Cave Johnson: Difference between revisions

'''Cave Johnson''' is the founder of [[Aperture Science]] {{spoiler|and the posthumous overarching antagonist of [[Portal]] and [[Portal 2]],}} which evolved from its precursor, Aperture Fixtures and later Aperture Science Innovators. Cave Johnson first appeared by a username and password scrawled in one of the [[Media:Portal_Ratman_scrawling.png|Rattmann's dens]] during ''[[Portal]]'', and was fleshed out and provided with additional details during the [[Portal ARG|''Portal'' ARG]].

As his illness progressed, Cave's emotional state, already precarious due to the success of his rival [[Black Mesa]], began to deteriorate. It was at this point that Cave mentioned the aphorism "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade". As his condition became more debilitating, Cave's comments became increasingly emphatic, resulting in advice to never give up, "get mad," and "make life take the lemons back!". Despite his attempts to stave off fate, all attempts to cure his affliction failed, and with little hope of a cure, he instructed his engineers to start research on {{W|artificial intelligence}} (AI) and {{W|brain mapping}} in the hope that his brain could be downloaded into a computer. Cave also stated that they "should've been doing this 30 years ago". Fearing that he would die before the release of the technology, he left instructions that his secretary [[Caroline]] should take charge of Aperture Science, and that she should be downloaded into the computer intended for him. He stated that he knows that "she will decline at first or feel she can't do it", which he followed up with "force her to do it if you have to". It is presumed that Caroline was selected due to her devotion to scientific progress, a trait admired by Cave, and also due to their close relationship. It is unknown what became of Cave himself, but it is presumed that he fell victim to his illness and, ultimately, to science.}}

During ''Portal'' {{spoiler|when [[Chell]] makes her first escape}}, there are several "[[Doug Rattmann|Rattmann]] Dens" that are scattered throughout the facility. In one of them, there are several pictures of a suited man with a small picture of a [[Companion Cube]] over his face, along with the words "Our Founder" found in one of the photos. {{spoiler text|Below the mad scribblings from Rattmann is what appears to be a login name and password labeled "cjohnson", with the password "tier3", alluding to Cave Johnson himself. It would later be discovered that this could be used on Aperture Science's own [http://www.aperturescience.com website], giving more insight into the grim world of Aperture Science}}.

During the events of the ''Aperture Desk Job'', Cave Johnson {{spoiler|in the form of pre-recorded messages, and his statuesque, robotic, head}} resume(s) his place as the head of Aperture Science {{spoiler|and at the end of the short, pleads with the player to kill him and end his robotic suffering, after the player's AI companion, Grady, 'arranges a meeting' (breaks into his office) to show the newly invented turret to him, with the player granting his wish, shooting the computer's power source, putting an end to his suffering. This is short lived however as the facility's backup power quickly re-awakens him, after which he promptly fires Grady and the player, before plummeting through the floor, into a pit, and singing a short operatic requiem, as the game's credits roll.}}