The medical assistant walked down the hall with distaste. She was holding the big round hunk of junk one of the patients had dragged into the hospital. It was leaking all over the floor and staining it. It was probably toxic and she was pleased about wearing gloves.
She walked over to a cart parked in the hall used to deliver meals to patients, pulled out an empty box, and shoved the sphere into it. She picked both the sphere and box and walked over to the nurses on duty at their desks.
"Tell the janitor to take this and fix it. One of the patients was having a breakdown because of this thing and its hazardous. The doctor agreed it would be best if we had it fixed first before we gave it back." The medical assistant explained.
The nurses looked to one another and nodded continuing to take phone calls and type things up into the computer.
The medical assistant shrugged. It was too early in the morning for this. She was about to leave and head to her next duty when she spotted the custodian.
"Oh, wait!" Called out the MA as she grabbed the heavy box and headed his way.
The custodian looked at her in dismay.
"Take this and fix it, not sure how but tidy it up a bit. We have a patient who wants it and we need it ASAP."
The custodian nodded nervously, taking the box from her and heading back to a big storage area not too far away. He unlocked the door and stepped inside to inspect the contents of the box.
He was quick to note that the box was getting soggy and that battery fluid was dripping all over the sphere. He looked over to a shelf and grabbed some gloves and a towel to clean up the mess. Having dried most of it he decided it was best to dispose of the damaged power supply. It took him a while to find a way to pry one of the sides of the sphere but when he had he yanked the power supply out and chucked it into the trash. After that, he went over to a box of cleaning supplies on a shelf. He took out a spray bottle containing a mix of vinegar and water. Then carefully rubbed the mix with a damp cloth over the sphere's surface. He was a bit perplexed as to what brand the battery belonged to or what type it was but it only held a strange yellow shudder shape stamped onto its side. He shrugged it off and thought nothing of it.
Now that the old battery was disposed of...what would he put back in? He didn't know what power supply would be compatible with such an artifact. He thought for a while until he walked about the room inspecting all the kinds of tools and extra parts he had in the room. He suddenly got an idea.
Who said he needed to find a battery?
He picked up the sphere and examined it, and as he'd hoped, it contained a port that he expected could be used to connect it to an external power supply. He chuckled, setting it down, and walking towards an old tin box. He pulled it out from under a shelf and looked through it. He'd been collecting lots of old connectors, plugs, and lines just in case he'd ever need them. He found one that suited the sphere just fine and grinned.
Before plugging it in, however, he was sure to place its side back together. He didn't want any unsatisfactory patients today!
He hastily plugged in the sphere and waited for it to boot. He listened carefully as the machine whirred. Then he wondered what even was this thing? He'd expected it to be some kind of musical machine, radio, or something along those lines, but it didn't seem to be doing much at the moment.
He shrugged and placed it back on the shelf.
He'd go do his rounds and check up on it later.
~~~ Finley was holding a big folder full of documents under his arm while he gently straightened his glasses and hair, walking through the crowded halls of Aperture. Boris had sent him to the testing center on his own to observe and document a test subject. Usually, these procedures required a team of three, but Boris had specifically assigned Finley on his own.
He was heading to the snack bar first since the test subject was scheduled to test in about an hour, he figured he could finally make good use of his higher clearance. He nervously straightened his tie. He knew the snack bar was full of highly qualified scientists that worked on several important projects. He didn't deserve to be among them if he was being honest. He smiled to himself as he thought for a moment. Initially, he knew what Boris had intended by giving him a higher clearance, but it had backfired, and now Finley was taking advantage.
He swiped his card and walked into the room. He was surprised that it was much cleaner and tidier than the cafeteria and had an actual working coffee machine. He walked over to the counter and found several snacks in neat jars for anyone to grab. Finley grabbed a paper plate and was quick to grab some pretzels and some water he'd found bottled in the fridge.
