Heart Like a Machine

Chapter 51

"Get to Aloy," I whispered to the Sunwing, inputting the coordinates in hopes that it would fly to that location.

"Y/N? Y/N, are you there?" I asked through the Focus. "I-I'm at the meet up point and it's almost sunset. I'm just a little worried."

I wasn't able to get through to her Focus. There wasn't even a sound or static. There was just nothing. I let out a sigh, trying not to let my worries overwhelm my mind.

"Maybe she just got held up and lost her Focus. No big deal. I almost lost mine a few times here and there. Maybe she's on her way now," I looked into the sky for her Sunwing.

There in the pink sky was something flying overhead. There were sparks and smoke coming out from it. I tapped my Focus to see it was a Sunwing. I got onto mine and flew into the air, flying after it. When I reached it, I grabbed its reins and led it down to the ground. When I landed and the other Sunwing landed, I found arrows in it.

"This can't be good," I said and scanned it, trying to see if I could get any information on where Y/N was.

I found the small capsule that contained the map that we were using. Hers however was damaged and I was unable to pull it up. I opened up mine to see there was one last red marker. I got onto the Sunwing and flew towards that location. I landed the Sunwing a bit far away before making my way towards the outpost. There was no one there. I searched around for what I could find about Y/N's whereabouts. I scanned around to see if my Focus could pick up on something that I couldn't. I found her Focus signal or what was left of it. I hurried towards it to see her Focus was broken and that there was an audio message.

"Hekarro's Champion, I hope you're listening well on this message. Your little friend came in here and tried to stop our forces, but we were no match for her. I know you're going to come looking for her. But you won't find us. So consider her as good as dead."

"She has to be around the Forbidden West somewhere," I said and headed back to the Sunwing, flying towards the other rebel camps. 

If they had any information on Y/N, it was going to be within the camps. That's where the rebels in this outpost probably went to. It was a trap to lure me in and finally defeat me once and for all. To have revenge on me defeating Regalla. I flew to the first camp and took out all the rebels that were there. I searched around to find some audio messages. I scanned the one and it was just information on the other camps and whatnot. The second one was newer.

"What are we to do with her?"

"You are to do nothing. Asera will be stopping by later today to pick up the cargo. She's going to take it elsewhere. So do nothing with her. She doesn't want so much as a scratch on her. She wants to do that herself."

"I need to find more information on Asera," I said to myself and headed to the next rebel camp.

After I had finished going through the camp, there was nothing new on Y/N's whereabouts. I might as well clear out the other camps to see if there is anymore information. Unfortunately, I came up with none. But I found Oseram gear at the last one. I knew Erend had to know something. I got onto the Sunwing and flew towards Hidden Ember to talk with him. When I landed, I walked up to him.

"Ah, there she is," he said. "Thought about visiting Hidden Ember while you guys were out today. Speaking of which, where's Y/N? Is she back at the base?"

"A group of rebels captured her and now she's being held captive by Asera."

"Asera? She's one of the ones who killed my sister. I-I have the coordinates to her base, too."

"Can you send them to me?"

"Yeah, but I'm coming with you. I need to get payback for my sister's death."

"Alright. I'll meet you there," I said and got back onto the Sunwing.

I flew off in the direction of the coordinates and landed just outside of where I needed to be.

"Hey, Erend, I'm here."

"I'm almost there," he said. "See you in a bit."

When he arrived, we walked closer to the location to see there was a large set of doors. Oseram were coming in and we saw it was controlled from the inside.

"How are we going to get inside?" Erend asked.

"You're wearing Oseram gear," I said.

He caught on and nodded. We walked towards the doors while Erend had my arms behind my back.

"Hey guys, keep up the good work."

"Who are you?"

"I'm the guy who caught the Nora Asera's been looking for, that's who."

"Yeah, we don't know you."

Erend and I looked at one another before he let me go and punched the guards. I ran by and inside the doorway. He punched the second guard before running towards me. He closed the doors and we looked down the pathway.

"Well, time to search for Y/N and Asera."

"Be careful around here. Asera likes her traps."

"That's going to be fun," I sighed and we started searching for where Asera could be.

We fought our way through some of the rebels and Oseram there were until we could hear Asera. That was when her traps were set and we had to be careful around them. I disarmed them so that we could make our way through easier. We reached the exit of the mountain and there were Clawstriders in the area.

"Enough of this nonsense, Asera!" I called from the mouth of the cave, not yet jumping down.

"You're going to have to come and stop me yourself."

"Where's Y/N?"

"She's here. A bit banged up maybe, but alive."

I tapped my Focus to see she was behind her. She was bound with her arms behind her back and her ankles tied. 

"You're going to pay for what you've done," I said, jumping into the fray. 

Erend helped take out the Clawstriders before we made an assault on Asera. I disarmed her traps she had nearby, but after I disarmed them, she grabbed me and pushed me to the ground, getting on top of me.

"Any last words, Savior of Meridian?"