It was a difficult conversation to have with those that lived and worked at the base. When all the pairs infiltrating cauldrons returned, Aloy called them together in the common room and watched the light in their eyes dim as she told them HEPHAESTUS had abandoned them.
“I thought…it needed more cauldrons than we’ve overridden…to withstand against Nemesis.” Silga said faintly. Morlund stood by her side and put his arm around her shoulders.
“I think HEPHAESTUS lied about the amount of cauldrons it needed,” Aloy admitted, “so that we wouldn’t realise it was able to leave so soon. I just…took it at its word.”
The air was filled with emptiness. A void weighed heavily on their shoulders.
“There’s still a chance HEPHAESTUS might return and aid us in our fight against Nemesis,” Alva said though Aloy knew her well enough to know when she was forcing herself to be positive, “until then…what else is there we can do?”
Aloy licked her lips and swallowed. “I…I don’t…” She looked at Beta and trembled. “Did I screw this up? Have I killed us all?”
Beta couldn’t muster a rebuttal, her expression lost and confused. Erend was still battered from the Las Vegas siege, Zo sitting near him, her hands on her belly, no doubt wondering if the child conceived of herself and Varl would even be born. Teb and Nakoa, who had once believed the Anointed of the Nora, could do anything, were overcome with doubt. Tunk and Ikrie were quiet while Naltuk looked furious, the seething beneath his skin wanting to rip out of him in a wordless howl. Kotallo stood with Soka and Gera. The younger Tenakth were agitated but Aloy could see them look to Kotallo to know how to react. He was planted like a statue, stoic and calm, neither hope nor condemnation in his eyes.
And for a moment, Aloy considered running into his arms…
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“Kotallo…”
“The Ten never faltered though they knew their fight was a hopeless one,” Kotallo said quietly, “I, for one, will not lie down and let Nemesis take my life without a fight.”
Aloy trembled.
“The cause might have been lost to begin with,” Nil added, “and it is possible to make all the right decisions and still lose…but that shouldn’t stop us from making them.”
“Coming from you, that’s a bit rich,” Erend remarked and Nil shrugged, acknowledging the statement, “but doesn’t make it untrue. I mean, Tomas warned us in the beginning that Nemesis couldn’t be beaten…”
“I didn’t want to hear it,” Aloy looked at the young Faro clone whose blue eyes were cloudy and troubled, “I thought there wasn’t anything I couldn’t do…maybe if I was as strong as Elisabet Sobeck…”
“Well, we all know that’s complete bullshit,” Tomas shook his head, “strength doesn’t come into a fight against Nemesis. It doesn’t conform to codes of decency or ethical conduct. It will use people you care about against you…”
“It’s using my compassion against me…like my compassion for HEPHAESTUS…” Aloy’s shoulders bowed under the weight of inevitability. “Sobeck and all the old ones fought to save this world…but I couldn’t keep it safe.”
Their conversation was interrupted as all their FOCUSES sparked into life.
“Arato to base! Can anyone hear me!”
“Desert Clan volunteer who left?” Aloy tried to place his voice.
“I’m at Scalding Spear! The machines are attacking! They’re battering down our outer defences! We’ll be over run! You’ve got to…”
The transmission cut out. Aloy felt all their eyes on her but couldn’t find the words to speak.
“What do we do?” Alva asked tremulously in the silence. “We can’t just leave them…”
“No, I can’t…” Aloy decided and stood up, looking around at their faces. “I won’t ask anyone to join me into a hopeless battle…”
“I like those odds.” Nil chuckled. “I’m not a fan of machine killing but ones that are possessed by Nemesis…there’s a strange sense of satisfaction grinding them into the earth.”
“Agreed,” Kotallo nodded, “let us fight like the Ten.”
“Hammer and tongs, steel to soul.” Erend agreed.
“Our…blood…is…in…your…teeth…” Tunk used his FOCUS to translate.
“Where the Anointed goes, we follow.” Nakoa vowed and Teb nodded.
“Quen don’t have good battle cries like that,” Alva admitted, “but my bow is yours, Aloy. However, my arrows…they’re reserved for machines.”
Aloy breathed in deeply, trying not to sob, the emotion overwhelming her.
“Then let’s do this.”