The room was rather quiet and resembled more a Library than a snack bar to Finley. Several scientists were gathered around a table talking about their projects with their team quietly while they snacked. Others were silently reading through paperwork or a book in a corner. Finley even caught sight of the young fellow who'd he'd gifted a pen the other day. He wanted to wave but the fellow was busily writing and drawing in a notepad. He also didn't want to bring too much attention to himself.
Finley found a spot at a lonely table and sat down. He spread some of his documents on the table and looked through them as he munched on a pretzel. The test subject's name had been completely redacted for whatever reason. They were known for causing trouble, that's what the file said. It cautioned him to keep watch and report any suspicious activity on behalf of the test subject.
Finley was beginning to feel a little anxious. His first test subject seemed to be a handful.
"Hey, Wheatley is that you?!"
Finley turned around in his chair, catching sight of a red-haired scientist holding a box of rolled-up blueprints. Finley stood up.
"Oi! I haven't seen you in a long time Kit!" Finley jogged up to the man and they eagerly shook hands. Their sudden uproar made multiple scientists briefly glance in their direction before quietly returning to their business once both men settled down.
"Oh, Finn! I didn't know they gave you another position. Congrats!" Kit whispered.
Finley winced a little.
"Been a long time since I saw you." He remarked. "...and no. I haven't been promoted, I was just given higher clearance that's all."
Kit patted Finley on the shoulder.
"Well someday then, keep your head up, partner. Although, strangely, they gave you higher clearance but not a promotion? Usually, people around here get promoted to the GlaDOS project." Kit explained. "The majority in this room are in the project or collaborate indirectly with those who are. Maybe that's your case?"
Finley shrugged.
"Currently, I'm designing an alternative for the advanced knee replacements I originally came up with. Honestly, It would have been best if I came up with the long fall boots first rather than the latter. I've heard of the GlaDOS project but haven't been informed on what it's all about." He replied.
Kit's smile nervously vanished.
"It's best if you don't know." He sighed. "Would have been neat if we worked on the project together though. Just like old times. Remember when we were new employees and took orientation together? Do you remember that?"
Finley nodded cheerfully. It had been a long time since he'd been in the company of someone who enjoyed his own.
"Oh speaking of projects…" Kit grinned. "Here follow me I have to show you something." He motioned towards the table. Finley followed.
"I'm in the robotics lab now Wheatley, thought I'd tell you." He started to unroll a blueprint. "I'm helping Henry and the boys develop cores."
Finley's eyes widened as he looked over the complex diagram set before him.
"Say hello to Katydid!" Cheered Kit as quietly as he could. "We've been tasked to make cores with different functions and subjects. This one is the Entomology core."
Finley frowned.
"The science of insects." Answered Kit. "We're taking a different approach."
Finley ran his fingers along several lines taking in the complicated mechanics that made up the core. It looked like a huge map of an underground city with all its twists and turns.
"It's bloody amazing!" He looked up to Kit. "You've done a good job."
Kit smiled faintly at Finn, looking over the design.
"Yeah, thanks, it is. I have to go. Hope to catch you around here from time to time." Kit replied, rolling up the blueprint and placing it back into the box. "You don't mind that I still call you 'Wheatley' right?" He suddenly asked shyly.
Finley shook his head.
"No, not really. I miss Johnson calling me that...most everyone in my department teases me with it, but I don't mind the name." Finley replied.
Kit patted Finley on the shoulder one last time.
"Keep your head up, partner. There are better days ahead of us." Kit smiled, offering Finley a farewell. Both men shook hands and parted ways.
Finley sat back down at the table watching as Kit left the room. He turned his attention back to his pretzels. He was feeling gloomy. He wished for company. He missed working alongside others who appreciated his work. He missed the times when Kit and he had come up with great ideas.
Fin peeked down at his watch, it was nearly time. He silently stood up and threw away his plate. Opting to take his drink with him for later on in the day. He didn't like drinking from the water fountain, it had a strange metallic taste to it. He picked up his papers and left the snack bar working his way through the hall, careful not to step on anyone's toes as he searched for the observation room he was assigned to.
