TEXT LOG / PERSONAL LOG _ THE AFTERMATH
Nemesis is dead and has been for almost 3 months. The battle was intense, and the casualties plentiful. We won the battle that day, but the war, No. The war is still ongoing. The AI that was sent out to eradicate the Earth to spite the Zeniths is no more, but its execution orders are still persisting. We have lost a lot that day and it shows. GAIA is… She is not what she used to be. Her once calming voice is now disjointed and incomplete. She pauses and hesitates. Before she seemed almost divine, but now… She feels more human than all-knowing AI. The brilliant terraforming system has had much of her data purged in the battle. Elisabeth's legacy is reduced to something lesser, and her capabilities are greatly reduced. I had really hoped it would be over. Those Zeniths have taken everything from me. They created me to help their own selfish cause, and then they stripped me of my freedom, they tricked me into doing evil. But the worst of their sins. When I was finally starting to warm up to a person. When I finally had someone I could call a friend, they killed him in cold blood. And my sister. The person in the world I love the most is now a shell of a being because of their hubris. I truly hate them. And now, the poison is spreading and we don't know how to counter it, we don't even know what it is yet. And I am the only one who has enough knowledge to decipher it. Is this the feeling you had your whole life sister? Is this what it feels like to have the weight of the world on your shoulders? How would you react in this situation? I am sure you would be out there getting the knowledge to save the world, but what do I do? Sit alone at the base writing this stupid log. Hiding. Cowering. In your absence, and with GAIA in this state, everyone is looking at me for answers. They think I can do what you and Elisabeth could. But I don't know how to be what you were, and I never did. I miss you sister. I am going to your room now Aloy. Lend me your strength. See you in a bit.
She closed the text log, her hands shivering a little, though she couldn't quite sense the reason. She grubbed her eyes, but there were no tears. They had already been used up. She kept sitting for just a moment, letting the moment wash over her. She felt hollow, like a knot that couldn't be untied, or a hole that couldn't be filled. As she stood up, she could feel how heavy her body was. She would rather just lay down in a ditch. She had done that when she first got to the base. She remembered her conversation with Aloy. Everything had been collapsing around her. The feeling of absolute dread that had fallen over her when Aloy had told her that GAIA hadn't absorbed Hephaestus, and the anger Aloy had expressed in the aftermath. Somehow, those days felt desirable considering the current situation. At least she had her friends now. Most of them at least. Beta's room was small as she had requested. Too much space was undesirable. It is not like she had anything to put in here anyway. A bed with a single pillow and rug, alongside a few mechanical constructs on a workbench not far from it. A simple shelf held a few folded-up pieces of clothing. She still had on the white shirt she had gotten from the Zeniths. Though it still felt a bit painful to be reminded of why she was made, that thought also brought a bit of comfort, even though she didn't understand why. In addition, the fabric was softer and better made than anything made on Earth. Beta had to admit that she still did find the people of the Earth primitive, but at least they had a heart and empathy for their fellow humans.
The doors separated with the touch, and Beta entered the common room. It had once been lively with all of her friends coming and going, grating her politely, and even exchanging small talk from time to time. Now, it was but a husk of its glory days. Erend sat on the benches ciphering through some data. Beta didn't really know how to talk to him. He was big and strong, and he was very forward with what he wanted and what he meant. She once asked him how he came to know Aloy, and he began a long story of how she helped him find his dead sister, who wasn't so dead after all and helped stop a plot to assassinate the king of Meridian. He spoke so highly of her but mentioned a lot of faults too. He spoke of when he met her for the first time back in the Nora village. She had had some very harsh words for quite a few people. Intelligence is a lot of things, he said, and it matters not just how good killing machines, or tracking prey, it matters also how good one is at interacting with one's fellow humans, and making sure they live a happy life. She didn't have that, at least not in the beginning, according to Erend. It was weird thinking of Aloy as a self-centered person seeing how she had devoted her life to helping the planet, but maybe Erend was exaggerating. He was a drunk after all. Yeah. Aloy was probably always as kind and caring as now.
