A/N: Back on track with updating now.

To my guest reviewer: Hehe thank you :) Glad you enjoyed it.


Chapter Seven – The Increasing Pressure.

Chell lay in her tiny capsule bedroom, staring at the ceiling. Sleep was evading her, her mind too full of everything that had happened that day. She didn't regret what had occurred between Doug and her, but she still didn't really know why she'd done it. Well, that wasn't strictly true. She was lonely, and she felt...something. She wasn't sure exactly what, but whatever it was, kissing him hadn't felt inappropriate. If she was being brutally honest, it had felt...right.

It wasn't something she'd been expecting to find in this place. Part of her was almost afraid that he, of all people, would turn out to be the one, the one she couldn't do without. Because even now, she could feel that whatever affection she had for him was more intense than anything she'd ever felt towards men she'd fallen head over heels for. Perhaps it was due to the unusual nature of her forced lifestyle, she'd been primed by circumstance to latch on to the first bit of kindness she received. But her head was still clear. She hadn't given in, hadn't lost perspective on her whole situation. She hadn't lost herself like the others had. And that left her with only one conclusion: whatever it was, it was real.

She felt hopeful that Doug would find a way out. Against her better judgement, she couldn't stop. The optimistic side of her was warring with the side that was still convinced she would die. She wanted to indulge in daydreams of getting back to Earth, spending time with Doug away from Aperture Science, finding out just how far they could take what was between them. But they made her despondent because they seemed so unlikely to come true. Chell didn't normally let herself get depressed, but this wounded her deeply. It wasn't fair. None of it was fair.

She turned on her side, the narrow room just affording her the space to curl her legs up protectively. She was cold, but she was used to that. It never stopped up here. As dramatic as it sounded, she'd all but forgotten what it felt like to be warm.

A quiet voice broke the stillness of the night, and she frowned. Her fellow test subjects barely spoke anymore, apparently preferring to drift through their days with the least amount of contribution possible. Although she couldn't hear the words, the voice, a man's voice, sounded confident and authoritative, which led her to conclude that it was a staff member.

Sitting up, she crawled to the door, pressing her ear against it.

"No," the man was saying. "I don't think you will, will you? You're too far gone to tell anybody. Well that's just fine by me."

There came the sound of his footsteps walking away, and Chell opened her door a crack. She recognised him as one of the scientists who'd come in and nearly caught her with Doug. He didn't notice her, not bothering to look back as he exited the room. In the following silence, she heard rapid, shaky breathing coming from below, and she scrambled out of her room, feeling her way down the ladder in the dim light. The facility was never completely dark, even during sleeping hours. Low-energy bulbs lined the walls throughout, to light the way for night wanderers.

When she reached the floor, she immediately spotted an open pod, on the bottom level. She hurried over to it, and promptly stopped in her tracks. Its occupant was slumped inside it, quietly weeping, staring at nothing. Her lip was bleeding and a fresh bruise was beginning to form under one eye. Biting down her anger, Chell crouched, reaching out to squeeze the girl's shoulder. She flinched instinctively away.

"Anna, my God. I'm so sorry. What happened?"

Anna didn't react, barely seeming to hear her. Her spirit had long since been broken.

"Let me see," Chell instructed, examining her face. "Can you hear me? Anna? Don't let them win! For God's sake!"

The other woman remained unresponsive. Chell had tried similar speeches before, with no success. She knew she wasn't being as sensitive as she probably should be, but she was fuming. It wasn't Anna's fault, not at all, but she couldn't help being angry at her for giving up. As for the scientist, she just wanted to eject him out of the nearest airlock.

"Are you okay?" she asked, knowing it was useless. "I'll kill him, I swear it. If I ever get anywhere near him, I'll-"

"Go away, Chell," Anna mumbled, her voice barely audible and laced with fatigue.

"What? Anna, I'm trying to help you."

"Just...stop. I just want it all to be over. Leave me alone."

Stung, she shifted backwards, out of the room. Anna moved enough to nudge the door closed behind her. Chell paced the corridor for a while, her thoughts turning over and over like a leaf caught in a current. She was anxious, still furious, and cold with dread. Were none of them safe? After she'd walked off some of her restlessness, she returned to her room, but only managed to fall in and out of dozes. Real sleep was still nowhere to be found.

She was jolted awake by the alarm, and opened her door, joining the others on the ladders down to the ground. There were less of them than there'd been the day before. Significantly. Glancing around, she estimated that at least fifteen people were missing. There were only about seventeen of them left. Anna was one of the absent ones, she noticed.

The constant unease began to grow, and she knew she had to talk to Doug. After her nutritional shot, she headed through the surprisingly quiet facility, hoping that he would come and find her soon. Her locator chip was safely hidden, tucked into her bandage.

