So, here we go again! It's always such a pleasure~

Disclaimer: I do not, nor will ever, own Portal.

~~~~infLEssibiLE~~~~

Betrayal, it seemed, was imminent. It simply wasn't optional, opt able, or exchangeable; it was always part of a certain woman's life. The air ripped and tore at her back harshly as she plummeted, eyes watering at the sheer force of the fall. She felt the greatest sensation of weightlessness at the lack of gravity, vaguely wondering if this was what it felt like to fly. She imagined that it felt as if the entire world was entirely expansive, waiting for your curiosity to lead you to discover its holes and fill the gaps. However, members of the avian species had feathers and air-light bones in order to glide effortlessly above the world without worry. Chell, obviously, did not.

Stabbing sadness and anger coursed through each and every vein, disbelief at the sudden change of 'heart' the cheerful core had experience bare seconds prior to her escape. Punching the elevator she was huddled in deep into the core of the earth only added insult to injury. It didn't add up, she'd thought at first; Wheatley only wanted to escape, not run an entire science facility. He'd been utterly at a loss at what to do during the reactor core meltdown, so surely the more complex processes of Aperture would set his head spinning. Chell couldn't quite picture the friendly British ball lording over Aperture, either.

Sighing, she contemplated the possibility that this was all a setup, a trap. It did not seem too far-fetched considering what else the human had seen and avoided in the facility. GlaDOS, whom she first thought was a simple prerecorded voice firing off automated responses, had tried to murder her with gallons of neurotoxin coupled with witty insults. You'd think after that incident that the woman would be prepared for it all, but this new predicament proved that assumption false. Mulling that over, Chell decided that it was indeed decently possible that Wheatley had planned this all from the start.

"You know, I do believe I finally see why you've insisted on keeping your weight so..terminal." A familiar voice droned, sounding thoroughly vexed.

Alarmed, the test subject jerked her head to the right, searching for its source. She moved too suddenly it seemed, for her body tilted to the side and she found herself now hurtling sideways. Not used to being anything other than upright, the girl gasped, frantically attempting to push her body back into the proper falling position. She flailed for a few exhilarating seconds before the long-fall boots corrected her posture effortlessly, swinging her body around until the flexible heel was once more facing downwards. Now upright , Chell cast her gaze, not her head this time, locating the recently-potato'd queen of Aperture.

"Well, that only put us behind for a grand total of 7.537 seconds." The potato sneered, her optic flickering with the pronunciation of each word. Somehow GlaDOS was able to make a vegetable that had probably been infested with colonies of bacteria at one point sound sarcastic. Not to mention, bitter. That definitely wasn't a sweet potato the AI was currently imprisoned in.

"Also, while we're on the subject of time, we have been falling to god-knows-where for approximately 26 seconds. That is about half a minute, you may or may not be aware." There was a noise that sounded strangely similar to a disgusted gag.

"That's more than enough time in my life that I need to spend personally with you. I now see why the location humans call Hell is so far underground. When you die, you're forced to plummet seemingly endlessly into the dreaded afterlife of fire and pain and suffering. And with who, at that? The most despicable beings on the planet that you will be spending the rest of your death being in constant company with. Whether this Hell exists or not, the concept is rather ingenious."

Frowning deeply, Chell glared at the now-tiny AI, gleefully imagining taking a whisk, beating her thoroughly with it, and then making some rather delicious mashed potatoes. Not that the horrifically horrific GlaDOS would ever be acceptable to eat, but at least it was an encouraging thought nonetheless. A frightened gasp interrupted her fantasy, bringing her attention back to the present situation. Finding nothing no longer in front of her, Chell realized that during her momentary distraction GlaDOS had ended up a couple feet below her. The nature of gravity and her small size causing her to fall faster than the larger human had pulled the AI closer to her fate. The yellow optic flashed in and out of view as the potato spiraled, resembling a stress beacon.

"Now you see why your vastly superior surface area is beneficial, for once; I'll come in direct collision with whatever lies in this ominously deep pit before you do, and consequently become a mashed potato, before you do." Her voice dripped with anger, but it shook with the anxiety she was obviously trying to mask.

"...What is worse is that I won't get to see you splattered on the ground before I die, again, either. Disappointing."

This particular comment was responded to with a whack to the high-fructose AI's organic self with the sturdy (and respectfully thick) side of the ASHPD. One satisfying 'pock' and stunned 'Ow!' later, Chell found herself snickering silently in spite of it all.

Her body crashing into a set of strong boards of wood immediately silenced the test subject, also succeeding in knocking her off balance. The boots rapidly attempted to right her again, pushing her legs back down the correct way, but another section of spider-webbing planks sent her feet into the air, flipping the woman upside-down. Disoriented, Chell blinked confusedly, wincing at the splinters sinking into her exposed skin. A bright light from above caught her attention, her mouth opening slightly in surprise. The elevator, following their descent, had gotten its wires caught, hanging suspended. There was a massive feeling of relief; death by elevator was one thing off the list. That was Chell's last thought before her head came in contact with something metal, causing her to cry out in pain, vision already beginning to blur. As she fought a vain battle to stay conscious, she tightened her fingers around the grip of the portal gun, pulling it against her chest in a last effort to shield it from the oncoming crash. She was immensely grateful that she slipped into unconsciousness before she was splattered against the ground.

