A/N: I'm sorry I haven't been updating much. With vacations and school, I just haven't had time. As always, I will try my hardest to continue writing.

I didn't have long to cry, because I could hear the distinct clanging sounds of Chell's Advanced Knee Replacements approaching. I sprinted down the corridor as fast as I could and leapt onto the button. Moments later, Chell appeared and placed an orange portal across the way, directly across from the pair of doors we had to open. Through the portal, I could see a High Energy Pellet Launcher, preparing to fire.

Chell got onto a second button and waited. As the Pellet passed into our chamber, I could see Chell's face and emotions clearly. She almost wanted to just step into its path and be vaporized.

However, at the last second, her face took on that familiar hardness that meant she could take on anything. She sidestepped, still holding down the button, and the Pellet missed her face by inches.

It whizzed through the door she held open. It continued through mine. It hit its receptacle, and just like that, the test was solved.

I forced a smile. Maybe testing wouldn't be so bad if we could work together like this.

I hopped down and followed Chell out to the main chamber, where three glass platforms had risen up out of the floor. She shot a blue portal up to the ledge and motioned for me to go first. As I passed her, I couldn't help but notice her pointed effort not to look me in the eyes.

I leapt carefully from one platform to another until I reached an iron-lined corridor off to the right. I jumped into it, Chell following closely behind. We followed the corridor until we reached an equally portal surface-free room with a large red button on the floor.

"You did it." GLaDOS droned, feigning joy. "Your Weighted Companion Cube certainly brought you good luck."

I grinned, proud of myself.

"However," GLaDOS continued coldly, "it cannot accompany you for the rest of the test and, unfortunately, must be euthanized."

WHAAAAT?

"You heard me." The awful AI whispered in my head, "Did you honestly think I would let you keep testing with her after that blatant disregard for protocol? Oh, I guess you did. Oh well. Companion Cube euthanization is part of protocol, so unless you want another unsatisfactory mark on your official testing record…" She trailed off as I glared daggers at the red-eyed camera through which She was looking at us. "Oh, don't give me that look. I don't make the rules- oh, wait, yes I do."

"Please escort your Companion Cube to the Aperture Science Emergency Intelligence Incinerator."

I would have liked nothing more than the opportunity to punch that smug-looking camera off of the wall, but I forced my gaze back to Chell, who slowly shook her head.

I won't do it, her eyes told me.

"I know." I replied. She wouldn't kill me, no matter what GLaDOS said.

I walked down to the other section of the room, the section I hadn't seen. Straight ahead was a room with a glass window, through which I could see a hand button.

To my right was the incinerator. I backed rapidly away from it. I could imagine the screams of my sisters as they were flung in by desperate test subjects.

I turned back to Chell, uncertain. The next tests were hard, that much I knew, but my programming prevented me from seeing the details. I could, however, see their mortality rates. Chamber 18 had only been solved five times. Chamber 19 was unsurvivable.

"Chell!" I gasped. "Chamber 19!" But however I tried, I couldn't continue. Damn programming.

She looked at me questioningly while I searched for the words. What could I say to warn her? What else would she go through? I looked for maps. The test chambers… they just ended at 19! There wasn't even an exit! The only way out of the chamber was the maintenance areas. Weren't they inaccessible? But Chell had a portal gun… and the maintenance areas led… Suddenly, I knew what to do.

I grabbed Chell's wrist and yanked her back through the hall. I let go only when we reached the glass platforms, trusting her to leap down with me. There was a pounding in my head that threatened to force me to my knees with every step I took in the opposite direction of the incinerator. I charged at the gap in the wall, squeezing my eyes shut from the pain. My knees gave out a few feet away.

"In!" I gasped, pointing at the room. Chell placed two portals and dragged me in, instantly lessening the pain.

"Thank you," I panted. "She can't get me here." I had to explain the plan. "Look, there's danger up ahead. More danger then you've ever faced. But you can do it! I know you can! She's going to… I don't know, but it isn't good. You need to get out. You need to get to Her." I took a deep breath of foul air into mechanical lungs. "You need to kill Her."

This story is probably only going to be one or two more chapters, plus an epilogue. Just let me tell you that I'm not planning on letting any of my stories die off, but it may take a while to get them all written up.