Pfft. Screw you guys, it took me forever to write that last chapter (15 minutes) and no one left a review, even though 34 people read it.
Speaking of that, guess who has over 1,000 people reading her story! ME!
Because of that, and because I love you all (Even if you don't review), I'll write another chapter. You lucky boogers. You got away this time...
Nah, love ya! Have some cake.
Random guy in back: The cake is a lie!
Me: No cake for you!
P-Body held the new device in his hands, looking at the sheet with the rules on it. Meanwhile, Atlas was running around the room, examining all the new items she had never seen before. P-Body looked around in the miniature doors, looking for the items the rules said he would need to complete his mission (Yeah, I think Atlas is a girl and P-Body is a guy, if you don't, just switch the pronouns around, dummies! More cake anyone?)
P-Body threw together the items he found into the device and followed the rules, mixing them up until it was all blended. (Yeah, bet you found out what the surprise is. Smarticle Barnicles.) After a while, Atlas stopped her running around, and opened the box that felt like an incinerator, and wondered why they would put such a shiny device in it. But, the rules said they had to, and besides, this felt like it was in her system somehow.
She felt like someone did a good job on their test, and this was their reward. This just felt right to her, that's definitely what happened. She placed the shiny device into the incinerator-box, and waited while the numbers counted down to zero.
Chell, Mel, and Gordon all waited patiently while watching something about the history of Aperture Science on one of GLaDOS's monitors.
Founded in 1947 by Cave Johnson, Aperture was originally manufacturing and selling shower curtains, making them look more hygienic.
"Wow, I didn't know that, Mister! I thought it was always about SCIENCE!" a little boy holding a lollipop exclaimed excitedly.
Now now, Johnny. That happens later. Now, it 1956, the Eisenhower administration signed a contract which...
"What the hell is this?" Mel asked, nudging Chell. "Is this 'The Surprise'?"
Chell gave one of her silent chuckles, and Gordon held back a smile.
"I'll tell you what it is. It's annoying." Mel decided.
As Chell and Gordon's smiles became a little bigger, Mel decided to bring it up a notch, glad to be able to talk to someone after who knows how long.
"'Hey mister, this is cool and all, but who are you and what are you doing in my house?'" Mel imitated the little boy.
Chell and Gordon were so glad that they couldn't make any vocal sounds, or they would have at least snorted by now.
It wasn't until 1950, when Aperture started their early work on the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device, that science came around. And, when Repulsion Gel was first invented, it was actually created as a dietary pudding substitute in 1953.
"Gee, who knew something that bouncy was supposed to be eaten!" Mel muttered again, and frowned when no one's smiles got bigger.
She would have to work on her social skills soon, now that people were actually around.
However, when Chell saw Mel frown, she wanted to cheer her new friend up. She looked at the monitor, and seeing it was posted on a white wall, she got a plan that would definitely cause Mel to smile.
She fired a portal against the wall behind the monitor, and another one on the ceiling a little to the left of them. Chell smiled in victory as the monitor came smashing down, thankful that it was on of the little ones, instead of the massive ones found in test chambers.
Mel jumped back as the Television shattered around her, and started to laugh a little.
"Hey! Are you seriously still breaking monitors? I thought you would have gotten out of that habit by now. That was an antique too, your parents' Television, to be exact, Chell. Oh well, your surprise is waiting for you in the room to your right."
Chell gave a little frown, and everyone followed her to the room.
In the room was DOG, any previous damage that he once had was fixed, and he looked as good as new, as well as P-Body and Atlas, holding something that Chell had been dreaming about ever since she woke up for the first time from stasis.
A Black Forest Cake. The very same cake that she had been promised for as long as she could remember.
"I figured instead of a medical experiment for your birthday gift, a cake would be much easier to give. As I once said, the best solution to a problem is usually the easiest one. It might be a little late now, but Happy Birthday, Chell."
Chell unknowingly smiled at the present before her.
Caroline had been right. This felt way better than when someone solved a test.
You're welcome. Tell Chell I said 'Happy Birthday' too.
"Chell, Caroline would also like to wish you a Happy Late Birthday as well. This was her idea, after all."
Mel and Chell enjoyed the cake that they had been promised, as did Gordon, but not in the same way they did. Atlas had snuck herself a piece and tried to imitate the humans, but of course, that resulted in only a mess, as cake was all over her 'face', and P-Body made robotic sounds that definitely was laughter. Atlas than took another piece, and smashed it against P-Body's eyepiece, which resulted in Atlas' laughter, while P-Body tried to look at the mess on him, which was only causing him to spin around like a lunatic.