Gradually, bits and pieces of her eyesight returned, piecing together in a jigsaw. She saw double, the edges of objects blurred, and everything was distorted.

But she was alive. Her back hurt, strangely that was all that gave off pain, though. As Chell became more aware, she noticed that the elevator seemed extremely high. Although she had fallen a considerable amount of distance since her last glance at the glass death-machine, it was just impossible that it would tower above her at this height.

Groaning, the woman tried to lift her arms, to push off the ground into a sitting position. To her horror, she found she couldn't move a muscle. It was as if her limbs didn't exist at all. With a growing anxiety, Chell realized that perhaps her encounter with the rock-solid earth wasn't as harmless as she had originally thought; couldn't hitting the ground from such a height with such force potentially ruin her spinal cord? Judging by her apparent-paralysis, yes.

Vision still foggy, muddled, Chell desperately peered around, trying to familiarize herself with her surroundings. Aside from the enlarged elevator, she was surrounded on all other dimensions by pure blackness. It was unsettling, trapped helpless in a place of mystery and probably mortal danger. Chell found she was beginning to panic, feelings of pure desperation welling up until they filled her whole.

"Oh, you're awake."

While under normal conditions the cold, calculating voice would have spurred a negative reaction in the woman, happiness spread through her, washing away the despair. She wasn't alone. She didn't have the most wonderful company, per say, but at least she wasn't going to suffer in solitude. Darting her regard around, Chell saw GlaDOS laying just a foot or two from her. By some stroke of luck, the AI had landed so her potato form was propped upright, illuminated by the elevator's flickering light. The yellow of her optic lightened at her look.

"Excellent! Listen to this, I have fantastic news, that I've been plainly dying to tell you." Yellow faded in and out in an expression of what could only be described of eagerness. Of course, the AI let a few moments of silence pass to increase the dramatic effect. It was intensified by the bleak darkness, and Chell found herself willing GlaDOS to get to the point. Her wish was granted mere moments later, with a hushed and excited voice of auto tune.

"It would appear that you have undergone a miraculous experience while knocked under. By a pipe, I might add. You'd think after dodging bullets and lasers, not to mention endeavoring your next murder of me, that your hard head would be immune to such mundane objects."

So that was what had abused her head. If she'd had her voice at this moment, she would have told GlaDOS that hitting a metal pipe head-on under the conditions they had been in before was slightly different than hopping over a laser or avoiding bullets to the chest, but as it were, she just remained silent. Her thoughts soon latched onto the 'miraculous experience' GlaDOS had mentioned. What did she mean..? Had she morphed into some sort of creepy toad that released neurotoxin on command? If so, she was undoubtedly about to rise even higher on her nemesis' favorite list. Ironic.

Pleased by the woman's pondering, the AI continued.

"Heheh..it is quite amusing to watch you attempt to conjure up possibilities, at least one of which includes cake and adding to your volume, but we'd be here all night waiting for your feeble brain to find the correct conclusion."

The insults were back, not after five minutes of Chell's awakening. Aperture's Wake-up Call via insane supercomputer had her rolling her eyes. Well, she tried to. While she could move her stare, it appeared she couldn't move her actual eyeballs. Chell shuddered.

"Before you have some sort of mental breakdown, allow me to assure you that I know precisely what you're going through. Really."

At this, the human paused. It was extremely odd for GlaDOS to say, especially since Chell had no idea what she was referring to. She watched the AI warily, waiting for an elaboration.

"Anyway, you know how hilarious it is being a potato?"

She sounded absolutely giddy, her optic brightening, the vegetable itself literally shaking in her delight. Astounded, Chell grunted questionably in misunderstanding. GlaDOS despised being a potato; she had made that clear when falling down the not-so bottomless pit they'd both been banished to. What could make her change her digital mind? The whole thing seemed so preposterous, and she was sure this was one of GlaDOS' mind tricks.

"Oh, me being a root vegetable isn't hilarious; it's ludicrous. You being one, however, it is just tragically humiliating that it's humorous."

Chell felt her heart halt, time slowing to a complete stop. Her sense came through, however; GlaDOS always lied. Always. That tidbit of knowledge calmed her, but there was still a prick of doubt. Her somehow magical transformation into a potato would explain her paralysis, lack of sight, not to mention-

"How happy you must feel. All bubbly and mushy on the inside."

She did feel mushy inside herself, disgustingly so. She could also feel the currents of electricity running through the potato, the power feeding off the natural reactions going on inside of the vegetable. She found it terribly inefficient and uncomfortable; it was almost was if she was feeding off her own body. Terror at this unknown feeling flooded her brain, smashing her easiness with one massive wave that sent it all shattering. GlaDOS' frantic voice rode over the piercing pitch of her scream.

"-Eey! Wa-"

"Gah!"

"Hey! Wake-!"

"Wake up!"

Wow. Someway somehow my first little one-shot fanfiction ended up longer than this. I must have been in an utterly rambling mood that day. That, or I'm finally learning how to get to the point in my writing. LAWL. FAT CHANCE. -cough- Seriously, though. This little FF started as an ambiguous idea that I just got the urge to put into text. It's beginning to get a bit of shape, I have the plot averagely outlined, but I'm open to suggestions you all might have! ;D Let's just keep them realistic, shall we? Also, this story will be centered around Chell and GLaDOS, as well as Old Aperture. Possible pairings later. Anyway, thanks for reading, and let's hope that you enjoyed.

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