Rejected
A Chell longfic

Chapter 1 - Trial

"Martha, it's time to leave. Write your name, and let's go."

The little girl purses her lips, pensive, playing around with her black marker. She finds it harder to focus in the renewed chaos of the daycare wing; now that everyone else is done — with a little more help, maybe, or less attention — the chatter is impossible to ignore, and the movements burst all at once from the small desks.

She finally chooses she is done, too. Her hand traces a few more letters, round and thick, on the nearest corner.

"By Chell, huh? That is your sister's name, sweetie."

"But Dad," she protests. "She did all the work. She helped me write and build the potato."

There is a new face by his father. She does not remember this man; it must be one of those hidden guys, always working deep down in the facility. Whatever the reason, her words seem to amuse him much.

"Ah, I see now, Robert," he barks. "The younger of the two little geniuses lives up to her Dad's pride, indeed. So, kiddo, you said Chell was here? Where'd she go?"

She doesn't like this guy, but if Dad does, she is fine with it. She leaves him the burden of answering anyway.

"I guess she went back to the testing areas, Henry. You know how hard she is trying. This is a chance she cannot miss."

"That is not my area, so she never worked with me, you know. But Doug's field is closer to that kind of thing," Henry adds, nodding dramatically. "He happened to check on a couple of her designs. Never seen anything like that. So he told me."

There is a look of tired hope in Robert's eyes. This is the Aperture he has gotten used to; a world built on knowing without ever knowing, pulled on by risks, ending up in failure or edge-cutting discoveries that might mean decades of progress. His workplace is more than just that — it is a challenge, and one of his daughters is about to enter it this time.
But Doug, well, he might now. Doug is different.

"I want to believe it's true. To have her working here – it would certainly help, in more than one way. It is something she cares about. Keeping it all in count, well… you could say the dangers are outnumbered."

"Come on, Bob," Henry laughs. "Is testing the dangerous part of Aperture to you?"

"Believe what you want, man. I may be a freshman compared to you, but I already know enough about this place."

The awkward silence stretches between them, in keen contrast with everything else around them. The other side of the corridor shows a new figure, wrapped in her dirty labcoat.

To Robert, all this time feels like nothing — just yesterday he met a morose child, with eyes that were always sad, and now she is a young wonder in her twenties. She has grown up to be so strong. No matter what, his daughters are always beautiful to him.

"There she is! Where have you been hiding, Chell? Look, Martha gave you all the credit. Smart promising scientists, aren't you?"

Henry cannot help noticing that, whatever he says, the response is a glare. This Chell doesn't seem to like him much. She is a bit cold towards the rest of the world, actually, if you don't keep in count her family.
Especially her sister. She adores her sister, he assumes. He has never seen her smiling like this before — or smiling at all, for that matter.

"We only want the best for her, in any case," Robert whispers. "And, to be honest, I think she likes it here."

Henry watches them communicate. They seem to have built their own quiet language; it is a curious science of fingertips and gestures, meaning something, or nothing at all. Who knows.

He wonders at how Chell can open up with her. He has heard rumors about how fast she was rejected for testing — yet, in her, not a sign of rage or disappointment to be found. Nothing changed to her; she is still here. Doug won't explain.

Odd girls, both of them.

"Sis," Martha chimes, the half-destroyed tuber tight in her plump hands. "Do potatoes become potato plants?"

Chell gives a little nod. Her eyes are laughing.

"Then I want my potato to become a big plant. Bigger and bigger, until it touches the sky. And then I will go to the moon, and you can come too, sis!"

Chell spreads her fingers on the table, palm upwards. To them, it means a promise.

"Promise!"

And then, before they can hold hands, the emergency alarms start screaming.

Portal fans and friends,

I find myself in the middle of a desperate fanwriting crisis. My lack of motivation is so huge that, if it doesn't stop, I might find myself in need of not writing any more fanfiction. Yes, maybe forever. But I cannot just give up on something that changed my life so radically, after seven years of dedication. So - sustained and helped by my friends and my warrior nature, I am proud to introduce you my very first Portal longfic!

Of the many things I love in life, two are relevant to this story: Chell and the multiverse theory. In fact, the most fascinating aspect of Chell is her being a character in so many different ways; each of us lives her in their own way, has several headcanons, ideas and concepts to associate with her. Given how little choice we have in her shoes, given how repetitive her actions are, Chell is one of the strongest silent protagonists I can think of. And she - more than one she - will be the protagonist of my story.

The story arc will cover both Portal games, prequel stories included, but in a very peculiar way: with each chapter, Chell will become a different person. If in chronological order, I will tell the events of Portal from Chell's point of view; however, each Chell will be associated with a different past, a different character, a different purpose and mindset, depending on the headcanon I will choose for that chapter. I will go over the most popular theories the fandom chose for her, invent my own, or simply focus on one of her peculiar traits.

You can also find this story on Tumblr, deviantART and AO3. Please leave concrete feedback if you feel like it, but know I appreciate anything, silent readers included! Thank you so much!

For their support, this fic is lovingly dedicated to Kayla, to Jen, to Léa, to Alavesa, and all the other friends this beautiful fandom brought me.