literature

100 theme challenge 56. LUCKY 13.

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56. LUCKY 13.

The figure sat motionless in the shadow of a panel that was keeping a big red button off the floor.
The cameras in the room were disabled and not a small number of lights were smashed too.
GLaDOS had a mix between admiration and hatred for the test subject for doing this every time.
It was a costly thing of course, but it made things also a bit more exiting for herself and she loved a challenge as much as every maniac-homicidal robot did.
However, the fact the test subject wasn't moving troubled her.
Not in a caring worrying way, she was afraid it would stall the testing and she hated that.

"Come on now, this is no time for resting, this test isn't going to solve it selves you know." GLaDOS said in a way that she believed was kind of friendly.
No reaction.
A cold metallic sigh escaped GLaDOS.
There was no need for a robot like herself to sigh, but it was something she liked to do because it expressed her impatience with the intolerant behaviour of the humans so well.

"I believe I told you before, there is enough adrenaline in this air to keep you up and running for a long long time, you just CAN'T be tired. And I know you're not dead. I am constantly monitoring your heartbeat and I can see its beating. It's beating very well. A bit too fast even to be honest, are you scared? Not that I can blame you. But you're definitely not dead… yet. "

Still no movement, no reaction.
The silent figure sat in the shadows, just a sliver of orange jumpsuit visible.
It was clear there was no arguing with this person.

GLaDOS thought a few seconds about her next move.
There were literally thousands of ways she could *motivate* the test subject, but se really wanted it to move on own account.
She browsed through the archives and found a strange fact about this test room that, if she would have been capable to, would have made her smile.

"Okay then, I think I know what the problem here is. It says here this is the room where most testers stop trying, and it has to do with the number 13! It's a superstitious thing!"
No reply.
"And it is silly. I mean, come on, do you even know where this came from? It's about the Christian story where Jesus and his 12 disciples are having the last supper. Judas, who became a traitor, was the 13th person in the room. It has nothing to do with THIS room! So if you'd please be so kind to move your fat behind…"
GLaDOS still thought she was being polite because of the use of the word *please*.
There was no reaction from the grey figure in the shadow though.

GLaDOS lost her patience.
"You're going to move sister!" she said and rose the panel right beneath the test subject, slowly bringing her towards the ceiling.
As soon as she'd see that death by crushing was upon her, she'd move.
But instead of that a small voice said: "Hey!"

Baffled GLaDOS lowered the panel.
Then she started to chuckle.
"Well well! Look who's not a mute anymore all of a sudden! This is indeed a nice surprise."
This was all too good.
"I guess from now on we'll have some more response, won't we?"
The figure was once more silent.

"Nonono, we won't have that."
Once more the panel on which the orange-clad figure sat rose.
"Put me down!"
"There we go, talkative again. Sure, I'll let you down."
GLaDOS didn't even lie this time and lowered the panel as promised.

"There, you see? I can be nice if you are! I know you hate me but there is absolutely no reason to…"
"I don't hate you."

GLaDOS had one of those rare moments she didn't know how to react.
That drove her mad, she usually was so witty!
Almost desperate she tried to think of a way to add a fat-joke to the situation.
Instead she muttered: "Ex… excuse me?"
"I don't hate you!"
This was a complete surprise.

GLaDOS started to wonder if it was a trick or is the test subject was being sincere.
No, it HAD to be a trick.
"You're not fooling anybody missy, you hate my guts! I'm the one that keeps on hurting you remember! I'm the one that keeps insulting you and keeps you running."
"I don't blame you!"

Another surprise.
Could it be the test subject got depressed and started to blame everything on herself?
That would be so great!
It would give the testing a whole other dimension!

"Well, it IS you who's to blame here so I can see your point. The only right thing to do, just to make it up a bit, is to keep on testing I guess. Up and go then!"
But there came no more reaction.
GLaDOS started to worry.
What if the high heartbeat meant there was something wrong with the test subject that would prevent further testing?
Oh no, not on her watch!
If there was going to be an end to the testing it would be because SHE killed the test subject, nothing else!
"That's it, I'm gonna bring you to my room right away. I'll bring you back here when I'm sure you're able… well, remotely capable… to continue testing.

The panel that had been rising a couple times now sank into the floor and with sickening speed descended towards GLaDOS' room.
When it arrived GLaDOS didn't look at the figure, keeping up the cold act.
She did her best to ban all the worry out of her voice when she spoke.
"There, you're in my room, which never happened to another test subject, and might have fatal consequences."
"There you are. I see you."
"Well, dúh! That's why I brought you here. I wanted to see you eye to…"
GLaDOS turned around and stared into a red optic.
On the panel stood a turret, wrapped in an orange jumpsuit.
"I see you." it repeated.

"OH no! No no no no!"
GLaDOS rushed towards a bunch of monitors and began looking around in test chamber 13.
There was no-one there!
Every corner was inspected, no sign of the tester.
"This can't be true!"
GLaDOS moved her big body towards a wall, opened a portal in test chamber 13 and in her own room and stuck her head through.
"Goodbye." said the turret.

The test chamber was empty, except for a small pile of tiles.
The tiles originally belonged in a corner that was very dark because of all the broken lights and hardly visible.
The corner now had an opening and GLaDOS moved the portal in the test chamber closer so she could look inside the hole.
"Come back you!" she shouted.

But Chell had been gone for over an hour already.
She was absolutely not superstitious.
number 56 in the portal 100 theme challenge by [link]

GLaDOS learns that luck is all in what you do with the options you have...

next: [link]
previous: [link]
first: [link]
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GMYumil's avatar
FUCK YES 100 THEMES PORTAL IS BACK! I am literally flipping my shit right now - this is amazing!

Also, I like how you'd only notice that it was a turret if you were paying attention. It's touches like this that make people go back and re-read - brilliant job!