Heart Like a Machine

Chapter 76

"Alright, I think we have a plan," I said once they came back inside.

"What's the plan?" Aloy asked. 

"So we're going to do exactly what we did the many times we tried to recapture HEPHAESTUS, but we're going to need the help of Lis," Beta said.

"My help?" she asked, a little surprised.

"Yes. We considered what you said and since HEPHAESTUS knows us, it'll be less likely to want to cooperate. But if it hears your voice, a new voice, it might reconsider its decisions," I said. 

Aloy nodded, "Sounds like a solid plan. Let's head over to Gemini and see if we can recapture HEPHAESTUS."

"Lis and I will go get GAIA," I said. 

Beta and Aloy set out to head to Gemini. I gave her a little peck on the cheek before we parted ways. Aloy and Beta went on the Chargers while Lis and I got onto the Sunwing. We figured it would be better transportation if we took the Sunwing. We landed at the base and headed inside to get GAIA ready for the transport.

"This time, we're going to do things right," I said to GAIA.

"I believe we will do this right. I have faith in all of us."

"At least this time we won't have to worry about the Zeniths coming after us."

"What happened back at the original mission of Gemini?" Lis asked.

We never really talked about what had happened. All Aloy had told Lis when she was younger was the trials and tribulations of the tribe, saving Meridian, and saving the world from the Zeniths. She didn't really delve too much into the topic. I don't think she wanted to relive everything. We didn't even tell her that I was also a clone. She only knew that Aloy and Beta were clones.

"A lot happened," I said. "I take it your mother didn't tell you anything?"

"She didn't really tell me a lot of what happened. It was this and this happened followed by these events. She didn't go into detail."

"I can see why she didn't want to go into detail about the Gemini mission."

"Why's that?"

"She lost a very close friend that day. His name was Varl. He would have been Var's father. We all were part of the Nora tribe. Although, your mother sort of renounces the tribe because of how they treated her as a child. First they shunned her and then they called her the annointed one. She didn't like the praise, but she used it whenever it was necessary. 

"At Gemini, we were going to merge HEPHAESTUS with GAIA, like how we're doing now. Things didn't go as planned. The Zeniths found us and took Beta, which Beta did not want. They killed Varl and took GAIA, resulting in a failed merge. But I was there to protect Beta. I had almost died then."

"I can see why mom doesn't talk about Gemini now."

"She almost lost two important people in her life. But, she eventually did," I said, letting it slip.

"What do you mean by 'eventually did'? What are you not telling me?"

"Promise me you won't tell your mother. We had planned on not saying anything until you questioned more about yourself and how it was possible for you to come from two women."

"Yeah, I did kind of wonder that."

"I'm surprised that your mother let you search through that data with APOLLO."

"I found ways around to learn more about human anatomy. I know how a child is made. And it's made between a male and a female. What have you been hiding from me?"

"Know that it was for your best interest."

"Best interest? You've been keeping this from me for this long and now you're going to tell me where I came from? Tell me, are you even my real mothers?"

"Yes, Lis!" I said, getting a little frustrated. "We are both your real mothers. We may not have given birth to you, but you are still genetically tied to both of us."

"How is that possible?"

"ELEUTHIA. Your mother and I took our DNA and combined them to make you. And it was possible through ELEUTHIA."

"Then what did you mean by 'eventually did'? You still haven't answered that question."

"There was a bigger threat after the Zeniths were finally killed. It was called Nemesis. It was known as the Extinction Signal that awokened HADES and the other subordinate functions. It was a monster the Zeniths had made and there was no sure way of getting rid of it. So," I tapped my Focus and the image of my original self appeared. With the metal eye and everything.

"That looks like you," Lis said. "Except for the metal eye."

"Because she was me," I said. "I am a clone of her."

"A clone? What happened to her?"

"She was able to destroy Nemesis and save the world. Your mother was going to be the one to do so, but she stopped her."

"Who was she to mom?"

"She is what I am to her now: her lover."

"How can she love someone who has a metal eye?"

"She didn't always have that. Well, I should say, I didn't always have that. I was taken by one of Regalla's rebels and my eye was scooped out with a Clawstrider claw. Your mother and Aunt Beta made the metal eye to help me. That was before I decided to give my life to save others."

"How did you do it? Become a clone and all?"

"Before I went to the Zenith base, I talked to GAIA. Asked her if she could make an exact clone of myself. I knew what needed to be done and I knew it would result in my death. So I extracted some of my DNA and gave it to GAIA. When I woke up, I knew everything went according to plan. I was given the same memories, same feelings, same personality as the original. So your mother could still love the same person she fell for and I could still have those feelings towards her."

Lis nodded her head, "So I am a making of two clones?"

"No. I had some DNA left over from when ELEUTHIA made me once more. So with the remaining DNA and with your mother's, ELEUTHIA made you. I guess that's why you have more distinct features of your mother than mine, because there was so little left."

"Were you questioning that about me?" she asked.

"About what?"

"About that I don't look like you, well, prominently?"

"I asked myself a few times why you looked more like your mother, but it just reminded me that I fell in love with her for a few things: her personality, her hair, her eyes, and her smile. All in which you have obtained except her personality. And it just makes me love you and her more each day. While I did question it at first, it all makes sense now," I smiled.

"Come on, we should go meet up with your mother and your aunt."