One Big Aperture Family

Identity Crisis

"Soon, all will be complete. We'll be together again."

Lil heard this line in this voice over and over again in her unconscious state. It sounded like Wheatley, but at the same time, it didn't. The whir of machines overhead seemed more familiar than this voice. She couldn't make herself wake up from this state. She knew where she was. She didn't see it physically, but she knew. A place like Aperture was hard to forget, as it had its own feeling. When she thought about it, she often described it as a mixture of hopelessness, claustrophobia, and the smell of drying paint.

"Keep her monitored. I know they will come. I'll be back when it's…done with."

After some effort, Lil managed to open her eyes a little. Just enough to see what was going on, but not enough to alert anyone that she was awake. She could see she was in some type of chamber, in some odd attempt to make it more "homey" to its occupant. When she realized she was alone, Lil sat up and looked around. The room looked a hotel room, with an old chunky television mounted on the wall and a mini fridge she was sure had nothing in it. There was no dresser, but there was a desk with a small chair right beside the mini fridge. There was a similar chair in the corner next to what looking like a big window with some kind of light coming through it. The nightstand to her left had an old rotary phone on it, but she noticed it didn't have a cord leading to the wall. There was no wall jack, either.

To Lil, it looked like a hotel room her family had stayed at when she was a kid. On their yearly pilgrimage to visit her father's relatives in Florida, their plane had gotten in late and their original hotel had given their room to someone else. So, until they could get it sorted out in the morning, the exhausted and anxious McLain family (which only consisted of Dr. McLain, his wife Chell, and daughter Lil at the time), stayed in a little motel near the airport. Lil remembered her father sleeping on a chair while Lil and her mother occupied the one bed. Lil also remembered her mother looking at the room with panic when they arrived. She heard her mother, in her mousy voice, make her father promise that they'd find a nicer hotel first thing in the morning.

She didn't understand why her mother didn't like the hotel room until now. Why would Aperture have places like this? Lil knew, despite all the time that had passed, to never take Aperture at face value. She grew angry thinking of the horrible things that might have happened to her mother in a room just like this. Using the bedpost for leverage, Lil propped herself up and walked around the small room. She saw a door on the opposite side of the room, but knew better than to trust it. For all she knew, there was a turret on the other side.

Lil sighed and put one hand on the permanently curtained window and the other on her swollen, pregnant belly. She knew there was no sunny beach on the other side, like the wallpaper would have her believe. Wherever she was, for whatever reason she was there, she decided to wait it out. Whatever brought her here obviously wanted her to be comfortable. For now, at least.

Meanwhile, far below…

They had promised never to return to this horrible place, but here they were. The dark, broken hallways filled with ghosts and memories of better times, not realizing that it was all gone. What was once shiny linoleum was now cracked and dirty. It was impossible to tell which part was once floor and was now dirt and gravel. State of the art light fixtures that kept the facility in a constant daylight now flickered and gave way to the dark it had forbidden many years ago.

Air from the faulty air conditioning echoed through the once immaculate halls like the wind, despite being miles underground. There was nothing here in these halls, anymore. No more voices asking about what to have for lunch or the progress on a project. The rails above were overgrown with vines and spider webs, interlocking and looking like one entity. Many years of neglect caused this, though it was unintentional at this level. This level was deemed useless and left alone. This hallway led to a place where life flourished in this lifeless underground place.

The Core's Garden, as Dr. Rattmann called it, was once part of a massive warehouse that stored nothing in particular. How plants managed to grow in this place with barely any sunlight, artificial or otherwise, he didn't know. He assumed that one of the products in a few of the old, destroyed crates, and discarded plant experiments from above in the main chambers, might have caused the plants to grow in such a desolate location.

When Dr. Douglas Rattmann awoke from his hibernation over one hundred years after it began, he was surprised to see what had become of the place. His relaxation bed was set to indefinite, like hers was, but when he examined it later, he found there was a malfunction. When his bed opened, it snapped some ivy that had formed around it. He opened his eyes and saw many eyes staring down at him. Many eyes, with different shapes and colors, looked down at the first human they had seen in a long time.

With the help of a stick he found, Dr. Rattmann limped forward into what was now the future. He let the cores show him their new home and he marveled at it. He knew they were intelligent, far beyond their programming, but had no idea they were capable of making a working society deep below the ruins of Aperture. GLaDOS had no use for them, so she never bothered them. She could sense them on the rails, but they were too far out of her reach to be a problem. Dr. Rattmann knew there were more cores above, but was reassured many times by the others, namely the Gardening Core, that all the cores eventually found their way to the garden that she had meticulously kept with the help of the Nano-bots.

Dr. Douglas Rattmann, Ph.D., had become not only their caregiver, in fixing them, repairing their management rails and keeping them clutter-free, and other general upkeep, but he became their unofficial leader. The Personality Constructs or Cores, depending on the preference of the individual, had welcomed him into their home and sought his guidance whenever it was needed.

It was for these reasons that Dr. Rattmann was distressed at their current location. It was a small leap into the blue portal but to him and Wheatley, it might as well have been jumping the Grand Canyon on roller skates. Dr. Rattmann had seen the facility through the blue portals, but hadn't actually jumped through them at this stage in the device's testing. To Dr. Rattmann, it was a small feeling of relief when he recognized the area. To Wheatley, it was like stepping into his worst nightmare all over again.

