Chapter 3: The Fall

TEC slowly generated enough energy to power the X-Naut fortress again. His back up energy had come through, as did his memory. He was back to normal, as was the entire fortress. He had obtained information from Earth: Princess Peach was safe and with Mario. Well... good for her. He was happy for her. Glad that she was happy, but hurt that she was happy with someone else. Did this come with love? Oh, how he was still so confused. How he wished he could see the Princess again, tell her that he's all right, and let her know of his feelings for him.
He was so lonely. The X-Nauts were defeated. They were gone. He convinced himself that this was a good thing because they were evil and he did not want to be in that company. But still. He would have taken any company at this point. He thought of the Princess. Oh, how depressed he was to be alone.
Suddenly, TEC heard a distant voice. It sounded like a man, like someone was shouting, "Grab me, grab me, grab me!" Who could come to the moon and how did they get here? Whoever it was, it sounded like they were in dire need of some help. TEC was sure they had a good reason for being out in space, and he convinced himself that it wasn't his loneliness that was driving him to help this person, but that he genuinely wanted to help someone in need.
To keep them from floating off into space, he decided to toy around with the mechanics of the X-Naut fortress. He increased the gravity of the fortress, attracting floating objects in space towards it. This, actually to his surprise, ended up working. He heard the screaming voice, "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH" get louder as it came closer and closer to the fortress.
He opened the door of the fortress, to let this person in.
"Hello," TEC's voice rang throughout the fortress.
"Wha-? Who's that? What is this place?" came a british sounding voice from within the fortress.
"I am TEC-XX. You can call me TEC. I am the main computer who runs this fortress. Do not be alarmed. I do not wish to harm you."
"Listen, mate, I'm not skeeved out by the idea that you're a computer. So was my last boss, and so am I. Now, let me ask you-"
"Hold on," TEC interrupted him. "You... you're a computer? Can you come to the main computer room? I wish to speak with you."
"I would, mate, I really would! 'Cept I don't really have legs... so... no way for me to get there."
"Let me adjust the gravity settings one more time," TEC said. He began playing around with them again. He adjusted the gravity in different spots on the walls and on the ceiling and on the floor, making this unknown visitor bang against the corridors in many different directions. It took a while, but finally, he rolled into the main computer room."
"Hm," Wheatley said, getting a good look at TEC. "You're a lot smaller than she was. 'Bout my size, actually."
"Yes, my core does seem to be around the same size as you," TEC said, looking down at the small metal sphere that was gazing up at his monitor."
"And you've got a monitor, and a keyboard! You're a proper computer, you are."
"I am... well... I was the perfect computer," TEC said lamentably. "Wait, who are you? What are you doing here?"
"Well... what I'm doing here is a long story. I was sort of forced her. As a punishment. That I really deserve. But my name is Wheatley."
"Wheatley?" TEC repeated. "I'm glad you're here. If there's anything I can do for you, just let me know."
"Actually, I was wondering if you knew a way that I could get back to Earth."
"Oh," TEC said, slightly disappointed that his new acquaintance was not here to stay. "Yes. We have a teleporter room that will take you to Rogueport."
"Rogueport? I'm afraid I, uh, don't know where that is. I'm looking for a place called Aperture Science."
TEC didn't respond for a moment. He was analyzing Wheatley's words.
"Um... mate? You still in there?" Wheatley said.
"Yes," TEC said. "I am just trying to see if I have any information on what you call Aperture Science. I seem to have a little bit, but I do not have its location. I will try to find out what I can, but in the meantime, you will have to stay here."
"All right, well, let me know when you find anything. I'll be here. Yep, not going anywhere."
GLaDOS also was not going anywhere. She was at Aperture, playing with her new robots through the testing. Chell was long gone. She had no idea where she would go or what she would do, but as long as it was far away from her precious facility.
Caroline was gone, too. Deleted from her hard drive. It was just her now. Her, and those robots.
In a way, she was becoming lonely, too.