Out of Cryo - Season 2 | A Horizon: Zero Dawn Fanfiction

Chapter 7: A Deal

"Wait for me. I'll take one down and you'll get the other."

I huffed. "What do you mean 'get the other'? I'm not exactly an expert at beating up armed guards."

Sylens didn't find my sarcasm amusing and remained stern. "You'll do what you have to or we'll both be stuck here indefinitely." He nodded to my arm. "You've obviously been in situations that require using that so I suggest you figure something out quickly." He stood by the door and bent down just enough to listen to what was happening outside. "They're coming. Stand a few steps behind me and be ready."

I complied, still suspicious of this guy and what his (lack of) plans were for us to get out. Still, he had helped Aloy despite his weird attitude and less than favorable history so I figured I could trust him for now.

We hovered by the door – Sylens just a few steps away from the doorway – as the sound of footsteps grew louder and louder. The door slid open, revealing two guards, just as Sylens had predicted. One of them held two trays of food, while the other held his gun.

"We don't have all d-," the first barely got out before Sylens lunged at him and took him down so fast the other guard was taken by surprise. I took his pause as opportunity. Oh shit, what the fuck am I doing? Trying not to think too much, I ran forward and pulled my left arm back before delivering a harsh blow to the guy's face. It was just for a split-second, but I swore I could feel his cheekbone give in. He was out before he hit the floor.

"Shit!" I gasped, covering my mouth as I stared down at the poor guard.

But Sylens just glanced at the unconscious man and then at me, mildly impressed. "Interesting." He poked his head out of the room to check if anyone was coming and then looked back at me. "Get them in here and let's go."

After dragging the fallen guards into the cell, we shut the door and began to head down the corridor.

"Do you even know where we're going?" I demanded.

"My word, we just met and you complain more than she ever did! Lower your voice!"

I sighed and looked around, nervous as all hell that someone would see us. But there was no one, not even a guard in the corridor that we seemed to be aimlessly wandering down. "Where is everyone?"

"Shift change. There's a brief period where this area is unguarded. Contrary to your belief, they do not in fact have an army here. Most of these people are scientists."

I frowned. "And how would you know that?"

"Before I was a prisoner here I was a guest," Sylens said. "Your people needed something from me and I acquired it for them for a price. After they had what they wanted they betrayed me and held me hostage, just in case they needed more information." He shrugged. "I spent a great deal of time here before it was rebuilt. I had a feeling this might happen and so I made sure to take note of the place as much as I could before they locked me up."

"These asswipes are not my people," I argued.

Sylens raised an eyebrow. "Aren't they? You're an Old One are you not? Kept alive through destruction and time by cryogenics?"

"Well, yeah, but we're not just one big group. I don't even know these people and-,"

Sylens grabbed me and pulled me back against the wall facing away from the hallway, effectively hiding us from sight. Two guards walked past us.

"They never came back from meal drop-off. Found them in the cell."

"And the girl?"

"Gone. Her and that weird guy. Langley's got a facial fracture. You should see it – it's pretty crazy." Their voices faded and became unintelligible as they walked away.