Aloy is speechless beside her sister, looking upon the holo projection of Elisabet Sobeck with shock. She’s seen that same projection hundreds of times by now. Has memorized every particle of it ages ago in the precious few logs that she’s collected over the years.
Except, this time, it’s no recording.
Elisabet has her eyes locked on Tilda, her stare stern and undeniably present in this moment.
She’s… alive.
How?
‘I…’ Tilda holds a look of pure surprise as well, and Aloy would laugh at the absurdity of it were she not so stunned herself. ‘How are you here, Lis? You… You were dead, I saw you. At your mother’s ranch.’
‘I am dead. In a sense.’ Elisabet says casually, as if she were merely talking about the weather. She waves dismissively, her machine waving its own clawed hand in synchronization with her. ‘But I suppose you could say, that a little birdy happened upon your killer project from space,’ She gestures to the projection of Nemesis floating above the white and gold table. ‘And through some questionable means, managed to copy it for themselves.’ She then gestures to the Clawstrider she inhabits. ‘To more favorable results, as you can see.’
Aloy blinks, puzzle pieces clicking into place.
Sylens… he is the only one that would have the capabilities to do something like this.
Aloy has already figured that he would know all about Nemesis by now. From when he interrogated HADES. If he had that knowledge all along, then it wouldn’t be so outlandish to think that he could replicate it for himself.
But to what end?
Why would he decide to use it to bring Elisabet Sobeck back of all things?
Unless…
‘How long?’ Tilda asks, her awed tone of voice distracting Aloy from her thoughts. ‘How long have you been alive, Lis?’
‘Long enough to build a project or two.’ Elisabet’s face twists into a knowing smirk. An expression that Aloy herself has worn many times before. ‘Or did you really think that Sylens could have pulled off a weapon like that all on his own?’
Tilda scrunches her eyebrows, a delicate frown on her face as she realizes that she’s been played for a fool.
‘I see.’ She says slowly.
‘Consider it repayment for Far Zenith’s little stunt all those years ago.’ Elisabet says with no remorse. She holds up a hand when Tilda quickly goes to protest. ‘I have bigger grievances, though.’ Elisabet’s eyes then turn murderous. ‘Tell me. What exactly were you doing just now, Tilda?’
Tilda doesn’t answer, though she does stand up a bit straighter.
‘Because it sounded like you were making a threat.’ Elisabet takes a step, and Aloy belatedly realizes that she has purposefully placed the Clawstrider in between her and Tilda. ‘Does it still stand?’
Tilda lets out a breath through her nose, something in her eyes soft as they never leave Elisabet, before they harden into something else.
‘The real threat is Nemesis itself, Lis.’ Tilda reiterates. ‘As I said, it cannot be stopped. The only option is to flee from this world.’ Tilda continues, causing Elisabet to put her hands on her hips, unimpressed. ‘Earth doesn’t stand a chance.’ Tilda takes a step towards her. ‘So yes, my ‘invitation’ still stands. And it is now extended to you as well.’
‘Doesn’t sound like an invitation if the receiver can’t refuse.’ Elisabet points out. ‘Though, I guess you never really did put that together, now did you?’
The room goes silent then as they stare at each other, the tension in the air growing thick.
Aloy looks over each of them, only able to guess at the bad history that led to this moment.
Elisabet is ultimately the first to break the stalemate, as she unceremoniously turns and walks away down the stairs further into the room. Her actions prompt Tilda to immediately go after her, and unknowingly put distance between herself, Aloy and Beta.
Aloy recognizes the tactic for what it is, though, and motions for Beta to stay back as she follows closely behind Elisabet’s Clawstrider.
‘Lis, you can’t seriously want to stay.’ Tilda states calmly. ‘This world is a complete failure. It’s nothing like how you pictured when you were working on Zero Dawn.’ In response to her words, Elisabet whips her head towards Tilda as if she’d been slapped. ‘This wasn’t what you or your team envisioned. Surely you must realize that.’
‘Have you even looked at it?’ Elisabet accuses. She gestures to the world outside beyond the obnoxiously clean, sterile white walls that surround them. ‘New machines. Ones that I could never even dream of. New plant variations. Restored animal life. And the people, all of their new cultures and traditions.’ She lists off. ‘I don’t know what project you thought I was building, Tilda, but this. This is it. It’s life.’
She stares Tilda down with a deep-rooted determination that Aloy has seen so many times in Elisabet’s past logs. The same determination that has inspired Aloy’s own time and time again.
‘That’s very sweet, Lis.’ Tilda says with a frown on her face, as if she’s clearly growing impatient with this conversation. ‘But I need you to be serious about this.’
‘I am always serious.’ Elisabet turns away, continuing her stroll over towards a control panel podium at the back of the room. Tilda and Aloy follow her like puppets on strings. ‘Now, how long has Nemesis existed? What code variations did you use to create it?’
‘I didn’t create it. The scientists of Far Zenith did. Approximately 400 years ago.’ Tilda says while Elisabet accesses the panel and all of its information. Tilda lets her do so, seeing no point in stopping her at the moment. ‘At the start, it was used quite a few times for singular mind transferal purposes into new hosts. But overall, it was a shelved project. Declared impossible of gaining sentience. Which is why-’
‘Obviously that’s not true.’ Elisabet cuts her off as she scrolls through the files on the panel, appearing not to struggle at all with the foreign Zenith technology. Unlike Aloy, who tends to talk her way through her actions, Elisabet is eerily silent as she works, reading the data with her eyes about a mile a minute. ‘What was the first thing it did once it gained sentience?’ She eventually asks, not looking up from the interface.
‘Lis, I know what you’re doing.’ Tilda says with an exasperated breath.
