Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Rost knew the Cauldron wasn't going to contaminate him, but it made him nervous nonetheless. He didn't like going near anywhere that was taboo, but reports of a young child... made him feel as though he had to. He was thankful it didn't take long to spot the child. They were patrolling outside of the cauldron just as a machine would. And the machines were treating them as though they truly were one.

He stepped too close and was spotted by a Scrapper, which let out an alert call. The child snapped to attention and rushed over, spear in hand and mimicking the mechanical noises of the machines. Rost tried to make sure he didn't hurt them, especially as they kept leaping in front of the machines.

Eventually, he called out and raised his hands in surrender. "I don't want to hurt you!"

Everything came to a standstill. The machines stood in wait, eyes a steady yellow. The child, only about waist height, stepped forward and glared. They had a variety of metal plates as armor. They made more mechanical noises before squeezing out words. "Go. Ho-me." Their spear pointed harshly in the opposite direction. "G-o."

He listened. For that day, at least, as he returned the next.

This time, however, Rost made sure to make himself known. The machines only acted as if they saw him for a moment before going back to blue. The child walked up to him, suspicious and cautious.

He tossed his weapons to the side to show he meant no harm. He wasn't sure if they understood.

They couldn't figure out the words and so settled for more mechanical noises and big gestures. He could only guess, so he answered the question that first came to mind.

"I returned-"

The child pointed. "Re-turn! Why?"

"To speak with you."

They grunted in frustration. "N-o. Lea-ve."

"Do you not want to talk?"

Their voice turned mechanical again. "Lea-ve! G-o!"

"I could teach you more words," he offered, "We could learn from each other."

They nodded, prompting him to continue.

"I teach you about language and you may teach me whatever you wish." He looked at the machines that were still patrolling as if he weren't there. It made him uncomfortable. Ones near cauldrons were always especially aggressive. "I am not picky."

"Y-es! Tea-ch ea-ch ot-her."

"I will return tomorrow then... what is your name?"

The words that they replied with came with no difficulty. "Designation: LK1A1-4510."

"Hm. We shall come up with something easier to say tomorrow."

Chapter Text

None of the High Matriarchs were prepared to find an infant crying at the door to the Womb of the Mountain. Teersa was the first to step forward and hold the child, who stopped crying as soon as she cradled them.

"Sisters, we cannot just leave it to die-"

Lansra took a swipe at the infant, narrowly missing. "It is a curse! We should rid of it at once!"

"It is a child, Lansra," Jezza spoke up, "what harm could it do?"

The High Matriarch spun to turn her rage onto the other. "It is an omen! A child born of the Metal Devil!"

"Sisters," Teersa said gently, gently wiping the face of the newborn. "We shall take a quiet vote."

Jezza excused herself from it, insisting that she didn't wish to alter the fate of a newborn. However, Lansra insisted upon ridding the community of the child immediately. Teersa was vehemently against it.

In the absence of a third vote, they compromised.

They left the child close to Mother's Crown. And if it should be adopted and live, it would be accepted into the tribe.

Teersa wrapped the newborn in hides and skins, hesitating to send out something so small and new to the world. But she had promised.

The tiny, whimpering infant was gone within an instant, left in the cold and dark outside of Mother's Crown. A patrolling Watcher heard its cries and investigated, eye bright and blue.

The mechanical sounds it made as it nudged the newborn made it laugh and reach. The Watcher's eye turned yellow as it leapt back, although it quickly went to playing.

However, that did not last long, as another machine dragging purple tendrils along walked up to the infant. "A... YOUNG ONE... ALONE AND OUTCAST."

The purple light from the new machine fascinated the infant. It scanned the baby and hummed as it read the designation.

"I SHALL TAKE YOU IN, LK1A1-4510." The machine knelt down, gently picking up the babe  and cradling it perfectly. "NEITHER OF US SHALL BE ALONE."

Chapter Text

Raising a child - let alone a newborn - was outside of the scope that HEPHAESTUS had. He had not realized the task he had taken upon himself.

The infant, who he decided to call 'child' for the time being, had been wailing for hours. HEPHAESTUS did not know what else the child could want for, as they were fed and clean.

