Doug was trotting through the endless wheat as the sky around them had started to darken. Wheatley watched curiously from Doug's back. The sky turned from bright pinks, yellows to dark blues. A show of colors he didn't think even existed. The clouds fading out and eventually gave way to blurry bright lights above them.
"What are those?" He asked, astonished.
"Stars." Replied Doug confidently as he continued to trot through the wheat.
"Space. Space. Space. Space. Comets. Stars. Galaxies. Orion."
"Oh..." Wheatley replied. "Stars. There...stars…" He closed his optic.
"Our sun is also a star." Continued Doug dreamily.
"Ohhh, the Sun. I'm gonna meet the Sun. Oh no! What'll I say? 'Hi! Hi, Sun!' Oh, boy!"
"That's...interesting." Wheatley went on painfully.
"There are a lot of interesting things about space and the world around us."
"Space. Space. Gonna go to space."
"NOBODY IS GOING TO SPACE, MATE!"
Doug stopped.
"Wheatley?"
He imitated clearing out his non-existent throat.
"I'm...fine….nothing, nothing...didn't mean to say that...I ah, don't...Probably a hiccup! Nothing to worry about mate, uh sorry, didn't mean to startle you there." He apologized quickly.
Doug took a couple of steps forward before crouching down onto the wheat and placing the bag in front of him as he took on a sitting position.
"I think we should rest." He replied pulling Wheatley gently out of the bag and placing him on top of the bag.
"What? No, I'm fine...just one of those occasional bursts of errors you know."
Doug furrowed his brows.
"Right, well. Okay, so I'm not as fine as I look...there, happy?"
Doug shrugged.
"You're partially blind and nowhere near 'okay', if anything it's surprising you are still even functional. That's why a little shut-eye should help. I think I will do that myself." Went on Doug as he settled in the wheat and started to relax.
"Sleep? As in sleep mode for me right? I don't think I need it. Here I will keep a lookout while you sleep! How's that sound?"
"Wheatley, you need to cool down your systems. They are probably under stress and lots of tension. Some sleep wouldn't hurt."
Wheatley groaned. He didn't want to sleep.
"I don't want to, seriously I appreciate the thought but I'm better off without it."
Doug sighed.
"If you don't sleep…" Doug bit his lip meeting the core's nervous glance. "...you could die."
"You know what! Sleep sounds amazing now!" Wheatley quickly closed his optic,
"Goodnight mate!" and went silent.
Doug shrugged, chuckling a little, patted the core before finding a good position to doze off in.
As soon as Wheatley figured Doug was probably asleep, he opened his optic and stared up at the night sky.
"Space…" He whispered as his optic went gloomily.
Doug was right, some rest would help his systems. Wheatley hadn't taken a "lie down" for a long time. He had a little after he'd been awakened by the central core but he'd seen things. He'd dreamed things. He didn't tell anyone because he was frightened of what it could all mean. Might he be permanently defective? Cores didn't dream. He'd watched Katydid sleep and he'd asked him if he'd "dreamed anything" as a joke of course but also just to see if maybe, just maybe, if there was the slight possibility that dreaming was normal for cores. Of course, Katydid laughed it off, taking it as a joke, and replied the obvious. "Cores don't dream."
Something was wrong with him and he wanted to believe his disk swipe was to blame, but if it was to blame then what could fix his glitch?
He continued to gaze upon the stars.
"So much space. Need to see it all."
"Who were you?" He asked, trying to think. "Why did we go to space? We went didn't we...I...I'd say: "I'm sorry"... sincerely, I'm sorry I was bossy... and monstrous... and... I am genuinely -"
Wheatley jumped in his spot. The words were too familiar and caused him a pain he did not quite understand.
"Doug is bloody right I should probably take a lie down." He replied to himself settling in, under the blurry stars.
He quietly commenced sleep mode hoping that for whatever reason it wouldn't start but it did and it quietly cradled him until everything went dark.