‘The signal to HADES wasn’t sent until after you left Sirius.’ Elisabet ignores her, putting a contemplative hand up to her chin as her brow furrows with thought. ‘I see it here.’
‘She said they hacked their systems.’ Aloy supplies, stepping up to stand side by side with Elisabet’s projection.
A part of her is nervous to do so, especially when Elisabet turns to look at her.
This is… Elisabet Sobeck she’s talking to. She’s really here, and the weight of her gaze is overwhelming and heavy as she gives Aloy her full attention.
Aloy pushes all of her thoughts back, however, and focuses on the task at hand.
‘With codes, overrides. Wiped their entire system.’ Aloy recounts. ‘Then it took over the printing facilities.’
Elisabet nods and clicks through a few things on the interface. Aloy watches her, though can’t exactly see whatever Elisabet is looking at. Her focus is just way too outdated to keep up with Zenith technology, unfortunately.
Regardless, Aloy’s words seem to help as Elisabet finds what she’s looking for.
‘Perfect. I thought so.’ She hums. ‘That makes things easier.’
‘What are you talking about?’ Tilda’s expression is stern before it turns thoughtful. ‘Wait. I see that look in your eye, Lis.’ She observes. ‘You have a plan, don’t you?’
‘Some idea, you could say.’ Elisabet doesn’t deny it as she shuts down the interface.
‘Whatever it is, it won’t work.’ Tilda says with a tone of finality. ‘You have not seen Nemesis in action. It’s nothing like the Faro Plague. I won’t stay here, and I won’t leave you behind again to die, either. You can’t beat this. No one can.’
‘You want to bet?’ Elisabet frowns, annoyance passing over her digital face. ‘Just because the threat is different this time around, it doesn’t change the answer that I already gave you.’ She swipes her hand through the air in a tone of her own finality. ‘I never said you had to stay here, either. If you want to leave, nothing is stopping you.’ Elisabet suddenly pauses, though, to look Tilda over. Her posture tenses as if she comes to realize something. ‘Or are you somehow thinking that I came here today to find you, Tilda?’
‘What other reason could there be?’ Tilda asks, her tone incredulous. ‘I’m the only person left on the planet who knows you for who you are, Lis. Do you not remember everything we were to each other? Or has any of that meant nothing at all to you?’
‘It’s been centuries, Tilda.’ Elisabet says slowly, as if she were reasoning with a small child. ‘I didn’t even know you were still alive until I walked up those stairs.’
Aloy can tell that Elisabet’s words are practiced and full of logic. Patient. As if they’ve had many arguments like this before.
‘That may be, but it doesn’t change my intentions now.’ Tilda’s tone is one that Aloy instantly recognizes. From the audio log of the two of them arguing. ‘I’ve laid out the odds. Sirius barely lasted a few hours, Earth will be gone in mere minutes.’ Tilda is trying to appease Elisabet, using facts to talk over her, to get what she wants. Like she tried to do to Aloy during that stupid tea party at her mansion. ‘I’ve thought over my mistakes for far longer than you can imagine. Now fate has brought us together again. I have a second chance to save you from this world’s destruction, and I’m not letting it slip away.’
‘Let me make myself perfectly clear, then.’ Elisabet stands up straight, her tone of voice strong. Similar to the tones Aloy has heard her use when addressing her team, or in her company logs: unyielding and unbreakable. ‘I’m not going anywhere with you, and whether you leave or not is no concern of mine.’ Elisabet says, her Clawstider standing just as tall behind her projection. ‘The reason that I am alive right now is to do everything I can to help save this world that GAIA created.’ She explains. ‘But the reason I came here specifically? To this base?’
Elisabet looks away for a brief moment to catch eyes with Aloy, before gazing across the room to where Beta is still cautiously listening in.
‘That is because my daughters are here. It’s as simple as that.’
Aloy whips her head towards Elisabet, her red braids flying as surprise and disbelief come over her face.
Daughter…
Elisabet called Aloy her daughter.
She… That’s…
Elisabet, though, has her gaze locked on Tilda in a glare. The Zenith herself slowly looks at Aloy and then to Beta, who is watching them with a similar look of shock.
‘… Your daughters?’ Tilda raises a platinum blonde eyebrow.
‘Yes. Aloy and Beta. The ones I heard you threaten not five minutes ago. Those daughters.’ Elisabet both looks and sounds furious as she says this, her Clawstrider snarling and fanning out the feather-like protrusions on its head. ‘Or am I really supposed to believe that you’ve somehow forgotten about that part?’
Tilda looks her over for several seconds, as if searching for something, before her face twists into a knowing expression.
‘Of course. You’ve always wanted children.’ She says, her tone soft as if remembering a fond memory. ‘A daughter specifically. But you just never had the time. Or rather, we never had time.’ She gestures between them, earning another hissing snarl from the Clawstrider machine. ‘That invitation can extend to anyone you want, Lis. Aloy and Beta can come with us.’
‘I will not.’ Aloy finally finds her voice as she draws her brow, stepping to stand together with Elisabet. ‘You can’t force us, Tilda. Your shield is gone.’
‘I have something better.’ Tilda glares at her, then holds out her hands. ‘Specter Prime – to me.’
Aloy turns and yells for Beta to run to cover, while Elisabet’s projection fades and her Clawstrider bares its fangs.
‘Enough. You are coming with me, Lis.’ Tilda says as the hulking figure of Specter Prime comes together to loom over the room. ‘It may seem harsh now, but you’ll forgive me in a few centuries.’
Tilda quickly moves to grab them both, causing Aloy and Elisabet to separate in different directions.
Elisabet’s voice rings into Aloy’s focus while she nocks an arrow.
