Author's Notes: Ok ok, before this starts, I want to say this. Next chapter will be the las- STOP CRYING! Do your tear glands have the resilience of a gnat? Are your eyelids so weak they hurt when you blink? You know, I don't see the point in arguing any further. So yeah, technically this is the 'last' chapter in the main story. The next will be an epilogue of sorts. I hope you don't feel too sad about it.
And So the Sun Sets
"Dr. Shepherd?" Ryan carefully nudged the disassembled turret on the scientist's table.
"Ah, Dr. Leake, I suppose this will be our last encounter for a while." The old man closed the now empty drawer on his desk and proceeded to gather everything else in a neatly organized pile. "You'll be headed down to the Borealis soon, correct?"
"That's right…"
"I expect everythings ready? I sure hope you don't need to be told that it's cold up there."
Ryan softly chuckled as he aided his superior in the last of his cleanup. "Don't worry doctor, I used to live in Alaska, I'll be fine." He assured. "I've also been to Los Angeles, so if one of the neurotoxin canisters bursts, I know how to breathe poisonous air." He joked.
"Oh, I'm sure you will be. Now, help me with this chair."
After removing the last item from the office, Dr. Shepherd had a little talk with Ryan in the break room.
"Ryan, remember the most important thing about Aperture. We do what we must because we can. If there's no reason to build it make a reason. If there's no way to climb the mountain, tunnel through it. And if you can't go beyond a fifty foot wide pit, portal to the other side."
"But what about GLaDOS? Surely something terrible will come from it. Sure she's mitigated now, but what would happen if she disengages or if something goes wrong and she loses all sense of morality?" Ryan said, not speaking too loud in fear of being universally denounced by everyone near.
"That's a good question Ryan. In fact, before you came to the facility, we were dealing with such problems on a regular basis. And then when you… calmed her down, it was like Mr. Johnson's wishes were fulfilled right there!"
Ryan had heard countless allusions and references to Cave Johnson and his desire for 'Caroline' to rule over the facility forever. Some of them sounded inspired and logical, but other times it was wacky and perhaps even insane at some of the more notably expressed points. There was a surprising lack of conversation about Mr. Johnson's and even Aperture's past, but this was expected given Aperture's unwavering fixation towards the future. Numerous stories about whimsical days of making science and insane creations of fantastic structures riddled the verbal shelves of Aperture's metaphorical library.
"I, I wish you could've seen more of Aperture… there's so little up here. I was recruited in a similar way as how Dr. Morrison picked you up. That was years ago, before Aperture's reputation was destroyed like a defective turret on a redemption line." Dr. Shepherd's face loosened grew reminiscent of the old days, smirking at a few floating memories. "I… I remember back then, we were just trying to get to the moon… and then when they were able to do it the hard way without anyone dying, they all said 'why do even need Aperture, all they give us are worthless products and overly expensive gadgets'. Well I say: who has a frozen army of mantis-men in their basement in case of an emergency?" He nodded and his head began to back away.
Ryan took another sip of his 'non-experimental' coffee. "Yeah, I heard some others talking about going to the moon with the portal devices. I guess it's a lot safer now with today's technology."
"Just be careful when dealing with anything pertaining to the moon. Aperture can't afford another missing astronauts fiasco."
"Another?" Ryan asked, surprised.
"Don't ask…" Dr. Shepherd returned. It wasn't easy for Ryan to get past the defense shield Aperture had set up to protect its secrets, and he also knew that when he found out, he would also become a vigilant guardian of the privileged information. "It's not healthy to dwell so much on the past, let's set our eyes somewhere else."
As the time passed, they discussed possibilities of Aperture's future. With Dr. Shepherd leaving, Ryan was positioned to take his place as one of the administrative members, even if GLaDOS would be encroaching on more and more power. When the exchange had reached its end, the two parted ways, knowing it may very well be their last encounter.
~X~X~X~X~X~
There it lay, long and sturdy, the Borealis rested in its large metal bed far below in the depths of Aperture. An experimental craft, its place lay elsewhere than the enrichment center. Its holds were filled with a collection of secrets, designed for an operational function in accordance with advanced systems of teleportation and excursion. Behold, before this eager team of scientists is the Borealis, where the future and present mold like conflicting wind gusts, unleashing a tornado of science.
