"I can't believe you were all going to leave without me!"

"Chester, dude. You're a motionless turret who annoys the crap out of everyone. What did you seriously expect?" Rick poked the defective turret, smudging his lens.

"Yeah, be grateful Craig took pity on you and dragged you in here," Ray spoke up.

"Naw, Craig was just lonely because we were leaving."

"Shut it."

An aluminum cup went flying past their heads and smashed into the wall, silencing everyone.

"I can't believe this!" Big Dipper shrieked, his face red and puffy, "You're all just... pretending that nothing's wrong!"

"Dipper-"

"He's dead! Virgil is dead!" his voice rose in anguish. "And she-"

Chell pulled the sobbing boy into her arms, trying to calm him. She didn't know what to do, either.

"We're all still... taking it in," Rick spoke up eventually. "We didn't mean to upset you, buddy."

Chester buzzed loudly and Hugo pushed it off the table in annoyance, "Do you mind?"

"Gah! That wasn't me, I swears it!" Chester defended himself, "Please put me back."

"No, you're obnoxious," Hugo huffed and ignored everyone else's mutterings in response.

Chester buzzed again and Hugo stood up to kick the downed turret.

"Hold on!" the old turret cried out. He buzzed several more times in sequence and the room was silent, watching him curiously.

"You said Virgil was dead, right?" the turret finally spoke up.

"Yeah, wh-"

"Then why is his communicator buzzing me?"

Everyone looked wildly around the room in search of the little box that Virgil used to communicate with Chester.

"Who's using it?" Rick growled, "It's not funny."

Hugo put his hands in the air, "It's not me, I swear!"

"Quiet, please," Chester announced and started beeping more sequences.

Silence.

Suddenly Chester's red light started flashing erratically as he received an influx of beeps.

"It's him!" Chester cried out.

"Don't be stupid you little robot, I'll kill you!" Rick picked the thing up and shook it menacingly.

"Gaahh! I'm not lying... it has to be him! The comms are random, so I think he's beeping me on accident. He does it all the time."

Chell jumped to her feet. 'That's impossible.'

"We saw him die!" Ray pounded on the table. "Maybe a wild animal took the box and is pressing random buttons."

"Please stop shaking me, I'm trying to communicate here!" Chester barked, "He's not responding. I don't think he notices. But..." he trailed off.

"Fact: This turret is faulty. We shouldn't even be listening to this piece of scrap," Craig remarked.

"I'm not faulty! I'm really receiving a signal from Virgil's comm!" the turret was indignant. "The signal is coming from far above us!"

Everyone froze.

Above?

Could it be...?

She looked around and noticed that everyone had come to the same conclusion. Had Glados taken the comm system with her? How?

What in the world was going on?

'We need to get up there,' Chell decided.

Rick jumped to his feet and donned his hat in one swift motion, "I'm with you, there, chicky."

"You don't think he's really alive, do you?" Craig frowned dubiously. "This could be some stupid trick by Glados to get us up top and turn us into test subjects."

"If that were the case then wouldn't she have taken us with her?" Ray retorted. "There's something weird going on..."

True.

Chell grabbed her portal gun and stood in front of the group, 'I'm going up. If you want to join me or stay, decide now. But I need to know what's going on and who's behind this.'

"And you're gonna get up there with that thing?" Hugo smirked at her, arms crossed.

'Yes.'

"Then I see no problem here. Let's go," Rick stood and together they led the group. "Onwards and upwards, people!"

Once Lira and Rattmann left the room, Virgil took his chance and dropped the handcuffs onto the floor, eliciting a shocked cry from Wheatley.

"What? How did you? When did you-"

"I was working on them as quickly as I could so I could get Glados out of that machine..." Virgil kicked the cuffs away, "Thankfully they didn't turn the thing on all the way. I wasn't quick enough."

"B-but," Wheatley stammered.