...
Finley Wheat was hunched over the blueprints, carefully going over them and adjusting them. Rubbing his eyes and yawning from time to time. They didn't pay him enough to work so late in the night but he didn't have much choice, payment was payment after all. The long fall boots had been his idea too, and he needed to provide results soon. The head of the department had been roaming impatiently around Finley, waiting for the best opportunity to dismiss him with the discharged form.
Finley knew that the majority of the employees in his department were unsettled with his presence. He was too young to even be on the team as a full-time employee, even the interns seemed to despise him. He'd go about on his own in the cafeteria avoiding the glares of several higher educated staff that for whatever reason hadn't made the cut for his position. Sometimes he wished he hadn't accepted Mr. Johnson's benevolence. It was a torture he hadn't seen coming.
They hadn't wanted to hire him from the beginning after all but Finley was of likable disposition, at least to Mr. Johnson. It seemed he saw something in Finley that no one noticed, perhaps Finley reminded him of his former self. No one knew but they'd often questioned Mr. Johnson's decision of hiring the energetic young man. Mr. Johnson had a well-known habit of giving some of the intern's pet names, Finley was no exception despite not being an intern. It made some of the employees go mad. They were sick of 's affectionate treatment towards the half-witted young man who only had several months of employment at Aperture, while the ones who'd been around for bloody ages picked up what was left of 's praises.
Even on his deathbed, Mr. Johnson had called Finley by his pet name. Finley remembered fondly, that Cave had taken the young man's hands in his and praised him for being an amusing chap during his sickened days. Then someone had put their hand on Finley's shoulder as he began to weep and lead him away from the room. Finley still recalled some of the things the sickened man had said, some he didn't quite understand. He didn't let this bother him though, Mr. Johnson was more or less gone, his mind succumbing to the illness.
Now that he had passed away there was no protection around Finley and the head of the department saw this as a great moment to somehow give him the boot and humiliate him in the process.
Finley continued to think over the several months he'd known and his work at Aperture. It seemed time had gone by quickly. Despite not being liked by the majority, his time in Aperture had allowed him to create the ideas that other companies thought foolish! It was a great privilege that he'd been let to stay...well for now...
Finley jumped in his seat as the door behind him slammed open just before the head of the department walked through.
He abruptly strolled towards his desk and placed a small heavy box just on top of Finley's blueprints. Finley sunk back into his seat waiting for what was to come next.
"Finn, I need you to take this to the central chamber. You can do that, can you?"
Finn shook his head, meeting the wild glare of his superior.
"I don't think I can, that's higher clearance than what I'm authorized to do Professor Boris." He replied calmly.
Professor Boris was quick to slap an ID card onto the table, sending a shiver down Finley's spine as he staggered in his seat.
"Shouldn't be a problem now. Go get on with it!" He muttered, turning around quickly and leaving the lab.
Finley sighed, taking in a quick breath, as the professor's steps madly echoed down the hall. He hunched over the box on his desk gently running his hands along the edges. He knew what Boris wanted. He closed his eyes briefly, taking in deep breaths before standing up and securing the box under his arm, and clipping on his new ID onto his lab coat. He gave a nervous smile down at his shiny new ID card. Most employees didn't get new ones nowadays, or higher clearance in general. Boris was up to no good, but at least Finley now had access to the snack bar instead of the low-budget cafeteria food.
He proudly moseyed out the door into the hall, hoping maybe someone still working out late would congratulate him on his accomplishment. Distracted, he nearly stumbled over the custodian waxing the floors.
"Oh, ah, sorry my fault! I'm going down to the central chamber and all, very exciting! Didn't see you there, mate." He apologized trying to cast curiosity on the old man.
To his disappointment, the man shrugged and continued his assignment. Finley sadly glanced towards the linoleum.
"Oh, well next time then. Next time we chat? Yeah?" Finley replied to himself starting to walk down the half-deserted hallways.
