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Author's Note: Well, it's finally happened. I've begun work on another fan fiction. One I hope to actually finish. My last couple of attempts have gotten off the ground and ended up crashing a few chapters later, so I am really hoping that this won't be the case. I've got a lot of ideas, just recently beat the game and am hyped up on energy drinks right now. Also, for anyone keeping score at home, this officially escalates me into Stage 4 of the fandom.
I am going to make this as in character as humanly possible, which may be a bit tricky considering the circumstances GLaDOS and Chell parted on. Then again, I suppose the whole reason for writing a fan fiction is to take some artistic liberty. Am I right? Although I haven't played Half-Life, I've spend a good hour reading up on history to make sure that this story fits in with the universe that these games take place in.
Needless to say, spoilers ahead.
So now, for your viewing pleasure "Hell on Earth".
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Hell on Earth
Chapter 1: A New Life
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It was funny, really. She had been dreaming of this day for who knows how long and now that it had finally come, Chell hardly knew what to do with herself. It wasn't as though she didn't have plans, ideas for her future, but a matter of acting on them. Chell frowned, prodding at the burning companion cube that had been spit out at her as she tried to come up with a plan. Wheat in this direction, fields in that...Aperture had certainly picked a prime location for secrecy and seclusion. Well, as long as she didn't walk around in circles, she was bound to run into something; a road, a house, a farmer. Some form of civilization. With a mental confirmation, Chell took one last look at the rather beat up looking companion cube, Aperture's science shed and started on her way.
The sun was shining brightly overhead in a clear, cloudless sky. Although a more optimistic mind would have taken this as a sign of well wishing on the girl's journey, Chell sorely wished for some cloud cover, maybe even a light sprinkle. Compared to the dank and cool atmosphere of the underground testing chambers, even the just a bit warmer than warm weather was smothering to the woman, and the sun's light seemed blinding and almost spiteful in its intensity. Well, there was one thing for certain. Artificial sunlight didn't hold a candle to the real thing.
Chell tried her best to stomp out her path, hoping to avoid back tracking or circling around. That was until a single, solidary tree blemished the horizon. A grin stretched across the woman's features, probably the first time an emotion had interupted her poker faced look of determination since... Chell realized she really had to think about that one. There had been a few times a smirk had pulled at her lips at Wheatley's expense, but could never afford a full out laugh or even a chortle. The poor sap had been afraid of turning on a flash light for goodness sake, and even his hacking skills were something to be poked fun at. Intelligence Dampening Sphere? More like a Gullibility Core. Her grin slowly disappeared back into her normal look of resolve, brows furrowing a bit as she reflected on her thoughts a moment. Should she have felt bad? Chell had spent so long below ground in Aperture's labs and isolated from human contact that it made her wonder what the appropriate emotional response was. She shook her head, realizing that her internal monologue was starting to sound more like a construct attempting to dichper human emotions. It was her or him. End of story.
The sun was beginning to approach the western horizon when she finally made it to the land mark, a house with a pick up truck just down the hill from it. Further past that was a dirt road, her first lead to salvation and putting Aperture behind her. From there? Who knew. Chell had childhood aspirations of becoming a scientist, like her father, but has long since then abandoned that idea. If she went her whole life without hearing the word 'science' again, Chell could have certainly lived a happy existance. Her pace was almost at a run now, fumbling a bit when her boot caught a root in the ground. Chell shook her head and jogged up the steps of the rustic little home, clunking across the planks of the porch with her high impact boots and banging on the door rather unceremoniously. Chell knew that she had been through Hell and her rush for human contact didn't leave much room for manners.
There was no answer.
Chell frowned, arching her arm back and banging on the door again. And, again, came no answer.
Maybe they weren't home. That must have been it. Chell thought for a moment and decided to test the doorknob, finding the door unlocked. From a moral stand point, she hesitated, knowing full well that breaking and entering was against the law. Then again, who left their home unlocked and unattended? Chell decided a quick peek inside wouldn't hurt anyone, resolving to stay put afterwards until the owners of the home returned.
The former test subject pushed the door open and poked her head around the corner. Chell's jaw fell slack at the sight inside, finding that the family was indeed home. Through the blood splattered living room, Chell could see the mostly decayed bodies of the assumed mother and father, another corpse lay on the floor with its skull blown apart across the floor. The former test subject finally worked up the nerve to enter the home, her steps quiet and deliberate. The blood stains were old and dried, the bodies had become husks long ago, but the stench of death still hung heavy in the air. Chell kept her distance from the kitchen, but stared at the deceased family. It looked as though they had been shot; the parents in the chest and the child in the head. But by what sort of weapon, Chell couldn't even imagine considering the explosive results of the injuries. The woman turned away from the kitchen and began to search the living room, briefly shuffling through some weathered papers. A stack of black and white fliers caught her attention, the words 'Join the Resistance' printed across their front. Resistance? To what?
It didn't seem as though there were any explanations laying around for her to find, the former test subject deciding that it wouldn't be in her best interests to hang around too long. Again, Chell felt as though she was lacking in compassion by her quick decision to take the keys to the truck outside, staring at the lifeless bodies once more. In a life or death situation, she knew she had to think on her feet and make decisions quickly. Chell knew she didn't have time to mourn the loss of a nameless family, seeing as whatever had killed them so long ago could easily return. However, she could give them one thing.
"Thanks for the truck." Chell said, her voice raspy from disuse.
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Author's Note: A short beginning, but more to come!