AN: Oh, look! It's 4am. And just like that, we're back. :)

As a general note to people here I talk to regularly, thank you so much for allowing me to gush about this still. This story has become a pretty important part of my life and routine, and I appreciate the support. As long as it's not annoying for you, I'll keep writing. :)

"Wait for me. I'll take one down and you'll get the other."

I huffed. "What do you mean 'get the other'? I'm not exactly an expert at beating up armed guards."

Sylens didn't find my sarcasm amusing and remained stern. "You'll do what you have to or we'll both be stuck here indefinitely." He nodded to my arm. "You've obviously been in situations that require using that so I suggest you figure something out quickly." He stood by the door and bent down just enough to listen to what was happening outside. "They're coming. Stand a few steps behind me and be ready."

I complied, still suspicious of this guy and what his (lack of) plans were for us to get out. Still, he had helped Aloy despite his weird attitude and less than favorable history so I figured I could trust him for now.

We hovered by the door – Sylens just a few steps away from the doorway – as the sound of footsteps grew louder and louder. The door slid open, revealing two guards, just as Sylens had predicted. One of them held two trays of food, while the other held his gun.

"We don't have all d-," the first barely got out before Sylens lunged at him and took him down so fast the other guard was taken by surprise. I took his pause as opportunity. Oh shit, what the fuck am I doing? Trying not to think too much, I ran forward and pulled my left arm back before delivering a harsh blow to the guy's face. It was just for a split-second, but I swore I could feel his cheekbone give in. He was out before he hit the floor.

"Shit!" I gasped, covering my mouth as I stared down at the poor guard.

But Sylens just glanced at the unconscious man and then at me, mildly impressed. "Interesting." He poked his head out of the room to check if anyone was coming and then looked back at me. "Get them in here and let's go."

After dragging the fallen guards into the cell, we shut the door and began to head down the corridor.

"Do you even know where we're going?" I demanded.

"My word, we just met and you complain more than she ever did! Lower your voice!"

I sighed and looked around, nervous as all hell that someone would see us. But there was no one, not even a guard in the corridor that we seemed to be aimlessly wandering down. "Where is everyone?"

"Shift change. There's a brief period where this area is unguarded. Contrary to your belief, they do not in fact have an army here. Most of these people are scientists."

I frowned. "And how would you know that?"

"Before I was a prisoner here I was a guest," Sylens said. "Your people needed something from me and I acquired it for them for a price. After they had what they wanted they betrayed me and held me hostage, just in case they needed more information." He shrugged. "I spent a great deal of time here before it was rebuilt. I had a feeling this might happen and so I made sure to take note of the place as much as I could before they locked me up."

"These asswipes are not my people," I argued.

Sylens raised an eyebrow. "Aren't they? You're an Old One are you not? Kept alive through destruction and time by cryogenics?"

"Well, yeah, but we're not just one big group. I don't even know these people and-,"

Sylens grabbed me and pulled me back against the wall facing away from the hallway, effectively hiding us from sight. Two guards walked past us.

"They never came back from meal drop-off. Found them in the cell."

"And the girl?"

"Gone. Her and that weird guy. Langley's got a facial fracture. You should see it – it's pretty crazy." Their voices faded and became unintelligible as they walked away.

Sylens released me. "That was close." He inspected the path ahead. "Let's go. We're out of time if they already found those men."

"How did you know about the cryogenics?" I asked as we began walking again. I felt a little guilty about breaking that guy's face, but I tried to focus on getting more information from Sylens.

His tone was cold. "Your mannerisms, your clothing, your strange choice of words – they're just like that Dr. Branwell and the rest of his cohorts. I assume you came from the same place they did?"

"No," I said. "My dad-my family had a cryochamber under our home. I woke up a year ago. I didn't even know about these…these people until now."

Now he seemed interested. "And you know Aloy? How?"

I scoffed. "Oh, I see. I have to tell you everything about me but you won't say shit?" I nodded ahead. "How far are we to an exit? Is there even an exit?"

He chuckled, weirding me out even more (if that was even possible). "There is. Shame. I would have liked to have seen that man beg for his life."

"Who?"

"Branwell. No one double crosses me," he stated.

I smirked. "From what Aloy told me, apparently people have. And AIs."

Sylens shot me a dirty look. "Despite what you may have been told, you don't know me, so I'll ask you stop bothering me about my past and focus on what we're doing here and now."

"Whatever," I muttered. This guy was really starting to get on my nerves.

"Up ahead there should be an opening…like a door in the floor. I believe it leads to a system of tunnels under this structure. The tunnels should lead to the outside."

