CHAPTER 4: TRUTH
Aloy was rubbing her head at this point. The headache had become unbearable for a moment as she was forced to carry the limp body of a certain blonde back to the makeshift clinic they had prepared. It was clear that the Old One was still weak and being bed ridden was not helping either.
"How is she?" Beta closed in on Aloy with a steaming cup of tea prepared by Zo.
"Good enough." Aloy smiled as the scent from the tea invaded her nostrils.
"We both knew it was going to be difficult explaining the situation." Beta took a seat next to Aloy.
They were the only ones currently stationed at the base. Zo had left as soon as Amelia was back on her bed. Someone had to replenish the food supplies of the base and Aloy was the only strong enough member who could carry Amelia without struggling. The silence permeated both sisters as Aloy sipped calmly from her cup.
"We need to keep trying and get her to understand." Beta broke the silence causing Aloy to sigh. The fatigue making itself noticeable yet again.
"I am aware." Aloy turned to look at the door locked behind them. "Being trapped inside that room like a cage must feel horrible."
"What do you suggest?"
"I'll show her the Zero Dawn recordings from Herres and Elizabeth Sobeck. I am hoping that, if familiar faces explain the situation, she will be able to understand better."
"Doesn't that mean that she will recognize you? I mean… us?"
"I think she already does." Aloy placed her empty cup back on the table. "Earlier, before she dashed to the exit, she asked if we've met before."
"Do you think that…"
"She does. She may not have known Elizabeth personally but she has clearly not been able to put the pieces together." Aloy interrupted Beta calmly as they turned to walk towards the kitchen and drop the dirty plates.
"How long till she wakes up?" Aloy asked as she readied to clean the dishes.
"Judging by the prior slips, it shouldn't be long. Perhaps 30 minutes." Beta walked to Aloy's side. "Here, let me help.
"Perhaps you should wait until tomorrow." Beta added as assisted in setting up the place on a neat pile. "I don't think it wise to reveal all that information so soon after what happened earlier today."
"I can't wait much longer Beta. We may have a copy of GAIA but…"
"Aloy, I understand, but she is also from the Old World. She may have some information that might be useful for us."
At that, Aloy decided to stop arguing. Beta had a valid point anyway. Having access to an Old One would make things easier even if they had nothing of value to share. Knowledge about how things used to function or where to locate various places was going to be of bigger value instead of blindly stumbling into anything worthy. It would take her millennia to scuttle every building for any piece of info.
"You can do this!" Beta patted her shoulder encouraging her forward.
Aloy closed her eyes once again, trying to delay the inevitable. She had fought machines, destroyed an AI that was created by humans almost a century ago. She had gone against things that defied all human knowledge of her era. Immortals? No biggie. Shit was getting weirder and weirder for her but this time, she had an Old One that meant no harm to anyone. For once, she was glad that whatever she was dealing with wasn't trying to blow up the world into smithereens.
Swoosh.
Aloy stepped into the dimly lit room. The first thing she noticed was Amelia sitting in the corner of her bed. Her legs pressed tight against her chest as she stared at the wall in front of her. Her eyes devoid of any life.
"Hello Amelia." Aloy walked slowly but surely towards the bed. "How are you today?"
"Hello" Amelia replied with a rather raspy voice. As if she had forgotten how to speak. "Ready to take me back to my world?" She glared at the redhead.
"I'm afraid we can't do that." Aloy ignored the glare and grabbed the same chair she used the last time they met.
"Then I don't wanna talk." Amelia simply turned away to look at the opposite wall. Willingly ignoring all the scraping on the floor caused by the chair and a certain redhead sitting right beside her.
Time went by. Aloy was slowly losing her temper but had decided to be patient on the pretense of hope for help in the future. Eventually, the blonde woman gave in and decided to break the rather uncomfortable silence.
"What did you want to show me?"
"A message." Aloy said a bit too enthusiastically. AHEM! "A message from General Herres."
"General? How do you know him if I am supposed to be nine hundred something years in the future?" Amelia adjusted her posture to a proper sitting position. Her eyes glaring at the redhead once again. "Were you lying to me earlier?"
"No, of course not. I just thought that if the situation is explained to you by someone you might know or be familiar you might understand better."
Aloy activated both her and Amelia's focus as they prepared to watch such an important message.
"So… Zero Dawn was a lie? There was no super weapon?" Amelia was on the verge of tears now. "Enduring Victory a meat grinder?"
Eventually, the sobs flooded the room as a tide wave of emotion engulfed the poor woman. My brothers, Uncle Dan, my family… They were all sacrificed.
However, as soon as the tears came, they vanished completely. "Wait a minute. Elizabeth Sobeck…" Amelia raised her head and stared at Aloy. Her red, puffy eyes did nothing to hid the disgust washing over her. "YOU! I recognize you now."
"Woah!" Aloy raised her hands in defense. "I am not Elizabeth Sobeck."
"Then, who are you? Because you look a whole lot like her." Amelia stood up abruptly, her eyes pointing daggers at the woman in front of her. Aloy did the same, no stranger to the feeling of murderous intent pointed at her. The blonde was much taller than her but she did not waive.
"Let me show you the second message."
"Woah." Amelia fell down on the bed. Her head was spinning like crazy.
"Are you okay?" Aloy offered her hand for support. Amelia still kinda hated her but both women did not have the energy anymore to keep fighting.
"Yes, I am okay. It's just… a lot to take in." Amelia eased herself unto the bed, seeking comfort from the pillow. "If you are not Elizabeth, then who are you?"
Sigh. "I am a clone, just like my sister." Aloy turned her face away from the Old One. "It is… complicated."
"Hmmm… I won't pry anymore."
Aloy had to stop herself for a second at the sudden agreeable attitude coming from the stranger in front of her.
"Hey, don't look at me like that." Amelia finally let out a smile. "All this…" She gestured to her surroundings. "The messages, your attire, whatever I saw outside. This is way too elaborate for it to be a lie."
"Do you trust me then?" Aloy had to suppress the grin that wanted to form on her face. Obviously glad that she was able to come around of this situation.
"Trust? No, not yet." Amelia countered. "While you have been kind and patient with me, you are still a stranger dressed in weird clothes. I would like to get to know you but I also want to get out and breathe some fresh air."
"Are you not going to run out on me?" Aloy crossed her arms and stared at the blonde who was trying hard not to fall asleep.
"Is that your condition?"
"More like request."
"Very well." Amelia smiled as she drew a cross across her chest with a huge smile. "I promise not to run away."
Aloy simply rolled her eyes and made her way out of the room.
Great! Another weirdo.