Heart Like a Machine

Chapter 87

"Well that was a bit of a bust," I sighed. "But we at least know where Londra is."

"Back there, you said there was something greater out there. What did you mean?" Seyka asked.

"S-Seyka, I can explain."

"Sure you can. You're just like a Diviner, keeping secrets from their people. I thought you were here to help me."

"We are here to help you, but I can ask the same thing to you. We saw how you reacted to the mural. What about that?"

Seyka went silent as she stepped away from me.

"Look, in due time, everything will come out. We just need more time."

"More time for what? My people are dying and Lis' mother is who knows where. She could be dead for all we know," she said.

"Hey!" Lis walked towards Seyka, but I placed my hand in front of her. "You better watch it when you speak about my mother."

"Oh, seems you want some action now. Where was that action when we were fighting the machines?"

"You said you can handle yourself, so I let you prove to me that you can handle it."

"Lis," I said.

"I can handle myself, but there were a lot of machines. It would have been great if we had an extra hand or two to help with the fighting!"

"Sorry I wasn't useful! Sorry that for most of my life I wasn't useful!"

"LIS!" I yelled, meeting her gaze. "That's enough."

Lis sighed and walked off. I turned my attention to Seyka who had a regretful look on her face.

"I'm sorry for that."

"You'll have to apologize to Lis for that."

"But I am also sorry for prying out information when I shouldn't. It's about trust, isn't it?

"Yes. And I am not one to easily trust people."

"I don't blame you, being an outcast for most of your life."

"Lis has had it rough, too, with her mother. While her mother was very protective of her, there were times where she wanted to prove she was useful. But her mother wouldn't let her. It took her time to prove her worth and eventually," my eyes followed Lis as she was sitting by the dead machines, salviging their parts. "She proved her worth to her mother."

"It must have felt like a relief when she was able to."

"She did. She felt happy, too."

"Hey, I just noticied something," she looked at my hand.

"Yeah?"

"You have a ring on your finger. Who gave it to you?"

"Someone very close to me."

"A-Are you married?"

"Just a promise ring."

"A promise ring?"

"Just a promise that they'll protect me and always have my back."

"I guess it was someone close to you."

"They were very close to me."

"Well, I-I'll go back to the Admiral and let him know what we found. Afterwards, we can meet up and I can take you over to where those coordinates were. They're North of Fleet's End."

"We'll see you there. D-Do you need a ride back?" I asked.

"I'll just take one of the boats my people left. I-I still don't do well in the air."

"Alright."

Seyka headed back down the mountain and I walked back over to Lis. She was sitting in the grass, watching a hologram of when she was younger with the two of us. It was actually the day we welcomed her into the world. The two of us standing by ELEUTHIA's pod made it capable of making her. Turning our dream into reality. It was amazing and I sometimes relived that moment by watching the hologram back. I loved seeing Y/N's face and how bright it was when we welcomed Lis into the world. 

"Hey," I said and sat beside her.

Lis quickly wiped the tears from her eyes before turning towards me, turning off the hologram.

"H-Hey," she said.

"What you said back there," I said.

"I-I should apologize to Seyka."

"No, no, that wasn't your fault. Both of you had every right to feel the way you did. But let me ask you something, Lis."

"What's up?"

"Do you still feel useless?"

She turned away and let out a sigh, "Sometimes I do."

"Why?"

"I couldn't help mother when she was shot down from that tower and I just don't feel like I am much help with you and Seyka. You two have had more fighting experience than I ever will. It," she sighed once more. "It just reminds me of when I was growing up."

"And you wanted to prove to us that you were capable of helping?"

"Yes."

"Lis, you've come so far from when you first began. What do you think your younger self would think? What would she say to you after she watched you do all these things now that you're older?"

"She'd probably be amazed that I could finally take care of myself. And that you two finally let me leave home," she chuckled slightly.

"Lis, your mother and I are very proud of how much you've changed and grown. We remember when you were a little girl who was very eager to become stronger. You wanted to be like us and even your Aunt Beta. We all took a long time to get where we are now. And sometimes, we always need a helping hand here and there. There are times where we can't get out of the situation by ourself. That's when we need someone to help. So, Lis, don't ever think you're not useful. You are. You got your mother to come out here with you. And you contacted me so that I could help get her back."

"If I wasn't useless, I would have gotten her back by now."

"If we were up against a normal person that is. We're up against a Zenith," I said and tapped my Focus, an image of Tilda, Erik, and Gerard appearing. "They were immortal beings that had shields around them to make them impervious to any attack. I needed all the help I could get to fight them and fight Regalla. I wasn't the person you thought I was when growing up. I needed everyone's help to fight the Zeniths and I need all the help I can get to get your mother back."

Lis just nodded her head. I stood up and extended my hand out. She reached up and grabbed my hand. I pulled her up and brought her into my embrace.

"We'll get your mother back, I promise."