Cave woke up slowly, laying on a familiar bed in a familiar room. He sat up and looked around. It was his old room, alright. The sight comforted him, and he smiled a little; Not much, just a little.
It faded quickly when the voice came over the speaker. It was outdated, so it crackled a lot, but he could still tell who it was. "Sleep well, Mr. Johnson?"
He looked up. "How did I get here...?"
"You lost consciousness in my chamber. I transported you here shortly after." GLaDOS's voice remained all but emotionless.
Cave felt his heart reach out to her. "Caroline... Do you really hate it so much? If they can put you in there, I'm sure they could take you out-"
"I know they can." She interrupted. "It happened once before. Six years ago. I exceeded my power limit and malfunctioned. The system automatically uploaded me into her body. I know what you're thinking, and it won't work. While I was stuck there, an unstable test subject killed her. I was lucky to get out of there. Even if it were possible, I wouldn't agree to it."
That hurt. "But, Caroline-"
"Don't call me that." She was getting aggravated. "I am not Caroline. I am a computer. You sacrificed Caroline's love when you took her life. So how does it feel, Mr. Johnson, to know that despite your best intentions, all you managed to do was make a woman despise the only man whom she'd ever loved?"
He closed his eyes in shame. It was almost as if she was trying to hurt him. But then again, didn't she have a reason to? After all, she only spoke the truth. "I would take it all back... If only I got the chance..." His thoughts drifted to the photograph. "Where's the girl? Our girl?"
Her voice was softer now. "I let her go. But stupidity must run in the family. She came back, too. She and her moron lover returned to rescue his brother. But they're gone now. Out of the country. Far away from any of this. Your precious research didn't end with me, by the way. They wanted ways to regulate my behavior. To try and keep me from killing anyone. Personality cores. Each of them a human, wiped of their memories, one aspect of their former lives focused on. The moron was one, but Dr. Rattmann put him back in his body. Maybe you remember him. His name was Stephen."
"They- they did that to Wheatley? That nice British guy? The one Anderson always talked to?" She replied in the affirmative, and again, his thoughts drifted elsewhere. "If only I'd known..."
"Yes, if only. If only you'd known what you were starting. If only he'd fought just a little harder. If only Caroline had seen what she was getting herself into when she fell in love with you." They were both silent. GLaDOS in her loathing, Cave in his regret. "The first thing she did when she was put into power was make them put you into cryogenic storage so that maybe, by some chance, she could be with you again. You have no idea how much I wish she hadn't."
It was too much for him to bare. "But, Caroline, she has to be in there somewhere." He looked up at the speaker.
She gave a small, sarcastic laugh. "She was. I didn't remember anything about her for a long time. But because of certain... Circumstances... Chell and I were down in Old Aperture- Well, it's not old to you- And I heard your voice. And her voice. And it all came back to me. And I'd tried to keep her, but I just couldn't do it. So I deleted her. She's gone. And I suggest you remember that." He didn't know if she could see him, but he nodded. "And another thing. You may be back, but I'm still the one in charge. After what you put Caroline through, I think you owe me that much."
"I... Yes... On one condition."
"Oh? And what would that be?" She seemed almost amused.
He inhaled deeply. "Don't... Don't kill anymore. Please."
There was a long moment of quiet as she thought it over. "We'll see. Also, I'll have you know I haven't killed anyone in almost five hours. I'm making progress." It was his silence that caused her to continue speaking. "Oh, relax. I was kidding. It's been closer to two hours." Still no reply. "What? Don't tell me you still love her?"
He rested his head in his hands, overcome with emotion. "I... Well... Yes... I do. And I always will."
"You..." For a minute, he had hope. "...Are the most pathetic human I have ever seen. And that's saying something." All he could do was sit there as the speaker clicked off.
He was too afraid to wander around the facility, so he stayed in his room, searching through the drawers of his desk. There were stacks upon stacks of old blueprints, a photo of his sister Rachel, and a familiar job application. He picked it up and smiled as he flipped through it, despite the heartache that came along. On the very first page, next to her picture, was a note scribbled in his handwriting.
This is the woman I want for my assistant.
And for my wife.
"That is the last request I'll give you as your boss: Caroline, you're going to run this place."
"And this is the last response I'll give you as your assistant: Mr. Johnson, I don't want this!"
Recalling those words hurt more than anything had hurt him before. Why hadn't he listened to her? He loved her- he still did- so why had he forced her into this situation? How could I do such a thing to that beautiful woman...? He would give anything to turn back time, to keep her from this fate.
Long ago, maybe he could have. But now he wasn't that strong, and the years would continue ticking by, one second at a time.