Having found it he stepped inside and made himself at home. The room was all to himself anyways. There was only him, a desk, a monitor, keyboard, some chairs, and a plastic plant. Finley fidgeted with one of the leaves as he waited for the test subject to appear somewhere down below in the test chamber he was in charge of. He propped his feet on top of the desk as he hummed a lonely tune. He heard a low buzzer emit from the monitor while he waited, letting him know the subject was on their way. Finley was quick to lower his feet and run his hands through his hair. He wanted to look presentable on the first testing session he'd be overlooking. First impressions were important.
He picked up a clipboard as the door to the chamber hissed open. Watching the blurry figure make their way inside and looking around them. The subject stood there for a while just watching and Finley made a note of that. He hoped it wasn't because they were planning trouble or something along those lines.
Suddenly the test subject fired their portal gun dropping through the portals and quickly making it to an edge.
Finley stood up and made his way towards the glass. It was impressive how precise the subject had made the maneuver. Finley continued to watch the blurry figure. At some point, the figure had dropped a weighted storage cube in two aligned portals top from bottom and let it collect speed. Finley was watching curiously wanting to know the outcome and reason behind this logic when the subject fired a quick portal on the opposing wall facing the observation room. The cube flung through and bounced off the glass right where Finley was. He screamed falling backward as the glass abruptly fractured in a spider web design.
Finley nervously trembling on the floor of the observation room heard a series of portals be placed, and quickly noted the figure was on a ledge looking into the room.
"Professor Wheat?" Asked a low voice on the other side of the shattered glass.
Finley carefully got in a crouch position, preparing for the next flying projectile.
"Uh, Chell?" He stuttered anxiously.
The figure on the other side stayed silent. Finley wasn't sure if it was because they hadn't heard him or because it wasn't Chell and he was probably being a complete fool for assuming it was her. She was the only test subject he even remotely knew.
"I'm...I'm sorry." The blurry figure finally replied.
Finley stood up relieved that it was her.
"Oi, Chell! No, no need for an apology. You just thought that was the solution, no harm in trying." He chuckled nervously, running his hand along the back of his neck and dusting himself off.
Chell shook her head.
"No, I did it on purpose. I didn't know that was you." She replied sheepishly.
"Why would you…?"
"-Because I hate scientists." She blurted harshly.
Finley glanced at the checkered flooring thinking of what to say next.
"Oh, I…" He went on, a little hurt.
"Except, you," Chell added swiftly.
Finley looked up at Chell's blurred face, he could faintly make out loose strands of dark hair covering her eyes.
"Oh, Thanks." He replied, awkwardly.
Chell nodded.
"So...uh...how have you been?" Finley asked, trying to avoid the awkward silence that befallen them.
Chell shrugged.
"Not sure."
"You're not sure of how you are?"
"I usually don't think about that. I've been testing all week, I'm very tired." She replied, wearily.
"You are? You don't look like it. Honestly, you're a natural with the uh, portal gun. Make it look all easy. I guess it's just like riding a bicycle for you! It's second nature!" He replied, instantly scowling himself internally for being such a fool.
Chell cocked her head.
"Bicycle?"
Finley nodded.
"Yeah, they aren't the same, I know. Sorry, It's just I'm all shaken up from the cube and the glass. Please forgive me I didn't mean to-"
"What's a bicycle?" Chell cut him off, sounding curious.
Finley chuckled nervously.
"Oh, you know you start with a tricycle and then the little two trainy wheels. Then soon enough you're on two wheels! Your parents didn't ever give you a bicycle?" He asked, intrigued.
Chell shook her head.
"I'm an orphan." She remarked, boldly.
Finley gently took off his glasses, wiping sweat off his forehead. He wasn't too pleased with his choice of words at the moment.
