Test bot

▐ ↳ ◸ He’d recognized the other, of course he did. He found them while he was in control, though they were originally Her creations. None the less, he was friendly to them. No longer being corrupt enough to try and kill, maim, or  experiment on the other bots, he’s gotten used to their hesitant stares.

And it finally dawned on him that’s what that was. Of course it was, considering their history with him. His smile grew a little sad, but none the less he kept it on. If this was a relationship he could fix, then fix he would try. There was no point in not trying, and if it could be helped, he still hoped that he could fix the mistakes of the past.

Walking up to her, he put his hands behind his back, and adjusted how he was standing so that it was more comfortable. Separating his feet a little, and rocking back and forth for a moment he nodded at her request, and motioned with his head. A quick tilt of his head back, and then to the original position, he was hoping that the close distance between them wouldn’t scare her.

               ❝ Probably isn’t good, is it? You two- you two being separated. Let me help then. You know, really, least I could do. Absolute least. Anyways, where was ATLAS when you last some him? Can’t have gone too far- well okay he has portals so he could have, but you have them as well so. We can trek an equal distance, hopefully just as fast. In the grand scheme of things, now thay I think about it- yeah no he can’t have gone far. ❞

Laughing slightly, he concluded his rambling thought, realizing all too late he did. Well, to him, while the thought was a good one to pursue, the worry that the other one held for finding her friend was more important. ◿▐

‘…’

     She did not like the close distance between the two of them. Even if the other bot was being friendly there was such a thing called deception. Their creator  has shown them first hand about that. Sure he wasn’t connected to the mainframe,he wasn’t distraught or controlling as he was before. But unlike her partner she wasn’t quick to drop her guard.      She took a step back,holding the portal gun to her chest.Eyeing him she moved to aim a orange portal at her feet as she shot the red one near the crack in the wall.Surely wide enough for her to slip through.

“…‘Ello? What are you doing…?”

The cyborg child slowly approached the android in orange, looking at her. Lumi wasn’t sure of what she was doing. But it didn’t hurt to at least ask. Besides, she was pretty curious to ask about what types of stuff this female was doing. Only because she was bored, had nothing else to do, and her kid instincts were kicking in.

‘!!–’

   Ah with a startle the Android swiftly turned only to move back and touch air.Forgetting she was on the ledge the other found gravity working against her as she fell back.It took a few seconds of silence to find her thrown back to the platform.Thank god she fired the two portals near each other on the floor below on reflex.If she would of hit ground well..another task for the reassembling bot.     Landing back she instinctively moved towards wall not wanting to repeat that mistake again.As well as keeping a cautious eye on the child clad in green.She wasn’t aware of this core.Then again she wasn’t aware of any cores asides the one that nearly destroyed the place.Keeping distance she slowly inched to the door.With her bad experience of meeting one she can only assume all cores were the same.Still she was told it was rude to not answer someone.Her continuous silence was often met with a pouty blue android fussing over her lack of communication.Not to mention maybe..a slim glimmer of hope might of presented itself considering the other may of seen their partner.

‘…’

▐ ↳ ◸ Clipboard in hand, the Intelligence Dampening Sphere was muttering under his breath. It had been a difficult task to convince Her to let him stay, but the conditions he agreed to suddenly weren’t sounding so great. He was essentially Her glorified assistant, except not glorified in the slightest. So many of these tasks She could have done easily, but instead sent the core to do them. Looking up from the clipboard, and smiling kindly at the other, he gave a small wave before adjusting his glasses. Didn’t seem like her scared expression registered for him.

             ❝ Oh! ‘Ello there. You seem a little lost? Right, yeah that’s kinda the look you’re giving. I think. Anyways, do you need help, love? Or uh… is something else wrong. Isn’t there usually another one with you? ❞ ◿▐

‘…’

    Oh no he has spotted her. She didn’t move though...Staying still she felt a newfound emotion. Like something heavy hung on her shoulders...guilt?..It carried a looming sense of doom. So is this called dread?..In anycase she took note that he was staring right at her.Giving a simple gesture of a wave...it’s only nice when ATLAS does it.      Mentioning ATLAS did cause a reaction. She finally moved with a slight fidget. Where was her partner anyways? Somewhere along the line the two had yet again split up. Unsure if it was by accident or due to the Creators amusement. Maybe that’s why the core was here in the first place. Looking around rather then meet Wheatley’s gaze she finally spoke.

‘Lost..I suppose that’s the correct term.ATLAS is most likely running around looking for me.It would be best if I received assistance in locating him....’

‘!!!’

‘...’

– && pbodied | pre-established

    One would think brothers of Prometheus to be considered enemies all the same to Pythia & her tribe; but, due to past interaction & circumstance in which they had saved her from Android Hell, she’s willing to ignore their affiliation & instead look upon them as the heroes that they are.