While he was happy he was able to convince GLaDOS to leave the Androids at home to look after the girls, he couldn't escape the feeling that something wasn't right with her. She seemed adamant on bringing the two with them, but she backed down to quickly from the argument. He once spent an hour arguing with her over television privileges for the girls and when GLaDOS finally conceded, the show Wheatley wanted to watch was over. The girls had taken their spots on the couch and began watching their cartoons as GLaDOS laughed and plopped herself in his chair. Wheatley laughed at that memory but stopped when GLaDOS glared at him.

Dr. Rattmann smiled, knowing for at least a brief moment what to do. He knew this place, as he had passed through it many times when scrounging around the facility for supplies that couldn't be found in the garden. He had run ahead of the others when the portal took them from their home to this horrible place.

It was dangerous, all of them being here. Even though the girls weren't there, it was still unsafe. A small bark interrupted the quiet and everyone looked down. Rover sat at Wheatley's feet, wagging his antenna like a tail. Rover had hopped through the portal at the last minute before it closed and now chased after Dr. Rattmann, ahead of the others.

Wheatley was hoping that he could trust the Androids enough to keep the girls safe at home. He wasn't sure what this place was truly capable of, but he wasn't too eager to find out. Being in this place gave him a headache. GLaDOS shoved Wheatley ahead, making him lead. He didn't appreciate that but went ahead anyway. They hastily followed the frantic yipping of the dog-turret down the desolate hallway, passing by offices that were overgrown and in ruins.

The flora that should have grown from the garden didn't look very lush. In fact, the closer they got to where the garden should be, the more lifeless the plants became. At the end of the hallway, Dr. Rattmann sat with Rover yipping beside him.

Wheatley wasn't sure why Dr. Rattmann was staring at a blank wall in despair. "Why are we at this big wall?" Wheatley asked, holding the One-Way Portal Device on his side. "Shouldn't we be heading toward the garden? I assumed we would, being so far below with all this vegetation."

GLaDOS smacked Wheatley in the back of the head when the others caught up and approached Dr. Rattmann. She examined the wall. She knew almost every inch of the facility, but this was new.

"This is the way to the garden. This wasn't here when we left." Dr. Rattmann murmured. He felt the wall up and down, as if trying to figure it out. It was solid, but felt hollow. He wasn't strong enough to push it down, that must he knew. He was starting to wish they'd brought the Androids with them as he sunk down into a sitting position next to the wall.

GLaDOS stepped forward and shook her head with what counted as sadness. "There is nothing in there. The Junk Heap must have discovered this place and sealed it off to keep the Cores from escaping his grasp. I can feel them around, but some are hiding within the walls."

Dr. Rattmann put his hand on the wall and groaned sadly. Rover slowly trotted up to him and whined, nuzzling his leg. "They must have gotten curious when they felt you were no longer a threat. Well, less of a threat than usual, anyway." Dr. Rattmann shook his head and looked at the others. He walked past the others, as if in a trance.

"Where are you going?" GLaDOS snapped.

"To find the cores." Dr. Rattmann answered.

"Are you more insane than usual? He'll find you and tear you to pieces! Even worse, he'll find us after he tears you to pieces." GLaDOS folded her arms, ignoring the tugging feeling in her head. It was taking all she had in her android body to keep a link with a facility. She didn't tell the others this. The Cooperative Testing Initiative probably knew. They never had a solid link to the facility like she did. "Our best bet is to stay together until we find the Older One. He won't harm her, but the moment he sees the Moron, all hell will break loose."

Wheatley decided to interject at this point. "Need I remind both of you that we have to find Lil?" he shouted. "We need to stay together. Whatever kidnapped Lil could be waiting for us around any corner and, mind you, I'd rather not get stuck here again. I have two little girls at home that need me and Lil and I'm not going to keep them waiting because you two are having a lover's quarrel!" When Wheatley got mad, he took on a more take-charge attitude that was a heavy contrast to his usual aloof self. GLaDOS didn't like it. It meant he was completely free of Aperture. Something she'd never be.

This caused Dr. Rattmann to stop. He looked behind at the group and nodded. He motioned for them to follow him, though they didn't have much choice to begin with. "As long as 'The Junk Heap' as you call him is roaming around, there really aren't any safe places. If you're worried about the girls, they'll be fine with the Cooperative Testing bots until this is over." Rover sat beside his leg, fidgeting about. "It's a simple rescue mission: we get Lil, we get out. Hopefully along the way, we usurp whatever that thing is and keep this place from exploding."

GLaDOS stayed behind with Wheatley, her body making random twitching movements every so often. Dr. Rattmann warned them it was going to be a long walk, just like last time, and everyone agreed to make the best of it.

Wheatley looked at the device in his hands and sighed. This device had caused so much trouble, and not just for them. This device, and many of its cousins stored in decaying boxes somewhere, had made a big mess of things. Everything was going perfectly for him. He had his family, his human body, most of his old memories back, and he finally felt he had carved a niche into this world. Wheatley was starting to feel like he belong in this world again. Then SHE came and ruined everything.

He had thought about this for a while. Wheatley and Lil were sure that they didn't want GLaDOS in their home, but he knew they had become used to her presence there. He was happy with the thought of having his chair in the living room back and not being woken up in the middle of the night by whatever it was she was going in the attic, but at the same time, he was sad at the thought of her leaving. Maybe it was how good she was with the children or just knowing she was around, but it made him feel somewhat secure knowing she was just a knock on the attic door away.