"Well, uh, you don't need parents to own a bicycle. Also, I'm sorry, very sorry, I'd like to mention that again. Your tired Chell," He replied looking up to meet her gaze. "So, I think it's best if we pull you outta there and give you a break, yeah?"
Chell nodded back, a faint smile forming on her lips.
Finley quickly went over to the monitor and entered a string of keys on the keyboard below it.
A panel quietly opened down below from where Chell was standing, she turned over to it.
"There you go, so now just go through and give yourself a break," Finley reassured, "We can continue testing tomorrow. No harm in taking a break early right? See you soon Chell."
Chell nodded happily, placing her portals, waving goodbye before vanishing from sight. Finley took a deep breath as he collected his things and headed out the door. He straightened his tie and glasses again as he walked back into the crowded hallway. He nearly tripped over a person or two as he made his way back to the department he'd been working in for the last few months. He was a little worried about what Boris would say but that didn't matter much though. He didn't like the idea of testing a sleep-deprived person, what if they got hurt? Wouldn't he be responsible for that?
He also didn't like the fact Chell was an orphan, or that she hadn't had the chance to ride a bicycle before, despite being a young grown woman. He started to wonder if he could change any of that. Perhaps, not the whole being an ophan thing, but maybe just maybe…
An idea sparked in his head as he came to a complete stop in the hall causing several people to complain as they made their way around him.
"Kit rides a bike to work!" He suddenly shouted out loud. He turned around and started to run up to where he knew he'd find Kit.
***Chell watched anxiously as the medical team tended to the man. Despite just having met him several minutes ago, she was worried about his state. He looked thin and very pale. His hair was a bit of a mess and his clothes were very worn down. She closed her eyes for a moment recalling all the murals he'd drawn on the walls of abandoned maintenance areas and testing tracks. He'd surely had gone through a lot all alone in that big place.
When the team was done and had given him an IV to hydrate him again, the man gave Chell a huge smile.
She was curious as to how he knew her despite she had no memory of ever knowing him prior.
"Chell," He started, as the medical team let him rest. "My name is Doug and I got you into...I got you to test again. I'm sorry." He apologized, showing great hurt in his eyes. Chell took a deep breath, gesturing for him to continue.
"I knew you could take her on, I knew you could do it and I took the selfish decision of putting you up against her. You defeated her no doubt but then you were dragged back in something I didn't plan for. I made sure you'd survived your cryo-session though." He reached for her hand and squeezed it. "I'm so sorry Chell I didn't mean for all this to happen this way." He spoke between quiet sobs.
Chell gave him a reassuring smile.
"It isn't your fault. If you hadn't put me back into testing maybe we both wouldn't be here today." She replied.
Doug nodded.
"I'm so happy you're fine." He gasped, excited. "How did you escape?"
Chell looked to the floor.
"That's not too important now." She replied with a faint smile.
Doug agreed.
"Of course." then he added, "Chell, I know a lot is going through your head but if you could do me a favor?"
Chell looked over the mans pleading face and nodded.
"Please ask for my Core," Doug went on sadly. "Could you ask where he is and where my backpack is too? You don't have to fix him or anything, I will do that myself but, I just wanna know that they haven't tossed him in the dumpster." Doug went on anxiously.
Chell smiled meekly.
"I'll be back." She replied walking out into the hall. She glanced back towards him one more time as he sunk into his bed and closed his eyes. He looked exhausted and frail under the blankets.
She walked towards the nurses at their stations.
"Excuse me." She asked. "Where is the bag and...and...things that came with Doug?" She asked.
The nurses smiled and quickly handed her a dusty old duffle bag, then remarked.
"The electronic is with the custodian. I think he will have to get a new one. It looks broken."
Chell nodded as the nurse gestured towards a double-doored utility room.
"You can go ahead and see it for yourself."
Chell thanked the nurses before slowly walking up to the door. Setting the duffle bag down next to it.
