Sorry this one took a while guys, just wanted to make sure this was worth uploading, I'm not sure how this chapter will turn out, open to advice, I will probably re write this chapter in the future to improve but without further delay let's get back into it.

I don't own Horizon Zero Dawn or its sequel, only my OC.

Chapter 3 Getting back up

As Aloy returned to the camp, she pondered over what has happened in just the last few hours, but decides she's needs to focus for now.

As Aloy approached the camp, she heard jamie saying something, like he was angry, as she saw Jamie trying to stand up, but he was struggling for some reason, this was just making less and less sense, Aloy didn't see any injuries on his legs or back when she found him, so what's going on then?.

As Jamie was trying to stand up, Aloy noticed the four long scars in his back, though they were healed clearly ages ago they were very clear to see, they were in very straight lines as if they were deliberately cut, same on the back of his arms and legs, there was nothing on the front of him apart from his badly cut hands, Aloy how he got those particular scars, she didn't notice them before because she was more concerned helping this person she found unconscious, bleeding and freezing. Something to ask about later.

'Uhh, Jamie...' he spun around in surprise and ended up falling over, Jamie gave a quick smile, Aloy remained serious though, her face said it all, but there was this curiosity in her eyes as well, am I really that interesting? Jamie thought to himself.

'Trying to stand up?'. Aloy asked bluntly. Jamie just gave a somewhat offended look to Aloy's blunt response to him, like she thought he was faking it, he was not in the mood for this and just wants to stand up and get moving.

'Well what does look like?.' Aloy had this unredable look on her face, her eyes reading him and his actions. 'Curious are ya?' Jamie thought to himself.

I want to stand up walk to where you found me and get my stuff'. As he tried to stand up again he almost was up only to fall over again, went to try again, then Aloy intervened.

'Alright, alright, Hold on'. Aloy got under one of his arms, after a countdown, with Aloy's assistant Jamie was finally able to stand up, the blanket falling off him, he let go of Aloy and steady himself, at last he could stand on his own feet, it was such a good feeling to stand again after what felt like forever.

Aloy was taken by his statue now that he was standing up straight, he was at least 6 foot 10, his broad shoulders and muscled figure. Jamie bent down and pick up the blanket that fell off him and put it back on himself, a resounding tear sound snapped Aloy out of her thoughts as Jamie ripped the middle of the thick blanket with brute force creating a gap wide enough to stick is head through, at least he had some covering for now. He finally turned around to see Aloy watching him with curiosity.

'ohh.. sorry just...' attempting to apologise.

'No it's... ok, better having something on you then being almost naked in the cold.' Then Aloy remembered something.

'Oh Jamie, I was having look around with my focus, and I found this Aloy where dragged yourself'. Reaching into her pocket and pulling out the silver cross necklace she found.

'Does this belong to you?'. Jamie face turned into a small smile of appreciation, with a nod Aloy handed the silver cross back to him and he hung it on his neck, after thanking Aloy he ask her.

'Aloy, I need to ask you, how did you find me?'. Aloy began to slowly pace back a fourth as she began to explain, something Aloy was just trying to think how to say it.

'Well... My focus detected a signal, something similar to another focus, I followed it until it led me to a crack in the earth o the side of a hill that adjoins the forest. Then I spotted the trail of blood and drag marks on the ground leading from it,

First time Jamie noticed Aloy's focus on the side of her head.

'I need to get back there'.

'Uhh why exactly? From the way I found you I have a feeling that where you crawled from, I couldn't have been good.'

Jamies face then gave a quiet look, suddenly unreadable, like he doesn't really know.

'Because there are supplies and things I need, weapons and some useful stuff, which way is it?'. Jamie why slowly walking to the location Aloy said it was. Aloy decided to help him, maybe there might be something there.

'Jamie hold up, I'll come with you, considering how I found you... it didn't look like where you crawled out of would have been pleasant.' Aloy said with concern, though part of her wants to explore the place.