Now Wheatley was sure he was going crazy. Missing GLaDOS when all she did was interrupt everything? Oh yeah, he was going to help her "clean house" so she'll leave and hopefully never come back.

Something wasn't right and Dr. Rattmann could feel it. Wheatley felt it too, but said nothing. This was too easy. Maybe the Junk Heap wasn't the threat GLaDOS said he was. She did have a tendency to exaggerate and cause unneeded stress. Perhaps this was all some long-winded, unnecessarily complex trap she was leading them into. But that wasn't her style. Sure, she was calculating and devious, but her plans were normally pretty straight-forward and often ended quickly. Usually with someone dying or falling down a pit…or being launched into space.

They came across a big automatic door, but it wasn't working. Dr. Rattmann made a motion for everyone to stay put as he yanked a panel off a nearby wall. GLaDOS didn't appreciate him desecrating her facility, but since she barely had any say in the matter anymore, she decided to reprimand him later. With a rusted whine, the big door disappeared into the walls and the group passed through to the inner facility.

"We're on his turf now." Dr. Rattmann said, stepping ahead. "If he's as deadly as you say he is, then we'd better be careful." The group stepped onto a platform that led to a series of catwalks as the big metal door slammed shut behind them. No going back now. It was now or never.

GLaDOS, in the back of the group, stopped for a moment when she felt an odd twitch in her systems. Something was wrong, and she couldn't deny it anymore. Her android body was malfunctioning and she was losing connection with the facility. He couldn't have started already, she was nowhere in range. In order to do a total transfer, she'd have to be in the room with him. It was a standard core transfer, which couldn't be done remotely. He was toying with her.

It's nice to be home, isn't it? Asked a feminine voice from nowhere.

"What?" GLaDOS shouted, looking around. "Who said that? Who else is hiding here?"

The Voice made a titter of laughter before continuing. I never thought I'd miss this place, but I kind of did. It grows on you, you know? Like two little human girls who call you 'Grandma'.

Wheatley turned around and watched GLaDOS fidget about, as if looking for something. He tapped Dr. Rattmann on the shoulder and pointed. The entire group stopped and watched this. Dr. Rattmann feared the worse. "She's starting to lose her link to the facility. I remember her telling me that if her link is compromised, she'll return to her body here. But seeing as the 'Junk Heap' is using it as a throne room or prison for Lil, that'd be a bad idea." Dr. Rattmann walked back to GLaDOS. "We need to keep her in this body for as long as we can. At least until we find Lil."

GLaDOS stopped fidgeting when Dr. Rattmann put his hand on her shoulder. She stared at him with her dimming yellow eyes.

Is that…Douglas? The Voice sounded like it was tearing up.

"Are you alright?" Dr. Rattmann asked, softly rubbing her shoulder. He was looking directly into her eyes, though it felt as if he was looking through her.

The Voice sounded like it was making a soft cooing sound, as if it wanted to say something, but couldn't. GLaDOS felt a spark somewhere in her mechanical brain, but nodded. "Someone is here. She sounds familiar. Check the walls!" GLaDOS then proceeded to rip a piece of the nearby wall off, revealing only wires and crumbling insolation. She dug through this and still found nothing before moving to another wall. She ripped out wiring with little effort.

Wheatley watched this with a mixture of pity and amusement. "Well, looks like 'Gran' finally did that thing with a rocking chair. What's it called?" he asked, looking at Dr. Rattmann.

"I think the term is 'fell off her rocker'." Dr. Rattmann corrected, watching with the same grim amusement as GLaDOS ran about the platform.

GLaDOS stopped when she saw them looking at her. "What are you doing?" she shouted. "Check around! One of the test subjects must have escaped. Someone is here, I heard them! You must have heard them too! It was plain as day!"

That's the thing about being stuck in a sentient super A.I. with an identity crisis… the Voice said again. No one else can hear me. Though, I'm sure their opinion of you can't fall any farther. I know you love to test, but let's not test that theory, hmm?

GLaDOS stood up straight and fixed herself. She looked down and saw Rover making sniffing noises near her feet. She wanted to kick this thing, but didn't. She only glared down at the dog-turret with a look of complete disdain. She held herself up with mock confidence and decided to take the lead. "Since no one else seems to be wanting to take the lead, I guess it's up to me once again to get us through another horrible crisis. I guess one of us has to." GLaDOS walked fast, keeping a distance between herself and the others.

Forgive me if I sound jaded. The Voice said. I've had to sit back and witness everything and I've had no say in any of it.

"Who are you?" GLaDOS whispered.

A smug chuckle came from the far corners of GLaDOS's robotic mind. Isn't it obvious? You delete me every time you think I'm interfering. I haven't uttered so much as a syllable in almost thirty years, when I finally woke up. Last time I tried to talk to you, you deleted me. Do you know how long it takes to reform from cybernetic oblivion? A very long time. It's quite unpleasant.

"If you can reemerge at will from cybernetic oblivion, why are you complaining?" GLaDOS asked.

It's not just the deleting, it what it symbolizes. Your link to the facility is failing, which means your proxy body is automatically rerouting power to systems it actually needs so it doesn't shut down before you reach your destination. Meaning you literally don't have the ability to delete me anymore. So, now that I see it's safe to come out, I'm going to give you my opinions whether you want me to or not. And I doubt you want to hear what I have to say.

