[Video; Action??]

[donttestme]

[Chell stares at the camera of this little device she found in her pocket. It may not have the same white, modern curves of an Aperture device, but it was something meant to record and monitor, which mean there was someone(something) watching and listening. She glares at it, fury burning in her eyes. Her lips form a slight frown, which grows deeper as the feed carries on.

Her hand shakes and she cuts the feed suddenly, because she’s about to scream at the device and whoever is monitoring her (as if it could be anything else).

She was supposed to be free!]

...

[She takes a deep breath, and suddenly, the anger is gone. It would be safe to turn the camera back on, but she doesn’t. She sent her message. She’s just waiting now, for her to make contact, to tell her she was kidding and then start insulting her intelligence, her weight, her parentage, whatever she thought would get to her.

It wouldn’t. It never would. No one would ever get that satisfaction.

She starts walking down the halls, testing doors, looking for a way out. She’s not going to waste time standing around until she gets an answer, if any is to come.]

[Edit: And now she's smashing mirrors on her way.]


Comments

[whatseparates]

So what's on your legs?

that's so not a fair exchange, Chell

[donttestme]

[... Well he just might be about to make it her business.]

Boots.

[She raises that eyebrow again.]


What's in your genes?

[Not that the longfall boots are particularly traumatic. Well, mentally - they still partially consist of those Aperture Knee Replacements, but she couldn't remember not having those.]

[Point is, if he's willing to talk about himself more, then so will she. If not, then he can leave it at boots, and she'll leave it at splicer.]

[whatseparates]

...ADAM. The drug is called ADAM. Plasmids. Who knows what else.

[donttestme]

[Those words don't mean anything to Chell, but they're names, at least.]

Longfall boots.

[And... Well. Let's do some testing of an idea.]

[The almost smiling look goes away.]

... And Aperture Science Advanced Knee Replacements.

[She watches his face for a reaction - for recognition at the brand.]

[whatseparates]

_{[There is a tiny flash, because Aperture almost sounds similar to Rapture, but...no.]}

Ap...erture?

[donttestme]

[... You pass. Chell's shoulders relax, a little, and she nods.]

[But, curious. Whatever scientific background he came from, Aperture wasn't involved.]

[... That didn't mean he was from a different world. Those kids were obviously sheltered.]

[whatseparates]

_{[Here, let Jack clarify his question.]}

What's an aperture?

[donttestme]

[Well you see Jack, an aperture is... ... uh... an... opening...
...]

[Chell only looks lost for a second - because this guy probably just wants to know what aperture means in relation to her boots.]

Aperture Sciences is... A company.

[She winces. Better define it more for Jack. At least, to give him an idea of what it is.]

They run tests. ... For science.

[You might notice at this point that Chell is wearing a tank top that says 'Aperture' across it.]

[She also looks - well, her nose is wrinkling, and she's almost scowling at this mention of Aperture.]

[whatseparates]

They didn't ask if you wanted your knees replaced, did they.

[donttestme]

[Chell's eyes snap to Jacks, and she makes her expression neutral again.]

[... however... Her eyes flick to the side, briefly.]

I don't think so.

[whatseparates]

You don't remember.

[donttestme]

[Her arm curls tighter on the cube.]

...

[She doesn't answer, but it's pretty clear by the look in her eyes and how tense she is that the answer is 'No'.]

[... She doesn't want to talk about this. And technically, she's not.]

[whatseparates]

Want to see one of my plasmids?

_{[In the interest of exchange, now that he's clearly exposed something uncomfortable.]}

[donttestme]

[Chell blinks, kind of surprised at the sudden change of topic, and what it is.]

[He didn't really explain what plasmids even were. Maybe, in exchange, she could... Demonstrate the Longfalls? She didn't have the portal gun anymore, that was the extent she could do.]

[She looks a little wary, and takes a moment to consider it, but she slowly nods. Yeah, let's see your plasmids, Jack.]

[whatseparates]

_{[He takes a step back.]}

Throw that thing at me.

[donttestme]

[... No. She doesn't get the feeling that Jack is a threat, necessarily, but... She doesn't want to part with something that can deflect bullets and lasers.]

[... This could be a trap.]

[But it might not be a trap.]

[She narrows her eyes as she thinks about this.]

[Finally, she reasons that if he starts doing something aggressive, she could disappear back through the door, and out the window. Unless his genes or whatever can save him from jumping off a building, he won't be able to follow.]

[Slowly, she moves the cube in front of her. She looks from it, to Jack, and then tosses it at him.]

[whatseparates]

_{[His hand snaps out, and the cube stops, hovering in midair between them, spinning gently.]}

[donttestme]

[Chell's eyes widen when he stops the cube in mid air with nothing but... His mind and his hands, apparently. Her portal gun could kind of catch objects, but it was a visible thing and also highly advanced technology.

She realizes this could also mean that he was technically never disarmed. But...

Well. She kept her cube. He kept his telekinesis.]

[She's warier, now, but she's still just observing. Maybe her weight shifts, so she's ready to jump back through that door. But she's not. Jack hasn't given her a reason to, yet. He's just demonstrating.]

[whatseparates]

_{[He actually...doesn't know how to put things down gently with the plasmid, so he just sort of...pulls it back into his hands and puts it down manually. Then he nudges it back toward her with his foot.]}

[donttestme]

[Returning the cube has earned huge points for Jack. Chell crouches and picks up the cube - out of habit, she does it in a way that has her less vulnerable, still ready to escape if need be. No offense, Jack, just how her last who knows how long has been.]

[She looks at the cube and bites the inside of her cheek as she mulls the demonstration over in her head. So, telekinesis. She doubted that was it, the way Jack acted. But if this was all he was comfortable showing, then Chell wouldn't ask for more.]

[She looks up at him.]

Is there a way on to the roof?

[whatseparates]

_{[Silently, he points to a door wayyyy down at the other end of the hallway.]}

[donttestme]

[Chell nods, and heads for it.]

Follow me.

[whatseparates]

<sub>[He glances at his gun still on the floor, then shrugs tightly and leaves it. He still has his plasmids.

He follows Chell.]</sub>

[donttestme]

[Chell takes her cube with her. She doesn't want to just drop it in the middle of the hallway, especially since it will take her awhile to get back to it.]

[They walk to the roof in silence, which is a fact I am sure surprises no one.]

[And then, they're on the roof... And... Outside...]

...

[Chell looks at the sky. It's blue. There are a few puffy, white clouds. She can feel the sun. The breeze - an actual breeze, not drafts, not the mechanical circulation of recycled oxygen and adrenal vapor...]

[She can see green, too. Forest, grass, water...]

[It feels like it was only yesterday - or maybe a few days ago - when she had almost made it out the first time. Before she was dragged away from it... And before then...]

[She didn't recall much before waking up from stasis the first time. White halls, white panels, white lights. Clipboards, sterilized air...]

...


[Okay Jack, demonstration's going to have to wait for a bit, Chell needs a moment.]

[whatseparates]

_{[Jack glances at her, and heads to the edge of the roof, sits down and dangles his feet over, kicking them a bit.]}