but when she tried to move herself, she was trapped in place. Her feet were stuck tight to the purple goo. Chell turned to tell them to stop. However, it was too late, both of them were stuck to it, too.

"What the hell is this stuff?" Wheatley freaked, trying to pull free, but only managing to lose balance and topple onto his hands and knees. Mel laughed lightly, as he was now stuck like that.

The blonde looked down, "You touched it with your hand a minute ago...how did you get free?"

Chell's eyes widened, 'Of course!' Twisting! She twisted her foot and the gel released, allowing her to take another step. The other foot twisted and she was moving (awkwardly, but still moving).

Mel grinned, "Twist?" the girl tried it and she was able to walk freely too, "Hey, you," she looked at Wheatley, mumbling something about needing a paddle.

"It's Wheatley, luv..." he groaned, yanking his hand from the glove he wore, "Damn..."

"Twist and pull." Mel rolled her eyes and headed toward Chell, who was staring up at the ledge., "You're not seriously thinking of trying to walk up that wall, are you?"

Chell nodded and placed her foot on the wall, followed by the other. She closed her eyes expecting to fall on her back, but she hadn't. The test subject was standing on a vertical wall!

"Brilliant!" She leaned her eyes back, to see Wheatley hobbling over, still trying to get a hang of the gel.

Chell grinned and looked up. The gel must have had weird properties, because she didn't feel too much strain from being horizontal. The gravity was there, but...somehow she felt the gel was able to support her weight. She twisted her foot and waved in the air, as her remaining leg threatened to give out under the sudden stress. 'Ok, strike that...' she replace the foot, but up a little higher. After a few more test steps, she was able to get the hang of the pattern: twist, pull, lift, step, and repeat.

It wasn't a cake walk, but she managed to pull herself over the ledge. Mel followed next, also getting the hang of it quickly, but Wheatley just stared at the wall.

"You expect me to just walk right up this thing, love?" Chell nodded and smiled, holding out her hand.

He swallowed hard and bit his lip, before copying what he'd seen the girls do. He only got about half way, before Chell and Mel had to reach down and just pull him up.

Cave's voice once again boomed over the intercom, "Great! You made it! I'm also assuming you kept your wits...and stomach contents...about you? Good! You're going to need that for this next test!"

The rest of the tests went much the same and the first one. Chell and Mel would figure it out, Chell would portal where they needed to be and then they would use the Adhesion Gel to get what they need done. The worst parts were where the rooms started mixing all the gels together. It had been bad enough sliding really fast and bouncing at the end of the slide, but when you were then supposed to stick to the wall you hit and fire the next portal, with acids below you...well...Chell was really thankful she was a fast learner.

It was those tests that became the most difficult to move two portal device-less people with you. Wheatley already proved that he loved bouncing, but wasn't too keen on Propulsion Gel. He usually slipped or sped up into a wall.

"Gah!" CRASH! Chell spun around, a little annoyed her thought process had been disturbed. Wheatley hadn't seen the orange gel on the floor and had slipped. Chell's heart skipped a beat in fear, seeing him fall. She ran up to him.

"I really hate that stuff...just plain awful..." he frowned.

Wheatley had been feeling awful himself. When he'd watched Chell do the tests before, it hadn't been as bad, because he knew there was nothing he could do. Now, he was here and ready to help, but he couldn't keep his footing on that bloody orange stuff. The blue gel was great, in fact he honestly loved it. Sticky gel was okay, too, he just didn't like climbing up walls, or ceilings (which had been scary, terrifying, even).

Chell was kneeling beside him and he frowned, wishing he could disappear. He was only holding her back. Her hand touched his shoulder and he smiled sadly, "It's okay, love, I'm okay." She didn't seem too sure, but she couldn't say anything.

Mel yawned and sat down, causing Chell to yawn. She'd been so hung up with getting out, she hadn't even realized how tired she really was. She had hated being down here and sleeping before...but maybe it would be less frightening with Wheatley and Mel by her side.

Her sister curled up on the floor and was soon fast asleep, but sleep didn't come so easy for Chell, like she'd hoped. It was mostly because of her state of mind. Her head was swimming with too many thoughts to be put to rest for the night. The woman tossed to the side and let loose a little sigh. She closed her eyes tightly and tried counting cores, but it wasn't helping.

