Disclaimer: I don't own anything Portal or Portal 2.
Messages in Italics.
Chapter 4: New Assignment
*Ping* [1 new message] [Play]
"Follow your rail to the exit of the Relaxation center and take a right. You will then take that track all the way to my chamber. Immediately." -GLaDOS
[Message end]
"I'll have to catch up with you later, Wheatley. The boss lady just summoned me." I said passing him on the way out of the room.
"Good luck." He responded with a wave of his handle.
I tried to figure out what she could possibly want from me as I headed down the track towards Her chamber. I really hoped that she didn't find out about my message sending. That lead to another thought that had my processors working on: how were any of my messages getting through to my mother if this was a different Earth. I found that I could still access my accounts and sites from wherever I came from, but then I could also access things like recent news reports which talked about the restructuring and reconstruction of humanity on the Surface. So, I was somehow receiving data from both?! Argh. If I keep thinking on those sorts of things, I overtax my processors and a reboot is the last thing I need right now. A panel opens up in front of me allowing me and the rail which extended out in front of Her.
"Hello, Ma'am. What can I do for you?" I said to her in a business like tone. She stared at me for a moment.
"Hello. How have you been doing with your first job?" She asked.
"Everything has been running smoothly. Nothing on fire. No major problems with the test subjects. A couple stubborn ones that need a nudge in the direction of the elevator. Nothing we can't handle." I stated. She nodded Her head as she listened to me give my report.
"Good. It's good to see that prolonged exposure to that little moron has not caused you to become corrupted." She said.
"What? How did She come to that conclusion from what I just said? Not making much sense here, GLaDOS," I thought to myself.
"Um. Yes?" I said to Her.
"I am going to assign you to a test track today. Your job will be to monitor the test subjects progress. Do not attempt to help them with the test. Try to keep interaction with the test subject to a minimum. And do not try to escape with the test subject. Follow the rail out to the start of the testing track. I've transmitted the necessary information to you. Happy testing." GLaDOS instructed me. I quickly followed Her instructions. I followed the management rail provided leading into one of the Chamber 00's. I pulled up the information on the test subject:
[Test Subject 1058]
Gender: Female
Age: 23
Height: 1.65 meters
Hair color: brown
Eye color: brown
Notes: [empty]
"OK. Simple enough. Time to wake up the test subject." I said to myself. Calling upon a small arm from within my casing, I pressed the green button on the Short Term Relaxation bed. The glass casing unlocked and opened up. The test subject's eyes fluttered open.
GLaDOS: Hello, and again, welcome to the Aperture Science computer-aided Enrichment Center. We hope you brief detention in the relaxation vault was a pleasant one. Your specimen has been processed and we are now ready to begin the Test proper. The portal will open in 3... 2... 1.
The young woman glanced around and stared at the glowing oval shaped portal. She cautiously placed her hand through it before withdrawing it. She stepped through the portal and glanced back at the cryo-bed. The woman looked around the starting Chamber before moving towards the door which opened automatically. I watched in silence from the observation room as she walked into the next room (the one with the cube and button "test"). I watched as her head followed the Cube as it dropped down to the floor. She walked over and picked the cube up and dropped it onto the button.
GLaDOS: Excellent. Please proceed to the chamber-lock after completing each Test. [Doors opening] First, however, not the incandescent particle field across the exit. This Aperture Science Material Emancipation Grid will vaporize any unauthorized equipment that passes through it. For instance, the Aperture Science Weighted Storage Cube.
The woman stepped into the elevator and it moved upwards towards the next test chamber. As the elevator started it's ascent, GLaDOS spoke with me over my built in radio.
"I have other things that I need to attend to. You will oversee this test subject's progress and compile a summary of her results. You are permitted to speak with the test subject to inform her about new test mechanics. Remember: Do Not assist with solving the test." GLaDOS reminded me before cutting the call. I gave a synthesized sigh as I turned my attention towards the test subject who was awaiting instruction.
