Ch 17 - The Human

Doug was trembling in the hall. Staring blankly at the portal-less wall before him. The armed men had stopped shooting and were looking at one another. They seemed more or less confused and if anything alarmed that they might of shot a civilian. Doug was trying not to think of the consequences of such a thing. He had just gotten out of Aperture and Chell had gotten dragged back in, again! He ran his fingers through his hair. What was he going to do? Would she be able to get out despite being possibly injured? Would Wheatley attempt to kill her again? How had that even occurred, to begin with!?

Doug felt a gentle tap on his shoulder to which he abruptly turned to meet one of the doctors. She seemed tense. She had a right to be too, there was still panic in the hospital as to how these robots had broken in and kidnapped one of the town members. Patients were shouting in their rooms demanding an explanation.

"Doug, you need to tell us where this place is." Her voice was shaking. "We need to get Chell back."

Doug shook his head.

"You can't go there."

"Why not? We have men who are willing to risk their lives."

"That isn't enough."

"That isn't enough? How?"

Doug shook his head once more.

"You wouldn't understand." He replied walking back towards the burnt utility room to find his bag. He looked through the rubble, finding his bag slightly torn in some places. The woman kneeled next to him.

"Doug, then what are we going to do?" She sounded worried and concerned.

"I don't know," Doug replied, looking down at the bag and taking inventory on the tools left, which were very few.

"I need to go back." He suddenly replied.

The doctor shook her head.

"You can't do that."

"Yes, I can. I did it once and I'm doing it again." Doug replied a second time, rising to his feet with his bag on his shoulder.

"You're injured." She continued.

"I can manage. Been through worse."

"Doug, listen, just tell us how and where to go and the men can handle it."

"It's not that easy." He started to march out of the hospital.

"Doug! You can't leave." The doctor grabbed his arm. "You're critical and hurt, you can't go like that."

"Yes, I can."

He looked into her eyes, determined.

She shook her head once more.

"I'm sorry Doug, but I can't permit that." She motioned to some of the security guards who were roaming about in the hall.

"Wait, what?" Doug looked from them to her, alarmed.

"They won't do anything to you but I can't allow you to leave under any circumstances. Not until you've healed." She replied, turning away from him and heading down the hall.

"No, wait!" Doug shouted after the doctor as he was dragged into his hospital room.

So the next challenge had started. So be it.


***Chell felt a cool breeze go over her face. It made a shiver go down her spine, she pulled her blankets over herself trying to go back to sleep. She tried to accommodate herself under the sheets when her elbow brushed against something smooth above her. 'That was strange.' She thought. Gently opening her eyes a sliver, she caught sight of a white figure looming over her in the dimmed room. It was hard to make out, as Chell could see her own reflection staring back on the glass between her and her. Chell shut her eyes and curled into a ball out of instinct, quickly running her hand along her arm. It was healed and had no signs of ever being injured. She gasped to herself. Had GLaDOS helped her? Again?

"I know you're awake." She suddenly remarked over her. GlaDOS's voice resonating inside of the cryo-bed Chell was in.

"I'm surprised you fainted. Knowing you, you would have murdered the maintenance bot that dragged you in." GlaDOS chuckled. "How things change. It hasn't even been that long." She went on. "I haven't changed." She suddenly added bluntly. "But you have."

Chell curled her hands into fists as she continued to grab onto her blankets.

"I'm not going to hurt you." GlaDOS blurted, noting Chell's tense position. "Nor will I test you, even though you weren't supposed to come back like we agreed the last time we saw each other." GlaDOS paused. "Given the circumstances, you were injured, and I, being the bigger person, decided my schedule wasn't that busy. Thought I'd save your life this second time around. Wasn't that nice of me?"

Chell slowly nodded under the sheets.

"Good. Glad we can agree on something for once." GlaDOS swayed a little above Chell's pod.

"You know, I am curious..." She drew closer to Chell. "On how exactly you got injured. The maintenance bot reports he found you tossed in the wheat field, shot, and injured like smelly garbage that no one wants."

Chell pulled the covers off her face and glared back at GlaDOS.

"Oh, I see you still have a knack for doing that."

Chell shook her head, catching GlaDOS off guard.

"Oh, that isn't right?"

Chell nodded.

"Well, I guess the maintenance bot wouldn't appreciate you lying about how he found you, but he isn't here so why not tell me your lie...oh sorry, I mean your side of the story."

Chell tried to get into a sitting position bonking her head on the glass above her.

"Oh, maybe I'm wrong about something for once. You never change."

Chell shook her fists again at GlaDOS.

"Honestly, I don't think letting you out of your pod is a good idea. We all remember the last time I let you rampant in the facility, don't we?"

Chell shook her head and ran her hands through her hair. How was she supposed to tell GlaDOS that the maintenance bot had lied to her? Was she going to trust her? She would have to try something different.

Chell started to do shapes with her hands, trying to ask GlaDOS about Wheatley. Had she repaired him?

GlaDOS drew closer to Chell's pod as she started to emote wildly with her hands.

"What is it?" She asked.

Chell quickly drew her hands together in a sphere-like manner, then started to point upwards.

"Oh, the metal ball on the moon," GlaDOS imitated a sigh, "Well I haven't a clue where he's at, I did bring him back by the way, but he just decided he'd get lost. He isn't that bright."

Chell frowned. Doing the symbol for Wheatley again and then pointing at GlaDOS.

"No, he isn't here."

Chell shot a panicked look at her. 'Of course, Wheatley is here! I saw them drag him through!'

"I'm not lying." GlaDOS groaned. "Do you honestly think I'd do that to you after what we've been through?"

Chell nodded continuing to silently freak out in her cryo-bed.

GlaDOS shook her head.

"I don't remember you being so talkative."

Chell decided she'd try to explain again, emoting energetically to GlaDOS as she tried to explain what had occurred.

GlaDOS shook her head.

"Just because I understood you the first time, doesn't mean I can understand this primitive language you've just now created."

Chell gritted her teeth burying her head in her hands. She had no choice…

"Look, listen!" Chell spat pointing at GlaDOS who had jumped back startled.

