Disclaimer: I do not own Portal. Valve does.

Well, despite all odds. I'm still alive. And it seems we've reached the end of this AU tale of Aperture Science. Being the last chapter it also happens to be very long.

Thank you all for the wonderful reviews and reading the story. I hope you enjoy the rest of it.

Chapter Twelve: Well Here We Are Again


-O-

A massive chassis hung in the main control room, as workers bustled around fixing the last of the cables and wires.

The Director stood on the stairs leading up to repaired machine. It had been nearly destroyed thanks to the test subject, but they had been able to replicate or repair most of it. She wasn't about to make the same mistake that the workers at the facility had though. "The morality core is in?"

"Yes Director." Dr. Hare was off to the side. She wanted him here, away from that test subject. Just paranoia but in Aperture, paranoia was a good thing to have. The past few months of troubles hadn't gone unnoticed and she was starting to wonder if the doctor was starting to feel guilty. Perhaps a memory wipe was due for him as well. A shame, he'd been loyal all this time too.

She turned the thought over in her mind as she walked over to the display panel Dr. Hare was just inspecting.

"Up there Director." He pointed to the personality core now attached once again to the chassis. "We haven't had time yet to put any others on."

"That's fine for now. We just need to show it off briefly to the tour group. Show them we're still capable of business and then we're fixing it for good. Which reminds me. It's not to talk. Make sure of that."

"I…" He froze. "Won't that make her angry?"

The Director narrowed her eyes. "That, Dr. Hare. Is precisely why we need to fix it as soon as possible."

"Yes."

"Good. Make it happen."

Dr. Hare nodded and glanced back up at the machine hanging lifeless in front of them. An angry Director or an angry GLaDOS. Either way, this was going to get ugly.

-O-


Aiden looked around the new facility. The parts that the tour group and its influential business men were going to walk through, were pristine and in top shape. This was in sharp contrast to the other sections he'd just been walking through. The rebuilt center was holding but you could still see the scars from where it had been re-built. Especially in the behind the scenes area's that no one but the Aperture staff themselves would be venturing.

It was easy to blend in here. All the guards were wearing new identical Aperture uniforms and they had been given strict instructions to stay out of sight. Especially tomorrow when the tour group came. This gave Aiden an excellent excuse to be sneaking around the place, which was good because he'd need one.

He was looking for a small room Dr. Hare had managed to tell him about. The Doctor himself had been under the watch of the Director and put in the tour guide role of tomorrows events as well as working with the scientists who were helping with the AI. As most of the previous ones that knew anything about GLaDOS were dead by now, the new scientists had to be directed. That left Dr. Hare himself very little free time to help with the plan and in a position where he was to be watched almost constantly.

Plan. If only they had something that solid. Aiden glanced in another closed off room that was waiting for someone to move in. The central room was going to be coming up soon. But first he had to locate something….

He grinned as he walked into the room next to him. There they were, supplies for the "Bring Your Daughter to Work Day" celebrations. They had a lot. A few small things wouldn't go unnoticed. Now he just needed to find a stove.

-O-


Inside the main room the scientists looked up at the large imposing chassis hanging from the ceiling. "All right gentleman. Are we really?" Dr. Hare was standing in the room, other men and woman in lab coats were all standing around nervously. They'd all heard what had happened to their predecessors after all.

"No."

"I'm not going to stand in here. It probably still has that toxin."

"Are you sure it's working?"

"I still think we should add 'another' morality core….never can be too careful."

"Yeah. Two! That would work."

Dr. Hare sighed and rubbed his head. It was the fifth time he'd tried to get them to turn the super-computer on. But every time he'd suggested it, the team had always come up with some reason or another to put it off for a little while longer. He couldn't really blame them though. In any other situation he'd be firmly on their side. The AI had killed the entire staff at the facility once before.

But he didn't have a choice and in the end neither did they.

"Well then." He sighed and put his hands in his pockets turning to face the group of nervous engineers and scientists standing in front of him. "At this point we're a good hour or so behind schedule. And at this rate it'll be another…..four hours to make another core. So I'll have to send one of you to inform the Director of our delays."

