Reconstructing Humanity
The Science of Love
Wheatley just stood there. He didn't know what else to do. Was there anything he could do at this point? He could feel his heart sink into the never-ending abyss he felt opening within him. The lights blinked for a bit and then the spotlight was on him. Wheatley jerked his head around, trying to find something, anything, that could help him.
Angie and the Androids stood there helplessly in their glass box as GLaDOS, in Lil's body, sashayed her way around the room. She looked like she was enjoying her new body and looked around. Her fingers traced along the glass of the box and then her eyes shot at Wheatley, who was fighting the urge to fall to his knees. He didn't know what to say. Could he say anything to her?
"I must say, Lillian's body is pretty nice. Very roomy, too. I was only going to stay in here to fix my little 'programing error', but I think I'll keep it. That old chassis was getting cramped anyway." GLaDOS laughed, placing Lil's hands on her hips. Wheatley tried to hide his face as angry tears poured down his cheeks. GLaDOS made Lil's face contort into a mock frown of remorse as she walked to him. "Oh, now don't be sad, Moron. I know this seems bad, but look at it like this: because of you, I have a new body and because of all the information I recorded while that implant was in your head, I know how to use it. It wasn't a complete waste sending you out into the cold world with nothing but a box full of junk."
Central Core to Subject Transfer 70% Complete
That announcement went off every so often which made Wheatley believe GLaDOS was taking too much pleasure in mocking him. "The face may take some time to get used to, though. I'll have to get on a treadmill or something to lose all this odd gel around the posterior." GLaDOS made Lil's hand grab her behind softly and jiggle it a bit. "…and there is something of yours that I need to get rid of before I can really take this body for a spin; but all in all, it's perfect."
Wheatley cocked an eyebrow, not sure what GLaDOS meant, but soon found himself worrying about something else. GLaDOS made Lil grab at her face as a sharp pain shot through her body. Wheatley watched as GLaDOS dizzily spun around. She looked up at him again and her eyes were brown.
"Wheatley!" shouted Lil. It was indeed Lil's voice. "Wheatley! Help me! I don't know what she's doing but…"
He heard her grumble and watched her grab her face again. When Lil propped herself back up, her eyes were yellow again. "There…much better. She's a fighter, I'll give her that." murmured GLaDOS as she stared Wheatley dead in the eyes. "The transfer is going a little slower than I had hoped. You know how downloads are when you anticipate them the most. Fast at first, then they slow to a crawl." GLaDOS twiddled Lil's fingers a bit and then looked at Wheatley again.
"Lil!" Wheatley shouted. "I know you're still in there! I'm going to get you out, I promise!"
"SHUT UP!" shouted GLaDOS. A metal claw grabbed Wheatley and lifted him up. "You've interfered for far too long. I've had it with you and that rat and those Androids! These humans are mine by right and now I'm going to get rid of you once and for all. I considered putting you back in that core, but you lost that chance long ago. I'm going to kill you and since I lost my patience with you as well, it's going to be quick and painless. That's the least I can do for you considering I'm taking over your love's body."
Wheatley struggled against the metal hook. "Lil, I know you can fight her! You're strong enough! You're stronger than anyone I have ever known! Fight her!" he shouted, as Lil's face contorted to a confused look. "Fight her, love! I know you can! Fight her!"
Lil's face contorted again and her eyes turned brown again with a blink. "Wheatley? I'm trying! But she's too powerful! The cords hurt so much…I just want to go to sleep…"
"No! Whatever you do, don't go to sleep! I can't bear to lose you again! Fight her, love! I know you can do it!" The metal hooks yanked Wheatley around in mid-air, telling him to stop. "Lil, don't let her win! Think of Tiny Human and how much she needs you! How much I need you!"
Lil fell to her knees and started crying loudly. In her head, the battle raged on between her and GLaDOS. Lil was fighting as best she could, but GLaDOS was winning. "He doesn't love you, don't kid yourself. You think he actually cares about you and your sister? He only says he cares because of who your mother was. If not for that, he probably wouldn't have given you a second thought. Just like all the other men in your life. I can see how much men have hurt you in the past. Your elementary school crush moving away, your middle school boyfriend dumping you for the popular girl, that string of no good losers in high school…wow, you're pretty pathetic and I didn't even have to try and make this up. Oh, there's more, how fun! Your father dying after he promised to stay after your mother's death…how could he be so selfish? If he had stayed home like you wanted him to, he'd still be here and you wouldn't have had to give up everything to take care of your sister…"
Tears forcing themselves down her cheeks, Lil fought to place her hands over her ears, trying to block out GLaDOS. Lil didn't know if these were things she actually felt. "Think about all you could have done if you didn't have your sister to look after. You dreamed of world travel, of writing your own book, and finding a worthwhile husband. But you had to put all that aside for your sister. I can see deep down that you hate having to look after your sister and how much you've had to sacrifice just for her. How could your parents be so selfish?"
