Chell squeezed the grip on her portal gun, rounding the corner and dodging past the sentry turrets that showered her with bullets. Once she reached a safe alcove Chell turned back around, grimacing at the blood spray and bullet holes in the previously white wall.
Pressing a hand to the wound, she decided that it had to be enough, and carried on. The springs on her long fall boots creaked as she placed the weighted cube onto a large red button. The bolted door slid open with a click and Chell carried on with a stoic expression.
Breathing in deeply, a sigh of both relief and pain, she stood still in the elevator, watching the doors go down. Was there any way to treat her wound? She wondered, pulling her bloodied fingertips away from her waist to inspect them. It wasn't as bad as it looked. That was for certain.
The elevator bumped, rocked, then shuddered. Chell hung on to the rail, wincing as pain shot up her side. The elevator came to a stop completely and a half-panicked voice rang out through the sound system.
"Just hang on down there!" a voice she'd never heard, though was somehow familiar. He had an accent, unlike GLaDOS who's voice was only electronic and high. She half-wished she could ask who he was.
The pod shuddered again as it started up. Slowly moving sideways, she could tell from the movement beneath her feet.
"I'll get you out in a..." another tremor, "...just another second." a short pause, then, "or ten." Was that supposed to be a joke? It was hardly funny.
A loud clang signaled that the pod had come to a stop and moments later the doors hissed open. "ah, hello there." It was the owner of that voice. He stood just outside the doors in a crisp gray suit with a nice blue vest overtop.
He waggled his tie and motioned with his arms for her to step out, "you may exit the vehicle now." Chell crinkled her eyebrows in slight confusion. But did what he said anyway. "you're hurt," he noticed, his eyes darkening with concern. "I can help with that." he took a look at the wound in her side, pushed up his glasses, then added, "uhm... maybe."
Chell rolled her eyes and pulled up the top of her orange jumpsuit, tying the knot higher on her waist to keep pressure on the bullet wound. She then nodded to the long catwalk ahead of them. They really did need to get going. "oh, right!" The man smiled, "we should go." he slipped his elbow through hers and she rolled her eyes again, but didn't move. Until he hummed "We're off to see the wizard" and she elbowed him, hard, before unlinking her arm from his.
He turned to her, "Okay, not an OZ fan, I get it." he said defensively. Though she didn't mind the show itself, she really didn't want him humming that while they made an escape. She remembered the show from when she was younger, at least ten, maybe even smaller. It's amazing how much you remember when you've been in cryostasis your whole life.
They turned the corner on the catwalk and he nodded to a service door at the end, "you should go down there," he said, pointing to it, "I'll go down another way and meet you on the other side."
Chell nodded, pushing the door open with a sharp creak and a rusty squeal. She nearly smiled as the funny man added, just before the door could close, "Oh, and by the way, my name is Wheatley!" pressing his face close to the metal so she could hear his final words even after the door completely closed.
Again she squeezed the gun grip, a nervous tic she developed too long ago to remember. If this Wheatley guy was as good as he said he was, she had no doubt that with his hacking skills and her navigation, they could escape Aperture Laboratories for good.