Wheatley was following Katydids [Pronunced Kādēdid apparently]. That was his name Katydid.
Katydid worked in manufacturing since forever. When he wasn't persistently looking over the panel inspection line he was in a small office passionately inspecting his collection of bugs or reading an insect-related book.
Wheatley would have thought that if he'd liked insects so much he'd be, he dunno, working in an insect-related department?
He wasn't. He'd explained it to Wheatley multiple times while he trailed after him on the rails.
"Course I'd do it, but that department got laid off years ago! Ha! Doubt it's even in the enrichment center anymore. The wing must have fallen into a deep chasm." He replied to Wheatley's question patiently once more as he inspected every new panel coming out of the line.
"Oh," He remarked before Wheatley could protest. "That's one no good." Katydid motioned with his handles for Wheatley to call over the mechanical arms to remove the defective panel.
"They forgot to cut the corners on that one mate." Replied Wheatley cheerfully. Katydid nodded.
"But still, wouldn't you like to work on, uh, insect science?" Went on Wheatley, watching intently as the mechanical claws grabbed the panel and sent it to the redemption line.
"Ha! Entomology!" Laughed Katydid, his faceplate leaning up-wards in his core. Wheatley nodded
"Errr, uh, yes that."
"Would I!? Is that even a question you can ask anymore? Come'on Wheats..." He zipped past to a part of the rail that gave him a better view of the panels coming his way.
"I would, I really would but management has no place for that right now. Maybe in the future if Central Core thinks fit with it." His voice dropping to a whisper.
Wheatley was about to say something but Katydid knew what was coming next. He was getting too old for this conversation and he'd only known Wheatley for three weeks!
"I'll stop you there Wheats. I know you suffer from Amnesia or uh, well were robots I guess we could call it a disk wipe. Whatever, you got that and all and you're basically fresh from the assembler! Ha! Think of that. Despite probably being functional for years prior...Well, here in Aperture what Central Core says goes. No questions asked." His lime green optic shrunk as he got a view of Wheatley's crossed expression. No matter how many times they'd have this conversation he was never ever ready to see "Wheatley the chatterbox" go all bitter on him.
"Why!? Have you ever asked her?" He cried out. He rolled his eye. Surely Katydid didn't want to be here for life did he? Especially with a knack for insects. Wheatley on the other hand like it here, he felt this was his place somehow. He was okay with staying but he didn't want katydid to. He felt it was an injustice somehow, to let someone go on like that not doing what they like the most. Where he was getting this from he had no idea especially since he'd only been active for three weeks.
"No, not too fond of the incinerator actually." Went on Katydid teasingly. Usually, mention of the incinerator got anyone around here to stop their fuss, but not Wheatley. Not yet.
"What's with the incinerator and you people!?" Complained Wheatley loudly as he made his way to a panel that had managed to split into two halves somewhere along the line.
"Good day for banana splits! Don't invite aphids by the way…" Joked Katydid.
"Oh, stop it." Whined Wheatley. Picking up the halves with the mechanical claws and disposing of them.
"Just be glad we don't work in the turret assembly lines!" Laughed Katydid. Wheatley looked his way and frowned.
"Why? What's wrong with it?" He inquired. Katydid put on his gossip face.
"Oh, you'll like this one.." He made his way towards Wheatley's side of the rail. Wheatley leaned closer to listen in on the chat.
"Some rogue test subject and a forgotten core of sorts broke in and broke the master turret!" Chuckled Katydid. Wheatley's optic dilated.
"No." He answered excitedly.
"Yes! The poor fools just popped a defective one instead! Master nowhere in sight just little pieces, shards even!" Laughed Katydid.
"No one had no idea who to blame there was broken glass everywhere on the scene of the crime. They interviewed the defective pal in the seat and he just got us in on the story. Was very entertaining. Nothing ever happens in manufacturing, absolutely nothing. And when something did happen we completely missed it! Too busy trying to see who'd turned off the lights! Ha! Good story, worth a listen, huh?" Went on Katydid excitedly.
"Anyways they went weeks! Months even! Trying to find a master turret for the job. They keep switching them though since Central Core isn't at all satisfied with the results. Wouldn't know what she means by that but not something we want to question her about." Katydids did his little signature dance and sing-songy hum on his rail before he turned back towards his office.
"Worth a listen, huh?" He remarked to Wheatley before he left.
"Err, uh, yes! Good one, really nice one mate, wouldn't have thought otherwise, uh, good one." Wheatley nervously replied.
Katydid didn't notice and hurried to his office satisfied while Wheatley continued at his post.
He was frowning worriedly glancing at panels zooming by.
"Hack..." He closed his optic. "I hacked a window once…"