Tears streaming down her face, Lil coughed softly and tried to keep her balance. Lil doubled over on the ground and held her stomach. "Wheatley…I can't…"
Wheatley knocked himself free from GLaDOS's metal claws and fell softly to the ground. He ran to Lil and picked her up lovingly. "Yes, you can! Fight her, love! I won't leave your side, just fight her!"
GLaDOS made Lil smack Wheatley away. "You are so pathetic. Do you actually think anyone could actually love you? You're more of a moron than I thought before." GLaDOS made Lil get up as she summoned another metal claw down. Wheatley smacked each one away, though it was hard to keep up. "You know, I can read her thoughts, and do you know what her initial thoughts of you were? They weren't pleasant. Oh, she thought you were handsome and charming in your own stupid way, but do you know how lonely she was before you pretty much fell into her life? Very, very, very lonely. Taking care of the small one has to be exhausting and having another adult around seemed nice until she realized you had the intelligence of a grapefruit!"
Wheatley, knowing better than to listen to GLaDOS even when she was telling the truth, kept fighting the metal claws. He soon found himself backed against the glass box that trapped Angie and the Androids. Angie pounded her little fists on the glass, trying to get Wheatley's attention.
"Don't panic sweety. Grandma will get rid of this nuisance very soon." GLaDOS cooed as she graced her way toward Wheatley in Lil's body. Wheatley stared into her eyes and sniffled a bit. "This ends now, Moron. Once I finally get rid of you, I can take over this body completely and get on with everything. Fix up the facility, reprogram my Androids, and live a peaceful life here with the small human. Testing day in and day out, teaching her the ropes of the facility, though I might have to wipe her memory so she won't hate me for killing you in the most graphic way imaginable."
Wheatley took a deep breath and stared GLaDOS down. "Lil, think of your sister and how much she needs you; how much I need you. You gave up everything to take care of Tiny Human, and I know it's frustrating, but she loves you and you can't leave her alone! Fight GLaDOS, don't let her win! Do you really want her taking care of your sister?"
GLaDOS shrieked loudly, making the chamber rumble. "I am too close to let you screw this up for me." With a wave of her hands, GLaDOS moved panels around and blocked Wheatley in. He couldn't run and now he was trapped. "Tell me, how do you want to die? I'm going to give you a chance to make up your own mind on this matter. I can kill you like I killed that rat, or I can test you, and continue testing you until you fall down dead from exhaustion. I actually like that option best. Let's do that one."
A metal hook reached into the panel prison and took Wheatley. Wheatley, despite his feverish struggling, felt himself get sucked into another tube. He didn't have to go far before he was launched into a test chamber. "By the way, Moron…this is the part where I kill you." GLaDOS laughed over the P.A. system.
Lil grabbed her hair and fell to the ground. "Stop struggling, dear…it won't help matters much. Just let it flow…it will be easier." GLaDOS recited as she made the test chamber Wheatley resided in take many forms. "I can tell you're tired. Why don't you go to sleep? Sleep is good…"
"No! Sleep is bad! Very, very, very, bad!" shouted Wheatley at the P.A. system. "Come on, Lil! Fight her!"
Lil's body writhed and fidgeted. "I'm sorry…" she murmured as she took control of her body for just a moment. She made a tube come down and suction Wheatley away. She shed a tear as she heard him shout her name.
Lil then looked over at the glass box holding her sister and the Androids. She made the back of the box open up and revealed the innards of the facility. "You two, please, take Angie and leave this place. I don't know where I sent Wheatley, but please find him and get out of here. I can't fight her…please tell Wheatley I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough."
P-Body picked up Angie as she screamed and cried for her sister. "Lil! Lil, no! I don't want to leave you! I'll stay here with you! I won't go!" Angie shouted as she kicked her legs, trying to resist P-Body. "Miss Pee-Bee, put me down! I want to stay with Lil! I don't want to go! I won't leave you, Lil!"
Without hesitation, ATLAS and P-Body left the box and ran down the walkway with the crying child. "Lil, no!"
