Chapter 8 - The All-Mother of All-Problems.

"So, I made old Ligan a Peregrine because honestly he's not active anymore but he does pull his weight with the new members especially."

"Now that he's not allowed to belittle them."

Talanah sighed with a shrug, "He was doing what his Sun-Hawk told him to do. It doesn't make it okay but remember, the Carja aren't like the Nora. Women never fought in the Lodge or traditionally held any leadership roles in the Sundom. Can you imagine if some people in the Nora decided overnight to elect Patriarchs instead?"

Aloy paused as she considered someone like Resh being in charge. She shuddered.

"My job is to ensure he does his job well. He has his opinions but he respects strength above all else and that's enough for me. He does a good job of standing in when I'm out hunting my own Marks. That and I constantly remind him he's a fossil whenever he argues," Talanah grinned, "Works like a charm, every time."

It was the next morning after the ceremony at the Spire. Aloy didn't know what to do with herself whilst CYAN was doing what she could to gather more information. Aloy had managed to gather what little information she could find from the Archive on the Forbidden West. The area was incredibly vast. Petra has left early to check in on her contacts at another settlement on the border. The woman had mentioned 'skill-sharing' with the locals to improve her weapons.

"I'd normally do a ceremony for this next bit but I think we've both had enough of those." Talanah smiled as she leaned against the balcony that overlooked the city. "I'm making you a Hawk Aloy, despite the Nora. Really, I should have done it after we beat Redmaw but… Well we were all a little busy." Talanah sipped on a cup of her wine, Aloy noted she never served wine when Erend visited, it touched Aloy slightly to realize that. "I'm giving you your own Thrush too."

That surprised Aloy, she must of frowned because Talanah quickly added,

"No one who will hold you back. Honestly. You're the only one who made sense to have her under your wing. After she showed me her spear, I knew right away you two would be a good match."

"Who is it?" Aloy asked,

"Someone you know. I'll let you find her because she's already out on the job I'd like you to take. Something to do while CYAN does her thing, eh?" Talanah gestured to the floor below.

Curiosity ate at her as Aloy descended the stairs to see the Mark giver who waited downstairs.

"Nakoa?" Aloy asked in surprise at the sight of the Nora Huntress.

"Hi Aloy. Small world, eh?" The woman grinned, "Looks like the both of us found our way here. It seemed the best place for me to temper my rage and hone my skills at the same time."

"So you're a hunter now?"

"I always was," Nakoa said with pride, "just not for the Nora right now. I finally got my pass to leave and return when I wanted to. So I chose to… leave. Anyway, I have a message from Varl for you."

This got Aloy's attention.

"He said… Holes are appearing in Devil's Thirst. Strange sounds are coming from the ruins at night and he said they sound like they're from Machines. When dawn breaks though, there isn't a single sign of anything. No people or Machines anywhere, just the holes."

"And what are the Nora doing to investigate this?" Aloy asked with trepidation.

"What do you think?" Nakoa muttered darkly, "Only Varl seems concerned about it. The other Braves are content to allow the holes to appear so long as they don't come close to the settlements. He hopes you can find enough to warrant a proper search with the Braves."

Aloy growled with frustration, "Looks like I'm going back then." She felt more than a little anxious about returning to the Sacred Lands. It seemed, the longer Aloy had left it, the harder it was to go back.

Nakoa sighed, "Rather you than me. Stay safe on the path."

Talanah pressed a hand on Aloy's shoulder, "Sorry about this but it seemed like the ideal job for you. A bit of tracking, hunting and a whole lot of mystery."

"Plus, if there's anyone the Nora will listen to, it's you Aloy." Nakoa said as she walked away with a wave.

"Right, I'll head off right away then." Aloy said to Talanah as she felt thankful she had checked her equipment before she left the Apartment this morning.

Talanah's thin smile gave her pause.

"What?"

"Just… Pay Erend a visit before you do. He took you leaving last time pretty hard."

"He knows already I have things to -"

Talanah raised a hand, "I know that, he does too but still. A heads up is always nice, right?"

Aloy sighed in resignation, "Fine, I'll speak to him then I'll head out. Where will I meet this Thrush?"

"You'll find her and Varl near Hunter's Gathering."

"Right, I'll be there by daybreak tomorrow at the latest."

Erend had been up hours before dawn. The silent streets of Meridian usually comforted him to stroll. It had once been his job to take the least popular shifts on the city watch. Ersa said it was to show there was no favouritism between them. Privately, Erend thought it was mostly because he was the only one who hadn't said no. Doing this patrol was nostalgic for him however, so he still did it now and then, he knew the taverns who usually were the most rowdy. He knew the darkest alleys to keep an eye out for trouble. He knew which paths people took who didn't want to be seen.

