The control centre was dark except for a few low floor panels lights.
“Uh…Beta?”
“Just give her a moment.”
“Okay…”
The grating in the floor gave a hum and the lights dimmed as an explosion of golden sparkles erupted out of the central station. They flooded the circular control centre, touching every crevice and soaking into the skin of the two women who stood in its wake before the lights drew back, called into the middle, swirling about and coalescing into the shape of a woman with dark skin and a coil of hair resting over her right shoulder. Her torso was draped in light in the form of fabric, her legs and base scattering into vague representation, alluding to her shape rather than describing it in detail.
She blinked and smiled at the two women. “Aloy. Beta.”
Aloy held her breath. “How are you feeling, Gaia?”
“The defragmentation process seems to have purged the malware data stream embedded by the Zeniths.”
Aloy cringed. “Seems to?”
“One moment.” Gaia’s voice was warm and deep, her head tilting slightly. “My internal checks have returned with no evidence of the malware. However, I would appreciate confirmation from Beta.”
Aloy turned to the young woman who was almost a mirror reflection of herself. Her copper red hair was cropped quite short with long strands tending to fall in front of her serious expression as she studied the readouts on a monitor panel.
“Beta? Is it good news?”
Beta’s nervous fingers flitted over the information on the panel before she stepped back and breathed out deeply. “It’s confirmed.” She looked at Aloy, her pale green eyes bright. “All traces of the malware have been purged.”
Aloy clapped her hand on Beta’s shoulder. “I knew you could do it.”
Beta gave a shaky laugh. “I knew I could probably do it…”
“Your efforts were greatly appreciated, Beta,” Gaia encouraged the nervous twin of Aloy, “the Zeniths made sure that any attempt on my part to purge the malware, thus corrupting my responses to anyone other than a Zenith, would always allow for a seed to remain behind, one that adapts and grows, infesting my matrix.”
“Gaia required keyhole surgery,” Aloy laughed, “and for all my experience, I don’t have the same knowledge that you do.”
“You would have found a way.” Beta insisted, idolising her identical twin.
Aloy grimaced. “Yes…but I think it would have involved me asking Sylens for help. I mean, I would have…but I’m glad I didn’t have to.”
“And you call me cold blooded.” Sylens’ disapproving voice said from the doorway. Aloy and Beta turned to him, Beta becoming timid but Aloy just looking annoyed. “I take it, from the reestablishment of power in the base, that Gaia is back to operating capacity?”
“Good as new.” Aloy gestured to the glowing ethereal embodiment of a digital mother earth figure.
Sylens’ expression was not impressed. But then, he almost never was except by his own achievements. “So I can finally access the APOLLO database?”
Aloy gave a mocking bow. “Be my guest.”
Sylens rolled his eyes. “About time.”
Aloy rolled her eyes as he left then looked at Beta. “You know, if you can’t say something nice…”
“I don’t know how you stand up to him.” Beta trembled. “He makes my spine turn to jelly.”
Aloy and Beta set about disconnecting the rig, which had been used to transport Gaia from the Zenith headquarters back to their home base, from the central panel.
“He’s just salty that you were born smarter than he and that you’ve had access to all that APOLLO has to offer.” Aloy pointed out.
“Only what the Zeniths deemed worthy…or what Tilda shared…” Beta’s fragile expression of joy crumpled at the mention of her name. Aloy wished she knew how to wipe out Tilda’s hateful words and cruel use of Beta as she tried to turn her into her pawn, only to toss her aside in favour of Aloy.
“Well, now you can access any of it you wish.” Aloy brushed her hands off. “Isn’t that right, Gaia?”
“Indeed.”
Beta brightened for a brief moment then sighed. “I suppose, though, we should be focussing on Nemesis and recapturing HEPHAESTUS.”
“We will,” Aloy promised, “but not on an empty stomach.”
“Says the woman who skips any meal if it slows her down.” Beta teased then clamped her lips shut, her eyes wide in horror that she had been so brazen.
Aloy laughed. “I’ll allow that. Come on. Need anything Gaia?”
“No, however, may I speak with you, Aloy?” Gaia asked then added. “Privately?”
Aloy was so surprised by the question that she hardly knew what to say. She turned to ask Beta if it would be alright but her twin was already backing away.