She didn't want to open it. She'd had her fair amount of bad experiences with cores and she didn't want to know what lied on the other side, but it was Doug's core. So she felt obligated to let him know how it was.
She gently pressed the handle and half-expected whatever core to be inside to blabber an endless stream of words, much like the space core had at the first sight of movement, but it didn't.
She took a deep breath and took a step inside the small utility room, closing the door quietly behind her. Feeling along the wall for a light switch. It flickered dimly to life and she immediately spotted a worn-out core in the corner of the room. It wasn't moving much, it was staring at the floor a cable dangling from its backport and into the wall. Its optic seemed to be completely off yet it twitched ever so slightly.
Chell wanted to leave it be and let Doug know it was partially active, but the core was mumbling to itself and Chell couldn't help and listen to what it was saying.
"Well, uh, you don't need parents to own a bicycle. Also, I'm sorry, very sorry, I'd like to mention that again. You're tired Chell. So, I think it's best if we pull you outta there and give you a break, yeah?"
Chell held her breath. How-?
"We can continue testing tomorrow. No harm in taking a break early right? See you soon Chell."
It was-
Chell switched the lights off abruptly making a click sound as it faded to black. The core, seemingly unaware twitched a bit as it "looked" around. Chell met glances with its dark optic. No light was coming through. Chell stayed frozen.
"Kit rides a bike to work!" It blurted to her excitedly. Chell harshly stared back at it through the dark. She started to feel for the door handle when the core replied.
"Hello," It sounded weak. "Someone there? I can't see and I can't hear, well partially, everything is mostly offline. I'm picking up some weak sounds, nothing in particular. Do you know where I could find a bike? I need it for Chell."
Chell gasped.
"Oh, wait...no that's wrong. I don't think I...wait how-?"
Chell took a step back.
"Could you maybe find Doug?" The core remarked. "I need him." It started twitching on the shelf.
"Everything hurts. Really hurts. Even my heart, I have a heart, don't I? No...I don't have a heart. I'm a robot. Bloody robot...I need to find Chell and say sorry...I need to do that...I think I was someone else...I tested her badly and then I got flung into space! She's brilliant you know, but she hates me now...hates me...always will now…" The core went on sadly.
Chell's hand, trembling, started to feel frantically for the door's handle in the dark.
The core sobbed.
"Oh no! They put me into a bloody core! - Chell is alive?" It suddenly changed tone. "She didn't die…" It went on. "Wait, but then I tried to kill her…" The core glanced towards Chell.
"You should get Doug, real quick because...I think.."
A shower of sparks flew from the cores optic, causing Chell to dart towards the ground and curl into a ball.
"That's no good. Sorry mate." The core replied. "It's getting really hot in here. It's not possible to be two things at the same time is it?" The core spasmed as more sparks started to jitter across the floor.
"...because I think I am right now and if I am that's going to be a problem…" The core sparked up some more. "Mind getting Doug? I'd really appreciate it if you did." The core remarked before it spasmed out.
Chell still curled up in a ball on the floor reached for the door handle and darted out, not wanting to hear any more from Wheatley's voice. She ran into Doug's room causing him to wake from his sleep.
"What? What's wrong Chell?" He asked examining her from head to toe.
"How on earth did you bring him back here!?" She shouted covering her ears not wanting to know.
"Who?"
"Wheatley!" She screamed between tears.
"You know him?"
"Yes! We tried to escape together but he tried to kill me!" Chell was yelling hard as she choked on sobs. "And now he's back!"
Doug shocked, shook his head.
"..But he didn't…" Doug's jaw dropped. "But of course...he doesn't remember you...the mural...oh my goodness…" Doug gasped looking into Chell's eyes. "Where is he? Is he fine? What did he say to you?"
Chell had retreated towards the wall and had covered her face as she continued to cry.
"He's dying…" She mumbled.
"He's what!?" Doug shouted in shock. Jumping instantly from the bed and shouting for the nurses to take the IV out of his arm. They all rushed in confused as to why all the ruckus was about.