It took him the best part of an hour, but she was happy to wait. When she glanced up at the sound of his footsteps, she had to bite her lip to keep from smiling. He approached, the file of notes ever present, tucked under his arm. She met his eyes, trying to convey that she needed to speak to him, and that it was important.

"Follow me," he said.

They made their way to the workroom once again. Chell felt more than happy to have a locked door between her and the rest of the facility.

"Things are getting really crazy, Doug," she said, bypassing greetings in her concern. "Last night there was a scientist in the test subjects' quarters, one of the guys that came in to use the chambers after us yesterday. Sandy hair, glasses, quite short, getting a bit of a beer belly."

"Neil. What was he doing there?"

"He, er..." She gave an aggravated sigh, pushing her emotions aside. "He abused a woman. Anna. I don't know how far it went, but… Then this morning she was gone, along with about fourteen other people."

"Jesus," he muttered, his expression grim.

"She didn't...she didn't really react. She was upset, but...she'd already been broken. She told me she just wanted it all to be over. Doug, what is going on here?"

"The first wave of tests is almost over. Peter's sending scientists home when their projects finish. That's why the facility is so quiet this morning. Some people can afford to get up when they want, because they're off duty until the shuttle arrives."

"But what about the test subjects?" she asked, dreading that she already knew the answer.

The look he gave her confirmed her worst fears. They'd been executed. Disposable tools to further the cause of science. A surge of anger swept through her, and her eyes felt gritty and far too hot.

"Did you know about this?"

"No," he said, a shadow crossing his face. "Not directly. It had been implied that it would happen, but I didn't know anything more than that."

"You knew it might happen? And you didn't do anything? I thought you'd changed! What is-"

"What was I supposed to do?" he fired back. "I couldn't have saved them, Chell. I don't even know if I can save you! If I'd protested and made a nuisance of myself, they would have just sent me back to Earth, or maybe even had me killed as well. I can't just...charge in like a bull in a china shop."

Chell felt heated tears slip down her cheeks, and she dashed them away with a brisk, irritated swipe. "I can't accept this! They didn't deserve it. And Anna... How could he even...there is no excuse."

"I know. I never thought he'd do something like this. I don't like him, I never have, but I didn't think he was capable..." He studied her thoughtfully, his brow creased in concern. "You're shaking."

"I'm angry."

He stepped forward, loosely gripping her arms, his hands soothingly tracing paths. She didn't want to be comforted. Her anger gave her strength. But she couldn't bring herself to push him away.

"How long before it's another one of us?" she asked, sharing her fears. "How long before it's me?"

"I won't let that happen," he promised.

"How can you stop it?"

He glanced thoughtfully at the floor before meeting her gaze, his face troubled but earnest. "I'll hide you. You can stay in my room. I'll sleep on the floor."

She knew him well enough to know that it wasn't a ploy. He genuinely wanted to help. Although she felt that she should refuse, the thought of sleeping in a real bed was almost too much. Being away from the test subjects' quarters was appealing too. She'd never exactly felt safe there, but she'd never felt unsafe either. She did now.

Although her doubts refused to leave her, she nodded. "Okay. I'd appreciate that. I just wish...there was something I could do about the others."

"You can't save everyone. You have to pick your battles."

There was a brief pause. Then she said tentatively, "Our time's running out, isn't it?"

He nodded, gently brushing a stray tear off her cheek. "Seems that way."

"Am I testing today?"

"No."

"Good. I'm not...I don't feel that I could focus on it. I don't want to get myself killed."

That thought bothered him, she could see it clearly in his face.

"I need to go back to plant my locator chip in my pod," she said, changing the subject.

"I should go to breakfast. I've got no stomach for it, but I don't want to break my routine now."

"No," Chell agreed.

"I'll see if I can bring you something," he said with a small smile. "Meet me where you were earlier. I'll be about a half hour."

"I don't have a watch, but I think I can estimate that."

They parted ways. Chell spent some time in her room, indulging in some therapeutic crying. She wasn't a crier by nature, but every now and then she needed to let go. Feeling a little less tense, she left the chip under her pillow and ventured back out to meet Doug.

When he appeared, he took in her reddened eyes with a frown, but said nothing. Beyond the door she wasn't authorised to go through, he led her along a route she'd never seen before, through a narrow corridor lined with numbered doors. But for the clean surfaces and lack of cosmetic damage, it would have very much resembled a cheap motel. They had timed it well. Those scientists that still had work to do had already left, and those that didn't were still asleep. They didn't meet a soul on the way. Doug swiped his card through the reader of door 38 and ushered her inside.