'Sure thing Aloy'. Taking back slightly by his relaxed attitude after hearing what Aloy said they continued up the hill, following the blood trail.

'Where exactly am I'm.?' Aloy's brow rose.

'You don't know where you are?'. To Aloy's confusion.

'No I dont Aloy'.

'Ok... Where are you from Jamie?'.

'Umm... Australia, and where are you from Aloy?'. Jamie replied rather curtly and straight to the point. Aloy had this look of 'What is that he just said?', line she didn't have a clue of what he just said.

'Well I'm from the Sacred Lands which we are in, though I grew up as a outcast in a very specific part of the land, the tribe that runs it is the Nora.'

'Sacred lands?, Nora, never heard of that.'

'Well I can't say I've heard of your lands either.

Aloy was a bit suspicious, the strange names of his and accent were just weird, never heard of them though growing up as an outcast may have omitted that info.

Then suddenly Aloy heard a pack of Watchers coming by.

'Get down now!'.

'Why...'

'Just do it please.'

So he listened, and sure enough to his amazement these two legged machines walked by, what on earth are these?

After the machine passed, They both stood up out of the cover to continue up, however Jamie initially didn't move, his eyes were fixed in the direction of the machine, Aloy noticed this and got his attention and were able to keep moving. He stayed silent.

Confusion and enigma for both are just never ending now.

They were now at the entrance, though it was a crack in the earth. The blood on the ground leading into the bunker only made Jamie shiver with discomfort.

'Hey Jamie you don't need to back down there, let me know what you need from down There and I'll find them.'

'I appreciate that Aloy... but I need to get back down, in trying to remember things you know... like...'

'Uhh like what?'. Her face looked curious and yet hiding something, this feeling was telling that but he couldn't be sure yet.

'Like what happened... something like that. I can't fully put it into words I'm sorry, I just need to get down in there.' The tall young man stuttered like he lost his words, Aloy while a bit annoyed decided to be gentle with her approach.

'Alright, alright, we will just take it easy, no need to rush, ok?'. A simple nod from Jamie, they Almost immediately he began to edge his way down when Aloy him.

As they slowly proceeded down and followed the blood trail, not long and some light coming from a artificial source came into view, stalemates were also adorned the place as well and eventually to entered a somewhat large room, this place reminded Aloy of the old world ruins she fell into when she was five years old and when she found her focus, as she scanned the place for clues and so on she kept a eye on Jamie, not knowing if she could trust what she was seeing.

To the back of the room where Jamie's blood ran to, was a cylindrical tube like casement made of glass, it was all shattered, blood all over it, Aloy scanned the files that were there on a recording device, they were in tatters and in need of repair, maybe she could figure that out later, but then one partial file appeared, the first few sentences mentioned a Zero Dawn project, the biggest eye opener however was the name and the image of a older red haired woman, the older woman that looks like her that the murders tried to kill she because she looked like this woman, and a few sentences down there was Jamie's name and the words soldier appeared as well, Before she read it further, the majority of the file was classified and encrypted to her annoyance. Decided not to spend to much time trying to decode it she turned back to Jamie who was standing against the wall eyes fixed on the cylinder.

'You were in that? How did you end up in there.?'

Jamie didn't know what to say, his eyes showed uncertainty and fear, but fear from what?.

'I don't know Aloy, all I remember just waking up feeling closed in, freaking out and just punching as hard as I could .' Like he wasn't certain or he didn't remember. Aloy in her mind was taken back his reaction, was a little frustrated with his lack of a proper answer. The suddenly the roof Collapsed Aloy jumped away land flat on the ground in time and heavy rock fell on the tube covering it for good.

As went to stand up, Jamie out reached his hand, Aloy however got back up on her feet feat by herself.

'You ok?'.

'Yes I am, let's just keep looking for what lever you need'.

Aloy decided they should look around at other things rather then focus on what was his prison. But based on what she seen

Jamie changed his focused on the three steel crates in the adjacent room without noticing notice Aloy was watching him.

He then asked if he could borrow her spear to crack them open to which Aloy allowed.