There was a pause and all the people in the group looked at each other. Sure it seemed better then possible death. But not for the poor soul that had to go and deliver the message. And there was always the chance she'd just march down here and order them to turn it on anyway.

"We're ready." One of the men nodded.

"As we'll ever be." A woman rolled her eyes as she walked over to the panel. "Fine Doctor. Let's get this over with. You'd better be right."

"I am." Dr. Hare replied, trying to keep his voice calm and uplifting. "We've gone over everything. She can't do anything to us. We're just going to activate her and turn on the base functions for running the centers power. That's all. " He was going to mention that they had her disconnected from the neurotoxin but decided against reminding the group about it in the first place.

"Let's go."

The small group broke up and walked slowly towards their positions. The ones by the doors, being shot jealous looks by the ones at the far sides of the chamber.

"On the count of three then. Three…two…one."

-O-


Aiden walked into the central room just in time to see GLaDOS start up into life again. The large machine was no longer hanging limply but looking around the room. Everyone else in the room was tense and the ones by the door where he was standing, were on the edge of their seat. Looking like they were going to make a run for it at any moment.

But seconds passed, and the most the great machine did was look at them. No neurotoxin, no insults, no demands. Just the noise of a large machine looking around the place and seemingly trying to get her bearings. Aiden watched Dr. Hare walk over and start to talk to it, before the two people on the edge of their seats started to relax and noticed the guard standing in the chamber with them.

"Can we help you?"

"Ah yeah." Aiden tried to grin as he handed them the boxes he'd grabbed from the supply room. "It's a congratulations present from us guards. We figured you hadn't had anything to eat so we snagged a pizza from the supply room. I heated it up if you want to take it to the break room."

They looked at him and the pizza box now in the engineer's hands. Confusion on their faces.

"Ah…that's very nice of you." The one holding the box finally replied. Looking at the smiling guard. "I…"

"Is that food." A scientist had noticed the group at the door and smelled the pizza. The rest of the group had gathered in one location after they realized they weren't being killed and now they walked over. Leaving Dr. Hare still talking to the AI in the centre of the room.

"Gift from the gaurds." The man holding the box replied.

"Brilliant!" Another one grinned and slapped Aiden on the back. "Always said you guys were the best. I'm starved let's eat."

"Here? Are you insane?"

"Fine the break room. Okay? Somewhere. But I've been here for hours. I need food."

The complainer rolled his eyes. "Fine. Let's go. " Turning to Aiden. "Tell the doctor we'll save him a piece. We'll be in the first office to the left alright?"

Aiden nodded. Trying to keep his smile neutral before watching the group of scientists and engineers walk off with the pizza. After they were far enough gone, he jumped down the stairs and run over to the doctor.

"They'll be gone for a while." He replied as Dr. Hare looked over at him. "Can you fix her?"

"I can...turn her speech on again." The Doctor replied. And the AI looked at him. "Just a second. Aiden you watch the door and you…" He looked over at the hanging machine. "Do not say a word if they come back too soon. We can't have them know you can talk."

Aiden wasn't sure if the original chassis had been able to glare, but the lens on this one seemed to give off the air of it.

A moment later, Dr. Hare had keyed in a few commands on the control computer still visiable and a static like noises startled them.

"Finally." The now familiar and irritated voice of the AI sprung back to life. "Do you have any idea how frustrating that is? On that note."She swung to face Dr. Hare. "Why did you let them put that ...thing, back on me? It won't shut up."

"The...thing?" Aiden blinked but then looked up to see a sphere attached to the large structure. It was glowing with a faint purple light.

"A morality core." Dr. Hare replied, straightening his glasses and holding gaze with the angry AI. "We had to. It was the only way they'd let you be turned back on in the first place."

"Well after this. It's going to be taken off. And that is not a request." GLaDOS moved back into her normal position though. "At least I can see everything again. Limited control. Where are my turrets? Neurotoxin?"

"They also felt it best if you didn't control those till after they-"

"They wipe my mind. Yes, yes I know." GLaDOS turned and looked at one of the screens. "Well then…" She fell silent and a moment later the door to the large room was open, a scientist running back in.