His shift had begun with turfing out some regulars who never understood the words, "Bar's shut." He recognized a few frequent-fliers who spent nights in the cells and a few old drinking buddies of his from way back. Some had even cursed Erend by name, which had stung a little.

The dawn chorus of birds and Sun-Priests chiming in the morning hymns swept through the city. Soon, the streets would be flooded with traders, shoppers and travellers. Before long, Erend found himself on another familiar route which led him to the Palace.

The Carja guards posted at the bridge to the Palace slammed their spears as Erend passed. There was no news to give them and they had none to pass onto Erend which he didn't already know so he was left in peace.

So why did he feel so… weird?

Marble arched windows revealed a higher glimpse of the awakening city. Smoke hazed from the foundries, the smell of many different breakfasts being cooked wafted together.

Erend was happy. He should be happy. But he wasn't at the same time.

Aloy had asked for his help and he'd done his best. He didn't do a huge amount to help but he did what he could. That counted for something, right?

Soon, she would leave to go and do who knows what. Erend felt like a huge pile of slag to admit to himself that he hated the idea.

He would be fine. He had the Restoration Army to keep him busy. Avad to protect from an ever-changing world. Drink to avoid. New-recruits to challenge his sobriety…

Erend lent on the side of a familiar balcony and regarded Meridian. He watched the little people going about their daily lives. He watched the guard change at the main gate. He looked out onto the Mesa and the Jewel. He looked further beyond the lands to the mountains which bordered the region of the Sundom. He found himself looking out towards the west.

For the first time in all the years he had lived in and around the Sundom. As a Vanguardsman, as a Freebooter and as an Ealdorson of a broken clan… Meridian seemed small.

"I thought I'd find you here."

Erend spun around in shock from being snuck up on and found a smirking Aloy behind him. She stood exactly where she had when they had parted ways before.

"What are you staring at?" Aloy asked.

"Sorry -" Erend waved a hand, "Nothing, I was miles away. Late shift, or an early one depending on how you see it." Erend admitted tiredly.

"I'm leaving Meridian today." Aloy said hesitantly.

"Oh… Right." Erend faltered, "That's… great. I mean - not great but good for you?" Erend said weakly. "Are you heading out there?" Erend asked as he gestured towards the west.

"No. I'm taking a Mark for the Hunter's Lodge. It's going to be in the Sacred Lands so I'll be gone for a few days. Something about holes appearing in the ruins of the metal world."

Relief washed over him. He always knew Aloy would leave whenever the path called her. He was just relieved to know she wasn't about to disappear from the map. Not just yet. "Right well that's perfect - for you. I mean. Not the Nora but sounds right up your street."

"Are you okay?" Aloy asked Erend quietly.

"I feel…" Erend started, "Do you ever get the feeling that something bad is about to happen?"

Aloy paused before she shrugged, "Yes. All the time and I'm usually right about it." Aloy admitted, "But is that a reason to stop doing what you'd normally do?"

"I wish I could think like you." Erend laughed, "Honestly I'm fine. Some grub and sleep will set me right. I get like that when I do night shifts with nothing but my mind to keep me company. It's not good company sometimes." He confessed quietly but then cleared his throat, thrusting a thumb at his chest, "Guys like me aren't built to think."

"That's not true." Aloy shook her head, "How about we talk about it a bit more when I get back?" Aloy asked him as she shifted her stance.

"I dunno, you don't need to waste your time hearing me gripe. It's embarrassing, I have a reputation to keep around these parts."

"I'll always have two minutes for you." Aloy reminded him as she wrinkled her nose in a smile, "I'll even keep it a secret. Besides, I need you at your best if you're still planning on helping me with whatever's out there." Aloy gestured broadly towards the Forbidden West.

Erend's head shot up, "You want my help with that? Seriously?"

Aloy paused as she tried to find the words, "Of course I do. I know you might not be able to come with me. I know you can't just leave like I can but -"

"Avad can hang." Erend said with a smirk, "If it's as big as you think it is then he'd have to let me go. Just say the word and I'll bring my best men and we'll head on out there."

Aloy smiled as she suddenly felt lighter, "Deal. Well I have to go. Machines to hunt, a Thrush to find and a mystery to solve. You know how it is."

"And all before breakfast." Erend laughed, "Watch how you go out there." Erend warned, "At least give them a chance to fight back before you beat them." He barked a laugh and Aloy waved as she turned away.

As Erend watched Aloy depart he wondered whether this was how his world would grow.

The winds of winter still swept the harsh lands of the Nora. Aside from the occasional Machine and lone trader, there wasn't much reason to stop. As the sun had set, Aloy had made a small fire to eat her evening meal before she unfolded her bedroll beneath a tree for a few hours' sleep.