“I’ll…go…and prepare some food. Zo showed me how. I…I’ll just replay her instructions.” Beta hastened out of the control room, Aloy’s heart sinking at the way she seemed to be scurrying like a shamed rat.
When the door closed behind her she turned to Gaia. “I’m not comfortable with Beta and Sylens alone together.” She protested. “He’s the type to take advantage.”
“I will monitor their interactions and at present, they are not in the same room.”
Aloy breathed out and nodded, putting her hands on her hips. “So…what did you want to discuss?”
Gaia studied her. “How are you Aloy?”
Aloy blinked, her jaw falling open. “How…how am I?” Gaia nodded. “That’s it? That’s the private talk you wanted to have. My wellbeing?”
Gaia was not affronted by Aloy’s potentially dangerous tone. “I wanted to give you a safe, confidential place to talk. You are reluctant to share or open up with others present, particularly Beta whom you are like a protective older sister to.”
Aloy couldn’t deny that. While genetically, she and Beta were identical, there was no denying that Aloy was bolder, more confident and experienced. And for all Beta’s knowledge, her sense of self worth had been limited to it and so, outside of what she knew, Beta was frightened, untrained, inexperienced and severely lacking any confidence.
When Beta’s expertise allowed her to take point, like she had with Gaia’s malware purge, Aloy was quick to let her have her head and way. There was no doubt she knew a great deal more than Aloy but the moment that need was fulfilled, Beta was swamped by the crushing weight of all she didn’t know or couldn’t cope with.
As such, Aloy never leaned on her.
But then again, she rarely leaned on anyone.
That was just the way, the circumstances, in which she’d been brought up.
Not by choice, but by necessity.
“Well…in that case,” Aloy began to pace a little in front of the glowing presence of Gaia, “in answer to your question…I’m fine.” She gave a small laugh at the answer. “I mean, if I stopped for too long and thought about the enormity of what we’re facing, I can feel myself becoming overwhelmed and anxious.” Even now she could feel hysteria and despair nipping at her heels. “So I just focus on the next step, the next problem to solve, rather than the big picture.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
“An excellent coping mechanism.” Gaia praised and Aloy smiled. “Has the departure of your companions affected your mood?”
Aloy thought it was an odd question but then, Gaia wasn’t like a regular human. “I guess…it’s not like I went looking for company,” her pale green eyes softened, “but Varl…he was so stubborn and gracious.” She leaned against the railing around the outside of the control centre and gave a sigh. “No matter how many times I tried to ditch him, there he was…and he just…brought everyone together. Erend and his larger than life, hammer fisted Oseram approach to everything, Zo with her quiet Utaru grown wisdom and patience, Alva and her endless questions, giddy about even the most boring data and her need to know more about the Legacy…” Aloy paused and looked at the ground. “I got used to their company…and now, I feel the lack.”
She gazed at the metal panels, the perfect symmetry of the holes in the grating, marvelling how boisterous the base had been at its fullest and how quiet it was with just the antisocial Sylens and nervous Beta for company.
“What about Kotallo?”
Aloy blinked, feeling the blood drain out of her face. She licked her lips and tried to keep her tone light. “What about Kotallo?” She asked, looking up at Gaia but not actually meeting her gaze.
“Do you miss him?”
“No, not really.” Aloy blurted then caught herself, realising that she rarely said anything that quickly or bluntly and hastened to add, “I mean, yes of course I do because he was here…but he was always working by himself and was very quiet and not social…” Her ramble could have gone on forever if not for Gaia’s interruption.
“Aloy, I feel you should know that I am aware of the development of the relationship between yourself and Kotallo which includes a physically intimate aspect.”
Aloy’s blood drained face suddenly flushed red and hot and her skin prickled painfully. “Have you been…watching us?” She asked through a throat that felt as though it was being strangled.
Gaia’s expression was calm, not lacking in emotion but hardly the raging torrent that Aloy felt herself descending into. “Any interaction within the confines of this base or amongst those wearing FOCUSES linked through our private network are within my purview, thus I am aware of them. However, unless I detect trouble, I do not actively watch these interactions.”
