Heart Like a Machine

Chapter 22

After figuring out what was wrong inside the mountain, we had found a facility known as the Repair Bay. That was the facility that Aloy had wanted to find. It was the place where she could upload GAIA and with having MINERVA, the place would be cloaked so that no one would find us.

"So you never really said what happened to you when we found you," I said as we were getting the Repair Bay situated to be more of our base. 

Varl had gone to get Erend and bring him here. Zo was getting a room set up for just herself and Varl was going to be doing the same. I presumed when Erend would get here he as well would make a place for himself. 

Aloy was working on getting ready to set out once more. She had to find three subordinate functions for GAIA. She didn't explain why, all she said was she needed to find three subordinate functions. 

"It was called the HADES Proving Lab. Sylens had led me there."

"I remember you talking very lightly about him," I said.

"I don't even know if he's trying to help me or not. Anyway, HADES was there and HADES was stripped of every piece of knowledge it had from Sylens. So essentially, HADES is no longer running. So we don't have to worry about that anymore. But in that lab, I was able to find a backup of GAIA. There were two of them actually. So I have one and some one else has it."

"Who are they?"

Aloy tapped her Focus and some images appeared in front of me. There were many people standing in front of me. But one that caught my interest was the woman who looked exactly like Aloy.

"Who is that?" I asked.

"I don't know. I need to get to the bottom of this. They're the people from Far Zenith."

"Far Zenith? You mean the people who went on The Odyssey to the planet Sirius?"

"Yes. They got back to Earth. So their ship not getting to the planet was just a cover up from what they were really doing. When I fought one, they had a shield that protected them, basically making them immortal. And then there's the issue with Regalla and her forces. This is just turning out to be one big mess."

"Well, where are you going to go now?" I asked.

"I'm going to go to the head of the Tenakth, Chief Hekarro. See what's going on with them and there's a part from GAIA I need to get. So I need to figure out how to get that subordinate function from them. From there, I need to go to other places to find the three. One is in the ruins of Las Vegas and the other is with the Tenakth and another is in some ruins far from here."

"And let me guess, you're going to do it alone?"

"Yes," Aloy said.

I nodded my head, "I understand. Just please, be careful."

"I'm going to try to. While you're here, Erend should be on his way and you should give him this," she handed me another Focus.

"Thanks. I'll be sure to give him this."

"You should probably show him the ropes on how to use the Focus. Other than myself, you're pretty well versed with it."

"It's only been six months since I've had it," I chuckled. "Not like it's been twelve to thirteen years since I've had it."

Aloy chuckled as well, "I'm sure you'll do fine."

"Before you do go," I said and took off my boar cloak I had around my shoulders.

"I-I can't take that, Y/N," Aloy said. "That's yours from your parents."

"I know, but I want you to take it. So you'll have a part of me always there when you're traveling."

"I couldn't," Aloy said.

"Then if you won't take this," I said and placed the cloak back on my shoulders. I reached around my neck and took off the metal tooth from the Thunderjaw. I placed the necklace in her hands and enclosed her fist around it. "Take this. It has kept me safe and I want it to keep you safe."

"Thanks, Y/N," she said and put it around her neck, tucking it underneath a layer of clothing. "I'll try to keep it safe."

"I hope it keeps you safe," I said. "Now, you're probably eager to get out there and search for what you need. I won't hold you up any longer."

"Thanks," she said and finished getting her preparations.

Before she was about to leave, I was going through some of the information I stored on the Focus and read up on it. I needed to learn more about GAIA and what her subordinate functions do. I listened as she walked up to me and hugged me from behind, her head resting on my shoulder as she was a tad taller than me. 

"I'll see you soon," she whispered to me before pulling away.

I turned and was about to grab her wrist, but she was already heading towards the door. I stood there and sighed to myself, letting her slip through my grasp once more. I turned back to what I was looking at, seeing Zo had watched everything that had just happened.

"It's not easy, is it?"

"Easy doing what?" I asked, pretending like I didn't see her.

"Telling someone your feelings."

"I guess," I said and continued with what I was doing.

"It took Varl a while to see I was interested in him."

"How did you let him know?" I asked.

"I had to come right out. More like I had to show him."

"You kissed him?"

"Yes. It was before we left to go search the mountain."

"Wow, you move pretty fast," I said.

"There's something about him that captured my heart the moment I saw him. I mean, we did spend a few days together so I got to know him more. But I know you and Aloy have known each other since you were very young."

"Yeah," I said. "Since we were about maybe six or so."

"And you still haven't told her?"

"I'm afraid to tell her. I think she knows, but she hasn't said anything. And anytime we bring up relationships and love, she sort of shuts it down. But there was something amazing that happened when were at the outpost."

"What was that?"

"She said she is considering about being with someone. She didn't say who, but her doors are open."

"So that means you could possibly have a chance."

"A fat chance," I said.

"I've seen how you two interact with one another. You both look after one another."

"How could you tell?"

"When I watched you carry her on your back from that lab all the way to the outpost. It was a long walk and you still managed to do it without a single complaint."

"I wanted to ensure she was safe."

"And she does the same for you. Who knows, maybe something will start blossoming soon," Zo said as she walked away.

I took what Zo said to heart. Maybe something will start soon.