Dawn had broken over the valley and had cast a blood-red hue over the area as she trotted her Strider along the main road. A signal tower loomed in the center of the small settlement. It surprised Aloy as they dotted the landscape of the Sundom so to see one so far within the Sacred Lands. It used mirrors and light from the sun or firelight to send messages to the nearest tower. Coded in such a way that it would be sent up the line to the recipient along the fastest route. It wasn't exactly a Focus network but it was a promising start.

Aloy slid off her mount and looked around for a familiar face amongst the traders and hunters. She saw a few Oseram and Carja amongst the Nora but no one of note. Murmurings had begun already amongst those who had recognised Aloy. 'Anointed' and ' All-Mother's Champion ' drifted amongst the murmured gossip. It seemed that there was never going to be a time where people didn't talk about her behind their hands, at least it was about her actions now and not about her birth.

A familiar hooded woman strode away from a Banuk trader and met Aloy with a grin. "Hey Outlander."

Aloy smirked with a cocked eyebrow, "I think this time you're the Outlander, Ikrie."

"Not to the Banuk, everyone else is the Outlander to them." Ikrie laughed, "Come on. We have a quest-giver to find. He's waiting for us at the Devil's Thirst"

Aloy whistled for her Strider to follow them as they walked up the path.

"Neat trick." Ikrie complimented Aloy as she took out her spear, "I'll show you mine." The Banuk slammed her spear onto the ground and a Strider walked through the trees off to the side of the road.

"How did you-" Aloy stammered, "Since when could you do that?"

"I found some new parts after the battle of the Spire. Remembered the parts on your spear and thought that anything you could do, so could I." Ikrie said calmly, "Any edge I can get for the hunt, I will take."

"And the Hunter's Lodge?" Aloy asked.

"Oh, Lauvuk got tired of my shit with the challenge I held on her patch. Sent me to Meridian to find my own pack to run with. Personally, I think I made her look bad. No one could beat my challenge. Except you, of course." Ikrie smirked as she climbed onto her mount. Aloy joined suit.

"I met with Aratak before I left." Ikrie said, "I heard he was a changed man after he met with a certain Nora, I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't fought by his side at Meridian." Ikrie said as she led them through the narrow path as it crested a hill. "He told me to find a blue light up in the mountains. It spoke to me of things long past and of you."

" She ." Aloy found herself correcting, Ikrie turned in her seat to regard Aloy with a grin,

" She told me lots of things. Even where to find one of these." Ikrie tapped her Focus and it lit up on her temple.

"How much do you know?" Aloy asked slowly.

"Enough." Ikrie turned back to face the road, "if I'm to be your Thrush then at least I'll be able to keep up with you."

" CYAN." Aloy chided through her Focus, the AI remained silent but Aloy could imagine her laughter.

Woodland gave way to a vast valley of grasslands with ruins of buildings long abandoned from the Metal World. On a ridge which overlooked the lowlands, crouched Varl beside a small fire.

He rose to his feet as soon as he spotted the two women and he kicked the fire out.

"Ikrie, Aloy. Thank you for coming. All-Mother be praised, for sending my message to you." Varl dipped his head respectfully as they slid off their Striders.

"It was mostly Nakoa." Aloy shrugged as she regarded the surroundings, "So what do we have here, Varl?"

"Hard to tell. They can't be found during the day. I haven't been able to amass a group to investigate properly but this has been happening for nearly a week. Only in Devil's Thirst. I think they're looking for something but I don't know what." Varl admitted.

Aloy led them down towards the ruins to see for herself, "Sona not willing to try?" Aloy asked Varl as she looked him directly in the eye as they walked side by side, Varl frowned.

"Sona was injured in Meridian. Her bones never healed properly. There was so much to do when we returned to rebuild our own lands again. I fear she's trusting the wrong people for advice when she would normally have chosen her own path."

"Sona is your… leader?" Ikrie asked as she picked her way down the steep path towards the ruined city.

"She's the war-chief. She leads the Warparty of Braves." Aloy explained.

"And my mother." Varl admitted.

"Ah." Ikrie frowned.

Soon they reached Devil's Thirst and the first thing Aloy noticed were the holes dotted about the ground. Some were about the span of her spear and others were large enough for a Corruptor to fit in with room to spare. Aloy scanned the nearest hole and saw nothing. No Machines, no tracks or signals. Nothing.

"Do you hear that?" Ikrie asked abruptly.

Aloy turned to look at her, "No?"

"Exactly. No birds, no Machines… It's silent."

Other than the sounds of the distant Tallneck as it made its circuit through the city, Ikrie was right.

Varl picked up a large piece of crumbled concrete and dropped it down the largest hole. It was a long time until they heard it smack against the side of the tunnel.

"I've never seen a Machine leave holes like this. Not even Rockbreakers kick up so much rubble or leave so many holes." Aloy admitted.

"Can you see anything with your… Thing?" Varl asked desperately.

"No." Aloy shook her head, "Nothing."

