Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

I stood to attention. Just like my mom drilled me in preparation for the academy, years ago. Back ram-rod straight. Eyes straight ahead. Slight smile (my own addition, because I was so excited I wouldn’t be able to stop if I tried! And I probably should!). 

None of the usual signs of deliberation showed on his face. No drumming of fingers on the desk. No humming or making noises as he read. Just uninterrupted focus on the document. The pure, unbreakable will and vision of an experienced diviner.

I was going to love working for Diviner Bohai! Learning under Diviner Bohai.

Abruptly he put down the page and looked up to face me. He smiled faintly. “Please sit, Junior Diviner Alva.”

“Yes, sir!” I sat down in one of the (comfortable!) chairs in front of his desk, maintaining my straight posture.

“This is certainly a glowing recommendation.” He made eye contact. “Exemplary test scores. And you passed the examinations first time?”

I focused all my effort on keeping the smile as small as it was currently was and nodded. “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

“Well… the academy only takes the best. So that would make you the best of the best, would it?”

I opened my mouth but hesitated at the last moment. That was a trap. A big one. I examined his face more closely. Still that faint smile. But an intense gaze. The clinical, impassioned eyes of a Diviner.

Of course! “I can only ask that you draw your conclusions from the data, Diviner. And from your own experiences with me going forward.”

His smile broadened and I had a sense that I’d narrowly avoided a terrible mistake. “Such is the role of a Diviner. From data comes truth-”

“- and from the Legacy, the future.” I finished, then winced. Maybe he wouldn’t like that, maybe-

“Quite. That which cannot be quantified has no value.” He eyed me. “I have a sense you’re going to do well here, Junior Diviner Alva.”

I permitted my smile to widen. “Thank you, sir.”

“Please, call me Diviner Bohai.” He picked up my assessment and slid it into a drawer of his desk. “Now, your first on-the-job lesson will begin at 8pm tonight in my office. You’ll be here by then, having completed all your other tasks, eaten dinner, and mentally fortified yourself for a long night.”

“Absolutely, Diviner Bohai.”

“We’ll be directly reviewing a cache of the Legacy that was happened on last week.” My breath caught in my throat - a fresh cache! On my first day out of the academy!

I knew I’d been right to request being assigned to Diviner Bohai! My teacher had warned me (“Alva, Diviner Bohai is impressive but… difficult, you might be better suited elsewhere…”) but this was where the real discoveries happened!

“I see you’re pleased.” Bohai smiled with a hint of warmth for the first time. “Before we reach that happy hour, you face the unenviable but crucial tasks assigned to Junior Diviners.”

I nodded.

“Some information must be consigned to paper, Alva, for the security of the information, the Legacy, and the Empire.” He patted a bag next to the desk and I stood up to take it: full of documents and folders with Diviner Bohai’s wax seal, each addressed to a department or Diviner. “Get delivering. And remember, there will be physical replies, and vocal messages for you to memorise and bring back to me.”

“Yes, Diviner Bohai! I won’t let you down!” Every message I ran and fact I remembered supported uncovering the Legacy. And there were enough messages to keep me on my feet all day! I’d be able to help so much even when Diviner Bohai wasn’t teaching me!

And before too long, I’d be trusted to decode sections of the Legacy all by myself! But for now, running important messages for busy people who were hard at work for the good of the Quen would be enough!

“I trust not.” He made the word ‘trust’ sound strangely threatening. Which can’t have been his intention. “Keep that attitude up, and I expect we’ll go far together.”

+++

6 months later

“Repeat it back to me, Junior Diviner Alva.” Diviner Bohai steepled his fingers and looked at me.

I nodded and recited the information I’d carefully memorised last night in preparation for this morning. “The Leviathan flood control system was constructed over the course of 5 years, based on schematics housed at corporate headquarters in San Francisco. Extrapolations based on Omuramba data indicate that with the full plans and 2-3 years of reconstruction work by 2 construction legions supported by 4 specialised Diviner teams, high-impact flood events in the Great Delta could be reduced by 82%. Without the plans, reconstruction will be difficult, necessitating hazardous exploration trips within the structure to map out the mechanisms.”

He nodded slowly, then made a single note on his notepad. Amazing, all the secrets and data Bohai could keep hidden in his head, with only small code phrases needed to bring them to mind. He’d promised to teach me how. Soon.

“Thank you Alva. Splendid job.” He smiled once and I stood up a little straighter. Worth the late night. Worth the fatigue. Worth having to deal with Diviner Elide (and worse still her apprentice, Junior Diviner Federa, who apparently hated me enough that even after I graduated early she requested a posting in the same building to keep tormenting me. Gah!).

“Another set of messages for you.” I picked up the bag and concealed a wince. Heavy load today. “I trust nobody but you to handle my messages, Junior Diviner.” He began to write something else down on a different pad.

“Of course!” 

“Because I know less scrupulous Junior Diviners pass off their workloads to others, eager to return to their study of the Legacy.” The motion of the quill stopped abruptly. “I’d hate for our relationship to be compromised by an incident like that.”

“I would never! Your instructions are sacred, as my supervisor and mentor.”

“Good.” He continued writing again and I released a breath I hadn’t known I was holding.

“But… Diviner Elide was very difficult with me. I don’t think she likes dealing with Junior Diviners and I was wondering if… given the contentious topics involved… it might be more optimal if…” Bohai looked at me for the first time, that unwavering gaze he was famous for. 

I felt some wind go out of my internal sails. “… maybe you considered discussing some of the finer points with her in person? Later? I could find some time in the calendars for you to-”

“You are more than equipped to deal with this matter. I am very busy.” I deflated slightly. Oh, boy. Federa and Elide again. A match made in the time of ashes. “Besides, the top scoring Junior Diviner in your year? You can handle Elide and her… unconventional apprentice.”

“Unconventional?” I frowned. He must mean Federa? 

Bohai smiled for a moment. “I’m just very glad that you graduated early enough to be assigned to me, and not this… newer student.”

“Oh. Thank you.” At least someone recognised how difficult Federa was. Even if she was annoyingly smart.

“Keep working Alva. You’re doing good work, finding good data. That is its own reward.”

“Naturally!”

“Dismissed.” 

I nodded and went to the door.

Bohai spoke just as my hand reached the handle. “But other rewards will be forthcoming, Alva. You are young and talented. I am going places. Stay in my slipstream and adjust your sails, Alva. Do you understand?”

I frowned and turned to face him. “I… think so?”

He nodded while exuding an air of disappointment. “You have much yet to learn about the… finer arts of being a Diviner. That will come in time.”

I nodded.

“Dismissed. Truly this time.”

I set off at a brisk walk. Much to deliver and the sooner it was done, the sooner I would be decoding the Legacy. I would get Elide out of the way first. No vocal message today thankfully, just two documents.

Thank the Ancestors, Federa wasn’t at her desk outside Elide’s office. Like me, she’d be delivering documents and messages for hours yet. I rapped twice on the door and stepped inside.

Elide was difficult as always, and asked me far too many questions that Diviner Bohai had instructed me not to answer, but I was able to hand over the documents and back out through the door.

“Nice bag.” I froze in place at the sound of her voice. Oh no, no no no, not fair. “Are you working for the post office now?”

I composed an expression of neutrality that didn’t reflect my true feelings and turned slowly yet gracefully on my heel.

Stupid Federa was standing at her desk with a mug of wonderful smelling tea. “Junior Diviner Federa.” I raised my chin deliberately. 

“Alva.” How rude not to use my title! I was four months her senior! Technically. Federa’s emerald-green eyes gleamed as she sipped her tea. “Don’t tell me Bohai still has you running messages?”

“You might not remember, being so new here.” I adjusted the bag deliberately. “But it is the role of a Junior Diviner to run messages as required to maintain security and enhance the free exchange of knowledge.”

“Oh yeah, I remember. What an honour.” Federa put down her tea and her pretty red lips twisted into a smirk. “Yeah, a week ago I was still running messages.”

I blinked. Huh?

“Of course, I’m officially excused now. I have Legacy Data to decipher full-time. Diviner Elide’s instructions.” Federa sat down at her desk and kicked her long legs out languidly. 

What? But… but… Junior Diviners… we all had to…

I hated her! Stupid Federa gets here later than me and weasels out of the worst part of the job before me?

… not that it was a bad part of the job, it was an honour to carry messages for Diviner Bohai, but… it was less exciting, somewhat, than deciphering the Legacy.

“Well, one hears many things about how offices are run in certain areas deemed to be… below optimal standard.” Bohai had told me Diviner Elide was behind. Losing favour, he’d called it, which must mean slow to decipher data.

She must be having Federa cover for her.

“Yeah. It’s called trusting people and sharing information.” Federa’s eyes turned dark as she stared back at me. “Maybe you and Diviner Bohai should try that sometime, instead of hoarding data and passing secret notes.”

Pfft. “Pfft. You don’t know what you’re talking about.” I laughed. Quietly though, because this was a work area and I was a professional, unlike Federa. “Diviner Bohai is a great man and an even greater Diviner. He’s consistently been the highest performing there is.”

Federa shook her head sadly. Well, probably mock sadly, because like Federa would ever treat me with genuine respect and emotional openness. Pull the other one. “You’re so naïve, Alva. So brilliant, insightful, genius… and yet so naïve.”

Genius?

I felt my cheeks flush with… anger? Yes. Anger. Definitely. Cutting retort time.

“Well… well… you’re annoying!” Why had I said that? I could do better! “And all that tea will make your breath smell! And I hate your new lipstick, it’s so red, the pink from the academy was nicer.”

I turned and stormed off.