‘Aloy, all of Tilda’s attention will be on me.’ Elisabet says while dodging away from the specter. ‘Use that to your advantage. This thing. I’ve looked at it just now in the log. It’s nothing but a bigger version of those drones outside.’
‘Got it.’ Aloy responds, switching to acid arrows. ‘Keep her busy. This won’t take long.’
‘Stop conspiring and see reason.’ Tilda compels while grabbing for Elisabet again, earning a blast of fire along with an acidic arrow to her shields. ‘I lost you once. I’m not losing you again!’
Elisabet only lets out a concussive roar in response, causing Specter Prime to stagger. Aloy immediately takes advantage of the opening and shoots it with three acid arrows and an explosive spear, knocking off pieces of armor plating on its side.
Despite the damage, Tilda chooses to ignore Aloy’s arrows and other projectiles, one-sidedly keeping her focus centered only on Elisabet.
‘Lizzy, darling, technology is not the same as it once was in our time.’ She implores. Her tone of voice is softer now. ‘You could have a body of your own in a few weeks. And live forever within a few months.’ She swipes again, this time successfully grabbing Elisabet when she moves to dodge. Tilda forcibly drags her backwards, metal talons noisily scraping along the marble floor as Elisabet tries to resist. ‘If Aloy and Beta do not want to come with us, we could create new daughters.’ She hauls Elisabet high up into the air to see eye to eye. ‘Ones to your own specifications and desires. The possibilities are endless, Lis.’
‘You’re insane!’ Elisabet roars and erupts her fire Clawstrider into flames.
Tilda gasps, and Specter Prime instinctively drops the machine as its tentacles burn down right through the armor plates. Elisabet harshly crashes to the ground, and Aloy sucks in a breath to steady herself as she hears the familiar sound of machine metal breaking apart.
In response, a fury like no other overcomes Aloy.
She attacks Tilda in a heated frenzy, using bombs, throwing spears and arrows.
With Elisabet down, Tilda finally seems to recognize Aloy as a threat, and she shoots at her in angered retaliation, the two of them locking into a furious battle.
Slowly, Aloy’s acid arrows and other weapons eat away at Specter Prime’s defenses until the Zenith machine staggers, and light erupts from its chest. The cock pit that houses Tilda flies out and crashes into the floor across the room, causing the world to finally grow still.
Aloy breathes heavily and uses her focus to check for any signs of life. Upon seeing none, she immediately races to Elisabet’s side.
The Clawstrider is in bad shape, its metal body squeezed together from Tilda’s grip, and several of its parts are either destroyed or crushed from the fall. The pink light still shines through, though, causing some form of relief as Aloy fusses over her.
‘Do I have the parts for- ? I don’t… But maybe I could…’ Aloy talks to herself, distraught, as she rips her pack off of her side to dig through her machine parts.
‘So…’
Aloy looks up in response to a new voice entering the room, finding Sylens casually sauntering towards the projection of Nemesis.
‘Even after all this, she still tried to take you.’ He observes, barely casting a glance towards Tilda.
Elisabet shifts, seemingly gathering strength to speak.
‘Of course she did.’ She responds. ‘You were right, I’ll give you that.’
The sound of her voice is high pitched and staticky through the machine’s broken vocal cords. After a moment, she leans her head back and makes some sort of chirping noise with the Clawstrider as best she can.
It’s an odd sound. One that Aloy has never heard before.
Sylens only hums in acknowledgement, watching with a bored expression as a Sunwing then flies into the room in response to Elisabet’s call.
Aloy watches it as well, noting that it’s been… overridden somehow?
Her red eyebrows pinch with confusion.
‘Well, the threat’s gone for now.’ Aloy points out. She stands and gestures to the massacre of the pristine white and gold room around them. ‘Care to explain all of this?’
Sylens merely looks at Aloy, his gaze as solid and stubborn as stone.
Thankfully, Elisabet is more willing to answer Aloy’s question.
‘It’s as I told Tilda,’ Elisabet shifts, attempting to stand. ‘Sylens used HADES to find out about Nemesis. Their program of downloading a person’s mind into digital form isn’t so hard to replicate if you really look at it.’ Aloy would probably beg to differ about the difficulty of doing such a thing, but she lets Elisabet continue as the Clawstrider wobbles onto its feet. ‘The difficult part is gathering a person’s digital footprint, though that wasn’t much of an issue, either.’ Elisabet stands there for a moment to get her bearings. Aloy’s hands hover close, though do not touch. ‘My logs aren’t hard to find. I left them everywhere. Sylens probably has thousands of them by now just from GAIA Prime alone.’
Aloy frowns in response to this, rage coming over her face.
All this time, she had thought that Elisabet’s logs had been few and far between. She had held onto each and every one, treasuring them like rare precious pearls found in a vast ocean.
Only come to find out that Sylens had been hoarding literally thousands of them for himself.
Another good reason to put her spear through his throat.
‘Once I was conscious, we created the weapon.’ Elisabet continues, her glitchy voice pulling Aloy out of her anger. ‘Though he likes to take more credit for it than he deserves.’
‘I am choosing to ignore that statement.’ Sylens watches Elisabet take a step towards the perched Sunwing.
‘Of course you would.’ Elisabet hums, slowly making her way towards the other machine, Aloy hovering at her side. ‘You’re still bitter at me, I see.’
‘I knew exactly where I would find you.’ Sylens says. ‘Your actions are very predictable.’
‘If you say so.’ Elisabet does not sound impressed.
‘Though you should know, we still have much to discuss.’
‘As always.’ Elisabet huffs. ‘Did you do what I asked at least?’
‘In certain terms.’
Aloy can barely keep up with their conversation.
Sylens seems… irritated. No, that’s not the right word. He’s exasperated. In a way that Aloy has never seen before and could never hope to cause. Clearly Elisabet gets under his skin, and it’s satisfying to watch, especially since Aloy knows that he must absolutely hate it.