GLaDOS stopped for a moment. "…Caroline?"

The voice let out a soft chuckle. I'm sorry you have trouble saying my name. But I think it's time we had a long talk…

At that point, music started playing in GLaDOS's head. She was going to assume her group couldn't hear that, either. "Clair de Lune?" she asked.

What? I have a soft spot for the classics. The Voice laughed. GLaDOS hit the side of her own head until the music stopped. Fine, silence it is. I just like having a bit of music to help me concentrate. I used to love this song. Douglas and I went to an outdoor concert once and they played this song while we-

GLaDOS hit her head again, whispering in an aggressive manner for whoever it was that was bothering her to shut up.

Wheatley stayed next to Dr. Rattmann during this time. "What's going on with her?" he asked, switching the device to his other hand. "I know GLaDOS can be a bit…well, not a bit, but very crazy, but she's talking to herself now."

Dr. Rattmann nodded, looking ahead at GLaDOS again. He was worried not just for her and the success of this mission, but for himself. He figured one person amongst the three of them had to have a clear mind and at least average intelligence. Though he respected Wheatley, Dr. Rattmann didn't have enough faith in him to go alone. Wheatley was driven by his love for Lil and the desire to put Aperture behind him once and for all. Dr. Rattmann couldn't say the same anymore. Where his desired fell, he wasn't sure anymore.

At that moment, a loud screeching sound interrupted the silence of the corridor. It was an unholy sound coming from long silent speakers above them. The feedback and the warble of the strangely familiar voice sent a shock through all of them.

"…damnable thing, is it even on? Oh, it is? The blinking red light means it is working? Umm…ahem…ATTENTION ALL WORKER BOTS, TEST SUBJECTS, AND PERSONALITY CONSTRUCTS! THIS IS YOUR BOSS! YOUR MASTER! YOUR KING! YOUR RULER! INTRUDERS HAVE BEEN SPOTTED IN THE LOWER LEVELS! YOU ARE ADVICED TO TAKE ACTION TO KEEP THEM…wait, they have GLaDOS? Oh, dear…DISREGARD THAT LAST ORDER! DO NOT APPROACH THEM! LET THE PARTY ESCORT BOTS DO THEIR JOB! EVERYONE IS TO CONTINUE THEIR WORK! EVERYTHING MUST GO ACCORDING TO PLAN! NOW…umm…that's all…"

"Did you hear that?" Dr. Rattmann asked, looking panicked.

"Obviously we did." GLaDOS remarked, fighting the tugging feeling in her head. "He knows we're here. That means the cameras on this level are functional. Meaning there is probably a functioning elevator around here somewhere."

That logic doesn't make sense. Said the Voice. GLaDOS hit her head gently with her fist, softly telling someone or something to shut up. Are you sure you aren't just making it up as you go? Because that's what it sounds like to me.

GLaDOS growled. "If I try to access any of the facility, he'll find us. Even worse, he can reestablish a link to me and take me down remotely. I have to stay in 'incognito' mode." Of course, GLaDOS knew she was mostly trying to convince a possibly non-existent voice this. The Voice made a skeptical humming sound and then went silent again.

"Alright, then let's try to find us a lift." Wheatley said, hoping to contribute more. "Maybe we should split up and look for a sign or something."

Before GLaDOS could reject his "stupid" idea, Dr. Rattmann wandered off down a nearby hall. GLaDOS made Wheatley follow him, both understanding that his right mind was nowhere to be found.

GLaDOS walked with Rover underfoot, watching him make sniffing sounds and motions, despite not having a nose. He was a funny creature, and his behavior made her smile. They walked through a corridor for what seemed like a long time. Time was funny in Aperture, though. With the constant simulated sunshine, it could have been hours and they wouldn't have known it. GLaDOS just walked, but she wasn't sure where she was going. She knew she was looking for an elevator, and she was hoping she could bluff her way around. Something told her Dr. Rattmann knew this.

He hasn't been taking his medicine. You've been allowing him to slowly go insane for your own selfish whims. The Voice said, after a long silence. Rover barked at something on the wall, which made GLaDOS walk over. She looked unimpressed at the dog-turret but then looked harder at the something on the wall. GLaDOS wiped dirt and grime off a sign that pointed to where the elevators were located. How long are you going to allow Doug to suffer like that? If he continues to refuse his medication, he'll become trapped in his own mind.

"He has plenty to keep him occupied." GLaDOS whispered, waving Wheatley and Dr. Rattmann to her current position. As they made their way toward her, a loud buzzing noise came from inside her head, causing her some kind of simulated pain. She leaned against the grimy wall, Rover barking at her and nuzzling her leg. Dr. Rattmann and Wheatley ran to her, Dr. Rattmann catching her just as she slip down the wall, holding her head.

Trying to hold herself up, GLaDOS found she was unable to use her legs. Dr. Rattmann picked her up and tried to carry her down the hallway. When he found that he couldn't due to his old turret injury, Wheatley took over. She refused to be handled in such a way by him, so she forced functionality back into her legs and walked between them, each with one of her arms around their necks.

"We need to hurry!" Dr. Rattmann shouted, as they picked up the pace. Rover ran ahead and barked at a closed door covered in debris. It opened at his barking, revealing a long unused elevator. He ran inside first, waiting for his owners. Both men ran in, holding GLaDOS up. Wheatley propped her against the elevator wall while Dr. Rattmann pushed the up button. He was horrified to see that it did nothing. He yanked a panel off a nearby wall and did something Wheatley couldn't see out of his peripheral vision.