I had important work to do. Very important. For Diviner Bohai, the best Diviner, who was absolutely committed to the Legacy, the Quen, and was taking me under his wing. He was teaching me the hard way.

I had much more important things to think about than stupid Federa. 

And how great her lipstick had looked.

+++

A few weeks later

I pored over the data, biting my lip as I focused. Something here. There was something here, I was sure of it. A pattern in the data… made harder to find by what was Lost, but not impossible. I’d been looking all evening… and half the night… and I was going to find it…

“Junior Diviner Alva!” I stood up behind my desk and to attention as Bohai approached. He sounded in a good mood and he was… smiling? Really smiling? “Burning the midnight oil, as usual.”

“Yes, Diviner Bohai. This data is-”

“Certain to reveal its secrets in due course. Come, let’s discuss something else first, step inside.”

I followed Diviner Bohai inside and he waved for me to sit. There was a strange noise and…

Diviner Bohai was humming to himself? What had happened?

He strode to one corner and retrieved, from the top shelf, his bottle! The bottle! The one he was saving for a special occasion! And a glass! Wow he must really-

Two glasses?!

Bohai set them down on his desk and poured two measures. I stared open-mouthed. He picked both up and gently pressed one into my hand. He held his own high. “The Legacy, and the Emperor!” He beamed.

“The Legacy and the Emperor!” I smiled back enthusiastically and drank.

GAH!

So strong!

I choked slightly and Bohai chuckled. “It’s an acquired taste. Your first drink?”

“Pfft… no.” I froze. “I mean, sorry, sir, no sir.”

“No ceremony tonight, Alva, we’re celebrating.” He smiled encouragingly. “Your first drink besides cheap peasant beer and whatever dangerous swill was passed around at the academy?”

“… yes.” He hadn’t said peasant very nicely…

“To be expected then.” He sipped his own again and smacked his lips.

“So… what are we celebrating?” I took another tiny sip and kept the disgust off my face. We were celebrating. I couldn’t ruin this for him! For us! “More Legacy data? Ooh, is it a new Focus cache?”

He chuckled and shook his head. “We’re celebrating the Board of Overseers seeing sense.”

I blinked. “But… the Board is infallible. They always see sense.”

“Of course.” Bohai winked and I started in shock. “But today they saw even more. And made a wise decision.”

“May I ask what decision?”

“You may, and will even be answered.” He finished his drink and started pouring another. “They have realised that Diviner Elide’s contributions have been… lacking. Not enough data. Not enough insight.”
“Oh dear.” That could be bad. Elide was behind, but the Board could be really overzealous with consequences sometimes. Elide might just be reprimanded, or she could be sent away, and-

Wait, what would happen to Federa if something befell Elide? She was tied to her as I was tied to Bohai.

I mean I hated her guts, but she was still new and whatever Elide had failed in wasn’t her fault. She… she… deserved a fair shake.

“On the contrary, it is good. Alva. Very good. Because now more resources, vision, and authority can be concentrated where the brightest minds can put it to good use. Minds like myself…” Bohai tipped his glass to me. “… and you.”

“We’re getting more Legacy data?!” He nodded. “Incredible!”

“And even better. I’ll be exerting a little influence over personnel around here. Starting with a second Junior Diviner to help you. Plus tightening things up. Trimming fat.”

“Well…” I mean everyone did their best I’m sure… but Diviner Bohai was brilliant! He’d spot efficiencies. Get things to work even better! “You can do a lot of good with that!”

And I was going to get to work with another Junior Diviner! Someone else to puzzle over data with! There were some amazing students in the next class coming from the academy! I might get to work with one of my friends! That would be a dream!

Bohai’s response jolted me back to reality. “I certainly can. Starting with Diviner Elide - she’s being sent to map out Leviathan. On-site.” Bohai smiled, a gleam in his eyes.

I started. “That’s… dangerous work. Mapping out the structure without the plans… Is she going to be okay?”

“The Ancestors will protect her. I wish it hadn’t come to this, but… she wasn’t doing enough here, and this is a chance to redeem herself.”

I nodded slowly. I hadn’t realised Diviner Elide had failed so badly that this was her punishment. But I was sure that working on Leviathan could bring some real good! Even without the schematics, if we could map it from the inside… the potential to stop floods…

They’d just have to be so careful. Keep an eye on the weather and rains. Otherwise… the risk of accidents…

“Alva, are you listening?”

“Huh?” Oh no, what had I missed. Bohai was staring at me intently. “Sorry, I didn’t catch that.”

“I said, what should I do with Federa?”

I blinked. “Do with her?”

“Elide is moving on.” Bohai leaned forwards on the desk. “You and Federa have history, yes?”

I blinked at him twice, trying to hide my consternation. “Umm… no.”

“Come now, Alva, we’ve worked together long enough now.” He smiled encouragingly. “I know about your squabbles at the academy. Your competitions.”

I flushed. 

“Nothing to be ashamed of. I had my own legendary rivalries.” Bohai flashed a smile. “She’s undermined you. Mocked you. Belittled you. Stifled your genius.”

“I… I suppose a little…”

“Good! So where shall I send her?” He threw out one arm. “I could send her to Leviathan with Elide? Back to the Academy? Or even some far flung corner of the Empire?”

I stared at him, shocked. He was asking me what to do with Federa? For my opinion, not just as a gesture? “Oh, I… I don’t know, surely that’s your decision Diviner Bohai? To be made on the basis of her contributions and potential?”

Bohai chuckled and his eyes gleamed. “There’s no need to be coy, Alva. You’ve worked hard. Extremely hard. You’ve earned my trust. And this is when you get rewarded. You get to close the book on your hated rival. So - where to?”

“Oh… I… umm…” This was confusing. What did he mean by ‘close the book’? Was I just tired? Getting to decide where Federa was posted wasn’t a reward… where did she belong…

She definitely didn’t deserve to be sent out into the wilderness. I mean… maybe she did, I hated her guts and she’d treated me terribly but… she was talented. Insightful and quick on the mark. And I mean… Elide’s failures didn’t rest on her shoulders…

Federa should stay here, be assigned another Diviner! Get a chance to prove herself. That was the right decision (Was it what Federa would do for me? No… but still). 

Bohai was looking at me intently. “I, umm, think that she should go nowhere. Diviner Bohai.”

Bohai looked at me for a moment, then laughed jovially. “Alva, please. I like you, I admire your ambition, but you reach too far.”

“Too far?” I frowned.

“We’ve all had these little spats in our past, hated rivals. And it’s only natural you want to cement your victory.” He tilted his glass to me and shook his head with a small grin. “But expecting me send her to ‘nowhere’… to strip Federa of her Focus and cast her out based solely on her association with Elide… too far. It’s crucial never to over-extend yourself. That is the sort of thing real enemies will use against you later in your career.”

Federa stripped of her focus? My heart was galloping. No, I… no that wasn’t what I wanted! Federa and I… we both lived to be Diviners! To uncover the Legacy! I couldn’t, Diviner Bohai couldn’t take that away from her!

“No! No that’s not what I meant, I’m so sorry Diviner!” I gasped, shaking my head. “I… I only meant that she remain here! As a Junior Diviner! Be given another chance.”

“Hush, Alva, your little moment of weakness is our secret.” Bohai put a finger to his lips. “There’s no need to back down. You can still have your crushing victory over Federa, it simply won’t be absolute. Sending her to the farthest reaches of the empire will taste just as sweet, trust me. So - where would you like me to banish her?”

I stared at him, shocked. This… this didn’t make sense. He wasn’t talking about this in terms of Federa’s failings - which were the only thing that could possibly justify doing this! - he was… acting like it was a prize I’d won. But I’d just been doing my job, I…

I didn’t want to punish Federa! 

I mean… she would absolutely do this to me, given the chance, but if I did it then I’d be just as bad as her!

I swallowed. “Diviner Bohai… it is my opinion that despite my longstanding differences with Federa, she still has much to offer the Quen. She is a dedicated scholar of the Legacy, and I believe Federa will do her best work here, under the tutelage of a Diviner. I ask you to consider the possibility that Diviner Elide’s failures do not reflect Federa’s competency. Sir."

Diviner Bohai’s eyes bored into my own. The warmth of a moment ago was gone, snatched away like the sun behind a thundercloud. “Alva. The role of a Diviner requires both intellectual prowess, and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to make hard choices. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.” Like what data to prioritise uncovering.

He shook his head. “If we spoke solely in terms of the intellectual, Alva, you would be ready for promotion to Elide’s vacancy. The least senior true Diviner… but a Diviner nonetheless.”

I stared, speechless. A… a real Diviner? Now? After just 6 months here? I was all but ready? Was I ready for that responsibility?

Diviner Bohai thought so…

“And yet, I worry that you’re being squeamish.” Bohai frowned, and steepled his fingers. “A Diviner must be able to make difficult choices. With consequences. To seize the advantage while they have it, and be ruthless.”

I shifted uncomfortably under his unrelenting gaze. Was… was he saying… that…

“With that in mind.” Bohai looked at me with complete dispassion. “What would you have me do with Federa?”

Was he saying that… that if I sent Federa away… I could be a Diviner? 

I mean this should be easy. Everything I wanted, and all I had to do was pay Federa back for the hell she’d put me through for years? I could just say ‘the far north’ or ‘anywhere far away’ and I’d be rid of Federa, my arch-rival, and promoted to Diviner? Easy choice.

But… but… it wasn’t right!

Federa was intelligent, and insightful, with the… extremely occasional… I mean truly extremely  rare… moment of genuine humanity and purpose. I couldn’t punish her like this for our rivalry… Even if Federa would throw me under the cart in a heartbeat. 