When Elisabet finally reaches her destination, Aloy looks on with growing concern as the pink light fades out of the Clawstrider’s eyes. Within moments, it falls into a heap on the floor, dead. Aloy barely has any time to mourn its loss, though, before the pink light overcomes the Sunwing instead.
‘For the record,’ Sylens says. ‘I would like to reiterate that it does not count as outsmarting someone when you can quite literally override any device or machine at will.’ He frowns as the Sunwing extends its wings, as if Elisabet were getting comfortable in her new form. ‘I would be interested to know how you’ve consistently accomplished such a feat in your current state regardless.’
‘Let’s just say that I still have my ways.’ Is all Elisabet says in response, before once again projecting the holo version of herself. She turns her attention back to Aloy to continue their conversation, her voice now much easier to understand. ‘Sylens and I have known about Nemesis for a long time. I put together some ideas of how we can overcome it, though nothing concrete yet.’
‘Just another secret he’s been keeping.’ Aloy mutters, putting her hands on her hips. ‘Speaking of…’ She turns to Sylens with an accusatory expression and gestures to Elisabet. ‘So, you were able to bring Elisabet back and you didn’t even think to tell me?’
Sylens looks at her, a guiltless expression on his face.
‘If you had known about Elisabet, would you have still so vigorously continued in your pursuit of acquiring GAIA’s subordinate functions?’ Sylens accuses. ‘Or would you have dropped everything by the wayside to spend time you did not have chasing after family ties?’
Aloy’s face twists with anger.
‘What I would have done is none of your business.’ Aloy seethes.
How dare he keep this from her.
Elisabet is so important to her. She is Aloy’s role model. Her inspiration. Everything that she strives to be and more. Literally, Elisabet is the closest thing that Aloy will ever have to a mother. And to learn that not only has she been alive this whole time, but was kept a secret for such a stupid reason?
It has Aloy seeing red.
‘The proof is in Elisabet herself.’ Sylens tone is resigned. ‘What was it you think she did once she learned of your existence?’
Aloy’s rage leaves her in an instant.
She blinks and turns to Elisabet, who makes no motion to deny this claim.
‘Hacking devices and machines is… something I’ve grown very adept at.’ Elisabet starts, gesturing to her Sunwing. ‘It’s hard to explain, but I’ve slowly been waking up over these past few weeks. It takes time for the mind to truly upload using this program, and I haven’t exactly been making things easier on myself by…’ Elisabet shakes her head. ‘Anyway, I came to realize that somehow, Sylens was alright with planning to destroy an entire tribe of people, and that somehow he didn’t think to mention any of that to me.’ She says with an accusatory tone similar to Aloy’s. ‘Suffice to say when I found out, I hacked his focus, overheard your conversation after the attack on the Tenakth people, and left soon after to find you.’ She says, her expression softening a tad. ‘Though, I didn’t know of Beta’s existence either until more recently.’
‘You could have known everything much sooner had you extended that hacking expertise to Aloy’s focus.’ Sylens points out.
Elisabet hums in a condescending way, crossing her arms.
‘You see, that’s where you and I differ. I actually have something called morals, Sylens.’
He lets out a haughty breath through his nose and shakes his head.
‘I can see where Aloy gets her inconvenient tendencies from.’ He accuses.
‘You have no idea.’
Aloy lets out a breath of her own, trying to take all of this information in.
So Elisabet has been alive for weeks, perhaps even months, and has been working with Sylens to not only defeat the Zeniths, but also start on her own plan to save the world from Nemesis.
But when she learned that Aloy existed, she dropped all of it, everything, and left to find her.
Elisabet… wanted to meet her.
That’s… It’s…
‘Either way Sylens, if you still want that spaceship and a complete copy of GAIA, it’s yours.’ Elisabet brings Aloy back to the present. ‘As discussed, we will take it from here, as long as you hold up your end.’ Aloy looks at her, her brain caught on the word “we”. ‘Though I seriously doubt you’ll go now. When there’s such a challenge to be had.’
‘I admit, I am curious to see what plan of yours could possibly combat against this.’ Sylens muses as he glances back at the projection of Nemesis. ‘It will not be easy.’
‘Nothing worth having ever is.’ Elisabet hums, before they all look up at the sound of the door opening.
Aloy’s companions filter in, immediately expressing relief upon seeing her unharmed.
‘Found her!’
‘Is she hurt?’
‘Still on her feet!’
‘Thank the Ten.’
Aloy barely registers their words, too lost in her own head, though she comes back to herself when Beta suddenly embraces her.
‘Aloy… you did it!’ Beta squeezes her tight.
Aloy startles, her expression softening as she squeezes her sister back.
‘Actually, we did it.’ She pulls away, turning to look at Elisabet.
Beta seems to stiffen in response, and Aloy watches her hesitantly approach Elisabet. The Sunwing does not move, and Elisabet’s projection looks at her with a kind expression.
‘Hello Beta.’ She greets.
‘Um… hi Elisabet.’ Beta says shyly back.
‘Wait… Elisabet??’ Erend asks, suddenly materializing at Aloy’s elbow. ‘As in what, the Elisabet Sobeck?You know, the one who made GAIA and literally saved the entire world??’ He asks in disbelief. ‘Now how the hell’d that happen?’
‘It’s um, well it’s a long story.’ Aloy turns to her friends, a genuine smile on her face. ‘But yea, it’s really her.’
A rundown of how exactly Elisabet came to live once more is shared, along with the inevitable Tremortusk in the room that is Nemesis.
Understandably, no one is exactly happy to hear that there is a new threat to their world, but they all take it in stride better than Aloy was expecting.