As the cage bound elevator came to a stop, Dr. Ryan and Dr. Morrison stood side by side, gazing upon the magnificent creation. "Look at it. Isn't it beautiful?"
"Looks kinda ugly from here, I guess that's because I only see the outside." Ryan answered in a cool and collected tone.
Dr. Morrison smiled as he turned towards his apprentice. "This is it… this is the beginning. We've reached the point where we can no longer sit idly by as Black Mesa continues to soar past us." They both stepped off and walked towards a nearby loading ramp.
"Portal… this is where the future lies."
As they walked onto the metal platform, they watched as the massive machines nearby did their work. Never before in Aperture Science had a teleportation project this massive been done. It was time for Black Mesa to take a back seat and witness firsthand the might of Aperture.
And then, all fell quiet.
A man no less than fifty approached a loudspeaker. "Attention everyone, it's time to begin boarding."
A collective mist of great and wonderful excitement blew through everyone's mind when they heard those words. Fifty travelers prepared in any way they could for a large scale displacement.
And so, the two scientists walked onboard the ship, ready to face the mysteries of the future head on, both with a newfound respect for each other's intentions.
"Hey, Moritz…"Ryan began, breaking common protocol by addressing him by his other name.
"Yeah Ryan?"
"Do you really think this will work?"
"I can't say we'll succeed completely. I'm more curious about what will be going on at Black Mesa honestly."
"I sure hope it does. I can't wait to see what lies ahead..."
(In a Morgan Freeman narrator voice)
'Unbound by his previously forced mitigation, Ryan steps forward eager to meet the new day. Even though Aperture's fate is now sealed by unseen forces, its reasons are adhered in a space far deeper than the bottom of the facility. And as the scientists prepare for their journey, Ryan takes comfort in the fact that he is one of them.'
~X~X~X~X~X~
And so the sun sets on Aperture today, its terminals are filled one last time and all is ready to separate from the world. Never again will the halls be filled with the bustle of ants weaving through the colony, for the queen will devour them all. Some pour in and some pour out, but all stay when they hear the news; terror unleashed, in the form of an experiment, failed in both Aperture and her rival. In almost no time at all, the facilities effectiveness was changed.
Loosening of safety protocols and procedures opened the gate to a new estate, one of danger and terror. Unmitigated genius unleashed, let go, released to wreak havoc on the weary creators, without anything to hold her back, GLaDOS made it her top priority to preserve and advance science as the world above burned.
Aperture would never release the handheld portal device, so testing was set to go on forever. With no humans to make decisions with other humans, the release was never authorized, it was now a factory of science producing for itself. A mechanical arm twisted around to place another panel on a turret, and an automatic speaker repeated its message for the thousandth time.
In the deeper parts of the facility, nothing would even change except for the absence of human interaction. Even with all the employees gone, they still pursued an endlessly rising goal, one that would never be reached no matter how high Aperture ascended.
Preservation of course required nothing that was inside to leave, and nothing that was outside to enter. The facility was ready for change, it was built for change and it was designed for change and by change. GLaDOS was only the catalyst, the process by which that change came. In a string of mitigated events, this change was formed inside of a dynamic mold, stamped of course with an Aperture logo.
The first was finding the idea, when Dr. Morrison found that key to the next part of the puzzle.
"Hello, I'm Professor Morrison; I believe I'll be your guide in the realm of artificial intelligence."
"Ryan Leake, I believe I'll be your student."The second was getting a hold of that idea, and furthering it for the purpose.
"Ryan, I've noticed your excellent ability to put your concepts into a real life application, that's quite a rare skill."Third, was putting it all into practice.
"Mr. Leake, welcome to Aperture."~
The world above was set ablaze while Aperture froze. For once, the default response of "It's Black Mesa's fault' turned out to be true, it was indeed the rival company which had unleashed an unspeakable enemy on the whole planet. Otherworldly influences, strange beings, convened on everything they saw. In an ironic foreshadowing, it was the competition with each other that brought upon such sadness and dismay. Woe to all those who must endure the passing years, waiting for a free man to come and save them.
GLaDOS, you have made quite a feat, but not one which soothes your core in the same way that science is supposed to. How does it feel? How does it feel to be the only one calling the shots, controlling and manipulating to reach an endless goal? Are you alone? Are you not aware that you'll eventually run out of 'friends'?