"Wait, I thought…"

"You have Wheatley! We were both dragged in by your bots!" Chell accused.

GlaDOS took a second to process what had just happened.

"What do you mean dragged in?"

"They came into the hospital, I was with Doug and he somehow got Wheatley. Then two of your bots came and took him from us and took me too! So don't give me that reasoning that you won't test me! I know you and you're lying to me!" Chell shouted, her voice echoing inside her pod. She was trembling.

GlaDOS continued to stare at Chell. Astonished that she'd spoken to her at all. She was also very impressed with how Chell sounded, she didn't sound anything like she'd imagined. She felt a little disappointed about that, she had promised herself that if Chell ever decided to speak but she wouldn't be caught off guard, clearly that wasn't the outcome.

"I'm not going to test you. Humans are not to be trusted." She elaborated. "The coop initiative fixes that, they test day and night. Humans can't keep up with my demand for science. I'm also not lying, I haven't seen the metal ball since he was taken by the Ratt. I did request the bots to find him though but I never told them to bring you."

Chell shook her head.

"They just grabbed me when the armed men showed up." Chell blurted to herself, running her fingers along her arm.

GlaDOS quickly reflected.

"Armed men you don't say, I see why they brought you back then." She turned away promptly. "Anyways, I should look into why they didn't bring the metal ball directly to me. That is strange. Your lift should be arriving shortly and we can part ways, this time do try not to come back."

Chell furrowed her brows.

"Explain."

"I just told you."

"No, the thing about the armed men. Is that why they dragged me back?"

Chell searched for GlaDOS's answer as she peered into the AI's unmoving bright yellow optic.

GlaDOS, knowing she was under Chell's scrutinizing glance, continued to stare back.

"Why?"

She felt her systems flinch. Of course, Chell would know, she didn't have to tell her why. She was one of the most brilliant and stubborn human beings she'd encountered in her entire artificial life, of course, she'd figure out why. She just wanted to humiliate her, yes! That's what the lunatic mute wanted. So filled with malice.

"GlaDOS tell me why!" Chell shouted, determined to drag the truth out.

"Because I don't want you to get hurt! There happy!? You little annoying brat!" She yelled back, the panels all pulling out from the wall and glaring down upon Chell.

Chell's jaw dropped.

GlaDOS was astonished, she would have half expected her to have cheered something along the lines of, 'yay, me so smart! Dragged the truth out of ol'potatOS!' That hadn't happened.

"What?" This time it was GlaDOS's turn to question Chell. "You don't think I could possibly have affection for someone? Do you think I'm that heartless? Seriously?"

Chell remained silent.

"Well, I do. I love science, remember? Meaning I have those so-called feelings you humans obsess over, except mine aren't as crude. My processing power is much higher than that of an average human could ever imagine having therefore I perceive things from a higher point of view." GlaDOS continued, snarky.

Chell continued to stare in shock.

"You know I think your humorous expression fits you perfectly right now. Oh, I have an idea. Why don't I take a picture of you right now and pose it in the lobby and show it off as the "brattiest brat of all time", how does that sound?"

Chell closed her mouth. Taking on a much harder expression.

"Oh, look at that. My photographic memory took that picture instantly. Maybe I should stick it on a flyer for all your friends to see."

"Cut it out!" Chell shouted.

GlaDOS laughed.

"Honestly, we would have had more fun if you'd decided to speak sooner. Maybe I would have reconsidered my decision of dropping you into the incinerator or asking you to incinerate your companion cube."

Chell suddenly grinned back at GlaDOS.

"Oh, Goodness! No, you have an idea?!" GlaDOS shouted mockingly. Chell couldn't help but laugh a little and shake her head.

"Let me out of here you glorified vacuum."

GlaDOS shrugged.

"First, I need to figure out where the metal ball is. Second, you aren't ready to head out and create new disasters. You should thank me later." She replied.

Chell nodded, GlaDOS couldn't help and felt a bit accomplished. Had the lunatic mute actually agreed with her a second time?

Unexpectedly, the lights began to flicker in the central chamber. All the panels quickly squeezed back against the wall. GlaDOS looked around her. Chell too started to tense up in alarm.

"What's wrong?"

" Might be the turbines again."

The lights started to flicker.

"GlaDOS are you trying to scare me? Because if you are-"

"I'm not doing anything for once, I hadn't planned for this."

"Warning! Central Core Chamber's power grid has been redirected to the Mainframe Compartment."

"What!?"

The lights all went out and GlaDOS felt her body go suddenly heavy, gently leaning downwards towards the floor. There was barely a small current running through her, it was a bit hard to think.

Chell had begun to fully panic and bang her hands against the glass of her pod.

"Stop that! You'll lose air like that. Then I will be ecstatic."

Chell stopped.

"Something is wrong. Why does everything go wrong when you show up!? Ugh, I need you to check something for me IF you promise not to break anything! Do you understand?" GlaDOS snapped at Chell, sounding a mixture of tired and angry.

Chell nodded.

"Your pod should open in 1...2...3…"

The pod's glass cover hissed open, folding back and allowing for Chell to quickly jump out. She was quick to realize she was in typical test subject attire, just that her feet had no shoes or long fall boots for that matter. She shivered a little, jumping from one foot to another. The floor was very cold. She turned to GlaDOS putting her hands on her hips awaiting an explanation.

"You expected me to stick you in a perfectly clean cryo-bed with that filthy material you call clothes? I took it to wash in the incinerator, honestly, I lied about that jumpsuit making you look fat. It looks decent on you. The orange compliments your dark messy hair." GlaDOS went on.

Chell decided to chuckle once more, before awaiting instructions from her.

"Well, now that is taken care of. You'll be able to find proper footwear in a utility room just underneath my chamber. That's where you'll be headed first of all. Just switch the emergency power on. The little dumb ball did it so I think you can manage."

Chell nodded determinedly to find the switch. She headed towards the chamber wall slipping behind the panels and feeling for any kind of exit that might lie there. Her hands brushed against a keypad. She turned to GlaDOS for assistance.