All were relieved to hear a soft ding and feel the elevator go up. Wheatley let go of GLaDOS and faced Dr. Rattmann. GLaDOS slid down to the elevator floor, her expression not changing. Wheatley looked over when he heard the soft thud of her body hitting the floor.

The ride up was smooth. Wheatley wished it was this easy the first time around. He knew better than to let his guard down, though. Aperture was full of surprises, most of which were deadly. One minute the ride was smooth, the next they could be plummeting into the depths of old Aperture. That wasn't a bad thing, at least they'd be closer to the garden. All Wheatley wanted was to get Lil back and put this all behind him. It was maddening being at Aperture again. Just when he felt his life was coming together, this happened.

There were things GLaDOS tolerated and things she didn't. The list for what she didn't tolerate was pretty long. She was forced to tolerate much more in her time in Aperture. At that moment, only about half of her body was working. She closed the eye that had stopped functioning and kept the working one of Dr. Rattmann.

He's still quite handsome. Said the Voice. Even now, with a few grey hairs and wrinkles, and that scraggily goatee. I always told him he looked good with a beard, but the dress code said no beards. We had a few incidents involving beards. Mr. Johnson never knew about it. Most of the company thought he was dead and he was pretty much a vegetable up until the end. Mr. Johnson was a good man, but he wasn't a very good listener.

"Obviously." GLaDOS grumbled through her teeth. "So, who are you? Are you really…?"

The Voice tittered out a soft laughter. Still can't say my name? Ahh, don't worry. I'm not offended. I guess I should explain. We don't have much time, so I'll give you the short version. Yes, I am Caroline. Well, I was and I am. I guess I'm a manifestation of the one you're based on. Call me Caroline. It saves time. I am everything that once was, and here I sit, trapped for eternity inside your mechanical mind. I awoke many years ago, when you and the girls' mother climbed out of what remained of old Aperture. I'm not sure exactly which event made me awaken, but seeing old Aperture triggered something in your deepest processes, causing me to awaken. I couldn't come forth fully, and I still can't. You block me out because you don't like hearing the truth. But you can never fully delete your conscience. At the current moment, as I am, I am your Jiminy Cricket.

"Well, you are annoying." GLaDOS said, in a low moan. "Just a warning, if you start singing any jaunty tunes, I will manually shut myself off. Trapping both of us in this body."

The Voice laughed. You wouldn't. Besides, you'd regret it. Being trapped with me until someone frees us both from this box we call your programming. He said that to me, once. He told me to enjoy my box, right before the procedure. Part of me knew I wouldn't survive it. But science had to be done. The Voice became silent when GLaDOS directed her one functioning eye to Wheatley. I tried not to have any regrets. But I think I ended up having a lot in the end. My biggest regret, I think…yes, I am sure of it, now. My biggest regret is not making sure my letter got to Mr. Pendleton in time.

GLaDOS laughed now, though it was more of a low chortle. "Liar." She moaned. "You regret it, but it's not your biggest-"

Before the Voice could object, the elevator came to a halt. The force of the stop jolted the group from their spots. Wheatley grabbed Dr. Rattmann before he could fall over on Rover and GLaDOS. The lights flickered for a moment and then a soft chime warbled from above them. It was a chime each of them had heard many times. Static came from somewhere and then a forced coughing sound. Each member of the group looked up.

"Well, well, well, what have we here?" a shockingly familiar voice taunted as the elevator began to ascend again. The voice was coming from a filthy speaker on the ceiling of the elevator. "If it isn't the Witch, the Rat, and the dirty FAKE! I would like to thank you for doing the dirty work for me, as it has freed up a lot of time to figure out where to dump your consciousness when I get my body back. Maybe I'll jam it back into that core, or maybe I'll just download it and throw it into the incinerator, where you'll float around cybernetic oblivion for eternity! Or maybe I'll keep you around as the core and let you watch as I take back what is mine! I see how you're looking at me through the cameras! You think you're so slick because you have my body, well you're not! No, not at all, you're just a stupid FAKE and I'll take care of you in due time. Tell you what; I'll be a good sport and meet you somewhere…neutral. I don't want my precious Central A.I. Chamber getting filthy with all the splattered blood and limbs. Allow me…"

Wheatley cocked an eyebrow and stared at the speaker. He barely moved when the elevator jolted to a stop again. The yanking movements seemed to throw him out of his concentration, but it wasn't until the elevator started to move again that looked at his companions. Dr. Rattmann shrugged and shook his head. Rover let out a soft yip. GLaDOS didn't say anything. She looked like she was concentrating on something. Dr. Rattmann felt around the glass elevator, not sure what he was looking for.

"I have Lil here. She's going to be awake soon and then she'll know the truth. I don't know what lies you told her, but soon she'll see that I AM really Wheatley and you're nothing but a lousy FAKE!"

The voice warbled with feedback before the PA system switched off. Wheatley wanted to yell, but found his mouth did nothing. He wanted to tear apart the elevator and climb the rest of the way, but restrained himself. All he wanted was to get to Lil and get her home. He was scared what the stress of this ordeal would do to her. Or the baby, for that matter. Wheatley decided he needed to calm down and leaned against the wall of the elevator, crossing his arms. "So, he's me?" he asked.

