Heart Like a Machine

Chapter 24

Aloy fought her way through the Specters and I was coming out from the tunnel and breached the surface. I knelt down with Beta and Erend came over to us.

"Aloy, she," he took a minute to process everything. "Look I swear I'm not drunk, but I'm seeing double of you."

"This is Beta. She's with the Zeniths," Aloy said. "We need to get her back to the base."

I carried her back to the base and when we reached it, I set Beta down in a room that was not taken by someone. When Aloy was out with the Tenakth, she brought back one of their tribesmen. Kotallo was part of the Embassy and he had lost his arm. He was learning how to use a Focus as well. 

"Alright, I'm going to go back out and find the other subordinate functions. I should be back soon," Aloy said.

"A-Aloy, don't you at least want to get some rest?" I asked her.

"I don't have time for that right now, Y/N."

"You look awful, Aloy. Usually you're brighter and have more glow to your face. You look flushed and so tired."

"I'll be fine, Y/N," she said and slowly made her way to the exit.

I rushed towards her and grabbed her hand. She turned around and was face to face with me.

"Get some rest," I said sternly.

I wasn't usually this stern with her. She looked a bit surprised because she blinked a few times before nodding her head.

"A-Alright."

She walked into her room and the doors opened and closed. I walked into the center and sat down.

"Glad she listens to you," Erend said. "I don't think I would have the balls to get in her way. After what I've seen she can do, I'd be scared as hell."

"I was scared just a moment ago."

"Why's that?" Varl asked.

"I'm usually nicer with her. This was the first time I was kind of assertive towards her. But she needed her rest. I'm just looking out for her, that's all I'm doing."

"You're a good friend, Y/N," Erend said.

About a few hours had passed and the door from where I had set Beta opened. She walked out, grew anxious with so many people, and ran off somewhere in the base. I got up and walked over to where she ran off to. The doors were shut off so I wasn't able to get in there. I walked towards the door and knocked on it lightly.

"Beta?"

"G-Go away."

"I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to help you. Can you please open the door?"

"H-How do I know you won't hurt me?"

"If you open the door just a crack, I'll show you I am on your side."

The door slightly opened and I replayed her what had happened in the mountain.

"Y/N, can you do me the biggest favor for me?"

"What is it?"

"Let me deal with the Specters. You watch after Beta."

I nodded my head, "I'll protect her with my life."

"See? I kept you safe. We all did."

She opened the door a bit more now, but I slowly walked closer to the door.

"Is there anything I can get you?"

"I'll be fine for now, at least. I just need some time."

"Of course. Please, take all the time you need."

"Thank you."

The door closed and I stepped away from it. I walked back up to where everyone was to see Aloy's door was open. I walked towards it to see she was gone. I sighed, knowing I had missed her when she left because I was talking with Beta. I walked over to the others and sat down.

"She just left a minute ago," Varl said.

"I noticed," I said, getting upset with myself.

"She did tell me to tell you something."

"What?" I asked.

"She said to tell you goodbye."

"Well it doesn't do much when it comes from someone else, Varl. I'm sorry if that sounded rude, but I'm so used to being there when she leaves and talking to her."

"I understand, Y/N. But you wanted to make sure Beta was ok. She understands."

"You told her Beta was awake?"

"Yes. She said she'll be back to check in on her when she gets back from getting one of the subordinate functions."

"Who knows when that will be," I said and walked into my room.

I flopped down onto my bed and looked at the things that I had used to decorate my room. There wasn't much, since I didn't have much like the others. My bow and spear were near the bed and the walls were pretty bare. I think Zo wanted to put some plants in here, in which she did. I didn't mind since I had no idea what to put in my room. But then I got an idea. I walked out of the base, got some wood, and brought it into my room. I sat down and started to whittle away at it. That was one thing I remember well from my childhood was whittiling with my dad. We would make animals and some machines. Once I was finished, it was a Thunderjaw. I got up and walked over to Aloy's room, placing it on the desk. I turned to leave and saw there was something on a shelf. I walked over to it and examined it, seeing it was a globe necklace.

"This must be Elisabet's," I said and admired it. "Aloy mentioned she went to find her final resting place and that was clutched in her hand."

I walked out of her room and back into mine to see all the wood shavings I needed to clean up, but since I still had a lot of wood, I might as well whittle some more machines for the others. I made one of the Land Gods for Zo, a Charger for Varl, I didn't know what to do for Erend, so I made him a Strider. And for Kotallo, I made him one of those flying machines since he mentions about Flying on the Wings of the Ten. I never understood what he meant, but I decided it had something to do with flying.

Once I was finished with all of their little machines, I went into their rooms and placed it in their rooms. I still had some wood left over and I wanted to make Beta one. Since I didn't want to remind her of the Zeniths, I decided to make something other than the Specters, but what. I got an idea and made her a little Burrower. When I finished, I got up and walked over to where she ran off to. I lightly knocked on the door.

"Beta, it's me, Y/N."

"Y/N, how long has it been since we last spoke?"

"It's been maybe about a few hours."

"What's up?" she asked.

"I made you something."

"Made me something?"

"Yeah."

The door slowly opened and I put the little wood figure by the crack. She reached over and grabbed it.

"You made this?"

"Yeah."

"T-Thank you."

"You're welcome. I see you still need your time to open up. I won't force you to."

"Thank you, again."

I nodded and walked out and back to the main room to see Aloy still has not returned. I decided it was best for me to sleep.