Robotic love

Rachel

Chell [Redacted].

That was the name on the file. It was short. Not much to go with. The last name had been censored for whatever reason. It was bizarre. She could only guess why. It really wasn't much information. Nothing that could really help her. But still, it filled her with optimism. This was the test subject that stupid core, Nigel, had mentioned. She would get her revenge on him eventually.

It said it right here at the bottom of her file: A mute, psychotic lunatic that is pointlessly cruel. Maybe that's why her parents didn't want her? Or perhaps it's because she's so incredibly fat. Regardless, the jumpsuit looks stupid on her.

Someone was really salty. There had been test subjects with worse backstories and with actual unfortunate body structures. Someone had chosen to make nasty comments to insult Chell. All other test subjects whose files she read were simply describing personality and other features that were important for the test. Only this one was different. This test subject  was different. She originally hadn't considered that the testing core had actually told her the truth, when he mentioned the test subject that had killed his boss once - not after so closely avoiding death only to be tricked again. But this... this was something she could trust. This was prove someone had escaped. If someone else had done so before, so could she. Even if she had no idea who she was, she'd be fine.

She sighed and turned the monitor off. There had been no information regarding herself. There had to be a file about her, telling her who she was. Even if there was nothing about her she remembered, she would have to be able to find it. But there wasn't anything. No name, no identity. She was just a lab rat that had escaped its cage and hid from the scientists in a hole in the wall. She was a nobody without a face or name.

The girl had searched for hours. She had even typed in 'Nigel' to see if she could find all of his new test subjects listed there. He'd said she was his first one - something she actually believed him after all those embarrassing mistakes he'd made while testing - so there was no way she couldn't be listed in his file. Apparently there was. It was like he had never existed. Like she never existed. His file had been deleted. Why, she couldn't tell. That she had even found the test subject that had escaped had been a simple coincidence. It was bound to happen, when you were so desperate to find your own identity.

The sound of paint splashing walls and floors echoed through the facility. She froze. It didn't sound like it was far away from her. Maybe a few hundred meters away. The blue and orange paint had always made loud noises. It was strange. Just how quickly had they replaced the paint gun? The test subjects were more easily disposable than the testing equipment, that much she knew.

What would happen if she was found? Would she get dragged back into testing? Would they have her do these tests until the exhaustion killed her? Her legs were shaking. She slowly turned towards the door. No, the testing areas were far away. Someone would have to get off track to get so close. Another unwilling participant who was trying to escape this cursed place.

Should she just... follow the sound? If she met the other test subject, maybe she'd have a bigger chance of getting out...? Or not. Chell had made it out by herself. Probably for a good reason. She couldn't risk her own freedom for someone who might just end up making things more difficult for her, when her chances of ever escaping were already slim enough in the first place.

Another sound close to her broke her out of her position. She took a deep breath and tiptoed into the corner next to the door. She'd be hidden in the shadows. Once the test subject came in she'd either sneak past them or knock them out, depending on what was the better decision. She leaned against the wall and listened for footsteps.

"...bad idea! She... angry, and when... it's gonna be our end!" She wasn't sure if she had even understood the words she heard. The man was talking too fast for her to comprehend. But she was still able to recognize the British accent. Whatever that was worth.

"Calm down," another man with a Norwegian accent replied. So there were actually two. Fantastic. Since when were there tests that required multiple test subjects?  "She won't find out that we're here. That other guy is keeping her busy right now with his own test. It's ironic how bad he is at it considering his previous job. We've got a while. Might as well use it to find out some things..." Three. Three test subjects that could hinder her escape by simply running into her. She had seen the rule that only one person was tested at the time. Why was it changed now?

She could hear their footsteps right outside the door. "Oh, but he's definitely a snitch! Have you seen how he acted around her? I wouldn't be surprised if he liked this punishment. I mean, what kind of-"

"Yeah yeah, you don't like him, I get it." The two men entered the room. She didn't dare to breathe as she watched them look around. One of them was a redhead with darker skin while the other was a chubby blond guy pouting like a toddler. It wasn't hard to tell whose voice belonged to whom. "But we'll have to work together if we wanna get out. And I don't really like you either after the whole fiasco you caused." The redhead's eyes narrowed as he stared at the blonde guy.

"But that was-" The blonde turned around and found himself face to face with her. For a second she was sure he would faint, but instead he started talking . "H-hello there, um, looking good... love the apron... what are you, er, doing in the corner? Are you-?"

"You must have gotten out of the testing track as well... so you know what's going on. My name's Virgil and this here is Wheatley." A short pause. "Aaaand you are...?"

Rache. The German word for revenge. Chell. The one test subject who had escaped. "...you can call me Rachel."