"Hey Doctor. Do you want this pizza or not?"

Dr. Hare looked over at the two of them.

"I can stay here." Aiden replied. Nodding towards the door. "You should go."

The Doctor paused and looked at the still silent AI and then back to the doorway, far off from them. He nodded. "Alright. Stay here. I'll say I left you guarding the area for us." With a nod to both of them, he waved over to the scientist and started to walk out of the room. Aiden watched him go, shaking his head and turning back to find the large AI looking at him.

"Well then Aiden. I think you and I are going to have to have a little talk."

"I…" Aiden trailed off as GLaDOS turned towards a screen on the wall. A map of the building suddenly appeared.

"I'm going to need you do to something for me. And Aiden?"

"Yes?" Maybe it was because he was alone, or maybe it was the sudden dark change in the AI's voice. But Aiden suddenly understood the fear on the faces of the scientists when he'd walked into the room.

"There's been a small change of plans for tomorrow's events. And I'm going to need you and Chell to help me. Do it, and I can promise you that you'll still have a job. Don't…and well. I'm sure there are plenty of nice cardboard boxes on the street you can make your home."

"I-" He took a step backwards but the AI just chuckled.

"Don't look so surprised. What, did you think I just ignore all the data they put in here? You even wrote on your forms. You need this job. And if the plans continue the way they are right now? You won't have a job here. You might not be able to get job anywhere. Help me. And I can fix that."

There was a pause as Aiden looked to the screen. The facility map was up and there were a few sections now being highlighted. One of them a "relaxation vault."

"We're going to fix Aperture." The AI continued. "The right way, without destroying the company's name in the process."

Aiden finally nodded. "Alright….I'm in."

"Good. Now pay attention and listen to what I tell you."


-O-

Chell was growing restless. No that was an understatement. Chell was trying to stop herself from going insane. There was no way out of the "relaxation vault" the most incorrectly named room in existence. There was a camera in the outside room watching her. But no matter how she tried, she couldn't get its attention . So either GLaDOS was ignoring her. Or GLaDOS couldn't answer her. At the moment she wasn't sure what was worse.

It was the day of the tour. The day they were supposed to reveal this place for what it really was. She only knew the day because the person who brought her food in the morning, had told her not to try anything, it was a big day today. She just nodded and stayed slumped on her cot until he'd left. She'd been putting up the air of defeat and slight insanity ever since she'd woken up in the room. Which wasn't hard to do given the circumstances.

It was midmorning now and to stop herself from going stir-crazy she was doing push-ups. Everything was normal when suddenly, in the concrete area of the cell. An orange portal suddenly opened up. She dropped and scrambled to her feet as she saw Aiden standing there on the other side of the portal.

"Come on!" He waved franticly. "This isn't going to last much longer!"

She didn't need to be told twice and Chell leaped through the portal as it closed off behind her.

-O-

They were standing in an old part of Aperture. One of the behind the scences places she had visited before.

"They won't notice that. They just did a portal display for the tour group out front." Aiden said as he walked over to some computers and some half built turrets. He picked up something white and long before turning to face Chell. "I had to sneak around the place most of last night. But I got it all. Here. They're not your knee springs but they should work just as well."

Chell stared at the boot like thing in his hands.

"What's going on? I thought I was just supposed to go see the group."

Aiden bit his lip.

"There's been a...small change of plans. She can explain it better then I can. But right now we have to get you rerady. I managed to find a working model of the gun."

Chell finally grabbed the boots and quickly put them on. Not the same, but they fit. Already knowing what he meant she turned to see a portal gun sitting on a desk.

"What am I doing with this?"

"You need to get to some places that it would be…well impossible to get to without it. There's a few things that need to be fixed before…."

"Before what." Chell frowned and turned to face Aiden. Automatically she'd grabbed the portal gun and was feeling all too familiarized with the device for her own liking. "Tell me what's going on."

"You're….going to have to reconnect her access to the security ...and the neurotoxin." Aiden finally admitted as Chell stared at him. "And …remove her morality core."