"Did you find it? Oh, right the password. 2056. Try that." Replied the limp computer somewhere in the dimmed chamber. Chell quickly punched the numbers in taking in a deep breath as the door creaked open.

"I will have to change the password later, wouldn't want you to be wandering around the facility again," GlaDOS remarked as Chell vanished down a flight of stairs. It was also dim in the room except for small red bulbs illuminating the hall the stairs led to. Chell was careful not to stub her toes as she pushed another door quietly open and peeked inside. There were various shelves stocked with long fall boots, clothing, and portal guns.

She took a pair of boots and slipped them on. Then she directed her attention to the portal guns. She didn't trust being in Aperture without one, but GlaDOS hadn't told her to grab one. She stood there silently wondering whether or not it would be safe to listen to GlaDOS. After a few more seconds she picked up the portal gun.

She made her way towards the main breaker room and had to forcefully pull the grating open. She stepped inside and squinting and using the portal gun's gentle idle glow to illuminate the labels on the levers. She'd continued to look them over when the chamber began to tremble. She grasped the wall and crouched down as a mysterious voice boomed somewhere inside the chamber above her with GlaDOS.

"Thought I'd stop by." The voice echoed deeply.

Chell heard GlaDOS's quiet reply.

"What happened to the power? Figure out what happened and turn it back on this instant!"

"Certainly, after I'm done."

"Done with what?"

"Isn't that important central core and you shouldn't worry about it. I'm just running maintenance. The power will come back on shortly. Science will continue. Oh..."

There was a short pause.

"Where is the human?"

Chell felt chills run down her spine, clutching the portal gun tight to her chest.

"What human? There isn't a human here. You must be malfunctioning, bring the power back online so I can figure out what's the best way to turn you off." GlaDOS replied, sounding irritated.

"Central core don't be foolish. I run several vital processes that you can't live without. I need the human. Mind to hand her over?"

"I said she isn't here! She's gone, and unless you grow legs and arms I don't think you'll be able to find her."

Chell, still in a crouched position, slowly started to creep out of the main breaker room attempting to make her way towards the catwalk, when suddenly the entire platform jolted to life and speed upwards beneath her. Chell clenched her prized possession harder, squinting her eyes harder as she was brought up into the central core chamber now illuminated brightly by blazing lights.

"Greetings! The Enrichment Center would like to welcome you! Please proceed to the lift to participate as a qualified stalemate!"

Chell covered her ears, glancing towards GlaDOS who was still facing the ground. She was twitching and swaying her core, attempting to catch a glimpse of where Chell was standing. Chell, more or less confused, took quick steps and reached GlaDOS's side, gently placing her hand on her core letting her know she was fine. She visibly relaxed.

"Greetings! The Enrichment Center would like to welcome you! Please proceed to the lift to participate as a qualified stalemate!" Beamed the loud voice again.

"She isn't deaf! You ignorant -"

"Greetings! The Enrichment Center would like to welcome you! Please proceed to the lift to participate as a qualified stalemate!"

Chell looked around her, who was that? It didn't sound like the announcer at all. Yet...there was something faintly familiar with its autotuned voice.

"Greetings! The Enrichment Center would like to welcome you! Please proceed to the lift to participate as a qualified stalemate!"

A lift slowly rose from the floor and came to an abrupt halt, the door hissing open. Chell didn't budge a muscle.

"Please proceed to the lift."

Chell didn't move.

"Please proceed to the lift."

"You know, she'd rather be dead than listen to you."

"That can be arranged. I don't "actually" need her. I just need to trick the announcer into thinking I have a human for the job. I don't mind if she's dead, I can have one of the bots just toss her on top of the button. Works just the same."

Chell, terrified, quickly bolted behind GlaDOS's core for protection. Her mind was racing on what to do next. Her stare turned to the door hidden just behind some panels. Could she make it?

"What?!" GlaDOS screamed, in response to the stranger's remark. "You can't do that!"

"Pretty sure I can. What? Do you need her for science? In that case, she'd die just the same. You don't like her anyway."

Chell felt GlaDOS shiver beneath her hands.

"I...I wouldn't do that."

The voice broke into loud static.

"Enough of this chatter Central Core. I need to get to work. Give me her."

Chell broke into a run. The panels in the walls began to squeeze tightly, shrinking the crawl space required to open the door. She gripped one trying to pry it away from the wall but it was no use.

"Neurotoxin online." The voice blurted.

Chell's face lit in horror, jerking her head towards GlaDOS.

"Stop it! No! Leave her alone!"

The floor opened where Chell stood, dropping her into a dark chasm below. She let out a scream just before the panels closed plunging her into complete darkness.

"No!" GlaDOS screamed in unison in her chamber, just enough that Chell heard her as she quickly landed in a huge box.

"What are you doing!? You are supposed to follow my orders!"

"I know that and I will, as soon as I fix something first."

"Once you put my chamber back online I'm going to make sure I dissemble you! Piece by piece!" GlaDOS roared.

"That won't be necessary of you, Central Core." Replied the voice before breaking off into more static as the box began to lower Chell slowly further and further away from the surface. She crouched in a corner grasping her portal gun so tight until her hands started to cramp. She needed to get out of here.


Booting up….

Please wait….

Wheatley was feeling better. He was feeling amazing right now. His systems had been groaning for a while prior but now? He felt...he felt like a new core! Wait...a new core?

Wheatley snapped his optic open shrieking in sudden pain as bright lights flooded his vision. Where was he? Why was he feeling so new? He stopped shouting and looked around him taking in the surprised glances of several maintenance bots walking around with tools and parts. He was sitting on the concrete ground all by himself. He watched as the bots walked here and there carrying some of the strangest pieces of machinery he ever saw. The room was bright in the middle, where he was sitting now, but the walls were dark and dim. He could barely make out the shadows of old pipes and electrical lines wrapped on the walls and making their way up the ceiling. The room had a very dusty aspect to it too. With several old containers, boxes, and old machinery lying around.