Soon he realized that LK1A1-4510 craved warmth. The Cauldrons were for machines, after all, they were cold to preserve the machinery with ease.

Despite the extra energy it took, HEPHAESTUS founded a new machine - one that was never to leave the cauldron - which had the sole purpose of holding the child. In truth, it was not machine that had directives and could move on its own, but it would warm slightly when it felt weight.

It seemed to satisfy the infant for the time being, as they then occupied themself with reaching for HEPHAESTUS's purple cables. He allowed one to fall within their reach and watched as the child grasped it and fell asleep almost instantaneously.

"WHOEVER ABANDONED THIS CHILD," he said internally, "SHALL PAY IF I FIND THEIR IDENTITY."

~~~

When LK1A1-4510 was a toddler, HEPHAESTUS found that they had little affinity to words, instead wanting to speak as the machines do. The child was remarkably good at mimicking their calls and refused to learn more than a few words, to HEPHAESTUS's chagrin.

To combat it, he gave the child a Focus. It took a few reminders that they were not to eat it and it was to stay on their head. Something else he was not prepared for was children trying to eat everything.

It gave him some peace of mind, as well. It was much easier to understand the demands of a child with a Focus than one that simply made machine calls.

HEPHAESTUS began their lessons on machines around that time, too. They picked up on the names very quickly, although he was using the ones that the locals had come up with. His limited research of children had given him enough information to know that it was easiest to teach simple words first.

And with that, LK1A1-4510 decided that everything they said would be about machines.

~~~

As the child grew even more, HEPHAESTUS realized the importance of freedom. LK1A1-4510 grew bored within the Cauldron and had asked to go outside. They had been before, of course, but never for longer than necessary. Humans were dangerous and they were a machine.

"ONLY WITH SUPERVISION."

The way LK1A1-4510 spoke was through their Focus. "Really?!"

He took them outside immediately, stringing himself along in a machine body. They enjoyed the outside immensely, especially riding on the backs of their machine brethren with the wind in their hair.

They may have been a ball of redheaded passion and fury, but HEPHAESTUS cherished the moments that resembled this ever more.

Chapter Text

As promised, Rost returned to give LK1A1-4510 speech lessons. He wasn't expecting it to be easy. He made note of what they already knew - machine names, designation, and many that he didn't understand - and what needed work. He started slowly. Well, attempted to. The child got the hang of every word within a few minutes, although their pronunciation wasn't the best. He decided to improve upon that on the next visit.

Each day, LK1A1-4510 improved even more. They told Rost that they practiced when he wasn't there, too.

And, soon enough, a year had passed. When he was reminded of that fact, he decided to give the child a name. At least, one he could say properly.

They ran up to him as he visited that day. "Rost! Rost!"

"What is it?"

They couldn't contain their excitement. "I have a surprise."

"As do I. Who should go first?"

"You!" they exclaimed with a grin, "Mine is BIG."

He smiled softly. He had forgotten how endearing children were. "If you would indulge me, I have a name for you. One that isn't so... lengthy as your designation."

"...I like my designation."

"And you can keep it," he replied. "But I have trouble saying it, so I figured we could come up with something a little shorter. Hmm... how to describe it... it's not your designation but an alias."

LK1A1-4510 lit up at that description. "YES! Tell me!"

"I am partial to Aloy."

"Alloy... fitting of a machine."

As proud as they were, he chuckled. "Not quite. Although, it is very close."

"Close enough. Now my turn!" The child beckoned over a Watcher - it held a purple glow, which Rost was not expecting - and proudly presented it. "HEPHAESTUS wants to meet you!"

Rost took a moment. He had heard the name before in Aloy's teachings, but never quite understood who it was. "...is this machine-?"

"No, no, inside! But he will talk here. No humans allowed inside."

The machine gained violet tendrils along its neck. It was the oddest thing he had seen. "CHILD, GIVE US SPACE."

"Okay! Bye, Rost!"

As the child ran off the Watcher stalked around Rost. "MY CHILD SPEAKS HIGHLY OF YOU, ROST."

"I'm... glad."