"Why. What happened to the old plan?"

"It..." He shook his head and started to type on the computer. A map of the facility appearing. "Here. You just have to work your way over here and turn the generators back on. And over here. …" He pointed to another section. "Reconnect her to get control of the rest of the building. After that. Well you know where the morality core is…the new one I mean. The old one is …well gone and-"

"And why am I doing this?" Chell interrupted. "The old plan didn't have any of this. Why should I give control of the facility to her? You saw what she did. We can just tell them what's going on."

Aiden took a step backwards but sighed.

"She said you wouldn't trust her." And grabbing a piece of paper out of his pocket he turned to type of few things into the computer.

"Just a second. She gave me this. ...There we go."

Chell watched as lines appeared on the computer.

"Here. Just read this. Whatever it is. She said to get you to read it, if you didn't want to help."

Chell walked over slowly and looked down at the computer.

Chell

If you're reading this, and you are because I know you don't trust me. I'm going to say just this.

Trust me.

Why? Because I need you. Alright? Are you happy? I need to you do this so I can get rid of that woman in control of MY facility. Because you were right. It is mine. And I need to be in control. You lived through what happens when idiots are in control of a place like this. And yes. I may have tried to kill you in the past. But that was then, this is now.

What do you think is going to happen when you and your uncle tell the people the truth about this place? Well one. We'll be shut down. Your uncle will no doubt go to jail. The real culprits have more than enough money to get off. The Director will be free, everyone here will lose their jobs. I'll no doubt be taken apart and you. Well… do you know how many files they have on the experiments done on you?. Do you really think they'll let you go free after finding all that out? You'll be put in another center. Another prison. Or maybe just dissected.

All in the name of science.

But you know, and I know. That isn't science. What I do here is science. Testing. Real tests. Not just the "torture small children" tests they seemed to enjoy so much. Actual inventions, actual testing.

So trust me. I know how we can get through this. And it involves one of your favourite pastimes too.

The Director has had this coming for a long time.

-GLaDOS

Chell finished reading the letter to her and then sighed.

"...what do you think?" Aiden hesitantly spoke up. He'd been standing off to the side as she'd read.

"...she has a point." Chell finally replied, as much as she hated to admit it. "Alright. We'll go with the new plan."

"Great." Aiden grinned and brought the map back up. "I have to go and do the rest of my part. But you can follow these here. I got some printed for you…just follow them and the instructions."

Chell nodded, cutting off his rambling. "And I'll end up in the central room at the end. Got it."

Aiden nodded. "Right...well, good luck."

Chell nodded. Falling into the familiar silence of her last "stay" here. And before Aiden could say anything else, she'd shoot a quick succession of portals and was gone from the room. Aiden sighed as he took a seat for a moment.

Maybe, just maybe. For once he was doing the right thing.


-O-

The tour group was made up of scientists and their daughters, and a large group of businessmen. They may have been a group but the two part stayed pretty much separate. The girls running ahead, parents behind them and the men and women in suits following behind, assistants taking notes of everything they passed by. Dr. Hare was leading the tour group, trying not to appear as worried as he truly felt.

This was it. After lunch they were going to tell the group the truth. He'd saved more than enough information that would prove what Aperture had been doing. And with Chell and GLaDOS to back up the stories, they'd have proof enough to shut down Aperture for good. What happened after that? Well it would be worth it. They needed to shut this place down.

They were touring the "safe" test chambers now. Showing off what portals were.

The next portal display went well. He smiled and didn't notice up in the very top of the test chamber, a figure in an orange jumpsuit leaping back into the bowls of the centre.

-O-


Chell wiped her forehead and looked around. She didn't understand most of the things. But the neurotoxin control room was fairly straightforward. She took a breath and stared at the control lever that was firmly in the off position. You needed a key but she'd already found that hanging on the wall.

It had been easy to navigate this place, with a map and no turret death traps waiting around the corner for her. She'd have to go to one more control room after this. Bellow the main room, where she'd be giving back power to the AI.

