Heart Like a Machine

Chapter 56

I pulled away and looked at Aloy, smiling. She was smiling as well. My smile faded as I thought of something, in which Aloy caught on.

"Is something the matter?"

"I just thought of something."

"That is?"

"What if the only way Nemesis was coming here in the first place, was because it was tracking the Zeniths?"

Aloy's eyes widened as she came to the realization as well.

"Holy shit you may be on to something!"

"If that's correct, we need to get rid of the Zenith base as well as send their ship out into space."

"If that's the case, we need to do something about it right now."

We headed back to the base and rushed in, getting the attention of Beta and Sylens.

"What's the matter?" Beta asked.

"The Zenith ship, is it like a normal spaceship where it needs to be manually controlled?"

"I believe so."

"We need to destroy the base and send that ship out into space as soon as possible."

"What's going on? I thought we were going to stick with the plan of creating those signals."

"I thought of something," I said to Beta. "Nemesis might only be coming here because the Zeniths are here. It wants to get rid of the very thing that created it. But since it doesn't know that they're no longer here on Earth, it's still going to come. So we need to send that ship out of this system and hopefully into a deep vaccum of space where it can't hurt anyone."

Beta nodded her head, "I think you might be on to something. But who is willing to risk their life in space?"

There was silence. Aloy and I both know that Erend, Kotallo, and Zo would not risk their lives. Neither would Sylens because he still wants to gain as much knowledge as he can gather. Sona and her team were out at one of the sites to help build. The Tenakth might be unwilling to send their own people to a grave they can't get out of. The same could be said with everyone else.

"If no one is willing to," I began to say.

"No," Aloy said sternly. "I won't allow it."

"I've done nothing but sit idly by when there was danger happening. You saved Meridian while I was part of the group who wanted to destroy it."

"Unwillingly! You were forced into that situation because your life was on the line."

"So was yours."

"But even still you risked blowing your cover in Meridian to get back to us."

"I did. I've risked my life to save you so many times and yet that has failed as well. I couldn't stop Erik from taking Beta. I couldn't stop Tilda from almost killing you because I had almost died as well. And I couldn't even stop the rebels from taking my eye and torturing the hell out of me. I want to do the right thing and get Nemesis out of everyone's hair."

"By sending yourself out into space and to never be seen again?!"

"Yes."

"And for what, Y/N? Name recognition? Finally getting respect?"

"It has nothing to do with that," I said. I looked around the room, "You all have something to live for. Sylens wants to gain as much knowledge as he can. So I know he's not going to risk his life to take care of a threat that awakened an AI that he was working with. Zo has a child on the way and I don't want to send two people to their deaths. Kotallo has a service to his people and his people are going to be unwilling to send their own to their deaths. The same with the Utaru since we had enough trouble getting passage into the mountain. Alva is probably going back to her homeland with the other Quen that are at Legacy's Landfall. Erend has a place among the Sundom if and when he returns to it. And Beta," I looked over at Beta.

"And Beta needs someone to look after her. And you're that person to look after her, Aloy."

"What about your mother? What would your mother think of this?" 

"I honestly don't know, but I had a great life. It was short and there were many times where death almost took my life, but now I am willingly going to hand my life over to death."

Aloy shook her head, "There has to be another way."

"There might be, but I have made up my mind. I am going to drive Nemesis out of the system. If it decides to come back to Earth, hopefully it will give you enough time to figure out a way to destroy it once and for all."

"You're willing to make this sacrifice?"

I nodded my head, "I am."

Aloy looked down at the ground before walking out of the base. I let out a sigh and turned towards Beta. She had a saddened look on her face as she walked towards me.

"You don't think there's another way to do this?"

"There might be," I said. "But if there is one, someone better let me know before I go to the Zenith base myself and do what needs to be done."

Beta just nodded and walked back to where she was standing. I walked over to where GAIA was. Heading up the stairs, I looked up to see GAIA's figure.

"Good evening, Y/N."

"Evening, GAIA."

"Is something the matter? You usually don't come in here without Aloy."

"I have a favor to ask of you."

"Yes, of course."

I exlpained to her my plan on what I am going to do with the Zenith base. GAIA seemed a bit skeptical about it, but continued to listen.

"So you are willing to give up your own life to save the lives of millions of others to come?"

"Yes. But I know Aloy will miss me."

"She will."

"That's why I need your help. Your subordinate function ELEUTHIA made Aloy, right?"

"Yes."

"Is there anyway that ELEUTHIA could make another me?" 

"Why?"

"When I die, I want that clone to be born. I want that clone to have everything that makes me, well, me."

"So you want to keep all the personality traits and physical traits?"

"Yes. Is that possible?"

"It is, but it will take time to create such a definitive 100% clone. It's almost as if you're asking to make a machine."

"I know, but it won't be considered a machine if it has emotions and a free will."

"And you want this clone to harbor the same feelings you have towards Aloy?"

"Without a doubt."