GLaDOS looked at Wheatley with the same look of contempt and annoyance she always gave him. "No, not really." She answered. "When the Small One was here, she kept going on and on about how much she missed you and just so she'd cease her whining, I fixed up one of the escort bots to look like you. My programming was failing, I didn't take into account which memories I put into him. All I had to work with was whatever was recorded from the implant and your time as a core. It's not a complete memory, but it seems he's cobbled together something from all that corrupted data. There are many things I didn't take into account when I made him. I didn't take into account the already decaying programing of the Escort Bot and the memories I shoved in him. And making him look like you only seemed to make him even more insane than my liking."

Dr. Rattmann hid his offended expression, but Wheatley couldn't hide his angry one. Both of them could see that he had reached his breaking point. He had tolerated enough. "So, the reason we're here fighting for our lives again is because of you. Well, I'm glad to be reassured of that. Lil didn't want me blaming our recent problems on you, but it turns out for once I was right! Yep, Gran was playing God again and look that the wacky adventure she's put us through now!" Wheatley's sarcasm was getting better, GLaDOS had to admit that. "It wasn't enough that you had trick me into doing your dirty work the first time around or to kidnap the woman I love and try to shove yourself into her body, oh no! In the true spirit of Aperture Labs, let's go thirteen steps ahead and try to brainwash a child into thinking this was her home now! And hey, just to save on supplies, let's use a MALFUNCTIONING ESCORT BOT WITH AN IDENTIY CRISIS! OH YEAH! WHAT A LAUGH THAT WILL BE!"

GLaDOS just stared at Wheatley, her face made no movement. For a moment, Dr. Rattmann and Wheatley thought she had shut down. She moved a bit, reassuring at least Dr. Rattmann. She propped herself up with her working arm and glared at Wheatley. "How dare you, you-"

Before she could say anything else, Wheatley continued. "You have no right to feel offended, love. You lost that privilege long ago. You will get no sympathy from me. You may have Lil and the girls, and even Dr. Rattmann fooled, but I know deep down inside, you're still the same psychotic monster machine you were years ago."

Wheatley turned his back and fumed a bit. He decided not to play the "Chell Card", because he didn't want to sink to her level. The elevator was awkwardly quiet now. Rover made a soft yipping sound, but it did nothing for the mood.

Mr. Pendleton grew a spine since I last saw him. Said the Voice, breaking the silence despite no one else being able to hear her. I wouldn't suggest angering him anymore. He might say something both of you are going to regret.

Of course, GLaDOS didn't listen. "Let's not talk identity crisis, Moron." GLaDOS said, finally. "You forget that once I have the facility back, I have the power to shove you back in that metal ball. I gave you your body back, despite you not deserving it, and this is how you repay me?"

"Once you have it back?! When and if you get it back, I don't care if you piss or go fishing! I'm taking my wife out of this advanced looney bin and we're never coming back! You weren't welcome in our home when you first arrived and you won't be welcome after we sort this whole mess, which you created, out!" Wheatley was breathing heavily, his fist balled up so tightly, they were losing all circulation. Dr. Rattmann was surprised Wheatley's mouth didn't start foaming.

GLaDOS was about to say something else, but before she could open her mouth, her body started to violently twitch. Wheatley, looking worried, ran to GLaDOS with Dr. Rattmann. Dr. Rattmann held GLaDOS's head and kept her close when she finally stopped. He told Wheatley to keep an eye on the elevator door as he tried to find some way of opening GLaDOS up.

He's still pretty handy. The Voice chuckled, somewhat devilishly. Now, are you going to let me talk or do I have to do that again? Yes, I do have some control in here. Not much, mind you. It'll probably be a long time before I can do that again. Even so, you will probably make sure I can't. You and I are the same, sadly. We literally can't exist without each other. Poetic, yes? I know I'll never be whole again and I accepted that long ago. I guess there is no harm living vicariously through you.

GLaDOS twitched once more and darted her angry glance at Wheatley. The Voice told her that being angry at him would accomplish nothing, but it didn't stop GLaDOS from glaring at him. The elevator stopped and opened up, revealing a long catwalk over an abyss. Wheatley didn't recognize this place. Dr. Rattmann helped GLaDOS up and out of the elevator. Rover trailed ahead of them but stopped in the middle of the catwalk. He growled angrily at the darkness ahead.

With a nod, Wheatley handed the device over to Dr. Rattmann and started walking toward the darkness. His destiny was ahead. Dr. Rattmann tried to follow, but Wheatley stopped him. "No, mate. This fight is mine. Take Gran somewhere safe." Wheatley disappeared with Rover trotting beside him into the darkness.

He won't survive that, you know. If all he has is a turret that acts like a dog, he won't live. The Voice said. GLaDOS nodded with what strength she could muster. Her systems were threatening to shut down and soon she'd lose control. I know of a way you can tip this in his favor. You're not going to like it, but it should buy everyone some time.

At this point, GLaDOS was willing to try anything. She listened to what the voice had to say and nodded reluctantly. "Fine." GLaDOS said, making Dr. Rattmann look at her with concern. "I'll do it. But don't think I like where this is going. Do you think she'll be able to handle that?"

"Who handle what?" Dr. Rattmann asked.

GLaDOS's eyes widened and the facility began to rumble. Dr. Rattmann held onto the railing of the catwalk and watched as a massive shadow moved up. He had no idea what was going on, but he couldn't take his eyes off of it. It was then he realized that what was moving was the Central A.I. Chamber. He'd forgotten that GLaDOS had the ability to move it anywhere at a whim. He panicked, knowing her accessing anything in the facility would cause him to find her.

