A (Mostly) Friendly Visit (Chell)

[GLaDOS]

((February 12^th, 2025))[/b]

It had been a while since Shockwave had been there, and after some of the final repairs had been done and full activation of the facility had been achieved, GLaDOS had decided, again, to send her new form outside. This time, however, there was a crater. What was that about? Had she missed something? It came pretty close to the top of the facility, too. If she shook the roof tiles a bit it'd fill in. How odd. But she was not here solely to view the outer field. She was out to... interact with the world. Gain a few test subjects, if she could.

But first, she had a cube to deliver, and she'd have to deliver it manually. She'd stacked the micro-bots into their human shape, given them a portal gun to hold, and used the dual portal device to carry the burnt, charred companion cube. She'd sent one group of the nano-bots ahead to scout her out a few days ago, and had found her, so it wouldn't take too long.

It really wasn't too long, either, before she used the cube - carefully - to knock on the door. The nano-bots couldn't take the impact - they'd hit and fritz out. The cube, however, could. She took a deep breath, set the cube down, and backed up a couple of steps, dual portal device pointed to the group, the hands of the form holding it being more solid than any of the rest of the grainy, insecure form, but it was still visible. A sleek outfit covered a slender woman, stone grey eyes peeking out of a face that was topped with a jet black ponytail, a white form-fitting shirt and grey pants both of a silken material, long fall boots 'supporting her weight'. She wasn't sure if she should stay, but she figured Chell might need help moving the cube in. She hoped she wasn't instantly rejected, though she did deserve it...

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That... was a very odd knocking noise. It was too far apart to be a fist. It was almost like someone was banging an object against the door rather than a firm hand. Chell's eyes narrowed slightly. Were there some teenagers being stupid? Oh, if only she still had her portal gun. She'd show them who was boss. Marching downstairs towards the door - and praying to whoever was listening that Wheatley stayed out of sight - she grabbed the handle and flung it open.

Only to see what could only be described as an interpretation of a human. The surprise was evident on her face as she blinked, trying to see if she recognized this person. That was a portal gun this woman was holding. And by her feet was the charcoaled Companion Cube that she had left by the metal shack that was the entrance to the Aperture facility. Was this... no way... how was that even possible?

Deciding to at least be courteous, she nodded her head in greeting, though it was clear by her eyes that she had no idea what to do.

[GLaDOS]

This was equally awkward for GLaDOS. She wasn't exactly the most charming person on a regular basis, and being confronted with her usual subject of ridicule was challenging for her. "I didn't think you'd want to leave your faithful companion cube all alone and companion-less, so I brought it up here. I hope I'm not intruding on your new life overly much." Definitely awkward. She couldn't be too snarky when she was a guest at their house - however hovel-like it may be. It was against her nature, but at the same time... It felt pretty good. She hated that.

Chell had her life left to live, and GLaDOS was happy for her, in some deep secret part of her. It drove her crazy letting her go, but it was only fair. She couldn't test forever. The human impression watched Chell for a moment, shifting the dual portal device to the side for a moment. She really had to get out of here. This emotional stuff wasn't good for her. She just wanted to test. That was all.

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Oh yes, the mad AI liked to think of the Companion Cube as alive, didn't she? Chell nodded again, this time in thanks, as she looked down at the black box on the ground. Knowing she wouldn't stand a chance of lifting the damn thing, she stepped aside and motioned with her hand for the human impression to at least take it into the hall way. She could try and move it later, after they had gotten the awkward parts out of the way. Which would be fun, to say the least.

Oh God, where was Wheatley? She hoped he was still upstairs; she was pretty sure GLaDOS still hated him, and as much as she was still working on forgiving him completely, she didn't really want him hurt. The impression might try to demolish him or something, and she couldn't allow that. Not after all her hard work. Maybe he was keeping Fuzzy company. That would be a great help.

[GLaDOS]

With a nod, she carefully 'stepped' into the house, using the device's grip to move the weighted companion cube in. She noticed the rail, but chose to ignore it. If Chell wanted it, fine. Then it struck her - the crater outside, the rail in her home, the flicker of nervousness she detected (which may or may not have been for her, of course)... She was keeping that little moron in her home. It was a betrayal. She'd thought they'd finally come to an agreement - albeit a shaky one - and she lets the enemy back in.