Aloy put her hands to her cheeks, feeling her skin burn with shame. “Gaia…I’m sorry.” She had been caught in an outright lie, like a child and not a grown woman. “I didn’t mean to lie,” which was the truth…even as the lie had leapt from her lips, “I just…I don’t know how it happened!” She exclaimed softly, fully aware that the walls in the base were not soundproof. Aloy knew a raised voice could be heard.
“I believe mutual attraction was acknowledged on the wall of the dam where the Apex acid Stormbird was being constructed.”
Aloy folded her arms, her expression furious. “If by ‘mutual attraction’, you mean arguing over who was going to risk their life to stop the Stormbird from being completed…” She recalled the fight, Kotallo insisting that she was too important to risk in the acid water and Aloy’s almost violent protest that exposed her deepest fear…that she would lose him.
“Actually, I specifically meant the moment of your first kiss.” Aloy’s eyes widened and she looked at the walls of the domed control centre that glowed with light, colours coalescing into a constructed scene, collated from both Aloy and Kotallo’s FOCUSES. She saw the two of them, standing on the edge of the dam, Kotallo stepping into her twitching grasp that was too afraid to reach out to him and their foreheads met.
“Please…I can’t…lose you.”
Aloy’s blood raced even as her heart sank as Kotallo cupped her face and kissed her. Her body hummed, thrumming with the same thrill now as she’d felt in that moment. Never mind the Stormbird or all the other machines in the dam. Never mind HAPHAESTUS or the degrading biosphere of earth…or even Nemesis…
…in that moment there was no one other than herself and Kotallo.
Aloy closed her eyes, shutting out the image, cursing the captured moment on her FOCUS. She removed the triangular device from the side of her head and glared at it, trembling.
“Aloy, you seem distressed by this image.”
“Well of course I’m distressed!” She turned and cried at Gaia who watched her calmly. “What the hell was I thinking?” She demanded. “Here I am, with the weight of the world on my shoulders and the survival of every living being against a malevolent force,” she forced her tone to soften, hissing angrily, “and I’m kissing one armed, sullen and stubborn Tenakth warriors on the walls of dams! It’s unthinkable!”
She was shaking with fury, wanting to crush her blasted FOCUS that had so betrayed her.
“Aloy, do you regret this development of relationship with Kotallo?”
“It’s barely even a relationship…” She snorted. “It’s…just…yes, I regret it.”
She couldn’t stay in the control centre any longer. She hastened for the door, slipping her FOCUS into a pocket in her tunic and descended the stairs, into the common room where Beta looked up from the cooking space.
“I was about to cook the last of the sausages Erend brought back from Chainscrape.” Beta said nervously.
Aloy could only imagine how she looked, unsettled, jittery and wired. She tried to focus on the meal and helped Beta cook it, seeing her fingers tremble. Beta said nothing though she must have noticed that Aloy was not her usual self. And even if she missed the emotion, Beta could not have missed the lack of FOCUS from Aloy’s temple.
Beta set two plates down and they cobbled a meal together from the remaining supplies.
“Sorry…about before.” Aloy finally managed to squeeze out. “Gaia wanted…a word.”
Beta nodded, swallowing. “About me?”
Aloy looked at her, seeing the fear in her sister’s eyes. “No…oh, no, no Beta. No, it wasn’t about you.” Beta looked at her timidly. Aloy put her arm around her shoulder. “It wasn’t about you. It was about me.”
“You seem pretty upset.” Beta observed softly.
“Yeah, I was,” Aloy sighed, “still am.”
Beta gazed at her, her eyebrows oblique and tender. “Aloy, is there anything I can do?”
Aloy huffed out her anger and smiled at her. “No, I’m alright. It just took me by surprise.” Beta nodded, accepting her reassurance. “I was thinking you need some sunshine. Why don’t we visit the Utaru fields and do some trades for more food?”
“You want me to come?”
“You’ve been cooped up in this centre for too long.”
Because of her isolated and extremely focused upbringing, if you could call being conditioned by sociopathic, millennia old humans an ‘upbringing’, Beta struggled being social and interacting beyond observation. Aloy had always thought herself as the ultimate loner but Beta surpassed her by leagues. It was important for her to be able to relate to people, to see from their perspective and come to appreciate the cultural differences between the tribes.
