Aperture Science High Energy Pellet

"While safety is one of many Enrichment Center goals, the Aperture Science High Energy Pellet, seen to the left of the chamber, can and has caused permanent disabilities such as vaporization."

- GLaDOS

The Aperture Science High Energy Pellet is a testing element used in the Test Chambers of the Aperture Science computer-aided Enrichment Center.

Overview



 * An energy ball that kills Test Subjects in a single hit and thus must be avoided at all costs, it is used in Test Chambers to allow Test Subjects to proceed further, by opening doors or raising Unstationary Scaffolds. To do so, the ball is launched by its launcher and must reach its catcher. Most of the time Test Subjects have to direct it through a portal so that it reaches the catcher. Once placed, the catcher closes, holding the ball inside, the ball launcher stops creating energy balls, and the linked object(s) opens and/or activates.


 * High Energy Pellets tend to disintegrate after a few seconds, after which a new one is deployed.


 * It also includes a green variant that never disintegrates. It is seen in Test Chamber 19.


 * The High Energy Pellet is first introduced in Test Chamber 06 and is present in most of the following Test Chambers. In Test Chamber 17, Chell must use two corridors where Energy Pellets come and go. This is where the Weighted Companion Cube is introduced to protect her against the balls.


 * It can also be used against Sentry Guns. However it just pushes them and does not destroy them.


 * The Pellet appears to recharge when going through portals, which will lengthen its life.

Behind the scenes
Video game-wise, the High Energy Pellet is identical in all aspects to the Combine Energy Ball; it has the same appearance and the same sound effects, but it instantly kills the player. Whether they are related storyline-wise or whether the High Energy Pellet is made of the same Dark Energy used by the Combine is unknown. Of note is that unlike the Combine Ball with the Gravity Gun, it is not affected by the ASHPD's zero-point energy field, possibly because the weapon is equipped with a weaker field or because the pellet is more unstable.

List of appearances

 * Portal
 * Portal: First Slice
 * Portal: Still Alive
 * Portal 2