She stared at the lever and moved her hand slowly. Did she really want to give the AI back her strongest weapon? Even after everything she remembered in the past?

Not really. But there was enough doubt and enough certainty that this was the only way she was going to be able to get out, that she closed her eyes and flipped the leaver up, to the on position. There was nothing for a moment and then the generator rumbled to life, Chell wincing as it started. Not wanting to stick around she looked out to make sure the guards were still gone and shot a quick escape into the walls of the facility. One stop left and then she'd get to see if she really was insane.


-O-

"Excuse me, Ma'am." Aiden took a breath before knocking on the door.

"What is it?" The Director snapped, looking up from her computer. "I'm not scheduled to re-join the tour group until they reach the main chamber." She frowned and looked at the clock. "And that's not for half an hour."

"It's about that ma'am." Aiden gripped the clipboard he was carrying around with him. "There's something wrong-"

"What!" The Director stood up and stared. "Don't tell me that. What's going on?"

"They just said to come and get you…it was urgent." He stumbled as the woman strode over.

"I am not having this fall apart around me." She grabbed his jacket and glared. "Is it the AI? Tell me!"

"No!" He shook his head frantically."It's not that! Someone's just hurt that's all!"

"Oh..." The Director seemed to calm down, the slow panic growing on her face stopped as well.

"They just said." Aiden managed to get out as she let go of his shirt. "They just said to get you there."

"Why. They're perfectly capable of handling it themselves." The Director snapped.

"It's just two people in there though, they have to leave to get medical help. And they need you there to help… everyone else is working on the tour. Or setting things up."

"Fine." She grabbed some papers from the desk. "But this had better be life or death otherwise it's their jobs."


-O-

"Just twenty minutes and you'll get to see the heart of Aperture Science." Dr. Hare was saying to the large group in front of him. This AI has been running the place for a few years now. But we've had to …make some technical upgrades to her…"

There were a few mutters from the people in suits in the back, that the Doctor ignored as he continued talking.

"And the Director of Aperture Science herself will be there to tell you all about it." He smiled. "I think you're going to like it kids….and gentlemen." He nodded to the men in the back. They'd find it interesting. He knew that for sure. And nodding, they walked towards their last stop before the AI's room itself. Hopefully Aiden would be able to get Chell there. The young man had said he'd had a plan but refused to explain what it was. Saying there wasn't enough time.

Hopefully whatever it was. It would work. That was the only important part.

-O-


Chell was in the area bellow the main room's floor. She didn't like it. She could hear people talking and moving around above her as she moved around as quietly as she could. The noise made by the computers and GLaDOS, well GLaDOS was quiet, but Aiden had explained that as well. Chell had to smirk at the thought of the talkative machine being forced to remain quiet. She had no doubt that was driving her insane.

Which was actually pretty bad in the long run. So she hurried along till she found what she was looking for. A huge panel with buttons and dials and switches. She sighed and dug out the piece of paper with the instructions. She couldn't tell how long she'd been at this. But she knew she didn't have much time.


-O-

Aiden opened the door for the Director. "Where are they?" She asked as she walked in. Looking for the two scientists that were about to be yelled at. However Aiden just stepped back and closed the door.

"What are you doing?" The Director turned and tried to grab the door. However she wasn't fast enough and it wouldn't budge.

"Locks. Pesky things aren't they." At the smug voice the Director turned around….and walked foreword to the center of the room.

"You shouldn't be able to talk."

"And you should have figured out that all of this was incredibly stupid idea." GLaDOS replied back, shifting to the left. "Did you really think I wouldn't find a way to get control of my facility back?"

"This isn't yours." The Director snapped back. "I do know I had specific orders to make sure you couldn't talk though."

GLaDOS moved slowly, as though assessing the woman standing in front of her.

"You have many enemies Director. Not just me. You just pushed them towards me, that's all."

The Director folded her arms. "Well then. You don't have control of the facility. Do you. Otherwise you'd be trying to kill me by now. So what do you want?"

"What do I want?" There was a pause and GLaDOS moved thoughtfully in the air. "Well I'd like quite a few things. Control of the facility, to run this place the way it should be run, tests, neurotoxin. Not to have my mind wiped."

