Disclaimer- Valve owns Portal, I however own all the original characters.

I apologize in advance if it's hard to tell what are the flash backs. I didn't want to do them all in italics this time.

Note on the flashback...GLaDOS is telling in but it's in Chell's point of view. Why?

Because Chell is remembering the past as GLaDOS tells it to her.

Please read, review and most of all enjoy.

Chapter Five: I'm Being So Sincere

The rest of the night was long as Chell couldn't get back to sleep. She was too busy thinking over everything. Why was GLaDOS so curious about her memories? Was there some link to the odd dream she had and the AI? Something very strange seemed to be going on, and she was going to find out what it was.

-

The next morning, or at least when the AI turned the lights in the room up, Chell glanced over to the machine in question. If she was going to get any answer from it, she was going to have to be as alert as she could be. Ignoring the residing pain in her hand and back she shifted into a more comfortable sitting position.

“GLaDOS..” Chell spoke up causing the icon to look over at her. However the AI did not respond. It just sat there as though...waiting. Chell paused a moment and then decided it was now or never.

“Why are you so interested in what I remember?”

.

There was a pause before the AI spoke up. “I was curious, that is all.”

Chell looked suspicious. “Do you know something about my past?”

“How would I know anything about your past.”

“I thought you said you knew everything.” Chell shot back with a smirk.

The icon flashed almost irritably but the AI didn't say anything.

“You don't know anything about me at all. Do you.” Chell continued. “I bet you have no idea why I was in the centre.”

“Of course I do.” The AI replied, almost haughtily.

“Then why don't you tell me.”

“You would not believe me if I told you.”

.

There was a pause and Chell studied the computer closely. “If I agree to trust you...will you tell me the truth...?”

The AI seemed to consider this.“Perhaps...”

Chell gritted her teeth. “GLaDOS...”

“With one condition.”

“And what is that?”

“When you escape...take me with you.”

..

There was a long pause as Chell stared at the machine in shock. “What?”

“Did you not hear me.” The AI replied sharply. “I stated myself quite clearly.”

“No...” Chell managed to get her voice back. “I heard you but...how would that ...even be possible.”

“I am sure you would be able to come up with a way.”

“But...why?” Chell asked with exasperation. “Why do you want to come with me?”

“Because I do. And if you agree to this, I will tell you all I know about how you came to the Aperture Science Computer Aided Enrichment Centere.”

Chell closed her eyes for a moment. What was she getting herself into...However it didn't seem as though she had much of a choice.

“Fine...if I manage to find a way out of here. Then I'll also find a way to take you with me. Alright?”

“Very well then. Your word is enough at this point.”

Chell sighed and leaned back against the wall. “Okay, then tell me why I came to the centre. All I remember is something about foster parents.”

“You did remember something!” The AI's voice seemed perk up. “I knew it. I told you, you had. I was right.”

“It wasn't that much.” Chell replied but the AI wasn't paying attention.

“Very well then...It was the third annual take your daughter to work day.

Chell glanced around the large room she and her foster parents were in. Everyone was getting up and mingling now that the short presentation they had watched was over. She supposed it must have had something to do with the company but she hadn't really understood any of it.

She was starting to get nervous about this whole thing. There seemed to be a lot of employees of the company who had brought their daughters but she was too shy to go up and talk to any of them. Instead she stood as close to her parents as she could.

“Tony, Barb, Chell!” Her father looked over at his name being called. Chell glanced over as well and grinned when she saw who it was. “Uncle Steve!”

“Hi there Chell.” The bespectacled man was still wearing his customary white lab coat and he had a grin on his face. “Have you had any cake yet?”

Chell's eyes widened. “There's cake? No!”

Barb shook her head. “You know that's at the end of the day.” However it was clear from her tone that she wasn't really mad.

“So...have signed Chell up for the tests yet?” Steve looked at Tony and Barb. “I heard there's quite a few openings this year. I just know she'd pass with flying colours too.”

Tony stood very still. “We haven't decided yet...We haven't even asked her yet.”

“Asked me about what?” Chell looked up.

“Well...” Barb bit her lip. “She's only been with us uh...we...don't want just yet..

“What are you talking about?”

“Just some tests they want some girls to try.” Steve replied. “If you pass them then you could help out around here.”

“Like chores?” Chell looked skeptical. “I already do those at home.”

“No, more like trying out some of the cool new things that we make here.” He glanced up at Barb and Tony. “It's perfectly safe too, right Tony?”

“Well yes...but.”

