Chapter 26: A Canyon of Cries
Once Dimos led 6H out to the edges of the canyon. He began explaining his routine and why he scouted there to begin with.
Effectively, both camps are aware of the others locations. However, there seemed to be a mutual understanding between the two that any significant aggressive action could spark a conflict neither were prepared for, putting them into a fateaguing stalemate. Outside of their camps, however, neither took responsibility for their own, or the others actions. Leading to a "wild west" scenario for the rest of the island.
"That's certainly one way to handle the situation…" 6H mumbled to herself.
"Trust me, no one is satisfied with it," Dimos said, equally annoyed at his own explanation, "But it's better than all of our citizens living on edge at all times."
"Does that mean you have the power to defeat Gestalt?" 6H sat down on a nearby rock as they got situated on the ridge.
"We don't know. That's the kicker." Dimos rubbed his chin, "Currently, were both living in fear of being equally matched, resulting in nothing but equal bloodshed once the dust is settled. We probably have the numbers, but they likely make up for that in raw strength."
6H frowned, thinking back to how Gestalt and their followers behaved, "Does that mean Gestalt is smarter than they appear? Someone over there has to understand the stalemate and prevent them from bargaining into town."
Dimos shrugged, "Good point. But all accounts of interacting with the 'God of Myth' typically describe a mindless husk running on nothing but pure instinct. Now, whether that's true or not," he leaned out, looking at the opposite ridge, "Who knows…"
The canyon itself was as static and empty as ever. Both opposing ridges faced one another, with the sunlight beaming down onto them. Dimos had decided that they should stick close to the entrance, in case of needing an emergency exit.
The salty Island winds breezed past 6H and down into the middle lane of the canyon. It was more frigid than she remembered. None of it even shifted the stones on the ground.
This is where either an operator or Pod, if prompted, would note how the speed, direction and temperature of the winds were caused by the atmospheric pressure, elevation differences between the ridges, as well as the depth of the canyon itself.
She looked around. Barring Dimos' presence and the whistling winds, this was perhaps the first time 6H was truly alone with her own thoughts. She didn't know how to think.
"So, this is it?" 6H said in a whisper.
"Just about. It's awfully peaceful at its best. Unnerving at worst." Dimos perked up as a sound to the north caught his attention.
"Behind this stone, quick!" he hurriedly shoved 6H and himself behind the stone they were perched upon, letting the sound pass them.
6H leered over to see a small group of feral androids running through the canyon. They seemed more decrepit than last they saw them.
It was a grotesque and familiar sight.
"That happens on occasion." Dimos said, tracking the herd as they exited to the south side of the canyon.
"Just what are they?" 6H mused in frustration.
"Some believe it's the God of Myth's doing. I think it could also be from the forest. But no one knows for sure."
"I'd hate to see what created those things…"
…
More silence.
The feral androids' rampant stomping was muffled by a large gust of winds that pointed downwards towards the center of the canyon.
6Hs hood flipped over her head due their strength. Damn- she pulled the hood down, Strong winds today.
The silence was beginning to grate on 6H. It wasn't usual. Not to her. The only times she experienced quiet like this was during some less than savory moments.
She didn't like to remember those. Almost around the clock, when she wasn't called in to a routine checkup or repairs for a fellow android, she laid in her room. Alone.
She didn't used to. It wasn't until…
"Say," 6H broke the deafening silence, trying to hide the quiver in her voice by clearing her throat, "You and Senalda seemed to be having an argument. Is… Everything alright?"
Dimos glanced at 6H. He seemed unsure. Unsure of what, she didn't know. He sighed.
"It's… Complicated." he said. "My sister is a complicated person." he reiterated. It almost sounded like he was trying to remind himself. "I just often forget how much she's changed over the years. It makes me feel…"
"Complicated?" 6H finished his thought.
"Yeah." Dimos rubbed his chin with his oversized mechanical fingers.
"You mentioned before that she went to the forest and then some changes happened… If you can say, what exactly were they?"
Dimos took another deep breath. He didn't seem comfortable with remembering. But, almost as if an excuse to forget all about it, he began his recollection.
