Author's Note: Since I am now writing stories in two different time periods, I am now including a relative date on my stories. If I forget, assume that it takes place before Project: Parenthood.

Timestamp: Pre Parenthood.

"So you're going to type Cls."

"Got it. Cls, which stands for.."

"Clear screen. Shouldn't you already know this?"

"Well why don't you explain how your brain works? Well, my brain too, now, but you know what I mean!"

It was another day in Eaden, and Wheatley had just come to the realization that Foxglove could break down like any other machine. He had promptly asked Garret for handyman lessons, and he had decided to start with teaching Wheatley BASIC.

"So to make it say something, you're gonna go to the next line, and type 'print "Hello world"'. "

"Why 'Hello world'? What if I want it to say something else?"

"Then put something else in the quotes."

Wheatley's "something else" turned out to be introducing himself after saying 'Hello world.' "Now go to the next line, and type 'end.' "

"Check."

"Now click 'Compile and run' to send it to the computer."

Hello world, my name is Wheatley!

"Brilliant! It worked!" Wheatley cheered. "Only…'Hello world' seems a bit impersonal. How do I make it ask your name?"

"Ok, first type 'Dim Name as string.' That sets up a variable-"

"Variable? Like in maths? I hate math!"

An hour later, Wheatley had grasped the basics (pun intended) of user input, as well as if statements, and was writing a test program for Garret to proofread:

Dim answer as string

Dim name as string

Print "Hello, have we met before?"

Input "Type yes or no..." answer

If answer="yes" then

Print "What was your name again?"

Input "Type your name." name

Print

Print "Nice to see you again " ; name ; "!"

Else

Print "What's your name?"

Input "Type your name." name

Print

Print "Nice to meet you " ; name ; "! My name is Wheatley."

"Looks good." Garret said. "But why'd you move the else block all the way over there?"

"Well that makes it easier to see doesn't it?" Wheatley replied. "Makes it look like one of those flowcharts, only simpler."

"That's pretty clever!" Garret said. "Where'd you get that idea?"

"I….actually have no idea. Just came to me I guess."


106 years earlier, Aperture's office complex

"Well that makes it easier to see doesn't it?" Stephen replied. "Makes it look like one of those flowcharts, only simpler."

"That's pretty clever!" His cubicle-across-the-way-mate said. "Where'd you get that idea?"

"I….actually have no idea. Just came to me I guess."

End

Author's note 2: My native programming language is actually Linux BASH script, but I looked up BASIC tutorials for this