Varl sighed heavily, "I had hoped to find enough to warrant bringing some Braves with us tonight."

"We still can." Aloy said as she jutted her chin out in grim determination, "The more we don't know, the more of a threat it is." Aloy paused, "You want me to tell Sona, don't you?"

Varl sighed with exasperation, "She speaks to me like I'm a child. It got worse after Varla… Your words carry more weight than mine ever could."

"If they came from the Anointed, you mean?"

"Fine." Aloy conceded, "Where's Sona?"

"Mother's Heart."

Aloy nodded, "Let's go then."

Varl nodded as Ikrie shook her head.

"I'll stay here. I know where I'm not wanted. Plus, I have an idea for your plan to work, you'll need to be their focus and not the heathen Outlander. I'll make camp and keep watch until you're back."

"Be careful and keep your distance, even if the Machines come back." Aloy cautioned as she recalled her Strider, her focus connected to Ikrie's and both cantered towards her.

"Aww, she's worried about me. Don't worry, I still have my two legs to stand on, Nora."

Varl smirked, "I like this one."

"You won't like this." Aloy cautioned as she pulled herself on her Mount, "Hop on." She nodded towards the other Strider.

Varl visibly gulped as he regarded the Machine, "It won't… Bite me or kick me will it?"

Aloy shook her head as she steered her Strider around towards their next heading. She smirked as she watched Varl struggle to sit comfortably on the Machine. He acted like at any moment, it would throw him off or burn him.

Aloy looked up at the high sun in the sky, "We'll be back by sundown at the latest. Watch your back, Ikrie."

With a commanding "Yah!" Aloy nudged her Strider to gallop up the steep path and heard Varl follow her, thankfully her Focus aided the Hunter by directing his Strider where she went.

They rode until they reached the guarded gates of Mother's Heart. Braves patrolled the walls and familiar cannons adorned them. Aloy frowned at the sight of a signal tower built on the grounds just outside of the walled settlement. It was unmanned.

"Why didn't they ask for help from the Carja?" Aloy asked as the thought struck her as the gates swung open to admit them.

"Do I need to answer that?" Varl asked as he led Aloy towards the Brave's Lodge. A log and turf building which stood proudly at the center of the settlement. A place, Aloy would have once been proud to have boarded there when she was off-patrol. When it was too late to have come home to Rost.

Varl entered the Lodge first and Aloy soon followed. As soon as she saw the man she scowled, "I thought the Nora's ways were too soft for your tastes."

Resh met her scowl with his own, " Anointed." He spat.

"No one else wanted to take you in, did they? Or did you not want to leave after all?"

Aloy didn't give Resh a chance to reply when she turned her gaze towards Sona and addressed the woman who had stood with a grimace, "War-Chief Sona. Varl was right to ask for me to come. We need to get a group together to investigate this. I haven't seen Machines leave tunnels like this before and we need to stop them before they start digging elsewhere, like here."

Sona glanced at Resh as he scoffed before she said, "Aloy. Varl's reports have said they only churned the tainted lands of Devil's Thirst."

"You must be blind to not see how few Braves we have left after the destruction and death you brought to our lands." Resh bellowed.

"And you must be blind to not realize that this is the Brave's Lodge and not the latrine, where you should be posted." Aloy felt Varl pull her away from Resh as she had advanced on him.

"Enough!" Sona roared.

"You could have asked the Carja for help." Aloy cried in frustration, "You're quick enough to take Petra's cannons and to allow a signal tower to be built. There's another in Hunter's Gathering. But you're too proud to ask a favour, one Avad feels he owes you for your support at the Spire."

Aloy spun on her heel to leave the Lodge but Varl remained rooted on the spot as he regarded his mother, "Mother, what Aloy said about there being more tribes and a whole world out beyond our borders is right. I'm sorry you didn't heed her words and listened to others instead."

Varl followed Aloy out of the Lodge.

Aloy paused as she opened her Focus' HUD and selected Avad's name to speak to him, "It's Aloy. Can you send a squad of Soldiers to investigate Devil's Thirst in the Sacred Lands."

The King hadn't yet gotten the hang of speaking normally though the Focus and said loudly, "Of course, Aloy of the Nora."

Aloy signed, "Soon as you can." And switched off the connection and strode towards All-Mother Mountain.

"It's scary how at ease you are, giving orders to a king," Varl remarked with a slight smirk. "So, where are we going now?"

"We're going to see someone who will make a difference."

Aloy led them through the entrance to the center of the mountain. It appeared that pilgrims from the Embrace were welcomed within the confines of the mountain. Aloy ignored the startled looks and whispers from worshippers they passed down the stairs towards the facility.

They soon reached the gallery where the doors were and Aloy saw Jezza lead a sermon before the doors. Lansra was nowhere to be seen but Teersa stood to the side of the gathering.