Lil tried her hardest to ignore her sister's pleas, knew she couldn't. "I'm sorry, Angie. Be a good girl and take care of Mr. Wheatley and the Androids, alright? I love you." Lil murmured. Lil shed one tear as she watched her little sister kick and scream with angry tears. It broke her heart and she tried to fight back the tears, but they flowed down her cheeks like a waterfall. Lil slowly closed the walls back as GLaDOS took control again.
"There, now was that so hard? Don't worry, I'll find her again and she'll be with us forever. Now, sit back, shut up, and let the download continue. We're almost there." GLaDOS sent small shocks through the cords in Lil's head, keeping her quiet. Lil winced softly and continued to cry.
Wheatley found himself once again flung into the inner workings of the facility. He dusted himself off and looked around. "Alright, I am getting bloody tired of seeing these walls!" he shouted, hoping someone could hear him. He would get no satisfaction. Wheatley kicked the railing hard and then bounced backward, holding his hurt foot. "I won't give up. I have to save Lil. I have to save them all. They are my family."
Wheatley started running again but stopped at a wall with a long scientific sequence on it. Wheatley examined the sequence for a moment and looked at the very bottom where an equal sign pointed to a big heart. "The science of being in love…" muttered a familiar voice from behind the wall. "…is complicated, long, and if you don't mind me saying, quite pointless."
Dr. Rattmann, a bit bloodied up but no worse for wear, staggered from behind the wall, holding himself up with the railing. Wheatley ran to him and was about to hug him when Dr. Rattmann leaned feverishly against the railing to get his footing. "She told me she killed you…" Wheatley shouted happily.
Dr. Rattmann coughed a bit and laughed. "Not quite. I tried to delay her for you guys, but I guess…well, the best laid plans of mice and men they say…" Dr. Rattmann coughed a bit and let Wheatley help him up. "Honestly, I don't know how I survived. I couldn't explain it to you. But the important thing is…" Dr. Rattmann coughed up some blood into his lab coat sleeve and tried to stand himself up straight. The fact that he was still carrying the Companion Cube on his back probably didn't help. "…well, we'll get to that when we can."
Putting Dr. Rattmann's arm around his neck, Wheatley hurriedly helped him along the catwalk. "So, now what?" Dr. Rattmann asked, all out of ideas.
"We're going back for Lil. I don't care if she rips me apart, if Lil doesn't leave this place, than neither do I." said Wheatley, the determination prevalent in his voice. "We have to find the Androids and Tiny Human and somehow make our way to the Master Control Suite. How…well, I was hoping you'd chime in for that part, Mate."
Laughing softly, Dr. Rattmann coughed a bit. "Sorry…I'm all out of ideas. Honestly, I'm not really in my right mind right now. Listening to me would probably be the worst thing you could do right now."
"Well, you're being honest and I appreciate that." said Wheatley, as they rounded a corner. "But we don't have much time anymore! We need to find Tiny Human and those Androids and find a way to get Lil out of here before she loses herself completely." Wheatley stopped for a moment and tried to think. Dr. Rattmann looked around and sighed as well. "Lil was fighting her…" Wheatley said, finally after a long pause. Wheatley set Dr. Rattmann against the railing and looked at him. "I could see it in her eyes. She was trying really hard. But GLaDOS is doing something…"
"Weakening her mentally…" Dr. Rattmann chimed in softly. "She's downloading herself into Lil. The less interruptions and the less activity going on, the download will happen faster. It's like anything else you download off a computer. We'll have to find a way to interrupt the process if we're going to free Lil and activate the Quick-Fix." Dr. Rattmann looked around and sighed. "We don't have time to go find any working cores up here and none of the cores can get here without her detecting them."
Wheatley thought for a moment. "…we do have one…"
Still carrying Dr. Rattmann on his shoulder, Wheatley hurriedly ran along the cat walk, looking for something in particular. Trying not to hurt Dr. Rattmann further, Wheatley stepped carefully. To find this core, Wheatley had to think like a core. He remembered that some scientists could summon certain cores from core receptacles and that's what he aimed to do. He did what he always did. He followed the rail until he came to a certain point on the walkway. "Where is…THERE!" Wheatley shouted at a broken panel. He propped the injured Dr. Rattmann against the wall and tried to pry the panel.
After that plan failed, Wheatley kicked the wall beside the broken panel and watched as the core receptacle popped out of the wall. "Alright…now…" Wheatley bent down and looked at the buttons beside the core port and scratched his chin. He tried to remember the numeric code for a certain core. Smiling wide, Wheatley put the code into the keypad and looked up. From behind another panel emerged the blank Intelligence Dampening Core, ready to assist. It popped off the rail and into Wheatley's arms.