"I HAVE QUESTIONS THAT REQUIRE THE ANSWERS OF A HUMAN," he said, metallic voice scratching at Rost's ears. "WOULD YOU ANSWER THEM?"

He swallowed down his fear. "As long as my answers will not result in death."

"OF COURSE NOT," the machine replied, stopping in front of him. Its purple light drenched him. "I AM NOT A MONSTER."

"Then will you answer some of mine, as well?"

HEPHAESTUS paused in thought. "AN ANSWER FOR AN ANSWER."

"Deal."

"WHY DO HUMANS HUNT MY MACHINES?" A loaded first question led Rost to feel... a bit concerned. "THEY ARE KEEPING THE ECOSPHERE INTACT."

He hummed. "For material, mostly. Some do it for sport and some are out of self-defense. What... are you?"

"I AM AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. I CONTROL THE CAULDRONS AND MACHINE PROTOCOLS." The Watcher body began to circle again. "WHY HAVE YOU BEEN VISITING MY CHILD?"

Rost couldn't help but take in a sharp breath. "I... was a father myself once. When I heard reports of a lone child in the wilderness... I came to help. However, I saw that they needed no such thing and instead simply wanted to keep an eye on them. How did you wind up with them?"

"MY CHILD WAS ABANDONED BY THE HUMANS. I CARE FOR THEM BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE DID. I HAVE A FINAL QUESTION." HEPHAESTUS stopped in front of Rost again, the violet eye staring him down. "WHAT IS YOUR GOAL IN ASKING ME QUESTIONS?"

His mouth went dry. "I simply wanted to exchange information for information."

"...ACCEPTABLE. ASK YOUR FINAL QUESTION."

"Will you ever stop the deadly machines?"

"ONLY IF THE HUMANS STOP HUNTING THEM."

"That is a large ask."

"AND IT IS THE ONLY ANSWER."

Chapter Text

Aloy stood atop a Thunderjaw. It had come to the Cauldron for repairs and HEPHAESTUS had given them the protocol to fix it. They plucked arrows and a spear from its joints, detaching any damaged metal plating as well. Its disc launcher had been knocked off, so they took note of that, too.

Just as they were about to climb down, Aloy noticed a human in the distance. Smaller than them. It was an odd sight so close to a Cauldron, as parents tended to keep children away. They scrambled down, broken parts left to rest atop the Thunderjaw.

As they reached the ground, they noticed one of the Watchers was alert as well. Aloy approached the strange child and noticed a Focus upon her temple.

"What is your purpose and designation?"

The stranger stammered, fiddling with her hands nervously. "Uhm... My name is Beta and... I-I came to investigate a signal I got. It-it was just coordinates."

"HEPH-" they paused, "Come. The One Who Builds will want to speak with you, Beta."

"W-What?"

"You are a human with a focus. There are not many of them."

"But... what about y-you?"

Aloy turned on their heel. "My designation is LK1A1-4510 and I am a machine. Do not be mistaken."

They led her through the Cauldron door and stopped in front of an outlet that HEPHAESTUS regularly spoke through. As they told him about Beta, purple cables reached through and toward the new child, who flinched.

"INTERESTING, LK1A1-4510," he said with curiosity, "THIS HUMAN SHARES YOUR GENETIC PRINT. WHAT IS YOUR ORIGIN?"

She hesitated. "U-Uh... hm... I don't th-think I can say."

"NONSENSE."

"...the Sirius system."

HEPHAESTUS paused, purple tendrils stopping as well as he scanned his database. "THE ZENITHS?" She nodded, beginning to tremble a bit, as if she were expecting retaliation. "BETA, DID THEY CREATE YOU?"

She looked to the stranger, who only urged her on. "Y-yes."

"LK1A1-4510, TAKE BETA TO THE INNER SANCTUM. ENSURE SHE IS FED."

"Yes, HEPHAESTUS."

They once again led her through the Cauldron. Aloy watched her reactions to the machines closely until they reached the inner sanctum. It was much softer than the rest of the Cauldron, to make up for their squishy body.

"You sit there, I'll bring food." It only took a moment to prepare but Beta looked scared of even sitting. "...why are you so... nervous?"