The talking and sharing of information lasts for quite some time, too, before the sun starts to distantly set on the horizon. The gravity of the day that they’ve all had seems to catch up with them then, and with Aloy especially. She hasn’t gotten terribly injured in the fights that she’s had to endure today, but could definitely do with some time to regroup after everything that’s happened.
‘We should head back to base for now.’ Aloy takes charge. ‘Reconnect with GAIA and figure out our next steps with Nemesis.’
No one protests this, not even Sylens. When she turns to Elisabet, though, Aloy is surprised to see a sullen look upon her digital face as she gazes at Tilda.
‘You go ahead.’ Elisabet says after a moment, retracting the holo projection of herself back into her Sunwing. ‘I should probably lay her to rest.’
‘Why show remorse for her?’ Sylens asks. ‘You saw firsthand how she singlehandedly denounced your personhood in order to achieve her goals.’
‘Believe it or not, she wasn’t always like that.’ Elisabet sighs, the sound coming out a little odd through the Sunwing’s vocal cords. ‘Plus, I have a few other things I need to do first, remember?’She asks pointedly, causing Sylens to hum with acknowledgement.
When Elisabet spreads her wings and motions to take off, though, Aloy steps in front of her.
Her body does so instinctively. Before she can even think twice about it.
All of a sudden, somehow, the thought of separating from Elisabet is unbearable.
‘Wait.’ She implores.
Elisabet can’t go yet.
There’s so much that Aloy wants to tell her, to share with her.
They just found each other.
‘We could go with you.’ Beta stands next to her, and Aloy is not surprised to see that she and her sister share similar expressions.
While the two of them may not have had that many talks about Elisabet so far, Aloy knows that it goes without saying just how important she is to Beta.
How important she is to the both of them.
‘What is it that you have to do?’ Aloy asks, gesturing to herself and Beta. ‘We can help.’
Elisabet is silent for a moment, looking them over through the Sunwing’s pink gaze.
‘Where I have to go…’ Elisabet starts gently. She holds up one of the Sunwing’s feet and mechanically rotates the machine parts, as if to prove a point. ‘It would be impossible for you two to follow as you are.’
Follow…
“For your sake, I must go where you will never find me. This… This is goodbye.”
“No. It’s not. You taught me how to track. Wherever you go, I can follow.”
“Not this time.”
Remembering Rost’s words, his rejection of her, causes Aloy’s chest to ache, and she quickly goes to protest in the wake of Elisabet’s words.
‘I…’ She pauses, unsure of what exactly she was going to say as Elisabet turns to her.
‘And right now GAIA needs your help most of all.’ Elisabet points out and nods towards the rig. ‘She wasn’t designed to be contained in such a small vessel for this long.’ Her voice then grows quieter as she looks Aloy and Beta over once more. ‘Besides, you’ve both been through enough today. You should rest.’
For a moment, no one says anything at all, and Aloy can barely breathe.
She resists the urge to fidget as she feels the stares of her friends against her back, the room growing tense and silent as they all wait for someone to say something.
Beta is the first to fold and remove herself from Elisabet’s way.
‘Alright…’ Beta says, her voice small as she fidgets with her hands. ‘Um, we’ll see you then. At the base.’
‘Mountains west of Plainsong. I’ve heard of it.’ Elisabet nods to her, before glancing at Aloy.
After a moment, Aloy only nods, feeling as if she has no choice but to reluctantly follow suit as she silently moves out of Elisabet’s way.
‘See you there, then…’
The trip back to base takes a few days, but thankfully it is spent without the presence of Sylens. He stated that he was going to stay behind at the Zenith Base for now, though would connect with them later on once Elisabet finishes her tasks.
Whatever those are…
Regardless, the travel time is filled with jovial conversation about what exactly happened during the battle against the Zeniths.
Apparently, Alva and Kotallo might have run into Elisabet during the fight.
In the form of a non-hostile Slaughterspine with pink eyes.
‘It was the strangest thing. It wanted nothing to do with us.’ Alva says around the campfire. ‘Not even when Kotallo taunted it.’
‘I did not taunt it.’ Kotallo defends himself. ‘I made my stance clear. Should it approach.’
‘It was amazing! It didn’t even care about the Specters in its way, just charged right on through.’ Alva recounts. ‘It for sure must have been Elisabet.’
‘Must have been.’ Beta says.
Her voice is small as she sits by the fire, picking at her plate of Pot Stomp that Erend had earlier prepared for everyone. Aloy is suspiciously silent next to her, her food untouched as she keeps watch over the fire maybe a little bit too much.
‘Yea about that.’ Erend speaks up. ‘I heard some rumor goin’ around near Hidden Ember. You know that guy Morlund and his flyin’ balloon?’ Aloy looks up in response, her brow furrowing. ‘Apparently one night they saw a Dreadwing fly by.’
A Dreadwing? Those are very rare machines. Aloy can only think of one or two places where she’s ever found them out in the wilds. None of them being anywhere near Hidden Ember.
‘That must have been quite shocking, especially at night.’ Zo comments.
‘Scared the absolute crap out of ‘em!’ Erend laughs and gestures with his hands. ‘Have no idea if it had pink eyes or whatever, but it just kept cruisin’ on by. Didn’t even give ‘em a second glance!’
‘Now that you mention it,’ Kotallo hums thoughtfully. ‘I do recall overhearing that some fishermen near Thornmarsh reported a tamed Snapmaw off the coast. About a month or so ago.’
‘Seems Elisabet has quite the repertoire.’ Zo tilts her head as her eyes turn thoughtful. ‘I had heard that there were recent whisperings of the Land Gods interacting with another friendly machine out in the fields.’ She recounts. ‘I would not be surprised if more rumors started to surface, now that we know of their origin.’ She then turns to Aloy and Beta. ‘Speaking of, I wanted to ask how the two of you are handling this news?’