"Alright, we have that, but it's blank…" Dr. Rattmann murmured softly. "It'll still connect to her, but it won't do anything."
With a smile, Wheatley happily pressed the eye of the core and the two listened to the lullaby it played. "She redesigned it to play music for Tiny Human, though. From what I think I remember all the cores had a preprogramed song in them…"
"…for 'Bring Your Daughter to Work Day'. I remember that. One of the lab guys had programed the cores to play a song for the girls after the GLaDOS presentation was over. They never got to hear it." Dr. Rattmann shook his head and held his side. The bleeding had subsided but he was still in pain. "If we make it play music while it's connected to her, it might interrupt the download. It's a long shot, but it should buy enough time to get in and get out. Provided we find the small one and the Androids first."
Angie had stopped kicking and screaming after the first few catwalks. ATLAS's sensors were starting to act up while P-Body's barely worked at the moment. "Why did we leave Lil?" Angie whined as ATLAS tried to get his bearings straight. "We have to go back! We can't leave without Lil!" Angie sniffled softly as P-Body cooed in her mechanical chirping, trying to calm her down. ATLAS tapped the side of his head a few times and looked around. His sensors were picking up activity not too far away.
He urged P-Body to follow him as the facility started to fall apart around them. With all the damage from GLaDOS not paying attention, ATLAS was wondering if the entire procedure was even worth it. He grabbed P-Body's hand and rushed her and Angie away from falling debris. ATLAS stopped when he felt a rumble under him that was akin to a volcano erupting. He figured the incinerator was starting to overload and he started running faster as the debris fell all around them.
Angie screamed loudly and pointed to a figure on the catwalk in front of them. P-Body held Angie tightly as the figure, carrying another figure, made itself known. "Mr. Wheatley! Grandpa!" Angie shouted happily. The Androids ran toward Wheatley, who was having trouble balancing Dr. Rattmann and the core.
"Tiny Human!" Wheatley shouted as Angie wiggled herself free from P-Body and ran to him. Wheatley grasped Angie tightly as the Androids ran to help Dr. Rattmann. "How did you lot get free?" he asked as Angie happily grabbed the construct. P-Body described the tearful exchange between sisters as Lil sacrificed her own freedom for him and Angie. Wheatley growled softly and clenched his fists. "Alright, here's what's going to happen and no objections. We care going to get to that damn Master Control Suite and we are going to put a stop to this nonsense once and for all! Now, let's move!"
Wheatley started running after P-Body picked up Angie again and ATLAS held up Dr. Rattmann.
Central Core to Subject Transfer 85% Complete
Wheatley didn't like that sound, but he kept running. He felt the walk way rumble under him. This wasn't good. Something very bad was about to happen either way. Panels and pieces of walls and floors fell all around them as the facility started to crumble. All of GLaDOS's attention was on the transfer and Wheatley was sure she had no idea what was going on around her. He could understand a big thing such as switching bodies taking up most of one's attention, but at any given moment the entire facility could go up in flames (if some parts of it haven't already).
"So…it won't be long now…" murmured GLaDOS as Lil attempted to meditate on the situation. "You know, if your mother hadn't died, it wouldn't be you in this position. It'd be her. You'd be free and so would the little one. She had to be selfish and die, didn't she?
Lil's mind was racing, trying her hardest not to think about anything to give GLaDOS fodder for her jeering. If these were indeed going to be Lil's last thoughts, she wanted them to be pleasant. Lil's mind became its own little world, though it was blank. Nothing but white all around. Lil sat in place in her mind in the meditative lotus position. "You know, I can see your thoughts. We're becoming one right now as we speak. It's a beautiful thing, actually. You know, you may not believe it, but in a way, I am your Grandmother. Aren't you supposed to respect your elders? Not that I'm old…"
"You're a 130-year-old talking machine that is putting herself into the body of a 21-year-old. Let's not talk old versus young." Lil muttered as she tried to center her mind.
"You're pretty straight forward for a woman your age. It must have been hard giving up everything to take care of the small one." GLaDOS remarked. Lil opened her eyes softly. "I bet the day that finally hit you was a horrible day. I can imagine how miserable you must have felt to know that your life isn't yours anymore. And now, it never will be. You and that idiot 'bonded' and now, you're bonded to him for life."
