A memory was flashing through her head... College she supposed. She needed something to keep busy with, her eyes foggy and unmoving. She wasn't sure what was happening, but it didn't hurt, so she didn't fight it. The vivid image filled her senses...

Although it was cold, she wore a yellow tank-top the color of daffodils and a powder blue skirt. Her hazel eyes shifted from side to side. She held her fidgeting hands in her lap, twisting her fingers and tracing her icy knuckles. The metal on the bench was colder than then the air and she was constantly shifting her legs so one was never colder than the other. Her tangerine open toed heels revealed red wind chapped toes. Her face was twisted into an expression of grief and worry. Snow had begun to fall and was coating her shiny chestnut brown hair. She bit her lip slightly, sending a crimson drop oh blood down her pale chin. She wiped it away, smearing her face with the blood. She huddled closer to the side of the bench and pulled her hand knitted maroon scarf up to her nose. She tugged on the sides of her coat, trying to conserve her body heat. The sky was a dark shade of blue, filled with fog dulled stars. The air was brisk and full of anticipation. She squinted through the mist and flurries, searching for the headlights of the city bus. Nothing. She sighed, sending out a cloud of heat from her lips and settled back into her pile of clothes. Her ragged trench coat fell over her knees, concealing the constant shivers that racked her body. She looked at her silver watch, trying to keep the metal from touching her skin. The clock revealed the time as 7:36. She was late, very late. This was the third time she'd overslept this week, not that anyone noticed in the massive mob of students. Still, she was sure that someone was bound to be getting annoyed with her. Though it was morning, night still filled the sky, winter had that effect. She hugged her book-bag, hoping it would keep her warm. Money had always been an issue, she'd never been able to pay for adequate winter clothes. She stood up, shielding her eyes from the blinding headlights... the memory faded. This one scene brought back countless memories of her college days, her old self. It hurt, her heart ached. She missed this woman. She hadn't stopped to think about it for ages. But she genuinely missed this version of herself. She tried to catch a glimpse of where she was now, she felt helpless. This was her body, and here she was, sitting in the back of her mind, reliving memories. She heard herself speak, it was an odd sensation, to feel her lips moving without her consent.

"Hello, Kate. I thought it would please you to know that we have a new section for you to do your work... It happens to be in New Mexico. That's where people like you belong. I hope you like your HEV suit. Actually, I don't." Had she really just told off Kate? It felt... so right. Black Mesa, perfect insult. Why hadn't she thought of it before? Because she was sweet and kind...

"Oh. Hi Doug. How are your art classes going?"

"Oh! Hi Caroline. I didn't know anyone knew about those. Yeah, they're actually really helping. It takes all my frustration out on the paper, I haven't been needing as many medications lately. Oh, by the way, Cave wants you in his office, something about the "moon sugar." She hadn't known about the classes. How had Gladys known? She seemed to pick up on a lot more than Caroline.

"Well, those drawings on your notes and getting pretty good." Gladys winked, gently elbowing Rattmann. He blushed and hide his documents, flashing Gladys a grateful smile as he walked into his office. If Cave found out he had been doodling, it'd be out the door- er- window.

"Hey Henry." Gladys said without emotion. She had a hatred of Kate, an affection for Rattmann, and was indifferent towards Henry. She didn't pay much attention to the other employees. She only noticed Henry because he was a head technician. She didn't particularly care for him. She wasn't sure why she liked Wheatley. He certainly wasn't the brightest scientist around. But he understood her jokes well enough, and he liked to have fun. Something the other scientists were to "busy" for. With Doug as a slight exception. He would sometimes join her and Wheatley for a midnight game of scrabble or whatever board game Gladys managed to grab off her closet shelf. Unfortunately, he had lots of duties and didn't get away too often. So, he and Wheatley knew the real her. Mostly Wheatley. But Doug would be getting to know her soon enough. She made her way to Cave's office, they were having a meeting, a typical Aperture meeting.

"Good science is messy. In real science, stuff goes crazy, people die, and things go wrong. If everything is going right, you're not doing science. You're doing witchcraft. That's right, I'm talking to you Gabe! I thought I told you to fix that door! So you can slam it on your way out! Because you are FIRED! Again, sir, I would. But that was a window... You know what, you are REAL lucky that you have people that support you, because your work speed it certainly not doing you any favors. Now, get back to work, or you will be burned at the stake for your witchcraft. Or worse, fired." Gladys held back a laugh. Cave was hilarious, and very good at thinking incredibly fast. Good combination for meetings. Holds peoples attention. She walked into the meeting room,

"Hello, Mr. Johnson. I'm here for the meeting." Cave nodded, and with all members present, got the meeting underway.