One safe had clothes that were intact, as a bit of a joke he motioned Aloy to spin around away from him, Aloy already knew and did what he asked.

A couple of minutes later he finally in some proper clothes, he wore a simple wide style camo hat which he called a bucket hat, which didn't make sense to Aloy as it did not look like a bucket.

With continuous observation of the place Jamie was baffled however but he make sure not to show it, how long was he here for?, the stalagmites growing in the facility would've taken hundreds of years, no that couldn't be possible, surly he couldn't, and why exactly was he here in the first place?. But he decided to change his focus back to getting a few supplies.

He cracked open the last crate and it contained a few weapons and ammunition, just what he was needing, but again something was off big time.

Most of the equipment had be degraded beyond use, but the other chest hadn't been breached by the elements, he opened it, and to his relief found what he was looking for. Everything inside was in good shape, including a set of shoulder, elbow , arm and knee armour. No full set though.

There was a 5.56mm semi and fully automatic rifle, a 9mm handgun, grenades and usable ammo sorted, his focus read the equipment in front of him and his relief a good amount ammunition was still in useable condition.

Jamie could come back for more ammo in if he needed. But for the meantime he would need carry what he could.

He walked out of the adjacent room, he saw Aloy l next to a bench covered with stale mites the bench, and check the guns as Aloy watched.

She appeared a bit taken back, presumably what he was now dressed in and equipped with, she never seen clothes or gear line that before, while that was true she was also disturbed by what she had found, so little information about Jamie but what happened to him when he woke up, how it appears he broke his way out to freedom, but why was he in there, where is he really from as it's not likely he was not from around here at all, that was very clear. Jamie turned around and noticed Aloy appeared deep in thought looking at the ground.

'Everything ok?' .'Jamie gave an amused look when Aloy tilted her head a little, but Aloy didn't look amused and Jamie noticed her look.

'I'm fine thank you'. He gave a nod and started to walk out.

'Where are you going?'.

'Just need to quickly zero my rifle and pistol and then we can go'. Jamie the proceeded straight down the hill, kinda to Aloy's confusion, zero his rifle and pistol? What does that mean.

'Hey hold on a second Jamie'. He was all the way down the hill when he heard Aloy and stopped. Jamie went straight to a clearing that back on to the hill, then he started playing around with his weapons. A bit later in some flat enough ground Jamie wasted no time getting in the task, he placed a a dead log against a tree as a makeshift target, he had another log as a bench rest,

'Might want to cover your ears'. A metallic clanging sound came when Jamie pulled back a long black piece on this 'rifle' as he called it a let it go with a resounding clang.

'Umm why exactly..' Aloy was cut off by a sound that was loud as thunder, Aloy winced and covered her eyes, as the sound occurred five more times, Jamie briefly look up, made a adjustment to his sights, fired five more times and was satisfied with his rifles accuracy, he then got up and walked up to the a separate target pulling his pistol on it and firing, then making a few adjustments it was zeroed, certainly a lot easier with a focus showing things more straight forward.

Aloy uncovered her ears and did not impressed by that, it reminded her of the death bringer that group used on the attack on the proving, though this was a lot smaller.

'Well I did warn you'.

Then his face turned serious. After he inquired on where he could go, where he was and so on, that he was lost, if he could get somewhere like a city or something a bit more secure he could collect his head and sort out his situation, then add that he can't speak further on what he is as a soldier? Aloy was more baffled, he knows who himself is but doesn't know what happened to him, was he really that lost?

Then Meridian came into her mind, she needed to go that way anyway, so that could be a possible place for him.

They could kill him for trespassing, the Nora weren't exactly known for welcoming strangers, there were exceptions like the Carja envoy that visited a week ago just before the proving, Aloy dreaded that that thought of what could happen to Jamie if he was caught by them it could end badly, but then again the Nora have there's overfill at the moment with all that has happened so it would be quite easy to lead him out of the sacred lands, but there was also that document she scanned, mentioning Jamie as a soldier, and that red haired woman that could possibly be her mother. Perhaps he could indeed help.

