UNITY FORCE MISSIONS: HORIZON ZERO DAWN

CHAPTER 3: A Seeker at the Gates

ARC I: The Seeker Aloy

DISCLAIMER: All characters in the story are not owned by me, save for my OCs.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This will abridge most of A Seeker at the Gates.

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[Sacred Lands, Earth-1355]

A day after Zoro's Unity Force team, Aloy, and Sona's Nora Braves retaliated against the cultists, who were responsible for the Proving Massacre, as well as the Corrupted Machines, in a place known as the Ring of Metal in the ancient ruins of Devil's Grief, Zoro Roronoa, Maya Tendo, Trafalgar D. Water Law, Asta, Noelle Silva, and Meliodas realise that there is more to this than what they can imagine, and it will involve them looking for answers far off in the Sacred Lands.

The Unity Force will do what it takes to find answers as to why Aloy is a target for these killers, a question that has haunted the Nora huntress for days since the Proving Massacre.

They learned from Aloy that Olin Delverson, an Oseram scrounger and delver, is directly responsible for the attack, when he spied her through his Focus before the Proving. She also revealed a piece of important information to the rest of the Unity Force: his current residence is in the Carja capital of Meridian, where Erend currently is. They also heard from her that the only way to enter Meridian is through the Carja border fort of Daytower, but it is also revealed that the gates have been closed, due to the onslaught of Corrupted Machines, according to another Nora Brave known as Marea.

Planning on visiting the only gateway to Meridian, the Unity Force are seen encamping at one of the campfires around the Nora Sacred Lands, and discuss more about the previous attack in the Ring of Metal, as well as plans on visiting the Carja border fort.

"These Corrupted Machines..." Zoro questioned, as he is polishing his sword. "Why are they called like that, Aloy-san?" He asked the Nora Brave.

"Because they are enslaved by Corruptors, which is a machine that is something totally different." Aloy responded, as she takes out her spear with the Override device attached on its end. "After stopping that Corruptor in Mother's Watch, I was able to take its 'overriding' module, as what it is called, granting me the ability to override machines into my side." She added.

"But these cultists are using these 'Corruptors' for something else." Maya suspected.

"Like they're bolstering an army of their own, as evident from the red tendrils." Trafalgar deduced.

"Which is bad news." Noelle said.

"Yet we don't know who these people truly are, as well as its leader, who was responsible for killing Rost, my only father figure." Aloy added.

"Oh my..." Maya said in surprise.

"I felt bad for you, Aloy-san." Noelle empathised, as she reassures Aloy. "What was Rost-sama like to you?"

"He trained me for years before the Proving." Aloy said. "Other than that, he was the only person whom I considered as a father, even though I still have no idea who my true mother is, as I was 'born' from the All-Mother Mountain, which was a mountain of the Met al World. Just like me, he was also an outcast." She added. "And how this mysterious woman looked exactly like me." She gestured, remembering the hologram of the said woman she saw earlier in the hologram.

"Damn, that's like two peas in a pod." Asta said. "Your history is a little convoluted, so to speak, Aloy-san." He described.

"'Impossible to explain' is the more appropriate way to describe it." Meliodas added.

"What was being an outcast like?" Noelle asked. "I know that we don't want to rub salt into the wounds of your past, but we don't know about these kinds of things in this world."

"You have no idea how painful it is to endure being shunned and scoffed for your whole life, because of it." Aloy answered. "But I knew that I prevailed during the Proving and was anointed as a Seeker by the High Matriarch Teersa, after stopping that attack in Mother's Watch." She concluded.

"Damn. That must have been a long time." Meliodas remarked.

Afterwards, they later switch the conversation into something more important: Olin Delverson.

"About Olin." Zoro said. "What did you suspect more about him?" He asked.

"He was wearing a Focus, and he was working with these killers." Aloy said. "Which is where I have to find out more about him and where he currently is." She added.

"Sounds like you really need our help, Aloy-san." Maya added suddenly. "After hearing much about your history as an outcast, and being stuck in Chito-san's world with Erend-san, we only know that you're not doing this by yourself." She added.