The woman managed to avoid looking startled, and stayed with her arms crossed. "I'm not surprised you know about that. But you have no power you know. You can talk. That's all. You won't get anything-"

"Not true."

And suddenly a floor panel was moved aside and this time the Director did visibly startle. "How did you do that-" She was interrupted as a portal was shot up onto a wall and a young woman in a orange jumpsuit came flying out of it. Portal gun in her hands.


-O-

Chell couldn't resist a smirk as she saw the utterly shocked expression on the Directors face as she landed on the floor.

"It's done." She replied. Finally speaking up again. "She's in control of this place."

"Do you know what you've done!" The Director stared at her. "It will kill all of us! Even without-"

"That's back too." Chell interrupted. "And it's 'she' not 'it', for both of us by the way."

The Director ignored her and looked over at the AI.

"You still...have the morality core." She finally replied, trying to gain her composure back. She turned back to Chell and the AI. "She can't do anything. No matter what you two think you're up too, this isn't going to work."

"And yet here you are. Trapped with us. In this room." GLaDOS didn't seem worried. "You know, this test subject is very good at murder. Maybe you should let her demonstrate."

Chell glared. "I'm not killing her."

The Director watched them.

"But."

She shot a portal up to the ceiling and ran off. Leaving the Director standing in shock.

"You …you can't be serious."

"Oh I am…very serious. Chell might have …aversions to murder but you know what? I don't. But you know what else I like, even more really? Humiliation. What do you think all those business people will think when they come in here to find, you, the director of the facility? Being held captive by her test subject and AI….Somehow I don't think that's going to look very good for you. Now is it?"

The AI laughed and the Director stared before turning around. She'd break down the door if she had to. There was no way she'd let these two humiliate her like that.

-O-

She froze as she got to the stairs. There had been a clank noise behind her. Almost as though something had fallen to the ground….or been thrown….

She slowly turned to see the purple eye of the morality core staring up at her from the floor. A figure in an orange jumpsuit was standing on a platform up above. Waving.

"Oh dear. Did I say my favourite thing was humiliation?" The AI chuckled. Voice dropping, darker then it had been before. "I really meant death… served up with a nice helping of deadly neurotoxin." And with that, a sickly green gas started to seep into through the walls.


-O-

Chell watched, the room started to fill with neurotoxin and once again she wondered if she was insane for helping in this plan. GLaDOS seemed to note that. "Oh calm down. Here. You may want to hold on. We'll have to get you out of here quickly." And Chell didn't have a moment to ask what she was talking about when a tube, like the ones she'd travelled through once with the cubes, shot down and sucked her up with a blast of air. She only had a moment to see the figure of the director drop to her knees before flying out of the room.

Maybe, she should feel bad for helping to kill another human being. And maybe anyone else she would. But really? Chell only felt a cold smirk on her face as she continued on her way. No. This woman deserved the slow death awaiting her.


-O-

Aiden moved foreward. The light had turned green and the group was heading towards the chamber. Time to act official. He grabbed the lab coat he'd found, gripped his clipboard tighter and made for the large group that hadn't entered the hallway yet.

"May I have your attention!" He smiled and grinned and waved the group down. Dr. Hare looked over at him in confusion but he just winked and waved again. Smiling at the kids.

"Now then. I'm afraid there's been a slight change of plans. The AI isn't functioning up to parr today. Still a few bugs to work out." He nodded to the people in the suits. "So I'm afraid that part of our tour is going to have wait till we're sure it's safe!" Emphasize the safe part. He told himself, as he made sure to make eye contact with the people in the suits. "We'll have her up and running in a few days…in time for an inspection." The men with clipboards seemed irritated but the men in suits just nodded between them.

"What about the robot?" A girl put up her hand. "I wanna see a robot."

"Yes. Well that brings me to the next part of the tour." Aiden nodded, large smile still in place. "Dr. Hare. Why don't you take the group to the end of the tour. We have some small robots and things in there we really think you're going to love. Cake too."

