Heart of a Machine

Chapter 3

With a steadily growing army of machines at her beck and call, Aloy's confidence grew proportionally to it. The Zenith's will still undoubtedly be a problem, but with every machine she gained, any other problem she could face steadily became easier to deal with. On the way to the AETHER signal, Aloy added Scrappers, Ravagers, and even a few Shellwalkers to her slowly growing armada. Unfortunately, Aloy's herd of machines drew some attention from the desert Tenakth. Thankfully, they weren't the rebellious kind, and kept their distance, a few running off to who knows where when they caught sight of Aloy. Thankfully she kept her helmet on the whole time. She doubted seeing the Saviour of Meridian and at the head of a herd of machines would make a good impression.

Soon after the staring Tenakth left, she hit the jungle, and the trees were too numerous for the larger machines to go through without causing a lot of unnecessary damage. Mounting a Charger, she commanded the others to patrol the area and wipe out machines and harvest their parts before entering the new territory, weaving between trees. When she reaches the location the signal is coming from, she is... somewhat surprised. "Is that an ancient ruin... turned into a Tenakth stronghold?" She dismounts, inverts her hair back to its original red color and puts away her helmet before approaching the gates. "Is AETHER inside?"

She cautiously approaches the guards, overhearing the tail end of their conversation. "Regalla's forces seem strong now, but-"
The other guard cuts off the older woman. "Her machines took out my entire squad! And there's rumors about some new type of machine that assumed control over an entire herd of the things, called the Machine Queen. If that thing joins forces with Regalla-"
"Remember the Visions." The older Tenakth is quick to intercede, and the younger guard falls silent. "The Old Ones didn't choose their fight, but they stood firm. They didn't hesitate, and neither will we." The young guard silently nods his agreement and moves on, leaving an opening for Aloy to engage in conversation with the older woman while contemplating the young guard's words. 'I know gossip travels fast, but between clans with such a strained relationship? How popular does a topic have to be for that to happen?' She wasn't the only one that was interested in those few sentences.

When Aloy reaches the older woman, she is seemingly grateful for the Nora's presence. "Blood of the Ten, you've come to us."
Aloy is reasonably confused. "You know who I am?"
The older Tenakth stepped back to admire Aloy. "The Nora with hair like wildfire that defeated Regalla's champion at Barren Light? Yes, you are known to us. But all things considered," she raps a knuckle against Aloy's exoskeleton "you'd think such unique armor would be mentioned in that description. I thought the only things capable of such intricate craftsmanship were machines." Aloy becomes concerned. She was on thin ice as an Outlander in Tenakth territory as is, but being half machine would be a death sentence.
The Nora crosses her mechanical arms, hoping to draw attention away from her armored chest. "It's a recent addition. A gift, actually."
"My compliments to your metalweaver. I am Dekka, the Chaplain of the Lowland Clan. You've come to speak with Chief Hekarro ?"
Aloy subtly looks behind the Chaplain and into the building. "Not exactly. There's something I need in there."
Dekka is firm in her decision to bring Aloy to Hekkaro. "Anything you need, the chief can provide. Come."

Aloy notices a glitched out holographic display a few meters away. "Is that one of the Visions you were talking about?"
Dekka nods. "The records of the Ten. I can show them to you. On our way to the chief."
Aloy sighs. "Alright. Let's see Hekarro."
"He's in his throne room, at the far end of the Grove. Feel welcome among the records of the Ten." Aloy decided to check out the displays on the way to Hekkaro, to learn more about the Tenakth. Apparently, these Visions are one of a very small number of things that the Tenakth agree on. Each Vision was an inspiration for the Tenakth.

After the tour is over, Aloy is delivered to the throne room. In it, was a fighter jet suspended above a throne and a painting over the floor. When Dekka leaves to get Hekarro, Aloy activates her Focus. It's not as advanced without the helmet, but it'll do. She looks around the room before her gaze falls to the throne, and a room is revealed to be underneath. She hurriedly turns it off when Dekka comes back, with a one armed Marshall Kotallo in tow. "I will see you soon, Outlander." Aloy is taken aback by the aggression, and stares after Kotallo for a while before looking back to the throne in time to see Chief Hekarro step through the hologram at its back.

"The Savior of Meridian. I am told you held back Regalla's forces outside Barren Light. And defeated her champion Grudda in single combat. Impressive." He sits upon his throne, analyzing the Nora before him.
Aloy opts to be polite in front of a warrior chief. "Uh, thank you. I met Marshall Fashav there too. He said you were a great warrior. And honorable."
The chief is seemingly in grief. "His death is a painful loss among the Tenakth. And we will not recover from the massacre of our Marshals quickly. But if you, the Savior of Meridian, are here to pledge your service, that would help considerably."
Aloy sighs. "I'm sorry, but I'm not here to fight for you. There's something I need in that basement, something that will save lives, yours, mine, your peoples. Everyone, and everything. It's not something you can see but it is there."
"I have seen it." Aloy is surprised by that. "You have named your price. Now I name mine. With my Marshals dead, I need your spear. Help me defeat my enemies and I will grant you access to the chamber below."

Ally is somewhat exasperated, but she has to consider the facts. Hekarro has no real idea what's going on or how to fix it, all he knows is that a Nora walked into his sacred grounds and he needs a fighter. And Aloy is well aware of how stubborn a Tenakth can be. "You wanna tell me more about what I would be agreeing to?"
"I need Marshals to keep the tribe together. Such warriors can only be promoted through trial by combat called the Kulrut."
"Fashav told me about that."
Hekarro nods. "Good. Then you understand its importance. Since Regalla seems to undermine me, she will no doubt attack the Kulrut in an effort to kill me before my people."
"So you need a bodyguard?"
"No. To defend the Kulrut. But there is more. The Kulrut cannot begin without all three clans in attendance, but the commander of the Sky Clan, Tekotteh, refuses to send his fighters because of the threat Regalla poses. I need you to go north and force him to submit and send his fighters. Do whatever is necessary. Marshal Kotallo will assist you. He was maimed at Barren Light, but he can still aid you. He is already on his way to Stonecrest. He will take you to the Sky Clan stronghold from there. So, are we in agreement?"
Aloy nods resolutely. "I'll head there now."

Exiting the Memorial Grove, Aloy is deep in thought as she mounts her Charger. "Regalla might attack the Kulrut, huh? I could use the machines, but they might get mixed up with Regalla's and cause more chaos somehow, and it might bring some suspicion on me if I'm seen controlling that many at once."
"I believe I can remedy that."
Aloy nods at the empty air. "Keep talking."
HEPHAESTUS is happy to oblige. "Your latest title as the Machine Queen has provided inspiration for new models. Acting as a third party may draw attention away from your activities in the future, and work as a show of power in our favor. I've already begun constructing a palace."
Aloy rolls her eyes. "Very funny HEPHAESTUS."
"..."
Aloy begins to grow concerned. "HEPHAESTUS, tell me you didn't. HEPHAESTUS?!"