Chapter 32

Blaperture Mesa

As soon as they were back in the lab, Doug reached for Henry. "You can't be serious about this," said Doug.

"About what?"

"Giving her access to the neurotoxin."

"Why wouldn't I?" said Henry. "I'm adding the permissions right now."

"You're going to get us all killed," said Doug, a bit too loudly. Henry looked around the room, shooting Doug a dirty look.

"There's no need to shout," he said. "And besides, we're fine. You watched me go through all of the safety tests earlier. Your core is working wonderfully."

"Which is why I'm worried," Doug said, teeth gritted together as he lowered his voice.

"When aren't you worrying? Doug, can't you just accept a good thing when it happens? There's not always going to be a disaster around the corner," he affirmed.

"This doesn't feel right," Doug said. "Can't we just wait a bit longer?"

"This is a good thing, Doug. The machine is already showing enough intelligence to start designing its own experiments. Do you know how huge that is? True intelligent thought. Think about how impressed everyone will be if we can show this off today."

"Just twenty-four hours. That's all I'm asking."

"We can't afford to wait on this."

"Henry. You have to listen to me."

"And you need to learn to stop giving in to your paranoia every time it crops up," he said. "You know that this is something that you have to deal with, Doug."

Doug clenched his hands into fists. Couldn't Henry tell that this hadn't just come out of nowhere, like some of his fears? They had evidence. History. Statistics.

"You're making this too easy for her," he said.

"And you need to have more confidence in your own work. Plus, what better way than this to show GLaDOS that we trust it? It doesn't know us. It just wants to impress us with its knowledge and power. Are you really going to be the one to tell it no? Do you really want to be the first reason it dislikes humans? You just need to have a little bit of faith."

"And what if something does happen and we all end up dead?"

"Then it'll be the second-worst PR disaster we've ever had at Aperture." Henry laughed, but Doug did not join him. "But really. You know we have our security all set up today. At the first sign of something wrong, someone can call up and we'll shut it all down. No one is going to die. We still have more control over the facility than that machine, and even if it does decide to leak out a little neurotoxin, we've got systems in place for that. We can clear a room in a matter of seconds—neurotoxin isn't a new hazard to Aperture. We can deal with it. We will deal with it. Now let's get back to work before Black Mesa gets here."


GENETIC LIFEFORM AND DISK OPERATING SYSTEM SECURITY ARCHIVES

BRING YOUR DAUGHTER TO WORK DAY, 20XX

BOARDROOM - 8:33AM

BEGIN AUDIO LOG

BLACK MESA 1:

I really hope that this is going to be as good as you say it is.

GREG:

It is, I promise.

BLACK MESA 2:

So when do we get to see it?

GREG:

Soon. That's part of why I brought you guys here early today.

BLACK MESA 3:

But the demo isn't until later in the day.

GREG:

The public demo, yes. I'm going to give you guys a behind-the-scenes look so that you can see it right away. Now, if you'll follow me.


ELEVATOR - 8:40 AM

BLACK MESA 2:

Just how far is this place?

GREG:

Not too much farther.

BACK MESA 2:

You know, at Black Mesa we've got our own train system. With a place as big as this, you might want to consider putting something like that in.


MAIN AI CHAMBER - 8:49 AM

GREG:

And now, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to present to you the Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System.

GLaDOS, you have visitors. Why don't you say hello to them?

GLADOS:

Hello.

Welcome to Aperture Science Bring Your Daughter to Work Day.

BLACK MESA 2:

How did you get the language parser to work?

HENRY:

GLaDOS isn't some text adventure. It's a fully intelligent artificial intelligence.

BLACK MESA 2:

Oh my.

BLACK MESA 1:

Is it—?

GREG:

Alive? Arguably. It's the most powerful computer that we've ever developed. Perhaps the most powerful computer in the world.

BLACK MESA 3:

So what does it do?

GREG:

Everything.

Henry, what can you show these fine ladies and gentlemen?

HENRY:

Let me pull up some of its systems.

[log-on sound]

HENRY:

Well, we've got tons of stuff. This system has control over the elevators—

BLACK MESA 2:

All of them?

GREG:

All the ones we rode in.

HENRY:

We're still working on getting older areas of Aperture connected. Our priorities have been getting this working for what's happening now.

GREG:

Henry, the phones.

