One Last Time (Wattys 2015)

Together

"No, no, no this isn't good" Wheatley was trying to sort everything out himself and was failing miserably. What had started off as a simple menu screen was now covered with alerts and security questions. "Chell a little help here" She came to the computer ready to finally do what she had come to do. For a brief second she thought that Wheatley could sort it for himself. She should have known better. One thing had certainly stayed the same. He was still a bloody moron.

She had never faced anything like this before.

It's just like the tests. Just a test. Just a test. But it was different. It wasn't just her life in danger. Her desire for her own freedom had already cost the life's of four cores. It had left another still stuck in deep space. Now four more life's were in her hands. And she had no idea how to save them.

She wanted to be alone again. At least when she was asleep for all those years she didn't know about all the dangers. She wanted that endless black again. She closed her eyes and tried to pretend it was still there. She could be alone. It would just be her. No one would rely on her. She couldn't block out the fact that in reality they were. Everyone's life was in her hands. She couldn't do it. She just couldn't.

"Chell?" Wheatley placed his hand on her shoulder. If anyone could do it she could. "You are the smartest human I know. Well t-technically speaking you are the only human I know b-but thats not the point. You'll make it through sweetheart. I promise"

She looked around at the expecting faces,all staring at her with worried expression on there face. All except from him. He really did believe she could do it.

"Together. We'll do it together" He stood by her side. The computer heated up and sparked. It wasn't used to anyone actually using it. "Right lets see now. Ooh I know now. It'll be under alerts...recent alerts. Overwrite needed. That requires a password. GLaDOS aren't you supposed to be helping us still?"

There was no reply. Even though she was trying to get through the inferences was making it impossible. Her words became silence.

"Try password" Rick was beginning to panic. The computer had given them a helpful little counter ticking down to their deaths. It was currently at three minutes and he was confident it was skipping numbers.

"Really? Password?"

"I don't know. It's possible"

Unsurprisingly it wasn't password. They tried several other things which varied in likelihood. Nothing worked.

"It's okay. I've got this under control"

"Wheatley could you hurry up" The counter was cheating them for time. Not that it really mattered. The over heating console was going to get them first.

"Almost all passwords have some sort of personal connection to the creator" commented a nervous Fact in an attempt to help.

Personal connection? This experiment was extremely important to Cave. It wasn't to far a stretch to think he set the passwords or at least suggested some. It would have to be something he could remember but something that not every Tom, Dick or Harry would be able to guess.

She took over and typed. It had to be this. There was nothing else it could be.

'Caroline'

It let her through.

"ha ha. Oh sweetheart you are a genius" The keypad burnt her hands as they continued.

"Overwrite complete. System shutting down"

She had done it. Just in time as the old console finally gave in and blew up sending them hurtling back.