I strained my eyes to find the door. Nothing. "I don't see it," I said as we approached the area he'd spoken of.

"Try using your Focus." He then muttered something about "having to teach an Old One how to use their own technology".

Annoyed, I activated my Focus and allowed it to scan the space directly ahead. Sure enough, it picked up a ventilation grate in the floor. "Got it. There's a vent here." I noticed the date the Focus had recorded and stopped breathing for a second.

That can't be right.

"What is it?" Sylens asked.

"The-the date, it's…I've been here nearly a month!" Where was Aloy? Was she okay? Was she safe? Had she tried to come back for me during that time? What kind of simulation was that thing where I could be in it a full month without knowing? I tried to control my breathing and my thoughts. Focus on getting out of here. Then you can find Aloy…and answers.

"We don't have time for this. We need to get through that door and into the tunnels," Sylens pressed. He seemed nervous now, which only made me more nervous.

"All right, all right." I found the vent and was able to lift it from the floor easily enough. As I set the grate aside, I noticed Sylens staring at me with interest again. "What?"

He nodded. "You're unnaturally strong and I'm curious as to why."

We don't have time for this. I held up my left arm. "Rebuilt by GAIA. Leg and back, too. There. Can we go, now?"

He didn't seem too emotionally affected – just continued to stare at me like I was a museum exhibit or something. "How?"

I shook my head and began to climb into the ventilation shaft, where fortunately Sylens had been right and they did lead down to some kind of service tunnel. "Got blown up. Any other questions?"

He kept staring for a few seconds. So fucking weird. "Hmm. No. Let's keep going."

As we dropped into the tunnels, I couldn't help but state the obvious. "I'm going to come back and when I do, Clone Bitch and Mad Scientist Guy are going down."

"They are definitely a danger, considering the weapon they now have at their disposal."

I froze. No. "W-what weapon?"

Another chuckle. "I think you know."

Fuck. I slowly turned to face him. The tunnels were completely dark save the bright blue glow emanating from both our implants. "W-what the hell did you do?"

"I made a deal with Far Zenith. They promised me the knowledge I've spent my entire adult life seeking." He tapped on his Focus. "Uploaded it directly to my Focus actually. In return, I gave them the missing piece to GAIA. This was of course, before I knew they had yet another clone of Elisabet Sobeck."

My mind was spinning. "You…you gave them HADES for…for a copy of APOLLO?"

He nodded. "I did. And I would probably do it again. The knowledge I obtained is…indescribable."

My mouth hung open as I stared at him in horror.

"We have thousands in a cryogenic facility waiting to be brought out of sleep…as soon as the world is ready for them of course."

I knew what their plan was.

"We have to get to Meridian!" I rushed. "We have to find Aloy and put the city on alert before it's too late."

Sylens tilted his head. "'We'?" He gestured to the path behind me. "Our business is concluded. I helped you escape, but you are on your own, now."

I clenched my fists. "You're a fucking traitor. I should break your face!"

"Threatening me will get us nowhere," Sylens' voice was beyond calm. Why can't I meet any normal people here? He pointed again. "Go. With luck, you'll reach Meridian with time to spare. I got here before you and if it's taken them this long to figure out their plan, perhaps there is still time."

I wanted to kick his ass. But he was right. I could beat him to a bloody pulp and he'd give me nothing. He had what he needed. And I was free.

Without any parting words, I turned away from Sylens and began to make my way out of the tunnels. He didn't follow, no doubt waiting until I was a safe distance away from him that he could wander off to wherever the fuck he was going without me knowing.

It took a bit, and I bumped my head more than once on the intricate metal cording that was wired throughout the tunnel but I eventually saw another vent that I was able to push out, revealing the outside world to me once again. The mountainside where GAIA Prime stood as well as the frigid winds and snow greeted me and I'd never been so happy to see it.

Of course, this would have been a lot more convenient if I wasn't wearing shorts and a fucking tank top. Thankfully, I still had my boots. Memories of my trek in Maker's End that nearly ended in a very cold death surfaced.

"Perfect," I grumbled with a shiver. "And no Heph to track me down this time. Great." I really need to stop talking to myself out loud. I took a deep breath and took my first step into the snowy landscape. I could see the cliff ahead that would take me down into more survivable weather. I just needed to live long enough to make it there and down that cliff. Then I could find a town somewhere and get some real clothes.

And make it to Meridian before it's too late.

More AN: I KNOW you want them back together. I do, too. :)

Thanks for reading!