"Aloy, you came!" Teersa cried as she picked her way through the kneeling Nora as they bowed up and down to the doors, people exclaimed as the woman nudged people out of her way in order to meet Aloy.

The old woman smiled at Varl, "Well done, my boy. I'm glad someone in your family can see sense."

"I've sent a message to Sun-King Avad. Asked him for help with Devil's Thirst."

"Good. I never believed when my sisters said that Machines churning up the land was part of All-Mother's plan. We're Hunters not Farmers." The High-Matriarch laughed, "I may live under a mountain but under a rock - hah!" Teersa shook her head in dismay as she swept through the crowd of knelt worshippers once more, "The sounds reminded me too much of what the Braves told me twenty-five years ago. Come, come!" Teersa beckoned Varl and Aloy towards the great bulkhead door.

"All-Mother drew you here to speak to her once more. To commune with her for direction, come, you must!" Teersa nudged Aloy towards the door,

"I…" Aloy stammered as she looked at Varl at the footsteps as he nervously regarded the door. "Yes, actually." Aloy swallowed, "When I was last with her… She wanted me to bring another with me to… Speak to her." Varl looked up to her, "Only if they were ready to."

Varl blanched under Aloy's meaningful gaze and he looked at the door and then back at Aloy before he nodded to her mutely.

"Follow me." Aloy extended her hand and he followed her up the steps towards the door, "Shand behind me for a second." Aloy instructed as she stood beneath the scanner.

"Hold for identiscan." A synthetic voice commanded, "Genetic identity confirmed. Entry authorized. Welcome, Dr, Sobeck. You are cleared to proceed." The Hatch opened and Aloy led Varl through the door.

Cold electric lights flickered on to reveal the dusty room, Aloy turned to see Varl keep his arms snapped tightly to his side. He seemed to try everything he could do to make himself as small as possible. He jumped when the hatch door hissed as it closed behind them.

"Varl." Aloy rested her hand on his shoulder, "It's okay. Honestly."

"Is this where… All-Mother is?" Varl asked quietly, as he looked around the facility.

"Yes and no." Aloy said kindly, "I need to explain some things." Aloy sighed as she gathered her thoughts, "Here is where the Nora came from. The Carja were once from here too according to their records. Maybe the Banuk too. There was no Goddess. Not at least, in the way that they think." Aloy pointed towards some paintings on the walls.

"Children grew up here?" Varl asked as he moved towards the finger paintings, "This looks like the ones Varla once… When she was little."

Aloy's Focus lit up to reveal a recording for both of them to see, of the children who once grew up within the facility."

"You will be brave… Do you think… Is that how we decided to become Nora Braves?" Varl asked as the message faded.

"Maybe? All ideas start from somewhere. Why not here."

Aloy led them through another locked door and they entered another room filled with learning pods.

"What is this?" Varl asked as he looked around himself in awe with the strange room which was unlike anything he had seen before, he spotted a Focus device on the nearest desk to him, "Is this what you wear?"

"It's not just a fashion statement," Aloy smirked at a joke Erend had once made, "Put it on." She encouraged him.

Varl stepped backwards and bumped into the wall behind him, "No-I shouldn't I cant!"

"Varl. Whatever you're going to see here may challenge your beliefs. I won't judge you if, when you walk away from here, you decide to believe everything you did this morning when you woke up." Aloy paused as she struggled to meet Varl's eyes which was a feat as the tall man managed to tuck his chin firmly to his chest, "But after everything that's happened. Everything you've seen and learned, don't you want to know more?"

Varl paused and then lifted his head just enough to nod, "I do. I just… Worry about what it might mean."

Aloy smiled in sympathy as he finally met her eyes, "So am I. everyday. It's not easy but the truth never is, is it?"

At once, Varl jutted his chin forward and grasped the Focus device and pressed it to his temple. He blinked as the HUD opened up and he heard Samina Ebadji's welcoming message to her students. Aloy spent the time he watched the message gathering as many Focus devices as she could find in her pouch.

"So people were born here and… learned here?" Varl asked as the message ended.

"They were supposed to but it all went wrong. Follow me." Aloy said sadly as she led him across towards another door. "It's the reason why we know so little about the metal world and how their world came to an end."

They entered the final room side by side and Verl looked around as the synthetic voice spoke,

"Brood 1 Control, accessed. Priority message for Dr. Elisabet Sobeck. Please scan message with Focus."

This is where I learned… Everything." Aloy admitted, "Varl I'm sorry I lied. Not just to you but to everyone. I couldn't explain, there wasn't enough time."

"The truth hurts?" Varl asked with a nervous smile.

The Holographic projection burst into life before them.

