10 – A Brief Interruption: The Third

All was dark tumbling down the metallic shaft, as Dr. Joshua Merritt cried out from every hard impact against his head, arms, and torso on the cold, abrasive surface. He had been falling for so long counting the seconds was pointless. His face burned with hatred, boiling up from the very core of his being; hatred for Aperture and everything in it. The thought of what lay at the end was terrifying, and made him hope against all his pain that there was no end to the terrible tunnel.

All of a sudden the light of the eyes on his mask were reactivated, allowing him to see reflections dancing about, seeming to swirl about a dark abyss at the bottom of the tunnel.

As he fell further, the dark chasm opened and the dark dissipated to reveal an ocean of acid. At this sight, and with the sensation of falling faster and faster, Joshua couldn't even scream. Though it seemed hopeless, he looked for any escape, but saw none.

Soon, his mask began to cause shimmers across the undulating acid surface. What a terrible end! Looking around again, he saw something different. Directly below him, there was a floating platform and a bed of soft litter!

Incredulous, Merritt began to flail, and thankfully, was close enough that he crashed easily into the pile, sending great echoes throughout the grand room. He heard a few minor splashes from the trash he had displaced falling into the toxic waste, but the room still seemed to spin terribly from the descent.

Ignoring the pains throughout his body, Joshua gathered his strength and rose up, peering around in amazement. It was maybe a minute or so that he spent cautiously wandering about the platform before he heard footsteps.

"You there!" A woman's voice called out.

Looking up, he saw her standing on a tall, rusty beam that stretched overhead. She was half-lit by his mask. Grungy longfall boots were clearly discernable, as well as the scuffed orange pants of a standard Aperture jumpsuit. From the waist up, she was utterly shrouded in darkness, formless, with only three electric white points of light to locate her head.

"Are you hurt?" The woman's voice was clear, concerned, and friendly. It was also cautious, and she did not descend from her perch. She stood erect with her arms at rest by her sides, and stared like an eagle without moving a muscle.

He shook his head slowly, not breaking stare.

"Can you talk?"

Joshua hadn't spoken in days, and for weeks he had no reason to speak. Suddenly being asked to speak was almost a foreign concept to him. Only pained grunts had kept his vocal cords from atrophy, but he still mustered a reply.

"Yes."

His voice was feeble, and barely audible. Somehow, evidently, she had heard.

"What's your name?"

He gulped. "Merritt."

Instantly, the woman gasped, and with the air of a trained acrobat swooped down from the beam and onto the platform. He backed away as she approached, suddenly fearful and aware of how weak he was in his present state, unable to defend himself, but she held up her hands.

"It's okay."

Her mask was unusual, rigid and blocky. Joshua watched suspiciously as she removed it. The dim white light only made her face seem paler, but her eyes were vibrant still and her smile was bright.

"You're very strong, you know. No matter what she said. You can call me Missy. Subject 2901."

Joshua stared. He was 2904.

"Others?"

She smiled again, very relieved. "We really need your help."

"…with what?"

She drew a little closer, not making any sudden movements.

"Before we talk anymore, I need to see your mask. I just need to reset your vital monitors. That way GLaDOS won't know you're alive down here."

Joshua's relief and suspicion suddenly vaporized as fear flared up again.

"May I?" She asked.

He unclicked the fasteners of his mask and removed it. Too weak and disoriented to protest, he handed it over. Missy replaced her own mask and took to work.

"How many others?" He asked.

She looked up, handing him back his mask. "Two. They…can't tell me their names."

He took the mask and replaced it, clicking the fasteners back into place; her eyes were too bright to look upon without it. The sweat on his forehead and cheeks had chilled and evaporated, so the mask was warm against his face. In addition, the room was dreadfully cold.

"2902? 2903?"

Missy nodded. "Both survived. Thanks partially to this." She motioned to the platform.

"I was the first to get chucked." She continued. "Consequently: the first to survive too. So, I built this in order to save anyone else who might come after me. It's worked so far."

"Why not escape?" He asked.

Missy chuckled, and crossed her arms. "By myself? I could have tried, but I didn't think it was going to happen. I figured that others would come after me. All in all I thought it'd be better to try together."

Joshua stared for a few moments, contemplating that statement. Moments ago, his life was at an end, and now, suddenly here was the possibility of going to the surface; of going home.

"Plan?" He said, still getting used to talking again. "Tell me."

Missy nodded, and her voice was filled with elation. "You can help me! You have the mind for it. Together, we'll all go home."