Aloy and John are walking ever east.
"So Sunfall it is then," Aloy said.
"Yes," John verified, "and even if another fellow Old One is alive down in South America, then let them live out the rest of their life wondering if another fellow Old One survived up here in North America."
"But unlike you, they'll probably develop an overwhelming desire to come up here to search for someone like you."
"Then good luck to them . . . So I guess it's another pair of machines to override."
"You betcha."
"Still hard for me to get used to."
"It was hard for me at first, but I adapted quickly."
The duo spot a pair of Broadheads. That is when Aloy ponders something aloud.
"Hey Jawn, I'm gonna see if I still need to override machines."
John hangs back and watches as Aloy sneaks through the tall grass and shrub to close in on a Broadhead. Upon getting close enough, she jumps onto its back. The Broadhead does not react and yet . . . does not react.
"So even though it's not bucking you off, it also won't obey you either," John concluded.
"Then I guess the override is still needed," Aloy said as she gets off it and takes her spear out.
She overrides the Broadhead then the other one nearby. Aloy and John get upon their respective Broadheads and head off toward the Cut. By noon, they reach Day Tower where they are forced to ditch their Broadheads in order to pass through the place. But once on the other side, Aloy locates two Striders and the duo continue on their way up to the Cut. Along the way, none of the machines they encounter display any hostility toward them.
It is heading into evening as they reach the cliff that leads up into the Cut. As expected, Aloy has to pull John back up again. After climbing up the usual places they are back into the Cut, all as a horn announces their return and the Banuk crowd around them once again.
"Chief Aloy," Aratuk marveled. "You've returned again so soon."
"Yeah, I know it's a little too soon for that, but Jawn and I need to verify something with Cyan. Something that she might help me with now that the Derangement is over."
"Indeed it is," a shaman said from nearby. "The machines have grown peaceful. Just like in that camp outside the Cut."
"It's become so dull and boring," a Banuk hunter complained. "We are no longer challenged."
"But we can hear the machine's songs more clearly now," another shaman stated.
"Who cares about machine songs when songs about the hunt are so much better!" Another hunter snapped.
This breaks out into a row of shouting and arguing between the hunters and the shamans. Aloy and John step further away from them so that they can converse with Aratak better.
"This has been going on since yesterday ever since the machines grew quiet," Aratak said.
"And it's a good thing it did because there was a new machine that was about to kill off all the humans," John said. "It was actually extremely tiny ones, but they grew so numerous that they were like a storm cloud. Think of it as a machine cloud."
"And if we didn't end the Derangement," Aloy added, "then that machine cloud would've been up here and all of you would've been devoured. You wouldn't have been able to fight this thing."
"I see," Aratak pondered. "Then I guess it was only a matter of time before the machines would have become too much of a challenge to overcome."
"There are always challenges to overcome," Aloy said. "It's just that not all of them might involve having to fight machines. Anyway, we're on our way to see Cyan."
"Ah yes, don't let me keep you two," Aratak said.
Aloy and John take that same alternate route to get to Cyan. They pass the machines of the Cut. The Fireclaws, Frostclaws, and Scorchers. As expected, none of the machines go near the duo, even with John's machine blinder turned off.
It is twilight by the time Aloy and John reach Cyan's installation. They enter the place and walk up to Cyan.
Aloy. John. You have both returned so soon.
"Hey there, Cyan," Aloy answered. "Do you know what I am carrying on my back?"
I detect that it is the same Thunderjaw brain you used to carry Apollo here in. But there is something different about the artificial intelligence you now carry within it.
"It's Hephaestus," John stated.
Hephaestus? Then that means you have successfully removed Hephaestus from the relay towers.
Aloy and John take turns explaining how they went about confronting Hephaestus, what Hephaestus had revealed to them about his next machines, and finally trying to separate him from the Cauldron and machines.
"As he was just about to successfully break free," Aloy continued, "the rest of the Subroutines seemingly appeared from out of nowhere and helped to restrain Hephaestus."
"They being Aether, Demeter, Poseidon, Artemis, and Eleuthia," John added.
The other Subroutines were in the relay system all along?