“I… I…” I swallowed and shut my eyes, unable to believe what I was about to say. “My advice regarding Junior Diviner Federa is unchanged, Diviner Bohai. I believe she has much to offer the Quen here.”

“Here.” Diviner Bohai managed to inject an essay’s worth of disapproval into the syllable. “Very well.”

I opened my eyes and looked at him. “Finish your drink, Alva.” He waved to the door with one hand. “You have Legacy Data to decipher. Tonight.”

I nodded rapidly and gulped down the rest of the drink - oh, that burned - before rising and hurrying out the door.

Chapter Text

It was really happening! Finally happening! 

A cheer went up from Legacy’s landfall as the Admiral’s flagship rounded the corner of the island, coming into view for the first time. The people and guards thronging the streets were clapping and cheering, and I could see the crew of the ship crowded along the starboard and bow waving back and letting out a cheer of their own, for now only audible through my Focus .

“A little smoother than our last voyage.” Seyka’s voice came through my focus, along with the sound of the crew’s jubilant celebration.

“Just a smidge.” I murmured out the corner of my mouth, flicking my eyes forwards and to the left.

Diviner Bohai, recently crowned leader of this half of the expedition after the demise of the Ceo, stood on the balcony of the headquarters, waving magnanimously to the crowd and ship. Taking all the credit - one of his top skills. Since the beginning. No need to let him realise just how flexible our Focus communications were thanks to GAIA.

“I’d put it down to experience, and an excellent navigator.” I muttered supportively.

“That, and the meteorology data Aloy collected from that Stormbird she overrode.” Seyka replied. I swore I could hear a smile in her voice.

“That would certainly help.” I couldn’t keep my own smile dimmed. “When Aloy helps, she goes big.”

“She really does.” I rolled my eyes but kept smiling. So hopeless, Seyka.

I was surprised Aloy wasn’t here, to be honest. She was practically in the area, digging in to the ruins of First Forge. Maybe she wanted to avoid a potential scene with Bohai or the Admiral. But I would have imagined she wanted to engineer a reunion with Seyka much more…

“Diviner Alva.” Bohai’s clipped tones cut through my introspection.

“Yes, sir?”

“When they land, get that difficult marine out of sight. And keep her out of trouble. The last thing I need is Compliance bombarding me with incarceration requests.”

“Out of sight, out of mind.” I remarked. Bohai shot me a look, clearly assessing if it was insubordination (it was! Ha!). 

“Quite.”

+++

“Admiral Gerrit!” I exclaimed. Diviner Bohai and I had descended from headquarters to meet the Admiral at the base of the stairs. Gerrit was flanked by marines, Kina (chief navigator, duh) and Seyka (Focus not on her face, and standing at the back). “We are delighted and honoured to welcome you to Legacy’s Landing!”

He nodded back, eyes flicking between myself and Diviner Bohai. I continued. “You of course remember Diviner Bohai, the most senior Diviner among the expedition and Interim Commander in the wake of the Ceo’s tragic death.” I kept my expression studiously neutral on the subject of the Ceo, despite him being the worst person since Ted Faro.

“Diviner Bohai.” The Admiral extended a hand, which Bohai clasped. “It brings me great joy to see our people reunited.”

“My own delight is unquantifiable.” Bohai shook firmly. I suppressed a giggle, remembering my first meeting with Bohai.

“Legacy’s Landfall welcomes the lost heroes of the expedition.” Bohai raised his voice. “All personnel are relieved of their duties until sunrise tomorrow. Give our resurrected comrades a real  Quen welcome!” The home and ship crowds both let out a loud cheer.

Bohai dropped his voice. “Admiral, rest assured that your crew will be seen to. We have set aside ample rations for today’s celebrations. Now, if you’ll follow me, we have some protocol to discuss. Standing orders from the Ceo.”

I rolled my eyes. ‘Protocol issues’. Command issues. Bohai didn’t want to lose command: every gain here was to be to his credit if he was still in command when the fleet sailed home. I imagined, based on what Seyka had told me, that the Admiral wouldn’t make life too easy for him.

“Of course, Diviner Bohai. Sergeant Lorrie?”

“Yes, Admiral Gerrit?” A marine stepped forwards and Bohai’s smile tightened a fraction.

“Have the materials I requested brought to the headquarters here. There’s much to discuss.” 

Both men smiled at each other and I was put in mind of those images of wolves from the old world. They both waved to the crowd one last time, and proceeded indoors. 

Everyone began to disperse to enjoy the festivities. Kina shot me a smile, then a questioning look to Seyka. Seyka nodded, and Kina slipped away into the crowd.

I beckoned for Seyka to follow and we slipped away towards my quarters. “How is Kina doing?” I asked. Londra had put Kina through a terrible experience. It was a mercy that Aloy and Seyka had arrived in time.

“Better every day. Thanks.” Seyka smiled at me, and we slipped inside my room, before sitting on the chairs. “And thank you, for all your work getting us back here.”

“Pfft! No trouble. It needed to be done.” I smiled. “Now that we’re unified, we can get what we came for and the fleet can start preparing for the home voyage.”

Seyka’s jaw tightened. “Yeah.”

Oh. Oh, of course. Oh dear. “Which, umm, you know is probably ages away. Diviner Bohai needs to get every scrap of data he can to support his ambitions once he’s home. Trust me, he’s not going to want to leave until we’ve sucked every bit of data off the coast.”

“The Admiral has a different view.” Seyka shook her head. “But you’re right. It’s a while off.”

“Absolutely.” I beamed. “It’s so good to meet you properly, by the way! Still not used to these virtual Focus calls. I feel like you miss a lot if you don’t already know the person.”

“Yeah, they’re… very weird. Hologram calls.” Seyka blew out a breath and retrieved her Focus from her pocket. “I’m still getting used to having one of these at all.”

“It can be overwhelming, so much knowledge in one place.” I agreed. “Oh, and I’d be careful with that around the settlement. Not every member of Compliance got washed overseas before we crashed, and Diviner Bohai doesn’t want to step on their toes. At all.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. I’ll be careful.” Seyka laughed. “It’s a stupid thing to be worrying about, but I’m frustrated that we’re gonna miss out on the celebrations tonight because of some jerks from Compliance.”

“Well… we’ll just have to have our own celebration here.” I smiled and opened my supplies bag, withdrawing two glasses and a bottle. “I got this from Erend. One of the team. He wanted to give me a lot of mead when I left but… I argued him down to a few bottles.”

Seyka snatched it out of my hand and uncorked it, then sniffed and whistled. “Strong stuff.”

“The Oseram know how they like it.” I grinned. “Shall we?”

“Definitely.”

Seyka poured us both a triple measure - ah, a true marine - and handed me my glass. “What are we toasting?”

I thought for a moment. “To unification?”

Seyka grinned. “Unification!” 

We clinked and just as she started to sip, I added, as an afterthought. “And Aloy, who made union possible.”

Seyka almost choked on her mead. “Yes… to Aloy. Union with Aloy. Aloy’s unification.”

“Exactly!” I beamed. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but it’s a shame we never met on the expedition itself. There were a lot of ships, and-”

“And you were a precious Diviner, with me a lowly marine?” Seyka grinned.

I blushed. “Umm, not what I was going to say…”

“You should. Diviners have a tough gig. You’re always separated from everyone else. So that nobody can get at your knowledge.” Seyka gestured to my focus.

Those first few months of work as a Junior Diviner… “Yeah. It can be lonely.” I thought back to the Academy, and to my time as a real Diviner… “But not always! And not right now!”

Seyka smiled. “Cheers to that.”

+++

I frowned and finished off the last of the glass. Not my first. It was good mead. Erend knew stuff. Well… he knew the stuff that was his stuff. And mead was one of those things.

I shook my head, returning my mind to the present. And what Seyka had asked. “You should just ask Aloy, Seyka! She knows more than I do about her.”

“I mean… yeah.” Seyka scooted her chair forwards. “But you’re right here and she’s a… million miles away.”

I giggled. A million! “Not quite a million! More like a couple of dozen!”

“Oh. And she didn’t come?”

I shrugged. “Maybe she’ll be here soon.” That would make most sense. I couldn’t imagine why she’d skip out entirely, with Seyka here.

“Right. Sure… but c’mon Alva, just tell me! Please?” Seyka smiled pleadingly.

I hiccoughed, then sighed and rolled my eyes with a giggle. “Fine, fine I give! Not the puppy eyes!” I hesitated. “What was the question again?”

Seyka grinned. “How did you and Aloy meet?”

I nodded. “Well… it started when I surrendered, and threw myself on her mercy.”

“Huh?”

“The Quen were investigating an old world facility on the coast, looking for Legacy data. I was examining a console in one of the buildings when I heard fighting outside. The guards ordered me to stay inside… there was fighting outside… and then a barbarian with a bow and spear charged in.” I blew out a breath, shaking my head. “I thought I was a goner.”

“So you surrendered?”

“Yeah, obviously! I can’t fight! Couldn’t fight back then at least. Kotallo showed me some things since I joined the team… but yeah. I think I said something about throwing myself on her mercy and begging that was enough to satisfy her bloodlust?” 

We stared at each other for a moment, then burst out laughing. “I bet she was insulted by that.”

“She took it more gracefully than she had a right to.” I smiled. “And then we went gallivanting through the facility together looking for data.”

“What was she there for?”

“Well I didn’t know it at the time, but she was there to retrieve an AI. A err… machine mind. Something to help her save the planet. Again!” I snorted.

“Wait. Save the planet? Again?” Seyka frowned. “What do you mean? I thought she was just working on defeating the Zeniths? Prior to Nemesis?”