"You're still awake, aren't you, love?" Wheatley mumbled behind her, where he lie. Chell rolled over and gasped lightly, as his face was barely a few inches away. His glasses had been tossed aside and his hair was matted in some parts with gel, while what wasn't matted was messy. His blue eyes were sleepy, but it seemed he was refusing to fall asleep.

"I'm sorry about everythin', love... I want to be more help, but it seems I can't do anythin' right." He yawned, "let me know if there's anythin' I can do to help..." he closed his eyes.

Chell nodded, despite him not being able to see it through closed eyes, but she scooted a bit closer to place a light kiss on his cheek. She moved away, but was stopped when his arms reached out and wrapped around her waist, pulling her against him. Her face heated up when he rested his chin on top of her head. Her fingers gripped his shirt and she tried to look up at the sleeping man's features. It became difficult without waking him, so she closed her eyes and buried her face into chest.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Glados was angry. Beyond angry. After her failure, she was steaming. But now she was being informed that the little traitorous group had escaped. They were running about her facility, probably planning on wreaking havoc. She definitely didn't need that today, nor the rest of eternity. She had a facility to run and one to take over.

The head scientist returned her attention to her studies, as she figured the guards could take care of this one thing. And if they couldn't, well, she was going to have a field day throwing them into the fiery pits of the incinerator and leaving them in neurotoxin chambers.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Wheatley groaned, waking up. His head pounded, but he felt warm. Something was weighing down one of his arms. He opened his eyes and was blinded by the bright lighting in the testing chamber. Testing chamber? That's right. He, Chell and Mel had been thrown down into the bowels of Aperture. It wasn't something he was enjoying, either.

He reached with his free hand and grabbed the glasses, slipping them on. The man frowned at the crack running through the lens. It was a pain getting new glasses, especially when the only person who gave clearance for that sort of thing hated you.

His eyes drifted down and blood rushed to his cheeks. Chell was curled up against him, sleeping soundly. Her lips were slightly parted and her expression was completely peaceful. Wheatley licked his lips and let out a low shaky breath. This girl in his arms, this wonderful woman, was so at peace and calm. She shifted lightly, cuddling into him further. The blue-eyed man let out a soft gasp, and his eyes once again landed on her lips. Though slightly chapped, he couldn't help but notice how soft they looked and wondered how they'd feel against his own.

Slowly, he leaned a little closer, hoping to finally settle his thoughts and kiss her. His eyes slipped closed as he leaned just a little bit closer. Suddenly he felt her body go rigid. Wheatley's blue eyes popped open and were staring directly into her blue-grey ones. Her orbs searched over his and darted all over his face.

Wheatley wanted to apologize, but something about her gaze froze him. He felt bad about trying to steal a kiss from her, but then again, something in her eyes told him she wasn't mad or upset.

If someone had told him that she would be the one to kiss him, he would have thought you mad, but sure enough she had finished what he started. Chell's lips were tightly against his in a heated, but experimental kiss. She was hesitant, but curious.

Not that he minded of course. He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms tightly around her, pulling her close to him. Wheatley's lips massaged hers and he felt bubbling joy rise up inside him as well as a racing mind.

'She kissed me! She bloody kissed me!' his thoughts screamed. 'No, she's still kissing me!'

Chell pulled away, her cheeks were stained a light pink. She bit her lower lip, worry in her eyes. It drove him insane. He leaned forward with a little more confidence and took her lips again. This kiss was a little more needy on his part. It was as if he'd tasted a forbidden wine and needed more. His head was swimming but he felt wonderful!

She pushed away lightly, being slightly breathless. Her eyes shone brightly and she nuzzled into his neck. Wheatley smiled and kissed the top of her head. If it weren't for the fact that they were still stranded deep inside Aperture, he'd have preferred to stay there forever. Hopefully, there would be more time for that later.

He sat up and groaned. His arm was sore, as was his back. The man hadn't felt pain like this in a very long time. It was to be expected, though. Several days of sleeping on the hard floors and being tossed around in the air tubes and being dropped and thrown across the room, he wasn't surprised by this pain and soreness.

