Heart Like a Machine

Chapter 63

About six months had passed since Aloy started to train Beta. Each month she was getting better and better. I wasn't there for much of their training sessions. I was out at the site where we had planned to build the house. Erend and Kotallo helped me get the needed materials to start with the base. We didn't start anything, since Aloy wanted to be here to help build the house along with Beta. 

"Hey, Y/N," Aloy called through the Focus.

"What's up, Aloy?"

"I'm going to need your help with this practice session."

"Sure thing. I'll be over soon," I said.

Once we wrapped everything up, I got onto the Sunwing and headed out towards the base. When I reached the base, Aloy and Beta were outside waiting for me. Beta's hair was growing longer like Aloy's, but not nearly the length and thickness. I landed and jumped off the Sunwing.

"Alright, what is today's training?"

"Moving targets."

"And you want me to be the moving target?"

"Yes. Don't worry, we're not going to be using arrows. I created some arrows that have softer heads. They're still going to hurt a little, but not as much as the metal arrows."

"Sounds good. Let's get started."

We headed out into the field and I was wearing a bit more protective armor than what I was wearing before. They wanted to take every precaution doing this since they were still afraid of losing me for a second time. 

"Are you ready, Y/N?" Aloy asked.

"Yes," I said.

"Start running around as fast as possible."

I started to run around, but the armor I was wearing was pretty heavy and bulky. I could hear Aloy give Beta some directions on what to do. She released her arrow and whizzed past my ear. That was the one thing the original wanted me to keep along with the other things: the ability to hear certain things better than anyone else. Beta loaded another arrow and took a shot at me. It lodged right into the left arm pad I was wearing. We kept at this for a while until the armor I was wearing was littered with arrows and I was getting tired from running around. I headed back to where they were as Aloy was explaining different machines and how they're going to be different. 

"Want to try this out on a few Burrowers? Or Chargers maybe?"

"Sure," Beta said.

"Y/N and I will be there to ensure you will be safe."

"Let me get this thing off first and into my other armor," I said.

Once I was ready, we headed out to a Burrower site. The three of us were hiding in the bushes, watching the movements of the Burrowers. Beta tapped her Focus and pinpointed the weakspots. She carefully drew her bow back and shot at the weakpoints. The Burrower fell to the ground, the glow from its eyes disappearing.

"Nice one, Beta," Aloy said. "Try sneaking and moving closer. Keep low to the ground and your sound to a minimum. We'll be here if anything goes wrong."

Beta nodded and slowly crept out from the bush and into another one.

"She had certainly progressed well," I said.

"Are you holding up ok?" Aloy asked. "I know those arrows still had an impact even with the softer arrowhead."

"Yeah I should be fine," I said. "I noticed her hair is growing longer."

"I think she had longer hair when she was with the Zeniths, but it's a different style. I think she wants to try to grow it out like mine."

"Like your hair? Your hair is pretty thick when it comes to that."

"Give it time and she might have thicker hair. Who knows."

"You want to know what I just thought of?"

"What?"

"I have never seen your hair out of your braids."

Aloy chuckled, "It's a mess without the braids."

"I want to see it, though."

"If you undo them, you'll have to redo them."

I tapped my Focus and scanned the different type of braid styles there were and nodded.

"Consider it a deal."

"You're actually going to do it?" she asked.

"Yeah. Maybe not now. When we have more time alone together."

She chuckled, "Alright."

"I think you'll look amazing with it down."

"You saw how my hair was when I was younger. It was a mess. It was like everywhere and anywhere. It'll be the same when you take it out of the braids."

"If it is, I'll brush it and control that wild mane of yours," I chuckled.

Aloy chuckled and looked over at Beta. I watched as she was slowly taking out the Burrowers one by one. There was one that was coming up behind her undetected. Aloy and I both drew our bows, ready to protect her. But she turned and threw her spear into the eye of the Burrower. We were both impressed with what she had done.

"I was not expecting that," I said, my bow still ready to shoot in case there was another one to come out of nowhere.

"I agree," Aloy said, scanning the area as she too was looking for other machines.

"I think we're all clear," I said, slowly lowering my bow. 

But Aloy released her arrow and it lodged into the eye of a Watcher. Beta ducked right in time and watched as the Watcher fell onto the ground. She turned over and saw Aloy was standing up with her bow. She got up and walked over to Aloy.

"Thanks for the assist," Beta said. "I didn't even see the Watcher."

"Good thing we were here to help. That's one thing to remember when you're out here alone. You gotta be aware of your surroundings."

Beta nodded, looking a little disappointed in herself.

"We all make mistakes out there, Beta. Even I sometimes get hit by a machine I didn't see. What you did with that quiet Burrower, we were impressed with how you handled the situation."

"But I wasn't able to detect the Watcher."

"And that's alright," Aloy smiled, reassuring her. "I'm proud of the progress you have made. You're progressing much faster than I have when I was training."

Beta had this newfound hope in her eyes.

"I-I was just trying to be like you, Aloy."

"But you're not me, genetically yes, personality no. You're different that way. Things will take time and in time, you will get better. You won't be perfect, but much better than the first day you started."

"Thank you, Aloy."