GAIA's avatar appeared before them and her message began, "Elisabet: This message serves to inform you of an unforeseen and catastrophic anomaly. Three microseconds ago, the GAIA Prime facility received a data transmission of unknown origin. Its immediate effect was to transform my Subordinate Functions into unregulated, self-aware entities of a highly chaotic nature. Thus awakened, the HADES Function will now seize control of the terraforming system and reverse operations... rendering life on Earth extinct in fifty-three-point-eight days. For obvious reasons, I cannot allow this to occur."

Aloy watched as Varl absorbed the message as it played before him. Watched him as he learned the precise nature of her birth and Varl gasped as he turned to look at Aloy in shock. What surprised Aloy however, was how he immediately grasped her shoulder with sadness in his eyes.

A moment later, Varl's Eyes drifted to stare just over Aloy's shoulder in astonishment.

Aloy looked over and saw the end of her spear, Sylans' Lance to be exact, had lit up in a bright blue glow. Motes of light floated and drifted over towards GAIA's avatar. Her red dress gradually changed to blue once more.

"Elisabet." GAIA called, "You managed to obtain the Master Override Key. And… I hope to also purge HADES."

GAIA faded from view as a synthetic voice dispassionately cut in.

"Message error. Partial corruption detected. Do you wish to proceed with this message, Dr. Sobeck?"

"Damnit! Yes. Yes I do!" Aloy shouted at the ceiling.

GAIA reappeared and seemed to look directly at Aloy although she had no idea how.

"I am concerned as I enter my last moments, that I have left you unprepared for the challenges you may face. I fear that if you were to rebuild GAIA Prime that I may be disrupted once more and render your efforts obsolete. As I power down I will retrieve all that I can regarding this signal which disrupted my functionality. This - this is disconcerting, Elisabet. Something else appears to be doing the same as I. After all this time. I was never truly alone in this world. Hold. Hold Elisabet. It originated from the land which was once named California. Silicon Valley to be accurate. You must go there, Elizabet. We will find the answers there. But beware, we are not the only ones who seek them. Be safe, Elisabet and be aware."

GAIA vanished from view.

"What?" Aloy said dumbly and then cried out in pain as her Focus grew hot on her temple.

A three-dimensional map appeared before her eyes which highlighted the area which GAIA must have meant in her message.

Aloy shut the HUD down and rubbed at her eyes and ran her fingers through her hair, "That didn't happen last time. That message was new.

"Are you okay, Aloy?" Varl asked her and Aloy laughed.

"You're asking me if I'm okay, Varl?"

Varl shrugged, "It's easier to worry about the people before me than to think about everything else at the moment." He admitted.

They made their way towards the exit of the facility in silence, both had a lot to think about and to process.

"What do I tell the Tribe?" Varl asked helplessly, "Was that All-Mother or someone else?"

"In a way, she was. She was a… Machine of sorts who rebuilt the world after it was destroyed. Because of GAIA… All life was reborn and continued. She's not a Goddess though she's an Artificial Intelligence; a Machine that can think and feel like a person can. I need to rebuild her Varl. The Derangement is because GAIA had to destroy herself to try and stop HADES from destroying the world." They reached the door, "For the rest… I just don't know, Varl."

The hatch door swung open and Aloy and Varl stepped onto the dais.

At once, they were both accosted by all three High-Matriarchs.

"All-Mother be praised!" Jezza wailed as she fell to her knees, "You have returned!"

"Banish the Corruption from our Sacred Lands, Anointed one! I beseech you Seeker!" Lasra cried as she rested her forehead to the ground.

Aloy paused on the steps as she regarded the women in shock, "What's happened?"

"Aloy." Teersa pulled at Aloy's arm and descended down the stairs by her side, "Scouts to Devil's Thirst at your behest and were led by War-Chief Sona. They have confirmed it is indeed Machine's machinations."

Aloy didn't need to hear more than that. The Huntress sprinted up through the passage, Varl was close at her heels.

Aloy whistled as soon as she reached the gates and the Striders cantered towards her. As soon as she was on her Mount she clipped her heels and the Strider began to gallop away towards Devil's Thirst.

"Ikrie!" Aloy called through her Focus as she struggled to connect with the woman. Cold awareness hit her when Aloy realized she had never connected their Focus devices together. "Damn it!" She cursed as she spurred her mount on.

It was early dusk. Aloy cursed herself for losing track of time in the Facility. There was never enough time for anything.

Aloy charged her Strider through the brush and made it take the quickest route towards Devil's Thirst over taking the roads. She became distantly aware that somehow, Varl had kept up with her.

A high-pitched shriek echoed through the valley as the thicket of woodland cleared, Aloy slowed her Mount's stride as she felt the ground tremble. Even through the Strider, the ground quaked and shuddered. Aloy slid off her Machine and dismissed it as she sank low to the ground for a better look.