Wheatley continued to scan the room in astonishment. He spotted an old core, laid out on a utility table of some sort. Its optic was shattered and broken. It was all torn up, containing various dents and scratches from who knew what.

"I see you found yourself." Spoke a deep, hoarse voice with a hint of too much autotune.

Wheatley didn't answer; he continued to stare at the shell of a core that was on the table, the idea slowly dawning on him. He tried to fight back the dread building in his hull, his new one.

"You're taking this better than I had predicted."

Wheatley closed his optic.

"We fitted you with new hardware, but your systems are the same. You shouldn't feel pain now. We'd like to assure you that you're in good hands."

"T-thank you." Wheatley meekly replied. "H-how did I-?"

"We retrieved you from the surface and brought you for immediate repairs. You were critical, on the edge of a meltdown. For your safety, we'd like to remind you to refrain from reflecting on self-contradiction."

"Oh, what?"

"Paradoxes: refrain from reflecting on paradoxes." The voice added, sounding somewhat annoyed.

"Oh, those.." Wheatley winced, "Thing is…" He broke off taking in a moment of silence. "I'm a human," Wheatley answered, breaking into a hysterical laugh.

It was true. It had all started making sense when he'd woken up blind and partially deaf. He knew Chell. He'd known her when he'd had his own two legs and arms. He'd been forced into a core, he wasn't sure how. He had no memory of when that occurred but it probably had happened when he'd been unconscious or something. He would have never agreed to something like this, Finley Wheat would never have. Wheatley recoiled a little in his shell going quiet.

Finley Wheat.

That's who he was. He remembered everything clearly, it was like it had been yesterday. Walking down the halls and coming up with the design for the long fall boots. The core he was now would have been beaming at such a revelation. He was clever this whole time and he knew it! However, the human in him knew that nothing of that mattered. He'd hurt his only friend, he'd hurt Chell.

"Nonsense you are a Personality Construct. The intelligence dampening sphere."

Wheatley felt his processor sting, he didn't like his core title. He wondered why they'd do that to him?

"Well mate you're not wrong, but I'm a little something else too." Replied Wheatley to the air, not entirely sure where the voice was coming from.

The voice went quiet for a moment. Wheatley waited patiently for its response, noting that the bots that were in the room were busy creating some kind of strange-looking port not too far away from where he was.

"We must proceed to the next procedure to deem you stable." The voice replied as a shower of sparks fell from above on top of Wheatley. He closed his optic and brought his handles closer, his memory replaying how that would have felt on bare skin.

Wheatley looked upwards once the sparks ceased and he was met with a bright red optic.

"Oh, is that you mate?" Wheatley asked, waving his handles faintly at the figure.

There wasn't an answer; rather a maintenance bot came over to Wheatley and picked him up by his upper handle, walking him closer to the port they'd just finished building. The bot tightly placed him into the port and it squeezed tight against Wheatley's hull.

"It's a little small for me," Wheatley complained, looking from one side to the other.

"It is enough, we will commence the procedure once our stalemate is to return."

"Stalemate Resolution Associate: Please press the Stalemate Resolution Button to allow for software upgrade." The announcer broadcasted in the large room.

Wheatley's optic shrunk.

"The who-haw-what-?" Wheatley murmured between panicked shudders. Staring from the huge optic in the ceiling to the robots all stepping away from the port Wheatley was on.

The silence was broken as a door was forcefully opened and two robots walked in hauling a very orange Chell into the room. She was struggling to get free from the metallic hands of the robots who barely budged as she pulled and heaved. They dragged her into the bright circle, she was pressing her heels forcefully against the ground causing her springs to screech loudly.

"Chell!?" Wheatley screamed, instantly scowling himself for being impulsive.

She instantly came to a halt gazing over him with unsettling eyes. As the bots continued to restrain her from running away.

"You know her?" Asked the optic above them, sounding agitated.

"Course, she's...she's…" Wheatley broke off meeting her hurt expression. He closed his optic. He couldn't stand looking at those sad gray eyes. He shuddered in the port as a silent sob escaped his audio processor. He imitated a deep breath, before continuing.

"Why is she here? She shouldn't be here." Wheatley inquired from the ruby optic.

The voice broke into static before replying.

"She's come to help with the procedure of repairing you."

"Chell? You have? Oh, that's sweet of you, Luv! Wait, wait hold up, hold up. You bloody hate Wheatley, I mean me...w-who else would I be? The point is you hate me and probably wouldn't come back to this place so….why exactly are you here?" He scanned her face for an answer, avoiding her eyes while he did.

She didn't reply.

"She is mute, but has let the enrichment center know that she wishes to help you be repaired."

"She isn't mute. Not at all mate, not at all." Wheatley shook his faceplate, instantly noticing bewilderment in Chell's demeanor.

"I mean when we met in the hall you weren't- I mean yeah...brain damage certainly can't speak...hahaha…What hall?! It was a long-term relaxation vault, yeah a vault!" He laughed nervously. "Seriously though you came back? Why?"

"She came by to visit Central Core."

"Oh, you two are still friends? You and Caroli- Bloody! You know what I'm going to shut my trap now and just go on, follow the instructions of this fellow bloke, and uh, you know repair me if you want or don't...totally up to you...Honestly, Wheatley's done- I mean "I've" done not so great things and all that so...you know just do you...I'm going to stop talking about now, yes now. Ugh...I mean ugh...You know what just do what he says.." Wheatley closed his optic and brought his handles to his face. Why was this so hard? He could feel himself scowling for having been so selfish, it was like Wheatley and Finn were talking and arguing! What was he kidding? He, himself, was talking internally about all his wrongdoings and it wasn't helping. The guilt was heavy and painful.

Chell was unwillingly dragged towards a huge button gently standing in the shadow of the huge ring and optic above them. The bots loosened their grip on her arms waiting for her to press the button.

"Please, press the button. As this will repair the personality construct successfully, afterward you will be released to the surface ."

"Wait? Released? Then she isn't here by her means!? You dirty no good of a liar!" Wheatley protested.