"No, they were actually still stuck in their own quantum processor units and were unable to enter the relay system because Hephaestus was able to keep them out," Aloy explained. "It seems that he was strong enough to successfully take on six Subroutines. It turned out he made a deal with Hades and allowed him in."
"But with their help," John added, "we were able to separate Hephaestus from the Cauldron and machines, then Aloy pulled him out and trapped him in that Thunderjaw brain."
"The Derangement is over, Cyan," Aloy said.
I see. But without Hephaestus, the Cauldrons will cease to function and no more machines will be built.
"We knew that was going to happen, so I took that coding that governs the Cauldrons and turned it into a feedback loop, but it won't last long," John said. "Now, either Aloy or myself could go into a relay tower and maintain that loop for a time, but that would mean having to visit the Spire in Meridian since it is the only one we know of."
That is an inconvenient way of maintaining the Cauldrons. And inevitably the both of you will die and there will not be anyone else to maintain that feedback loop, resulting in the shutdown of the Cauldrons. It seems that in order to maintain them without your input John, or Aloy's input for that matter, another artificial intelligence will be needed to oversee those Cauldrons.
"We know that," Aloy admitted, "and we asked the Subroutines if any of them were up to that task. Sadly, they declined because none of them were built for the purpose that Hephaestus was for."
"But there's you, Cyan," John said as he pointed at her.
I understand now. You want me to take over the role of overseeing the Cauldrons.
"Hephaestus did use you in the attempt to create more effective human-killers," Aloy said. "So you have an understanding of the Cauldrons."
"So what say you, Cyan?" John asked.
Again there is a moment of silence.
So be it. I will take on the role of overseeing the Cauldrons.
Aloy and John exchange relieved looks.
"Okay," John said to Cyan. "You should first reach out to the other Subroutines, especially Minerva. She will help you enter the relay station."
"It's okay, Cyan," Aloy said assuredly. "They helped us get rid of Hephaestus."
Very well. I will now reach out to contact this Minerva.
There is silence that stretches out for a few minutes longer.
"It's been quite awhile," Aloy noted.
"Yeah, usually she would've let us know by now," John agreed. "Hope nothing bad has happened to her."
I have established successful contact with the Subroutine Minerva. I would have spoken sooner, but I had to let her know about me and my intentions. And that I was aligned with the two of you.
That is when the form of Minerva appears floating above Cyan.
Hello, Aloy, John.
"Minerva," Aloy said.
"So you understand the situation now," John said.
[Minerva] Indeed I do. As do the others.
The rest of the Subroutines appear around Cyan.
"You guys," Aloy marveled.
"Then the rest of you understand too," John said.
[Eleuthia] That we do.
[Demeter] Cyan is the best artificial intelligence for the task of overseeing the Cauldrons.
"I'm glad that's sorted out, but onto more important matters now," Aloy said. "Cyan, are you ready to take control of the Cauldrons?"
I already have.
"That quickly?" John mused.
It was while I was explaining myself to the Subroutines that Minerva granted me access to the relay system where I was able to absorb that looped feedback you had created, John.
"So is everything running smoothly with the Cauldrons?" Aloy asked.
That they are.
"That's good to hear," Aloy said with satisfaction. "But since it's now night time, we'll be spending the night here and be on our way tomorrow morning."
[Cyan] Does it have something to do with what you intend to do with Hephaestus, Aloy?
"Yes, I am taking him into the Sacred Land and up to where I once lived with my mentor, Rost. There, I will bury him deep in the ground. Never, will he be a problem."
[Cyan] I find it indeed strange that you did not purge Hephaestus when he was close to accomplishing success in the extermination of your species. I don't understand, Aloy. Why would you show him pity when he was going to show your species none?
"Because in spite of all that Hephaestus had done to us over the past twenty years, and what he came close to accomplishing, it was all to protect the machines. His children as he had called them."
[Cyan] Then what of Hades? Why did you not show him pity, Aloy?
"Because Hades was designed to destroy life. Hephaestus on the other hand was designed to create machines to help the other Subroutines bring back life to Earth."
[Cyan] It is doubtful if any other human would have shown Hephaestus such mercy. John, if the decision were up to you, would you have drawn Hephaestus out or purged him?