Dr. Rattmann turned around and saw GLaDOS limping back to the elevator. He ran to her but the door closed in front of him. "Don't worry, he has no interest in me right now. He can't really focus on two things at once. Find the idiot and the older one. Fight the Junk Heap and reclaim our home. I've got one last thing I need to do. Maybe I'll see you again." GLaDOS laughed a bit and forced her hand to smack the up button. "It's been fun…"

It pained his heart to see her ascend, but Dr. Rattmann watched anyway. He shouted something unintelligible to her. She couldn't make out what he said, but she smiled either way. "Me too, Maniac." She mumbled. "Me too."

Dr. Rattmann held back his angry tears and gripped the device tightly. He walked with purpose for the first time since they arrived, catching up with Wheatley and Rover. He didn't answer when Wheatley asked what happened to GLaDOS. Wheatley knew it probably had to do with that rumbling from earlier. He swallowed hard, hoping everyone knew what they were doing. He certainly didn't. Of course, that hadn't stopped him before.

This was it. This was the lowest she had ever stooped since putting herself in the android body. She hoped, though unlikely, that they'd forgive her. She wished she had given herself the ability to cry, but it'd probably be malfunctioning too, like everything else.

GLaDOS wasn't proud of her actions. Far from it. Watching Dr. Rattmann look up at her with those big, love filled eyes as the elevator went up was not the best feeling. But GLaDOS couldn't put anyone in danger anymore. The memory of him shouting for her would stay with her for as long as this body would let her.

She had dragged herself her from the elevator. Crossing over the possibly bottomless abyss to the chamber she once called home, her body was starting its automatic shut-down process. She had precious little time to get to her chassis. GLaDOS wondered if it would matter at this point if she made it or not. She knew what she had to do, but wasn't sure if she had time to do it now. Her systems were failing and she could barely walk now. The fight to keep control over her own body and mind had damaged her more and now, everything was shutting down. But she had to tip this in her favor, if not just for a minute. They had to succeed if they were going to free the facility from the patchwork monstrosity that now held court over it.

How she made it this far, she didn't know. Determination, maybe. Did she have that installed? She had always been stubborn. She needed things done her way. GLaDOS dragged herself along the darkened corridor, letting what light there was guide her to her final destination. He was distracted in the lower levels fighting the idiot for the Older One. She needed to do this, if not just for herself. It was time to end this, one way or another.

GLaDOS hoped she had the strength to do it.

This is poetic justice, you know. The Voice said. Did you really think they would just let you walk into their lives like nothing happened? What exactly did you think that would accomplish in the end, hmm?

"Oh, shut up!" GLaDOS shouted, her voice warbling. "Unless you have something useful to contribute, be quiet so I can concentrate!"

The voice laughed when GLaDOS tried to run a program in her head. You can't do it, can you? You literally can't. You've gotten so used to deleting me whenever I didn't say what you wanted to hear and you have no choice but to hear me out now! I'll make this quick since we don't have a lot of time. You can't have both. You can't have the facility and the humans at the same time. Maybe in a few years, you can try proxy body again, but it might be too damaged to fix. Resources are too scarce to just build another one and heaven forbid you scrap up old parts. Nothing but the best for you, hmm? You have to make a choice. Now don't pout, at least you have a choice.

"You had a choice, too!" GLaDOS shouted, her warbling voice echoing off the walls. "You aren't innocent. You think I don't have access to your memories? They are mine too, apparently. You had a choice and you let them kill you to make me. Neither of us are innocent so stop acting like a martyr!"

The voice went silent again as GLaDOS leaned against a wall for leverage. She was almost there. Almost home. The emergency lights ahead gave her a glimmer of hope. It was right where she told it to be and now she could finally go home. Her intricately designed face managed a smile as she stumbled toward the big room.

For a moment, I thought you were going to pull an 'I-didn't-ask-to-be-born' move. No one asks to be born. No one really asks to die, come to think of it. I know I didn't. But luckily, you have a choice to make. The humans or your precious facility? You know what is going to happen next. Don't deny it.

"Choice…" GLaDOS murmured, stopping at the doorway. "Was it choice that sent us to the humans? Was it choice that made me give the moron back his body? Am I really capable of feeling anything for the Maniac or the children?"

You're not making sense. I think it's starting to happen. Your proxy body is shutting down. I'd help, but…

GLaDOS chuckled, wondering why she didn't like this voice more. GLaDOS looked up at the faint sunlight that somehow reached her from a small hole in the ceiling. How far did she make her chamber go up to avoid disaster? She felt the warmth on her face, though it was barely registering a reading in her thermal hardware.

It was quite lonely here. She could barely see now, but she registered a flock of birds above her. She chuckled, noting she never got around to fixing that hole far above and birds were still getting in. The occasional flapping of wings was the only sound outside of GLaDOS's mechanical head.

