Hello? This thing is on, right?

Sorry. It's the first time I'm publishing from an iPad. Or for that matter, anything other than a computer. (Don't worry, autocorrect is off.)

So! For my reviewers this time around, you get a portal gun! And I can afford that how, you ask?

Well. It's only been two days since my last update, so, I only have two people to mention this time.

darkbangle: Yay, distractions! Here's another one for you! Sorry... Anyway, yes, Wheatley would blow up the place. If We leave Chell and Wheatley down there, GLaDOS is a potato, so, she'll be eaten by the time they're back. If we get just Chell down there, GLaDOS couldn't control Wheatley, as Chell wouldn't be able to watch over them in anyway. Now, If we Leave just Wheatley down there, the whole planet might as well declare an apocalypse. Hmm. Well, I did manage to get my essay done, and at 4:30 AM, too. And Wheatley somehow got in there. Just blame the sleepless nights...

shouvin: Haha, yes. Welcome to the Portal fandom! I tried to fix the whole "Who the hell is saying that?" issue. I TRIED. And probably failed. Heh. Well, yes, thank you, I like PURE AWESOMENESS. When people say things lik that, I can't even think straight anymore, so if the next whole chapter is just all... nyeh, I apologize.

ANYWAYS! Enjoy Chapter 10! Because if you don't I can't get back to watching Vampire Knight on Hulu- I-I mean, doing my homework like a good little girl. Heh. Well. ENJOY!

Chell's POV

[Date: November 24th, 2027 09:51 AM]

There was the sound of the shed door closing, and she was alone.

Alone...

Chell couldn't remember the last time she'd been absolutely by herself. It was completely peaceful; the only sound she could hear was the sound of the wind blowing softly in her ears. The first thing she noticed besides the sudden calm was the absence of her portal gun; besides, it had been the only thing she'd been able to fully trust. She frowned, looking around desperately for it.

Oh...

Then she realized.

Wheatley took it.

And now, it was on her shoulders- she needed to find them all a place to settle, and, that too, one with a computer. The nearest place with a computer of any sort, she knew, somehow,was a place with books. Lots of books.

What? How- And then, it hit her with the force of stampeding bulls. My memories are coming back.

My Memories?

Mine...?

Chell shook herself. "Calm down," she whispered. "The journey of a thousand miles..." She paused, frowning. "Begins with a single step." She knew she was quoting something, someone, but she couldn't quite place who. Gently placing one foot of the other, she slowly started facing the unknown.

[Date: November 24th, 2027 10:17 AM]

Chell was beginning to see the distant outline of civilization when it occurred to her. What's in my pocket? Yes, it was random, but her instincts were telling her to check. Shrugging, she reached into her pocket and pulled out what looked like a wallet. She frowned, flipping it open and puling out the first card she saw.

Aperture Laboratories- Where you can become the future!

Chell snorted. She'd quickly remembered the announcer saying that while she was testing one day.

Test Subject #1428

ID #1017351

Name: Chell Johnson

DOB: 07/26/1991, Age 36

AI: Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System (GLaDOS)

Her jaw dropped.

Johnson? GLaDOS, what haven't you been telling me here? She thought. And suddenly, the memory came floating back into her head from a far corner. It was as if it had just been dancing just out of her reach, screaming Here I am! Until she finally found it, plucking it out of the air. Chell's vision blurred, and the young woman dropped to the ground, unable to see.

[Date: November 24th, 1996, 3:42 AM]

"Mommy?"

A small, blond-haired girl tapped her father on the chest, squinting in the half-light. The shadow next to her grunted, turning towards her.

"Mmph. Yes, dear?" A woman's voice rang through the room.

"It's my birthday, mommy. Where's my presents?"

Another grunt.

The woman sighed, sitting up and flicking on the lights. Shielding her eyes, she pulled her daughter close to her. "You're getting your presents in..." She winced as she accidentally faced the light. "...About 5 hours." The little girl whined impatiently. "But Caroline!" That got her mom's attention. "Chell. Sleep. Now." Chell scowled at her mother as she turned the lights off.

[Date: November 24th, 1996, 4:37 AM]

"Caroline?"

"Call me mom," Caroline muttered sleepily, wrapping one arm around her daughter.

"Where's Daddy?"

There was dead silence In the room for a few minutes. Then Chell called again.

"...Mommy?"

"He went to a better place," the mother replied abruptly. Chell frowned. "But-"

"Michelle! Sleep!"

And the room was silent once more.

[Date: November 24th, 2027 10:59 AM]

It had all clicked. Johnson... Cave Johnson.