“Oh, nooooo. Much more than that.” I shook my head firmly. “First there was saving the world from HADES, the other machine mind that wanted to wipe out all life. That was… eight months ago, way back east, near her homeland. Then the biosphere started collapsing… by which I mean life started failing more quickly. Red blight, storms and so on. So then she came to the Forbidden West to save the world again by rebuilding GAIA - the ultimate machine mind - to prevent planetary collapse. She needed four more AIs to do it, and she found one along with me.”

“Oh. Huh.” Seyka sat back, staring into space for a moment. “And did that work?”

“Yep!” I beamed. “Well. Eventually. We only got three of them in the end, but it’s enough to stabilise things for now. Aloy’s sister is taking point on number four.”

“And then she also saved the world from the Zeniths? The others like Londra?”

“Yeah! Team effort, but yes. First from most of the Zeniths, and then foiled Tilda - who betrayed them to join us and then betrayed us - as well. But this happened at the same time as the other stuff.” I frowned. “So that’s between one and three acts of world saving in one, depending how you count.”

“And then she also saved the whole region from Londra, right?” Seyka spoke slowly. “And his death rocket?”

“Yes!” I nodded. “So that totals out at between two and five world savings, depending on how you count them.”

“O-kay.” Seyka blew out a deep breath. She refilled her glass and downed it, then filled it again.

“But,” I smiled. “Your turn to tell me. How did you and Aloy meet?”

Seyka downed about half the mug and nodded slowly. “Well…”

Ping ping! Ping ping!

“Ooh! Speak of the Saviour of Meridian!”

“Saviour of what?”

“Aloy! She’s calling! Oh, it’s been so long since we chatted!” I beckoned Seyka. “Quickly!”

Seyka froze in place. “Quickly what?”

“Get in the video feed! If you put your head right next to mine I can stretch the capture area so she’ll be able to see you!” I beamed at Seyka. 

Seyka stared back at me and then shook her head rapidly. 

I frowned. Why did Seyka not want to talk to Aloy? I mean… I could read between the lines! Aloy had mentioned Seyka enough and with a certain tone in her voice to imply enough… chemistry between them…

And also Beta had told me they were an item. But I was totally on the cusp of working it out myself when she’d called to share the gossip!

“Oh of course!” I giggled. “I’m so silly. Just stand still.” I swiped to bring up the Focus menu.

“What are you doing? Why do you want me still?” Seyka stood up and started moving left and right erratically.

I frowned at her. “I’m trying to get a lock on your Focus so I can patch you into the call and make it your video rather than just audio. Then Aloy can see and talk to you too! Stop squirming!”

Seyka, previously somewhat flushed from the mead, went pale as a sheet. “Actually, I better check on Kina. I’ll see you later!”

She dashed for the exit.

“Wait! Stop! I’ll transfer the call to you! I can leave and give you two some… and she’s gone.” Way gone. 

The Focus was still ringing. I sighed and accepted the call. With Seyka gone, no point in Aloy seeing my drunk-flushed face. Audio only, please.

“ALVA!” Aloy almost yelled into the Focus and I shrieked, wincing at the sudden volume. “WHAT’S HAPPENING? Did everything go okay today? Why didn’t you pick up my call? Is everyone safe? Is Seyka alright?”

Audio only… how could you betray me…

“Everything’s fine except my little eardrums…” I rubbed my temples. “Jeez, calm down…”

“Okay. Okay. Good. Just checking in. You know me.” Aloy paused for a moment. “I like checking.”

I frowned. “Especially when it’s on Seyka?” 

“No! Just generally!” 

“Okay, if you say so…”

“Alva. Update me please.”

“It all went fine.” I shrugged. “Bohai is still being a power-hungry jerk as usual… but nobody’s stabbed anyone. Seyka and I have been drinking to keep her out of sight of Compliance. No problems. Everyone’s very happy.”

“Good.” Aloy paused again. “And how is Seyka?”

“Yeah, umm, good? I guess?”

“You guess?”

“She seemed fine.”

“Fine? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“Is her sister okay?”

“Kina’s good… she tried to get us to come dance but… but only one woman can get me to dance and she’s not here, so-”

“Was she seasick? Injured? Did they have any machine trouble?”

“No, no, and no.” I frowned. “Aloy, do you want me to find Seyka and patch in her Focus? She can read her own mind better than I can, and you clearly want to-”

“Ooh, sorry. Big emergency. Big. Huge. Gotta go. I’ll call tomorrow early afternoon for an update. Get plenty of water and sleep. Bye!”

Aloy hung up. 

I frowned at the wall for a second. I was missing something. Something important…

“Whatever, Aloy knows best.” I sighed and stretched. “Emergencies are emergencies. I’d better go find-”

The tent flap opened and Seyka stepped inside, closing it behind her. “Oh. I was just about to go looking for you.”

“Well, I’m right here.” Seyka smiled. 

“You, err… you were acting kind of weird…”

“I uh….I thought I heard something outside. I went to check.”
“Heard what?”

Seyka stared at me blankly.

“What did you hear?” I asked suspiciously.

“A Stingspawn!” Seyka answered triumphantly.

I frowned. “What’s that?”

She stared at me. “It’s a little flying robot insect that shocks you.”

I frowned at her. “That’s not real.”

“Err… yeah it is.”

“No it’s not.”

“They really are.”

I frowned harder. “Were you… eavesdropping on me?”

Seyka’s mouth opened into a comical expression of shock. “Of course not!”

I narrowed my eyes at her and she coughed, looking at her feet.

Oh, I couldn’t keep this up, it was exhausting. I shook my head, feeling suddenly fatigued. “If you say so… I need a nap. Or like… a full night’s sleep.”

“Oh, yeah. Me too. Mind if I crash here for tonight?”

“Be my guest!”

Despite my protests, Seyka and I arranged a mound of pillows on the floor for her to sleep in (“Alva, please, I don’t need the bed. I’m a marine, I slept on a wooden deck on the boat ride here.”)

I washed up and got ready for bed. “Good night, Seyka.”

“Night!” Seyka called from the pillow mound behind me, sounding strangely awake.

I closed my eyes.

Seyka said something indistinct. 

“Pardon?” I mumbled.

“I said, how was Aloy?” Seyka asked in the worst impression of a casual tone of voice I’d heard in years.

“Err…” I wracked my brain. “Good?”

“She was good? You don’t sound sure.”

“Aloy was fine, really.” I squeezed my eyes shut.

“But only fine? As opposed to good? So what was wrong?”

“Nothing was wrong.”
“Is Beta okay?”

“She should be.”
“Should be?”

“I mean, as far as I know.”

“Why wouldn’t she be?”

Was this Deja Vu? What was happening? “Beta is fine, and Aloy is fine. Aloy was just a little frazzled.”

“Frazzled? Why was she frazzled?”

“She just seemed a teensy bit on edge.”
“But why? Is she in danger?”

“I mean, usually, but she always handles-”

“Is she sick? Or injured? Cornered by machines?”

“No, no… no.” I took a deep breath. I was so tired. I wanted to sleep. Why was I awake? “Seyka, do you want me to call Aloy so you can check on her?”

“Do you think I need to check on her? Is she okay?”

I clenched one fist under the covers and kept my voice perfectly steady. “I think she’d appreciate it if you checked up on her, Seyka. I think she misses you.”

“Okay. Okay. Yeah. Good idea.”

Finally! “Perfect, I’ll just add her contact detail to your Focus and-”

“Would you check on her for me?”

I blinked. “What?”

“Just ask how she is. Since she’s on your Focus and not mine.”

“But Seyka… it’s not that she needs checking up on, it’s that I think she’d appreciate it if you-”

“Oh! Oh…” Seyka trailed off. “It’s quite late. I don’t want to bother her. Keep her from sleeping.”

“That’s a wonderful sentiment Seyka.” I squeezed my eyes shut a little tighter. 

“But you’re sure Aloy’s okay?”

I rolled over to face away from Seyka.

+++

“Thank you.” I whispered to the cook as he put down the plate. He smiled and sketched a mock bow as he walked away.

“What was that?” Aloy’s hologram peered around, unable to see anything except my hologram. “Is there someone out of shot?"
“Just the chef bringing me delicious late breakfast.” I sighed happily, and sipped the glass of tea. So homely. 

“Oh. Okay.” Aloy started pacing. “So, tell me everything.”

“Of course! Here’s my spreadsheet.” I tapped my focus and sent the spreadsheet I’d spent the morning compiling to Aloy. “Full logistical update on the unification. We are above-schedule on all supplies and staff categories, excepting compliance officers-”

“Which nobody minds.”
“Which nobody minds!” I agreed. “Admiral Gerrit and Diviner Bohai are still playing tug of war as far as I can tell. Geritt has rank but Bohai’s half of the expedition was bigger, and Bohai has had a long time to subtly plant the idea that the Admiral was responsible for the disasters that got us here.”

“Was he?”

“No… that would be the super-storms. Thank you, dysfunctional AETHER.” I took a bite of fish. “I don’t know how it’s going to play out, but I learned a long time ago not to bet against Bohai unless you have money to lose.”

“That’s a shame. Admiral Gerrit seemed decent when I spoke to him. And Bohai is…”
“The worst?” I took a savage bite of fruit.

“Yep. Still, not much we can do.”

“Very much beyond my power.” I nodded. “And even you probably couldn’t affect this. Unlike the other tribes, too many Quen still think of you as a barbarian.”

“Yeah. Better than them calling me Saviour.”

“Probably. Though all those titles do come in handy.”

“Sure.” Aloy signed and her hologram sat down. “But the titles are just so… stifling, Alva. Like nobody sees you, just whatever people have decided you should be.”

“I know exactly how that is.” I smiled sympathetically. “Youngest ever Diviner, outside of the Imperial family.”