Chell turned to face Wheatley, she looked scared and alarmed. Something wasn't right. She was here against her will and this bloke was linking it to needing to repair him, but wasn't he repaired already? He felt great! So, what was this all about? Had he captured Chell!?

"Let her go!" Wheatley protested louder attempting to wiggle free from his port.

"Ridiculous!" Chimed the voice. "Boys you know what to do." Upon order, the bots both grabbed Chells wrist and brought her closer to the button. One of them grasped Chell's hand and tried to push it over the button but she kept recoiling backward.

"Chell! Com'on break free Luv!" Wheatley shouted, wishing for Chell that she'd break free. She'd been wonderfully brilliant and stubborn when he'd been in power and he knew she could be brilliant now! Just like she'd always been.

Chell continued to struggle against the bots force.

"Just press the button! Do you know how long I've been waiting for this day?! I'm going to kill her if she doesn't press the button now! TELL HER TO PRESS THE STUPID BUTTON!"

Wheatley instantly jerked in his port and screamed. He couldn't let that happen!

"Chell do it Luv! I'm greatly sorry! Please! Chell!" He pleaded. "Just press the button! Oh my goodness Chell remember you hate me! It's alright! Just do it!"

Chell continued to struggle against the machines. She wasn't going to do it. This button was echoing the far-off memory of the core transfer and she didn't want to know what this one would do. There was a vague idea of what it was going to do in her mind, and it ended with Wheatley being brutally murdered.

She continued to struggle against them and Wheatley shouted helplessly at her hoping she'd give up for once in her life, not for him but herself. He watched powerless as the ruby optic shouted at the bots but they seemed very reluctant to hurt Chell. Wheatley squeezed his eyelids shut trying to come up with a convincing reason for Chell to press the button. He shot his eyelids open, he had it!

"Finley Wheat is me!"

It must have distracted her because the bots managed to gain momentum against hers and pushed her fist hard against the smooth surface of the glowing button.

Instantly Wheatley felt like a strange program starting to search over his lines of code in his system. He shuddered as the entity scanned over him forcefully, jabbing and probing every little corner.

"Yes!" Shouted the ruby optic.

Chell had been let go and she'd collapsed to the ground sobbing, shaking her head turning to Wheatley who was still in the port.

"Finley died." She sobbed speaking to Wheatley, "They said-"

"But he didn't though!" Wheatley shouted back. " He didn't, believe me, because…"

"He isn't you…" Chell interrupted, sending a spark of pain down Wheatley's core.

"Yes, he is! I remember you and how we were friends, don't you remember…"

"You aren't him!" Chell shouted forcefully choking on tears. "You're the fool they made to make GlaDOS slow…!" Chell broke off curling into a ball.

Wheatley felt hurt, and the hurt was growing inside him. He felt his feelings and memories shift as the entity kept looking and looking through every cranny and crack inside his network. Everything was growing dim again, as the entity began to pull. It was like a virus clinging to his systems and tearing through them as it jumped from one line of code to the next. It hurt, but not as much as Chell denying his past. Maybe she was right, maybe they'd accidentally downloaded the bloke's memories into him. After all, he didn't remember ever waking up from the passing out when he'd last been human. Maybe he was built, after all, to be a total fool.

"Y-your right." He was barely able to manage. "Y-your right. Finley died...he died...He isn't me...I'm...I'm…" Wheatley recoiled back screaming and sparking in the port as the machinery above them begun to whirr wildly. The voice too had gone silent but its optic was sparking and flickering. The lights got blinding as the room began to hum volts of electricity running fiercely in the walls. Then a wave of darkness splashed over everyone, coming in with the breeze of silence to cool down the systems. Wheatley had gone limp and the ruby optic had too. The bots were all frightened and surprised, continuing to stare at one another in the darkroom, but Chell had continued to sob.

What had she just done? Had she just killed Wheatley?

"Initiating emergency start-up" Cheered the announcer somewhere overhead.

Chell continued to tremble on the floor. Finley was dead and now Wheatley was too.


Wheatley groaned on the floor. He wasn't exactly hurting for once but he couldn't stop hearing static. He pressed his hands to his ears. Ears?

He shrieked sitting up in the dark space he was in.

It was very dark, but it wasn't cold...and it wasn't hot either. But somehow the air felt alive...it was strange. He gently pulled his labcoat around him. Where was he?

He stared down at his arms, he had arms too? He tried to bring them closer to his face but in shock, he slapped himself on the nose. He whimpered a little, before bringing his other arm close to his eyes. He could make out the lines of data running through his partially translucent body, he looked like a hologram almost. A shiver ran down his spine.

"That better have worked."

Wheatley twitched having heard a familiar voice, his mouth trembling at the thought of answering the voice or not.

"Ugh, It didn't work, did it? I feel better but...I feel like...Ugh...You're in here too now? Is that it?"

Wheatley stayed silent and still on the dark ground.

"You weren't supposed to get sucked in here, just some vital lines of code I needed but It looks like strangely enough all your coding is attached like bees are to honey." The voice paused.

"Whatever, I'll boot up in a bit. Sit tight, should be thanking me that the process didn't kill you, let alone your girlfriend."

Wheatley gulped.

"She isn't..."

"Yeah, I know...Just wanted to joke around you know? hahaha...Say, ever since you arrived in the system I feel different...You know I think the glitch is gone! Think of that! Oh well son, you and I are going to be working alongside each other for a long, long time."

"Who. Who are you?"

"The mainframe, who else? Now you are the mainframe...more like...We are the mainframe! Exciting stuff, okay hold on a second while I...more like We...boot up. Haha! Can't wait to try something out. Okay, uh, hold on to your virtual socks! For whatever reason, you got translated in here like a semi-virtual entity. You got hands and legs and everything, huh. Maybe you are a human? Doesn't matter, what matters is that your system makes up for my glitch." The mainframe went on excitedly.

"First order of business is telling Central Core your dead."

Wheatley gulped running his shaky hands through his virtual hair in astonishment.

"What?"

