The trio found an opening, a cave system leading to some abandoned tunnels leading into the mines. The mines that would lead to lower Aperture.

Wheatley was in a foul mood and followed the women in silence. His feet ached, water in his boots creating sores. And to add to that, he was already hungry, and they were running low on provisions. Chell only had so much food to go around.

Also, the companion cube strapped to his back was bloody heavy.

Chell was still angry with him, and it made him feel... not so great. He wanted the human to forgive him. He wanted her to understand.

Wheatley had never intended to hurt her. He had lashed out at GLaDOS and let his anger carry over to Chell. Her mainframe had done something to him... made him a little crazy. He remembered very clearly wanting to crush Chell like a bug. Despising her.

He shivered. As soon as he had been ripped from the chassis and thrown into space, it was like his mind had cleared up. The murderous rage gone.

He was truly sorry.

He glanced at GLaDOS, who was climbing the wall to the busted mineshaft after Chell. Wheatley realized he still resented her as much as she resented him. Any regret he had felt about what he had done to her had all but disappeared. Who cared about her stupid face when it was a temporary body anyway? Who cared if she got turned into a potato once? She won in the end, and she was going to win again this time too.

What was going to happen to him after she got her mainframe back? Surely as upset as Chell still was with him, she wouldn't let GLaDOS crush him. Would she?

Why was this all so confusing?

He caught up with the women, and his mouth dropped open at the sight before them. A gaping cavern opened up, intricate catwalks leading upward toward Aperture. Ancient metal spheres poked out of the water, and a waterfall sounded at the back of the cavern. Water dripped on Wheatley's nose, and he smelled the earth. Whatever that meant.

"So how does this work? Do we get to portal our way up or...?" he craned his neck to see where the catwalks led. But the chasm went on and on.

Chell replied, "Once we reach the lower facility we can use these," she gestured using the portal gun she had taken from him. GLaDOS held onto the other.

"You aren't telling me we have to climb all the way up there," he pointed at the catwalks.

The human didn't even look at him, "Get used to it. We portal when we can."

He looked at GLaDOS, who was staring at the walkways impassively. "Could we at least trade? It's not like you're going to be able to shoot straight with only one eye," he went to grab her portal gun, his grumpiness overriding his survival instinct.

She hit him with it, "Hands off. You hold the cube, and I get the gun. That was the plan."

"But that makes no sense! My eyesight is perfect and I can shoot a portal just as good as you."

"Let's throw those glasses in the water and see how well you can see then, imbecile-" GLaDOS retorted, and Wheatley stepped forward, tempted to shove her into the water herself.

Chell grabbed him by the arm and yanked him back, her face stern. "Get ahold of yourselves, both of you. I know being in a human body isn't easy, but you have to control your anger before you do something really stupid."

He folded his arms, "What does being a human have to do with anything? I hate her in both my bodies." That sounded extra weird when he said it out loud.

GLaDOS said nothing, choosing to remain silent as she glared at the watery abyss below. She was probably imagining him drowning down there as they spoke.

God, she was the worst.

"Let's go," Chell commanded, "Onward and upward."

They had been climbing upward for ages when they finally heard the sweet sound of the humming of an emancipation grill. Chell wondered how the three of them would fit into the lift together, especially with-

"What about Cubey here?" Wheatley gestured to the cube on his back. The emancipation grill would vaporize it in seconds. His face made it seem hopeful that it would.

Chell couldn't get herself to do that. She didn't know why but she was attached to the stupid cube. The cube that had hummed her to sleep every night for the past three years.

GLaDOS shook her head, "Easy fix," she sauntered over to the lift, her long fall boots clicking against the metal of the catwalk. She pulled down a lever on the side of the lift, and the grill cut out completely.

Chell gaped, "What? That's it? One little lever?"

GLaDOS smiled, "I noticed it when I was jammed onto the end of your portal gun last time we were down here. Old Aperture wasn't as good with the whole 'failsafe security' thing."

Sure, because modern Aperture letting their central core murder everyone in the facility wasn't a security issue.

"Wasn't AEGIS supposed to be the security AI down here, though?" Wheatley wondered aloud.

"A lot of good he did," GLaDOS sniffed.

"He took you out," Wheatley countered.

GLaDOS opened her mouth, and Chell stopped her before they escalated into a fight again. It was like dealing with children. "Let's get going," she guided the two former AIs into the lift, squishing themselves in. The end of her portal gun smacked GLaDOS in the leg.

She elbowed Chell, "What are you trying to do, stab me with that thing again?"

"Don't tempt me."

The lift started upward, and the three nearly jumped out of their skin when a sharp cry rang overhead, a bird's nest plummeting to the abyss below and a bird diving into the lift in a panic, flying around their heads as it cawed in distress. Chell would have been alarmed if it weren't for the reaction of the two cores stuck with her.

GLaDOS's voice raised to a terrified shriek, "AGH! KILL IT! KILL IT! OH GOD-"

Wheatley was just as panicked, covering his head and trying to duck down to little avail. The bird snagged some of his hair, and his voice raised an octave as he screamed.

The lift opened, and the bird flew out, cawing as it swept down away from them. The three practically fell out of the lift, GLaDOS in wide-eyed shock, Wheatley a trembling mess, and Chell to her knees as she burst into laughter.

"What's so funny?!" Wheatley was appalled, his voice still high-pitched in terror. You'd think they had just run through a minefield.

GLaDOS cleared her throat, attempting to fix her composure, "I don't see what's so humorous; that thing could have gouged your eyes out."

"Exactly!"

Chell pulled herself together, feeling better after her laugh. "Well, at least you two can agree on something." She gave them a mocking grin, "Even if it is really sad."

"Hey! We'll see who's laughing when a bird lays eggs in your brain while you sleep!" Wheatley huffed at her.

"Oh my God, stop talking right now," GLaDOS pinched her brow and walked away from them.

He frowned and looked at Chell, "Wait, was that not birds then?"

She pulled him along, hiding her smile, "Come on, let's go."

Author's Note: Heya! I'm still with my family and have had no time to write, but I had started this chapter before I left and thought I might as well finish editing it and get it posted for ya :)) Thanks so much for your patience!