"I'm an engineer... this is sort of my thing," Virgil phased through the barrier's walls with ease and left Wheatley inside. On the outside Virgil could no longer hear Wheatley's rambling voice, but he could watch the guy get himself worked up over the fact that Virgil hadn't freed him. He could wait.

Virgil tentatively made his way over to Glados and sucked in his breath. She was slumped over in the chair, the straps around her arms and legs keeping her in place. Her hair covered her face and she trembled violently, her breathing erratic.

He went to touch her and stopped when she spoke, "You... you knew."

His hand dropped to his side and he grimaced, "I knew a little... yeah," he admitted. He leaned over and pushed the hair from her face, "I was in complete shock the moment I saw you down there. You look just like her. Minus the lack of color-" he stopped again at the way her face scrunched up in pain.

"I'm sorry, let me get you out of this thing," utilizing his deviation he lifted her straight out of the device into his arms.

"P-put me down you oaf..." she pushed against him feebly and he begrudgingly set her down. She staggered and he went to catch her, but she held her hand out again, "I'm fine. Don't touch."

"Glados..."

"I don't want to talk to you," she hissed.

"Do you remember anything?"

"I said-" she pitched forward and landed on her hands and knees, stifling a sob. Virgil decided to ignore her and pulled her into his arms in what he hoped was a comforting way. She gripped his coat and sobbed into his chest while he stroked her soft, white hair.

She eventually pulled herself together enough to speak, "It's not fair... why does this thing," she pointed to her implant, "-get to determine who I am?"

"It doesn't—"

"It does!" her voice rose sharply, "I'm worse than a test subject! I've never even left the facility before! It never bothered me, but now it... does."

She pulled away from him and shrunk into herself. Any time he spoke it seemed to make things worse, so Virgil opted to remove his coat and wrap it around her small frame instead. He sat beside her and waited in silence.

"So how do you suppose you're gonna get us over there, huh?" Hugo gestured across the void where 'Virgil' had previously fallen. "The hatch has to be opened from both sides."

Chell gave him a deadpanned look and shot a portal straight across the void where the lever was. A second behind them.

"Idiot," Craig remarked to a reddening Hugo.

"Then why didn't we do that in the first place?" Hugo stuttered.

"Because there didn't seem to be much point in doing it before," Rick flicked Hugo on his bald head, eliciting an irritated cry.

"How dare you-"

'Let's go,' Chell interjected. 'No time to waste.'

The hatch lifted with much less fanfare than before and the elevator swooped down. They stared at the tiny, rickety thing in concern.

"Looks like we're taking more than one trip," Ray announced, "I call firsties!"

"Nope!" declared Big Dipper with a proud grin, "Let's all go at once!" Big Dipper concentrated on making everyone lighter as they all held onto the metal death trap.

"Are you sure you can maintain this, Charlie?" Chuck asked, nervously hanging over the edge.

"Yep!"

When they reached the top minutes later, they breathed a collective sigh of relief. 'Alright, ask Chester to start tracking the comm's location from here,' Chell instructed.

Rick conveyed her orders and Chester immediately set to work.

"This is incredible..." Lira breathed.

Doug had to admit that it was genius, but that was to be expected. It was almost too much to take in.

He took a peek at Lira's face as she scrolled through the information he had put together from Glados'/Caroline's memories. He had felt a bit bad about it, despite everything that Glados had put them through.

Doug had been on the run from Glados for years, frightened beyond measure by the things she would do to him if he had been caught. But when he was up close to her she was nothing but a... girl. A terrified one, at that.

What had changed?

Lira snickered to herself as she finished up her speed-reading and patted Doug on the head. "This is fantastic, Douglas. Sometimes I forget that you're a scientist as well."

Thank you?

She gave him a genuine smile that warmed his heart. Softly, she spoke, "Do you want me to test it on you...? I absolutely won't if you say no, but..." she looked deep in thought, "It might make life easier for you."

Doug was tempted. It had been the first thing to cross his mind when he first heard about the project from Lira.