   Though P-Body was initially against the idea of taking her with them & only agree’d because they originally believed she’d kill a bird for them, ( & was swiftly disappointed by her lack of bullets ) the defective turret still seemed to like them, hence her reveal from hiding for the sole purpose of intercepting P-Body & greeting them with a swift hug around the waist thanks to their formidable height.

   “Menoetius !”

‘Oh..You are mistaken my name is P-Body.’

    She failed to react to the hug.A simple pat on the back as she corrected the other.Due to her partner’s eagerness for this type of affection she grew used to being hugged.Still she does have to question why the other turret calls her something else.On the other hand naming calling aside biggest question on what the fellow turret was doing here.

‘…It seems you know this gesture...huh..’

     The taller turret merely scooped up the smaller one.Shooting a portal underneath them and to the side.Popping through the red portal she set the oracle down.Looking around before crouching.

     When pulled towards he didn’t resist, but there was no mutual response. No returned embrace, just a stiff metal body held so pathetically in the arms of the much taller automaton. He thought it’d be simple– that this entire subject would be glossed over && they’d enter the disassembly machines as per usual, be re-assembled on the other end, && testing could continue.

    But no. && worst of all? It wasn’t her fault. It was his– he’s the one who initially held the curiosity and fascination with being human, he’s the one who went out of his way to bring her sentimentals or teach her new gestures. She was broken because of him… && if She doesn’t care enough to reprogram her as well, she’ll be incinerated because of him. Only so much can be done to an android’s intelligence without corrupting or wiping it, they’re such fragile things that cannot be toyed with too terribly after the first start up without risk of completely frying them all together. As far gone as P-Body was… as fast as these emotions advanced…

  Did it mean she was doomed?

  ‘ I’m… so sorry, P-Body… this is all my fault. ‘ Though heavily delayed he’d finally wrap his arms around her– hold her so tightly && bury his head into her chest plate as he usually would simply because he was too short to reach the crook of her neck. ‘ GLaDOS.. She.. I… I can’t learn anymore with you. I can’t feel anymore with you. While you were deactivated I… please, listen to me when I say these emotions are more trouble than they’re worth. I don’t want to lose you over something so trivial. I’m begging you to stop this… “crying”. Don’t worry over me, you’re the one who needs to be fixed. ’

‘ATLAS... Look at me.’

     Months went by went the two seeing each other.During that span of time she finds out GLaDOS reprogrammed her partner.Him who was always the emotional one. Who worked to be human more then she. He was her teacher now he gave up. Was forced to drop these emotions that were deemed worthless by HER.       She ran her hand through his hair like always.Thinking to herself..Wasn’t this suppose to drive a wedge?Since the very beginning their creator has purposely said things to one another to put distrust.Spewing lies of the partner talking behind their back.It didn’t work...until now.        If this was the case then it would explain why she wasn’t reprogrammed like him....Which means...she became unnecessary...Doomed to suffer in android hell...

‘I cannot deny that it hurts..But...I don’t want to give that up......’

         She moved away,releasing her embrace and leaving his.She walked to her pod watching it open up for her.She grimanced of what’s to come.

    …Did he utter a paradox? Why did… did she break ? Why was she broken ? What wasn’t there to understand ?

   When P-Body released he’d back away, staring in practical horror as the viscous fluid dripped down those frail cheeks, closing the gap between them yet again for the sole purpose of gripping her cheeks && taking a leisurely closer look at what was going on. Her eyes didn’t seem cracked but from the separation between them && the face plate it streamed forth, almost as if… meant to happen but for unknown reasons. Was it a reaction to something? A triggereable response?

  He’d reach to wipe away her tears himself only to be stopped cold, hunching over && stifling a pained groan; a broken && glitchy movement as he moved away && attempted to pull himself back together. Every time he has… those sympathetic emotions… he…

   ‘ You’re broken. It doesn’t matter. It will be fixed when you’re re-assembled, now go forward or else i’ll drag you into the disassembly chamber myself. ‘

‘…..’

   She wiped the remaining of tears.Her questions on his reaction were put on hold.She would cast her sorrowful gaze towards the tiled flooring.She would walk towards the toward waiting for him to follow.As it opened it revealed the stairs that would lead to the disassembling chambers.Small steps forward as she lingered near the chamber. Hesitant on entering the pod to be disassembled and transported to the next testing area.

‘…..I don’t understand because we both strived to be human.To understand human emotions..We became capable of learning them.. This bad feeling...’

    She trailed closer to ATLAS.Her arms reached to pull him in a strong embrace.Her tears continued as she spoke.

