This Chapter is nearly double the length of the longest chapter so far, and I actually enjoyed writing it. It felt very natural, and the story flowed out even though I hardly planned it. Please tell me whether you like the longer chapters or not, as I've been looking at other FanFics and my chapters seemed really short in comparison. Please review!

Bonds

Chell backed away. This was the woman that she'd just found out was her birth mother, a woman that she had never met. They had barely given her an hour to digest this information before sending this woman in. Knowing the identity of her mother, and how closely she had been bound up in all of Chell's life, behind the scenes, was one thing. Being presented with that person almost immediately afterwards was another. Chell was having a bad day, in all. She'd woken up in a foreign facility, given facts about her life she'd rather not have known, then been handed a mother to deal with. She and the Companion Cube had been happy, they didn't need this.

These thoughts shot through Chell's mind like bullets, tearing open memories and feelings she'd boarded up years ago. Well, at least GLaDOS hadn't lied to her after all: she had been adopted. GLaDOS.. that was another thing. Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System – the disk containing a personality. The owner of that personality was now stood directly in front of her, and that was a test Chell never thought she would have to face. Caroline's personality had barely showed up in GLaDOS though; it had only been noticeable in her recent escapades as a potato. Summarily to this, the sector of GLaDOS where Caroline's personality was had been deleted, immediately. GLaDOS had not wanted any emotional influences; and that, thought Chell, was pretty damn sensible. Troublesome things. The Companion Cube didn't have to deal with them, why should she?

It was a bit of an enigma in all: technically, she had spent the last twenty of so years of her life in direct contact with this woman (who had spent most of it trying to kill her). However, the Caroline in front of her wouldn't have any of those memories, as they were exclusive to GLaDOS. It really was headache inducing. Chell had always assumed that Caroline's physical existence had been terminated upon being uploaded to the AI, yet here she was, plain as day.

As if reading her mind, the woman.. her mother.. Caroline spoke –

"I don't know what happened either. The last thing I remember before waking up here is what must be a few hours before I was uploaded to control the Aperture Facilities. I didn't know it was going to happen. I can't remember as it did happen either, but the people here tell me it did. I've watched your videos too. It doesn't seem to me that the AI in control maintained much of my personality."

Caroline moved forward, and sat on the bed. She reached up and pulled her hair out of the bun it was in. It flowed down past her shoulders, much like Chell's did. Slightly wavy, but controlled. She sighed, and looked up at Chell, who had retreated to the far wall by the desk along with the Portal Gun and the Cube. These were the things she cared about, and she was going to protect them.

Caroline resumed talking. "It's so strange. There seems to be about twenty years' worth of blank in my head, years that I can't account for at all. My body seems to have aged, but I've not the slightest how. I woke up here, and Black Mesa scientists had just saved my life. I had had a severe, rapid growing mesothelioma, and I'd nearly died. It was asbestos that did it, they say. I remember Cave telling me a lot of Aperture was made of Asbestos. The guys here told me the environment around here is heavily impregnated, not safe to be out in."

Chell was alarmed, she'd been exposed to this not only during the time she'd spent in the Aperture Facility, but for about twenty four hours after her escape. Wouldn't that be great, finally escaping the Facility, then dying as a result of it. Perhaps it was better than staying here.

"So if you feel bad at all, just talk to- well, get the attention of somebody here. They're good people, you know. "

Could this woman read her mind somehow? She was answering almost perfectly in sync with the questions Chell was posing in her mind. Surely it was impossible; although she didn't know how much progress Black Mesa could have made in twenty years. Chell dismissed the thought – it wasn't worth thinking about really.

"When I first found out where I was, I didn't want to stay here. All I could think was that Black Mesa was the direct enemy to Aperture. Then again though, Aperture is gone. What's the point in holding grudges, when we can all be working together for a better tomorrow? For science, Chell. For science."

Maybe this woman wasn't so different to GLaDOS after all, thought Chell. Anything for the development and improvement of science. Indeed, had she not given her own child away, because of her duty to science?

This new thought stuck Chell like a train. Not only had GLaDOS taunted Chell about being adopted; she had been the one to give her away, even if she hadn't known it. Chell had been seconded, to a job. Sure, people's careers were a big part of their lives, but who gave their own daughter away? Maybe she was just as unloved as she'd repeatedly been told she was. Chell sank down onto her knees, and hugged the Companion Cube to her body. Caroline made a move as if to come down and comfort her, then thought better of it. Good, thought Chell, I don't want that woman near me.