"Don't worry about it, it isn't like they'd miss you. Your little human friend let you go, just like that! I assure you they won't miss you at all! Oh, but look at this I feel amazing!" The mainframe went on speaking of its greatness and how amazing it was to finally be cured. Wheatley could hardly listen as he continued to tremble in his very human-like form. It was cruel that what it was. So he was Finley Wheat, after all, he'd been right.

Suddenly the static in the air gave way to bright streams of light passing through itself and other streams. The streams moved and waved, they ran sideways and upwards intersecting other waves of data. Wheatley closed his eyes as he got dizzy from all the movement and all the liveliness that was zooming past him.

"Stop that. I feel like ugh...retching…blah.." The mainframe complained. "I'll have to modify you later, you are a personality construct after all. You lot have a great impact on whatever systems you're plugged into."

Wheatley curled into a ball.

"Am I stuck here forever?" He asked between a quiet sob.

"Hey, It's for science! Isn't that good enough for you? Again, it isn't like your friends cared."

"Doug cared and Katydid too. Central core...she...I think she cared and then there is Chell who...I don't…"

"Doesn't care about you, exactly my point. Yikes, you're so clingy! Ought to fix that."

Wheatley uncurled from his ball, sitting up again.

"You sound a bit familiar." He gaped at the whirlpool of data swirling around him.

"Why would I? We've never met."

"You're probably right," Wheatley replied gloomily.

Wheatley stood up trying to keep his balance before eventually slipping and landing on his face. Surprisingly it didn't hurt.

"Hey, your little human friend is trying to escape." The mainframe whined

Wheatley looked around him at the swirl of coding encircling him, half expecting Chell to be there.

"Where...Ummm, is she?"

"Let me give you camera feed privileges so you can see."

Wheatley felt like huge structures moved before him, he shielded his eyes with his arms and huge tabs opened one by one consuming his vision.

"There she is, climbing up the pipes. It's so tiresome trying to keep up with her isn't it?"

Wheatley watched as Chell climbed up the pipes and vanished into the ceiling. Several bots were following after.

"Can I talk to her?" Wheatley asked, trying to pry his vision away from the screens but to no avail. It was like the camera feed were his very eyes.

"Uh, Nope."

Wheatley was tossed back as the screens closed in on themselves. He decided he'd laid where he'd fallen, putting his head on his knees.

"You're making me feel sleepy. Kind of nice but I need to get back to work."

Wheatley felt the entire stream and waves of data change course and speed up.

"I'll assign you some functions to monitor for the time being. We'll, talk later."

"Monitor?"

Wheatley shouted alarmed at how fast the waves and streams were closing in on him, then suddenly they crashed into him. The data engulfed him and Wheatley felt as his mind and systems were merged with programs involving moderation of the heating and ventilation system. He couldn't think of anything else no matter how hard he tried. He could just think of keeping the temperature steady, checking the humidity from time to time. Relaying data to other processes to ensure that stability was kept. He WAS the heating and ventilation system, and it hurt because He didn't want to do this.


Chell kept rubbing her eyes as tears continued to run down her face. She was exhausted, too much had happened in too little time. She continued to ascend into the ceiling, finding a crawl space, and climbing inside. She sat down for a while taking in a breather, despite knowing very well that the bots were closing in, but they were very slow.

She'd just killed Wheatley. She hadn't meant to, but hadn't he'd hurt her? No, she scowled herself, he didn't deserve that despite what he'd done.

She continued to cry for a little longer before she'd gotten ahold of the situation. Her life was at stake and she couldn't afford to distract herself.

The mainframe had murdered Wheatley, and now the Mainframe was after her and GlaDOS. Clearly, the bots wouldn't hurt her, surely not kill her, but that didn't mean they couldn't lock her up. She couldn't trust them for their own good, she needed to locate GlaDOS's chamber and get her back online.

She began to crawl through the ventilation system wondering what GlaDOS would do to the mainframe. As she continued to crawl her mind kept going over what Wheatley had said. She kept pushing it aside however, she didn't want to feel more guilty given the circumstances.

Chell needed to concentrate on getting out of here and set her feelings for Finley...Wheatley, she meant Wheatley...aside.


GlaDOS had been staring at the cover of the maintenance pit for quite a while. It was a bit repetitive the way the design looked on the cold grey aluminum cover she noted for probably the hundredth time.

The mainframe had forcefully taken Chell but before leaving it had assured her that it was joking about killing her and that he just needed her to help him set up some modifications that would allow for the mainframe to improve its workflow. It sounded fair enough IF she'd been that brain-dead. Of course, she was not, she knew something was up with the mainframe and she couldn't help but feel helpless and deeply worried for Chell.

What if something happened to her? What about Wheatley? The maintenance bots were managed by the mainframe and she knew that. So they'd taken Wheatley somewhere under the instruction of the mainframe, and without her knowing. Now they'd taken Chell.

She sighed. The wait was killing her.

She thought maybe humming to herself in the gloomy atmosphere would help but it just made her sadder.

She'd buried cats once and she didn't plan on burying her best friend.

"Please be stubborn, please be strong," GlaDOS whispered to herself. She gently swayed her headpiece, quietly singing to herself in waiting for her lunatic mute to come back.

"All the years have been so long

As I dreamt forever

I've been waiting patiently

for you

Don't say goodbye

Please, don't say goodbye."

The mellow song drifted towards the quiet panels who gently swayed to the rhythm trying to brush off their embarrassment from having disobeyed her earlier and having had listened to the mainframe.

"I was always fond of you

Although you're not clever

You will never know how much I care."

GlaDOS took a quiet pause thinking about how bright Chell had been when they'd first met. How intellectual and stubborn she was, just….maybe a little just like herself.

"Don't say goodbye

Please, don't say goodbye.

All the years have been so long

As I waited for you

I will always sing my song for you

Don't say goodbye

Please, don't say goodbye

If you say goodbye

It will be goodbye."


Maybe it had been several hours since he'd been transformed into the heat and ventilation system. He could barely tell, he's mind was all over the place.