"Please place the Weighted Storage Cube onto the Heavy Duty Super-Colliding Super Button - that is a mouthful to say." I told the test subject. The test subject looked around with a confused expression as she noticed the change in voice. She looked around, but couldn't see me (the glass really distorted my form). She shrugged before following my instructions. She waited patiently for the blue portal to shift and quickly placed the box onto the button before stepping back.
"Perfect. Please proceed to the chamber lock." I said. I watched as the test subject glanced around once more before moving on. I continued along my rail. We Cores get our own sort of elevator shaft that is parallel to the test subject's though there is a wall between them so we do not see each other. Entering the Chamber's observation room, I silently waited for the test subject to reach the ASHPD.
"Very good. You are now in possession of an Aperture Science Hand-held Portal Device. With it, please proceed to the next chamber lock." I said. I noted that the test subject was pretty good at the tests. She did hesitate a bit on the first momentum based test so I encouraged her.
"You don't need to worry about the heights, just be sure to land on your feet. Those boots that you are wearing are Aperture Science Long Fall Boots and with them, you can handle any fall that these test chambers throw at you. Again, just remember to land on your feet. Although, I think the boots help with that too... wait a sec... oh, don't worry, you'll be fine." I said.
The testing continued and the test subject had stopped looking around for me after a few Chambers. She entered the Chamber where the Dual Portal Device was located. She waited patiently for the orange portal and made it to the center platform. She picked up the device and looked at it. A mechanical claw came up from the ceiling and I told her to deposit her first Portal Device to the claw. She did so and the device was retracted into the ceiling. I assumed that it was being relocated back to the Test Chamber that it was originally located.
"With that new Dual Portal Device, you can now fire two linked Portals at once. Only on portal-able surfaces, of course. Oh, and be mindful of that toxic goo on the floor. You will most likely die if you touch it." I explain. The poor test subject edged away from the pit and quickly made her way into the chamber lock.
I closed my optic shields in a wince and gave a synthesized hiss of sympathy as the test subject launched herself across the room with a bit too much momentum. She slammed into the wall.
"Are-are you alright down there?" I asked. I didn't see any blood, but she slumped to the floor. Great. Now what? I waited a few moments and the test subject hadn't moved. I called for GLaDOS.
"What is it?" She asked in a flat tone.
"The um, the test subject flung herself across the room into a wall. She isn't bleeding, but she also hasn't moved for the past five minutes. What should I do?" I quickly explained.
"Is the Portal Device undamaged?" She asked/demanded. Of course She would be more worried about the equipment than the handler. Ugh.
"It does not appear to be. No." I said as I zoomed in on the device.
"I will have a Party Escort Bot return the test subject to her room in the Relaxation Vault. Please compose a summary of the results on the form that I am transmitting to you and send it back to me once you have finished. Afterwards, you may continue your work in the Relaxation Center." GLaDOS said sending me the form and ending the call.
-Form: Test Summary-
Test Supervisor(s): Tian (Personality Core)
Test Subject: #1058
Tests Completed: 11 Chambers
Comments: Test Subject needs more practice with momentum based tests. *Recommend padded walls .
[Send] *click*
I followed the Party Escort Bot back to the Relaxation Vaults and went off to the Vaults' control center.
"Hey! Welcome back! Where have you been?" Wheatley immediately questioned me.
"She had me supervise a test subject today. Long story short: the test subject was no Chell that's for sure. Poor thing crashed headlong into a wall because momentum." I said my tone gaining a mild exasperated sounding tone at the end.
"Ooh. Is she alright?" Wheatley asked.
"The Party Escort Bot just deposited her back into her vault, so I'm assuming 'yes'. There wouldn't be much point in keeping a dead test subject lying around." I said raising my top handle in a shrugging gesture.
"So, how was your day?" I asked. We chatted for a bit while working.
While I probably wouldn't admit it if a human asked me, but I actually enjoyed watching the test subject. It was fun, in a sense. I wondered if She would have me supervise another some other time.
End Chapter 4
Next Chapter: Chapter 5 More Testing