Mel, needless to say, found this hilarious. Chell silently laughed alongside her, and Gordon gave a little smile, and they each finished their cake, much neater than the robots had. DOG just watched at the two robots, thinking that those two didn't act like other Black Mesa robots he had ever seen. Black Mesa was a much better Science Company, he 'thought'.
"Since I'm feeling extremely generous today, I might as well give you what it is you came here for. Nothing else to do, really." GLaDOS's voice rang out, echoing in the large room.
Chell wrote down on her notepad, and handed it to Mel, who read it off for GLaDOS to hear.
"They want a robot army, some weapons and other things they can use against the 'Combine'" Mel pronounced it like com-BINE, "and if you could help with the 'Resistance' they would be happy." Mel put in her own words.
"Wow, that's a lot coming from a mute test subject. I'm sure I could help you with some military equipment, maybe spare you some turrets, but the robot army is a little bit tricky. Besides, I'm not feeling that generous today."
Chell and Gordon looked a little bit disappointed, but Chell a little less more than Gordon. Chell looked like she knew GLaDOS would say that.
Mel looked up to the camera. "Listen, Computer. I know that this lady spent most of her life being tested by you, and you've never been nice to her. When she was finally freed, she came back to you in what I understand less than five days. If I were here I would have never come back at all. And from what I understand, this alien race has taken over the world up there, so technically Chell never got her freedom in the first place. And didn't you promise her freedom? I know you're cold and all, but can you really stoop as low such as to lie about something you promised about?"
"I always have. Cake, Grief Counseling, even freedom for a while. So if you're trying to guilt me into giving the very person who killed me, brought me back to watch my facility fall apart, and leave me all the things she asked for, it's not going to work, human." GLaDOS countered.
Mel never lost her determination. "Yeah, well even though she was verbally abused by you, almost killed by you, and freed from you, she came back to you. You were the only person Chell could come to, and before you say that you are the only person Chell knows, the only thing Chell thought of when she thought of you is anger, sadness, and betrayal. And trust me, when a woman feels all of these feelings at once, they scare even the Devil himself."
GLaDOS stared at this loud-mouthed young woman yelling at her.
She's right you know. Human women are extremely scary when angered. She just might kill you again.
That's impossible, GLaDOS thought. I've upgraded all my security systems.
Caroline gave a low whistle. Not good enough when it's an angry human woman with Chell's determination.
GLaDOS sighed. Fine, you win, but as soon as I feel normal again, and not human, you're getting deleted for good.
Caroline's happiness made GLaDOS feel something she couldn't recognize. As long as Chell gets what she wants, that's a pretty good deal.
"All right, Chell. Let's do a compromise. Atlas, P-Body, new mission. Follow the humans and do whatever they tell you to do to help them gain their freedom. 100,000 Science Collaboration Points will be awarded after the mission is successful. Is that good enough for you, Chell?"
Chell looked at the camera, and gave a slow nod.
"Good. Atlas, P-Body, show them to the Storage Unit, and let them take whatever weapon plans they wish. Chell, this isn't a gift, that was what the cake was. If I give these to you, and you win the war against them without dying, I expect you to come back to me, for another little surprise, involving science. Is this a deal?"
Gordon looked to Chell, knowing that this deal was very important, and difficult. Gordon wondered what she would choose. P-Body and Atlas were dancing at the idea of 100,000 Science Collaboration Points, and urged Chell to take the deal. DOG looked at her, thinking about Alex's father, and hoping Chell would take the deal so that others won't be killed so horribly by the Combine ever again. Mel looked at her, willing to follow whatever it is Chell decided, like she felt she was supposed to.
Chell thought over her options, thinking about how each one would play out, then decided on an answer.
This ought to get some reviews. You decide what she chooses, and review your decision, and why you chose it. I may or may not listen to you, though. To be honest, I don't know what happens next, I'm a horrible author. I get an idea in my head and wing it. And, I don't let chapters sit forever in my documents and revise them either. As soon as I'm done typing, it's uploaded. It's a bad habit of mine, so seriously, I'd like some help.
Random guy in back: *Starts calling a therapist*
Me: *Recognizes number he's dialing* (Thanks to the Aperture Science Binoculars, sponsored by Black Mesa) Oh, screw you, random guy! Not him again! I don't need that kind of help!
Review, please and thank you!
PS Thank you-s are only rewarded to those who reviewed. So be a good little awesome person and review, dammit!
Nah, I love you. Have some more cake. *Kicks random guy out before he can comment*
PS this chapter has over 2,000 words! Imagine how much less there would be without author's notes!
PS feel free to do the math and review the answer you came up with...LOL