She stepped into the center of the room and forced a slight smile on Erend. "Hey Beta, are you going to check on Aloy?" Aloy couldn't place his tone. It sounded empathetic, yet distant. It felt forced, but that might just be how we act around each other. "Yeah, I am making sure she has water and some food if she wakes up." She really hoped the water would be gone when she stepped in. Maybe she would even have eaten her food. Beta could only hope. "See you later", Beta's hand was raised slightly as a friendly gesture. Friendly but awkward. She glanced around the room, everything but eye contact. The walls were barren. The decorations had been taken down, the candles burned up. It was quiet. So quiet, that her steps echoed in the halls. She gripped her shirt as she knocked on the door to ALoy's room, but no answer. She knew there wouldn't be any. "Come in". Beta stood in shock, every muscle tensed. Aloy? Even her inner voice was shaky. She moved her hand down to the control node, hearing the small sound before the door opened.
"Sis-ter?" Cracks in Beta's voice were obvious, her mouth quivering. The room beamed in the dim light of candles Beta kept ablaze. Every surface was covered with memorabilia from Aloy's adventures. Some Beta knew about, and some she was unsure. The necklace with a small globe as a pendulum was especially important. It was Elisabeth's before it was found and claimed again 1000 years later by her spirit incarnate, Aloy. She stepped in and was greeted by this spirit incarnate sitting in her bed, the rug still sitting snug over her lower body. Aloy was sitting there staring at that same necklace Beta was just admiring. Beta looked back out at Erend who still sat at the same spot, but he wasn't looking at his focus anymore. He sat still, his face clearly stating he had no intentions of interrupting the moment, but he was listening. "Thank you", Beta mouthed to him, before returning attention to ALoy. That face was so full of joy. Joy Beta couldn't recognize herself. She stepped towards the bed, kneeling in front of Aloy, so they could see more eye to eye.
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine, I think." Aloy's voice seemed genuinely unsure of her physical state, but it didn't detract from her smile.
"Have some water, Aloy", Beta said as she handed her the cup of water. She took a sip of it, before handing it back. Her hands were shaking, and seemed like she struggled with control. "Thank you", She seemed distant, like she didn't quite know what was going on. Beta became concerned and wanted to investigate, But was afraid of the answer.
"Where am I?" Beta's concerns were verified as Aloy seemed unaware of even her own memories. "Home, you are home", "Where is Se…", Aloy paused and changed her expression. She seemed to be looking for words. Words she likely couldn't reach. "Seyka is coming back in the next couple of days." Even though it saddened her a bit that the conversation turned to Seyka so fast, she was relieved that Aloy could remember someone, even if the name was slipping. Now Beta could only hope Seyka would return before Aloy went back to sleep. Of the long kind, at least. Aloy had awakened a few times, but Beta still wasn't used to it yet. Aloy would sleep for a week or two, and then she woke and was awake for a short time. She couldn't really be reached while she was sleeping, if even when she was awake. There was one time she had woken up and started mumbling. Rost, that name came up a lot and was the most intelligible thing she said. She rambled on for an hour, wherein she wouldn't react to anything that happened. Then, as fast as she had woken, she fell asleep again. It was worrying, to say the least, but at least she wasn't dead. At least she wasn't dead.
"Are you hungry?" Beta tried to rip herself from her thoughts. "Where is Seyka?" Aloy asked once more, her voice a little more stern. "Don't worry, she is on her way back from her mission, and wi…", "Where?" Aloy interrupted her, her eyes filled with determination. "I am not sure," Beta admitted. "I think she might have been going to Echo's Reach to search for some data on…" Beta couldn't finish the sentence. What if Aloy didn't remember the situation they stood in, should she tell her then, risking making her worry over something she can't help? Aloy gave another glance at Beta, seemingly searching for information as if reading her focus, but her focus wasn't active. "Fine" Aloy exclaimed, her eyes staying fixed on Beta's face as if she was trying to read a scroll with the words rearranged. Then her still shaky hands pulled away the sheets. She threw her legs out of the bed, trying to stand up, but as soon as she put weight on her legs, they failed under her. Beta recognized what Aloy was trying to do, and was there to catch her. "please just stay here a bit, I promise I will help you out in a moment." Though Beta wished Aloy would stay in bed and get better, something about the determination in Aloy's eyes filled her with hope. Even if just a little bit. "Errand will you help Aloy for a moment?" Erend was aware of the situation and had already gotten up to help, and Beta knew that. She didn't really know why she asked to be honest. Maybe she…? No, purge the thought. Erend came and supported Aloy, letting her walk with much effort. He sat her down in the main room, while Beta went to get some food. "Thank you." The facialexpression Aloy made was subtle. "Erend, just in case." He smiled widely. Beta gave a quick glance. What was this feeling? How can he be so… so kind?