The blue-eyed man stretched his muscles the best he could, while Chell woke Mel and prepared to finish the test. The sooner they got out, the better.

A chilling voice rang out through the old facility. It didn't belong to Cave.

"Finally." GLaDOS growled, "I've been looking everywhere." Chell went stiff and glared at the nearest camera she could find.

"Oh, come now...it's not that bad..." she spoke, "Besides, you would be dead if I hadn't sent you down there. Who knows what that crazy alternate me would have done. I'd prefer to kill you myself..."

Mel frowned, as did Wheatley and Chell. Chell picked up her portal device and began aiming for the camera.

'When had she even put those in?' she thought bitterly.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." GLaDOS growled, "I'm trying to help you, but if you want to just die down there, be my guest. It'll save me a lot of trouble, you adopted cow."

The test subject shot the portals, knocking the camera from place. It hit the ground, and Chell sighed, happy for the fact she couldn't watch them anymore, at least not in this chamber.

"Fine. I didn't want to help you anyway." a short buzzed static cut the computer off from them.

"Chell...she could have helped us..." Mel whispered, sadness laden in her voice and eyes.

The brunette shook her head and returned her attention to the chamber at hand. She'd had enough with GLaDOS and her counterpart. Both were maniacal and twisted and would sooner lock them in a lift to die than take them out of Aperture, or Old Aperture.

The next two rooms were silent, minus Cave and Caroline's voices ringing out every once in a while. Chell couldn't help but feel slightly guilty. Mel just didn't seem to understand how dangerous GLaDOS really was. She hadn't been dropped into an incinerator twice, neurotoxined or thrown into turret filled tests that seemed purely impossible. She hadn't been down here before, where every noise sends chills down your spine. She hadn't had her best friend and partner in escape turn on her and try to kill her.

Chell wiped away the tears that threatened to fall. It was no use getting so emotional over this. She was only trying to help them, and they would thank her later when the weren't dead.

Wheatley seemed to notice her state of distress, because he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him and running his hands down her head and back, softly making her feel better.

"Don't let it bother you, love." his voice cracked lightly. Was he getting upset? She looked up and saw his blue eyes sparkling with a strange sadness.

"Oh..." he seemed to understand what her face meant, "I just don't like seeing you upset and I'm not able to help..." Chell smiled, reaching up and stroking his face lightly. She reached up and their lips met in a soft kiss.

Wheatley smiled.

Mel groaned, "Since when did you two get together? That's all I need to see is you two making out wherever we go..." the girl grinned.

Chell blushed and shook her head, turning back to the test. How could she have forgotten Mel standing there?

She opened the door and gasped in surprise. It was the sphere where she'd run into the potato GLaDOS. Cave's voice complained about Black Mesa and Caroline cut in and he left the testers to testing. Chell wandered into the little room. She knew they would have to press the button again.

"Oh god! It's a bloody bird!" Chell jumped and turned to see the tall man cowering behind the glass wall. Her eyes landed on the nest and her heart melted. A newly hatched baby bird rested in the nest, chirping sadly that it's mother was nowhere to be found.

She took a few steps toward it, but Wheatley called out, "No! It'll peck your bloody eyes out, it will!" Mel was being no help either. The blonde was dying of laughter over Wheatley's yelling.

Chell rolled her eyes and scooped up the baby bird. That's when another voice cut in. "Ah! She gestated a clone army! Put that thing down! It's dangerous!" GLaDOS' voice rang out. The test subject looked up and saw another camera staring directly at her.

"Kill it! That thing will destroy us all!"

"She's right for once, love!" Chell glared at Wheatley. She was not going to kill a defenseless baby bird. She took her finger and ran it down the baby's soft, feathery back and it ceased chirping and tucked itself up and fell asleep.

"Look at that thing! You two are such a pair... abandoned by your parents...and look at that fat, ugly beak..." GLaDOS growled, "and the bird's is pretty big, as well..."

Chell glared and began walking away from the camera. Wheatley backed away from her, still frightened by the sleeping baby bird. How could it be possible that he was this scared of the thing? Was that just one of those things the core and human shared?

