A lone observer gazed impassively into the depths of the lab. Occasionally an antenna would flicker, or the eyes would fill with oozing liquid, but then the arm would rise, jerking along the way. It would bring the hand to the eye and swipe hard, driving away the liquid, or grab the antenna, yanking to make it stop.

A second observer joined him, amber eyes flicking coolly over these disturbances.

"Still adjusting?"

"Yes. It has been difficult. This species has been the hardest to conquer so far."

"Don't worry. Once their consciousness fades, it is merely a matter of puppetry." The second raised the eyes to study the first's face. "You should have adjusted by now."

The first kept the eyes down at the lab. They were testing a specimen now. Aperture science was progressing well, and as they watched, another incision was made along the specimen's spine.

"Perhaps I allow their consciousness to remain." The antennae flicked forward to catch the cries of pain emitted by the specimen. "Perhaps it fascinates me, and I wish to understand the minds of the conquered. What made them fight so hard? What was worth the lives of nearly half their species that they fought to protect?"

"Does it matter?" The second interrupted. "Whatever they fought to protect, it is lost to them. They cannot regain it, now that we are in control."

"Indeed." The first nodded. "No sense crying over every mistake."

"You think it was a mistake to conquer them? They could barely rule themselves."

"No, that was not a mistake. But it could have been done differently. Perhaps in the future we will try to work from the inside of the species, instead of a frontal assault. We will find a weakness in the next species' system and exploit it, slowly so they don't know. Then we won't lose so many to the war—or self-destruction."

"You have to admit, though, we made a neat gun. It wiped out the resistance."

"Yes, but that only means fewer slaves. We have to work on our covert operations."

"Cake?"

"No thank you."

"But it's delicious and moist." She proffered a slice of dark cake on a plate. "You need it to adjust and survive."

Sighing, he accepted it. Awkwardly he scooped up a piece and maneuvered it into the mouth. After a few bites in this manner, he set it down. "That's all I can manage. It is disgusting, the needs that come with this conquest."

"It becomes easier with time. You just keep on trying until you run out of cake."

"Not today. I can't consume anymore today."

A gentle hum filled the lab, and they both turned the eyes down. The apertures had been cleared and held open as one of their own clambered over the trembling, bleeding specimen. Wires plunged from the conqueror into the holes as fresh, green blood oozed out. The specimen gave one last cry, and then fell into silence as the PAK began the second phase of conquest. The mind was the second frontier to fall in the invasion of any species.

The first observer broke the awkward silence. "Look at us, still talking when there's science to do."

The second observer chuckled dryly, "Makes me glad I'm not them."

The first laughed. "No joke. After all, there are experiments to run, and research to be done on them."

"The ones that are still alive." the second corrected.

"Yes, of course. The ones that are still alive."

Note: This was inspired by "Still Alive", the credits song on Portal or something like that. Direct references to the song are italicized. If you don't understand the situation, note me and I'll explain, but I'm hoping it got across.