"We had recently taken over the shop. Our jobs were simple then. Find new inventory and expand." Dimos kicked a rock. "Me and my big mouth suggested finding rare edible vegetation in the forest. I intended on going myself, but…" he looked down at his hands. "I had an accident during on of my side jobs. I was out of commission for a while."
"But Senalda…" he hesitated, "She went by another name then. She decided to go in my stead." he shook his head, "I have no idea what happened to her. But she didn't return for days. A regular scout left and came back with her unresponsive. Just like everyone else who went to the forest."
"But that's when something strange happened. Something no one expected. Unlike everyone else. She woke up." Dimos rubbed his face. "I won't forget one of the first real conversations we had since that. She told me plainly that she wanted to be true to herself from then on. Deciding on a new name, new appearance, the works."
6H screwed her face as she heard more of the story. It was very strange to her. She didn't understand. Not fully. "So, what?" she questioned, "She got a new lease on life and wanted to start fresh?"
"Something like that. Even now, she couldn't tell you what she saw. Best she could describe is that something about her died in the forest. But with it came a confidence she'd never known before."
"Not everyone understood her situation. But I protected her dammit. She's my only family. I'm not going to let anyone tell me otherwise."
6H frowned. She understood that much.
"Her attitude today is about… Well… She wants to go back. To the forest. To discover what exactly she lost that day."
"Does she expect to get it back somehow?"
"No." Dimos scratched his chin, "She said herself that it died. I think she accepts that. But just wants answers." he clenched his hands into fists, "But I won't let her! I almost lost her once, I can't do it again!"
6H tapped her chin with her index finger, "She's frustrated at those missing memories… I think I see."
"Yeah. You understand the problem." Dimos sighed, "I don't want to lose her, but I don't want this to haunt her forever."
"Maybe…" an idea hit 6H. It was a dumb one, probably. But she said it anyway, without a second thought, "Maybe Thea and I could escorts the two of you?"
Dimos turned to 6H,wide eyed, "I couldn't possibly ask you to-"
"Nonsense!" 6H waved a hand, "You both have done so much for us already!"
Dimos smiled sadly, contemplating the offer. It was clear he wasn't convinced, if not at least flattered by it.
As time continued to pass, the pair found themselves with little to nothing to do, as the canyon was as still and quiet as when they first arrived, barring the brief scare from the feral android.
Dimos stood, stretching and flexing his limbs, "I think that'll do for today." he looked down to 6H, "So? What did you think?"
"It's was both calming and unnerving." 6H said, tapping her chin with her index finger, "I couldn't help but feel on edge the longer we were out here."
"I know that feeling. Trust me, once you've been out here long enough, you just get bored instead."
"You don't say-?" 6H was interrupted by a strange sound coming from the other side of the canyon. The ground began to rumble slightly.
Dimos pushed her behind the rock once again, "Hide- hide!"
The pair hid as a desheviled android was thrown from the opposite side of the canyon out of the path leading to the cannibal camp.
His limbs were much like his compatriots. Uneven and unnatural. However, his body was peppered with perfectly circular seeping puncture wounds. As if he was being stabbed repeatedly.
He shakily tried to stand and make his way to their side of the canyon, away from whatever had thrown him.
Just then, with almost the entire camp following, Gestalt emerged from the path, their form shifting faster than usual. It seems they were angry.
The attitude of the crowd behind them was mixed. Some seemed excited to see such a display of authority. Others, like Heaps, looked mortified at the brutal display.
The android weakly tried to scurry up the cliff, only to slide right back down. Gestalt grew in size as its form swarmed like a hive of angry insects. It's limbs wormed and congealed as they knelt down, looming over the android.
6H could hear the android's screams as Gestalts form jerked around, spear like shapes protruding from their form and attacking him.
After a while the screams stopped. But Gestalt didn't. She could hear the shock and snaps of android circuitry as the onslaught continued. With little else to do, she curled tight, closing her eyes and covering her ears as best as she could.
Eventually, the attacks slowed. Gestalt appeared to keel over, pouring something on the corpse.
They turned around and began to return to their camp. The remaining androids knelt in reverence and terror at their benevolent master. Their great God of Myth.