"There's a division in Black Mesa dedicated to trying to recreate the Portal Device now. They've not even come close. I'm sure they'd be extremely grateful if you were to cooperate with them?"

The tone of voice that Chell was hearing now was almost a question. A statement, barely daring to be a question. No way, thought Chell. You may have forgotten Aperture, but I haven't. I stand by them.

"Come. Take a walk with me, and I'll show you around. This isn't a prison you know. It's just that it's unsafe to leave. Think of this as a haven."

Chell wasn't about to cause an argument – not yet at least – so taking her Portal Gun, she rose and began to follow her mother to the door. Her gaze was that of ice. Ice unmelting – cold, hard and unforgiving.

Looking back, Caroline frowned. "For pity's sake darling, you don't need to carry that thing around with you. We're not your enemies."

No way, thought Chell. She stood, and waited for Caroline to move on. It was more of a psychological thing anyway, she mused. She knew that none of the surfaces inside the Facility would bear the portals. Giving in, Caroline moved forward. As they strolled down the corridor, she began to talk again. She's just doing it to keep herself happy, thought Chell, either that or she doesn't realise I don't want to know.

"I.. I am sorry Chell. I didn't want to have to be parted from you, but I had no choice. Your father, Cave, wasn't a bad man. I really did love him, he was a very caring man. However, that care was dedicated to science.. not yourself. In his case anyway. He loved you. That's why he had you adopted within the bounds of Aperture, so he could be close to you. At that time, he was in a development race with Black Mesa, he didn't want any distractions from his work. Please don't think badly of him.."

She trailed off, aware that her words were having no effect on Chell. Chell was just soaking up everything she said, even if there was no outward sign of this. She was going to process it all later – for now, the most important thing was observing the Black Mesa Facility, building a mental map and so on. You never knew when she was going to need it, but Chell was sure she would. It was going to be a struggle, whatever happened. If the environment was so polluted by asbestos, escaping may not be safe. Mr. Hurt the farmer had seemed perfectly well though. It was a puzzle Che;; was determined to explain.

"Black Mesa has moved on, anyway. We are now mostly focused on robotic assault and defence systems, including weaponry. This may seem like a bad thing at first glance, but I can assure you it is not. Our goal is to remove the need for a human to participate in any combat, thus keeping us all safe. The robots intelligence will be limited in personality; therefore they will not receive the psychological effects war has on humans. We at Black Mesa believe that robotics is the way forward."

She smiled, clearly getting into her stride now. She was talking on the subject she was proud of, and had knowledge in: science.

"Obviously, there are secret projects we in Black Mesa involve in, but you needn't worry about them yet. Some of them your expertise may prove very beneficial in, but you'll have to prove your commitment to science in other areas first. Perhaps, after your experience in testing for Aperture, you would relish the opportunity to help devise logic and strategic programmes for our ComBots – that's the name for the Combat Robots we're working on."

Did this woman, and Black Mesa at large, really think that Chell was simply going to slot herself into the well organised machine they ran? Who would, after what she'd been through? Then again, her mother had had quite a time as well, and she'd managed to fit in well. It was strange, someone who was so dedicated to Aperture Science, and so close to the CEO of Aperture to accept being a part of a rival company. Chell would have to analyse that.

By this time, they were passing through rooms filled with Black Mesa employees. They all looked so normal. Some of them smiled at her, and some even greeted her. Most of them were sitting at computers, or holding whispered conversations together. Was this what Aperture had been like in its prime? Alive and buzzing with a communal atmosphere. She couldn't see it – all it had ever been to her was cold, derelict and empty.

Caroline came to a stop at an open area where a group of men and women were sitting in chair, looking on to a screen where a woman was giving a presentation on what looked like a very technical design.

"This is ComBot design" whispered Caroline, "where the physical aspects of new ComBots are designed and perfected. We have to try and keep them mobile, but hard wearing enough to protect them from heavy artillery. Some of these guys are technicians as well, as they work out how to programme and utilise the strengths of each ComBot. There's lots of types you see, for reconnaissance, transport, combat and most aspects of war."

Chell found herself genuinely interested against her will. These were average people, not monsters. They were also working towards a moral goal, in her opinion. Chell had not enjoyed feeling insignificant in Aperture, and she could not imagine your average foot soldier enjoying his job. Robots didn't care, they just followed their design. Perhaps Chell could fit in here. Sure, she wasn't a programmer nor had any technical skill, but she had experience in problem solving.