“Yeah.” Aloy nodded. “But at least you had the other Junior Diviners. 

“Yeah…” I nodded and took a quick bite of fish, feeling a sudden pang that I tried to suppress.

“I’m just so glad Seyka doesn’t know about any of that.” Aloy smiled. “To her, I’m just… Aloy.”

I froze. “Uh-huh.”

“She doesn’t know about my past, or my titles, or… Alva, why are you sweating?”

“Oh, I’m not. Not at all.” I forced a smile. Aloy stared at me. “It’s umm… so hot here… on this tropical island. Under the sun, in the open eating area on the sand. That’s why. It’s not-”

“What did you say?”

“I just let slip one title to Seyka! That’s all!”

“That’s it?” Aloy thought for a moment. “Okay, that’s fine. Okay…”

“… and maybe I mentioned you saved the world two to five times…”

“What?! Five?! Alva, twice! Only twice, where did you get fi-” Aloy stood up and pressed her hands to the side of her head as she recommenced pacing. “You shouldn’t even have told her that. Why did you tell her that?”

“You didn’t tell me not to!” I protested. “I assumed you already told her! You’ve been talking to her for weeks while she was on that boat on the way here with nothing to do!”

Aloy was silent. 

“Haven’t you?”

Aloy sighed. “Seyka and I haven’t spoken at all since the Burning Shores.”
I stared incredulously. “Why not?”

“It’s complicated. Look, just tell me exactly what you did and didn’t say.”

“I told you what I did say!” I shook my head. “I obviously haven’t told her you’re the Anointed of the Nora, or a Chieftain of the Banuk, or a clone of an Ancestor, or-”

Seyka had just stepped into the communal area on the far side. She was still far enough away that she couldn’t have heard anything. But I stopped just to be safe.

“What was that?” Aloy started looking around again, as if she could see my surroundings. “Is that Seyka?”

“Yes, but she couldn’t-”

“WHAT DID SHE HEAR ALVA?!”

Owwww the audio…

I winced, squeezing my eyes closed.

“Hey Alva!” Seyka jogged up to the table and sat down. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong Seyka.” I shook my head.

Aloy’s hologram moved up right next to me. “Seyka’s there? How close? Did she hear you Alva?”

“No, Aloy, Seyka did not hear me.” I muttered defensively. 

“Aloy’s here?!” Seyka jumped to her feet and knocked my plate of food onto the sand.

My grilled fish!

Seyka started looking around like a hunted animal. “Can she see me? Hear me?”

I stared morosely at the ruins of my breakfast. A crab had already scuttled over to it. 

“ALVA! Stay focused! Can Aloy hear me?”

A seagull squawked and flapped down to land on my breakfast, gobbling it wholesale.

“No, Seyka, Aloy can’t.” I muttered dejectedly.

Aloy frowned. “I can’t what? What can’t I do? What’s she asking about me? Alva, talk to me.” 

“Are you sure Aloy can’t see me?” Seyka calmed down slightly, and also moved right up to me, so her face was next to Aloy’s. “Is she asking questions? Is it about me? Alva?”

“I… I…”

“Alva! What’s happening? Does Seyka know?”

“Alva, what’s Aloy doing? Is she reacting? Does Aloy know?”

“Ah! It’s too much! You’re giving me a brain haemorrhage!!” I stood up and backed away waving my hands in front of me to keep them back. “Seyka, stand still I’m patching you into the call.”

Seyka made a cutting motion across her throat with both hands.

“Alva, don’t patch her in, say there’s a technical problem.”

What now? “Err… hold on… technical problem… gimme a second…”

Aloy gave me a double thumbs up. Seyka let out a sigh of relief.

“Lifesaver Alva. Right, guess we’ll wrap up the call. I’ll read the spreadsheet and check in tonight. Try to find somewhere private next time, please, okay?”

“Err… okay?”

“Perfect. Thanks Alva, you’re a hero. Aloy, out.”

Aloy hung up.

I stared wordlessly into space.

“She’s gone right?” Seyka whispered.

I nodded, still speechless.

“Cool. Cool. Very cool.” Seyka nodded, smiled, and smacked me heartily on the back. “Nice work Alva, thanks for covering for me. Appreciate it.”

I turned to stare at her disbelievingly.

Seyka was looking at her feet, kicking the sand. “Was Aloy okay?” Seyka made eye contact. “Did she ask about me?”

+++

That evening

“You’re somewhere private this time, right?” Aloy looked around suspiciously, as if she could actually perceive my surroundings instead of just me.

“One - yes. Two - you didn’t tell me to be somewhere private last time.” I huffed.

“How private? You’re not just in your tent are you?”

“I am not because you messaged me on the Focus and said it was critical I find a completely isolated spot!” I stood up and gestured at a vista Aloy could not see. “I’m on top of an abandoned ruin! It’s really high, and cold, and scary.”

“Scary?” Aloy sounded bemused.

“You know I don’t like heights!”

“So why did you pick somewhere high up?” Aloy sounded puzzled.

I put one hand over my eyes and squeezed, fighting a migraine. “Why are we calling, Aloy?” I looked up and smiled. “Not that I don’t enjoy our conversations and value your precious time, but the spreadsheet covered everything about the unification, I was thorough.”

“Yep. Yes. Great spreadsheet. Fully comprehensive.” Aloy bit her lip and looked to one side.

“You didn’t even read it!” I gasped. “I… I spent hours on that because you asked for a comprehensive update!”

“But you said everything was fine?”

“It is!”

“So… I don’t need the spreadsheet?”

I opened and closed my mouth several times. “… no.” I guess it had still been helpful to organise my thoughts, and get the Admiral and Bohai on the same page. Or at least into the same library.

“Okay, perfect… thanks.” Aloy sat cross-legged. I joined her on the floor. “So, umm… how is Seyka?”

I smiled warmly. “Seyka is really good, Aloy. She’s settled in well. Kina is well. The Admiral and I are keeping her out of trouble.”

Aloy let out a deep breath. “Thank you, Alva. I mean it. Thank you.”

“It’s fine, no worries…” I twiddled my thumbs. “Are you… gonna tell me why you haven’t called her?”

“It’s complicated.”

“I can handle complicated.” I smiled encouragingly. “Trust me… you don’t even have the first idea about complicated.”

“Really?” Aloy raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah." I blew out a breath. “Rivalry, burgeoning love, and Quen politics do not mix well…”

Chapter Text

The morning after Alva and Bohai’s drink

I rubbed my eyes as I stumbled towards Diviner Bohai’s office. I’d barely got a wink of sleep, because last night had been rough: Compliance had been making a racket emptying Elide’s office and escorting her (not as gently as they could have, stupid Compliance) to her new posting in the middle of the night, which had made it nearly impossible to focus (haha!) on the data. As a result it had taken me until nearly sunrise to get the work done, and then I’d had to get back to my accommodation and wash. And get two hours sleep.

I’d give anything for a nice quiet day… but there were no quiet days as a Junior Diviner.

I rounded the corner to Bohai’s office and blinked. There was another desk outside his door. A slightly different design to mine, a little smaller, and with a less comfy chair, but definitely a desk for a Junior Diviner…

… of course! Bohai had said he was getting another Junior Diviner to support him. Gosh, how exciting! They’d probably be here from the academy in a few days at the most. A fresh smile on my face, I rapped on Bohai’s door: time for the early morning tasks!

“One moment, Junior Diviner Alva.” Bohai called through the door. Well, that was strange. Usually he didn’t have meetings at this hour. Oh well. I sat at my desk and began to review the data from last night to make sure I hadn’t made any sleep deprived errors…

I heard the door open behind me and turned. “Good morning, Diviner Bo-”

Federa stepped out of Diviner Bohai’s office. Her shoulders were slumped, and her usually impeccable complexion was pallid. Ancestors, she looked exhausted. I guess I must do as well, after the night I’d had. “Oh. Junior Diviner Federa, good-”

The words caught in my throat when Federa curtsied, eyes on the floor. “Good morning, Junior Diviner Alva.” My mouth dropped open and I stared at her. What… what was… was I still asleep? How- “Diviner Bohai wishes to see you.”

“Oh. O-kay.” Still confused I stood up and headed inside. Federa gently closed the door behind me.

“Alva, good morning.” Diviner Bohai flashed me a thin smile, shutting off his Focus. “Apologies for the delay, it won’t happen again.”

“Oh, of course… not a delay really…” What was going on? “Why is-”

“Oh, I took your advice to heart, Alva. After all, who knows a woman better than her greatest rival?” Bohai gestured for me to sit and I did. “And if even a great rival sees undeniable potential, who am I to overlook it?”

The second desk. My blood chilled. No. No no no, Ancestors please, don’t tell me-

“I’ve taken on Junior Diviner Federa as my additional support.” Crushing disappointment washed over me. Why? Why did I have to work with Federa? “Like you say she has potential, but lacks polish. I trust you to provide that. Teach her how a Junior Diviner should act.”

I felt like I was being slowly swallowed by an avalanche. Surely, I… I wasn’t being punished? Was I? I’d done the right thing! I’d acted in the best interests of the Quen! I wanted Federa to stay, I just didn’t… want to have to see her myself. Ever.

I had to protest. “But… but…” Bohai raised an eyebrow and the words died in my throat. “Of course.”

“Choices have consequences Alva. Take my advice - embrace yours. The only way to learn.” I nodded glumly. “Don’t be so dour - I have a present.” 

Bohai gestured to the side of the desk: two overflowing bags full of messages sat there. I stared in shock. I moved over and picked them up… oof, were these full of rocks? They were so heavy… and it would take Federa and I all day to do these even working together…

“Change invites increased communication, Alva. Remember that.”

