Chapter Text
26th of October 3043
She began to awake, but could not sit up. She didn’t know where she was, but guessed she was in a cave of some kind. She closed her eyes and thought. So many memories. She barely remembers the voice saying; ‘Cryo Stasis: Activated’. Now she was hearing other voices, very unfamiliar voices. “To have her there is blasphemy,” scowled an eld voice.
“She’s my mother, yelled a far younger one, and I won’t let you take her away from me again!”
“Lansra, Aloy needs this,” said a voice that was similar in age but more gentle than the first.
“Agreed, you made her an outcast when she was just born, for the most ridiculous of reasons,” said a young man’s voice.
“You shunned her her entire childhood, tried to bar her from her destiny, constantly made snide remarks just because of the circumstances of her BIRTH and then when she speaks to your “All-Mother” you start worshiping her like NOTHING WAS DIFFERENT,” roared another, very angry and protective male voice.
”You dare speak to you elder like that,” shrieked the first voice.
“Oh just for the tribe’s sake Lansra SHUT UP,” yelled the second voice.
She blacked out from that. Then she woke again, this time with a rather old woman by her side. She wore clothing that looked like it was from the age of iron, with slight similarities to the natives of the US from long ago. “You’re awake,” she said smiling. Elisabet realised this was one of the voices from before. “Are you okay?”
“I‘ll be fine, but can I have some water,” Elisabet asked.
“Of course,” said Teersa. She went to a nearby table and poured water into a cup before giving it to her. The woman was gently smiling. Elisabet drank the glass after a few sips and then stood up. She looked herself, finding herself still in the clothes she was wearing back when the seal hatch failed to close. But where was the suit? “Wait here, I’ll get you Aloy and she’ll explain everything.” Teersa left, walking along the passage way and then Elisabet heard the familiar clang as a door, like the same in all Zero Dawn bunkers, opened and closed automatically.
There was silence for about four minutes and then she heard the doors open and close again, as someone ran into the room. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Red hair, green eyes, freckles, it was her! She had a clone, the Lightkeeper protocol, it had been activated. If that was the case, then something truly terrible had happened! The clone slowly walked forward and grabbed her and hugged her tight. “Mother,” she gently whispered. She stepped back and Elisabet noticed tears of joy were rolling down her face. “Sorry, I’m Aloy, your daughter/clone.” She smiled at Elisabet.
“Why, what happened, were you able to stop whatever happened,” asked Elisabet. Aloy sat down with her and placed her hands on hers.
“It’s a long story, she began, but it’s always best to start from the beginning.” She told her, everything, that Ted had wiped APOLLO, that the world now lived as tribes hunting machines that were made by GAIA, that GAIA had destroyed herself, the unknown signal, the sub-functions becoming AIs, her birth, the derangement, the Red raids and the past month. At the end Elisabet was bewildered by what had happened. Damn Ted, that idiot. “Are you okay,” asked Aloy.
“I’m fine, I just…it’s a lot to take in,” said Elisabet.
“I understand,” said Aloy. She then handed her a small bag. “This has clothes in, you might want to get changed.” Elisabet nodded in response and Aloy left. She opened the bag and started to put on the clothes. First was surprisingly the rubber under suit of the EVO suit that she had worn to seal the hatch. It was ripped a bit but it still was still usable. Next was a tunic and a skirt with floral patterns on it. There was also some arm bracers and a pair of shoes that she slipped on. Then she found on the side, her focus. She put it at her temples and walked out the room to find Aloy waiting for her. “How is it?”
“Rather comfortable,” she responded. She looked around at the chamber they were in. “Where are we exactly?”
“The Nora call it All-Mother Mountain but it’s in fact the ELUTHIA facility I was born in,” said Aloy. Elisabet looked at all the tribal relics. “Normally Matriachs and High Matriachs are allowed in here but the current circumstances demand change. Come on, there’s something you should probably see. They walked through the caves and into a long passageway where Elisabet was alarmed at just how many people were here. They looked up at Aloy, either nodding, smiling or bowing. Aloy seemed annoyed at the latter. They continued down into the bunker until they came to a huge chamber. In front of them was a huge door.
“Anointed,” said the guards. Aloy looked at them.
“I’m not your anointed,” she growled through gritted teeth. They stepped towards the door where a red light passed over Aloy.
“Genetic identity confirmed, entry authorised. Greetings Dr. Sobeck, you are cleared to proceed,” said the rather simple. Elisabet turned as Aloy shook her head. Everyone in the room was bowing.
“Ignore them, they think the door is a god,” Aloy said. The two walked inside. Elisabet looked around. The facility was very broken and needed some work right away. Aloy used her focus to turn on the lights and the walked through the halls. Multiservivotor’s walked around, repairing other units while others tried clearing the rooms. Elisabet looked at the wall paintings of things like a pillar to the sun, the units and a load of angry scribbles and stuff on the door leading into the learning centre. Children were like that. Soon they arrived at the viewing chamber where Aloy played the message to them from GAIA before she self destructed. Elisabet was saddened but happy that there was a way to rebuild GAIA.
“Dr. Sobeck,” said a voice. Elisabet looked around the room, frantically. The room glowed pink as a hologram of a woman similar to GAIA appeared.
“Who are you,” Elisabet asked.
“I am ELUTHIA,” said the AI.