"Okay, we're here to discuss our profits Vs. Black Mesa's. As we all know, the people at Black Mesa are stuck up bastards. But since we can't shut down their research on those grounds, we have to beat them. Now, we've tried lots of original stuff, but Black Mesa steals it all. So we have to go top secret. And also, Gabe, I'm blaming the project leaks on you. It wasn't me though, sir. I never let anyone know what we're working on. No matter how much they beg. Fine. But again. The threat still stands. RESULTS GABE! I almost fixed the window... "door." Almost isn't results! Come on Gabe, we've been waiting for ages. That door... Window, sir... Is very important. Now, I want someone to get working on those deadly shower curtains, I assure you that we will secretly be working on EIGHT. And I promise that one will be finding its way to Black Mesa." Gladys was about to reply when she heard a high pitched voice squeaking at her, I though I was allowed to talk to Cave! Let me talk! Gladys groaned inwardly, and reluctantly switched control to Caroline.

"Sir, we should work on some projects with the moon dust sugar."

"Of course Caroline. But first, we need some ideas for beating Black Mesa into the dust."

"We could do something with..." Caroline was cut off by Gladys, "How about AI technology? That would be interesting, giving machines personalities and such. In fact, I even know who we'd have work on it, Doug and Henry. If you're going to have one main person for the project, I'd go with Doug. He has a way with creating good personalities."

"That's a great idea Caroline! Although, how about we just put people into the computers! Now, that's something Black Mesa can't steal, being bound by their stupid morals and such." Why did you do that! This is MY place! Get out! Give me control! 'Why don't you take it from me?' Gladys smirked inwardly. Maybe I will!

"I don't understand why this meeting's necessary." Kate growled, still scowling at Gladys. Cave shook his head, disappointed in his unmotivated employees.

"Since none of you seem to understand what's a stake here, let's add to the pile. Yes, it started with values, then science, then money, your jobs... let's put your lives right there alongside everything else. You don't get results? Witchcraft. We do NOT tolerate witches here at Aperture. You will be punished accordingly, burned at the stake. If that's not incentive, I don't know what is. Hell, we might even test the shower curtains on you! Make sure they're deadly! Why are you all just sitting there staring? GET BACK TO WORK! Especially you Gabe. I'm almost finished with the window... Door. And again, "almost" is NOT RESULTS! Get that window finished. I had someone else work on it though... Who? I had Wheatley fix it. Well, it was YOUR responsibility, so GET IT FINISHED!" Speaking of Wheatley, where was he? All the other main employees were here...

"WAITWAITWAITwaitwaitwaitWAIT!" Wheatley came sprinting into the room, screaming and panting.

"Sorry... I'm... late... had... problems... with... the... window..."

"Is it fixed?" Cave asked.

"Uh... no. Not really. You could say, it's... um... in progress." Cave pressed his face against his palm and screamed,

"IS ANYONE DOING ANYTHING PRODUCTIVE?"

"We are working on the portal project." Rattmann said, trying to bring up the mood.

"And what, exactly, has been accomplished as of now?"

"Well, nothing much lately..."

"And that is why we lose to Black Mesa. You people are HORRIBLE. I'm going back to my office, good luck keeping your jobs." Cave slammed the door behind him, leaving a room of people behind. They simply got back to work. This sort of thing happened a lot at meetings. Someone screwed up, someone was late, someone slammed a door. All part of daily life. Gladys took control again,

"So, who's been sneaking ideas to BM? I know it's one of you. Everyone else in this facility is too stupid to do that and not get noticed. Of course, you did get noticed. But they would have been noticed a LONG time ago. Either way, your an idiot. So, come on, who is it?" She glared around the room.

"Come on, 'fess up. I'm not playing games, tell me now and I'll keep quiet. If I find out on my own, you better believe that your not being forgiven, EVER." The room was silent.

"What, scared of me? Who the hell am I going to tell?"

"Cave." The whole room said in unison.

"Okay. Point taken. But I promise I won't. It's not like your the first or only person working undercover." Nobody said anything.

"Fine. But I'll find out. And you're going to regret not speaking up now, because the consequences are going to be HELL. Trust me on that." Gladys dug her heels into the carpet and slammed the door on her way to the break room. More daily happenings. Traitor accusations, silence, door slam. Cave was right. Doors were an important part of Aperture. The neurotoxin scent in the room was as strong as ever. Caroline got some chips and went back to her room to brood. She hadn't been laying on the bed for more than five minutes when Wheatley showed up. He didn't knock. The door was open though.

"So... you seemed a lot more... uh, YOU today."

"Yeah. I guess so. Maybe that's the effect Aperture water has on people..." She joked.

"Maybe." They both knew it was only half a joke. Nobody KNEW what was in the Aperture water, and Cave sure wasn't giving hints. For all they knew, it could be full of hallucinogens, and they could be going around imagining everyone.

"So, still haven't managed to fix the window?"

"Nah, that things a bloody mess. Don't even know what happened to it."

"I do."

"What?"

"Repulsion gel."

"Don't want to get in the way of that, then, huh?"

"Nope." The conversation was going pretty awkward. Until Doug showed up. Then it was the typical progression of awkward moments. It got even more awkward.

"Hey, did you people know we had a hot tub? Yeah, apparently, it was supposed to be part of testing. But everyone just uses it as a hot tub now. Right now it's full of naked people..."