Aloy quickly explained her tribe, that she was once an outcast, while keeping certain details out, Jamie's face revealed bewildered like he had no idea what she was talking about but he listened.

'If we run into anyone of my tribe... the Nora, let me do the talking.'

'Ok, but whys that? If your one of them surly they can't be that bad.' Jamie said with sincerity and an amused look. Aloy just sighed and kept her serious look, he really had no idea what her tribe is like to outsiders.

'Look I'll explain a little later but it's complicated ok?'. Aloy said with a serious and untrusting tone.

'Ok'.

Aloy summarised rather quickly that since winning the proving, the attack by a mysterious cult that wanted her dead because she looked like a woman except older then she was, losing Rost because of them.

Jamie didn't know what to say, that was a lot that has happened to Aloy, he felt really bad for her, he already decided in his head that he will return a favour for the fact she helped, it's the least he can do.

Then Aloy tried to ask him again if he remembered how he ended up where he did and so on.

'All I'm remember was that something went wrong...' Aloy did feel disappointed, seems to be a recurring theme

'Look, it's ok.' Aloy kinda lied, she was hoping for answers and was getting very limited ones at best.

'Let's not worry about it just now, I'm sure things will clear out in your head'.

Jamie gave a nod, Aloy kept her eyes on him, with the same serious and curious look she had for a good chunk of the short time since he woke up.

'There's a few things I need to do, I still have to find War Chief Sona'.

'Alright, do you know where to start though?'. Jamie inquired.

'Yes, the site where the massacre happened, that will be the place.' Said with certainty in her voice. As Jamie explained that he wish to help out for what she he done for him.

Aloy after some hesitation, nodded in hesitant agreement, Aloy called the strider over to Jamie's bewilderment, the machine ran towards them before stopping infront of them.

'Aloy what is this?'. Aloy turned around and noticed his look, has he seriously never seen machines? This Jamie is just making less and less sense and bringing more and more questions. She hoped on the overridden strider before turning her attention to Jamie.

'The site shouldn't be far from here.' Jamie nodded, Aloy eyed him with curiosity, this young man was odd, and enigma.

'And this is a Strider, one of the machines that live in the sacred lands, it's complicated but I managed ride them, move around a lot quicker.' Jamie had an unreadable look but intrigued, Aloy's explanation however...

'Do your people also ride these?'. like somehow they don't have vehicles now? Unless it was a very poor region of the world he's now in, what's going on? He pushed that aside for now.

'No, so I'm kinda the only one. I might be able to override another one...'

'That's ok Aloy.'

'Umm... not sure if you will be able to keep up this. I'm not going slow where I'm going.' Aloy said a bit confused, why was he turning down a offer for a easier trip, Aloy noticed something in his eyes, like they were apprehensive, fearful almost though others in the sacred lands she's come across have given her looks like that, for being a former outcast, now a seeker and a rider of machines

'lead the way'. Deciding not to waste time Aloy got moving

'Have it your way'. Aloy's strider trotted along steadily Jamie followed behind in a steady jog, Jamie had started to feel better now that he was running again, Aloy looked back and noticed a change in his expression as he jogged, like he enjoyed being able to move again, whatever he was trap in had affected that simple thing and now he looked free to move on his own accord, in a way she felt happy to see this improvement in him, considering how she found him, but how is it that someone who had clearly not been a in good state now moving like this again like they were never hurt? she wasn't satisfied with his current answers to her questions, that will have to wait though.

Now it was time to get back to finding War chief Sona, the war party... and the murderers responsible for this mess, then her quest for answers will be in her grasp.

Jamie on the other hand, while greatful that she helped him, was at the same time suspicious of the entire situation he was in. why was he here? What's going on? Who are these people? What's happened? Where are his people? Who's Aloy?..

Now we are finally into the main story of the game. Wonder what Jamie is thinking or how he's gonna feel later on. Now the real fun can begin.