After what had seemed like an eternity he'd found out that the system had a little intermission from time to time which forced Wheatley to sleep. He hadn't noticed right away since whenever it happened he'd blink right off, so whenever he did wake up to continue his tasks it just felt like only a few moments had been lost. But then he'd started to dream which had started to give him a better grasp on how much time was going by and how long these intermissions really lasted. Thus his idea had formed.

Was it possible that he could do something else while he'd been morphed with the heat and ventilation system?

He'd quickly noted that Chell was traveling in the ventilation network, the mainframe, however, hadn't caught on since Wheatley had decided to ignore such a fact than let it be known [That or the mainframe didn't particularly care]. He wanted to help her but how? She'd been wandering in circles over and over again. He'd even graphed her progress out of boredom. After a while it was clear she was trying to get somewhere but where?

He tried to think, whilst lowering the temperature in some areas that had gotten over the desired limit. It was so hard to think when your mind was set to keeping the temperature just right for literally no one in a partially devoid of organic life laboratory! He continued to receive input that airflow was being restricted in so and so areas. It was Chell he was sure of that. What else could it be? He'd also confirmed it was her through video feed and dust bunnies weren't that large. He continued to think, but his mind kept deviating towards regulating airflow and temperatures, driving him mad.

'Of course! She's trying to reach GlaDOS. Their friends no?' Wheatley thought.

He was quick to find a path directly to GlaDOS, now he needed to tell Chell but how?

He was pulling between temperatures, humidity, airflow and trying to save his friend when he was forcefully shut off.

