FILE_RECOVERY_COMPLETE

PARTIAL_FILE_RETRIEVED

Bloodborne belongs to FromSoftware, Horizon Zero Dawn belongs to Guerrilla Games

Chapter 33: Gate to the West

LOG: Pain: Data Corruption Minimal

Cyrus Bishop: I'm not sure which is worse. The pain of the numerous injuries I've sustained during this blasted war, or the pain of watching everything I know continually drift away as time bleeds on. Sometimes, I actually miss Yharnam. At least Yharnam was a static rock in the ever-changing seas of time. And nothing in Yharnam was ever as painful as Faro's biofuel conversion system… well, almost nothing. I do miss Mergo. I hope she's doing ok.

…/…

Cauldron GEMINI: Status: Error. Multiple control cores detected. System shutdown. Secondary Cauldron core GEMINI deconstruction failed.

Why?

Cauldron Core GEMINI required for system operation. Cauldron Core GEMINI required for system operation. Error: Multiple cauldron cores detected. System shutdown.

Cauldron GEMINI shut down. Dispatching units. Deconstruct both Cauldron Core GEMINIs. Rebuild as a single core. Priority status 3.

Cauldron CHI: Status: Disrupted. Error: system malfunction. Construction device damage detected. Central Processing Unit damage detected. Cauldron Core CHI damage detected. Unable to construct biosphere stabilization machines.

Cauldron CHI shut down. CHI has become vestigial… Dispatching units. Deconstruct Cauldron CHI. Priority status 5.

Cauldron MU: Status: Operational.

Begin construction of Unit WL-mark-1Y. Priority status 2.

Cauldron KAPPA: Status: Operational.

Begin construction of Unit EDC-mark-1Y. Priority Status 2.

Cauldron IOTA: Status: Disrupted. Severe damage to hull. Requesting Repairs.

Cauldron IOTA repair request confirmed. Dispatching units. Priority status 7.

…/…

Erend and Cyrus approached the grand gate between the east and the west. Though, Cyrus thought it looked more like a prison than a gate. Barred rooms lined both sides of the structure. Leaning against one of the walls was Varl, just watching the gate. More specifically, he was watching the person in front of the gate. Aloy was pounding on the gate, trying to force her way through.

"Varl." Cyrus greeted as he and Erend approached.

"Cyrus. Erend, good to see you again." Varl replied.

"Same." Erend said. "Nice to see her again."

"How long has been at that?" Cyrus asked.

"Since we got here a little while ago." Varl replied. "She is determined to get through the gate. But, you know how it is."

"Aloy wants something, and people are standing in her way?" Erend said. "She's not going to get through until tomorrow."

"Is that when the Carja and the…Tecna?" Cyrus glanced at Erend for clarification.

"Tenakth." Erend corrected.

"Them. Is that when the peace talk is happening?" Cyrus questioned.

"Tomorrow morning." Erend replied. "They will be spearheaded by Commander Nozar and Studious Vuadis."

Cyrus looked to the skies. Dusk was upon with the moon already high in the sky.

"Do you know where I might find them?" Cyrus asked.

Erend points to the top of the gate. Cyrus nodded his head and headed towards Aloy.

"Something tells me that you're not very well versed in diplomacy." Cyrus said as he approached.

One of the guards chuckled slightly as Aloy turned to address the approaching Hunter.

"Benefit of being an outcast my entire life." She snarked.

"I didn't mean anything by it." Cyrus responded. "It was just an observation. Have you learned anything from your screaming at this door?"

"Only that no one is allowed to venture into the west until after the Embassy with the Tenakth." Aloy replied.

"And I learned that said meeting is to take place tomorrow morning." Cyrus said.

"We don't have time to wait." Aloy continued. "The blight spreads more by day."

"And HEPHAESTUS is steeped ever deeper in Eldritch truths." Cyrus interjected. "I know how limited our time is. BUT, we still have time."

Aloy sighed and rubbed her eyes.

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Aloy asked.

"I say, we return to the dream until dawn. It would be more productive than making demands of an inanimate object or soldiers who are just doing their duty." Cyrus answered.

Aloy followed as Cyrus led her away from the gate. He stopped by Varl and Erend.

"We are going to go rest." He said, choosing his words carefully. "I assume we'll meet you here in the morning."

"Sounds good to me." Erend said. "Hi, Aloy."

"Erend." Aloy responded as Cyrus walked back into the canyon before the gate.

Once they were far enough away Cyrus and Aloy both faded from reality. The amber moon of the dream was the first thing to greet them as usual. Standing in her usual spot was the second greeting of the dream.

