Chapter Text
You awoke to the sound of the familiar robotic voice, trying to guide you as they usually did to ensure you were doing well. But your head was pounding. You had experienced side effects with stasis before, most people had. But this felt way more intense, and as the crackle of the voice over the intercom went silent from static you began to take in your surroundings.
Your room was covered in dust, and the usual light that came in through the blinds was a lot mroe dim now. You felt pains in your joints, you’ve definitely been in stasis for far too long. How long were you out? What the hell happened?
That's when you hear another voice, more clear this time. You stumble out of bed as it becomes more clear. “Hello? Are you awake in there? Hellooooo!” He calls. It’s a bit grating, considering the headache, but after a moment to clear your head you go over to the door. He let's out a surprised yell as you open the door. “AH! Oh your awake, god you look terr- I mean you look great, considering the circumstances, been in stasis a long time.”
He says, as you look up at him. He slides into the room, his blue glowing eye keeping track of you as he moves down his rail into your room. You rub your face with your hands. “Alright, alright, how are you feeling? Should get that out of the way first shouldn’t we? Doin okay? All the human parts… humaning?”
You nod, taking your face away from your hands. “Yeah, Yeah I’m good. Just need time to wake up. What’s happening?”
“Oh good! Brain damage isn’t bad. Not that I was thinking you had brain damage it was just an er- risk. But you seem great, great really I promise.” He says, trailing off for a moment. “Anyways- going on. One, things are er- falling apart. A lot of stuff actually. No need to panic! That’s why I’m here. I’ve got a plan to get us out of here, but first we got to get you out of recreation. But you have plenty of-”
[ATTENTION: PREPARE FOR IMMEDIATE EMERGANCY EVACUATION]
“-DON’T PANIC, prepare, just prepare!” He says, obviously trying to calm himself too.
“Evacuation? What the hell has happened while I was asleep?” You ask, now feeling your heartrate jump.
“Nothing- nothing. Well, the caretakers of this place are gone. And everything fell apart. But then nothing! Nothing for a long time actually, pretty boring. You got to sleep right through it, lucky you.” He says, his voice going quieter for a moment. “But! We need to get you out of here, hold onto something okay, this uh, might get a bit bumpy.”
He goes into a hatch in the ceiling, and suddenly you feel the pod that is your room lift up. You back up against the closest, and feel the swinging of the room- before it crashes into things. You do your best to hold onto the closet doorway as the room swings and moves. Finally, it crashes through a wall and you almost fall over. You carefully jump out of the room onto some of the wreckage. Looks like getting out of here is going to be a long trip.
--
Everything had changed, plants had grown everywhere. Mildew and other gross stuff crawling up and down the walls. Half the place in rubble. Atleast there was some nice places where flowers had managed to grow, and you found an old portal gun. Could only shoot the blue one, but hopefully it’ll get you far enough to find the imrpoved one or get this one imrpoved. Or, if your lucky, it’ll be enough to get you out of here.
As you hop into another room, there’s seemingly no exit. But, the familiar ball slides on his rail over. “Okay, so if were going to go any further-”
“Hey sorry- can I ask something real quick?” You say, you hate to interrupt but since you got out of your room he’s been non-stop talking whenenver you see him. Plus he’s been too far for you to have a proper conversation.
“Oh- er- of course!” He says, spinning a bit in place.
“You didn’t tell me your name.” You say, telling him yours before waiting.
“Oh, how terribly rude. I’m Wheatley! I run the recreational area, though you already know that now I guess.But all of that wasn’t my fault!” He quickly clarifies, before mimicking the sound of clearing his throat. “Anyways- if were to go any further I need to pop out of this thing. But they told me if I ever come off the rails, I would die.”
“Oh god, surely we can find another way?” You ask quickly.
“No, I’ve looked everywhere trust me. But, I’m hoping I won’t actually die. So I’m just gunna er, pop off this thing and I need you to try and catch me, incase I don’t die. Can you do that?” He asks, and you give a nod and prepare. “Alright, one, two, three!” He backs up. “Ah- now giving myself time to count just makes it harder-”
“It’s okay, I’ll catch you!” You say, trying to reassure him.
“Alright, alright. I’ll just er- do it! One!” He says, before popping off. You quickly catch him, but he’s a lot heavier than you expect and you fall backwards with him. His eyes are tight shut before he looks around. “I’m… not dead!” He let's out a relieved laugh. “Brilliant! And great catch, landing needed a little work. But you did great!” He says, you smile.
“Just glad your not dead, you had me worried. Wouldn’t want to lose you so soon.” You say with a smile. He seems surprised for some reason before making another noise of clearing his non-existant throat.
“Right! Yes, of course. Alright, let me show you something. Put me in that socket over there.” He says, and you take him over to it, placing him inside gently. “I uh- can’t do it if your watching actually.” He says, and you turn around. There’s some quick beeps before you hear something move. You turn as a panel opens up. “See! Secret door! Did it all by myself, while you were turned around. Pick me back up please.”
You pick him back up, this time using the portal gun to lift him. It’s much easier to hold him up and steady, though he gives you an odd look for a moment. But it passes quick. “You did great Wheatley! Can’t do this without you.” You say with a smile.
He looks happy, before nodding his sphere. “Yes yes, your a lucky human to have me. Let’s get moving!” He says, and you begin heading down the hallway. “This is amazing! We can go anywhere we want! No rails to tie us down no sir! Actually uh- where do we need to go?” He says, you stop and look around. “Oh uhm, just follow the rails actually.”
The two of you navigate the facility, luckily the rails leading you right to where you need to go. You enter a large tube full of switches. “Alright, just look for the one that says escape hatch. Don’t look at anything else, well I mean of course you-”
“I got it buddy.” You say, raising him above your head so he can get a better look.
“Right, right. Uh, I’m not seeing it here. Do you?” He asks, looking back down after a moment.
“No, I can’t even tell if half of em are labelled.” You reply. Not to mention there’s a chance it could be one of the ones at the top.
“Alright uh, pop me in that socket! And I’ll turn the lights on in a jiffy.” He says, and you place him in the socket carefully. As the lights turn on you look around again, and then the platform begins to rise. “Oh uh- not supposed to happen. Uh, here let me slow it down.” He says, it stops for a moment, before going faster. “Ah that just made it faster didn’t it?”
As you reach the top, his ramblings- starting to turn into panic ramblings, are drowned out in your mind as you see the larger machine start to turn back on. You’ve heard the horror stories. You know there’s a big chance neither of you will survive this encounter. You turn to Wheatley. “Alright, AAAB. No that didn’t work.” He mumbles.
“We got to get out of here bud!” You say, and yank him from the socket. He let's out a pained yelp, but you begin to run with him under your arm. Then, there’s a loud screech as part of the floor gives out and the two of you fall far,far down.