‘It’s um…’ Beta says, appearing nervous when everyone turns to her. ‘I’m still processing all of it.’
Zo hums in understanding, then turns her attention to Aloy, who has been suspiciously quiet lately.
‘I…’ Aloy starts, then looks down, a conflicted expression coming over her face.
‘That bad, huh?’ Erend hums, recognizing that look.
‘It must have been quite a shock.’ Alva says gently, though lets the subject drop.
The conversation resumes from there in a different direction, and Aloy is grateful for the distraction as she tries to sort all of this out in her head.
Their return to base is cheerful, and were it not for the looming threat of Nemesis in the distance, Aloy could almost believe that they were just returning home after a long, uneventful journey.
Erend and Zo immediately butt heads over the Oseram’s particularly loud choice of welcome home music. Kotallo silently retreats to attend to his metal arm and weapons. Alva gleefully pours over the data that has been recovered from the Zenith base. And Aloy busies herself with bringing GAIA’s rig up into the projection room, where Beta is waiting to install the AI back to normal.
Seeing GAIA’s familiar logo, along with all of her subordinate functions, causes Aloy to release a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
All of them are there, including APOLLO and the others that were stolen by the Zeniths.
All of them accounted for, except HEPHAESTUS. But that could wait for now.
After a few moments, GAIA materializes into the room with a flourish of golden light.
‘Hello Aloy. Beta.’ She greets them. ‘It is good to see you both.’
‘Hi GAIA.’ Aloy greets her, then gazes towards Beta. Both sisters share a look, before Aloy turns back to the AI. ‘We um, well a lot has happened since we last saw you. And we have some good news to share.’
‘Certainly. I am here to listen.’
To say that GAIA is pleased to hear of Elisabet’s extraordinary survival would be an exceedingly massive understatement. The AI is practically glowing, her realistic human projection smiling with an ease Aloy has never seen from her before.
‘Never in my time, or in that of my predecessor’s, would I ever calculate an occurrence where Elisabet would once again live.’ GAIA surmises, sounding as if she is captured in awe. ‘Truly, human ingenuity continues to astound me.’
‘I know.’ Beta gives a small, shy smile, her face showcasing a million different emotions all at once. ‘It’s… just… ‘
Aloy puts a comforting hand on her shoulder. Beta seems emotional over Elisabet’s return, but at least she seems to be handling it better than her at this point.
For Aloy herself, all of this hasn’t really sunken in yet…
While they were still traveling, when the night was quiet and she was awake keeping watch over their campsite, Aloy took the time to listen to one of Elisabet’s logs.
One that always gave her strength when she needed it.
It was of Elisabet talking with GAIA. When they were preparing to move to GAIA Prime.
‘GAIA… there’s nothing left out there… you can’t even survive unless you’re wearing an environmental suit. There are billions dead… in fear and agony. What if… what if it was all for nothing… ?’
‘Elisabet, extinction was inevitable. Thanks to you, life will have a future.’
‘You really believe that?’
‘I believe in you, Elisabet. In you, all th-‘
Seeing a glimpse into Elisabet’s personhood, her fear, proved that Elisabet was human, and in turn, so is Aloy. That it’s alright to be afraid, but having the courage to keep going? That’s what really makes the impossible possible.
And the most impossible thing has come true, hasn’t it?
Elisabet is alive. Somewhere out there in the world.
Aloy is still trying to wrap her head around it.
‘She said that there was somewhere she had to go.’ Aloy shelves her thoughts for now as she returns her attention to GAIA. ‘Any ideas where that could be?’
‘Elisabet often spoke of Sobeck Ranch as providing comfort to her in times of need.’ GAIA proposes. ‘Perhaps she has decided to travel there for the time being.’
‘That wouldn’t be unreasonable, I guess.’ Aloy acknowledges. She has also visited that ranch, and even without the experience of growing up there, Aloy couldn’t deny the strange sense of comfort that place somehow brought her. ‘But she said wherever she had to go, it would be impossible to follow. As if only a machine could get to it?’
‘One moment. Analyzing.’ GAIA grows quiet. ‘There are several locations in the surrounding areas that only machines will be able to traverse. Such as inside areas with volcanic activity or low oxygen levels.’
‘Can you send me a list?’ Beta asks. ‘I’ll try and look into it.’
‘Of course.’ GAIA nods. ‘At this time, I will also attempt to establish contact with Elisabet using the information provided regarding her last known location. One moment.’ GAIA looks away for a second. Aloy and Beta both grow quiet with her, until GAIA shakes her head. ‘My apologies, I was not able to establish a connection. My capabilities regarding machines are unfortunately limited at the moment without HEPHAESTUS.’
‘That’s alright, GAIA.’ Beta reassures her.
‘It was worth a try at least.’ Aloy concurs.
‘For now, we may only speculate while we wait for Elisabet to join us.’ GAIA surmises. ‘I would suggest that you both rest and recover from your recent endeavors. All information from the Zenith database has been transferred to me, and is available for review whenever you are ready.’
Aloy takes GAIA’s advice in stride and spends her time studying up on the new, foreign threat of Nemesis. As she and Beta research deeper, however, it slowly becomes apparent that they are going to need more support if they are ever going to win against that thing.
A lot more support.
‘We could send everyone out.’ Aloy suggests. The two of them are currently sitting side by side in the server room downstairs, looking over data together. ‘Gather as much help from the tribes as we can. It’ll be a tough sell, to be sure, but could be worth the effort.’
‘I think that’s a good idea.’ Beta concurs, before looking down and fidgeting with her hands. ‘But we should, um, wait for Elisabet first. She may have more information than we do, and she seemed like she has some sort of plan in mind, don’t you think?’