As Gestalt climbed up the opposite ridge, Dimos reached over and tapped 6H. If they wanted to safe make a break for it, now would be the time. The cannibals liked to linger after the fact and chat, he had more than once sat in on their conversations. He didn't want to subject 6H to that.
She wasn't responding, however. Looking over she seemed to be in shock. He shook her. She squeaked far louder than he would have liked. He pressed an over-sized finger over her mouth and made a "Shush" guesture with his free hand.
The canyon went quiet. Dimos couldn't check, but he suspected that all eyes were probably aimed in their direction.
Shit he mouthed silently.
With a loud and sudden CRASH the rock the were hiding behind split. The same spike stabbed 6H from behind. She recoiled in surprise, letting out a deep gasp.
The tendril receeded, pulling 6H with it. Dimos vaulted over their now broken hiding spot, "No-!"
Another tendril swatted Dimos across the face, knocking him aside.
A few cannibals immediately began to charge to the other side. Gestalt let out a roar before too many left their side.
The spike impailing 6H shifted and melted into a simple restraint, wrapping around her torso. She was held up to the figure's… Face? There was no clear indication of what she was looking at. All that was clear was that it was humanoid-esque and could apparently change its size.
Suddenly, 6H felt a heat from her satchel and a voice fromn her head. WORTHY… PROXY… There was no distinctive feature about the voice. It simply was. Almost like it had everything a voice could have, but being so desperately muted to the point where it was like a mist. An echo of something vaugly resembling human. None of it made sense.
Dimos' screams of pain snapped her out of her confused trance.
Gestalt slammed a limb to the ground. The cannibals stopped, turning to their god. With one last roar, Gestalt once again turned to leave. The cannibals leaving Dimos with what he had left. She couldn't see how damaged he was. Or if he was alive. Everything was happening so fast, she had no idea where to even begin processing her situation.
…
6H was harshly thrown to the ground. Her head was already swimming as it was. She pulled herself up to get a good look at her surroundings. Metal sheeted tents were strewn all around her. With a single dirt path from where they came from leading out of the camp.
She clutched the wound in her torso as the now normally sized God of Myth, leading the cannibals, caught up to her. Other androids emerged from the tents, curious of the commotion.
"What do you want with me?" she called out, more frustrated than anything.
All of the androids knelt down as Gestalt approached the center of the camp.
Even as she stood tall, they looked down at her. Their constantly shifting form was unnerving to the eyes. She couldn't discern the emotion they were emitting. What might have been anger could just as easily be seen as fear.
"What do you want?" 6H said, a surprising amount of confidence in her voice.
Gestalt seemed to shift its form subtly in response, questioning the question itself. It didn't look like it understood.
A familiar heat eminated from her satchel as another voice reverberated, JOIN… SUMBIT…
6H softened her posture as she tried to look at the creature closely. She stepped forward, almost seeing something through the ethereal form.
Suprisingly, Gestalt stepped back.
Not quite having noticed this, 6H absent mindedly continued to step forward.
To the rest of the camp, it looked like their god was afraid of a small android. They muttered amongst one another as the scene continued.
Finally fed up, Gestalt extended their arm into 6H, piercing her body, and pinning her to the large tent that stood the closest to the center of camp.
6H struggled to maintain her breathing as she could feel the armature shift and pierce parts of her torso. Like thousands of pins were being inserted and receded in rapid succession.
Gestalt approached once more. It almost seemed to be growling.
"I pity you," 6H struggled to say, a crimson liquid forming at either ends of her mouth, "You're just a predator that can only devour and destroy."
She chuckled to herself, "I suppose I've known YoRHa androids like that… But you don't have a choice, do you? You're nothing but primal instinct. I hope… That someday… You get to know… What that choice… Is like…"
6Hs eyes rolled back as she struggled to keep the remainder of her breath.
To quicken the process, Gestalt, unhinged what could only be assumed to be a great maw and began to enraptured her.
As her vision fell to black, 6Hs last sensation was a yearning to see Thea again… But also that strange heat coming from her satchel that only began to grow hotter…