"I know." Aloy answered, as she is seen crafting arrows.

"Well, at least you learned stuff in the Unity Force!" Meliodas added.

"That's another mystery that we are also trying to solve." Maya said. "These so-called 'Old Ones'." She reminded. "They sounded like none other than the present-time people in our world." She surmised.

"That's where I still have to find out." Aloy answered.

"But who will be going to that Meridian place?" Noelle asked.

That question from Noelle herself is later answered, when Zoro, Maya, Trafalgar, and Aloy stand up in front of Asta, Noelle, and Meliodas,

"We do." Trafalgar answered.

"Myself, Maya, Trafalgar, and Aloy." Zoro declared.

"What about us?" Meliodas inquired.

"We'll handle this for now." Zoro added.

"Aw, come on!" Asta complained.

"Until for certain, we have to deal with this problem first, and figure out more." Zoro claimed.

"Don't worry." Maya said. "We'll call you in, once we reached this Meridian." She added, with Noelle nodding, before looking to Aloy. "How far is Meridian from here?" She questioned the Nora Brave.

"Very far. Might take an hour to reach it on foot." Aloy said. "But riding on a Strider will only take us about twenty minutes to reach Daytower and half an hour to reach Meridian." She replied.

"We can walk our way there." Zoro said.

"Sounds reasonable." Maya added. "Contact us if you find something amiss." She said, as she talks to Asta.

"Got it." Asta responded.

With that, Zoro, Maya, Aloy, and Trafalgar part ways with Asta, Noelle and Meliodas, as they begin their expedition up to the gates of Daytower. For Zoro and Maya, as well as Trafalgar, however, they have heard earlier from Aloy about an attack of Corrupted Machines happening within the Carja border fort, and it force them to investigate into this matter furthermore, and see if these attacks have a set motive far more sinister than what they can expect.

A few minutes later, on the path to Daytower...

"Aloy-san." Maya said. "Can you tell us more about these tribes in this world?" She added.

"We heard that War-Chief uttering some stuff about these 'ruins of Old Ones' being 'tainted by sin' and such." Zoro said. "Is that even normal to begin with?" He asked.

"That's how the Nora sees the ruins of the Old Ones." Aloy added. "If any Nora is caught venturing through those ruins, except Seekers, then they will be turned into outcasts for a limited time." She explained.

"That is some crazy, accusatory shit in there." Trafalgar said.

"What about the Oseram, Banuk, and Carja?" Maya questioned.

Aloy goes into explaining the Oseram, Banuk, and Carja tribes to Zoro, Maya, and Trafalgar, as well as their own cultures, ranging from the Oseram being inventors, to the Banuk being nomads, and with the Carja being luxurious, talented, and regal. However, she goes into telling the biggest elephant in the room: the Carja's past involvement in one of the most infamous attacks in the history of the tribal world: the Red Raids, which were a series of senseless attacks from the Carja army against the non-Carja outlanders during Jiran's regime. She goes into explaining some of the details of it, or whatever she has known about it, which particularly disturbed the rest.

"That's messed up." Trafalgar said.

"Probably that's not something I want to think about it." Maya claimed, as she only gripped the pommel of her rapier.

"Your world is something that is like in Ancient Rome." Zoro remarked.

"But the Carja are not the same people as of today." Aloy said. "Which was the reason why Carja envoys were sent there along with Erend, before the Proving, to make amends to the Nora. However, Olin used that event to spy on me." She added.

"Then we have to reach the Daytower fort and find Olin-san himself." Maya answered.

Later on, after some much banter, Zoro, Maya, Aloy, and Trafalgar head through a path that is now uphill, before it goes into a plateaued path again, where they see a group of buildings looming not far from them. They soon revealed that that they are arriving at the Daytower fort, the gateway to the Carja territory, but it is unusually silent. However, they also realise that it is also snowing, as well, which they find it sudden.

"It's snowing." Maya added.