“Yes… sir…” I wheezed, hoisting one up higher. “Which one is for me and which is for… Junior Diviner Federa?”

Bohai raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled. “They’re both for Junior Diviner Federa.”

I blinked. “Huh?”

“I need you deciphering data, Alva. I can’t squander your precious time and intellect on these more menial tasks. Starting today, you’re full time on the Legacy. Begin with Elide’s old trove.” Bohai slid a focus across the desk. “The data is in here.” 

I put down the bags and took the focus. I felt like I was in shock.

Full-time Legacy privileges! An entire trove from a Diviner to examine! What an honour! But…

“Sir, may I make a suggestion?”

“Call me Diviner Bohai, but yes.”

“Diviner Bohai, I might make faster progress with the data if Junior Diviner Federa was supporting me. She’s been up to her elbows in this data and-”

I trailed off as Bohai shook his head. “I trust you with this, Junior Diviner Alva. Junior Diviner Federa will be handling all the non-Legacy tasks that were once your purview. You have complete leeway to make use of her in that regard.”

“Oh… okay…” So… I was Federa’s mentor now? Showing her the ropes of Bohai’s style? That was… weird, but okay…

“Very good. I need those messages delivered by mid afternoon at the latest, and then she can begin the process of reviewing your work from the last six months so that she can learn from your efforts and approximate your quality.”

I winced internally. Delivering these messages together by mid afternoon would be nearly impossible, I wouldn’t be able to stop for even a…

Right. Federa would be delivering. I swallowed. 

“Dismissed.”

“Yes, Diviner Bohai.”

I struggled out of the room with the bags and closed the door behind me. As I exited, Federa stood up from her desk, back straight, staring dead ahead. 

I frowned: where was the sass? Insulting my bags? Ridiculing me about being a Diviner’s pet? 

This was weird.

“These messages need to be delivered by mid-afternoon at the latest.” I set the bags down on the floor and fought the urge to wipe my forehead. “Umm… by you.”

“Understood, Junior Diviner Alva. I’ll start with this bag.” Federa picked up one bag, curtsied, and moved off at nearly a run round the corner.

I frowned, skin crawling with paranoia… was Federa… actually respecting me?

+++

2 weeks after Diviner Elide’s departure

“Good morning, Junior Diviner Alva.” Federa stood up from her desk as I rounded the corner, perfectly poised, eyes straight ahead. Not looking at me. Like always.

“Good morning, Junior Diviner Federa.” I tried for a smile. A friendly one, not a gloating one (gloatingly had been the only way I’d ever smiled at Federa at the academy).

She didn’t react to the overture. Or look at me. 

I was starting to get suspicious. Two weeks, and I still had no idea what was going on. Why she wasn’t mocking me? Undermining me? She wasn’t even striving to compete with me when we were deciphering data together (admittedly we worked together on data only rarely, since the endless tasks Bohai instructed me to delegate to her kept Federa quite busy) which was utterly unheard of. 

I remembered spending twenty hours straight at the academy working on a single exercise, from the moment it was assigned, until the moment it was finished, just so I could beat Federa to handing it in. And Federa had done the exact same thing. We handed it in within five minutes of each other (Okay, she was six minutes faster than me! I’d needed to use the bathroom at one point. Curse my tiny bladder.).

So why wasn’t she competing now? Trying to outdo me just for the sake of it, or to make me look and feel incompetent, or to impress Diviner Bohai? It didn’t make any sense!

At first I thought she was lulling me into a false sense of security but… two weeks? Two weeks of this all day and every day? It was weird. Incredibly weird.

“Thanks for the tea.” Federa had also been making me tea every morning. It was always in the same place on my desk, in the little green mug. And Federa made delicious tea, it was crazy. I usually hated tea but once - just once! - we’d traded a cup of her tea for some of my treasured biscuits at the academy… and maybe I didn’t mind tea any more. I could stomach it! But I only liked Federa’s tea. Not other tea.

And definitely not Federa.

“You are welcome, Junior Diviner Alva.”

Gah, so weird! I shook my head and went into Bohai’s office. Same as always: comments on the data from yesterday, more messages for Federa (so many physical messages, but never any oral ones), and some Legacy data instructions for me. Then I was dismissed.

I stepped back outside and closed the door behind me. Federa stood to attention. “Please, Federa, you can sit.”

“As you wish, Junior Diviner.” Federa sat.

Was she trying to annoy me by complying? Was that even a thing? If it was, it was working. She was acting like… like a…

Like a junior! Why was she acting like an obedient junior? She hated my guts and would always try to contradict me even if I was her superior, which I wasn’t!

I sat down as well. “Junior Div… Federa…” The words were really sticking in my throat. “Are you… alright?”

“Of course I am, Junior Diviner Alva.” Federa looked at me calmly. “Has my work been unsatisfactory?”

“No! No, of course not, it’s-” Great as always. “Fine, I just… I’m just concerned… for your… wellbeing.” 

That left a hideous taste in my mouth. Ugh.

Federa stared back at me. One of her elegant eyebrows twitched “I am very well, thank you, and grateful for the opportunity to serve as a Junior Diviner in whatever manner best serves the empire.”

“As am I! It’s just-”

“I think I’d like to get a start delivering the messages, Junior Diviner Alva. If that is acceptable to you?”

What was going on? “Yes, umm, of course. That’s fine. Go ahead.”

“Thank you, Junior Diviner Alva.” Federa curtsied, and left.

I let out a huff. This was what I got for trying to extend an olive branch, to check up on her. She didn’t even have the decency to insult me!

Federa was the worst.

+++

6 weeks later

Federa was missing. She’d been gone for hours. Had this been her plan? To make me curious about what was happening by acting distant, cold, and completely weirdly professional and respectful with me for two months? 

To make me concerned for her wellbeing, so that I would notice when she went to deliver messages and never came back, causing me to go looking for her? Then she could lure me into an isolated location, knock me unconscious, tie me up and put me in a barrel which would be loaded on a ship going to the far west of the empire?

… okay, granted, it was unlikely, but what else could she be up to? What could her devious genius have conjured up?

I’d been running around asking after her for nearly an hour now. Everyone was so cooperative with me these days! There was no more telling me to buzz off or that they were too busy. A far cry from my first six months as a Junior Diviner! People were so nice when you got to know them and they got to know you!

And as a result, I think I was getting close. I was in one of the old disused areas. I’d had to squeeze into a tiny corridor imperfectly covered by new wall panels and crawl through a dusty vent - but there had been patterns in the dust! Footsteps and crawl marks! I was right on her heels. It was dark, and dirty, and scary, but this was going to be worth it! I was going to find out what was wrong with Federa and/or whatever her plan was!

This was it!

I crawled out the end of the vent and straightened up, brushing the dust off as best I could without making noise. I had to move quietly, in case she was planning to ambush me. I prowled along as best I could, following footsteps in the dust. Left turn, right turn, and then-

A sound! I focused my hearing and slowed my approach. Faint… indistinct… but it sounded like…

Sobbing?

I frowned and followed the sound. It got louder as I went - definitely crying, who was crying back here? - and when it got loud, I peeked round the corner.

Federa. Federa was sitting on the floor, back against one wall, legs pulled up to her chest, head resting on her knees. 

And she was crying. Shaking with sobs.

My stomach twisted. This… this wasn’t right. This didn’t make any sense. Why was Federa crying? What was wrong? She shouldn’t be crying, she was my invincible foe! Implacable, unbreakable, unstoppable…

But she was crying. 

I should go. Turn around and go. Go back to my desk, back to that piece of data I was meant to be deciphering before Bohai noticed I was gone. I could keep working, and cover for Federa, and give her some privacy, and it was by far the best option, and-

“Federa?” My feet carried me out into the corridor almost of their own accord. Federa’s crying cut off and she looked up to stare at me, shocked. Her eyes were bright red, and there were tear tracks running down her cheeks. I felt a sudden, deep, unexplainable… pang. Why was I pang-ing? I wasn’t meant to feel pangs of sympathy or pangs of any sort for Federa! 

She was my great rival! I hated her!

“Is… is everything…” Okay stupid question, rephrase. “What’s wrong? Can… can I help?”

Federa stared back at me wordlessly for a long moment. I swallowed and slowly inched another step forwards. 

Federa leapt to her feet, pure rage in her eyes and stormed towards me like an angel of fury, tears still on her cheeks.

“Umm, what-”

Federa struck me round the face with one open hand and I yelped in pain, one hand coming up to cover my face as I took a few steps back. That stung! Federa had never attacked me physically before!

“Ancestors, Federa, what are you doing?” I demanded staggering back. 

She glared at me, chest heaving with heavy breaths. “There. That should be enough excuse. Dereliction of duty? Trespassing in an abandoned area? Striking a superior? Go ahead, do your worse!”

Had she gone mad? “What on EARTH are you talking about?” I demanded. 

“Save it, Alva!” She snarled, jabbing my shoulder with one finger. I jumped in surprise. “Save it for someone who cares, or better yet, for someone who buys your act like I used to.”

“Act? What act? I have no idea what you-”

Federa’s eyes flashed and she raised her arm again. I caught her wrist with one hand, eager not to be slapped again because she hit hard.

“Hey! HEY! Enough with the hitting!” I glared right back at her. “You know what? I came here because I was worried! I came round that corner because I’m worried about you! I have NO IDEA what you’re talking about! So why don’t you talk to me instead of hitting me?”

“Let go!” Federa spat.

I huffed and let go of her wrist, stepping back. Federa rubbed her wrist and glared at me, wiping the tears off her cheeks. “Diviner Elide is dead!” She glared at me.

