Section One: ERROR: Releasing all Test Subjects...


"Hello. Welcome to Aperture Science, Incorporated."

At the sound of her voice, Riley's eyes opened. She was in some type of box. It was made of glass, and there was basically no way out. The woman looked around, trying to remember what had happened when she was last conscious. Before she could, however, the voice came back.

"I see you're awake now. I hope your rest was a pleasant one. Please stand away from the solid wall. The portal will now open in three...two...one." An orange glow appeared before Riley, and she could see that it led to a way out of the chamber. At first, she was afraid to step through it. What if this was just her imagination? She placed her hand through. Nothing happened to it, so she walked cautiously into the portal. She was out of her chamber. "Good. Now, if you would-"

Suddenly, the voice cut out, and it didn't come back. Riley remembered what had happened in the facility. "GLaDOS..." There were other Test Subjects around, she was sure of it! Most of them have never gone through GLaDOS's tests before. Maybe she should help them out?

Speak of the devil, here come some now...

Michael opened his eyes. The blue in his eyes held at first surprise. Then it was wild, he sat up right away and looked around to see if he was truely dead. He shook his head and listened to GLaDOS' voice with growing defeat. Defeat was slowly replaced by new ambition. The will to be free, defiance. He checked his jumpsuit it appeared as good as new. No bullet holes what-so-ever. The last time he had run a course he had grown tired. Test after test had worn him down. When running out of the way of a turret a few bullets had caught him in the chest. He was sure GLaDOS would've left him to die in that egg-shell white room. He heard the countdown, and exited as soon as it had opened. He had an objective. Get off the test track. Find the surface.

He looked around as soon as he stepped through the portal. He looked down at his hands and feet. How long had he been asleep? He had no feeling or concept of time while in the Aperture science facility. GLaDOS loved to poke away at her test subjects that way. Always probing their persona. Waiting and observing. He prepared himself for more torture, mentally he was unbreakable. Though when one was peppered by machine gun rounds, well it had its own way of bringing the mind down too.

Get out, stay alive. Thats all that Michael ever thought about.