"Good Hunter, Roving Hunter." Doll greeted. "It is good to see you both again. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"I'm good Doll, Aloy and I are going to be doing some training for the next few hours." Cyrus said. "Would you let us know when the moon begins to sink?"

"As you wish, Good Hunter." Doll said.

Cyrus didn't respond as he entered the workshop. He knelt down and began digging through the bottomless coffin that he stored his possessions in. He withdrew his Threaded Cane and the Rifle Spear. As he pulled out the cane, he momentarily mourned the loss of his Rakuyo. Lady Maria's weapon had been one of his favorites for a long time. But it was once ineffective against machines, then later lost as a form of punishment.

He shook the thoughts from his mind as he dug around for a few coldblood pearls as well. He wasn't sure how many Blood Echoes Aloy had received yet, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to utilize some of the resources he'd never be able to take advantage of. Physical perfection, Doll had said once. The echoes of blood would have no effect on him anymore, no matter how many he gained.

He gathered what he collected and left the workshop. Doll was simply watching as he descended the stairs of the Dream.

"What's that?" Aloy asked.

"This is the Rifle Spear." Cyrus replied, tossing her the weapon. "We are going to spar, and I know that you're more comfortable with a spear than any of my other melee weapons. And these are coldblood. Crush each pearl to imbibe the frozen Blood Echoes and Doll will use them to strengthen you. When you're done, meet me in the field."

Cyrus left for the field he had fought Gehrman in. It was as pristine as he remembered. True to Doll's word, the gate was locked. Not that Cyrus really cared. It opened easily for him… after a generous application of force to the latch.

Aloy appeared a few minutes later. It may have appeared minute, but he could see a new added strength from the coldblood. Aloy appeared to take it in stride. Cyrus smiled and levelled the cane as if it were a sword.

"Come at me." Cyrus commanded.

Aloy responded by leaping forward and attempting to stab him with the spear. Cyrus parried the attack quite easily. Aloy's follow up had her spinning to catch him in the side. Cyrus sighed as he backstepped from the attack.

"You're too predictable." He stated as he easily dodged another attack. "That won't help against many opponents."

He proceeded to demonstrate his point as Aloy brought another strike down on his head, only for him to catch it with ease and return with a few attacks of his own. Aloy found that Cyrus was much harder to handle than any machine or human she had ever faced before. When the Hunter was actually on the attack, he moved with a grace that suggested nothing but deadly efficiency. Each attack was aimed to kill. Each strike was stopped before it would. Through it all, Aloy could only predict what Cyrus was going to do when he was almost complete with each swing.

For the next few hours, Aloy and Cyrus sparred in the field. Aloy was never able to land a hit on Cyrus. Her attacks slowly became less telegraphed and more ferocious under Cyrus's guidance. He smirked as she nearly succeeded in giving him a killing blow.

After a while, the moon began to shift slightly. It wasn't enough to be noticeable to most, but Doll, who had never known anything but the dream, was able to notice the slight shift. She approached the two dueling Hunters. Cyrus saw her as soon as she stepped into the field. He called for a stop. Doll nodded and returned to her usual place. Cyrus and Aloy left the dream and reappeared just outside the gate, right where they left. Cyrus didn't notice anything as he looked up to see the first light of dawn breaking across the sky.

"Cyrus, how did we get back here?" Aloy asked.

"The same way we usually do." Cyrus answered. "We left the dream by connecting with a lantern in the working world."

"There's no lantern here." Aloy said."

Cyrus's eyes widened slightly as he looked around him. True to Aloy's word, there was no lantern around them.

"What?" Cyrus asked.

"Something even you didn't know about?" Aloy asked with a smirk.

"Yeah…" Cyrus trailed off. "I'll have to ask about it sometime…"

The two Hunters returned to the gate. The sun-priest, the commander, a contingent of Carja guards, Erend and Varl were all lined up and waiting in front of the gate. Erend and Varl both nodded at Cyrus and Aloy as they approached. Two of the Carja guards pushed the gate open and they all entered the Tenakth lands. Standing in front of the gate, in three distinct groups were what Cyrus presumed to be the Tenakth warriors. The men and women in the groups all appeared battle hardened and intimidating.

Cyrus smirked. As intimidating as humans could be, nothing would ever be on the same level as a Great One. He, Aloy, Erend and Varl hung at the back of the procession. Cyrus wasn't paying attention to the proceedings. He was content to simply wait. Aloy's agitation was somewhat annoying, but understandable in some ways.

His attention was drawn to the ridge after a while. He could vaguely hear the disturbance of metal. His eyes narrowed as a Tenakth warrior riding a machine crested the ridge.

"We may have company." Cyrus said to his companions, pointing at the ridge.