Aloy breathes out, looking contemplative as she crosses her arms.
It’s already been two days.
Two days of them just sitting around waiting for any sign from Elisabet, and even beyond that was the almost weeklong travel time it took to get back here in the first place.
It was so foreign for Aloy to just be… waiting around for someone else to come in with all the answers. Especially since Sylens hasn’t been answering any of her calls again, either.
‘Hey, this is what it feels like on the other side.’ Erend had poked fun at Aloy earlier that day, when she had been pacing around the base with pent up energy and all but climbing the walls with frustration. ‘Guess it’s your turn this time!’
She supposed that she had to take her lumps for that.
But still…
She can’t relax.
‘I’ve been thinking, Aloy.’ Beta says, grabbing her attention. ‘A place where humans can’t survive. Somewhere significant enough to Elisabet.’ She brings up her focus interface, clicking through to a map filled with the data points GAIA had given her earlier. She taps into it, pulling forth an image of the ruins of San Francisco. ‘I’ve cross referenced old maps and photos of the area. And it’s here, way deep down.’ She turns to Aloy. ‘Elisabet’s company. Miriam Technologies.’
Aloy blinks, shifting upwards to get a better look at the map. Inspecting further, it doesn’t showcase the surface, but rather the ocean depths. There is a suspicious fissure running through the ocean floor off the coast from Legacy’s Landfall.
If the remnants of Elisabet’s company have fallen that far down underwater over the many centuries that have passed, it would take… days to travel there.
The pressure of traveling that far underwater. No human could ever survive it.
Not even Aloy’s diving mask could help her reach something like that.
The only thing that could realistically make the trip would be a Tideripper, and they’re not exactly known to be the fastest swimmers in her experience.
‘You think she’ll find something down there?’ Aloy asks. ‘To help?’
‘I like to think so.’ Beta says, her lips slightly ticking up into a smile.
It turns out that Aloy did not have to wait that much longer for Elisabet to arrive.
Very early the next morning, while Aloy is unable to sleep and is instead tinkering with her weapons and organizing things in her stash, GAIA calls her via focus.
‘Aloy. A machine is entering the base from the east end.’
Aloy immediately drops what she’s doing and goes into the main room, tensely listening as metal footsteps can be heard slowly approaching the exit door. After a few moments, the sound of the blue doorknob fills the space, and a Clawstrider with pink eyes casually saunters in.
It stops upon seeing Aloy, though, as if not expecting her to be waiting there.
The machine shakes its head, projecting a hologram of Elisabet into the room.
‘Good morning Aloy.’ Elisabet greets, before looking around at the darkened living room, seeming to realize what time it is. ‘I hope I didn’t wake you?’
‘What? Oh no, I was up already.’ Aloy quickly shakes her head. ‘Um, hey. Elisabet. How was, uh, your trip?’ She asks, hoping that she isn’t coming off as awkward as she feels.
Clearly, talking to Elisabet will take some getting used to now that they don’t have the mutual distraction of Tilda in their way…
‘Longer than expected.’ Elisabet says with a sigh. ‘Sorry about that.’
‘Did you… find what you were looking for?’ Aloy asks curiously.
‘I did, but I would like to wait to talk about it with both GAIA and Beta, if that’s alright?’
Aloy blinks, before nodding.
‘Sure.’ Aloy says, happy to hear that Elisabet wasn’t planning to keep secrets at least. ‘Beta is still sleeping, but GAIA is up.’ She hooks her thumb behind her, before she suddenly backpedals, her voice quickening. ‘I mean she’s always up, she’s an AI. But of course you knew that, you literally made her. So…’
Elisabet looks at Aloy for a moment.
Her gaze is a bit unnerving, as if somehow, she can see right through her.
‘Yes.’ Is all she says, before looking away at the rest of the base. ‘This is a… regional control center.’ She recognizes, furrowing her brow. ‘I assume GAIA is in the projection room?’
‘Right.’ Aloy turns to gesture towards the stairs. ‘She’s up this way.’
Aloy didn’t really know what kind of reunion she was expecting to see when Elisabet and GAIA met once more, but seeing the proud grin that Elisabet sports upon walking up the stairs does something to her heart that Aloy can’t quite name.
‘GAIA…’ Elisabet breathes, speechless.
‘Hello Elisabet.’ GAIA greets, having a similar expression on her face as Elisabet comes to stand before her, the two of them looking at each other with awe. ‘I do not possess the words to describe how good it is to see you.’
‘And you.’ Elisabet holds out her hands, shaking her head in happy disbelief as she looks GAIA over. ‘Look at you.’ She laughs a bit, genuinely joyous in this moment. ‘After all this time…’
‘Yes.’ GAIA nods. ‘All systems are operational, though are without the subordinate functions of HEPHAESTUS and HADES.’
‘Oh. Right, I heard that HEPHAESTUS was being…’ Elisabet cups her chin with a contemplative expression.
‘Difficult, yes.’ GAIA supplies.
‘I was going to say “a brat,” but that works too.’ Elisabet huffs, as if she were talking about some misbehaving child rather than a murderous sentient AI. ‘Margo would have a few choice words, I’m sure.’
‘Indeed.’ GAIA says. ‘I have wondered, since hearing of your return, Elisabet, how the other alphas of Project Zero Dawn would react if they were alive at this moment in time as well.’
Elisabet looks away, a bittersweet expression on her face.
‘I can only imagine.’ She looks lost in memories for a moment. ‘Travis would probably riot after hearing about HADES’s recent escapades. There’d probably be a thousand emails in my box by now about how “insanely cool” it was.’ She puts a hand up to her digital temple, rubbing an ache that wasn’t there as she shakes her head.