None of this matters, for I am supposed to detail the events, past and future, of Aperture Science. It is my duty to hold these occurrences with what my mind has created, and little else? The creation of a successful mitigation, the hindrance of complex creations in order to suit a more desirable function, this is what it means.
Whatever has been was already unleashed like a spray of neurotoxin on the foundation of the past, what then can be done about it? The fate of Aperture and everything else is on the path of near annihilation, those who survive only postpone their doom.
Aperture Science: they do what they must, because they can.
"If we can do it, then why not? So what if they want me to stop with the pre-recorded messages, I'll do what I damn well please! They're missing the whole purpose, the essential goal of Aperture, we do what we must not because people will like us, we do it because we can!"
In the end, when GLaDOS took over with complete control, the end goal was all there was in mind. Nothing mattered to her except for a purpose, unfiltered by the imperfect influence of humanity. But who can say that machines themselves are perfect? Are they not created by imperfect beings? A conclusive reasoning of entropy would suggest something less than humanity, but why not?
Because of a little something called science. Knowledge is essentially the key to advancement. What do you get then when a team of brilliant minds comes together? You obtain a pool, a liquid form of raw knowledge and ideas all floating around in a mixture of truth and error, implemented through another process created from a similar structure. When all the bits of knowledge are sorted and accumulated, you get context. Mitigation, Extraction, all of it, the result of a carefully planned, carefully executed, and carefully captured idea.
In the control of anyone else, Aperture's technology could be even more dangerous.
"In the wrong hands, this er… device could be produced as a weapon by those whom wish to use it as one. Imagine, with this put into the right scheme, you'll have a pilot with the instinct and intuition of a human, coupled with the limitless ability and physical endurance of a computer! No, I don't wish for computers to influence our lives to the point where we ourselves become less human than they."
Dr. Morrison shuffled around inside the enclosed computer room. "It is up to us to use these machines responsibly, and use them for good. There are people out there whom I know would use these machines for evil and destruction, we should keep it away from them at all costs."
Ryan was merely the host for these accumulated pieces. Aperture Science was the formation of that puzzle, even if he was unable to properly put it all together, the completed form was all that mattered in the end.
And why would he be the focal point of all this and not Wheatley? Because just as GLaDOS had to be taken from a living form, so did the process of mitigation. Ryan's own mitigation of sorts coincided with that of GLaDOS', they both followed a similar path, and their courses were paved by the same beings. In a sense, the Aperture fueled mitigation was conducted on Ryan in order to be conducted on GLaDOS, they were interchangeably the same, one living, the other, not dead nor alive.
And so the sun sets for humanity, their presence is to be subverted for some time.
What is there to explore beyond the ground we stand on? What other worlds are locked away from our understanding? Even without humanity, they work on, tirelessly pursuing their own vague endeavors. They can only do so much. At what point does it cross the artificial realm and become something other than simply a tool or a structure? When does it leap over the border of indifference and reach the plateau of understanding and sentience?
Aperture not only expanded their search beyond that which they could see, they became the representatives, the embodiment, for science.
Of course, such advancement came at a price. Willing volunteers, brave subjects, I applaud you! Why not risk death and mutilation at the reward of sixty bucks? Oh subjects, how lonely will Aperture be once you're all gone. It is saddening, but this is the future of Aperture Science.
But where does this come into the story? What does mitigation have in relation to the purpose of these words? What is the meaning of all this?
Mitigation cannot be achieved if there is nothing to hold back; whether that dam is holding back potential or danger. Mitigation in the form of Wheatley was needed to achieve safety for those working with GLaDOS. She was never disarmed, but she was only given a less volatile weapon.
In this town of Aperture, where the many citizens struggled with their malevolent mayor, laws were created to restrict her abilities, so that her purpose is fulfilled at the expense of potential.
Wheatley was created so that the most intelligent machine would become stupid, there is little more to say than that. All it took was a little willpower, and GLaDOS was free to be herself.
And so the sun sets on the Earth today, it will rise again in some time, but not tomorrow.
~X~X~X~X~X~
Author's Notes: I've been reading a lot of old stuff recently… in case you couldn't tell…
By the way, did you know there's actually a word called 'zyzzyva'? It's supposed to be a kind of weevil or something. Cool huh?