Lil tried to ignore GLaDOS and looked away. "Tell me…did you ever think for a moment that he truly loved you? He didn't start showing it until he found out who your mother was. Don't you think it was odd, all that attention he was showering you with when he found out your mother was indeed the silent psycho? Is it love or is it his desire to attain forgiveness from the dead?"
GLaDOS could sense she was hitting something here. Lil tried not to listen. "You DID notice, but like everything else in your life, you ignored it. You didn't realize you were playing second fiddle to your own mother? I can't wait to take over completely, that way at least one of us will have a working brain. How does it feel to know you'll never measure up to her in the eyes of the idiot you supposedly love? It must be maddening. Let that hatred fill you, if not just for a moment so I can finish the procedure."
Lil looked around. "No, I know he loves me!" she yelled. "He proved it time and time again, rescuing me from you."
"Are you sure it was love or the need to atone for what he had done? And how do you know he really feels that way? What if he's just looking for an excuse to hurt you in the future like he hurt your mother? She was the only person that treated him like he wasn't an idiot and he betrayed her. Smashed her into a pit and made her fight her way back up. He knows what he did. He doesn't love you…"
"No! Stop it!" Lil put her hands over her ears and shook her head.
"He doesn't love you! He only loves your mother and the only reason he's even trying to come back is so he can spend the rest of his life atoning to you and your sister. He'll never truly love you. It'll all be feverish attempts at forgiveness from a ghost. He doesn't love you, or your sister…but I do…"
Lil all of a sudden felt like she was being cradled by a pair of warm arms. "Grandma loves you both very much…which is why she has to take over your body. I'll protect you and your sister from people like him. No man will ever hurt you again. All the men in your life have hurt you. Your father lied and promised he'd always be there. Armin tried to harm your sister and steal from you. And now, this idiot sows his oats and won't even admit he's only in love with the memory of your mother."
Lil opened her eyes and looked up. The image of a woman in a tan dress and a red scarf smiling down at her gave Lil comfort. "There now, let Grandma make everything better…"
Central Core to Subject Transfer 90% Complete
Wheatley and the others ran as fast as they could as the rumbling got worse. The announcement that just blared over the loud speakers didn't give Wheatley much hope, but he had to keep going. Wheatley's stomach turned each time he heard the announcements. He couldn't even think about what Lil was going through or what lies GLaDOS was feeding her. He noticed bits of wall falling around him and looked up. GLaDOS's chamber was noticeably ominous and probably the only thing not falling to pieces.
All of a sudden, a bright light pierced the confines of the chamber. "Lil!" Wheatley shouted as he and his group ran up a set of stairs. P-Body pointed to the bottom of the chamber, as the floor fell from under it. The walkway leading to GLaDOS's chamber detracted itself and flew off, stopping the group from advancing any further. Wheatley looked around and pointed to some more stairs. He was getting a little sick and tired of stairs and cat walks and his anger at the situation magnified that hatred.
The walkway behind them started to collapse. They started running up, hoping to find a platform. It took much running, but the group reached a safe platform a little ways away from GLaDOS's chamber. Parts of the walls were gone and all that was visible was a bright light and the silhouette of a figure. It was Lil. "Lil, hang on! I'm coming for you!" shouted Wheatley.
Thinking quickly, Wheatley knew he didn't have much time. He looked at Dr. Rattmann and then at the Androids and then at little Angie, holding the construct tightly. "Alright, this is where we separated. But, I don't think I'm coming back from this one…"
Central Core to Subject Transfer 95% Complete
Wheatley looked down at Angie, who had tears streaming down her face. He dug into his pocket and took out the disk. He handed it to ATLAS and looked at him. "Take this. There is still time. Get this to the Master Control Suite and upload it. Ideally, it should make her placid enough to where you can reset the safeguards and fix whatever is causing her to think that this plan would actually work." He murmured. ATLAS accepted it without hesitation. P-Body chirped something loudly; almost objecting to whatever it was Wheatley had planned. Wheatley looked at Dr. Rattmann. "Take Tiny Human out of here. Wait for us in a safe place. If I don't come back…" Wheatley looked down at Angie, whose angry tears caused Wheatley great heartache.
"Tiny Human…" Wheatley knelt down, knowing he didn't have time for a speech. "…I'm going to get Lil back. I'll make sure she finds you. If I don't come back, I want you to know that I love you very much and that my happiest memory is of the day I met you and Lil. Thank you for your friendship. Be a good girl and do as your 'grandfather' tells you." Wheatley hugged Angie tightly, not seeing her reach into her little pocket and pull something out. Angie handed it to Wheatley with a big smile through her tears, along with "Mr. Metal Ball".