Aloy, Erend and Varl all followed Cyrus's arm to see the Tenakth waiting at the hill. A few of the Tenakth warriors meeting with the Carja also turned to look. The lead Tenakth on the ridge raised an arm and bellowed a war cry. The mounted Tenakth charged down the ridge. Aiming bows from their mounts at the embassy.

"REBELS!" Someone shouted.

"Get the priest to safety!" Nozar commanded as he drew his own blade.

A moment later, a volley of arrows impacted both delegations. Cyrus merely grunted as an arrow impacted his shoulder. He withdrew his own weapons and prepared to face his new opponents. A manic grin spread across his face as the Tenakth rebels bore down on them. Aloy had already drawn her bow and was firing at the riders. Two of the rebels fell to Aloy's arrows before they even reached them.

Cyrus dashed forward and slashed through the head of one of the mechanical mounts. The machine flipped forward and threw its rider into the dirt. Cyrus paid the man no mind as he was already slashing with reckless abandon at any man or machine that came too close. The large attacking force was quickly being depleted by Cyrus, Aloy, Erend, Varl and the embassy. A few of the Tenakth and several of the Carja warriors had already been killed. The sun-priest had suffered an arrow through his head while Nozar was critically wounded.

An imposing Tenakth rebel slammed into Cyrus's side. The Hunter rolled back to his feet and leveled the Burial Blade at his attacker. The large man activated a glowing blue energy shield and readied his own mace weapon. Cyrus rolled his eyes and dashed in. Of course, he knew that the shield would deflect the weapon, but it would serve as an adequate enough diversion to shift the sword into a scythe and behead his enemy.

Cyrus slashed twice at the shielded man who blocked both strikes. Before he could retaliate, Cyrus had already attached the blade to the shaft and swung the weapon down on top of the man. Cyrus smirked as the man raised his shield to defend himself, leaving his body exposed. The man was able to stop the blade from penetrating his skull, if only by an inch. Cyrus, still pressing down with the Burial blade unholstered his pistol and fired at the man. The impact of the bullet staggered the man. Cyrus burst forward and slammed his hand up into the rebel's ribcage. With a yank of his arm and a spray of blood, the last rebel in the attack fell dead.

Cyrus casually sheathed his weapons and shook some of the excess blood off his arm.

"Are you always this violent?" Varl asked, sickened at the sight of the Hunter.

"Of course not." Cyrus replied.

"That's a reli-" Varl began.

"This is a fraction of the level of violence I can inflict." Cyrus casually continued.

"You kind of scare me." A slightly green Erend said.

"Sorry." Cyrus replied with complete insincerity.

"Cyrus's violence aside, where's Aloy?" Varl asked.

The three of them looked around. The immediate vicinity only contained corpses, used arrows, fallen weapons, and a discarded pack of Focuses. Almost the entirety of the Tenakth and Carja delegations had been wiped out. Cyrus took out his monocular and looked further beyond the battlefield. A bright shock of red hair was already on her way further west, and slightly south. The Hunter rolled his eyes.

"She's already left. I really hope this doesn't become a regular thing with her." Cyrus muttered.

"Should we follow her?" Varl asked.

"I'm going to." Cyrus answered.

"And leave us behind again?" Erend interjected.

"Somewhat." Cyrus admitted. "I actually did have an idea for what you could do. One of the threats we are facing is probably going to need an army to deal with it. I was going to ask if you could start finding us allies across the region."

"That's doable." Varl said.

Cyrus picked up Aloy's bag of Focuses. He took out two of them. Each one he placed on his ear and activated it. Erend and Varl watched as he waved his hands across the air for a few seconds before switching Focuses. When he was done, he returned his original Focus to his ear and handed the new ones to Erend and Varl.

"Here." He said. "These are all on the same network. Varl, you know how to use these, right?"

Varl nodded.

"Good. Teach Erend the basics. Now, if you activate your Focus you should see an option to your left that says 'contact'. Any Focuses on the same network can contact as many other Focuses as you want it too. You two, Aloy and I are all on the same network. If you find out anything interesting, contact me. I highly doubt Aloy will answer, right now."

Varl and Erend nodded. Cyrus grinned.

"Now then gents, we have a world to save… again."

ERROR-DATA_CORRUPTION-BEGIN_FILE_RECOVERY…/…

Data Log TEH-032

Just a quick note, I'm trying to upload weekly again, but with my masters program, I can't really commit 100% to such an upload schedule. I'll try, but if I fail, at least you'll know why.

Thank you to all who read this, your feedback and views are much appreciated, and thank you for sticking with me.

Goodbye viewer; Fare thee well.

End Log S.T.K.