Chell was on the floor with her head on her knees as she continued to cry. She could hear Doug complaining and trying to get them to disconnect him from the IV while they insisted he stay. It was all chaos and she couldn't stop replaying what Wheatley had said.
In her mind, Finley Wheat had died. He'd passed away. She had always noticed that Wheatley sounded more or less similar to him but Finley had been a scientist and she'd assumed he'd taken part in the creation of the dampening sphere and not that HE WAS the intelligence dampening sphere. He'd died. She knew it. She'd seen him in a coma for two weeks before they'd taken him away after passing. It had happened… he couldn't be a core if he was dead. Unless...they'd lied…
Chell jerked up as an explosion went off somewhere in the hospital. The fire alarm went off soon after. Chell jumped to her feet and ran out of the room while the nurses continued to deal with Doug.
A fire had started in the custodian utility room and she watched helplessly as they extinguished it, covering up the consumed core with white foam. Wheatley was shouting and screaming despite it all. He was still partially functional and afraid. He wasn't aware of what was going about him. He just knew his optic had exploded and had left a great pain in his hull. He couldn't quite hear the voices around him it all sounded muffled.
He wasn't aware of someone running in with a big sledgehammer either.
Chell was.
She launched herself in front of the man and yelled at them. Demanding for them to stop. She grasped the hammer trying to pull it out from their grip. Someone else pulled her away as she tried to helplessly grab Wheatley away from harm. The man was about to destroy the poor core when suddenly two figures jerked him away, tossing him against a wall. The entire hall of people had started to panic, and it was filled with screams. Chell took a long stare at the figures before her and held her breath as two optics glanced her way. It was two huge robots, standing on two long legs with bony arms.
Chell watched as people began to scream and run in all directions. Wheatley himself still helplessly blurting in pain and confusion was picked up from the rubble by one of the robots.
"Target acquired." It remarked.
"Return to the mainframe." Replied its partner.
"Accessing damage." Went on the first. "Critical." It added looking towards its partner in alarm.
"Must return promptly." The second said gesturing for both to leave.
Chell watched as they both took on a sprint with Wheatley safely tucked under one of their arms towards the end of the hall. She got up and ran in pursuit. They suddenly stopped, one of them tuning grasped Chell's wrist and pulled her closer examining her face.
Chell tried to wrench her arm away but the robots looked over her carefully.
"Lunatic mute?" They both asked in unison, surprised.
Chell gaped at both of them.
They looked at each other before letting go of her arm and turning their attention back to the wall.
Chell took a step back from the two in shock, suddenly hearing men shouting orders behind her. She turned to see several armed men. She froze.
The robots took a glance at the men when suddenly a portal opened on the wall in front of them. It was wiggling unevenly and flickering on the wall unsteadily. The robots noting the danger quickly grasped Chell's arm and pulled her through the portal as she screamed and thrashed trying to get free.
The armed men in terror started to shoot and several bullets sprayed past the three. Chell only got one last glance at the hospital hallway, seeing Doug running towards them in dread as the portal collapsed and closed itself.
Chell continued to scream in the dark, her screams echoing off the catwalk. She grasped for her arm trembling in fear when she noted her hand was sticky and wet. The glow of both robots continued to stare at each other when the second one kneeled to Chell and gently grasped her injured arm with its cold hands. Illuminating the bullet wound with its bright optic light.
"Lunatic mute is injured." It remarked, gently.
Concerned the machine promptly picked Chell up, she didn't give much of a fight, knowing too well that her situation was critical. She was feeling light-headed and barely noted that the robot that was carrying her was taking her in the opposite direction of the other one carrying Wheatley who had gone completely silent.
Chell tried to reach towards them, she felt her arms go heavy and her legs. She couldn't believe she was back in this horrid place, and in a timely and gentle manner, she fainted in the robot's arms.
