(Not a lot of real progression in this chapter, just a lot of setting up... Still feel a bit uncertain with Tremblay's characterization. I was going for a General Buck Turgidson mixed with annoying 'go-getter team player' yet maliciously manipulative boss.)
A Change of Plans
Caroline ran her fingertips along the edge of the report. The autopsy went into excruciating detail. Weakened heart due to lunar and mercury poisoning, neural interference caused by fluorescent calcium, lungs lined with asbestos dust. The good old days of Aperture had caught up with a vengeance.
She carefully folded the paper into a triangle, set it down beside her teacup, and clicked the play button on the tape player she kept under the desk. Soothing jazz music filled Cave's office as she let herself sink deeper into the leather chair. Try as she might, though, she just couldn't stop her mind from being continually drawn back to the hours before Cave's death.
Her chest had tightened as the voice had announced the discovery of hardened calcium in Johnson's system. Surely the scientists, once they realized the danger he was in, would give up on the procedure? Yes, Cave would still die days, maybe hours later, but it would be better then an empty eternity inside a computer. And besides, who could tell what kind of damage he might have caused inside the facility. But no, it was against their nature to give up without a fight. Why hadn't she realized Cave and the lab boys would decide to soldier on with the procedure regardless of the risks?
"He would have died anyway. It was inevitable," she told herself. "The report said it. Even without the calcium, they wouldn't have been able to get his personality downloaded in time."
She repeated it to herself for the next few minutes as she waited for Tremblay to arrive, trying reassuring herself. By the time he came, she had nearly lost herself in the loop.
"You wanted to see me, Miss Rand?" he asked as he entered the office.
"Yes, Doctor. Please take a seat," she said, fumbling for the power switch on the tape player.
Tremblay seated himself opposite her and glanced around the room.
"I see you haven't redecorated."
"Oh, no. I wanted to keep it just as it had been when Mr. Johnson was still with us."
"Of course you did," Tremblay said, nodding sagely. "And before we begin, may I take this opportunity to say what a wonderful eulogy you gave yesterday. We all have the greatest faith in your leadership."
"Well, thank you, Doctor," Caroline said. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to get down to business?"
"By all means."
"As you know, Aperture Science is no longer as prosperous as it was in the Innovator days. Aperture Laboratories products aren't selling anymore - quite understandably, considering the hubbub with the court cases and senate hearings."
"Oh, I'm not the man to ask about finances," Tremblay said, waving a hand through the air absently.
"That's not what I want to talk to you about. You see, I've decided to cut a few of our projects. The GLaDOS included."
For a moment, Tremblay was silent. He nodded and folded his arms.
"I see, Miss Rand."
Caroline sighed.
"I know what you're thinking Doctor, but I promise you it's not that. It's not the only thing that will be going. All unnecessary, overly-expensive or seemingly fruitless ideas will be dissolved. That way our remaining funds can be used to fuel projects with potential. For example, what about the portal device? I think we're underestimating the possibilities. Imagine how it would revolutionize military operations, how it would change the lives of the disabled and elderly."
"And you don't think brain mapping has potential?"
"Of course it has. I simply think that, judging from your previous experiments, our current level of technological development is too low to attempt such a feat."
"That's why we must continue in our research. Before, we were rushed; everyone was in a panic. If we'd had more time, it would have been a triumph."
"But it wasn't. In these economically challenging times, we can't afford to pursue projects that won't bear definite results. Three people severely damaged, our founder departed; it's not an impressive record. Mr. Johnson may have been willing to let such negligence pass, but I won't."
"Respectfully, Miss Rand, I believe you may be emotionally compromised. I admit that Johnson's last wish was quite shocking."
"As I believe I've mentioned previously, that has nothing to do with it."
"I know that I would be honored if he had chosen me."
"Why not jump into the computer yourself, then?"
Tremblay clasped his hands together and leaned on the desk.
"Miss Rand, I apologize. I understand you're having to bear a lot of responsibility right now. I'm not trying to shame you; I just want you to appreciate how important this was to Mr. Johnson. He cared deeply for you. So much so that he even offered you immortality. I really don't see why this troubles you so much. You could bring glory to Aperture, and to Cave's memory. And just imagine what it would be like for you! A whole new frontier is waiting, one you could lead."
"I'm not in the mood for a philosophical debate, but I will tell you that the idea of watching everyone I know die isn't a pleasant one."
"If it became too distressing, we could erase your emotional attachment sub-routines."
"That reminds me of another thing; what would life as a machine amount to? Running tests, maintaining the building, I know. But I'd be sacrificing everything. Real emotions; my sense of smell, hearing, feeling, seeing, tasting; the ability to go where I please… It may surprise you, but I enjoy being a human."
"It's true you couldn't 'move' as such. But hell, we've nailed the five senses. Well, maybe not taste, but you don't really need that, do you? Not like your going to be eating a cake or anything. And we've made great strides forward in the emotions department."
"You mean the personality constructs? They are impressive, but if that's the only amount of emotion you can get, well…"
"They are experiments. If we're making a personality construct, we deliberately take only a minimal amount of personality and emotion during the brain mapping; after all, they'll never be used for anything vital. The GLaDOS is a different kettle of fish altogether, and I'm positive we can give you a full spread of emotion. Your mind would become merged with that of an artificial intelligence, the Chassis, and as such, feeling things won't be quite the same; but that's only a small detail. You must think of the bigger picture."
Caroline shook her head and brushed a few stray strands of hair behind her ear.
"I'm sorry Dr Tremblay, but I will not do it."
"But it was Mr. Johnson's dying wish."
"Indeed. I was too hasty in proposing to stop the project altogether. I see that now. You may find another person who is willing to become the GLaDOS. I will leave it up to you and your team to decide who. But I am having nothing more to do with it."
"We could find a way to make the procedure safe. Or at least haggle the survival rate up to fifty percent. There has to be a way. Then you could continue as a human."
"I may not be as savvy about this as you are, Doctor, but I know enough to realize that won't happen. I may not be as ill as Mr. Johnson was, but I subjected myself to the same amount of harmful materials while watching over experiments. I'm an old woman, and I won't survive your operation. Find someone else, Doctor."
Tremblay laced his fingers together and rested his chin on them, brow furrowed.
"The choice is yours, of course," he said. There was a pause. Caroline shuffled in her chair.
"While you're here, I want to ask you something. Have there been any irregularities with the filing system?" she asked.
"There has been a slight delay in the distribution of certain documents," he said. "We're a little behind on the paperwork after what happened. Everything should be back to normal soon enough."
"Good. The girl I brought in for testing has not yet heard anything. She was beginning to worry that she had been turned down. She's already got a snapped wrist thanks to a certain test associate; I wouldn't want to upset her further."
"Oh, there's not much danger of that. I think it's safe to say we'll take anyone we can get. I can look into it for you, if you want."
"If you would, thank you."
Tremblay nodded.
"Anything else?"
"I think that is all."
Tremblay stood up and placed a hand on the doorknob.
"Bear this in mind, Dr Tremblay," Caroline said. "Nothing you can do will make me change my mind."
He smiled and stepped out into the corridor.
"No need to remind me, Miss Rand. We're all tense after the recent events. I'm sure that, before long, everything shall be just as it should be."
(Emotional compromise? Emotional sub-routines? …Is it a bit obvious I'm a trekkie? :V)