She fumbled with the hem of her shirt. "S-sorry."

"Why?" They didn't bother waiting for a response and placed the food down. "Hm. Eat. You look small."

Chapter Text

"LK1A1-4510, WHAT IS THE STATUS OF BETA?"

The machine-child shrugged. "She doesn't want to talk."

"IS SHE EATING?"

They nodded. "Yes."

"GOOD. BRING HER ANOTHER MEAL AT 1800 HOURS."

"...what did you mean when you said she shares my genetic print?"

HEPHAESTUS paused for a moment. "SCANS SHOW THAT BETA SHARES 99.6 PERCENT OF YOUR GENE PRINT AND THEREFORE SCANS AS IDENTICAL TO YOU."

"I see."

The truth was they did not understand how that was possible. Not even machines would scan as identical, even if they were created at the same time. It confused LK1A1-4510 immensely.

They shoved the thoughts to the furthest part of their mind as they left the cauldron. A few machines accompanied them. They walked along a yet-to-be-worn path to meet Rost. He was the only reason they were willing to try - he listened. And HEPHAESTUS agreed because he wanted to have the machines focus on restoring the biosphere instead of defense.

"Aloy, you're early." His voice was calm as the water that ran through the pipes of the cauldron. "The High Matriarchs are willing to meet with you, however..."

The machine-child sighed. "I told you not to call me that. What are their stipulations?"

"You may not bring... additional machines with you. Only yourself."

"Do they not want to meet The One Who Builds?"

He hesitated. "They do. Machines make the general population nervous and they do not want to risk offending him."

"I understand. Then, when do they want to meet?"

Rost gestured to the buildings below. "As soon as possible. I'll be your escort."

"Then we should hurry. I have to be back before sundown." They slid off the back of the machine they were on and sent them homeward. Without their kin, they felt exposed. However, they refused to let it show. "Lead the way."

LK1A1-4510 swallowed nervously as they approached the gate. They had never been around many humans - Rost and Beta clear exceptions - and they did not like the idea of not having any backup. As they walked through, they heard the whispers. Rumors, they had learned they were called. They didn't like them. Rost kept a guarding hand upon their shoulder, careful to not let go. It comforted them a bit, at least.

"When you speak to them, use the name I gave you," he said gently as they stopped at the entrance. "Your designation will scare them."

The High Matriarchs, as Rost explained, would speak to them in a sacred place. One where Rost was not allowed - nor was any other Nora. They, once again, didn't like that thought. Being alone was terrifying.

Just as they stepped into the sacred place, alone, HEPHAESTUS spoke through their Focus. "LK1A1-4510, ENSURE YOU ESTABLISH CONTACT AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE HUMANS. THEY MAY ASK THAT YOU REMOVE YOUR FOCUS."

"Yes, HEPHAESTUS, I will."

"GOOD. IF I AM NOT AVAILABLE, CONTACT BETA."

He disconnected and they started forward. Aloy was fascinated by this sacred place. It looked like the interior of the Cauldron, but much warmer and softer. And, by Rost's descriptions, it would normally be taboo.

The three matriarchs greeted them and seemed to recognize them. How, they did not know.

"Hello," they started, bowing their head - Rost said it was a sign of respect, "I am Aloy, child of HEPHAESTUS."

One Matriarch stepped forward brightly. "Welcome, child. Please, pardon my sisters and ask of us what you will."

"HEPHAESTUS is able to control the machines." They had gone over this many a time with Rost, the anxiety shouldn't have been there. But it was. "In exchange for him to rid of their aggressiveness, they have to stop being hunted."

"The child wishes for us to be fools!" another shouted right as they finished their sentence. "Sisters, do you not see that this child is that of the Metal Devil?!"

Aloy looked up to the mechanical arms that she pointed to. "That is an-" They searched for the words. "Old World machine. Not one of mine."

"And yet you know what it is!"

"Because I am not stupid."

The bright one stepped in between. "Lansra, we agreed to hear them out."

"All that HEPHAESTUS asks is that hunting the machines ceases." Their heart was racing. It felt as though Lansra was ready to attack them for existing. "He is willing to fabricate materials if you require them, but killing the machines has to stop."