She just shook her head and handed the gun to Mel, leaving the portal shooting to her. She pointed to the cat walk up high. Mel nodded, and Chell turned to Wheatley, pointing to the lift. He needed to get into the lift since he didn't have the boots to catch him, like they would for her and Mel when they leaped across.

He nodded, all too happy to get away from the little feathery demon, as he called it.

Against her wishes, she was forced to head back into that little room to hit the button for Wheatley, who was almost in it.

She walked into the little room and the camera moved to her, "Oh, it's you? Back so soon? This is a sight to behold. Two fat orphans probably coming to kill me." the camera tilted and looked at the tiny bird, "Yes, I'm talking to you Mr. Chubby Beak..." she sighed. Chell hit the button, lifting the metal thing to the cat walk. She left the room, Mr. Chubby Beak in hand.

Mel shot the portals to get them up to where they needed to be and then to get them across to Wheatley.

The man backed away, into the elevator. "Get that thing away from me!" he pointed to the baby bird.

"His name's Mr. Chubby Beak," Mel giggled, earning a glare from Chell, "Well, I thought it was funny and cute..."

She rolled her eyes and stepped into the elevator, much to Wheatley's dismay.

XxXxXxXxXxX

GLaDOS let out her electronic sigh. Of course that little menace wouldn't listen to her, and now the facility was going to be overrun by birds!

She shook her core and turned her attention to the new little problem she'd been debating on solving. In a small, sealed chamber, the new little prisoners sat. She'd taken their weapons, including the strange portal device. The blue haired one and the orange haired one were cuddled up in a corner. They reminded her of Blue and Orange.

Orange 2 sat crying, while Blue 2 calmed her down. The turret things were pacing the room, trying to find a way out. They wouldn't.

Now her problem was this: she wanted to test. Had to test. But should she test on them, or just kill them?

The two kids, Blue 2 and Orange 2, were dressed in a special armor and had long-fall boots on, so they could be used in testing. It was decided. She began to separate the small testing room.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Penny held onto Atlas like her life depended on it. She had been since the moment she'd been dropped into the same room as them. The girl had been afraid for their lives and was truly scared of what would happen to them. Her head hurt from the little bit of neurotoxin she'd inhaled.

"What the hell?" Atlas yelled out. The dark grey panels began to move to separate them from the guards. He jumped up, but was met with a sturdy wall. He slammed his fist into it and slid down, "Penny... I'm sorry... I'm powerless to save us..."

The girl crawled over to him and hugged him tightly. At least if they died, they'd die together this time. There was no way she was going to let him go this time.

"Atlas... there is nothing you can do..." she kissed his cheek, "We will be fine anyway." she smiled softly.

He returned a bitter smile, "I wish I had your optimism... But you're right. We will be fine, because I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

She hugged him and he hugged her.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Days passed. Mora was worried. Aaron and Rick were still on the run and there was no way for her to get a hold of them. Not that she was safe, even she could feel all eyes on her at all times. She knew she was being followed. The woman just prayed that Aaron knew that and wouldn't come out into plain sight for her.

She shook her head. She also knew that the only reason they had not taken her into custody was because Glados was preoccupied with her device and studies, and they needed her for bait.

The break room was unusually quiet. Alex and Curi sat in a corner staring blankly at a picture. Both had been taken in for questioning and neither knew why. It must have been terrifying for them. Mora walked over and hugged them both. They needed it more than anyone else.

Tension also came from another person in the room. Flynn was glaring at his book, his lips pulled into a tight line.

"Flynn?" Mora sat beside him, "Are you still mad?"

He slammed the book on the table, "He said he would be fine! He said he would come back and stay out of trouble!" he growled, running his fingers through his normally neat hair, "I've learned a new fact...Rick is a liar..." Mora frowned. She knew the walking fact book missed his best friend, even if he wouldn't outright admit it. Despite their constant fighting and bickering, the two had always been there for each other and Alex. They were rarely seen apart for so long.

A loud crash caught them all off guard.

"Aw, you really feelin' that way, four-eyes?" Rick poked his out from the open vent shaft. Flynn looked up at him with wide pink eyes.