And knowing who to barter with for food was a life skill Beta sorely needed.
Thankfully the Utaru were peaceful and their fields, now free of the blight, were plentiful. And given Aloy’s assistance under the direction of Zo, even the Chorus, the governing authority of the Utaru, were generous and accepting…even when there were some strange looks between Aloy and Beta.
Thankfully their similarities could be explained away by being twins. It wasn’t true but it was the easiest way to understand why they looked identical.
Aloy was able to pour all her focus and energy into watching over Beta as they travelled to the Utaru settlement and back again, the cool breeze driving away her anger and the sunshine brightening her soul. Once back at the control centre, their bounty sorted and stored, Beta said she would check on Gaia and have an early night. Aloy let her go, knowing her sister was unaccustomed to physical labour or even exercise.
Aloy went to her room, appointed and even decorated by Zo. There were mats woven in the Utaru way from reeds and fronds, covering much of the grey and unfeeling floor. Aloy’s personal affects, though not many, had been laid out thoughtfully, respecting that many of them were portals to bittersweet memories. There was the token from Rost, her protector, her teacher, her guide…her father now gone. There was the earth pendant Aloy had discovered Elisabet’s enviro suit still clutching. There were even a few mementos that Aloy would not have thought to hold onto triggering memories.
It was a more domestic trend that Aloy had never warmed to but she certainly appreciated the effort. She set her spear, bow and quiver down then removed her armour. When she was outside of the base, she never took it off. However, the base had become a place she felt comfortable and secure enough to do so. And it was far more comfortable to sleep in her under tunic and leggings than with machine parts digging in.
Aloy sank onto her sleeping mat and leaned against the wall behind her. A wave of sorrow struck her and she closed her eyes, recalling a time when she had been huddled in the same position, an image of horror tormenting her. It had been in Thebes, Ted Faro’s end of the world bunker and she had uncovered him, still alive but barely human. At the time she had been intent on surviving the moment, avoiding Quen militants and their CEO, a man convinced he was Ted Faro reincarnated. But upon her return to the base, Aloy’s dreams had descended into nightmare after nightmare, a hellish onslaught that wouldn’t let her rest.
She had seen so much and uncovered darkness, death and terrible truths about the old ones.
It had never affected her like the horrifically disfigured face of Ted Faro with his uncoordinated eyes and sagging mouth, gazing at her and calling her by Elisabet’s name.
Aloy shuddered and closed her eyes.
When she had returned to the base, Aloy had made sure to isolate the footage, limiting the impact of it to herself and the unemotional Gaia.
She had hoped, by trying to protect others, that she would gain authority over the memory. Or at least, be able to pretend it didn’t exist by not having anyone else bring it up.
Yet the nightmares constantly chased her down and shaded deep shadows beneath her eyes.
Aloy had started to wonder if she would go mad.
She couldn’t stand her bed. She had to get up and walk and found herself in the common room, sharing a cup of milk with Kotallo. He had pressed her about the encounter in Thebes and Aloy had responded angrily, finally flinging the data stream at him before retreating to her room.
She had sat in the dark, furious but not with Kotallo…with herself for not being strong enough to refuse his knowledge. And then, only two minutes later, he had come into her room and simply sat down beside her.
Aloy glanced at the space he had occupied as he urged her to lean on him, that he was strong despite the loss of his left arm.
Aloy had never leaned on anyone, not if she could help it.
She was strong.
She was independent.
And for the most part, she wasn’t lonely.
Yet she had sunk against his chest, weary to her core, warm from his body heat and, strangely, safe in his embrace. Not that he had held her and yet, Aloy had felt as though his presence had surrounded her, protecting her.
It hadn’t been romantic or suggestive and nothing was ever more said about it.
Yet the nightmares finally receded and Aloy had slept.
Aloy’s throat tightened and she swallowed with difficulty.
Her fingers hovered above the FOCUS she had returned to her right temple.
She licked her lips and brushed the delicate triangle. “Hey, Gaia?”
“Yes, Aloy?”
Aloy felt a rare tear escape one eye and trickle down her cheek. “I miss him.” She rasped softly then tapped her FOCUS again, ending the conversation. She lay down with her head on her right arm, her left stretched out to touch the empty place beside her.