He shook his head. "It's too late for me and it may just make things worse. Maybe I'll change my mind later..." he rubbed his hands through his hair. As if.

He was too scared to go through with it and he knew it.

"We should get out of here before they come back," Virgil prodded Glados gently. No response. She didn't even blink.

"Glados..."

"And where do you suppose we go?" she asked tightly. "Back down? Up?"

"The others have to be worried sick-"

"The others think you're dead," she snapped and stayed silent for a moment. "You can go, but this is where I'll stay... it's how it should be."

She swiveled her head and looked at Wheatley in his glass cage accusingly, "But do me a favor and take that trash with you."

Wheatley looked indignant and said something in response, but again, no one could hear.

"Save your breath, moron," she growled.

Virgil opened his mouth to speak, but his voice was drowned about by a cracking, metallic noise that resounded around the entire chamber. A hole about four feet wide opened up above Wheatley's cage and terrifying screeching sounded from it.

"What the-" Virgil started.

A flash of white and blue came flying out of the hole and smashed right into the cage, cracking the top. A second unknown object flew out immediately and shattered the entire thing.

Wheatley crawled away, spluttering about robots trying to murder him.

"It's Orange and Blue..." Glados said wonderingly.

"Who-?"

Another being, followed by a delighted human scream, came careening into the room and, instead of flying straight into the glass ruins, floated safely upward.

"Virgil! It's Virgil!" Big Dipper pointed at them below, waving with glee. "You're alive!"

An influx of bodies came flying out, following Big Dipper's lead and he caught each one so as to avoid a horrible mess.

Hugo was the last to follow and Big Dipper let him fall straight onto Wheatley.

"Oops."

Virgil stood, mouth agape. Glados continued to sit and watch in awe and bewilderment.

Once Big Dipper released everyone, they came all at once, wrapping Virgil in a tight group hug.

"You're alive! You're alive!"

"Chester was right!"

Chester? Glados was unfamiliar with the name...

She scooted away in horror, avoiding all the excited people gathering near her. She was glad to be ignored and sincerely hoped that it stayed that way.

'Glados.'

She reactively pulled Virgil's coat tightly around her, shielding her from Chell. But Chell was having none of it.

The woman broke away from the group who was conversing all at once and stood in front of the cowering Glados. She kneeled down.

'What's going on? I want the truth this time,' she was serious, but her eyes showed concern.

Glados opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came.

What was going on...?

Too much.

The Rat is still alive. An angry woman named Lira was here and forcibly took information from me that I didn't even know I had. Apparently I'm a clone of a woman who is long dead and my emotions and memories are all controlled by an implant in my head and-

Chell seemed to notice her distress and put a comforting hand on Glados' shoulder, steadying her.

'When you're ready,' she finally spoke.

Glados breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, too tired to speak. Too emotionally drained. What a strange feeling.

Atlas and P-Body crowded around Glados, chirping with glee, almost evoking a smile from the woman. Almost.

"Look at these cool robots we found!" Big Dipper came rushing over.

"I'm nothing more than chopped liver," Chester lamented from the floor where he had been abandoned.

Wheatley stood up and waved his handcuffed arms around desperately, "Can someone please get these things off of me?" he whined.

"Don't bother," a voice spoke up from the entrance.

Everyone's heads swiveled to look at the unfamiliar voice and found two figures standing in the doorway.

Glados recognized the Rat, but the other woman was different. Lira must have changed her form again.

The dark, petite woman snapped her fingers and everyone fell motionless, unable to even breathe.

"Hold tight for a moment while we secure you all," she smirked. Together she and the Rat dragged each one of them into the middle of the room, surrounding the giant G.L.a.D.O.S machinery. A force field dropped, effectively trapping them all in.

Lira snapped again and immediately shifted back into her natural form. "There, that's much better."

They all started coughing and sucking in air, their faces regaining normal color after being frozen in time.

Virgil stood, breathing deeply, "You think this will really-" he pushed his hands against the field, obviously believing that he would make it through, and was pushed back. "Huh...?"