"What are you doing up there?" he asked astonished.

Rick grinned, "Rattbott said this was the perfect place to talk to you guys. The cameras can't see it and as long as I don't come down there, we won't be caught." Mora stood, tears in her eyes.

"I-is...?" her hopes were confirmed as Aaron joined beside Rick.

A sly smile on his lips, "Not dead yet, babe. I told you, forever." Mora pinched herself and kept waiting for the dream to end, but it never did. Rick motioned for her to climb onto the table. She did and he pulled her into the shaft. She immediately tackled her fiance, pressing her lips to his. Her tears stained her face and she sobbed happily into his shirt.

"Hey, babe..." he whispered, stroking her hair, "You're usually so calm..." he kissed her passionately.

Rick rolled his eyes, but was happy to see the angry, grumpy man finally happy again. He'd done nothing but complain and hit and kick things. He kept saying he wanted to go see Mora, despite being told he couldn't.

The man poked his head back into the room, "So, four-eyes, you and Space-nut wanna come back tot he base, too?"

"What base?" Flynn raised his brow.

"Base?" Alex jumped up, "Is that the same as space?" Curi stood up beside him.

"Is it? Is it secret? Is there a secret knock? Oh! Or is it a special password? Are you part of some secret club? Can I join? Can Alex join?"

Rick grinned, "Just come on, would ya?" He helped them into the vent, one at a time, and sent them down in the direction Aaron had taken Mora.

"Stay a distance apart. Rattbott and Coryn said this thing can only hold so much weight!"

The base was nothing like what Mora had imagined. It was enough to go undetected, but big enough for all of them to fit rather comfortably. There was writing all over the walls, but relatively clean. Aaron pulled her onto the couch with him. Mora yelped lightly, but she was silenced by his lips. His hands held her tight and his kiss was full of longing and desperation.

The violet-eyed girl pushed away and stared into his eyes, "I missed you, too..." she moved, "How's your leg?" The fabric was still blood stained, but looked as if it had been washed up.

He ran his hand over the wound, "Better. Damn guards... I ought to go back there and kick his ass..." he growled. Mora rested her hand on his and smiled softly.

A sudden thud caught Mora's attention. She looked up to see the girl who had been in the cell with Rick and Aaron. She was carrying a large box marked 'food'. Behind her was an older man who was dressed in slightly dirtier version of her uniform.

Mora knew who he was. He was an escaped experiment. The one that took off with the failed A.I.

"Oh, hello," he held out his hand toward Mora, "I'm Coryn." Mora shook his hand smiling.

"Mora...Aaron's fiance..."

He gave the red haired man a look, "I thought we talked about this..."

Aaron glared and was about to go off on the man, but Alex and Curi came bustling through the secret entrance. "Oh! It is a secret hideout! No secret knock, though..."

"And no space..."

Coryn frowned lightly as Rick stumbled in with Flynn and forced the panel closed. "Rattbott told us how not to get caught...don't worry, besides the safety whats-its are still up and running properly." The pink hearted man sighed and sat down.

Mora bit her lip. She wanted answers, "What's going on here?" she turned to Aaron, "And how did you get out? The guards said that you knocked them out..."

Aaron snorted, "Yeah, right, that prissy little guard did all the dirty work..." Mora was completely confused.

Rick frowned, "Show a lil' respect, man, she saved our sorry asses..." he sighed, "That female guard, Leila, knocked out the other one and handed us a key card, the pass code and helped us get out..." Mora nodded, remembering who he was talking about.

"Then Coryn and Rattbott stumbled across us in the vents... Speakin' of, where is the little guy?" The male companion shrugged.

"Probably in the other room drawing. I've told you before, he doesn't like going very far away from me."

It was actually quite a bit to take in, but Mora was just happy Aaron was safe and she could see him again. She leaned over and cuddled into his side, breathing in the scent she had been missing terribly.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Glados grinned. There it was. The new alternate universe device. Her arsenal was full and she was prepared to go up against that blasted A.I. She would get her revenge and no one, but no one could stop her.

:D oh teh noes! Glados is about to go in for round two!

~Lady Pyrien