“Why don't you at least have her tested.” Steve said. “Make up your mind after.”

“Can I try it dad?” Chell looked at both her parents. “Please?”

“Well I suppose it wouldn't hurt just to have her tested.” Tony was saying. “If she passes, we can discuss it more later.” He saw Barbs look. “You helped with the tests Barb. You know they're perfectly safe.”

Barb nodded. “Oh very well.” She smiled down at Chell. “Why don't we go sign you up then.”

Chell grinned and hugged her mother. “Then can you show me your office? You promised you would you know.”

“Of course dear.” They walked off. Chell didn't notice the strange looking security camera on the wall, swerve to follow their path as they waked down the hall.

“So that's how you knew.” Chell glanced from her bed at the AI. “You were watching the entire time.”

“That is what I do.” GLaDOS replied mater of factually. “If you would let me continue.”

As it turned out they were just in time to sign up. Chell was the last name they let onto the list.

“Now if you'd just walk through there we'll be beginning shortly.” The receptionist replied. “I'm sorry but it's just for the daughters.” She motioned Barb to stop when she was about to walk into the room as well.

“Your daughter will re-join you once she has completed the tests.”

“But..” Barb nodded. “All right. Good luck in there dear.”

Chell smiled slightly and opened the door. She hadn't thought she was going to be doing this alone...

As she entered the room she noticed that there were at least fifteen other girls in the room. Some of them were a little younger then her and other appeared to be teenagers.

Slightly out of place Chell shifted to the side of the room and sat in a chair to wait.

“Hey there!” A girl with long brown hair and round glasses sat down next to her. “My names Kelly. What's yours?”

“Chell.”

“Cool name. Are you new here? I haven't seen you at one of these before.”

Chell nodded but didn't get to say anything as at that moment a woman entered the room.

“Hello girls. Could I get your attention up here. Yes. Thank you.” Once it was clear that she had their attention she smiled. “Now I'm sure you are all excited to be here today and I'm sure that you may be slightly worried about these tests.”

A few of the older girls snickered but the woman kept on talking. “But don't worry. I'm sure you'll all do fine. Now lets have this in a orderly fashion. Janice Castle first please.

The girl in question stepped forward and Chell had a dreadful though. Were they all being tested in here? In front of everyone?

“Over there in that room.” The woman nodded. “Just through that door.” The young girl nodded and as she walked over the room descended into the chatter that had been there before.

“Do we just wait for her to come out...?” Chell asked the girl sitting next to her.

“Yeah, I think so. I never actually signed up for the testing but this year I thought, why not?” She smiled, adjusting her glasses. “It's going to be a lot of fun. I hope I pass the tests.”

“Do you think they're hard?”

“Well Molly got past them last year and she's no genius.”

“Who?”

The two had soon started up a conversation about the centre and its employees.

--

Time passed slowly as it appeared to take a while to go through this test. This only seemed to make the rest of the girls more nervous.

“Chell Hare?”

“That's me.” Chell stood up.

“Good luck!” Kelly smiled as Chell walked away. “I'm sure you'll pass.”

“I hope so.” Chell attempted to return the smile.

Walking over to door where the woman was standing in Chell tried to keep the nervousness from her face. Unfortunately it wasn't working that well and the room she was lead into didn't do much to alleviate her worries. The walls and the floor were a crisp white and there was a single chair, the only piece of furniture in the room. Not sure what else to do she walked over to the chair. The woman who had lead her there had already left and shut the door behind her.

“Hello....” Chell sat down on the chair, trying to figure out what was going on. There was a slight humming noise and then a voice crackled from the ceiling.

“Hello, and welcome.” The voice was dull and lifeless. “Please state your full name.”

Chell looked around trying to figure out where the voice was coming from.

“Please state your full name.” The voice repeated.

“Chell....Hare.”

“Please state your age.”

“Eleven”

.

This continued for a while. The strange voice asking questions and she replied. After a while she had to wonder what they wanted all this information for.

“What is your favorite colour?”

“...blue..” Chell still hadn't located the source of the voice. There was a pause after this question until.

“Thank you. That will be all. Please proceed to the final stage of the testing.” A door opened up and Chell got to her feet quickly. This was a lot stranger then she thought it was going to be.

The next room contained a table with a mess of supplies on it. As Chell walked over to it, The strange voice started again.

“Here at the Aperture Science Computer Aided Enrichment Centere test subject must show logical problem solving skills. Please solve the following...”

Taking a seat on the chair Chell grabbed a nearby pencil just in time as the voice started reciting.