An explosion flashed through the buildings but Aloy couldn't get a clear view of who it was. She stalked towards the derelict buildings and spotted Ikrie, high up atop one of the buildings. Sling in hand and shot at -

The rumble returned and moments later Aloy crushed herself against the wall of the building to avoid a Machine as it breached the ground and vanished once more into the earth. Debris flew in all directions in its wake.

Further up the road, another Machine burst through the ground and it was hit by Ikrie's bomb before it vanished once more into the ground. It narrowly avoided the Tallneck as it made its circuit through the ruins.

"We need to find higher ground, Aloy." Varl cried over the din and he reached for the crumbling brickwork to climb.

Another Machine rose from the ground again and it collided with the Tallneck's feet. The sentinel stumbled as the Machine beneath it twisted and shuddered under the pressure of it's foot.

Another leg failed to find purchase and the Tallneck floundered and lurched forward towards the building. Aloy grabbed Varl's ankle and pulled with all of her weight and dragged him down.

They scrambled away with just enough time to avoid the worst parts of debris that rained down in the Tallneck's fall. Aloy couldn't see Ikrie and all she could do was hope the Banuk had managed to avoid the collapse. She saw the destroyed machine at the Tallneck's feet and scanned it.

'Burrower. Recon Class.' Her Focus managed to tell her in a flash before another Machine emerged from the ground and maneuverer effortlessly towards Aloy. It lurched forward and flung rubble towards Aloy and she tried to roll away. The Burrower halted as Varl shot several fire arrows in quick succession at it.

"Go, I'll hold it off!" Varl cried as he notched another arrow.

Aloy clambered to her feet and ran to get some distance away from the Machine. After a moment, she notched a tearblast arrow and leapt. Aloy spun around in the air and shot at its underside. Aloy landed and didn't wait to see if it had hit its mark as she spotted another Machine surfaced.

She took her sling and a blue bomb out and threw it down between the two Burrowers. As it exploded, the Machines seized and convulsed as electricity shot through them.

Aloy continued her sprint towards the downed Tallneck and scrambled up its flank.

"Ikrie!" Aloy cried as she notched another set of arrows. The Machines had recovered but she spotted that Varl had climbed up the side of another building and had continued his attack from a window ledge.

An ice bomb sailed from Aloy's right and it smacked into the side of a Burrower. Aloy shot three precision arrows at its front fins and followed up with another to its head. The Machine exploded and Aloy focussed on the remaining Machine Varl fought.

"One down!" Aloy cried as she shot another three arrows at the Burrower. Another ice bomb detonated but it wasn't enough to fully freeze the Burrower. Varl leapt from his perch and slid down the Machine's back only to stab it in the base of its head. The Machine fell, deactivated.

"Ikrie!" Aloy called out once more as she slid down the Tallneck's leg and scanned the area where the bombs had come from.

"Here." Ikrie panted as she picked her way through the piles of rubble from the partially collapsed building. "I didn't expect the Tallneck to actually… Fall." The Banuk admitted between breaths.

Aloy met her and asked, "Are you alright?"

"My pride hurts more than my bones do." The Banuk admitted as she chewed on some herbs from her pouch.

"Have you seen Sona?" Varl asked as he met the two, "She wears a mark like mine." Varl explained as he pointed to his cheek.

Ikrie shook her head, I did see some Braves go through there. I stayed to thin the crowd of Burrowers but the Nora didn't fight along with me." Ikrie muttered as she recalled her mount.

"I'll let you keep the other one, Varl." Ikrie muttered as she swung herself onto the Strider.

Aloy and Varl followed suit and soon they followed the Nora Brave's tracks.

Holes both big and small dotted the landscape but it was impossible to tell how many Machines were left.

Smoke was on the wind and soon Aloy spotted firelight through the trees. It was Hunter's Gathering!

"I think… They're heading towards Dawn's Sentinel." Varl cried as they sped past Hunter's Gathering. The signal tower at the center of the settlement burned and men and women scrambled to extinguish the fire.

Aloy cursed as she knew they couldn't stop their pursuit.

Suddenly, Aloy spotted the back of one of the Nora Braves. He was illuminated in the distant firelight. It was Resh.

Aloy skidded her Strider to a stop and leapt off the Mount.

"Resh!"

He spun around and glared at Aloy, "Come to gloat at our Tribe's misery, have you!"

"Resh just shut up!" Aloy all but screamed at the man. She was surprised when he actually did as she bade. Varl and Ikrie halted behind her. "How many?"

"We couldn't count the Machine's numbers." He stared at Ikrie with suspicion, "We counted thirteen Outlanders amongst the Machines."

Aloy turned to Ikrie, "Can you override a Longleg. There's a site just beyond the gate."

Ikrie nodded as she urged her Strider on.

"Are you coming?" Varl asked as he regarded Resh from his mount.

Resh faltered, "No. I will not leave the Sacred Lands."