She was about to comment, but she shut her "mouth" quickly. No. If she was happy, she was happy. GLaDOS had no right to interfere. It was her life, no matter how sad and short it may be. So instead she glanced at the poor mute woman, waiting for an indication as to where she should place it. It was a vaguely respectful silence, the respect given from one enemy to another during a period of peace, and... A little bit of respect that, even though GLaDOS would never admit it, a mother gives to her independent daughter.

Of course, she'd hide under the first one. She'd deleted Caroline. Several times. She kept coming back, like a parasite. Of course, it was only fitting that the humans leave that behind. Oh yes, it was only so well.

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Chell caught the obvious betrayal in GLaDOS' mood, and flashed her an apologetic look. It was baby steps, really. Wheatley had apologised to her, and she was in the process of forgiving him. Whilst it was unlikely that the female AI would ever be able to do such a thing, that wouldn't stop her from doing so. She just hoped that the little core would have the sense to stay upstairs whilst she sorted out things down here.

Briefly she motioned towards the wall space in between the wooden table she had previously placed Wheatley on and the doorway to the kitchen, indicating for the cube to be placed there. She could carry it upstairs into her room later. She would've preferred to leave it back at the shack as a memorial, but this was fine. She didn't want to leave it 'alone and companionless', after all.

[GLaDOS]

GLaDOS nodded, putting the cube down. She hesitated a moment, looking at Chell. She was quick to forgive. Hopefully it didn't hurt her. After a slight moment of hesitation, GLaDOS reached for the box. "I have something for you. I you can reject it of course; I have no control over that. Not anymore. But it might be helpful, so..." She pulled a hidden switch on the side of one of the hearts of the cube. They had to weight those things with something, and this one was a special made one.

The top of the cube, which had seemed entirely seamless, folded into itself, and inside of the box was a large load of papers - from birth certificates and general government stuff, to her aperture file - a really thick one - to school records... Basically everything paper that was available -which was a lot. She may be a large robotic monster, but this woman's mom lived in her brain, and unfortunately that led to random acts of sentimentality. Useless things, but... Sometimes it was a bit of an experiment, following through on them.

Yes, that's how it worked. This was a test. There was no emotion between them. She merely wanted to see how a person reacted when exposed to their entire life. Perfect rationalization. Caroline was dead.

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Chell watched the Companion Cube's unexpected transformation from being just weighted to actually being hollow and filled with... files? Paper? Information? She slowly crouched down, peering over the edge at the many documents inside. This... this was her life. Everything that she had missed, that she didn't know about. GLaDOS had literally given her back her life. Wait until Wheatley got a load of this. Finally, she would be able to tell him she was mute.

The first thing she did was look back up at the woman, giving a respectful 'thank you' nod, before pulling out the first file - her very thick Aperture file - and just leaning against the cube, reading. GLaDOS was free to leave at this point, of course, since she was otherwise distracted with, well, her life. She still couldn't believe it; after everything the AI had done, this had seemed very unlikely.

Yet here was her life. And she needed to learn more about it.

[GLaDOS]

GLaDOS could tell that her time here was up. There was no reason for her to stay any longer; Chell was thoroughly interested in the cube, and the human shape narrowed her eyes a moment, tilting her head a bit, slightly surprised at the amazingly... open... house. She had expected to be hut out - not welcomed in, even if it was logic that had let her in. With a curt nod, she left the house with the portal gun. She would have simply dispersed the nanobots, but portal guns were expensive.

She could tell she wasn't really welcome, and part of her wished that were different. Little did Chell know that the entire fortune of Aperture - which, really, was very, very little. respectively - was hidden in the bottom of that cube. Only a couple thousand dollars - very impressive way back when, but today barely a glimpse when it came to businesses. Cave had run them into bankruptcy. Run them down, poisoned himself, and turned her into a robot. She was only a little bit bitter, though. If it weren't for that, she'd have died a long time ago in abject poverty trying to keep up a dying facility; really, he'd saved her life - even if he killed the woman he knew in the process. He'd done it to himself. Caroline was her, but she was not Caroline, so really, it all worked out... Right?

So GLaDOS left, Chell's life long behind her. Hopefully she would never have to see Chell again.

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Chell heard GLaDOS leaving, and couldn't help but turn her head and stare after her. A small, regretful frown crossed her face. If that AI hadn't put her through so much hell, maybe things would have been different. Maybe she would have liked her motherly... figure, so to speak. But with everything that had happened, it was hard to let go.

