Heart Like a Machine

Chapter 85

"Where to next?" Lis asked Seyka as I was just reaching Fleet's End.

"The place where the coordinates lead to is a place called Starlight Rise. It's not too far from here," Seyka said.

"Seems like we need a ride," I said.

"I don't think we can all fit on one Sunwing," Seyka said.

"That's why," Lis and I both whistled and two of them flew into the air, landing before us.

"W-Whoa," Seyka said.

Both Lis and I climbed onto the back of the Sunwing and I turned to face Seyka.

"You're welcome to ride with me or Lis."

"Y-Yeah."

"Something wrong?"

"N-No," Seyka said and climbed onto the back of my Sunwing. "It's a bit snug."

"We'll be alright," I said and we flew into the air.

"Oh my gosh, I-I'm actually riding on a Sunwing."

"First time flying?"

"Y-Yeah."

"I also take it you're not a fan of flying."

"Not really."

"You'll get used to it," I chuckled as we flew to where we needed to be. 

Once we got to the beach that led to Starlight Rise, we landed our Sunwings and we got off.

"Oh thank the Ancestors, solid ground."

"After the first few flights, you'll get used to it," Lis said as she climbed off.

"I'd prefer swimming than flying."

"Really?" I turned and asked.

"Yeah. At least I can not fall off of a winged machine."

"That only happened once," I said as we started to scale the large hill.

"Once was enough," Lis joked.

"That's enough out of you," I turned and pointed at her.

I couldn't help but smile as Lis was laughing to herself.

"Hey, I fell and so did my mother. So all three of us fell out of the sky."

"I think it was a blessing you fell from the sky, Aloy," Seyka said.

"You think so?"

"I-I mean, yeah. If you didn't, I don't think you'd be helping me as much as you are now."

"Doing this, kind of what I am known for."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I helped a lot of people during these past few months and years. And I even helped Lis' mother here and there."

"You're very lucky to have someone like Aloy," Seyka turned to Lis.

"We're always happy to see Aloy," Lis smiled awkwardly. I guess she was never used to calling me by my first name.

"Looks like your people were here," I said to Seyka as we found a small camp of their belongings.

"But where did they go?" she asked, looking around at our surroundings.

Taking note of the cliff, I pointed up to there.

"There, they must have climbed up," I said.

"And inside a cave," Lis said, her hand on her Focus.

"The way up isn't really the greatest," Seyka said.

"We could use the ballista to create hooks for us," I suggested. "Here, I can get you guys up there."

I made my way over to the ballista and got settled in. Shooting the walls, hooks lodged their way in and both Lis and Seyka started to climb up. I did the same with the second wall before they reached a mechanism that lifted the second ballista upwards. I started to ascend to meet them and Seyka and Lis used the second ballista to get us up to the mouth of the cave.

"The three of us make a pretty good team," Seyka said as I helped them up.

"Yeah. Would have been a lot harder without the help," Lis said.

As we entered the cave system, the entire area was split apart with lava running beneath us.

"Definitely don't want to fall," I chuckled as I leaned over, feeling the heat.

"There's another ballista," Seyka said. "We could use it to get across and up."

"Good thinking. Lis, want to do the honors?" I asked, tossing her the Pullcaster.

"How do I even work this thing?" Lis asked, examining it.

"We'll do practice outside," I chuckled. "We'll be back, Seyka."

We walked back outside and we jumped from the mouth of the cave, back to where we were before.

"Alright, see where the ballista created a path for us?" 

"Yeah."

"Aim right there with the Pullcaster. Shoot and it will pull you upwards."

Lis followed my instructions and she was dragged upwards, grabbing onto the spike the ballista planted.

"Whoa! That was awesome!"

"Think you need some more practice?"

"I-I think I'll be ok," she said, climbing up.

I climbed up after her and reached into my pocket, "Here, in case things go wrong."

"The shieldwing?"

"I think if you're going to be the one to scale those walls, you're going to need something to break your fall."

"T-Thanks, mom," Lis said and hugged me tightly.

I hugged her back and let out a sigh, "I-I'm sorry if your mother and I didn't teach you these things while you were growing up."

"Mom," Lis whispered to me. "It's ok. I figured you weren't ready to teach me these things."

"I know," I pulled away and looked into the same colored eyes I had. "But you were out there for sometime doing who knows what. You were probably falling and getting scraped up here and there. It's like you're a kid all over again," I chuckled. 

"A kid who actually knows how to walk and talk."

"For the most part. Your mother is like that, too. Stumbling over her own words and legs even though she's been on this Earth for a long time. A number of times, I should say."

"Are you worried that something might happen to her again?"

"Very much," I nodded my head, trying to stop tears from forming. "I don't know what I would do if I can't bring her back again."

"I'm sure GAIA has her genetic makeup. She could just make another one."

"I'm sure she can, but that would be unethical at this point. Bringing back another clone of a dead person. If the universe wanted her dead, it would be happening over and over again. I don't think I can be able to keep bringing her back only for her to die again. That's what it means to be human."

"But the first time," Lis began.

"Was your mother's idea. She wanted that because she knew how I would be without her. My worst fear was confessing to one another and then having one of us die. While she died to save the lives of many, she knew her purpose in life, especially to me. And that's why she did what she did."

"Mom," Lis stepped towards me and took my hand. "It's going to be ok. If mother is anything like you, she'll make it out alive."

A hopeful smiled crawled onto my face as I nodded, "Yeah."