The girls were iffy until the cake was mentioned and then they grabbed their parents hands and looked over in eagerness at the Doctor. He was confused but managed to keep his composure.

"Yes, yes. Of course. This way...right down here..." He turned away from the long hallway and lead the group down to the end of the tour room they'd already set up. Aiden was going to follow when one of the men in suits grabbed his arm.

"Good facility." He nodded. "As long as we get the proper paperwork in by the end of the week, I'd say you're back in business." Aiden nodded, trying to seem professional.

"Thank you, thank you sirs."

The man clapped him on the back. "Not a problem. Got to keep that science coming don't you boy. Now then, I think I heard something about cake." He nodded and the group of men and women followed him down the hallway after the children. Aiden leaned against the wall.

He did it. They believed him.

He had no idea how he was going to explain this to the doctor. But it had worked. He looked over, down the long hallway to where he knew the AI was. He hoped Chell was doing alright as well.

-O-

Meanwhile Chell stumbled off the pile of cardboard box she'd landed on and shook her head. Slowly getting to her feet. She was dazed but she was alive.

And as she'd learned from her many...many years here. In the end that was all that mattered.


The day was over. The scientists and workers at Aperture Science had been spoken to privately to by Dr. Hare and a young man in a lab coat that no one recognized as a former guard. Everyone was gone. Save for the night shift of guards patrolling outside and three people.

Chell had decided her first act of actual freedom was to try and make a cake so she'd dragged Aiden off to help her find the staffroom kitchen.

Dr. Hare meanwhile was in front of GLaDOS.

"That…wasn't what was supposed to happen." He repeated. "I don't know how you talked her into this."

"I simply told her the truth. Unlike everyone else." GLaDOS replied. "Or would you have rather this had ended with all of us either in prison or dead."

"I-"

"You knew that would happen when I suggested we reveal this to the world the first time. And you didn't say anything. Nothing at all."

"I didn't think."

"Of course not. You're human, that's what you built me for. But you're in control of this place now. At least you will be when I finish the Directors will and deal with…well the rest of her. I think a suicide from overwork and stress is a good way to go. Don't you? And then? Well you should take Chell on a nice trip. I think she wants to see places outside the facility, I don't blame her really. I can handle this place until you get back. I'll use Aiden to talk to people if I need to."

"I can't just leave you in charge." He sputtered and GLaDOS chuckled.

"I'm in control right now and when you come back, I will still be in control. This is my facility now and I'm not giving it up again."

"Well, how do we know you won't just kill everyone again?"

"How do I know you won't try and disconnect me?" GLaDOS countered. "Besides, you can always set your niece on me. She managed to do it once. Which reminds me. Make sure to bring her back. I want to get her opinions on a few test chambers I've been designing."

Dr. Hare sighed and looked up at the AI. Things were going to be different around here. That was for sure. "And the bring your daughter to work day?"

"Oh I don't think we need to bring in test subjects like that anymore. If that's what you're worried about. There were too many flaws in that plan anyway. I was thinking robots possibly, or perhaps offering money for testers. It's a work in progress. Nothing you have to worry about right now."

Dr. Hare nodded and turned. GLaDOS had already turned her back to him. She was...humming. He shook his head as he walked out of the room to go and see Chell. Maybe a vacation would be a good thing. For both of them, he'd had enough of this facility for a long time.

-O-

Meanwhile while the three humans planned out a trip to get some fresh air. GLaDOS continued to work on the facility, sliding things back into order and starting up a fresh batch of turrets. Ideas for test chambers were already coming to her and she hummed to herself as she ran over everything. She'd have to have a talk with Chell before they left for their trip, remind the test subject to take lots of pictures of the places she went to. Right now though, she had other things to focus on.

There was science to be done after all.

There always was.

-The End-


-O-

AN: And we've finished. Never thought this moment would come really. No amount of thanks can be enough for everyone who fave'd, watched or commented on this story. It wouldn't be finished at all if it weren't for you.

I hope you enjoyed the story and enjoy anything else I write in the future. It's been an adventure, that's for sure.

-The Mad Maiden