"I didn't have time to get more cuffs for you all, but Aperture is full of all kinds of anti-deviant measures. You should be more careful," Lira taunted. "This force field was designed to keep groups under control."

Lira glided over to them smoothly, "This is splendid timing, actually," she purred. "All these Deviants right here in one place. Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you. In fact, your lives are going to be so much easier from now on."

Glados didn't like the sound of Lira's tone and the resonance of the field was making her feel ill.

"What- what's she going to do to us?" Ray's eyes were wide with worry.

Chell sat quietly, unable to say a word.

Glados closed her eyes and concentrated, focusing on all the information that the Rat had taken from her, sifting through it. She gasped and opened her eyes. Of course.

"She wants to..." Glados struggled, her tongue heavy and her voice thick.

"Glados?"

She felt hands grab her as she tilted sideways and heard muffled voices. Nothing was working. She was slipping...

She wants to...

Wheatley watched Glados pass out and the others rush to help her. It was a shocking sight if he was being honest. They actually cared about what happened to that witch?

"Her deviation is too intertwined in her neurological network," Virgil snapped at Lira, "Let her out of here. She can't hurt you!"

Lira made a 'tsk' sound and ignored him, "I already got what I wanted from her. Besides, if I let her free to do as she pleased the girl would be a genuine threat. I have no reason to let her live," she replied coldly. Her words made Wheatley go cold; She was terrifying.

"But-" she continued, "If you all act like good boys and girls and do everything I tell you without resistance, I'll consider it."

Lira pointed straight at Chell, "I want the woman first."

The group erupted into anger and threats all directed toward Lira. Wheatley's heart sunk.

"What do you want her for?" he was surprised at himself for speaking out. The others seemed to be too, as they fell silent.

"You shouldn't act so concerned," Lira smiled, "I'm trying to free you from your burden!"

Burden?

Wheatley's eyes widened. "Our deviations?"

Lira smirked and cocked her head. Rattmann simply fidgeted nervously.

"You want to take our deviations?" a guy with a stetson hat spoke up.

"I like my deviation!" Big Dipper shouted.

"Human society was ruined by deviations!" Lira thundered. "How do you think it is you all ended up in Aperture?"

"You're nothing but slaves. We all are," her eyes narrowed and she stepped up to the field. "I'm going to free you. Just watch."

A moment of silence.

"Chell can't speak," Virgil spoke up. "But... her deviation allows her to communicate with us. You want to take it away," he gestured at her.

Chell merely folded her arms, giving away nothing.

"How is that going to free her?" Virgil challenged.

Wheatley was shocked. Chell had a deviation? She hadn't communicated with him before... He felt a pang of guilt again and tried to swallow it down.

Lira sighed and closed her eyes, "So small-minded... This isn't about the benefit of one or two people. This is about saving humanity. You must learn to think bigger."

"So, Chell, is it? I want you with me," she motioned for Chell to stand. Chell did so.

"Wait!" Wheatley was just as surprised as everyone else when he shot to his feet, "I'll volunteer to go first!"

Lira's eyes narrowed at him, calculating. He adjusted his glasses nervously.

"I- I'll go first," his voice quieted. "Um, I owe her," he glanced at Chell, who was also scrutinizing him. No one seemed to disagree with him. He thought he saw a nod or two.

Wonderful.

"Fine," Lira conceded, "Come with me, blondie."

Wheatley swallowed his panic. What had he just volunteered for?

Wheatley has volunteered as tribute. Lol.

Anyway... I'm back, y'all! I felt really guilty about not touching this story for so long, so I decided to jump back into it yesterday. This chapter wasn't as long as I was hoping for, but it's something. I generally don't have this much time for writing, but I've been home sick for like, four days now and needed something else to do other than watch anime, ahaha.

Thank you all soooo much for your patience and kind reviews! You make me so happy! Please enjoy this chapter and continue to be patient with me. This will get finished, I promise. ^-^

-Moe