Chell looked down at the device in her hand. The Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device. It represented her past, and what she'd always assumed was her future. Chell was here for three reasons.

To Stay Alive: This was going well. These people were not here to harm her.

To Find the Answers: Again, this wasn't going badly. She'd found out her parents' identities, and more in less than a day.

To Gain Purpose: Currently, she had none. However, working at Black Mesa to reduce the damage war has on people? That was a good enough purpose, surely.

Going on these analogies, staying at Black Mesa was a good move for Chell. What else was she going to do? She knew she wanted a purpose, and here, one was being handed to her. It was better than wandering a city, unable to communicate and searching for ways to do good.

Chell and Caroline began to move on. The woman giving the presentation sketched a small wave in their direction, and Chell nodded back. Caroline smiled.

Along a corridor, they came to an observation room. There were a few men in suits, accompanied by scientists in uniform – probably the people overseeing the project, and those working on it. They were engrossed on a room below, which they could watch from above through a full glass wall. Inside, a short, squat ComBot seemed to be comprised mostly of its two legs and four arms. There was no real discernible head or body. The terrain was very uneven, and looked rocky. There were large craters and some rises. Ruined walls and rubble also obscured vision. Placed strategically around the course were machines that slightly resembled the Aperture Science turrets; but they were more.. sciencey. Well, that was twenty years development for you.

The ComBot dropped onto all six legs like a spider, and began to scuttle forwards. It reached a low wall and a wire snaked out over the top and moved around. It was an optical sensor, Chell guessed. The turret whirred into life, and a hail of bullets struck the cable. It was battered to the side, and the ComBot quickly withdrew it. A scientist immediately checked a monitor next to him, and announced

"Extendable Optical Sensor is still functioning." A sigh of relief immediately went around his uniformed colleagues, and one of the men in jackets scribbled something down into a notepad.

The ComBot raised itself up onto two of its lower limbs, but kept a low profile behind the wall. One of its arms gripped onto the side of the wall, and using it for support, the ComBot swung around the edge of the wall, raised an arm on the opposite side, aimed at fired at the turret. There was no visible projectile, but a tannoy rang out –

"Turret Number 1, Offline."

The ComBot proceeded to pick up the now defective turret, and hold it in front of itself, like a shield. A second turret was visible at the top of a rise in the ground, and the ComBot sprinted jauntily over to a crater in the ground, executing a perfect combat roll into the depth of it.

The scientists leaned forward, as did the.. assessors? The ComBot was obviously exhibiting behaviour beyond the usual range. All eyes were fixed on the spectacle below. Suddenly, the ComBot raised itself up, and bodily threw the defunct turret with two of its arms, towards the turret above it. There was a crunch, and a monotone voice proclaimed the second turret offline.

The ComBot ascended the top of the rise, then quickly dropped down into its spider-mode again as a third and final turret sent a hail of bullets at it. A compartment in the ComBot's back opened, and a small node of metal poked out. After a second, a light on the side of it turned green, and a small rocket detached from the arm of the ComBot, and immediately flew towards the out-of-sight turret, and destroyed it. It was a violent end to an impressive demonstration.

"Turret Number 3, Offline. Light Spider Infantry ComBot Testing Successful."

There was applause and smiles all around. Chell heard compliments being passed, and conversation on how the Bot had used the destroyed turret as an improvised shield. Generally, everybody was impressed on the success shown, and how well the Bot had dealt with the situation.

"You see" said Caroline, "this is the ComBot Situation Simulation Test Department. The LSI model is our newest innovation. It took our strategy programmers a long time to work in the ability to improvise, which was shown off well here."

Chell was genuinely impressed. She was beginning to feel she could fit in here. It was a good enough reason, and it was achieving her goals. Would the Companion Cube agree? She wasn't sure. It was all beginning to build up, and Chell's insecurity was starting to take over.

Caroline seemed to tell this. "It's getting late. I'll take you back to your room and have a meal delivered. I'm sure you'll be comfortable."

They walked wordlessly back to Chell's room. Chell began to walk in, then paused at the door. She did not look back, but she heard the words.

"Goodnight, my darling."

Ooooooooooh.

Interesting eh? It was interesting to write. The characters do their own things in my head, and I just write them down. Is that weird? :P Enjoy!

~daT.