HENRY:

Yes, of course. It also acts as a switchboard operator for the phone system, which means we don't even need to have a handful of people connecting calls to the right departments anymore. Did you know how much of pain that's been in a place this big?

GREG:

Don't forget about our online databases.

HENRY:

Yes, we've also been working on digitizing our file base. Though we already had a decent amount of employee records online, that was all just basic information—credentials and such. We're working on digitizing our entire collection. Then we'll be able to access any file at any time! No need to trek half a mile just to check a couple of folders shoved behind someone's desk.

BLACK MESA 1:

This really is something.

GREG:

Isn't it? We're even working on integrating the security system into it.

BLACK MESA 3:

What if there is a security problem?

GREG:

Then the system will flag it, and then the security team can be dispatched to go and deal with the problem.

The point is, this is going to do a lot. But I haven't even told you guys about some of the most exciting features—this has all just been surface-level. It's much more than just a back-end optimization. This machine here is going to help us make real strides in science.

BLACK MESA 3:

By running your phones?

GREG:

Well yes, that, because then we can afford to hire more scientists—but besides that, this machine isn't just an administrative assistant. It's a research assistant. That means that she can do things like take recordings/memos, take down typed notes, manage your emails, crunch the numbers for you experiment—anything that could possibly aid you with the administrative, bureaucratic slog that slows down the rate of discovery.

BLACK MESA 1:

So..you don't have to pay it?

GREG:

Not a dime.

BLACK MESA 2:

What you haven't brought up yet is the Genetic Lifeform component of this. Sure, it's an AI—which is, to be fair, a huge accomplishment—but you're claiming for this robot to be something bigger than that.

GREG:

Yes. Henry?

HENRY:

We've spent years on researching the human brain and specifically what makes up personality. We've been able to synthesize our own "personalities," but building one from scratch took years of work. Plus, they were just personality traits. Only one aspect of what makes up a real personality. Creating a fully artificial intelligence with the depth of a person was completely out of our budget and was not at all time-effective.

We realized it's much faster to simply take an existing brain and then, well, digitize the portions that we need, like we've done for the personality cores.

BLACK MESA 3:

Personality cores?

HENRY:

Yes. Part of our development process. You can see a couple that we developed as 'add-ons' to the Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System.

BLACK MESA 1:

So you can just..add on personality traits?

HENRY:

Essentially, yes. Personality traits, bug fixes, stabilization patches, you name it. That's what those cores are for.

BLACK MESA 2:

So, I'm still waiting to hear. Who is this lovely piece of technology created from?

GREG:

Oh, isn't it obvious? Who isn't here today that you think it could be.

BLACK MESA 2:

Well, it's been a few years, but…Caroline?

HENRY:

Bingo.

BLACK MESA 2:

I thought she retired.

GREG:

You really think she would just retire quietly to the countryside?

BLACK MESA 2:

Well, I wasn't going to complain. Less problems for us, honestly.

GREG:

No kidding.

BLACK MESA 2:

Does she—?

HENRY:

Recognize you? No, don't worry about that. She doesn't remember anything about her previous life. Here, go ahead and talk to her.

BLACK MESA 2:

She's been listening?

HENRY:

Of course.

BLACK MESA 2:

Oh. Hello, Caroline. It's been a while.

GLADOS:

There is no person named Caroline in this room. Judging by your body language, were you wishing to address the central core?

BLACK MESA 2:

She really—?

Yes, hello. What's your name?

GLADOS:

I am the current central core of the Enrichment Center. The name of this system is the Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System.

BLACK MESA 1:

Well, that's a handful. What do you guys call her?

HENRY:

GLaDOS, mostly. At least recently. We have other nicknames, but they're not for polite company.

BLACK MESA 2:

It's nice to meet you, GLaDOS. Do you know who I am?

GLADOS:

Your clothing indicates that you are from Black Mesa.

BLACK MESA 2

That's incredible.

You're right. She really doesn't remember me. If she knew I was here—well, I'd be thrown out to the parking lot before you could blink.

A human-based computer system that has no recollection of being human…..

GREG:

I take it you don't have anything like this at Black Mesa.

BLACK MESA 3:

The closest thing we have to that is …I don't know, what was that one project? The ice inhibitor?

BLACK MESA 1:

Like we even have much ice in New Mexico.

BLACK MESA 3:

Can we go and look at it closer?

GREG:

Absolutely.

BLACK MESA 1:

Oh, this metal is so smooth.

