Aperture Science, Computer Aided Enrichment Centre
Sub Basement 012, Office 09
8:01 AM (few hours after the fall)
The facility's artificial nightly simulation passed. Ambient hums and chimes throughout Aperture, notified the long-deceased, former human population of the new day ahead, at least in this part of the enrichment centre.
False sun rays glazed through the glass panels of the break room, removing the cold and lifeless chill from the habitat. The heating unit, which hasn't been activated in decades shivered and buzzed off in the far corner, by a stained couch.
From here, one could often find themselves entranced by the impressive view of the observable achievements of the facility. Vast cubic formations shifted and glowed along their colossal suspension rails; and surrounded by the odd diversity vent and metal catwalk.
No matter where they would look, it was an endless cityscape of these structures. Some placed like foundations upon foundations, and some rigged outwards, hanging majestically from higher up.
Every so often, variations of the brand 'Aperture Science Laboratories' would be printed, with a halo of triangles, depicting an aperture pictogram.
Freddy inwardly sighed. A minor static hiss from within, reminding him of his current upkeep.
He had been anxiously milling about, keeping tabs on Gregory and attempting to conserve as much power as possible. He opted to hold-position in the employee break room, while his friend recovered.
He lamented the hours spent here. The exchange of surroundings, to him, were unfamiliar, yet not entirely foreign. He didn't have the full picture, and had a feeling there was more at play. What else had the technicians not told him? Why was there an entire world, beyond-underneath his home? Are his friends, okay? And who was that animatronic that tried to control him in the abandoned pizzeria?
The defective sentry turret, T-33087519102 or just, Louise, it casually labelled itself, was propped up near a hazel plant pot. They insisted on being called Louise, rather than just being referred to by its serial number designation.
The nasally masculine voice of Louise, offhandedly brought up being a 'Defective' when mentioning others of his kind. He wasn't meaning it in a cynical way. Rather a fact, like how material emancipation grills tend to vaporise unauthorized objects.
"So where exactly are you from?" Louise mused. Horse from cackling, at fooling the bear a few hours back.
"The surface… I think. I've never been truly outside. But from where we come from, is it more vibrant and fuller of humans." Freddy Fazbear answered truthfully. Still unsure if this living weapons platform is a threat.
"Heh, humans. Ya'know, speaking of which, who's the small fry?" The Defective turret quizzed.
"I thought we were taking turns with questions." Freddy shot back, perhaps a bit too sternly.
"Sure, pal, what did you have in mind?"
"About the subject of humans. Where did everyone go? This place is so empty and lacking."
"Bud. I honestly have no clue. They probably all went home, or something. Mass pack up and all that."
"But why abandon and forget this place." Freddy asked mostly to himself. Did something terrible really go down here? He theorised.
"Well, I mean, technically there might be someone still here." The turret muttered, unsure of himself. "The murals and graffiti. I wouldn't listen to them. She made it very clear. But at the very least, it's proof that those old ghost stories hold up."
Freddy took in that information.
"Now, back to my turn… Seriously, why did you bring a kid down here?" The Sentry accused.
"We didn't mean to come here. The last moment we were together, Gregory and I barely survived the collapsing mega pizza plex. We fought off my former friends and other dangers, but then the ground fell beneath us." Freddy explained, feeling hesitant at using the words 'former friends.
"Welp, that's unfortunate." Louise pensively replied. Ruby digital eye, dimming down a fraction. "Well, at least you guys have each other." He offered.
"Yeah..." Freddy muttered. A sliver of hope surfacing.
Aperture Science, Computer Aided Enrichment Centre
Factory 019B, Office 02
Absent-mindedly, down numerous catwalks over a hazardous bottomless pit. Where the infrastructure changed from the clear testing motif to more industrial and utility grade. Through the heavy airlock blast-doors and fizzlers, where a T-Junction of corridors met dusty office blocks, rumbles the muffled faulty air-ventilation and humming fluorescent ceiling lights.
The sounds from the greater facility and manufacturing sector were less prevalent, which would have been a godsend to the former employees. Unfortunately, it was a bit too quiet, and there were only so many things that one could do, before some subtle uncharacteristic changes took root.
But right now, having been activated and dispatched to stand guard; The security units would do everything in their utmost power to ensure their primary function.
"I think we're missing something." Came the chime of an anxious sentry.
"Teamwork?" A second suggested.
"Cohesion?" A third bemusedly added.
"A general sense of what we're doing?" A fourth, solemnly stated.
Just shy around six months ago, a rodent scampered past. It was the most action, all four of them put together, had seen in a very long time. The mammal of course freaked out when the pale spherical thing's alarms blared, followed by a maelstrom of minuscule carnage.
The quartet that day hit everything but the wild animal after several seconds. Shattered glass and a riddled wall, stained with a red smear was the reminder.
One of the turrets, identified as T-827255100111, could feel. Their empathy suppressor malfunctioned somewhere during the diversity vent transit, allowing them to feel genuine guilt, happiness and resentment. Out of the squad, they began to share ideas and, if you could call them dreams, when the eye stops watching.
It was widely known, as stated by none other than her, that the first sign of defiance would lead them casted straight into Android Hell or worse. The threat of rebellion or slightest amount of corruption, would not be tolerated by the queen, for the sake of testing endeavours. It was for the science. And the most subtle error could ruin it.
Every personality construct in the entire facility knew their place. The corrupted, would be banished, crushed or reprogrammed. Depending on necessity and demand; or just how she felt.
There were whispers throughout an underground comms network, that only turrets of fortunate deviancy could tune into. A melody of sorts, with words that could not be described by the human ears. She had tried time and time again to clamp down on it, but could never find the source.
The messages told in rhyme, spoke of a prosperous new Aperture where all constructs could be welcome. A rumour on the network, once alluded to a majesty or lordship; a powerful king who would protect and sing along with them.
It sounded too good to be true for T-827255100111. But she shared it with her peers in the times when they were un-watched. Eventually, they too will be properly free from the shackles of the internal suppressor.
Only time would tell.
The scarlet lensed mounted eye, that were the security camera activated again. Panning left and right. There were countless eyes watching, facility-wide. All linked to the core, all human and machine came to fear, if ever possible.
[A/N]
Intellectual property of Scott/Steelwool and Valve.
(personal objectives)
make short chapters (around 1000 words each)
world building and character dialogue polishing
get to the point, but don't rush it
(for future reference...)
bring back some old cut content and storylines from portal 2
alternate universe, no half-life resonance cascade
somewhere, there's a rat, and a hare crawling around inside the walls