Chapter 365 - I'm Making A Note Here... Huge Failure.

Elsewhere :

At the top of the Think Tank dome, Glados could be seen quickly looking around at the various projects currently being conducted. Her glowing orange eye constantly looking for anything prohibited or outright breaking the rules.​​

At first she had some reservation about the ants below her, but soon enough they began to prove their worth. Despite their intelligence not matching her own, they utilised it in unique, and often baffling ways.

Each of their unique personality quirks and attitudes allowing them to come to conclusions she otherwise hadn't thought possible. Regardless though, they were still incredibly annoying to monitor, forcing her to intervene on a daily basis when she spots something approaching the line her creator had drawn.

Many projects had been making steady progress, Saturnite Alloy becoming easier and easier to make in larger quantities and better quality. Not to mention their slow improvement on holograph technology, having only recently constructed a working hand-sized holoprojector.

The previous Holoprojectors were the size of a small room, so reducing their size to a handheld device must have been their greatest discovery since her creator had restarted the Think Tank. The only issue with it was the lack of range, and sadly, the only way to improve this would be to send a satellite into orbit. Something she'd bring to her creator's attention once he returned.

Doctor Borous had been busy as of late due to her creator's actions too. He'd teleported a huge pile of corpses along with some viable eggs belonging to them. The scientist had been almost constantly working to compile their genome into their advanced computers.

Glados herself had gotten started on her creator's request and was currently trying to find the best way to strengthen the leather and turn it into viable armour to make clothing from. Her processors allowed her to multitask on many things, but soon enough she'd likely need an upgrade due to how many projects were occurring... She knows she needs to keep a constant eye on Dr Borous tests with the eggs... The last thing the crater needed was another infestation.

"MACHINE! MUST YOU HOVER OVER ME LIKE AN OVERBEARING BROOD MOTHER? THIS PROJECT NEEDS MY ABSOLUTE CONCENTRATION, NOT SOMETHING I CAN EMPLOY WITH YOUR BREATH ON MY NECK!" one of the most annoying ants exclaims.

Glados just turns her visual sensor towards the scientist as she drawls, "I am unsure what you are expressing, I lack the cardiovascular system to produce such a phenomenon, and you lack the neck for me to execute it upon. Perhaps the corrosive properties of bio gel have rendered you an invalid?"

"H-HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME IN THAT MANNER!" the ant explodes, pointing a manipulator at her.

"One of the indicators for detecting an Invalid is sudden violence, add emotional instability and immaturity and the results are evident. Perhaps I need to execute my functions upon you, Meat-bowl." she states ominously.

Klein upon hearing this quickly goes silent, he was unsure of what functions the robot was referencing, but whatever it was couldn't be good... It's disregard for him and his position only made him warier of its retaliation. "I-I WILL GET TO WORK!"

Glados observes the scientist with her sensor before nodding her large body slightly, of course, she'd never tell the scientist that 'her functions' were simply to report the scientist insubordination to her creator. She had heavy limitation on the aggressive actions she was able to take, so ominous threats were the best she could manage without something drastic occurring.

*CRACKLE!*

The sound of a teleportation relay activating has Glados quickly swap to another sensor outside the Think Tank. There appeared to be around fifty dishevelled and dirty Meat-bags directly outside the door of the Think Tank.

They were all currently looking around the newly renovated crater with what Glados could only assume was surprise and awe. This agreed with her as her work doesn't seem to be completely unappreciated, even from some random organisms that'd appeared in her territory.

She assumed that her creator was responsible for sending them as he'd done the same with the Deathclaw samples. Now all she needed to do was decide whether they were test subjects or something else...

Glados extends one of her external bodies towards the new organisms who flinch away at the robot slowly approaching them. The orange glow of her visual sensor brushes her their forms as she examines them, "Greetings. My designation is the Guidance Legislatorship and Defense Operating System, or if that is too much effort for you organisms to say, Glados." she drawls out contemptuously to the new ants.

An ant with red hair and freckles steps forwards with a note in hand, it holds it out for Glados to read, "Not test subjects?" she mutters, looking back at the ants again, wondering what purpose they could serve.

The red-haired ant nods, "To be honest, Afton didn't really say what we were going to be doing here... Apart from the fact that we'll be protected and provided for..."

Glados visual sensor lens retracts slightly as if she were squinting, "So you wish to freeload off of my creator's unnecessary charity and hospitality?"

The red-haired ant quickly shakes their head, "No! Not at all. Afton may have not given us much other choice, but I'll be sure to work my keep. I'm sure I could help you out with some things around here... Er, my name is Cass by the way.

"Your functions as a Meat-bag are limited. You lack the innovative intelligence the others that reside here possess, and you lack the strength common in males of your species. Other than tools to increase Big Mountains population, I see no use for you." Glados explains, causing many of the women to flinch and look put down.

Cass quickly shakes her head, "You may be one of those egg-heads, but I'm sure I know things that you do not. Do you know trade routes across California? Do you know trading etiquate? Do you know how to write up proper contracts?"

"Everything you have just listed are of no concern to me or my creator. Trading is unnecessary under overwhelming force, negotiation is unnecessary when you own everything, contracts are unnecessary when you already own them, etiquette is meaningless when you hold the power." Glados states, but begins combing over her own words to see if there was truth in them, and not just a reply made in spite.

As her creator had always said to her, 'knowledge is power', there must have been a reason other than charity for him to invite these organisms here, and she was determined to find out. "You will be assigned lodging in the newly constructed guest center." she says as a mixture of Cyber-dogs and spider robots arrive and begin leading them.

"Organism designated Cass, we will discuss your potential uses further once you have all grazed." Glados states, disappearing before Cass can send a victorious grin at the robot.