I blinked, stunned into silence.

“She was in the middle of an abandoned Leviathan tunnel, trying to map it, when an unexpected water surge from elsewhere drowned her. And her team.” Federa glared at me. “So congratulations - your little scheme worked.”

Poor Diviner Elide. That was so unfortunate, what a tragic-

Wait, what? “Scheme? What scheme? Federa, I have no idea-”

“Bohai’s scheme then, if you want to split hairs!” Federa paced back and forth across the narrow corridor. “He spent over a year working against her. Undermining her. Isolating her. Gathering support to have her ejected for his own advancement.”

I stared at Federa, shocked. No. Surely not. Diviner Bohai… he wouldn’t do that! No Diviner would do that! They worked together in the pursuit of knowledge that would help the Quen! With our support!

“And all the while, there you were.” Federa glared at me. “Scurrying around! Carrying his little messages! Secret entreaties of support, scheming, dark political deals…”

“That’s ridiculous!” I shook my head firmly. “I… I was carrying… those weren’t political messages! It was data! Legacy data and analysis! Work orders!” 

“Alva, please, don’t even try to lie to me.” Federa laughed bitterly. “Legacy data doesn’t need to be transferred hard copy, sealed with wax, and written in code. You and I both know what you were running.”

“No. No, that’s not… it can’t…” I couldn’t be the reason! Bohai wouldn’t do this and… and even if he had then… then I couldn’t have… I couldn’t have helped with it…

“And then, once he has power… he vanishes Elide! Sends her to die in the gullet of Leviathan!” Federa spat on the floor. “And you… his precious little minion… you get your reward too, don’t you?”

“Reward?” My brow wrinkled. I mean… he had offered me…

He’d offered me the chance to send Federa to Leviathan.

But… but if Federa was right about Bohai… if he’d sent Elide there so she’d die… then that meant… he’d been offering me the chance… to kill… Federa…

I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. It couldn’t be true. Federa was wrong! Or lying! It couldn’t be!

“Oh yes!” Federa laughed and spread her arms out. “Your bitter rival! And you made me your pet.”

“My pet?” What on earth was Federa talking about, I’d refused Bohai’s offer!

“Was it that there wasn’t enough evidence to banish me to the end of the world?” Federa demanded, striding right up to me. “Or was it that you wanted the satisfaction of having me serve you? Day in, day out, fulfilling your every whim? Until you got tired of me and banished me anyway?”

“Federa, I never-”

“That first morning. When I came out of that snake Bohai’s office. You know what he said to me? Did you specify the wording or leave it to him?” Federa drew herself up and recited from memory. “ ‘Allow me to be clear. Your career, your future, and where you spend the rest of your life is completely dependent on your satisfying Junior Diviner Alva, and completing every one of her orders to the letter and in spirit. You are not here to learn from me, you are here to serve her. Any disrespect, any errant remark, one toe out of line and I shall once again grant Junior Diviner Alva  the opportunity to decide your fate. You may go.’ ”

I stood there, open-mouthed, speechless.

Federa glared at me. “Well, I’m done. Done. You’ve had your fun with me long enough! I won’t do this any more! Just get rid of me! Send me away, Leviathan, the badlands, anywhere, so long as I don’t have to spend another second with you!”

There was a lump in my throat.

Federa just stared at me, arms wide, beckoning me like she wanted me to hit her. “Go on. Get it over with.”

She was telling the truth. Federa was telling the truth. About all of it.

“I… Federa… I…”

“You know. One last thing, actually” Federa swallowed and lifted her head up, sticking her chin out. “I respected you, Alva. We were rivals but I… I thought of you as an equal. I thought that, despite how annoying and how superior you were, that you actually had a heart. That you were a good person. I’ve never been more wrong.”

“That… that’s not true.” I couldn’t raise my voice above a whisper.

“Oh, spare me-”

“I mean it!” I stepped closer to her, shaking my head furiously. “Federa, I… I swear, I had no idea I wasn’t running data messages for Bohai! I thought that was normal… I didn’t know he… what he was…”

I took a deep breath. “And you’re right, Diviner Bohai did offer me a choice. What to do with you… where to send you.”

Federa opened her mouth so I talked faster. “But! But, I didn’t, okay? He asked if I wanted to send you to the edge of the empire, or to Leviathan or…” I took a deep breath. “But I said that you should stay here, to study under a Diviner, to get another chance and… and I never asked for anything else. Certainly not for you to work with me, that was the last thing I wanted.”

Federa’s eyes bored into me. I looked back into hers. “I mean it.”

Federa stared a few moments more. Her jaw worked silently. “I don’t believe you.” She said quietly.

I sagged, dropping my eyes to the floor. Once Federa made up her mind on anything that wasn’t hard data, there was no convincing her. “For… for what it’s worth… I really am sorry. About Diviner Elide. I never… I never knew…” Words weren’t enough. “I’ll try talking to Bohai next time he’s in a good mood, see if I can get you reassigned to another Diviner.”

“Federa, I’ll cover for you today, just… stay here as long as you need to.” I swallowed and turned to walk away, pausing at the last moment. She was staring after me, eyes still red, arms folded. “I… Federa…”

I didn’t even know what I was trying to say.

I just didn’t want her to cry again.

But I didn’t know what to do.

I turned and walked away.

+++

That night

I rubbed my temples, blinking away my exhaustion as I scrutinised the data. I’d been at it for hours without a break, and-

“Swear to me.” I jumped out of my seat in shock, looking around the dark hallway beyond the light of the lamp on my desk and-

Federa was standing at the edge of the pool of light.

“You scared me to death.” I gasped, heart pounding. Ancestors.

She took a step forwards. “Alva, swear to me that everything you told me was true.” Her gaze was steely.

I shrugged my shoulders and sighed. “If you didn’t believe me this afternoon, Federa, then what is me swearing now going to-“

“Swear to me.” Federa walked right up to me.

My breath caught in my throat. She was only inches away. We were nearly nose-to-nose. Her eyes locked on mine. I stared back.

Stared into those ocean-blue eyes. “… I swear.”

Federa stared at me a few moments longer.

Then she suddenly embraced me, her head coming to rest on my shoulder. I froze in shock as her arms wrapped around me.

I was struck with the sudden realisation that, the slap excepted, I’d never actually touched Federa. I’d known her for years, yelled at her, thrown things at her, had things thrown at me (so many things) but we’d never… touched.

It was… strange. 

She was warm. 

I’d never imagined Federa being warm.

I slowly put my own arms around her and squeezed gently. Federa squeezed back.

“I would have done the same for you.” Federa whispered in my ear.

I started in shock at the tenderness of her voice. 

She was lying. She had to be lying. Federa hated me, she would have thrown me under the cart in an instant, banished me to the back of beyond given half a chance, she’d always hated-

“I swear.” She whispered.

I blinked. “I… I believe you.” I mumbled in reply.

And to my surprise, I really did.

+++

Legacy’s landfall

“Alva?” Aloy frowned at me.

“Huh?” I was jolted out of my reverie.

“Everything okay?” Aloy raised an eyebrow. “You were… staring off into space there…”

“Yeah, fine, just umm… remembering something.” I blushed and rubbed the back of my neck.

“A good something?” 

“Umm… kinda…” I felt like I could still feel my face stinging. “It led to a lot of very good somethings later.”

“Then I’d say it was pretty good, on balance.” Aloy offered. “Londra turning up was bad… but if not for him, I would never have met Seyka…”

“You’re probably right.” That day hadn’t been all bad. Even if Federa had cried and been on the verge of murdering me.

Even back when I thought I hated her I couldn’t stand to see her cry… and later…

+++

The Grand Fleet’s Departure

A mighty cheer went up as the armada set sail, flags waving in the wind, sails at full mast. From the ships, from the shore. Everywhere you looked, people were celebrating and cheering each other or themselves or us all onwards as the sounds of triumphal horns blared from the ships and the dock.

But I was only looking at the shore, at the end of one of the nearby decks, at Federa waving at me with both arms as she faded into the distance, just as one of her hands came up to her face to wipe away tears.

+++

Legacy’s Landfall

“Bad! Bad something!” I stood up shaking my head rapidly to clear it, breathing deeply.

“Alva! Are you okay, really?” Aloy stood up as well, moving over to me (well, her hologram did).

“I’m fine! I’ll be fine.” I took a steadying breath, and looked into her holographic eyes. “Aloy, you need to talk to Seyka.”

“I… can’t.” Aloy coughed, looking at her feet.

“Why?”

“Complicated!” Aloy huffed. “Besides, it’s not like she’s called me, has she? Or asked you to call me for her?”

“But she’s not calling because you haven’t called!” 

“You don’t know that.” Aloy shook her head stubbornly. “Maybe she hasn’t called because she’s busy. Or because she doesn’t want to talk. She’s busy with Kina, and the unification, and-”

“Aloy. Seriously. Seyka is thinking the exact same things you are, and it’s the only reason she hasn’t called! But if both of you wait for the other to call, then-”

“I’ll call!” Aloy held up both hands. “You’re right, I’ll call Seyka.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”

“… when the time is right.”

Frustration bubbled up again. “Aloy-”

 “Gotta go, sleep tight.” Aloy vanished.

“Fine. Fine.” I declared to the empty air (but pretending Aloy was listening because it made me feel better). “You stubborn Nora. Well, I’m just gonna talk to Seyka. She’ll be much more reasonable.”

+++

“No.” Seyka shook her head.

“But-”

“I said no.” Seyka crossed her arms.

“Why?” I pleaded.

“Aloy hasn’t called me.” Seyka stated as if this was the single most important fact in the universe. “Maybe she doesn’t want to talk.”