"Give this to Lil…" she whispered. Wheatley smiled at the small trinket in his hand and nodded, placing it in his pocket. Dr. Rattmann took Angie's hand and followed the Androids to a safe destination. The facility was starting to rumble badly. The transfer was doing more harm than good and Wheatley knew it was only a matter of time before the entire facility crumbled around him. Wheatley guessed that GLaDOS didn't account for all the energy it would take from the compound to do this transfer, but he left that up to debate.
Wheatley watched as they all disbanded and ran to safety, his heart heavy and not sure what to make of what he just said. He didn't have time to worry about that, now. Wheatley looked up and ran up the stairway toward the Central A.I. chamber and stopped at the end of the walkway. He looked down and grasped the construct tightly. The bright light was almost blinding but he had to try his hardest to look past it and find Lil. He could see GLaDOS's chassis and cords going all over the place. Then he saw Lil.
Lil was suspended in the air and in a semi-meditative state. He wasn't sure why GLaDOS had her off the ground. The transfer was either successful or it was killing her slowly. Either way, Wheatley knew he had to stop it. "Hey, you monster!" Wheatley shouted, with one leg already up on the railing. "Get out of Lil!" he shouted. GLaDOS made Lil's eyes shoot open. He knew Lil was still in there, fighting as much as she could.
The Androids, not sure what was going on, kept close to Dr. Rattmann, who was walking better, but still injured. His sensors going off, ATLAS stopped P-Body and pointed in a different direction. Knowing they didn't have time to say good-bye, P-Body placed Angie down and patted her on the head. In her mechanical language, she chirped to Angie to be a good girl as she followed ATLAS. The Androids ran off as the two humans kept running forward, Angie reaching behind for them.
The Androids pretended not to notice. The entire facility was still coming apart at the seams and now they had a big task ahead of them.
P-Body stopped for a moment and pointed to the wall near the Master Control Suite. Turrets aligned it, as if GLaDOS knew they'd eventually come this way. ATLAS puffed up his chest and took P-Body's hand. His chatter sent a soft feeling of reassurance into P-Body's systems.
"I won't let them hurt you." ATLAS chattered as P-Body smiled.
P-Body shook her head and gripped ATLAS's hand tightly. "No, we take them on together. Like a team. Like she built us." She chirped softly. ATLAS gripped the case of the program tightly and put it in his pocket for safe keeping. He winked to P-Body, who returned it with a smile.
With a confident nod and a wish for luck, the Androids ran head first into the firestorm of turrets.
Dr. Rattmann held Angie's hand tightly as they ran for the maintenance areas. It was the only place he knew they'd be safe. "Grandpa!" Angie shouted as the walls around them fell. It wasn't the walls that frightened Angie, but the white cylindrical item standing in front of their door to freedom. Dr. Rattmann shielded the child from a lone turret that made itself at home in front of the door to the maintenance area.
"Hello?" the turret chirped as it aimed for Dr. Rattmann and the child. He couldn't leave Angie alone now. She'd have nowhere to go and the turret wouldn't be sympathetic to a lost child. Dr. Rattmann thought hard and remembered the cube on his back.
"Use me…save yourself and the child!" it shouted (at least it did in his mind).
Everything went slow as he took the cube off his back. "Forgive me." he whispered to it as he used it as a shield. The turret started firing as Dr. Rattmann ran head first toward the turret. The cube deflected its bullets, but its age showed as it could no longer take the brunt of the bullets. Rattled with bullet holes, the cube stood strong as Dr. Rattmann tossed it at the turret, knocking it off the walkway, followed by the cube.
Dr. Rattmann breathed heavily as Angie ran back up to him. "Grandpa, your cube thing!" she shouted as they watched both fall into the abyss below. Dr. Rattmann shed a tear as he watched it fizzle out of existence. Dr. Rattmann looked down at Angie and hugged her. He took her hand and ran for the door. He mouthed a thank you to the cube and ran inside the maintenance area.
"You…I thought I made it clear I don't need you anymore." GLaDOS said calmly through Lil. "She doesn't love you anymore. You have no reason to stay here. You must want to die rather than be without her. I can oblige, if you like. Too bad you'll die knowing she doesn't love you." GLaDOS made Lil's body move upward, propping her on a panel.
