The only thing lighting the AI chamber was a dim glow from surrounding panels. GLaDOS was idle, in contemplation, even. Chell was testing, Wheatley was doing, god knows what, and there was another presence that she couldn't pinpoint. The echo of a sad tune played in the distance. Aperture was so big, sometimes it was difficult to tell where things were coming from, especially if you weren't looking for it. That was not at the top of her list at that point.
Ever since she'd spoken to that core, she'd felt... Different, somehow. She wasn't sure what it was, but it was almost a feeling of joy, light hearted-ness. Which did not make sense, especially the fact that she was not programmed to feel emotions. Just the thrill from learning new things, nothing else really clicked. She let out a long sigh, then began humming a quiet melody that she felt like she'd known, even before she came online for the first time.
Her own synthetic voice echoed through the halls of Aperture, overpowering all of the loud crashes, the random tunes, explosions, even her own thoughts. She was the lifeblood of the facility, and it WOULD live on, despite her own feelings. Which she was still trying to identify.
The only thing she could think of, was love. Love? That's crazy. GLaDOS was an AI, not some rowdy teenage girl seeking attention. There was supposed to be no emotion or reaction to anything, except the testing, of course. But oddly enough, something seemed missing. Not the cores, or the limitations, but just a longing for companionship.
GLaDOS shook her head. It was just some strange thought. She delved back into the security system to try and figure out what else was in here. Bird? No, it's a damn bird, nothing to stress about. Some mice, a few dead cats here and there, skeletons, as always, and of course, charred remains of old test subjects that couldn't make it past the goo. It was just goo, she didn't see the problem. Just an odd mix of acids and other toxins in the form of a liquid that could dissolve all the flesh it came in contact with. They even tested it to make sure it worked! Of course, some were smarter than that, they wouldn't fall into some oddly placed, greenish-red liquid that looked like it was made of raw sewage and blood.
On the other hand, the turrets could have gotten them. GLaDOS's own design, of course. Humans couldn't make such a perfect sentry that could be packed into a box and reused infinitely. Not to mention how WONDERFUL they were with children... As long as they were programmed for it. Otherwise, that child would be fifty feet under, so to speak. Hey, maybe we could put its' remains into the goo.
Ah-ha-hah.
She then realized that she had a huge blind spot in the camera system. The old testing track, of course. The cameras had been ripped from the walls, between that Rat Man and Chell. Of course, no one could go there, she had blocked them off so no one could get in, or out, for that matter. Of course, HE could be the problem. He, being Doug Rattmann, ex-scientist of Aperture Science. Doug had been diagnosed with Schizophrenia, and he always knew how evil GLaDOS was, but no one listened for fear that they might catch his disability, or something. He lived - LIVES a lonely life, if he is still alive. Humans are stupid, no one should be condemned to a life of loneliness, no matter how crazy that might be.
If it were me, in place of some other snotty human, I'd treat him as an equal. Humans are cruel, terrible monsters. How could they just cast off this perfectly good man and ignore his warnings? It's their own fault, they're dead. Doug could have saved them. He could have lead them out, even after the lock-down. Hell, he saved Chell. Of course, he was much younger back then.
Her optic widened at the thought of being human. It would be odd, being soft, like them. Like Chell also, which brought her to the painful reminder of this woman. Still navigating the testing courses, slowly, but surely. She promised Chell a surprise, but in all honesty, she didn't have one, which, made GLaDOS seem like the monster.
The only thing she could do at this point, that didn't involve cake, of course, was sing.
Which, unfortunately, she hadn't truly done in awhile.
Cara... Bel? Cara.. no.. That's not it, definitely not.
She chided herself while trying to remember lyrics to a wonderful song that she couldn't put her finger on. It was frustrating to have a large gap in your memory like she had. All she could remember was testing, but she was sure there was something else back here.
There's something else in here, and when I find it...