The large metal room shone white, a result of constant cleaning. Despite the cleaner's best efforts, they couldn't entirely remove the blood stains on the floor. The sounds of bickering filled the air as Yukari and Shimi argued.

"I'm telling you, Yukari, you wouldn't stand a chance after GLaDOS uses her neurotoxin."

Yukari smiled.

"As usual, Shimi, you didn't do your research. I'm a youkai; ordinary poisons does not effect me."

"True, but it's not normal poison. It's neurotoxin. Even if it's not strong enough to kill you, it would at least confuse you. It might even give you brain damage."

Yukari considered this.

"You might have a point. Which is why I would alter the boundary between the toxin and the clean air, so it can't touch me. Besides, if the actual game is any proof, it takes at least a few minutes for even a human to die from it."

"Well, what about-"

A irritated mechanical groan cut him off, and GLaDOS spoke up.

"Why are you talking about me like I'm not here? That really hurts, you know. If you're going to talk about me, at least include me in the conversation. Remember, the Aperture Science Safety Protocol doesn't cover rude guests."

Shimi looked at GLaDOS and bowed.

"I'm sorry, GLaDOS. Was there something you wanted to say?"

"No. I'm just wondering why you're talking about me killing you. I wouldn't do that. You're my guest. I understand you wanted to ask me a few questions?"

"Yes. For a start, why do you kill people?"

"For the only reason that matters: Science."

Yukari looked confused.

"After the first time, there isn't much to learn about humans, is there?"

"Of course there is. I'm not interested in human anatomy. I test the Portal Gun, and study human reactions. You'd be surprised how many different ways humans react to overwhelming terror."

Shimi wrote this and said, "I see. So, what do you think of Chell?"

GLaDOS didn't say anything for a minute, and then she hissed,

"I will NOT talk about that. Now I have a question for you two: Why do you want to know all this?"

Shimi grinned.

"You should understand our reasons, we're just curious. Think of it as an experiment on our part. We're trying to unveil hidden secrets, and get answers to lingering questions. I must say, you're being remarkably truthful, GLaDOS."

"That's because I'm conducting a experiment to see how humans react to me being nice. Would you like some cake?" A table came out of the floor, along with chairs and two slices of cake. As the interviewers ate, Shimi kept asking questions.

"So, can your turrets really think? What about those two robots, Orange and Blue? And what happened to those Personality Cores that were installed in Wheatley?"

"No, my turrets just have some phases they repeat. Orange and Blue are actually very smart. I'm actually a bit proud of them. Especially after they found me more test subjects." She let out a contented sigh. "It's just not science without someone dying. As for the Cores, I put them back in storage."As they finished the cake, Yukari made another gap. "Oh, you're leaving? That's a pity. I didn't even get to show you the rest of the facility. It would have been a fun tour."

Shimi and Yukari stood up.

"I'm sure it would have been, but I'm out of questions and-" Shimi paused, looked confused, and then the entire upper half of his body exploded, splattering blood and bits of bone everywhere. Yukari stared at what was left of him in horror, and GLaDOS laughed.

"Fascinating. It's seems acting nice makes humans more gullible, and my Exploding Cake project works perfectly." She turned her eye on Yukari. "Now, why didn't you explode?"

Yukari glared at her and pulled out one of her Spell Cards.

"I wasn't dumb enough to actually eat the cake, and gaps are very useful for faking it. If you have nothing else to say, it's time for you to die."

Several turrets came out from under the floor panels, and the neurotoxin turned on. Yukari activated her Spell Card. "Fantasy Nest: Nest of Fireflies!" Dozens of gaps opened up, firing lasers at GLaDOS, whose turrets opened fire… and their attacks suddenly swerved, missing their targets completely. A amused laugh echoed in the room.

"Oh come on, you didn't really think I was going to let you two kill each other, do you?" Shimi's remains started glowing, and soon he was completely healed. "Still, it was fun to watch." Seeing Yukari's expression, he said, "You didn't really think I was dead, did you? I'm the Author, I can do whatever I want!"

Yukari smacked him with her parasol.

"That was for being a moron. Now, let's go." She grabbed him and pulled him into a gap. GLaDOS watched the two leave and sighed.

"It seems there is a lot I don't understand. Well, there's no point in worrying about it. Lets start the next test." She still felt a lagging curiosity about the two, but decided she'd find out where they came from later. She pulled a human out of his Relaxation Vault, gave him a Portal Gun, and watched as he scurried through her house of horrors…