"It won't work! Your conscience can be ignored."
Oh, like you've been ignoring me for years?
Doug Rattman fought the urge to scoff at the voice coming from the companion cube. He had much greater concerns than hearing voices. He popped a couple of pills in his mouth and kept on working.
Never in his life was there so much pressure on his job. I mean, sure, he could technically quit. After all, taming a sadistic robot wasn't exactly in the job description. But now, the fate of humanity rested on his shoulders. He feared the worst.
He looked down at the Morality Core that he and his co-worker, Henry, had created for GLaDOS, an artificial intelligence designed to take over the Aperture Science Enrichment Center. Caroline always used to talk about sacrifice for the sake of science, but immolating herself, or giving up her "essence" for an AI was a horrifying gesture, at best. Doug wondered if GLaDOS was evil of its own accord, or if Caroline carried an inner evil unknown to him. Either way, fusing humans and robots was never a good idea. Not that she would have listened, but he could have told her that.
Using the Morality Core was no better than giving a bloodthirsty lion a snickers bar. It was supposed to tell GLaDOS what was right and wrong. It was supposed to discern good and evil. It never did the trick, and it never would, because you can always ignore your conscience.
You should give up. Go home. Everyone here is practically a dead man.
Science, for as long as Doug could remember, had always been about trying new things. But they kept trying the same thing over and over and over again, expecting a different result.
Henry had insisted that this time would be different, and this time we'd get it right. It wasn't until now that Doug questioned whether Henry believed his own stories. They had both been equally stuck.
And it's never going to be different. I'm telling you. Run away, while you still can.
Doug's pills began to take effect and the voice slowly faded away. Time was almost up. GLaDOS would be awoken tomorrow for her grand debut during Bring-Your-Daughter-To-Work-Day. The Morality Core had to be ready by then.
—-
Doug remembered his first day so fondly and vividly that he often questioned whether it was a construct of his imagination. White granite lab tables framed rows of cold, gray folding chairs like a photograph. Tables were decorated with glass beakers, test tubes and flasks, bubbling with varying shades of blue and orange liquid, while microscopes danced around the perimeter. On the front table, there was a large mysterious object, covered by a white sheet. Next to it he observed what appeared to be several biohazard specimen bags with…small white rocks, maybe? On the floor lay industrial storage cubes, one of which was covered in hearts that almost seemed to beckon him. The murmur of voices around him were soothing to his previously anxious mind. The environment gave him a warmth and belonging he had never experienced before.
A loud creak from the door on his left revealed a tall, skinny woman, with long, dark hair, and a young face that seemed to have aged too quickly, with a salmon neckerchief that swallowed her tiny neck whole. Any noise that was previously in the room was replaced with the sound of her clacking red high heels, walking to the front of the room. Doug glanced around to see all eyes transfixed on her, eager to hear her speak, like children in line at an amusement park, awaiting the best day of their lives.
"Okay, well hello new recruits, and welcome to the Aperture Science Laboratories. My name is Dr. Caroline and I am the CEO here. Before we dive in, first and foremost, I do need to inform you that the Enrichment Center is committed to the well-being of all of our scientists. Therefore I implore you to take precaution. Although Enrichment Center science experiments and testing can be quite gratifying, and every day we get to toy with the wonders of the unknown, I warn you that by doing so, we also risk participating in the most honorable and noble of sacrifices – we risk our lives for both the sake of science and for the enrichment of future generations. Still, however noble this sacrifice may be, this can be largely prevented by remembering to wear your safety equipment. If you do happen to experience any unwanted side effects from the samples, please drop what you are doing and contact our poison control team immediately.
"Now, as some of you may be well aware, we recently lost our dear and beloved founder, Cave Johnson" – she gestured to a photograph above the front table – "due to a hazardous material we work with regularly in our testing facilities. He is forever with us in our hearts. Let us all take a moment of silence, for his sake."
Doug couldn't help but wonder, as she clasped her hands together and looked down solemnly, if she had been close with Cave. It seemed to be more than the loss of a coworker. At the mention of his name, Doug could have sworn he heard Caroline's voice break. However, it was subtle enough that he was pretty sure no one else would've noticed. Caroline's speech all sounded very scripted. Too scripted. As if, had it not been, she wouldn't have kept her composure. It must have been a recent passing.
"Okay. Now, then, let's get started! Here at Aperture Labs, we push the bounds of the impossible. What would have once been deemed as 'magic' by our ancestors has become a reality because of our excellent team of scientists. And now, may I be the first to present to you, one of the most glorious inventions of our time" – her hand dramatically grasped the sheet and pulled it away as gasps and whispers fluttered about – "the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device!"
Clapping and cheers engulfed the laboratory. Doug was in utter shock and awe by the device. He couldn't believe his eyes. If anyone had told him that this was possible, a day ago, he might not have believed them. And here it was, before his very eyes.
"During your time here at Aperture Labs, we will be using version 3.6.1 of the Handheld Portal Device to test which substances would produce a successful Conversion Gel for our portals. Our research has shown that Moon Rocks are tremendously effective, however very dangerous. I'm counting on you all to be innovative, make new discoveries, and, let's not forget, have fun! Remember, through YOU, teleportation is possible. Through YOU, Aperture Science is possible.
"Now, there's a traditional thing we do here to send you all on your way. When I say Aperture Science, you say, for the good of all of us. Are you all ready?"
Nods all around the room.
"APERTURE SCIENCE?"
"FOR THE GOOD OF ALL OF US!"
"Awesome. Now. Let's get to work."