Chell wasn't surprised to see a room nothing at all like the one she'd imagined in her bitter moments. It was basic, just containing a bed, a desk and a closet, with a single bedside table and a lamp. There was a door through to a tiny bathroom. The walls were the same grey as the corridors outside, and the floor was covered with thin, cheap carpet tiles in a nondescript charcoal colour. Doug had tried to make it his own with the pile of books by the bed, and the untidy desk. A calendar on the wall showed a panoramic view of the Grand Canyon on a sunny day. The colours almost leapt off the wall.

"Thank you for this," she said when he'd closed the door behind them. "I can cope with anything, but...to have the control taken from me...I just..."

"I understand. And it's no problem." He handed her a mug, like everything else, stamped with the Aperture logo. "Here. I hope you don't mind it black, I had to make it like mine."

She accepted it gratefully, wrapping her hands around its warmth, inhaling the scent of coffee. "That's amazing!" she said. She hadn't realised how much she'd missed the basic things in life. "I take it black too. Does it have sugar in it?"

"No. I don't take any."

"Ah well. I'll deal. Thank you!"

"My co-workers just think I'm extra caffeinated today."

She shot him a smile and took a sip, relishing the taste. She'd had nothing but water for over three months. The coffee was close to heaven.

"Make yourself comfortable," he went on. "I have work I need to do, so I'll be out for a few hours. Will you be okay?"

"Absolutely," she said." You have books. I'll be just fine."

"Okay. I'll see you later."

Chell nodded, smiling. He returned the smile, gathered his notes, then left. She stood where she was for a moment, sipping her coffee, looking around the room. She placed the mug on the bedside table, and wandered over to look at the calendar, the spectacular photograph of a place she'd never been. The brightness of the sunlight hitting the rocks had turned them luminous red, striking against the cerulean sky. She could see why Doug liked having the calendar there. It was a reminder of home, and how incredible it could be.

She turned and surveyed the room once more. Then, with a broad, childish grin, she ran and leapt onto the bed, bouncing in the centre. It wasn't the softest, but compared to what she'd been used to, it was bliss. She moved onto her back, enjoying the fact that the ceiling was more than three feet above her. Not bothering with getting underneath, she pulled the side of the quilt over herself, rolling up in it. Before she really had time to appreciate the warmth and comfort of it, she was asleep.


Doug was lost in his own thoughts as he made his way to his workroom, and so Alan's sudden appearance from a doorway made him jump out of his skin.

"Jesus, Alan, are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

"Succeeding, judging by that!" Alan quipped, far too quick-witted for that time in the morning. His hair was a work of art as usual.

Doug didn't dignify it with an answer.

"I'm glad I ran into you," Alan went on. "I've had a freaking weird morning."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"You're a good listener."

Doug reached his workroom and swiped his card. Alan followed him without being invited.

"Come in," Doug muttered sardonically.

"I was heading back from breakfast," Alan began, sitting himself down on the stool.

Doug pursed his lips in annoyance but said nothing, placing his folder of notes down on the drawing board.

"And I walked past Peter's office. He was receiving a transmission from Earth, from that guy Henry, you know the one that he always pretends not be rivals with but we all know better?"

"I know Henry," he put in, leaning against the board and folding his arms. He knew he wouldn't be getting anything useful done anytime soon. "I nearly got assigned to work under him, on the Genetic Lifeform and Disc Operating System."

"Yeah, that's his baby. That's what he was talking about, actually. He says when it gets activated tomorrow it's going to be groundbreaking, and it will...what did he say? Wipe the floor with all of Aperture's other projects."

"I bet Peter didn't like that."

"No!" Alan exclaimed with a short laugh. "He was almost red in the face. You should have seen him!"

Doug couldn't help but twitch a smile at the thought. "So Henry literally just called to boast?"

"Looks like it. Then when he'd signed off, Peter called me in. He didn't want me especially, it was just because I happened to be in the corridor. I thought I was gonna get fired for listening to his conversation!"

"What happened?"

"He just wanted to sound off at someone. I was convenient. He said something about getting his own back. He was trying to be all tough, but he's obviously jealous. So expect stupidly extravagant project ideas from Peter from now on!"

"Fantastic," Doug growled.

Alan sniggered. "Did you know he's built his own series of test chambers up here? They're supposed to…how did he put it? Challenge a test subject's mental strength capacity, and prove that human intuition will always be superior to anything an A.I. can offer."

"So basically something that will undermine Henry's project?"

"Exactly."

"He's so transparent."

"I know, right?"

Doug idly picked up a page of notes, skimming it. Alan did not get the hint, starting to pick bits of loose wood out of the surface of the workbench.

"Don't you have work to be doing?" Doug asked, trying to keep his tone level.

"Actually, no. My project's finished. I'm going home soon. So's my test subject, she made it."

Doug let out a deep breath, pressing his lips together in disapproval. Judging by what Chell had said, Alan's test subject was probably already gone.

