An Idiot, A Maintenance Core, and Two Test Subjects

2 - Outfield

Mel ran back inside her apartment. Almost instantly, she picked up the phone and called in sick to work. She had other plans. Plans involving saving her sister. Her boss accepted it, and Mel quickly opened the small box in the back of her closet. Dusting it off, she opened the lid and pulled out the contents of the box one by one.

An Aperture Science jumpsuit

An Aperture Science jacket

A pair of Aperture Science Long Fall Boots.

She put them all on and pulled her hair back into a neat bun. She looked in the mirror. So much for 'No more Aperture' she thought. She then grabbed her keys and stuffed them in her pocket while running out the door.

Mel ran. Miles and miles. "Just remember the Nuremberg Olympics!" "You're my Olympian!"  Virgil's voice echoed through her head as she ran, encouraging her to run faster. After a while, she made it to the abandoned Aperture building. The crumbled structure glowed in the mid-morning sun.

She looked around and saw a silhouette that she almost mistook for an old friend. Short-ish hair pulled back into a small ponytail, a dress shirt with a buttoned-up vest, and a regular old pair of slacks. As she drew closer, she could make out some more distinctive features. A somewhat pointy nose, a slim yet muscular frame, the rusty auburn shade of hair. Closer. A dress shirt a similar color to the hair. Then she became close enough. A green and orange floral patterned vest. She only knew one person who would ever wear something like that and pull it off. She nearly mistook this person for an old friend. But she didn't mistake him at all. Virgil.

Virgil turned his head in Mel's direction. "M-Mel?" Mel stumbled and fell backward. She could hear Virgil's footsteps in the tall grass running towards her. Mel shed a tear. He helped her up. She saw him standing in front of her. It was DEFINITELY Virgil. "Mel? Are you ok?" Mel didn't realize it, but she was frozen. Then out of nowhere, she hugged him tight. Virgil hugged back. Mel only hugged him tighter as she began to cry. "Mel... you're... I can't breathe..." Mel came to her senses as she let go of Virgil.

"What are you doing here?" Mel spoke.

Virgil seemed startled.

"You CAN talk!" Virgil exclaimed

Mel was confused. "Of course I can... I just never did when I was in there... I just chose not to."

Virgil sighed. "Well that's a relief, that would've made this VERY difficult." Mel chuckled. "What are you doing out here?" She spoke.

Virgil's eyes widened a bit. "Mel, listen, there's something very very bad happening in the facility..." His expression turned sad. "You... remember... what we did... right?" Mel nodded. "Well... she's awake." Mel's eyes widened. Virgil quickly sat back down and put his head in his hands. "It's our fault, Mel. We gave her a second chance." He buried his face in the palms of his hands and began to sob quietly. "There is a subject in there who will most likely die because of us. I managed to get to the surface to escape HER but... there are still other personality constructs in there, a-and, another HUMAN-" Mel cut him off with another hug. He rested his head on her shoulder and cried some more. "Mel... we need to help..." Mel nodded.

"I'm sorry, but..." Virgil stuttered.

Mel spoke up.

"I know... we have to go back in."