GladOS was in a state that resembled happiness (she could see why humans liked being happy), it was new test subject day. New test subject day was her second favorite day next to bring your daughter to work day.
An alert sounded as the first test subject arrived and a pre-recorded message began playing: "hello and welcome to the Aperture Science Portable Enrichment Center, please state your name" "Erika, with a K" said the tall slightly radiant stranger said. "Thank you! Please face the camera for a full body scan" said the disembodied voice. Erika faced the camera which was mounted above a pair of military grade blast doors, and then a harsh beep was heard and the blast doors slid open.
Erika peered into the gloom, suddenly white fluorescent lights lit up on the ceiling. The sudden light revealed a spotless white corridor and at the end a white back lit sign with a large 01 in a font that looked like droid sans. Erika cautiously advanced down the corridor, curiously peering at the unfamiliar surroundings, as she approached the sign a soft, authoritative, computerized but distinctly female voice said "welcome, the following test is highly dangerous and involves strictly patented portal technology, but don't worry if you do die or mortally wound yourself it will still provide valuable testing data. Please do not damage any of the equipment. You may begin, now".
Erika nodded and rounded the corner past the glowing sign and walked into a bare, stone walled room with several chambers separated by glass walls. In the far bottom left there was another blast door with an orange cross next to it. From the Orange cross blue dots led to a red button. In another chamber there was a large cube with intricate patterns on it. The strangest thing was what looked an oval shaped mirror that reflected somewhere else, Erika guessed this was the portal that the strange computerized female voice was talking about. The portal was surrounded by blue and every 2 seconds flashed to showing a different part of the room. Erika advanced cautiously towards the strange portal, she (or he it was hard to tell) reached out reached out and to touch the faintly glowing oval and when she (or he) touched the portal her hand slipped through, Erika quickly recoiled and jumped away.
In a control room deep underground GladOS made a sound that resembled a giggle, this was her favorite part.