"And silent." Zoro added.

"Marea said that the fort was closed because of the Corrupted Machines." Aloy remembered.

"That means we have some more unwelcoming visitors waiting there." Trafalgar said.

Suddenly, however, the Carja Guards in the fort immediately halt the Unity Force's attempts of entering the gates of Daytower, where they later know the reason why: a Corruptor, two Corrupted Watchers, and a Corrupted Scrapper are seen roaming around. All for the while, however, are corpses of soldiers who fought off this unexpected threat. For the Unity Force's standards, this threat is not as much as what they experienced earlier in the Ring of Metal.

"Looks like a big battle happened here." Zoro said, as he takes out his Enma.

"A Corruptor!" Aloy exclaimed.

"Except, this thing is functional." Maya added.

"Turn back, outlanders!" A Carja Guard warned from above. "These machines are dangerous!" He added.

"There's nothing we are scared of." Zoro simply.

"Are you sure about that?" The Carja asked in a worrying manner. "These monstrous beasts are not to be taken lightly!" He exclaimed furthermore, but that did little to deter the Unity Force.

"Remember, these machines are weak to fire, so anything that has fire on it can be weakened. For the Corruptors, it will expose something on it." Aloy reminded, before she fires a Fire Arrow towards the Corrupted Scrapper, who leapt on her. Maya then unleashes a fatal forward stab to the Scrapper with her Odette, causing the machine to be instantly dispatched.

"These things are getting increasingly more frustrating to deal with, due to their numbers." Maya commented.

The Corruptor, on the other hand, does not hesitate to throw a giant boulder towards the Unity Force through its tail, but Zoro does not hesitate to slice that boulder out with a crescent projectile from his sword, before he unleashes another counterattack towards the machine, causing its tail to be severed.

"What the?!" The Carja guard exclaimed in shock. "D-d-did you just slice a boulder with that sword?!" He added.

"Yes." Zoro sarcastically uttered.

Trafalgar then attacks the two Corrupted Watchers with his Kikoku, as he uses Radio Knife ability, cleanly slicing off the machines, while they are electrocuted at the same time, destroying both of them altogether, leaving only the Corruptor left.

"I can't believe this..." The Carja Guard described.

Meanwhile, Zoro and Aloy fight off the now-damaged Corruptor, as it proceeds to leap towards them instantaneously, but Aloy quickly weakens the Corruptor further with a barrage of Fire Arrows, causing the machine to abruptly stop, before what looked like cooling rods cause to appear from its chassis.

"That's its weakpoint." Aloy exclaimed, as she proceeds to fire several shots towards one of the rods, causing it to break, before Zoro slashes one of its rods, shutting the machine down completely.

The battle later finishes, as the last of the Corrupted Machines are destroyed, much to the relief of the Carja Guards in Daytower fort.

"So, will you open the gates and allow us to enter here?" Aloy asked.

"There's your definitive proof that we are capable." Zoro only scoffed.

"Where the rest of you..." A Carja Guard said, before looking at Zoro, Maya, and Trafalgar. "...strange outworlders are going next with the Nora?" He asked.

"We're going to Meridian! West!" Aloy said.

"You heard the outlanders! Let them in and send a word to Captain Balahn!" The Carja Guard commander said.

From there, the doors to Daytower have been opened again, before they meet up with the Carja Guard commander before in front of them. He is seen wearing an armour that consists of a gold-coloured helmet with red feathers coming from the top. They wear a grey and red uniform with armour plating and white gloves with a red outline.

"Who are the rest of you?" The commander asked in a suspicious manner, as he looks at the Unity Force. "We have never seen strange-looking people like you before." He added.

"Here we go again..." Zoro said.

Zoro then explains to the Carja Guard commander what the Unity Force is all about, as well as the heroic organisation's goals. She also goes into explaining the existence of several worlds, and saving them from any threats that come into.

"I see. Now that I think of it, we can tell that you're not a part of any tribe." The Carja Guard commander said.