His pace had dulled. He ran his hand through his light brown hair hoping he would reach the chamber soon. It was a fairways. He yawned several times, never losing his tight grip on the box. His steps echoing down the brightly lit hallways that cast strange shadows on his face. How he wished that some of the employees he knew that somewhat fancied him would be around. The majority of all of Aperture didn't like him, but there were a select few who empathized with him.
He was already crossing the testing wing to his relief. He'd already traveled a good half to the central chamber when a girl in an orange jumpsuit entered the hall and bolted past him. He didn't lose grip on the box, thankfully, but he did on his footing. He shrieked as he nearly tumbled down but the girl was quick in grabbing his arm and keeping him up straight. She swirled him around to prevent him from hurting himself. Finley in shock and more so heavy-eyed shouted at the orange-suited girl.
"I could have fallen! Do you know what that could have done?! Watch where you're going, mate!" He took several steps away from her, not wanting her to get any near his box.
The girl gave him a face of hurt and confusion. She'd been only trying to help.
Finley felt his throat tighten when he realized she hadn't any shoes, but instead wore two advanced knee replacements.
"Oh, you're a test subject." He replied fatigued. "What are you doing out here so late?" He continued between yawns. Despite all his time at Aperture, he'd never worked alongside any test subjects. He never got the pleasure to see any of his units, or devices get tested in a testing environment usually, much less see any test subjects.
The young girl eyed him curiously, Finley chuckled awkwardly as he tried his best to hide his exhaustion. Her eyes narrowed as she carefully walked up to him, examining his ID card hanging limply from his coat. She was centimeters away from grabbing it when Finley, reacting solely out of instinct, clasped her hand in his.
"That isn't yours." He replied warily, shuddering from the sudden contact. She flinched back and he let her hand go gently. It looked like she was about to dart again, like some cornered wild animal.
Finley scrutinized her demeanor. She seemed on high alert despite the late hour. Suddenly it dawned on him that maybe she wasn't supposed to be out here in the first place. Weren't test subjects housed in some living complex upstairs?
She continued to stare at him, awaiting his reaction. Finley, ultimately feeling ill and lethargic, didn't mind staring back at a complete stranger at the moment. He glanced back at his box and slowly began to pace down the hall. The girl trailed behind finding him inquisitive. Despite he was a little way taller than her she didn't find the sleep-deprived giant at all frightening. She'd meet many scientists throughout her days and this one seemed to be at odds with everyone else.
She walked up next to him, her knee replacements making little clinks and clanks on the old linoleum. She stuck her hands in her pockets and gave Finley a silly face attempting to see if the giant was humor bound or not. The girl, having caught his attention, was quick to see Finley cringe and glimpse away. She couldn't help but laugh.
"You're a scientist aren't you?" She blurted out loudly in the empty halls, making Finley quiver. He nodded, avoiding her stare.
"Then why aren't you correcting me? Send me off to the 'correctional office'?" She asked running her hand through her hair tied back in a ponytail.
"Not all scientists are mean," Finley replied, "at least I'm not, also we have a correctional office?"
She ignored the last comment.
"Why not?" She continued, meeting his glance.
"Why what? Why do we have a correctional office? I don't bloody know…thought this place was a science facility, not a livid prison." He replied hurriedly as she began to laugh once more.
"You're different." She answered under her breath from all the laughing.
"I know." Replied Finley, dejectedly. She stopped walking, gazing at him from head to toe, concerned as he continued to march onward.
"I didn't mean..."
"I know…" He cut her off, "look, I'm just tired, miss. Didn't mean to come off as harsh or anything." He sighed. "I just need to get to the central chamber, that's all. Maybe you should go to sleep? Yeah? I think sleep sounds good now…" He went on.
"Oh, I see." She replied thoughtfully, quick to jog next to him. "There is a faster way of getting there you know."