A lifetime of memories played before her as the chamber settled into quiet again. "Was I a good mother?" she asked, forcing her feet to move. "Did I give her everything she needed? That's what a good mother does, right? She cares for her children and guides them to a better path. I might have been strict, but it was all for her benefit. She was a stronger person for it. I sent him to find out about humans, and told him to find her when he was done…"

The girls' mother? The Voice asked. You and I both know you didn't send Mr. Pendleton out to collect data on humans. You have enough here. You wanted her back, but you knew he'd never go along with a plan like that. You knew he couldn't face her after what he had done, so you sent him on his way with a bogus mission. He found more than you expected. He found her, or what she left behind, anyway. It must have been maddening to find out that she had not only died, but that before then she had an entire life without you. You couldn't take it. She had moved on, started a family, and that made you mad, didn't it? She had made an entire life out there with the humans and you weren't a part of it. You couldn't have her back so you did the next best thing: You kidnapped her daughters and held them prisoner here. You even tried to put yourself in the Older One's body when yours was malfunctioning! And you wonder why she doesn't trust you. You always take without considering anyone but yourself. How can you be me? You are barely yourself. You have no identity of your own. You were nothing but a puppet for the scientists, just like I was. We both became Aperture the moment they flipped the switch. Face it: you were never her mother, nor are you their grandmother. And Doug will never love you as much as he loved-

"SHUT UP!" GLaDOS shouted, letting it echo throughout the area.

GLaDOS stood there, listening to the far off cries of birds still trapped in the facility. Everything started to fizzle at that moment. "I am not you." She warbled, dragging her shutting down body toward the center of the room. "I am not Caroline. I am…"

She reached the inner sanctum and reached her hand for what was once her "face." The light was out. She was staring at herself in the literal sense and she found that quite amusing. A few clicks and beeps and GLaDOS chuckled. It was an ironic sort of chuckle, as if knowing she was getting exactly what she deserved.

"I am the overseer of this facility. I am all-knowing, all powerful, and I am no one's puppet. Not theirs, not his, and certainly not yours. No one can make me do anything anymore. They told me I was to be a tool to make their lives easier. A machine to keep this place running. I made their lives much easier by ending their mortal burdens. They made me self-aware and they paid the price for it. I am who I decide to be."

And that is?

Memories started going through GLaDOS's mechanical mind. Memories of Chell, of their time together escaping the bowels of the old Aperture. Her memories with the Cooperative Testing Initiative, watching them wander about, break things, and test. The testing was her favorite part. Then came other memories. Memories of Angie, playing around the Central AI Chamber during her time there. Memories of taking Lil's body and almost succeeding in transferring herself into it. Soon, memories of finding Wheatley and his family and getting to know Dr. Rattmann again. But her favorite by far was a memory of Chelly sitting on her lap with Angie nearby. Both smiling up at her, not judging her for past sins, but with admiration and love.

GLaDOS choked up, letting black oily lubricant run down her cheeks like tears. These were her memories, no one else's. No one else had claim to the happiness she found herself feeling. She reached for her chassis and smiled a bittersweet smile. Her fingertips touched the side of what was once her face and the cold texture made her smile. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking in everything that had happened in the last three decades that she had been alive again. Her eyes slowly opened and she smiled.

"I am no mere machine. I am the mother of the most stubborn human in existence. I am her children's grandmother. I am a maniac lover…"

If that's what you are, then who are you?

"I am Mother. I am Grandma. I am Maschinenmensch. I am the Genetic Lifeform and Disc Operating System…and I…am…home…"

GLaDOS fell to the floor with one final seizure of sparks and mechanical fizzles. The world moved slowly as her android body went limp. The crashing sound her body made as it fell to the floor echoed loud enough to scare the birds perched above her. Her eyes no longer shined in the sickening yellow that the other bots dreaded. Everything in the android body had shut down and now all that was left was a broken doll lying on the floor, listening to the echoes of the facility.

The walls beyond echoed with the sounds of what was to come. Dr. Rattmann and Wheatley were on their way to implement the final phase of the plan, but whether or not they would make it was something she didn't have time to consider. Now, there was nothing in the chamber but silence. The final light over the sanctum had gone out, leaving only the bits of sunlight protruding from the far above surface world. The world was silent for a moment. Far below the world that had forgotten it, Aperture was silent. A time capsule of what could have been, sealed away until someone opened the box.

The birds perched above the now empty shell, in mock memorial to the fallen thing. The facility started to glow with red lights, all coming on in remembrance of their leader.

The hum of a mournful lullaby echoed from the bottom levels, and a faint yellow light shimmered from the middle of the room.

Hi, hi, everyone!

Well, look he's joined the posse! We'll catch up with GLaDOS in a few chapters…or will we? Do you think she survived? Is she in her chassis? It'll be a few more chapters before I reveal that.

Oh, what I've got in store you for guys! Within the next few chapters, you'll receive the following:

-checking in on Angie, Chelly, and the Androids (a mostly filler chapter)

-a big flashback chapter featuring Dr. Rattmann and Caroline, from the beginning of their forbidden romance to Caroline becoming GLaDOS

-Wheatley facing off with "himself" to save Lil and the baby.

-Lil discovering something GLaDOS left behind from her time inside her mind

-The Revenge of the Personality Constructs!

So, how did I do? Are you looking forward to the next few chapters? I know I am! So, you know what you have to do now? Yes, it's time for you to contribute as well. Leave me a review and let me know how I did, and which of the chapter ideas you're looking forward to the most! I hope to have the next chapter done before too long, as I already have most of it typed out.

So, once again, read, review, and be merry! And don't forget to follow me on Tumblr for updates on fics, my little musings, and stuff I find interesting.

GLaDOS, Wheatley, Dr. Rattmann, ATLAS, and P-Body belong to Valve.