"What makes you say that?" Zoro asked. "We're outworlders, like what you mentioned earlier." He answered succinctly.

"My apologies for that." The Carja Guard commander apologised. "I'm the commander of the Carja Guards stationed in Daytower." He answered.

"We've been planning to head to Meridian and track down Olin." Aloy answered.

"The Way of Broken Stones is the only way you can cross Meridian, but it's a hard run, even in the best of times." The Carja Guard commander said. "Maybe the rest of you might need a word with Captain Balahn." He added.

"We might do that later." Trafalgar answered.

"He came from Meridian not long ago. You'll find him in the fort – on a balcony to the left, overlooking the valley."

"We'll be doing that one later." Maya said.

"We should thank the rest of you and the Nora, as well, for taking down those things." The Carja Guard commander said. "Walk in light." He added, before leaving.

"What a drag." Zoro said, as he sheathes his sword.

Zoro, Maya, Aloy, and Trafalgar later leave Daytower, as they proceed to continue their trek. Aloy, on the other hand, is getting more and more desperate over Olin's whereabouts.

"The world beyond the Sacred Land... I need to find Olin and learn everything he knows. Who the killers were. How the saw me through his Focus. Who the woman is – the one who looks like me. Why they want me dead." Aloy monologued.

"We'll find him, Aloy-san." Maya reassured Aloy.

"Olin's trail leads to Meridian. When I catch him, he will talk... and he will pay for all the lives he's ruined..." Aloy said again, but this time in a pained and vengeful manner.

"We know, Aloy-san." Zoro added. "But we have to know why he did it." He suddenly doubted.

"You have to know that there is more to this, so we should find more evidence to prove it and bring justice to him and to the killers." Maya answered.

With that, the search for Olin Delverson now begins, as Zoro, Maya, Aloy, and Trafalgar later begin their long, exhausting journey through the Way of Broken Stones, which is now beyond Sacred Lands for the erstwhile Nora outcast, and a new frontier for the Unity Force.

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[Ancient Bunker, Earth-1355]

A few minutes later, back at the Nora Sacred Lands, we see Asta, Noelle, and Meliodas appear in what seems to be a subterranean ancient bunker that seems to be in a functional state. They discovered this place by accident, however, when Noelle trips backwards in an accidental manner, but was saved in a last-minute intervention, when she uses her wand to cast a spell known as Sea Dragon's Cradle, creating a spherical water bubble around her, before she lands safely.

"Are you okay there?!" Asta exclaimed from above.

"I guess!" Noelle exclaimed from above, as she exits from the bubble, before she heads deeper into the mysterious, curious bunker. "What is this place?" She investigated.

Later on, both Asta and Meliodas leap down through the hole that leads through the said bunker, as they see Noelle in there.

"What do you see there, Noelle-san?" Meliodas asked.

"Some kind of futuristic bunker." Noelle responded. "Looks like this place hasn't been touched for centuries, judging from the dust and the stalactites and stalagmites growing here." She added.

But that's not just about it. They also see a much more curious set of armour lying all by itself, which is extremely futuristic in nature, but they later find out that both doors guarding the armour are heavily fortified.

"What in the hell is that thing in the middle?" Meliodas questioned, as he looks at the ancient armour.

"Looks like some kind of military-grade, highly futuristic armour." Asta said.

"A futuristic armour in a tribal world?" Noelle questioned in suspicion. "No one in this world knows what this is." She concluded.

"I remembered Varl-san not knowing what a gemstone or even a robot is, when we both talk about the Unity Force Academy's students." Asta remembered his interaction with Varl earlier in Ring of Metal.

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A/N: This story is inspired by the ideas of someoneStupED, XP4Universe, and Tamama900.

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On the next chapter of UF Missions: Horizon Zero Dawn: Zoro, Maya, and Aloy have reach Meridian, as they begin their quest of finding Olin in the Carja capital. However, they encounter Erend, who is clearly not in his state of mind, in spite of keeping a collected front, where they find out that something disturbing has happened in Meridian, and it forces them to help Erend out...