Four days earlier…
“I’m confused…” Erend admitted with an ale in his hand as Aloy raided the kitchen for supplies for her journey.
“That’s not hard.” Sylens said dryly.
“Congratulations, you’re a jerk.” Erend muttered then turned attention back to Aloy. “I thought HEPHAESTUS was not contained by any one cauldron?”
“It seemed that way but Beta realised that, after studying what happened with Cyan and the Daemon, that the signal to infect Cyan had to come from somewhere specific. She worked out that HEPHAESTUS, while being in all cauldrons because that’s its domain, operates primarily from a single location. Of course, it’s hard to pinpoint because all the cauldrons make it seem like it’s everywhere.”
“So you’re going to cross the entire continent to get to this…New York place…and find where HEPHAESTUS is hiding?”
“Pretty much.” Aloy wrapped some dried meat into a package and stuffed it in her back.
“And this place will be swarming with machines?”
“More than likely.”
“And you don’t want backup?”
Aloy closed her eyes and sighed. “Erend…”
“I’m just saying not even Ursa would take this on, on her own.” Erend spoke of his late sister who had been a force to contend with, helping Avad liberate Meridian from his mad father, the thirteenth Sunking.
“Infiltrating the cauldron where HEPHAESTUS resides will take stealth, cunning and wits,” Sylens eyed Erend, “need I say more?”
“You know, your face looks like a good place to put my hammer…”
“Please, you couldn’t touch me you ham fisted barbaric…”
“Shut up the both of you!” Aloy snapped. “Sylens, I will pin you down and let Erend make you unrecognisable in a minute. Please, hold your tongue or go away.” The dark skinned, blue corded man gave a superior huff but thankfully, he left the common room. Aloy turned with her hands on her hips and eyed Erend. “I know you’re trying to help…”
Stolen novel; please report.
“Actually I’m trying to get you to accept help,” Erend winced, “kind of like Varl used to…only he did it better I guess.”
Aloy’s ire softened when she saw how saddened he was. “I brushed him off more than once, Erend…don’t give up on me.”
“Never.” Erend beamed. “So…”
“I’m going on my own.”
“Aloy…”
“I need you here training the volunteers and beating back the machines within our reach.” Aloy insisted. “If HEPHAESTUS, or heaven forbid, Nemesis figures out where this base is…”
“Our options become more than limited.”
“Besides, I can’t go anywhere if I don’t have an override module.” Aloy eyed her spear sadly. “Used to be able to point and shoot this thing…”
“Beta will figure it out.” Erend insisted then saw Zo coming in from the eastern entrance. Aloy noticed he blanched a little as though her presence made him feel awkward. She couldn’t quite work out what the problem was as they’d managed to get along fine while travelling throughout the east. “Well…let me know if you need anything…that I can do…you know…” He blurted, making a hasty retreat.
Aloy raised an eyebrow as Zo came close. “What was all that about?”
“What was what?”
“Erend and his rapid exit?”
Zo looked to where Erend had disappeared. “I have no idea. He’s been acting this way since we got back from the trip…maybe even before.”
“Did you have a fight?”
“Nothing notable.” Zo held out a flask. “Medicinal liquor…or celebration libation…whichever way you want to look at it.”
“Oseram brew?” Aloy opened the cap and sniffed. It had a very pleasant smell.
“Can’t stand the stuff. This is Utaru liquor. My aunt, who was a healer, used it for sterilising, fortification and celebration.”
“Good to know.” Aloy recapped the flask. “Do you think you’ll be able to handle things here while I’m gone?”
“I’m hoping that by the time you return, the volunteers will have all the necessary training for them to return to their tribes and act as intermediaries.” Zo promised. “Alva will remain here with me as well as Beta and Tomas.”
“And Sylens…”
“I will keep an eye on him.” Zo nodded.
“And on Tomas…and Beta…particularly together.”
“Aloy…”
“She’s infatuated and he’s…”
“Adolescent eager?”
Aloy grimaced. “He’s…getting better I suppose…”
“I think he’s kinder than he makes out. He has ten years of conditioning to overcome.”
“And Beta is…naïve.”
“You keep worrying and I’ll bring up a certain stoic Tenakth we both know.”
Aloy was going to reply to this although what she would have said was a mystery when Beta burst out of the science lab, holding a round module in her hand.
“I think Gaia and I have done it!” Beta thrust it towards Aloy, her pale green eyes sparkling with excitement.
“An override?” Aloy grasped it.
“It needs testing first,” Beta beamed, “but it’ll allow you to override a machine.”
Aloy paused. “What do you mean ‘a’ machine?”
“It has to be physically connected to the machine as a hacked override.” Beta opened her arms wide and shrugged. “It was the only way to overcome the protocols the machines have now that Nemesis has bumped up HEPHAESTUS’ security.”
“So…if it is destroyed…”
“You’ll be walking.”
“Then…I better override a Sunwing.”