"There is?" Finley asked, quickly turning to face her. He was hopeful that he could get to sleep soon.
"Follow me." She motioned for him to come at which he did. She was quick despite having an advanced knee replacement he noted. Finley didn't remember designing them for speed or maybe he was too tired to keep up? Whatever it was they made it to a door in the hallway labeled 'secure storage'. The girl turned to him and smiled.
"Your ID please." She beckoned for him to hand it to her. At this point, he unclipped his ID card and he handed it to her without a second thought. She slid the card through the card reader at which the door opened. She grinned at him and vanished inside, he was about to follow but she was quick to reappear with a portal gun.
"This will save us time." She grinned.
"Wait, hold up, we?" He asked, mystified.
"Yes," She laughed, "I'm going in that same direction, so...no harm in helping you." She answered attentively.
Finley frowned, looking down at the device. He shrugged.
"Worth a shot."
She nodded, motioning him to follow her. He trailed behind her until they'd reach a dead end. Without further explanation she fired the gun at the wall, placing an orange portal. Before Finley could ask what she was planning to do, she was quick to open a vent and crawl through. Finley's jaw dropped, why was he following her again? Couldn't they get in trouble?
Just as surprisingly quick as she had vanished, she reappeared. Finley barely registered that the orange portal had connected to its counterpart.
"Uh, this is safe right?" He asked, taking a close look at the scenery before him.
"Mostly." She replied. "Here." She grasped his hand and pulled him after her. Finley gasped. He felt so disorientated as he popped through the other end. He was panting for air, the feeling of walking through portals getting to him. He slouched onto the floor still hugging the box tightly.
"That was...oh my...I can't…"
"You'll get used to it." She replied, weary.
Finley gaped at her.
"How on Earth are you still standing?!"
"Time." She smiled meekly.
"Of course," He remarked. "How close are we?"
"Very close now." She offered him her hand. He grasped it tightly, as she steadied him on his feet. She was stronger than she looked.
Brushing himself off he gazed at her.
"So how long have you been here? In the enrichment center?"
"A time." She remarked sharply.
"How long?"
She shrugged. "It doesn't matter too much now." She replied bashfully, beckoning him to hurry on.
Finley lowered his head sheepishly.
"So, you are? As in...I'm Finley!" He suddenly blurted offering her his hand then quickly taking it back, noting that she was strolling a long way ahead.
"Chell. Just Chell." She uttered, blankly.
"Right. Uh, so Chell...you're a test subject….and well what made you take this, er uh, line of...career?" He stuttered.
She turned to him, raising a brow.
"Uh, right. It's not, no not a career. Definitely not." He clutched the box he was carrying tighter, walking past Chell quickly wondering why she even was down here in the first place? Was she like him? In the sense that no one wanted her here?
They continued to stroll in silence, finally making it near the central chamber entrance. Finley could hear the guards quietly chattering to one another somewhere at the end of the hall. He turned to Chell and beamed.
"Thanks for the help." He chuckled, extending a hand in a friendly gesture. Chell took it nervously.
"You're welcome." She replied, troubled.
Finley furrowed his brows concerned. He hadn't said anything, had he?
"I'm sorry did I -"
"Hey!" Shouted a guard at the two. Finley snapped his attention to the officer, feeling a sudden burst of air before realizing Chell had portaled away. He looked all around the hall disorientated as the officer laid his hand on his shoulder.
"What are you doing here, sir?" The man inquired. Finley brought his attention back to the man.
"Oh, I came to leave this package here at the central chamber." He responded by holding up the box.
"Where is your ID?" The man raised a brow.
"Oh, well now that you ask. It's right...wait.." Finley grasped his chest, searching for his ID that should have been dangling from his lab coat. "She…No! she couldn't have!" Finley looked up at the security guard, alarmed.
The man sighed in response.