“One man is going to St. Ives. On the way he passes nine men, each man has one wife, each wife has four children, each child has five cats, each cat has twelve flies, how many are going to St. Ives?”

After the cats Chell had lost track of how many the voice had listed.

“...Could you repeat that?” She spoke up.

“No.”

Chell sighed, well apparently she wasn't...wait a second. Trying to remember exactly what the voice had said, she grinned.

“One!” She stated triumphantly. “There was only one going to St. Ives. Everyone else was going the other way.”

There was another pause, and then. “That is correct...congratulations subject name here you have successfully completed the Aperture Science testing sequence. Please continue out of the chamber to receive your results.”

Another door opened up and unsure where she was heading, Chell walked out of the room.

“Congratulations!” A woman was standing at a desk with a clip board and a pen in her hands. “You passed the test. If you would be so kind as to sign here please.”

She passed the form to Chell and pointed. “Just put your full name here, and here...and here. There we go.” The woman almost snatched the paper out of Chell's hands. “Now we'll just go discuss this with your parents.”

Chell nodded, still slightly off guard from everything that had just happened.

-

As they reached the main room, Tony was talking to his brother.

“You're positive the testing program is safe.”

“Of course.” Steve nodded. “They won't really be testing much of anything. It's more of a way to get girls interested in what we do here then anything else.”

“Alright.” He turned and smiled when he saw Chell.

“How'd it go kiddo?”

Chell had to grin. “I did it, I passed the test.”

“Of course you did.” Tony, Barb and Steve were all smiling.

Steve nodded. “I just knew you would. Now, who wants cake?”

“There wasn't any cake left.” Chell stated blandly, causing the AI to look over at her.

“You do remember.”

Chell frowned and clutched her head. “I...I'm starting to...I think...it's just so, blurry.”

There was a noise as the door opened and distracted, Chell glanced over to see one of the guards with a tray of food.

“Uh, hello.” It was Aiden Hall, looking all the more awkward in the doorway. “I'll just leave your food here then...”

“Wait.” Chell spoke up, startling him as he put the tray down. A thought had struck her. “Do you know a doctor named Steve Hare?”

“Uh.” Aiden glanced up subconsciously at where the camera for the room was. “I'm not sure. I'm new here....” He rubbed the back of his head. “I think I heard someone by the name of Hare though..”

“Oh.” Chell nodded.

“If I find out, I could tell you...” The man offered.

“Aren't you afraid of getting fired.” Chell asked, more annoyed then she had meant to have sounded.

“A bit..but she's not watching the tapes all the time. I'll just..tell you when she's gone.” He nodded and walked quickly out the door.

Chell winced as she got to her feet. The dull pain from the day before was still there, not nearly as strong as it had been but still annoying. Taking the tray of what she supposed must have been food she began to eat.

Unfortunately the silence was broken as GLaDOS choose that time to speak up.

“If you had wanted to know whether or not Dr. Steve Hare was working here, you could have asked me. I have all the personal files of the employees of Aperture Science.”

Chell sighed as she stirred something that may have been soup. “I was just making sure.” She didn't finish the last part of the sentence, but it was heavily implied. She wanted some grantee that the AI wasn't lying to her. True she was starting to remember things, but still she didn't put it past the AI to find a way to implant her with false memories. “Maybe...maybe he knows what happened to my parents....”She sighed and to her surprise the AI stayed silent.

“Do you know.” Chell asked.

There was a pause..

“No.”

Chell blinked. “I thought you knew everything.” She turned sharply to look at the blinking display, wincing as she hit her sore hand on the table.

“Well, I lied.”

“I don't believe that.”

The AI blinked but stayed silent. Chell waited for GLaDOS to begin talking again, but realized soon, that this wasn't going to happen. Going back to her food she tried to figure out what was she was going to do.

-.-

Aiden wasn't quite sure what he getting into. He was going to get fired if they found out he was talking to the subj- Chell again. But his bloody conscience just wouldn't leave him alone about it. And anyway, just helping her with a name wasn't that bad. It wasn't as though he were trying to help her escape or anything.

Dear lord, what sort of company was he working for?

A thought struck him. Maybe if he dug up some information on the company, on his own time. That wouldn't be too bad would it? Certainly they couldn't fire him for looking up information on his own time. And maybe he would be able to help more, without losing his job.

With a weight lifted off his chest, Aiden exited the building. Tomorrow he would figure out if there was a doctor Steve Hare working here.

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