Cave Johnson

"Science isn't about why, it's about why not. You ask: Why is so much of our science dangerous? I say: Why not marry safe science if you love it so much. In fact, why not invent a special safety door that won't hit you in the butt on the way out, because you are fired."

- Cave Johnson

Cave Johnson is the founder and CEO of Aperture Science.

Background


In 1953, Aperture Science was founded by Cave Johnson, as a shower curtain manufacturer. In 1956, the Eisenhower administration signed a contract with Aperture to manufacture shower curtains to all branches of the US Military, except the Navy. That was the main activity of Aperture Science from 1957 to 1973. During that period, Johnson became a billionaire.

In 1974, Johnson was exposed to mercury while secretly developing a dangerous mercury-injected rubber sheeting from which he plans to manufacture seven deadly shower curtains to be given as gifts to each member of the House Naval Appropriations committee, likely because the decision of the Navy not getting its shower curtains from Aperture depended on that committee, and Johnson probably held a grudge against them for that.

In 1976, both of Cave Johnson's kidneys failed. Brain damaged, dying, and incapable of realizing time was not flowing backwards (thus realizing his time would come soon), he laid out a three tiered research and development program. The results, he said, would "guarantee the continued success of Aperture Science far into the fast-approaching distant past". The two first tiers (the Heimlich Counter-Maneuver and the Take-A-Wish Foundation) were a failure, while the third one, the "Portal" project, grew to a success. What happened to Cave Johnson afterward is unknown.

Portal
In Portal, Johnson is only referred to once in the game, in a graffiti by Doug Rattmann found in Test Chamber 17, simply as " " (followed by " ") scribbled on a wall, which appeared to be an administrator login and password for ApertureScience.com. Above can be found three portraits of men in suits with their heads masked by a Weighted Companion Cube. The bottom-left one has the words "Our Founder" under it and the letters "R.I.P." right beside; this might be a portrait of Cave Johnson.

Portal 2
In one of the memos revealed during the Portal ARG, Johnson announces that he is dead, and that he is able to write memos from beyond the grave. It is unknown in what form he is writing these memos, which could be pre-recorded, or if he survived as an AI.

Regardless, Johnson is slated to appear in Portal 2, guiding Chell during her tests through the Aperture Science Speaker System, shortly after she is awakened by Wheatley.

Behind the scenes



 * By signing into ApertureScience.com with the username " " and the password " " (referring to the three tiered program), one can enter Cave Johnson's account. These login and password can be found in Ratman scribblings spread around the Enrichment Center's maintenance area seen during Portal, with the words "trust me" right to it. After logging in as Cave Johnson, "GLaDOS v1.07a (c) 1982 Aperture Science, Inc." appears. Then one can type either  to start the Enrichment Center Test Subject Application Process, or , which will give information about Aperture Science and Johnson's history, in the form of a short timeline.


 * The "Our Founder" portrait mentioned above is based on a painted portrait of Sam Rayburn.


 * A casting call conducted by Shana Landsburg apparently for Portal 2 was posted on the subscribers-only industry website Breakdown Express on June 8, 2008, with a concept art portrait of Cave Johnson. That call sheet, seeking a voice-over artist to take on the role of Johnson, an "eccentric dead billionaire", with work tentatively to start at the end of July 2008, suggested he was originally to be the main Portal 2’s antagonist. However it was later confirmed that GLaDOS would be the only antagonist of the game, and that Johnson may only appear as resurrected in a Personality Core, or not at all. The call sheet reveals many bits of Johnson's fate and personality, and what he would have been if he had been the game's antagonist:


 * It confirms that he is dead, and that he has just been resurrected inside of a computer, which oversees the tests made during the game, and sometimes "contemplates the afterlife".


 * Bits of Johnson's personality and skills follow: he is said to have learned to trust his gut. A big picture thinker, he does not expands on details. He apparently does not really know how science works, but he knows how people work. He is used to getting what he wants. He is extroverted, enthusiastic and opinionated. He is very energetic, and considers that life is an adventure he is happy to be on. He was born salesman, he is a leader, an evangelist. People trust him, even when his plans are clearly dangerous. He uses warm, homespun delivery to put people at their ease. He does not accept the responsibility that comes with his power. Either he does not see or chooses not to see the ramifications of his actions.


 * The call sheet also states he speaks with a slight Southern/Western accent, mirrored in the text excerpts and the texts revealed during the Portal ARG.


 * Through the game, he is said to go from a sidekick to the main antagonist, starting to lose his grip on his humanity as the story progresses. As he isolates himself from the people around him, he is to lose touch with reality.




 * In the file dump retrieved at the BBS number (425) 822-5251 revealed during the Portal ARG, several memos seemingly written by Cave Johnson can be found. In one, he describes the three pillars on which Aperture Science is built. In another, he addresses Test Subjects who raised their concerns about the dangers of the research conducted by Aperture Science. Another consists of a rant about casualty rates, firing employees, and him practicing beekeeping in his office. In another, reusing text from the casting call sheet revealed in 2008, he apparently announces his death, and being able to write memos from beyond the grave. One is apparently the answer to a (confidential) letter Johnson sent, titled "Human Enrichment & Testing Initiative, Resource Acquisitions". It apparently describes the four types of Test Subjects and their behavior, in a not very human way.


 * An e-mail from Johnson can be seen on the Apple games page for Portal, informing members of the executive team of some information that should not be revealed to any Test Subjects, as it would "impair the scientific value of what we're doing here at Aperture Science." Below the e-mail is a list of common console commands.


 * On ApertureScience.com, "1978" and "1979" were originally given as the date for Johnson's mercury poisoning and kidney failure, respectively. These dates were later retconned to 1974 and 1976, as seen in the updated Aperture Science timeline on Game Informer.


 * "Johnson" is quite similar to "Johanson", the name of the original Borealis captain, Johanson. Furthermore, "Arbeit Laboratories" can be seen on some crates inside the ship. The retail Borealis belonging to Aperture Science, it is possible those names were recycled.

List of appearances

 * ApertureScience.com
 * Portal
 * Portal: Still Alive
 * Portal ARG
 * Portal 2