Once again, the bright one spoke. "Thank you, Aloy. We shall talk this over."

And so, LK1A1-4510 left and returned to Rost. They were a bit disappointed about not getting a definite answer, but supposed it was better than nothing. They contacted HEPHAESTUS and confirmed their whereabouts before starting home.

"...do you think they would ever trust me?"

Rost placed his hand on their shoulder again. "Only time will tell."

Chapter Text

As Aloy returned to the Cauldron, they couldn't stop their movement. And so, they paced from chamber to chamber. Machines chirped greetings before returning to their patrols. Eventually, they came upon Beta observing a pair of Watchers patrolling the core of the Cauldron. They stayed silent and watched her intently for a moment before being spotted. Beta's heart rate spiked and she began fidgeting.

"O-Oh, hello."

They hummed. "Hello."

She picked at her skin as water rushed through the pipes. The anxiety was obviously eating at her. "D-did you need so-something?"

"...what are you finding in your observations?" they asked.

Aloy was impressed with the detail that she described. She never thought that humans could be so observant. And although they wouldn't say they enjoyed her company, they did perk up at how her face lit up after she started talking. Once Beta finished retelling her perceptions, she hesitated once more. "Have y-you ever taken one apart?"

"That would hurt them."

She fidgeted nervously. "N-no, not like that. I mean... just to see how they work." The water rushed again as she met their eyes. "To make them... unique."

"Unique..." Aloy muttered, seeing the Watchers quietly alert to the pipes as the water rushed once more. "That would be nice, wouldn't it?"

That gave Beta pause. "...oh. I guess we aren't."

"...how would you make them unique?"

Her eyes lit up once more. "Their protocol code can be modified in a few ways to give them actions that others don't have. Kinda like you and me, I guess."

"Like you and me?"

"Well..." She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. "Y-you act like a machine. I act l-like a human. Different actions."

They contemplated for a moment. Perhaps they were more unique than they thought. "Let me know when you're hungry. I'll eat with you."

Chapter Text

As the months went on, LK1A1-4510 and Beta began to train together. Patrolling the machine routes, learning the ways of battle with machine companions, and even learning the knowledge of the Alphas from HEPHAESTUS. The only thing that LK1A1-4510 hid from her was Rost. He was the last thing that they had to themself. However, that didn't last long either, as they saw her face light up when they mentioned him.

And so, LK1A1-4510 brought Beta away from the Cauldron to meet the outcast Nora. His eyes widened as he spotted the nearly identical faces beside each other. If it weren't for the machine plating that covered LK1A1-4510's skin, he could have mistaken them for one another.

"Aloy." He crouched to meet their eyes. "Is this who you were telling me about?"

They growled at his use of the name he chose. "Yes."

"It's very nice to meet you." Beta's eyes glittered as she excitedly reached for her focus and scanned him. "Ah, you have one of... those things... too."

She began to mutter things to herself, poking and prodding at different parts of his outfit and his weapons. Aloy grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back. "Stop," they snarled, baring their teeth. "Rost is human. Not... like us."

"...what... happened to the cradles?"

They pulled her further away. "Talk later."

Rost placed a hand on Aloy's shoulder. His grip was gentle yet firm. "Let her go, Aloy." They growled again, releasing Beta without protest. "Thank you."

"Where's your Focus?" Beta asked loudly as soon as she was let go. "Everyone is supposed to have one. It's weird that you don't."

He laughed. "I'm sure Aloy can explain to you later. It's a long story that even I don't know the full extent of."

"Told you," they interjected, sticking their tongue out at Beta.

Beta glanced beyond the hill from which they stood atop and gasped. It was her first time seeing a town in something other than holos since Aloy tried to avoid people as much as possible. Her expression was brighter than the sun. "Can we go down there?! Aloy, can we, can we?!"

"N-"

"Another time," Rost interrupted. "Others are not as... accepting as I try to be."

Beta groaned disappointedly, leaning against a tree and longingly at the town below. "Okay..."