"That's too bad…" said Wheatley. "…because I still love her!" Wheatley jumped the rail; with his construct self under his arm. With the air gushing at him fast, Wheatley flew down toward Lil. "Lil! I know you can hear me in there, you have to keep fighting her!" Wheatley held his arm out and grabbed a thick cable, stopping his descent. GLaDOS just stared at Wheatley, squinting angrily. "Lil, please…whatever she told you it isn't true! Yes, I betrayed your mother and I'll never forgive myself for it. I'll understand if you never forgive me. I'll understand if you bring it up in every argument we have from here until we're old and gray and wrinkly…not the point. Sorry, not the point. The point is that I'll do anything to atone for it, even if it means working at your bookstore for the rest of my life. I don't care, as long as I'm next to you."
Wheatley let himself slide down the cable and propped himself on GLaDOS's chassis. "What are you doing?" GLaDOS panicked. Wheatley held up his old construct self and forcibly planted it into a construct plug on her chassis. Even though it was technically blank, it still seemed to cause her pain, which in turn was causing Lil pain. It didn't rattle on about nothing, like it was programed to. It played Angie's lullaby.
GLaDOS made Lil grab her head and shriek in pain. "What are you doing? Are you trying to kill us all?"
Central Core to Subject Transfer Interrupted. Transfer postponed at 97%
"Lil…" Wheatley jumped off the chassis and onto a panel. GLaDOS was at least giving him a chance to speak. Or maybe Lil was. He didn't know. "Lil, we don't have much time, but even if you do let her take over your body and kill me, I want you to know that I love you…unconditionally. I know it's been a bumpy road, teaching me human stuff and helping me through those tough times when my memories started coming back. I want you to know none of this would have happened without you. I don't know what she's telling you in your head, but I know it's wrong. I've loved you since we first met. Remember? You and Tiny Human 'adopted' me and took me into your home when you could have left me there and I know I probably didn't do much to repay your kindness, but I'll do anything to let you know that I love you. I could have gone the rest of my life not knowing who your mother is, and I still would have loved you all the same. If you want me to atone, I will. But know that I love you and I'll do anything to make you and Tiny Human happy."
"LIAR!" a combination of GLaDOS and Lil's voice shouted at the air gushing from below bellowed steam and smoke at Wheatley. He felt the panel move a bit but he stood strong. "YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO LOVE! ALL YOU KNOW HOW TO DO IS DESTROY! GET OUT OF MY FACILITY BEFORE I REALLY LOSE MY PATIENCE!" Panels flew around Wheatley wildly. The construct on the chassis started spinning wildly. Wheatley knew his time was running out. The light started shining brighter as Lil glared at him. Wheatley swallowed hard and reached into his pocket.
"…I love you, Lillian. I love Tiny Human. I even love those Androids. The only thing keeping me going through this entire ordeal was knowing that at the end I could go home with you and Tiny Human. I want to take care of you two. Please believe me when I say this, Lil…I love you. I always will. Even if she kills me, at least let me die knowing that you still love me. Lil, please, fight her. Not for me, but for our family…"
Wheatley took Pam's ring from his pocket and presented it to her. "…the family I want us to make together. I love you, Lillian McLain. I always have and I always will…"
It must have been Lil that made the panel with Wheatley come close to her, because GLaDOS wanted to toss him to his death. The two panels connected, allowing Wheatley to slip the ring on Lil's finger. Lil's eyes fluttered from yellow to brown off and on. She stared at the ring on her finger, tears coming down her face. "…I want us to be a family, too…" she uttered as her eyes turned completely brown.
"What? What's going on?" GLaDOS shouted in Lil's head. Lil stood up, leaving the image of the woman in tan behind. "Hey, where are you going?" the woman shouted. "You can't actually be buying into this nonsense! He's an idiot! The only thing he can do right is mess up!"
Lil looked back at the lady as she started to disappear. Lil looked like she wanted to say something, but she said nothing. The lady in tan started to disappear. Lil smiled softly and looked forward, walking away as the lady reached out for her. Lil decided that she was going to fight it, and give it her A game.
"I don't know about you…" Lil muttered softly as the lady in tan started to become see through. "…but I have someone waiting for me. Two people, actually."
Lil kept walking, but then stopped suddenly, without looking back. "I have to wonder, though, did you really need me to fix a problem or were you jealous of what my mother accomplished when she left this place? Were you angry that she just left you behind without even considering you? Were you mad that she started over and didn't share any of it with you? Did you really need me to fix a problem, or did you cause the problem just to have an excuse to bring her back? Were you so mad, so resentful, towards my mother that you'd be willing to rip her own daughters from the world above just to get back at her?"