"Not even to follow your War-Chief?" He yelled.

"The Tribe will need me to survive should Sona fall."

Varl dropped from his Strider and in two seconds, Resh's head snapped around and he fell bonelessly to the ground.

The Hunter replaced his Spear on his back and he turned to his Strider.

"Did you just -"

Varl shook his head, "Death is too good for that man. Let either the Nora or Machines find him."

Wordlessly, Aloy returned to her Strider and they rode onwards.

They rode on and passed the gate unhindered. The Gates swung half opened and fire blazed on the roof of the watchtower. Carja Soldiers lay lifeless on the ground just beyond the gate. Aloy bit her lip at the loss but she couldn't stop. If she did. It would continue.

"There!" Varl pointed at Ikrie in the distance as she met them on the road on her Strider, with a Longleg in tow.

Aloy activated her Focus and connected the Longlegs in the distance together. As one, the herd moved onwards, their powerful legs easily outran their Striders.

"They're just further down the road!" Ikrie explained as she met their pace.

Aloy lowered herself as close to the Strider's back as possible, and clung to the wires on the back of its head. Anything she could do to make herself move faster forward. It was slowing, however. Aloy could see frayed cables at its joints and sparks flew off in her peripheral.

Ahead, it seemed like the Longlegs had caught up with the Warparty and hopefully, the Outlanders.

Aloy rolled back and gripped the Strider's back with her legs as she notched her bow. She got a clean headshot of one of the Outlanders. They fell and rolled beneath one of their group and both fell to the floor. They were soon dispatched by the Nora.

Aloy's Longlegs met the Borrowers and soon, components flew as they kicked their powerful legs whenever a Burrower emerged. A Shriek rang through the plain and it made all nearby halt in pain. A Longleg countered with their own stun blast and halted the Borrowers just long enough for the rest of the herd to continue their attack. The Warparty took full advantage of the chaos and launched their own pincer attack.

Aloy sped past the melee and continued to fire down on the Outlanders. One, two, three fell. Aloy trampled over their bodies as she continued to fire on them as she closed in.

"-oy!"

Aloy herd Ikrie's warning too late and Aloy saw stars as she flew clean off her mount. She landed painfully on her back and she felt the wind leave her lungs.

Aloy wheezed as she rolled over to her side to try and pick herself up. She saw her shattered Strider just ahead. Ikrie had leapt off her own and ran towards her.

"I'm okay. You need to go after them." Aloy warned, "I'll be right behind you."

Ikrie hesitated before she turned towards her mount. Just in enough time to watch as a gigantic Machine emerged from the sandy ground and swallowed her.

"Ikrie!" Aloy cried in horror as her friend vanished from view with a flicker of its enormous tail.

Aloy desperately scanned the ground beneath her but nothing showed up on the HUD. Suddenly the arid earth softened beneath her feet and bubbled, Aloy bolted away as the Machine emerged once more where Aloy had been moments before.

The Machine slithered across the ground and coiled around itself. It bared its fangs at Aloy and its hood bristled as it rose itself to regard her.

Aloy couldn't see her friend but an idea did strike her. She activated her Focus and connected to Ikrie's Focus. Aloy had just enough time to see the Machine was called a Slitherfang before it spat acid at Aloy.

Aloy shielded her eyes and felt her gauntlets burn through to her skin, there wasn't time to worry about that now.

A rattle broke her train of thought and Aloy saw the end of its tail rise and shake as it began to glow with bolts of electricity.

An arrow whizzed over Aloy's shoulder. The end of the tail exploded in a hot blast and the Machine roared with rage.

The Slitherfang reared its head to attack but it faltered as it turned its head towards the remaining Outlanders. It uncoiled itself and dove into the earth once more and vanished from view.

Sona lowered her bow from behind Aloy and sighed, her face was ashen with pain and fury. Aloy looked at the remains of the Machines where they lay behind her. It seemed the Nora Warparty hadn't discriminated between the Longlegs or the Borrowers.

"Aloy. I'm sorry but that woman is dead or soon will be. The same thing happened twenty five years ago."

"No!" Aloy shook her head in refusal, "Rost killed them all! Teersa told me -"

"Teersa did not drag Rost's body over the border. Grata did and she brought him to me, just beyond this gate Aloy." Sona pointed towards Dawn's Sentinel, "We heard his fever cries. He killed the party but he could not kill their master."

"Stop it!" Aloy yelled as she marched towards Ikrie's mount and pulled herself onto its back. Her bleeding cuts and bruised ribs were forced to the back of her mind as she spurred it forward into a gallop.

"Aloy!" Sona reprimanded to deaf ears.

Varl ran towards his mount and scrambled onto its back.

"Varl!"

"Go Aloy. I'm with you" Varl urged as he ignored his mother.

Aloy didn't need telling twice. "Ya!"