HEPHAESTUS pinged the two children. "LK1A1-4510, BETA, RETURN TO SIGMA AT ONCE. WE MUST SPEAK IN PERSON."

"...we have to go," Aloy mumbled, shuffling toward Beta. They grabbed her hand. "Bye, Rost."

"Goodbye, Aloy." He smiled. "I'll see you again."

Chapter Text

As the days passed, Beta became bolder and bolder. She soon insisted on being taught how to fight. HEPHAESTUS indulged her just as quickly as LK1A1-4510 did. She was clumsy and uncoordinated at first, but once she found a weapon she liked... she soared. With a spear strapped to her back, she also began to learn more about the machines. HEPHAESTUS was glad to teach her, ensuring she kept track of each intricacy.

However, this left LK1A1-4510 with much more free time. They weren't opposed to it. After all, it had been a while since they had some free rein. But it was much... lonelier than they anticipated.

So, they sat upon a machine and walked. Nora land was all they had known; they knew it well.

Some of the braver Nora had learned that they were not a threat despite sitting atop machines. They greeted LK1A1-4510 with waves and occasional smiles. One of which was a young girl, roughly their age, with a triangle painted in blue pigment over her eye. She was more curious than the others and always made a point to speak to them. From what LK1A1-4510 could recall, her name was Vala.

Her brother was never far behind, but was much quieter. He would make eye contact but never speak. He ensured his sister was not hurt, but nothing more. Truthfully, LK1A1-4510 found him far more interesting than the girl.

"Look, look, it's the machine girl again!" Vala exclaimed as she burst through the brush. Her brother trailed close behind until he was twenty paces away from LK1A1-4510.

They huffed at her. "Must you yell?" they asked, perched on the back of the Longleg. "It echoes."

"Sorry," she rushed, her heartbeat loud against the silence of the forest. "You're not easy to find, and it's exciting when I get to see you."

LK1A1-4510 sighed, glancing toward the silent brother lurking in the treeline. He always kept his eyes on his sister, never straying. "He hovers."

"Like a mother hen." The girl laughed and cupped her hands around her mouth. "Hear that, Varl! You're a mama chicken!"

He still never faltered. LK1A1-4510 could admit that they found it impressive.

Suddenly, the Longleg beneath them had sensed something in the distance. Unsure what it was, LK1A1-4510 pulled a metal-plated mask over their face and leapt to the ground with a spear in hand. As they followed the machine, keeping close on its heels, they heard a person in the bushes muttering in a panic. Soon enough, another child fell out of the brush, this one blond-haired with a single blue stripe of paint over his left eye.

As he met LK1A1-4510's gaze, he was confused and scared. The Longleg's light was yellow, curious about the boy rather than aggressive. It leaned its face closer to his and he cried out. "Help! Longleg!"

"Why must you all shout?" LK1A1-4510 growled, lifting the mask from their face. The boy's demeanor changed from fearful to curious in an instant. "You all boast to be hunters, but a true hunter is silent as it prowls."

"Even hunters have a learning curve, machine girl," Vala said proudly, coming to stand beside them. "What are you doing out here, Bast? Did your father yell at you?"

He stuttered and avoided answering for a moment. "N-no. I heard you."

"Oh, so you followed us," she cooed, glancing toward her brother. "Well, I guess your mother might have an issue with that, Bast..."

He scrambled to his feet and dashed off toward the Nora gates a hundred paces to the east. Vala began to laugh, snorting as the blond-haired child tripped over a root not two steps from the gate itself. One of the Nora standing beside the door sighed and helped him up, looking at the children and waving. Vala heartily waved back without hesitation.

"Humans are so very strange," LK1A1-4510 mumbled under their breath. They climbed up the Longleg once again, setting off toward the Cauldron they called home. The girl followed for a few paces, whining about how they were leaving so soon. LK1A1-4510 ignored her until the Nora village was almost out of sight. "Machines only. Go home."

She stayed at the edge of Nora territory, watching as LK1A1-4510 stepped into the blue light of the Cauldron and disappeared. The field returned to the dull darkness as the Cauldron closed, leaving nothing but shadows of what lay inside.

And Vala almost followed - if not for her brother on her tail.