"Great going there. At this rate we might eventually get out of here if you don't kill us all first."
Wheatley stood up and brushed himself off. He was quickly getting fed up with Rick's crude remarks.
"Well at least I'm actually trying to help." He shot back. "What have you been doing other than standing there and tormenting me?"
Rick gestured to the solid red line behind Wheatley.
"And your idea of helping is nearly setting yourself on fire with a laser? Good job there champ."
Wheatley didn't have much of a good line to return to Rick, so he just scoffed and turned his focus to Chell, who was still solving a mystery of her own.
"How's it going over there luv? Got that thing figured out yet?"
Unknown to Rick and Wheatley, Chell had sent them both to go deal with the laser as a distraction. It wasn't actually an important piece of the test, but she let them think that. She'd gotten tired of listen to them argue right beside her, so she decided it was better for them to bicker in a distant corner so that she could block them out. Even Space was being far more quiet then they were. This whole time he'd just been following her around, occasionally making comments or suggestions, and watching the two fight from a distance.
Chell didn't even bother to turn around. She stuck her arm out to her side, gave a thumbs up, and returned to testing.
"The lady might be doing good, but that's not because of you. Just thought you'd like to know that, since you need to know absolutely everything."
Wheatley's face became hot with frustration. He stomped up to Rick until he was right in front of him and stood up straight, making himself appear much taller that usual.
"I've just about had enough with your snide comments Mr. I'm-so-brave-I-can-do-anything. If you really are so bloody brave, then why don't you stop hiding behind your words like a coward and prove it?!"
Rick rolled up his sleeves and tensed, preparing to fight him if it came to it.
"Alright then, maybe I will."
Wheatley set his old shell aside and folded up his glasses, shoving them into his shirt pocket.
"Come on then! May android hell have mercy on what's left of you when I'm through!"
Neither of them were sure where their sudden aggressive tendencies were coming from, but it was getting a bit scary.
Space couldn't watch anymore, and threw himself between them. He tried to push Wheatley away from Rick, but the tall android remained still.
"Space friend, no more. No more fighting adventure core."
Wheatley ignored him and continued to shoot a threatening death stare at Rick.
Without warning, a portal opened beneath them, dumping them both at Chell's feet on the other side. She stared down at them with disapproval. We're trying to escape here and you two are seriously fighting?
"Oh, I'm sorry luv. I- I don't know what came over me there. Again, I apologize, sincerely, I really do."
She nodded and turned to Rick.
"Aww, angel. You can't blame me for that, can you?"
Yes, I can, and I am. Chell thought.
"Alright fine! I'm sorry. I messed up there, my bad."
It didn't seem as genuine as Wheatley's apology, but it'll do. It was obvious to everyone in the room that she favored Wheatley over Rick, even though she was equally annoyed with the both of them. Rick was simply oblivious to what normal communication was, and Wheatley still had a long way to go before Chell even considered forgiving him. Every time he screwed up, part of her laughed, and another part wanted to strangle him. Every set back he's made has only brought them a step backwards from their escape. Yet, she still found herself helping him up when he fell, and brushing off his mistakes. Why?
After seven years of feeling hatred and resentment towards Wheatley, why didn't she punt him back to the moon like she'd imagined doing? After all those times she gave the sky an angry stare because he was up there, why did she now look at him without a trace of that anger? Chell was starting to learn things about her actions that she never noticed before. This whole time she'd been making choices because they felt natural. Trusting Wheatley a few times in a row was a choice she made, but was it really a natural one? It slightly scared her to think that it could be. Chell blocked the thought before it could embed itself into her mind and occupy her attention, which needed to be focused on the test before her. Once she had separated Wheatley and Rick, she went right back to solving it.
Wheatley turned to face the wall instead of Rick. He wasn't gonna push it any further, for he knew when to shut up and stay down, especially if Chell had instructed him to do it. Instead, he focused on new ways to get them off the testing track for good. It seemed like GLaDOS only allowed them to leave for emergencies. So far, those emergencies had just been him getting hurt. There had to be another way he could cause mayhem without dancing around death. Maybe he could set something on fire? But what? Not himself since- duh, he would die. Plus, with his luck there's bound to be a sprinkler system in the roof somewhere, which she would just use to extinguish the fire. Maybe break the test somehow? But he didn't even know how to solve it. How was he gonna break it if he didn't know the solution in the first place? It seemed his only option was to hurt himself, but he didn't want to create another problem for Chell. Couldn't he just fake it then? Nope. He was terrible at lying and everyone knew it. If he hurt himself again, it would be obvious that it was on purpose, also there was no guarantee that GLaDOS would let him get repaired a third time. He would have to get someone else to do it. Chell wouldn't hurt him on purpose, and Space was too nice, and probably not strong enough either. That left Rick. Wheatley despised himself for admitting it, but be would need Rick's help for this. He waited until Chell's back was turned, and got up to creep over to where Rick was sitting.
"What?" Rick hissed.
"Okay, I know that what I said earlier was wrong, and I'm sorry about that, but here's the thing; if we're gonna get out of here alive, then we're gonna have to work together."
"Fat chance, moron."
"I-"
Wheatley stopped himself before he could shout at Rick, gained his composure, and continued.
"So, that being said, I have a plan to get us out of here, but I'll need your help to do it."
Rick suddenly looked interested. His green eyes lit up and he smirked.
"My help? What's that? You're finally admitting that you need the adventure core's help?"
"Yes, something of the sort."
"Well let's hear it then. What's the situation?"
Wheatley leaned in and lowered his voice to a whisper, making sure not to let a soul hear it.
"I'll need you to hit me. Just go for it. Not too hard, but hard enough to get me banged up so she will let us off the testing track."
"I like it. And you're sure it'll work?"
Wheatley wasn't too sure, but it's a chance he was willing to take.
"Fifty fifty, you could say."
"I like those odds."
Wheatley stood up.
"Okay, I'll give you the signal. After that, we get into a fight."
Rick nodded and returned to looking angry. He was actually selling it pretty well, and Wheatley was starting to become self-conscious about his own acting. Get on with it Wheatley. Now you've got the spotlight, so don't screw it up.
Wheatley walked along and pretended to trip over Rick's extended leg.
"Hey, buddy! Watch it!"
"Oh I'm sorry." Rick said, rolling his eyes. "I thought we weren't finished."
"We're not finished." Wheatley said. "Not even close."
Rick stood up and marched to Wheatley, grinning a sly grin, making him anxious for what was to come next.
"Well then, maybe I'll finish it for you. Since you clearly can't be bothered to finish it yourself, moron."
That last part triggered Wheatley.
"I'm not a moron!"
He shoved Rick backwards, then winced once he realized he was straying a little too far from the plan. Oh now you've done it. That was all he had time to think before he found himself on the ground, his world blurry and dark. How hard did he just hit him?
Chell heard Wheatley shout, then the sound of the impact. She turned to see Rick step away from the scene he'd just created. Chell ran to help Wheatley, only to find him just barely conscious. Talk, idiot. Just say something. Not a word came. He just groaned and held his face. Soon enough, GLaDOS noticed the fight, and took in the aftermath before her.
"I can't leave you alone with each other, that's clear to me now. I might just have to split you up after this test. Every time I turn around, you're tearing yourselves, or each other apart."
Just as Wheatley's plan predicted, a panel opened in the wall, allowing access off the testing track.
"Go. But this is the last time. After that, you won't be seeing each other again, I promise that."
"Holy- it actually worked." Rick marveled under his breath.
What worked? Chell thought, helping Wheatley off the floor. She gave Rick a questioning glance.
"Look, I'm sorry about that. I'll explain it on the way out."