"Usually protocol requires me to ask you some questions and file a form. No unauthorized personnel is to be anywhere near this entry. Tonight has been rough on you, sir, I'd assume? I won't file such a form but I do recommend you go back to your department and file a form for a lost ID card and hand over the package to authorized personnel." The man gave Finley a sympathetic glance before heading back to his post.
"No, wait! Can't you just, you know, give it to the scientist inside the chamber?" Finley blurted desperately. The guard looked back at Finley and shook his head sadly.
"I'm afraid only authorized personnel with approved equipment are allowed to enter the chamber. I only enforce the rules, sir. I can't help you. Also, it's worth noting that delivering this package is the least of your problems now." The man finally finished, looking over Finley with pity, walking away from him and leaving him alone in the hall.
Finley slouched to the floor, running his hands desperately through his hair.
"She...stole it from me." He sobbed. How could he have been so ignorant to trust some rogue test subject?
He continued to silently cry hunched over.
Boris probably had an idea he'd mess up again eventually. Finley had been extra careful not to slip up all these few months and it seemed the worst had passed, but now? Losing a high clearance ID card was enough to lay off anybody. Whatever the central chamber had was of high security to Aperture and Finley had just basically given the key to some random test subject. He continued to sob. He was done for, surely he'd lost his job. It was over!
Finley cried a little longer before picking himself up and taking the long journey back to his office.
Boris was already waiting for him with several others. Finley waited at the door, peering through the small glass window, quietly awaiting his demise. He finally opened the door and walked quietly in.
"Well?" Asked Boris confidently with an evil smirk across his face. Several other employees turned towards him in curiosity.
Finley looked down to the floor.
"I couldn't...I couldn't deliver the package…"
"Why?" He hollered across the room, irritated.
Finley, let his arms down to his sides not wanting to meet Boris's face. He knew...why did he have to tell him again?
"I will pack my things." Finley finally replied, accepting defeat.
A huge smile spread across Boris's face.
"Excellent, glad we got that worked out." He turned over to another employee. "Charles, you'll be in charge of finishing off the last final stages in the development of the long fall boots. This action is to take place immediately. Please start settling down in the designated area."
Finley winced, plodding towards his desk and quietly placing the box on top. Boris took it from him.
"I honestly thought, well, that you had a chance to prove us wrong, but what can we expect from a fool like you!" He laughed. The entire team of employees all laughed in unison as Finley sunk in his chair burring his face in his arms trying to hide his stream of tears.
"No one to save you now Wheatley!" Shouted Boris bringing his fist hard against Finley's desk.
There was a quiet knock at the door.
The staff went quiet. Boris swallowing hard, gestured for someone to open the door quietly. One of the scientists ran over and opened the door slowly.
It was an orange-suited, dark-haired girl in a ponytail. She brought something out of her pocket shyly, looking from one scientist to another in the suddenly quiet lab.
"Professor Wheat, you forgot this." She remarked meekly.
Finley nearly fell out of his chair looking up from his desk, his eyes pink and inflamed from his crying. He swiftly got up from his chair and ran towards the door. He looked down at Chell holding the plastic ID card. He tried to say something, but nothing came out. He was indecisive about what to say.
Chell simply smiled faintly, blushing a little, pushing the card into his hand gently before walking away. He gaped at her as she slowly disappeared down the hall, her advanced knee replacements clinking and clanking in the distance.
"Who is she?" Inquired several behind him. He could hear Boris grumble, everyone else whispering between themselves. Boris walked up to him and set his hand on his shoulder. Finley tensed.
"So, great. You found your card. Mess up one more time though and I assure you it's the last you'll see of your job. How's that sound, Wheatley?"
Finley tightened his fist, biting his lip.
He turned towards Boris.
"Do you really think Charles is going to be able to finish the boots on his own? When I was the one to come up with the idea?"
Boris frowned, trying to shield his slightest concern, glaring deeply at Finley.
"That's what I thought," Finley replied, wiping his eyes and heading out the door. It was time for him to get some sleep.