"What?" the younger man said. "What's that look for?"

He wasn't in a particularly sensitive mood. "Your test subject's dead, Alan."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"None of them are going back to Earth. They know too much. Aperture would never risk anything getting to Black Mesa or the papers. Especially after the conditions they've been living in."

Alan stared at him owlishly. "I…I can't believe that. Peter wouldn't…oh my God, you are serious, aren't you? How do you know?"

"Apparently at least fifteen people are missing from the test subjects' quarters this morning."

"Yes, but how do you know that?"

Doug hesitated, unsure how much to say. Alan's look of horror was genuine, as was the edge of disgust in his voice.

"My…test subject told me."

"Be serious, Doug. 1498 doesn't talk."

"She talks to me."

"Really?" his expression was sceptical. "I mean…not to be disrespectful here, but…is she really talking? Or is it just…you know…in your head?"

Doug bit down his irritation. It was a fair question. "She's really talking."

"Really?"

"Yes. Her mouth moves, that's usually a clue."

"Wow." There was a pause while Alan processed the new information. Then he added, "What did you do to make her talk?"

Doug considered, then said truthfully, "Annoyed her. She yelled at me."

"What did you do?"

"Let her. She has every right. I just…realised it way too late."

"Yeah…" Alan trailed off thoughtfully. "I guess she does. All of them…are you absolutely sure that Peter's authorised the murder of all those test subjects?"

"He prefers the term 'take care of'," Doug replied grimly, "but yes. They're gone, and their observations about this place with them."

"That's…actually kinda horrible. When you think about it. I didn't know they were gonna do that."

"None of us did. I hope."

They drifted into an uncomfortable silence. Then Alan spoke up once more. "What will you do now?"

Doug, again, told him the truth. "Try to save the life of my test subject. If I can. And get home. I've had it with this place."

"You think you can? Save 1498, I mean?"

"If there's one thing she's taught me, it's not to give up. I'll whistle-blow to the papers if I have to."

Alan's eyes grew round. "Are you serious?"

"Yes. This isn't right. Aperture shouldn't be allowed to get away with treating people like commodities with no care for their safety. We all got carried away."

"I get what you're saying, but Doug, if they suspect you're planning to talk to the papers…"

"I know. But you're the only one I've told. If anything does happen to me, you have to speak up."

"I don't know, man. I don't think I'm that brave. I mean, I'm not going to tell anyone what you're planning, but to get involved? I don't know if I could."

"Well, that's up to you. I know you have a lot of respect for Peter, but let me tell you, all that man cares about is recognition for his work. And being better than Henry."

Alan seemed incapable of processing everything that was going through his head, judging by his fish-like facial expressions. It would take some time, a couple of hours of careful thought, but Doug felt sure that the younger man would eventually agree with him.

"You need some time," he said, and Alan nodded obediently. "Just keep what I've told you to yourself."

"Sure. I wouldn't sell you out, Doug."

"Thanks. I appreciate that. I'm happy to talk more about this, but I do actually have work to do. Would you mind?"

Alan got to his feet, heading for the door with an apologetic bob of his head. "Yeah, sorry. I'll see you later."

"See you later."

He paused in the doorway, turning to look back. "And, um…good luck. With…you know."

Saving her. Doug nodded his thanks, and Alan departed. Finally left alone with his thoughts, Doug sat down with good intentions of doing what he was supposed to be doing: writing up reports about Chell's testing, planning what test chambers to put her through next, but his mind wouldn't allow him to settle. Part of it was avoidance, he knew. He didn't want to put her through any more test chambers, and he had no valid reason for keeping her in the easier ones.

Another part of it was that he just couldn't stop thinking about her. His mind kept him on a constant rollercoaster ride of giddy highs remembering her smile, her voice, and her kiss, sharp drops of panic when he thought of her imminent death, cold lows of despair knowing he had no idea how to keep her alive. They spun round and round in a persistent loop, keeping him from concentrating.

'You've already learned that which can save you.'

The sweet, chirping little voice of the defective turret floated through his thoughts. If only it had been a little more specific. Part of him was cringing that he was even giving credence to its words. It was a glitch, nothing more. But he was desperate. He pondered what it could have been referring to. If he was planning to talk to the papers like he'd mentioned, then everything he'd learned could save him, couldn't it? He didn't see how it could save Chell. Unless he literally bargained with his superiors and promised not to talk in exchange for her life. But being so isolated, he was reliant on a single way out, and Peter had control over that way out. Doug didn't like being backed into a corner. It made him defensive, and he was never at his best when defensive.

All he could think of was the melancholy phrase that Chell had spoken earlier, the one that she'd fought so hard to keep her voice neutral for: "Our time's running out, isn't it?"

It wouldn't be long before he knew how true it was.