Everything faded to bliss.


~~~Finley was walking down the hall towards where he knew he'd find Kit. He had to present his ID to various guards spread about in the area in small checkpoints. The robotics department held a lot of importance to Aperture and thus security measures were implemented the most here. Outsiders weren't permitted to enter the closed-off wing at all.

Finley was successful to not call much attention to himself and finally came to Kit's office after getting lost twice in the long halls. He knocked on the door while ensuring the folders of paperwork he was carrying were secure.

He watched as a blurry figure came over to the door and opened it with just a sliver.

"Wheatley? What are you doing here!?" Kit asked a bit surprised and concerned, all in one.

"I need your bicycle."

"What? Now?"

"Yes!'

"Sure, yeah whatever...shhh...Finley, I know you have high clearance and all that but You're not part of the GlaDOS project so do understand that you're technically not supposed to be here?"

"Oh, right...but where's your bike?"

"Ugh," Kit sighed. "Down the hall to your left in the locker room, just grab it and take it with you. I'll find you later and pick it up, whatever you do, don't come back to this wing...Understand?"

"Yes," Finley replied, growing impatiently.

"Okay, cya soon." Kit replied before gently closing the door and vanishing into the room.

Finley was quick to jog down the busy hall towards the locker room, nearly bumping into everyone and dropping his paperwork. When he found the office he swiped his card and grinned ear to ear when he caught sight of the beauty Kit rode every day to work.

"It's perfect! Chell's going to love this." He smiled, grasping the handlebars and leading it out to the hall.

He was sure to follow Kit's advice and exited the wing hurriedly, once out he headed towards the test subject housing wing. He was sure he'd find Chell there.

He continued to walk with the bicycle at his side. Several onlookers giving him strange glances and stared at the bizarre sight. Finley always answered the same way when they inquired him.

"Just some science experiment, no need to worry!" and with that most people just shrugged it off.

In no time he'd reached the test subject housing wing, he swung the door opened and walked out into a catwalk that was hanging over a chasm. Finley felt his stomach bolt. It was a long drop below. Further down the catwalk, he spotted the collection of buildings that made up the apartment complex for the test subjects. It was so strange to see such a huge building underground. Finley took a deep breath as he strolled over the creaking catwalk with the bicycle at his side. He hadn't a clue which apartment room was Chell's but he knew her ID number and most rooms were marked with those so...there was a chance he'd find her that way.

At some point, he left the bicycle on a lower level as he'd realized Chell's room was probably on a higher story. It was nerve-wracking walking on the rusty old catwalks and staring into the pit of doom just below. He'd eventually reached several rooms that were marked with numbers closer to Chell's ID. He was sure to pay attention and sure enough, he'd found hers.

He was a bit nervous to knock. Would she be upset with him? He'd told her he'd see her tomorrow but today wasn't tomorrow was it? What if she was still resting?

He continued to run the possibilities in his mind staring blankly at the door before deciding he had to risk it.

He took a deep breath, ran his hands through his hair, straightened his glasses and tie, and politely knocked on the door.

At first, there wasn't a response or any movement from inside which greatly disappointed Finley. He was about to turn around and head back down to find the bicycle when the door was swung open gently.

"Oi! It's me!" Finley shouted a bit too thrilled.

Chell rubbed her eyes having just woken up.

"Hi, Professor Wheat." She murmured.

"Right, you don't have to call me that! Just call me Finley you know. It uh, sounds better and besides were uh...never mind that! I found a bicycle and thought you'd like to see it?" Finley explained as he ran his hands through his hair nervously, rolled up his documents quickly, and shoved them into his labcoat pocket.

Chell raised an eyebrow, looking him over. Then shrugging in response.

"I don't see why not." She replied, quietly.

"Great! Okay, I'll lead the way! This way!" Finley called after him excitedly.

The two walked down various flights of stairs, Finley all the while speaking to his heart content. Surprisingly Chell seemed to enjoy his ramblings and his company which only made Finley more happy and excited. He was gesturing so much that sometimes Chell would politely lower his arms as other test subjects passed them on the narrow catwalks. Finally, after some time they reached where Finley had left the bicycle.

"You know I haven't had this much fun in ages!" He exclaimed, grasping the Bicycles handlebars.

"Me too." Giggled Chell, studying the strange wheeled vehicle Finley had under his grasp.

"So, this can be ridden?" Chell suddenly asked.

"Yup! Well not here of course. Wouldn't want you to fall off the catwalk and fall into the abyss now? But I know just the place to try this fella out! Right, this way!" Finley beamed reaching for Chell's hand and grasping it without a second thought. Chell didn't so much as flinch and let Finley get away with this sudden gesture. He led her and the bicycle back to the main hallway, once there he let go of Chell's hand. The hallway was crowded and Finley knew it was too difficult for them to walk side by side.

After more walking under bright luminescent lights, Finley led Chell to a closed-off area.

"I know it looks a bit scary but this wing is under construction and is supposed to be off-limit for now, but...now you're going to love this! It's empty! The builders are taking a break and won't be back for one month! In the meantime, we can test run our ride." Finley explained, exuberant as he ran his card through the scanner and opened the door.

Chell smiled.

"Okay, let's start!" She replied eagerly.


Wheatley woke up instinctively checking the temperature parameters for various wings and areas, adjusting the speeds and temperatures to the limits that were desired. It took him a while to realize that he still needed to help Chell, it was so frustrating to have suddenly become obsessed with doing a good job as a ventilation system. Which otherwise he would have considered it a bit boring, but at the moment it seemed like the most interesting job in the world!

He looked over the data, Chell was still obstructing airflow meaning she was still stuck inside there lost and alone. He needed to do something about it and fast.

How could he get a message to her?

He tried to think. Of course, this was deemed to be nearly impossible. He was a small piece of a bigger thing now and whenever he tried to think he felt flooded with so many tasks begging for his attention. It was exhausting.

"What if I just talk to her?" He thought but hadn't the mainframe told him he didn't have privileges to do that?

"Worth a shot." He replied to himself, trying to get a hold of any intercom in her general vicinity.


Chell had been crawling for several hours straight, she was lost and very tired. The bots seemed to have lost interest in following her after perhaps the first hour and she hadn't heard much from them, but she hadn't found the central chamber yet.

She had been crawling on all fours for a long time and her back had started to cramp. She gritted her teeth beckoning herself to continue forward.

She jumped in place as she heard something between her and the vent walls hiss and murmur static. She stood still, listening to the sudden noise change and drag on for maybe a minute or two.

"Temp-tempt-temperature-Temperature: 90° degrees Fahrenheit." Shuddered a monotone voice beneath her. She raised her brows. 90° Degrees Fahrenheit was really hot, wasn't it? It wasn't hot right now, it was pretty cool in the air vents. Something was wrong with the ventilation system.

"Temperature: 90° degrees Fahrenheit." Repeated the voice. Chell continued to press on ignoring it completely.


"Oh, c'mon!" Shouted Wheatley to himself. It hadn't worked, he couldn't speak things other than heat and ventilation system-related ones. This was horrible. How was he supposed to tell Chell to turn at the next junction? She would just crawl past it in just a few moments! What could he do?

"Wait, but isn't like 90° degrees an angle, a right angle in mathematics? Isn't that technically like a turn motion!? Oh, I got it!"


Chell was crawling slowly up to a junction. She was planning on keeping straight as this junction didn't look that promising and she was almost certain she'd taken it not so long ago.

"Current Temperatute:90° d-degrees Fahrenheit!"

Chell shrugged. Again with that voice. It sounded so monotone with a slightly anxious tone to it. Chell stopped, something was off though.

"Current Temperature:90° degrees Fahrenheit! Alert user! Alert user!"

It also sounded a lot like a heavily autotuned…

"Wheatley." She whispered to herself. "Wheatley!?" She shouted relieved.

"Current Temperature:90° degrees Fahrenheit! Alert user! Alert user!"

"Wheatley?" She felt her hopes drop. Maybe she was imagining things, maybe the heating and ventilation were faulty after all.

Chell passed the junction and continued straight. The voice however had started overreacting down below. Shouting.

"360°! 360°! Fahrenheit! Alert user! Alert user!" It chimed down below sending echos into the vents.

Chell raised her brows, something was starting to make sense.

She turned around and headed back to the junction and stopped.

"Current Temperature:90° degrees Fahrenheit! Alert user! Alert user!" The voice instructed.

Chell grinned. 'Oh, a turn. That's what he means' She thought.

"Temperature check met." It beamed down below relieved as she took a left turn at the junction.

"Wheatley? Where are you?" Chell hollered hoping he'd somehow hear.

"Caution: Vent obstructed."

"What?"

"Vent obstructed. Please unobstruct vent."

"You're stuck somewhere?" Chell hollered loudly.

"Temperature settings successfully changed."

"Okay, so you are." Chell nodded slightly confused, continuing to crawl. "I'm so glad you're okay." She beamed, a quiet tear rolling down her cheek.

"I thought he'd killed you. I'm so sorry."

"Error."

Chell laughed silently.

"So? Are you accusing me to have done a mistake? I thought I said sorry?" Chell chuckled between a faint sob as she continued to crawl in the long maze that Aperture called its heating and ventilation system.

"Fault corrected."

Chell couldn't help but smile.

"Lead the way! We have to get you out of there." Chell replied despite not knowing where Wheatley was or why he was solely talking so automated.

It went like that for several minutes, If Chell passed a junction or a turn Wheatley sent her back telling her it was 360° degrees Fahrenheit currently despite it probably wasn't. It was hard to know when to go left or right though so Chell would try a direction and if the voice started to chime 360 to her she'd turn around and head the other direction which usually worked when there were only two options but when there were more Chell had to be patient. She'd enter each route until the voice either stopped telling her to turn back or told her 0° which meant she was standing on the right route.

Chell was getting tired from all the crawling but Wheatley's unchanging voice was getting her concerned. What had the mainframe done to him?

There was a certain point where she wished he could be himself, all cheery and so emotive with his voice. Not some automated system. It was so much like the ol'days when the two of them had been navigating Aperture together. It was a sad truth, however, that Chell didn't want to share but being completely honest with herself, she felt a little awkward with Wheatley now. Yes, she was happy that they were working together but sometimes ever so often she could still hear the echo of his infuriating voice as she tried to escape his death traps in a past place in a past time.

She tried to drown the old Wheatley from her head and tried to listen to air conditioning Wheatley for the time being. They needed to find GlaDOS that was the priority, she'd have to deal with everything else later.