BLACK MESA 3:

Such fine welding, too.

BLACK MESA 2:

Those are some massive cables. How much of the facility is it hooked up to?

GREG:

All of the modern Enrichment Center. We're working on getting it hooked up to even more.

BLACK MESA 1:

It must have some huge server racks.

BLACK MESA 2:

After all the troubles you were having, I'm surprised you were able to get this working at all.

GREG:

Just wait until you see it in action later.

BLACK MESA 2:

What is your job?

GLADOS:

It is my duty to help manage the infrastructure of the Enrichment Center, as well assist Aperture Science personnel with their research needs.

GREG:

A little bird told me that you guys are having your own special test today.

BLACK MESA 2:

How did you hear about that?

GREG:

I've been keeping tabs on you.

BLACK MESA 1:

We are, actually.

BLACK MESA 3:

You're just going to say that?

BLACK MESA 1:

What? He already knows.

BLACK MESA 2:

Very well. Then he knows that it's not a big event like this—that's why they sent me here instead of keeping me around.

BLACK MESA 1:

It's something big. Well, it could be. We're still trying to figure it out. Anomalous Materials is having a field day.

BLACK MESA 3:

We might've discovered a new material.

BLACK MESA 2:

We're going to throw it into an anti-mass spectrometer today.

GREG:

Anti-mass spectrometer?

BLACK MESA 1:

You wouldn't understand even if we explained it to you.

GREG:

Whatever you do find, Aperture will be interested.

BLACK MESA 2:

Why would you care about the properties of our mystery substance?

GREG:

Easy. New testing element.

BLACK MESA 2:

Ha! Some things never change. You're really doing your best to fill Mr. Johnson's shoes, aren't you?

GREG:

I sure try. You know, I bet we've got some stuff that you guys are interested in as well.

BLACK MESA 1:

Well, sure. Why wouldn't we be?

GREG:

What if I could tell you more about interdimensional portal technology? That we're wanting to take it further?

BLACK MESA 2:

There's something I didn't mention before about our test today. This mystery substance—it's not just one of those "undiscovered" spaces on the periodic table. It's something, well, we believe is extraterrestrial in origin.

HENRY:

You've got alien rocks in your lab? Big deal. Space rocks land on the earth all the time.

BLACK MESA 2:

We can't prove it, but we believe they arrived through an interdimensional portal, much like your technology—just on a much larger scale.

HENRY:

So…you think that some aliens sent you some rocks to look at?

BLACK MESA 1:

Not at all. Doctor, why are you even telling them this?

GREG:

It's fine. I can see that you're asking for some information on the portal technology. That is what you're asking, right?

BLACK MESA 2:

Well, in a sense.

GREG:

I was going to wait to tell you this until after public demo, but there is something that I've been wanting to talk to you about. You have some of your higher-ups coming in later today, right?

BLACK MESA 3:

Correct.

BLACK MESA 1:

We're the scientists, they're the ones who actually make the decisions.

GREG:

Do you ever stop to think about how silly this…rivalry is between us? This constant trying to outdo one another?

BLACK MESA 2:

That's just how it's been.

GREG:

Well, I'm looking to sell Aperture.

HENRY:

What?

GREG:

It's a great time to sell, honestly. We're about to unveil the biggest thing that we've accomplished in years—no, decades. Our value is going to go through the roof. We're finally becoming a useful science company again and moving away from the shitshow that this place was before.

Whatever rivalry that Black Mesa and Aperture had before—we were just trying to compete for the best discoveries and for the best contracts. And that hasn't worked out for Aperture. We're struggling. Contracts have dropped to nearly zero, meaning that everything here is being researched on our dime. And you guys are having the opposite problem, are you not?

BLACK MESA 2:

The team working in the Anomalous Materials lab is a skeleton crew, yes. HR keeps putting people on government contract work.

GREG:

I've got an entire facility here of bright people that would be more than happy to shoulder some of that burden. I know that things have been hostile in the past, but just think about the future that these two companies could have together?

BLACK MESA 2:

Well, what happens to you?

GREG:

I sell the company and retire early. Trying to keep my head above water here has taken enough years off of my life as it is.

BLACK MESA 3:

This is a lot to process.

You really think they're going to be interested in this?

GREG:

Well, the higher-ups certainly seemed interested when I proposed this idea to them. Right now, it all hinges on what they think of this.

END AUDIO LOG