For the Good of All of Us

by Imjustapuff

Upon discovery that her father works at human experimentation facility, Chell finds new determination to save the deceived victims of Aperture Laboratories and take over the company from the inside out. After the massacre of Bring-Your-Daughter-To-Work-Day, Chell seeks to shut down GLaDOS and find her parents, if they are even still alive... Chapters updated every Friday.

2. Chapter 2: There's No Sense Crying

Blackness.

A dystopian celebratory song seemed to mock my existence as my eyes fluttered open.

Today, despite all odds, I woke up from cryo-sleep in the so-called "Relaxation Vault," though waking up this way was as far from relaxing as I could imagine. I almost laughed at the irony, but the pit of my despair stopped me mid-breath. I could hardly believe I was alive, but I wasn't sure if death was worse than the fate that awaited me.

I did a scan of the perimeter. To my right, a toilet. Great, except for the walls are see-through. Goodbye privacy.

Also, a small table holding a radio and a clipboard. So the music wasn't all in my head. Maybe I'm not going crazy.

An eerie mechanical voice greeted me as I sat myself up. How long had it been since the massacre? Hours? Months? Years?

I reminded myself quickly to stay calm and collected. I couldn't see my mysterious host but I could hear her voice. There was something incredibly off about her. Why would she disguise her voice? She was someone who didn't want to be recognized. If she was even human, that is.

The voice was so familiar. I had heard that voice before when –

I could feel the hot tears welling up in my eyes. NO, I thought, I can't think about this right now. Now was not the time to grieve. I couldn't afford to. I didn't have space to. She was watching, and I knew I had to play my cards right, if I wanted to live. If I wanted to live, I would have to obey the voice.

I don't know what I was thinking. I have no idea how I thought I was going to take over Aperture Labs. I needed a new plan.

Hesitantly, cautiously, I heeded her commands. I knew this job had been risky, but that was before a serial killer was on the loose, watching my every move.

"A portal will open in 3…2…1…"

A flaming neon-orange orb revealed a passage, no, a way out? A tiny glimmer of hope faded almost as quickly as it came. No way would this woman–this creature–would let me escape that easily. I had to keep my guard up. I had to be careful.

I walked through the portal and was instantly teleported to another spot in the room. I turned around to observe the magic and noticed a glittering blue ring, where the orange one once was. I saw the room I was locked in within the bounds of the blue portal, and though I wondered how dangerous it really was, I couldn't help but be amazed. The scientists at Aperture Labs seemed to accomplish what they wanted to. It looked supernatural, unreal. I felt a sudden unease as I wondered how many lives were sacrificed for the sake of such a device. A shudder crept down my spine. Best not to think about that.

I was guided into my first test chamber. I felt like a lab rat, being watched and followed, disposable and insignificant. I wondered how many others like me were out there, how many had already given up, how many were disposed of.

But I know something Aperture Labs doesn't know. They messed with the WRONG girl. I'll be the best test subject Aperture Labs has ever seen. And then, I will get what I want. I will find my family, if they are still out there. And I will have my revenge.