Daddy.

Caroline...

"Her name is Caroline. Remember that!"

The turret!

GLaDOS... Caroline... Johnson.

Mommy.

Chell sighed. She hadn't been adopted after all. And Caroline had been married to science. She just chose not to tell. Shaking herself, Chell- Michelle- got up, struggling to regain her balance after such a shock. She kept walking weakly towards the outline of the city in the distance, hoping that it was actually a city. It was funny how Aperture seemed to be placed in the middle of the desert. "Of course, people that become the future have to starve to death. And die of thirst. And obviously, the future's skeleton has to be found in the desert." Chell laughed at her own joke.

I didn't pause.

I didn't choke.

Wheeeeeeeeeeee. Chell smiled as she imagined Wheatley's reaction. "That's brilliant, luv!" She muttered, imitating her friends' Bristolian accent the best she could. "You're getting loads better!" She snorted again, brushing back the long brown hair. "It was blond once," she murmured to herself. "I like it that way. It was pretty." Chell knew she was only talking to keep herself from feeling more alone than she already was. Even though it had only been a few hours since she'd seen the two of them, she missed Wheatley and GLaDOS tremendously. Wheatley himself had always been quick to help and apologize, whereas GLaDOS had been the ruler of sarcasm and bluntness, telling the moron that he sounded like a two-year-old and needed to shut up. "The two of them are going to kill each other. And that's if Wheatley doesn't eat the rest of her first." Chell frowned thoughtfully. "Or if he eats the blue gel." She shook her head. "Mommy was right. He is a moron."

Mommy.

That sounds weird.

[Date: November 24th, 2027 12:42 PM]

At last, Chell stumbled upon a building. A library, in fact. She nearly squealed with joy, pulling the microchip out of her pocket and heading to the door. She gently pushed it open and headed for the front desk. An old, gray-haired lady sat there, tapping endlessly at her computer. It was only when Chell slammed her hand down hard onto the wooden surface that she look up at her, smiling. "Hello. How may I help you?"

"Where are the computers?"

The old woman turned the other way, pointing, towards them. "Right over there. Just take the stairs and make a left." Chell smiled back. "Thank you!" She raced down the stairs, turning to the left and skittering to a halt when she realized she'd just passed them. Grinning, she moved backwards a few steps. She sat down on one of the chairs, making a loud squeaking noise in the deserted building. Chell turned the computer around, searching for the port to plug in the chip.

There.

She jammed it in.

Opening Aperture Science Computer-Aided Enrichment Center Security System. Please Stand By.

"Seriously?" Chell muttered after a few minutes of nothing but the loading bar. She was growing impatient, and was giving up on all hope of ever seeing them again when the computer made a beeping sound.

Security System activated. Two test subjects found- 1 Human-based form, 1 AI/ Genetic Lifeform and Disc operating system. Track? y/n

Tracking...

Bzzzt.

Suddenly, Wheatley's face appeared on the screen. He was frowning, scratching his blond head. "Chell? Luv, you there?"

"Of course she's there, you moron. Or else the camera would be off." The Potato's voice sounded muffled. "Get your hands off of me!" Wheatley rolled his eyes, looking far from guilty.

"I'm right here."

Just those three words set Wheatley off. "Brilliant! Yes! Where are you?"

"Umm..." Chell had just realized that she actually had no idea where she was. Obviously, she was somewhere in the U.S, but where...

"She doesn't know. It would have been a better idea for her to get down here, and have us up there," GLaDOS said. Her yellow optic was visible now, bright and narrowed.

"You wouldn't know what you were doing," Wheatley muttered.

"She's Caroline. She would know," Chell responded, remembering her memory. The moron frowned. "Caroline? What-"

"Shut up," Chell and GLaDOS said in unison.

Good old Mommy. It's nice to have you back, Chell thought, smiling faintly. "Are you two okay down there? How far are you?"

"We're in my old tests," Wheatley said, failing to hide the note of pride that sank into his voice. "Nearly there, luv. Now, all we have to do is-"

"Put a portal there! Now!" GLaDOS shrieked. There was the sound of a portal being placed, and the potato sighed with relief. "You idiot! You nearly fried us!"

Wheatley snorted. "Are you suggesting that you'd taste better fried than mashed? Because there's a mashy-spike-plate right there, you know."

"If that potato had arms, you'd be dead right now," Chell muttered. Wheatley laughed nervously.

"Gotta go, luv. There's a turret over there." The screen flashed once and they were gone. Chell smiled. They're okay. Let's just hope Wheatley doesn't get hungry.