Alongside Rick, Tess walked trough the abandoned facility. She hoped it was abandoned, she really didn't want to meet GlaDOS again. Rick was certainly enjoying himself.

"You've certainly found the right core for the job Sweetheart. I live for adventures like this"

His glowing eyes moved from left to right, taking in every nook and cranny.

"How many cores are there?" Tess asked after a while, the question burning in her mind.

"At the moment, 4. We used to be with more but everyone broke down after a while. Now there's only me, Fact, Kevin and obviously-"

"Wheatley" Tess finished. Rick nodded. "And how did you..."

Rick chuckled. "Get this body?" Tess nodded. "There's this old machine. I found it on one of my adventures. Plugged myself in and here I am." Silence fell again. "Now it's my time to ask a question."

"Ask away, I have to warn you though, I don't know much of myself."

"Don't worry love, I'm not going to ask you about your childhood. I just wanted to know, what do you seek in a man?" Tess raised her eyebrow, casting the core a confused look.

"Are you flirting with me?"

"Of course not sweetheart"

Silence fell back in the hallway, the only sound that was heard was the sound of their shoes slapping against the floor.

"Are you sure were going the right way?"

"Very sure, this is the main chute SHE uses for garbage" Tess, followed the tube with her eyes, seeing pieces of rumble and plants stuck to the side. "You sure are putting a lot of effort into getting Wheatley back. Are you sure he's just a friend?"

"You know I can leave you right?"

"Just teasing Sweetheart"

Tess came to a stop in front of a door. Ignoring Rick's
protests she stepped up to the door and opened it manually. With the door opened a crack. Tess didn't wait for the core. She squeezed herself trough the crack. She was met by a pitch black room.

"Wheatley?" Tess whispered. "Do you maybe have a flashlight?" Rick appeared next to Tess and nodded. In a flash, the round plate on his hand lit up"That's one way" she muttered, walking further into the room. Unlike the others, the floor was covered in broken turrets and wires.

"I think I see him" Rick directed his light to one of the corners. Getting closer to spot, Tess noticed the very dim blue light, under a broken panel.

"Wheatley!" She yelped and dropped to her knees. She started pushing the rumble away. With a grunt, Tess lifted the last panel of the broken core.

She let out a gasp. It was indeed Wheatley but he was nearly unrecognizable. His optic plate was cracked and his chassis was dented and broken. With trembling hands, Tess reached out and lifted the core from the wires. "Wheatley?" She asked gently, staring at the core in concern. Suddenly the blue light flickered, sparks shooting out from the small orb. Tess ignored all this and rubbed her thumbs against the dented metal. "Don't worry, I will get you out of here"

She gently lifted him up and held him against her. She  stood up and turned to Rick. He looked at her, determination in his eyes and nodded. Together, using Rick's hand lights they left the graveyard, back into the hallway.

"Turn right, Virgil lab is not far from here" Tess nodded, not knowing who or what Virgil was but having no idea what to do herself. With a quick turn she started walking, determined to fix her friend.