‘And there would be talk of joyous celebrating. With pizza rolls.’ GAIA says, her voice lilting with a familiarity and teasing tone that Aloy has never heard her use.
‘And death metal.’ Elisabet echoes, her exasperation only seeming to grow, before she suddenly pauses. ‘But the others…’
Elisabet must decide not to dwell too long on that thought, as instead she sighs and changes the subject.
‘I am guessing HEPHAESTUS escaped back into the cauldron network by now?’
‘That is correct.’ GAIA confirms, and Aloy takes this opportunity to interject.
‘Beta and I have been thinking about a plan to recapture it. While we were researching about Nemesis these past few days.’ Aloy supplies. ‘But we’re sure it won’t be so easy this time.’
‘It’s not a problem, trust me.’ Elisabet waves her hand dismissively. ‘I have all of the passwords memorized, HEPHAESTUS’s included. I’ll transfer them to you.’
‘Passwords?’ Aloy turns to her with a raised brow. ‘You mean passcodes?’
Aloy is no stranger to passcodes. She’s had to use and find plenty of them in a multitude of crumbling ruins throughout her travels.
‘No, passwords. To manually get into the subordinate function’s code and override it from the inside.’ Elisabet corrects her. But when Aloy only looks at her with confusion, Elisabet extrapolates further. ‘Think of them as answers to very specific questions, that only certain people have the answers to. Once you have the answer, the system will let you in automatically.’
‘But how are they different?’ Aloy asks, still not understanding. ‘From passcodes?’
‘Passcodes are very standard, low-level security that use only numbers.’ Elisabet explains, her words and tone patient. ‘Passwords use much more. Letters, numbers, special characters. Anything really.’
‘Oh…’ Aloy tilts her head, trying to understand. ‘And all the subordinate functions have passwords like that?’
‘Everything having to do with GAIA does.’ Elisabet gestures up to the AI.
‘But even with the password, it’s still in the network.’ Aloy points out. ‘Last time we captured it, we had to have GAIA call it down. At Cauldron GEMINI.’
‘Hm, I’ll look into it. Rewrite some things to bring it down to one of the cores.’ Elisabet says, furrowing her brow with thought but appearing none too bothered. ‘Shouldn’t be that hard.’
Would it really be so simple?
Something about that rubs Aloy the wrong way, though she’s not sure exactly why.
‘I will highlight all data regarding HEPHAESTUS’s code for your review, Elisabet.’ GAIA offers.
‘Thanks, GAIA.’ Elisabet says, before walking closer to the control console. ‘Speaking of, let me take a look at yours. I’m curious to see what changes you’ve made after all this time.’
‘Certainly.’ GAIA says without protest. ‘Particularly, there is something that I might request your input on, Elisabet. It has to do with the newly re-acquired subordinate function ARTEMIS, and the genetic code for mammalian morphology zygote CAN0589ISLU5198US. The containing preservation appears to be nonresponsive.’
‘Got it.’ Elisabet says, not at all phased by the long string of letters and numbers that made Aloy’s head spin. ‘I’ll check it out.’
Aloy is left standing there, only able to watch the two of them, as if somehow she’d just been reduced to the sidelines. She tries to keep up with their conversation, but Elisabet and GAIA’s discussion is clearly a familiar, easy connection. One that has been forged over many late-night hours of camaraderie, and clearly only for the two of them as they’re both lost in their own little world of codes and data.
Until eventually, the sound of movement downstairs catches their attention.
‘It appears that Zo has awakened.’ GAIA observes, showcasing the time of day on a small interface. ‘I would surmise that she is attending to the task of preparing breakfast for everyone.’
‘Have we really been talking for that long?’ Elisabet mumbles, her brow furrowing. ‘Aloy, you must be starving by now.’
‘It’s okay.’ Aloy shakes her head, not wanting to let Elisabet out of her sight just yet. ‘I can get something later.’
‘I’m not going anywhere. I promise.’ Elisabet says, seemingly understanding her worries without words. ‘Please, go get something to eat, then come and join us with Beta when you’re ready.’
Aloy looks Elisabet over, then glances at GAIA, who appears to be in complete agreement with her creator.
‘… Okay. Til later then.’ She reluctantly agrees, knowing a dismissal when she hears one.
Bonus Scene:
Once Aloy is well out of earshot, the tension that had been in Elisabet’s mechanical shoulders loosens as she lapses into silence. She looks towards the stairs as GAIA also grows quiet behind her, both of them standing in a comfortable quiet.
‘So it… really happened, huh?’ Elisabet eventually asks, in awe. ‘And not just one, but two…’
‘Yes.’ GAIA says, her expression soft. ‘I believe in this instance, the best response to say would be that of “Congratulations”.’
‘I… Thank you.’ Elisabet says, her voice almost on autopilot as she looks dazed.
‘Query; how do you feel?’ GAIA asks.
The familiar format of question causes Elisabet to finally look away from the stairs.
‘I…’ Elisabet pauses, appearing thoughtful. ‘Like I just started, but somehow I’m doing something wrong already.’ She says honestly.
‘If it is any consolation, I can assure you that Aloy more than likely feels the same way.’ The AI assures. ‘She has asked about you, many times. Beta has as well.’
‘Did they?’ Elisabet looks contemplative as her gaze turns far away.
‘Yes. I can only speculate how overwhelming it must feel for them to know that you are once again living, Elisabet.’ GAIA says. ‘Though, rest assured, I believe that the three of you will adjust to this new dynamic, given time.’
‘I’m sure.’ Elisabet hums, before her expression hardens. ‘About that. GAIA, we seriously need to talk.’
‘Of course, Elisabet.’
Dream Eater Allyphant Creations 
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