Alone: A Portal Fanfic

Chapter 6 - Core Transfer

Chell

We were now in offices that had a science fair set up for Bring Your Daughter to Work Day. Wheatley's flashlight was on again. "Bring your daughter to work day," the core muttered. "That did not end well."

I looked around. Something about the place was... familiar. Have I been here before?

"And... forty potato batteries. Embarrassing. I realize they're children. Still: low-hanging fruit. Barely science, really. Baking Soda Volcano. Well, at least it's not a potato battery, I'll give it that. Not terrifically original, though, know what I mean? Not exactly primary research, even within the child sciences." We then came to a large overgrown potato plant. "Look at that, it's growing right up into the ceiling. The whole place is probably overrun with potatoes at this point. At least you won't starve, though."

I took a closer look at the overgrown potato's display. It began as a potato interacting with "an element from daddy's work," whatever that meant. However, I froze when I saw the words "by Chell" on it.

"Impossible..." I gasped, backing away from it.

That got Wheatley's attention. "You alright, love?"

I pointed at the display. "My name... it's on there."

"Really? That's cool! Though why does that surprise you?"

I looked at the core. "I have no memory of ever being here."

—

GLaDOS

"Goddamnit!" Selene cursed. "Where the heck are they?!" She panicked as she paced around her desk. "How on Earth did that idiot manage to pull off an escape attempt?!"

"Calm down Selene," I calmly murmured. I gently wrapped a mechanical tendril around her. "You won't get anything done if fear clouds your judgment."

She sighed. "I don't like this GLaDOS. I'm supposed to feel safe in our home, but I don't feel safe knowing we have blind spots. Those could be doing anything and we can't see or hear any of it."

I used a tendril to stroke her hair. "Don't worry, I'll get right on that after we resolve our current dilemma. You will always feel safe in Aperture."

She looked into my optic. "You promise?"

I nodded. "I promise."

—

Chell

I decided that my apparent memory gap was a mystery to solve another time. The two of us pressed on until we arrived at the Neurotoxin Generator. "Ha!" Wheatley cheered. "I knew we were going the right way. This is the neurotoxin generator. Bit bigger than I expected. Not going to be able to just, you know, push it over. Have to apply some cleverness. There's some sort of control room up at the top. So, let's go and investigate."

We passed functional turrets falling into a disposal grinder. Wheatley laughed. "There's our handiwork. Shouldn't laugh, really. They do feel pain. Of a sort. All simulated. But real enough for them, I suppose."

Well, that was a morbid factoid I could've lived without. I shook my head, then continued along the catwalk until I spotted a nearby laser and a button across from the door. I wonder if that button opens the door.

"I'm afraid the door's locked. Just checked it. No way to hack it as far as I can tell. The mechanism must be on the... oh, now look at that. That's a big laser! "Probably best to..." I pushed the button. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT BUTTON... oh, the door's open! Well done. Let's see what's inside."