The Lady in Tan just stared at Lil, black tears streaming down her cheeks. Lil smiled softly and looked back at the lady. "You're the one who doesn't know what love is. Maybe one day, someone will stumble along and help you find out. I have nothing but respect and sympathy for that poor fool, but I wish that person all the luck in the world. Until then, I have a life out there that needs me as much as I need them. Am I angry that I had to give up everything for my sister? Yes, I am. I can't honestly say I like the idea of giving up my plans of world travel and writing my novel for having to look after a six-year-old. But would I give any of it up?"
The Lady in Tan glared at Lil.
"No, I wouldn't. If anything, I'll take them with me when I travel and dedicate every book I write to them. I couldn't see myself without Angie or Wheatley and without them my life wouldn't make any sense. Angie will always be my world and nothing will ever come first, just like we came first for my mom." Lil folded her arms and smiled softly. "My mom once told me a story about a warrior who fought for over one hundred years for her freedom and the story always ended there. But now, I have a new ending for it. The Silly Prince won this day, Evil Queen. I think he's done more than atone for his deeds and now it's time for him to claim his prize."
The Lady in Tan didn't have anything to say. "See you around, 'Grandma'." Lil walked forward with a smile on her face. The Lady in Tan screamed in agony as she disappeared from Lil's mind.
Central Core to Subject Transfer Canceled. Please Stand By As All Constructs Return to Their Proper Location.
The cables in the back of Lil's head started coming out one by one as she walked to Wheatley and embraced him. Each tiny needle slid seamlessly out of her head, not even getting tangled in her hair. Wheatley and Lil grasped each other and cried together. Wheatley kissed Lil deeply as the panel slowly lowered itself. The floor reconstructed underneath them.
"'Ello, there, love…good to have you here…" Wheatley muttered as Lil cried in his chest. "I love you, Lil. Only you…" Wheatley whispered as he grasped Lil's face. "…I should warn you, it's an old ring and…"
"I don't mind, Wheatley. It was meant to be worn and I know she'd want it to be worn with love." Lil whispered as Wheatley hugged her tightly. "It's okay, Wheatley. I know you love me. You don't have to prove anything to me." The panel finally lowered itself into the floor as everything else powered down. The emergency lights came on just as Lil kissed Wheatley on the cheek.
"What if I want to?" Wheatley joked as the chamber started to reconstruct itself. Everything was slowly coming back online and being put back in its place. Though the facility was slowly coming back online, Wheatley didn't even pay it any mind. All that mattered to him was Lil and now he had her back in his arms where she belonged. "I love you, Lil. Never let anyone tell you otherwise."
Looking up, Wheatley and Lil heard soft pitter-patter coming from a catwalk behind a malfunctioning panel. "Lil! Mr. Wheatley!" Angie shouted as she squeezed through the malfunctioning panel. Lil bent down and grasped her sister tightly. Dr. Rattmann, looking like he was struggling without his walking stick, limped over to Wheatley and shook his hand. "Me and Grandpa watched the whole thing! That was so cool!" Angie shouted as she hopped up and down excitedly.
Lil cried soft tears as she hugged Angie tightly. "You have no idea how happy I am to be your sister." Lil cried as Angie hugged her back. Angie jumped from Lil to Wheatley and hugged his long legs.
"I hate to kill the mood, but we separated from the Androids not too long ago and I'm not sure how far they got." Dr. Rattmann tugged at his shirt collar and looked around. The entire room was dark, save for one lone flickering emergency light over the automatic door. "I heard turrets firing, and that's not usually a good sign. We need to get out of here, NOW!"
Just as Dr. Rattmann took Angie's hand, the lights shot on and a wall of turrets appeared from behind the panels. Wheatley had never seen anything so terrifying in his entire life. He grabbed Lil and Angie, shielding them with Dr. Rattmann under him.
GLaDOS coiled above them, obviously angry.
"…You want your freedom…?"
N'cha my loves!
Oh, did I just end on a cliffhanger, again? Drat, sorry about that.
Don't worry; the final chapter is already half-way done along with a special surprise!
So, how did I do? PLEASE let me know in the review thingy! Did I do good or did I shatter your dreams and now you're plotting my death? Well, before you summon the Dark Brotherhood, just remember the final chapter is coming up so stay tuned for that!
If need be, I'll take this chapter down and redo it, just please, please, PLEASE let me know how I did. I must know!
Review (can't stress that enough) and be merry (stressing that even more) my loves!
GLaDOS, Wheatley, Dr. Rattmann, ATLAS, and P-Body belong to Valve.
