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 planned 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.

In Portal 2, Johnson appears to be deceased, with only automated pre-recorded voice messages playing to guide Chell through the first few Test Chambers, and later on very old recordings intended for "Astronauts, War Heroes, and Olympians", though at one point they seem to be directed at hobos who were picked off the street.

At one point, he states he had contacted a severe illness from contact with ground Moon rocks (the primary compnent of Conversion Gel) as opposed to mercury poisoning, though it's also possible that he's lying or delusional. He also made it mandatory for all employees to undergo testing in the chambers. He ordered that that technology be developed to allow him to be put into a computer, but it's apparent the tech wasn't finished in time and he died.

Personality and skills
Cave Johnson is said to have learned to trust his gut. A big picture thinker, he does not expand 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 a 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 results of the Aperture Science Collaborative Disposition Test tell that Johnson does not see crises - only challenging unities he choose to scale like mountains, that he is a can-do, shoot-from-the-hip, silver-tongued self-starter, and a good match for any cooperative test partner, providing they shut up and listen.

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 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, was the first hint that Johnson would appear in Portal 2. The call sheet revealed many bits of Johnson's fate and personality, that he speaks with a slight Southern/Western accent ("natural, not too broad"), and how his role evolves as the game progresses.


 * Cave Johnson's appearance in the portrait given with the June 2008 casting call was drastically changed for the Aperture Science Collaborative Disposition Test in April 2011 to a slightly younger appearance, showing a Johnson with sideburns and brighter hair; the shirt and tie were also replaced by a turtleneck sweater.




 * 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." The information is revealed below the e-mail, and it consists of common console commands. In the e-mail, Johnson states that he is "busy cheating death".


 * Cave Johnson narrates the four weekly videos that lead up to Portal 2's release: Panels, Bot Trust, Turrets, and Boots, presented as informational videos intended for customers of Aperture products.


 * 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: Lab Rat
 * Portal 2