      ‘ … ‘

    This was torture. Though he’d open his mouth to say something so simple, three little words– even two could of sufficed, a ‘not your fault’ or ‘don’t apologize’ but neither of which could he manage. When she reached for him he initially backed away, scanning over her form for what felt like multiple minutes before reaching out && intertwining his fingers with her own. 

   ‘ It’s because I am different. I’ve realized my folly, i’ve realized that I was never meant to retain human emotions. My purpose is to test, & nothing more. Please, understand, & proceed into the next chamber. ’

   A subtle shaking could be felt thanks to their palms still meeting, his expression blank and yet an unnerving remorse seen within those blue hues.  Why was he left capable of the emotions he had already contracted like a disease? Why didn’t she wipe them? Instead, he was only… incapable to further learn & punished for reflecting on that which he already knew.

   ‘ The bad feelings will go away when you give up your humanity. ’

‘…..’

     She felt her finger intertwine with his.Every word he spoke felt ..painful.Like she was receiving pain just by words alone.Crazy right?...Upon the last sentence she  mused over his words.Yes they were only meant to test but their explorations.The objects they found the gestures they learned.She learned so much from him and he wanted her to give that up...

‘…I am unable to understand ATLAS.’

     With her eyes peering down she felt oil streak her face.Letting go of his hand she wiped the trail that stained her face. Generally surprised of this she  continued to wipe her supposed tears.

     —“Oh Blue, you were doing so well, but now i’m deducting two opportunity advisement points as you didn’t use the laser on Orange. Counterproductive, but it would of been funny. To me. Ha. Ha.”

    Over the intercom sounded their guiding voice, the one that they would usually taunt up until now– the one who had reprogrammed him for the sole purpose of driving a wedge between the two & slowing the advancement of his sentience, successfully. To P-Body’s voice he turned again– this time his body rather than just his head, walking towards the other until they were no more than perhaps a foot or so away.

    ‘ Hello. ’ He’d greet half-heartedly, raising his right hand for a wave gesture. ‘ I’m speaking, && now i’ve spoken. Am I not allowed to be quiet? ’ 

                —‘ ᴾˡᵉᵃˢᵉ ᵈᵒᶰ’ᵗ ˡᶤˢᵗᵉᶰ ᵗᵒ ᵐᵉ˒ ᴵ ᵈᵒᶰ’ᵗ ᵐᵉᵃᶰ ᶤᵗˑ ’

‘…Ah..Apologies then..’

     She  gave a tiny wave back before letting her arm drop to her side.A frown settling on her face as she tried to compute her thoughts.She didn’t understand this feeling.Casting her eyes down the bot took a step forward.A hand went to reach for Atlas.Stopping  mid reach as is cold gaze locked with her’s.

            —  @pbodied 

Upon the request to proceed forward that sounded from the all-too familiar speakers did he trudge through the malfunctioning emancipation grill && into the next chamber– this, too, with a wall running down its middle to keep him && his partner separated. It’s been… days, maybe weeks since he’s last seen her, && here they were… testing from opposite sides of a room.

A portal placed at his feet && another up ahead, moving through gave the chance to look behind the corner on which the violet passageway was placed, the reveal of a laser && turrets beyond the glass on P-Body’s side. Fortunate that he brought along the laser cube retrieved from an annoying time-conscious puzzle, even if it supposedly was not supposed to be here.

Without much reaction beyond his cold stare would the Discouragement Redirection Cube be placed on angle with the laser, moved to redirect the Thermal Discouragement Beam directly at each of the insectoid-esk robots just as they activated upon Orange’s approach, causing them to burst into flames && scream in that annoying screechy && auto-tuned way, a side-glance given towards P-Body before he continued further. No wave, no words– as the turrets exploded he proceeded to the next exit way quietly, expecting further separation between the two.

 ‘...’

    She quietly followed through each test.Noticing the lack of gaze given by her partner.She had no way of reaching him.The turret frozen once he aimed the cube at the covered passage.She was aware of the turrets station there by the red beam that shone on the wall.Moving back she hear the bots cry from the erruption of flames.One by one they exploded leaving the other to herself.     Her gaze instantly went to the core who walked away with no emotion.It ledt her to worry about him.ATLAS always knocked over the turrets to put them in sleep mode rather then damage them.But this...To see him have a change of heart..     Slowly moving to the exit she burst in a run hoping the next chamber would reunite the two.Sadly that wasn’t the case,with the glass still dividing them she took some wary glances at ATLAS.Seeing him fire his portal away and waiting for her to do the same.So she complied, shooting the ball left and right between the two.No mess ups no deaths.It was shocking to get the timing just right on the puzzle.As he caught the object and set it in place she pressed forward.     Seeing the chambers finally meld to one she saw him rush to the exit.Jumping off the platform she stayed her distance from the door knowing it would not open until she stepped forward.Standing off from the camera she spoke softly.