"Purged him. Well, first I would've separated him from the Cauldrons, then I would have purged him."
[Cyan] Does that mean you do not approve of Aloy's pity toward Hephaestus?
"I'm just hoping her pity doesn't come back to bite the entire human race in our collective ass. Oh, and while we're on the subject of Hades, it turns out he wasn't purged after all."
[Cyan] Hades was not purged? Explain.
"It seems that there were eyewitnesses who saw a red ball of light shooting up from that quantum processor unit that Hades had dragged over to the Spire, that relay tower in Meridian," Aloy answered.
"That means Hades is still out there somewhere," John answered.
"And I have a pretty good idea as to where he is."
[Cyan] I sense agitation in your tone, Aloy. So where do you believe Hades is?
"With Sylens. He was the man who helped me on my journey of discovery and helped me with what I thought was the purging of Hades. After I found the Master Override and returned to Sylens, he gave me his lance to attach that override to, claiming that I will be better able to deal with Hades. He must've had some sort of transmitter built into his lance that sent Hades to him instead, so that Sylens could imprison him in some sort of device."
[Apollo] But for what purpose would this Sylens have Hades imprisoned for?
"He probably figures he can squeeze more about the Metal World out of him," Aloy answered contemptuously.
"If that's the case, I hope he doesn't learn about me," John quipped nervously.
That is when Aloy shoots a look of concern at John.
"What?" He inquired.
"Sylens knew about me by tapping into my original focus before I ever knew about him!" As she touches the new focus that Sylens had given her.
"Then that means he probably knows about me already!"
"Or maybe not," as Aloy calms with a dismissive manner, "because there's no way someone like him could stay quiet for this long if he knows about you."
"I hope you're right, Aloy."
Early the next morning, Aloy and John are up and ready to head out. They say their goodbyes to Cyan and the other Subroutines first.
[Cyan] Where will the both of you be going after you leave?
"Me, I'll be going to Meridian," John answered. "The Sun-King Avad should be sending settlers out to reclaim Sunfall and I want to be one of them."
"And me," Aloy next said. "First, I'll deal with Hephaestus and then after that . . . I'll just search the rest of the lands out there for more Metal World ruins."
"Hey, Aloy, I got an idea. Go search for that cyro facility I was in. It's to the west but north. Head into the Claim and ask about the Harguess, about a town called High Hopes. Once you find it, search for a Tallneck, it should be located somewhere between High Hopes and the cryo facility. Tap into that and everything else should fall into place."
"Yes, I'll do just that," Aloy said eagerly.
They turn to Cyan and the others.
"Well, we'll be heading out now," Aloy said. "Goodbye all."
Cyan and the rest of the Subroutines bid their goodbyes and the duo head out, returning down the route they came.
"All's well that ends well," John said. "Well sort of that is." As he stares at Aloy's backpack for a moment.
"All right, Jawn, what's the problem?" Aloy sighed as she stops, prompting John to stop a step later.
"The problem," he began as he turns to face her, "is what's on your back. Look, the only reason you spared Hephaestus was that he thought of the machines as his children. But need I remind you of the piles of clothes we found back in Sunfall? Hell, you even examined a pile. There were children's clothes as well. Did Hephaestus care about those children . . . ? And even though you'll no doubt take every precaution to insure that Hephaestus never troubles us again, just keep this in mind: never again will he be able to have contact with anything else. He's adrift in a void, all alone. Forever. It would've been more merciful if you had just purged him instead."
Aloy stares silently at John. Her expression is one of thinking.
"I guess," she began sheepishly, "this is more complicated that I expected."
"That's the problem. It usually is."
The duo reach Song's Edge.
"So we're leaving the Cut now?" John asked.
"Not yet," Aloy answered. "There are two more people here that I wish to seek out and see how they're doing. And I believe you're going to be very interested in meeting them."
"So who are they?"
"A girl named Laulai who uses a place from your world to make music that she calls the Deep Din, and a shaman named Enjuk who is at the ruins of a building that displays animals that you might be familiar with."
"Really? You're right then, I'm very interested in meeting them."