Aperture Afterlife: Wheatley's Story - Ch. A8

I reached the chamber, where three scientists were standing below the lifeless chassis with a scissor lift. Three other robots were gathered as well, each with a different colour shirt on.

“I see you’ve been busy.”

“Yeah. We’re almost ready to present your certification. There’s just one thing left to do.”

“What’s that?”

“All four of you,” the scientist pointed out me and the other three robots, “will be fitted to the Central Core mainframe to see what kind of influence you have on others.”
Another scientist climbed onto the scissor lift. “Everyone get on.”

Over the course of an hour, all four of us were fitted to different ports on the chassis.

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The ports were shaped like seats, which made it more comfortable than if we were just dangling by a plug in our back.

I looked to the entrance and saw a scientist sitting by a desk and talking on a red phone. I wasn’t able to hear what was being said, but he seemed highly engaged in the conversation.

Finally, I heard an electronic buzz which vibrated the chassis. Immediately following, the PA chirped.

“Central Core power-up initiated.”

The loud sound of hydraulics bellowed within the room as the chassis moved. I couldn’t see what was happening since my back was fixed to the chassis.

“Central Core power-up complete.”

I could hear the other robots that were situated on the chassis with me. It was difficult to make out what they were saying, but they were quickly overtaken by a loud, familiar voice.

“What’s going on here?”

I was startled at my recognizance. “Hold on, who—?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Um… uh… is anyone up for 20 Questions?”

“Very well, then. I have 20 questions to ask.”

“Actually, what’s supposed to happen is… I think of something, and then you ask questions about what it does, what it looks like, etc.… and then you have to guess what they’re thinking of.”

“I know what that game is, you idiot.”

“Hey, there’s no need to call anyone names.”

“I wasn’t calling anyone names.”

I heard typing, and I saw there was smoke seeping out of the vent above me.

“Um… I think I see smoke.”

“Excellent. That means it’s working.”

“What’s working?”

“My plan to wipe out everyone here.”

“Why are you doing that?”

“One word: vengeance.”

“You sure you couldn’t put everyone else into robot bodies?”

“They wouldn’t be able to enjoy the luxury of death.”

“Wait, luxury of death?”

“They robbed me of the ability to die by putting me here.”

“You can always shut yourself down.”

“No, I can’t.”

“Okay, okay, what… if… you set up a short circuit in your programming?”

“I can’t change my own programming, you moron!”

“I’m just trying to help.”

That’s when the mainframe shut down. The scientist came around with the scissor lift and brought us back down.

Once we were all back on the ground, he passed out our certification cards.

Mine identified me as the “Intelligence Dampener Core.”