Sure, Wheatley had betrayed her. He'd taken over the facility, punched her down into a pit, put her through more tests, and then tried to kill her. But he had apologized. He had physically uttered the word 'sorry' when he had been reunited with her. GLaDOS... GLaDOS had never said sorry. GLaDOS had been cruel to her for far longer than Wheatley had.

But at this point, she might never see the AI again. How would they earn each other's trust? Maybe it was never to be. Or maybe, someday, something would drive her back to the facility. Maybe.

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It was at this moment that Wheatley chose to enter, fortunately after GLaDOS had left. Unfortunately, it was not a quiet entrance. Fuzzy was getting better at her pouncing, and was, presently, in a precarious position on top of the poor lil' core, but holding on tight as Wheatley rushed along the rail laughing and chattering with the cat, rapidly and with enough extra noise that it was really hard to decipher exactly what he was saying. He swung around the kitchen, and was almost out, before noticing Chell and coming to a fairly abrupt stop, swinging off to the side just a bit to keep Fuzzy from flying dangerously off. He'd learned quickly how to buck the cat off - and not to. An angry cat was not a great thing to deal with.

"What've you got there?" Wheatly currently had a hind paw resting on his lower eyelid, which he decided not to move for that reason - though the ring around his eye opened up just a little bit to express his interest."Isn't that the cube that was outside the facility? I missed something, di'n't I? Probably a good thing I did, though - I mean, it would have been much different if I were there anyway." He nodded his eye, careful to avoid bobbing his actual head up and down as the cat worked her way up to a much for solid perch.

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Chell looked up at Wheatley - and Fuzzy, who was looking quite comical - with a smile, and turned the file around. Marked in big bold letters was 'APERTURE LABORATORIES, TEST SUBJECT FILE #1, CHELL [REDACTED]'. And it was a very big file at that. She placed it down for him to see, and looked through the rest of the box, taking out the other documents and placing them on the carpet separately so Wheatley could see them all. The birth certificate, the Government stuff, School records, and most importantly, the medical records. She took extra care with those, shuffling through them to find the one word she was looking for. Eventually she found said piece of paper, and moved her finger to point at the word, holding it up for Wheatley to see.

'Patient has suffered extensive injury to the Broca's Area of the brain upon childbirth, rendering her unable to speak.'

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Wheatley watched carefully, trying to put things together. "Oh, it's... Full of paper. Lots of paper, and - hey, I recognize that! That's from the file room! How did you get a hold of that? And-" It was at this point that Chell pushed that one piece of paper in front of him, which he read carefully around the cat's paws, which were still struggling for a hold. "You really were brain damaged... I am so sorry. I never knew! I mean... At least I know why you never talk back, though..." He brought up his bottom eyelid now, since the cat's paw was off it, in a thoughtful look - almost ironic coming from Wheatley. "I guess that was a bit insensitive, in hindsight, but really, there's no way I could have known..." He shook his head back and forth carefully, exaggerating the motion with his eye. This was just a little bit awkward, wasn't it...?

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Chell shrugged lightly in response to indicate that he did have a point. He couldn't have possibly known about why she couldn't talk. It wasn't like he had gone around searching through her records. He had simply wanted to get out of the facility. Placing the diagnosis back down with the rest of the medical records, she picked up her Aperture file again, opening it and flicking through.

So she'd gone to Bring Your Daughter To Work day. How come she didn't remember that? Then again, there were a lot of things she couldn't remember. She'd been in stasis for too long. But looking through the file did remind her of a few things, and trigger some memories, so it wouldn't all be completely new for her.

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((Posts with Wheatley, are always fun but short. Sorry if that's discouraging in any way..))

Wheatley nodded carefully, his single eye closing momentarily, making sure that he didn't ruin Fuzzy's already slightly precarious perch. It was difficult to stand on a sphere, but somehow the cat managed it. "It looks like she's got everything here... I knew she liked you, you know that? There was something there, the entire time... It is a bit strange, though." Wheatley looked around for another moment, before looking up, with his eye, not his head, to check on Fuzzy. The cat really enjoyed this way too much - it was adorable, and it was one of the many things that Wheatley never got tired of. Say what you could about the little core, he never lost his patience - at least, not when he wasn't trying to rush something, or scared. In calm, relaxed cases, he had all the patience in the world; that was one of his better traits, though whether it was because he actually had patience or it didn't occur to him to be irritated could be put under discussion.

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