“Seyka, I promise-”

“You don’t know for sure. You can’t read minds with that thing on your head.” Seyka gestured at my focus. “Even if it is a newer model or whatever.”

When trying to win a debate, start from first principles Alva. Start from first principles.

I switched tacks. “But you do want to talk to her?” 

Seyka uncrossed her arms and shrugged, looking at her feet. “Yes. Sure. Of course.”

“Okay. So if you want to talk to her, all you have to do is let me patch in your Focus and-”

“What if Aloy doesn’t want to talk to me?”

“She definitely does!” I smiled. “She asks me about you!”

Seyka looked at me suspiciously. “Like what?” 

“She always asks how you’re doing, and how your sister is, and-”

“But if she wanted to talk to me she could ask me those things herself.”

“Seyka, I think Aloy is nervous to be the one who-”

Seyka snorted. “Aloy is nervous to talk to me? Aloy who saved the world five times?”

I winced. “She actually disputes that, According to her it’s only twice.” 

Seyka raised an eyebrow at me.

“Okay, maybe that’s not material, but-”

“Tell Aloy that if she wants to talk to me, she can call me.” Seyka flashed me a warm smile, then left. 

“Fine!” I muttered to myself once she was gone. “Fine. Fine. See if I care if you’re stupid… Sort it out yourselves.”

Chapter Text

That evening

“Alva?”

“Seyka, I’m trying to sleep.”

“I know but… I was just wondering if you knew anything about where Aloy grew up? It sounded like it was really tough for her…”

“Well… really far to the east there’s a place called the Sacred Land…”

+++

The next morning

“Hi Alva! Everything still good with the Quen?”

“Yep, proceeding well! Everyone’s getting along, and we’re discussing some more excavations now that we have more people on hand.”

“That’s fantastic! And how is Seyka?”

“Seyka’s good.”

“Great… do you know where in the Quen homeland she grew up? What it was like?”

“Umm… I think Kina said they grew up in the capital, which is…”

+++

The next afternoon

“Hi Alva! Mind if I sit with you for lunch?”

“Be my guest!”

“Thanks! Ooh, that looks nice.”

“It’s some of my special tea from back home! It helps soothe me when I’m feeling strained.”

“Oh… is it all the reunification stuff?”

“… yes.”

“Anything I can do to help?”

“Don’t worry about it!”

“Okay… I was wondering what you could tell me about Aloy’s sister?”

“Beta? Oh, Beta’s great. I love Beta.”

“She must know lots about Aloy.”

“I’d expect so. Because they talk to each other all the time.”

“Of course! So since you know Beta well, could you tell me a bit about…”

+++

After dinner

“Hi Alva, just me checking in.”

“Hi Aloy. Everything’s good.”

“And how is Kina?”

“Kina is doing well. She’s been talking to our navigators a lot, and others from the crews. Londra’s victims are really reintegrating.”

“Do you know much about Kina?”

“Not especially… I’d heard of her, but never-”

“Do you think you could find out about her for me? Pretty please?”

+++

Trying to sleep

“Psst, Alva. Alva?”

“…”

“Alva? Alva… are you awake?”

“…”

“Okay. No biggie, Seyka. You’ll just have to ask her bright and early tomorrow morning. Sunrise is only six hours-”

“Seyka? Is that you?”

“Oh, Alva! Did I wake you talking to myself?”

“No, you didn’t. What is it?”

“What’s Aloy’s favourite flower?”

+++

“Are there any Quen speciality dishes you could get me the recipe for?”

+++

“Do the Nora have any special holidays that Aloy observes?”

+++

“Do you think Seyka will realise I’m a clone of Sobeck from talking to other Diviners? Could you keep that from happening? I want to tell her on my own terms…”

+++

“You haven’t told Aloy stories about what the guards are like back home, have you? I’m not like them and I won’t want her to think of me like that until I have a chance to explain in person…”

+++

“So Alva…”

+++

“Hey Alva!”

+++

“Alva,”

+++

“Alva!”

+++

“Alva…”

+++

“So, Alva, umm…”

+++

“Has Seyka asked about me?”

+++

“Has Aloy mentioned me on your calls?”

+++

One week later

“I’m just not hungry.” I smiled at Seyka. “Not yet.”

“Are you sure?” Seyka frowned. “C’mon, I didn’t see you at lunch either. Are you skipping mealtimes?”

“No.” I lied.

“Well at least come have a drink?”

“In a bit! In a little bit. I just need some time and… exercise. I need to take a walk!”

“Oh! Sure! Sounds great.” Seyka nodded. “Let me know when you’re going to dinner.”

“Will do.”

“And if you want some exercise, we can go running together tomorrow morning! Right after sunrise! What do you say?”

“… yep.”

“Awesome. See you soon!”

I waved goodbye and made my way to my nice, high, scary, but private spot. 

Ping-ping! Ping-ping! Call from Aloy!

I pulled off my focus and put it in my pocket, taking a deep breath. “It’s too much.” I said to myself. “This is too much. I have to stop it.”

I thought for a moment. I’d tried convincing them to talk. I’d tried rushing them into talking (that hadn’t worked either), and tricking Aloy into calling Seyka’s Focus by accident felt like a non-starter.

I sighed. “I need help. I need someone better at this than me. I need…”

+++

4 days later

“Wow.” Beta’s hologram blinked, leaning back on her chair at the Base. “Just… wow.”

I nodded. “Yep. Yep that’s… that’s how I feel.”

“That sounds… incredibly frustrating.”
“Uh-huh.”

“So they… refuse to talk?”

“Yes.”

“And Aloy won’t just fly over and visit?”

“Not unless Seyka asks her to.”

“You can’t fake a message?”

I shrugged hopelessly. “Seyka doesn’t even know how to send messages using the Focus. Aloy would smell a rat if I tried.”

“Yeah…” Beta chewed her lip. “But they… they just keep asking about each other?”

“Yes!”

“And asking you how the other’s doing? And stuff about their past?”

“Exactly!” I huffed, crossing my arms. “I hate being the piggy in the middle. I feel like I’m running messages for Bohai again. Except he was at least predictable.”

Beta made a sympathetic noise, curling one strand of her around her finger thoughtfully.

“I’m at my wits’ end, Beta.” I sighed. “I need your help.”

“Well… I’m happy to try.” Beta frowned. “But, Alva… all my experience comes from millennium-old holos.”

“So?” I held out my hands, both palms facing upwards. “I’ll try anything at this stage.”

“Sure, I’m just confused why you came to me first. I know we have our whole unbreakable, intellectual-first and machine-smasher-second connection going but I’m probably the joint-worst…” Beta cut herself off and sighed. “Well, now that Aloy has apparently worked some of this stuff out… the single worst person at relationships in the entire world. And definitely the worst you know.”

I tried to act natural. “Yeahhhhhh.”

Beta frowned at me suspiciously. “Wait. You didn’t come to me first, did you?”

“Pfft.” I laughed. It sounded shrill. “I mean spiritually and emotionally I did. You’re my port in a storm.”

Beta’s face hardened. “And what about in a strict temporal sense?”

Oh, this was gonna be awful. “Umm… well… not exactly… first…”

+++

Zo — 4 days ago

“Hi Alva, it’s been too long.” Zo’s warm tones came over the Focus. 

Ah, so soothing. A well-deserved win for audio-only. “Much too long!” I agreed. “How are the rest of the Utaru?”

“The tribe is flourishing with the Land-Gods restored. The blight is banished, food is plentiful… and as a result, community tensions have eased greatly.”

“No more need to argue over abandoning Plainsong if Plainsong is thriving!”

“Exactly.” I thought I could hear a smile in Zo’s voice. “It has brought me a great deal of peace as well.”

“And… what about the Chorus?”

“They are being… surprisingly cooperative. They tolerate me. And some of them may even be beginning to listen. I suppose Aloy made an impression.”

“I think you did that, Zo.” I smiled and lay down on the ground.

“You are very kind, Alva, as always.”

“Aww. Thanks.”

“How do the Quen fare?”

“We’re unified again, which is great. Seyka and Aloy made it all possible, and it’s gone smoothly.” 

“Ah yes, Seyka and Aloy…” Zo mused. “You must tell me more about Seyka one of these days.”

“Actually… kind of the problem I’m having…”

“A problem? Has she deceived Aloy?” Zo’s tone was suddenly reminiscent of the vengeful commando she’d been during the Red Raids. Yikes.

“No, not at all… they’re just… driving me mad…”
“Ah. Young loves separated can be intolerable.”

“Yeah, they absolutely are in this case!” I sighed. “And they’re refusing to take any steps to see each other even though both of them want to and… they just don’t listen to me.”

“Alva, you are a kind and wise young woman. I am sure you will remain resilient, and find a solution.”

“Yeah, absolutely.” I nodded slowly. “Or you could tell me what to do.”

“Alva-”

“Please Zo, they’re driving me up the wall. Just some advice. Please.”

Zo sighed and went quiet. She was thinking. I waited with bated breath. “Among the Utaru, love is professed not through words. But through actions, and through song.”

“Isn’t a song words?”

“No, it’s very different.” Zo’s tone brooked no argument.

“I ahh… can’t see myself getting either of them to sing…”

“They don’t have to. Song is a pure expression of emotion. Distilled. If they won’t sing… try encouraging them to think about how each would summarise what they feel about the other. No lies, no deceptions… just emotion. Honesty. If each confronts how they feel, and their feelings are real, they will race back to each others’ arms.”

“That’s brilliant Zo!” That was perfect! Sweet, heartwarming, and perfect! No way could that fail!

+++

Erend — 3 days ago

I heard the sound of a chair breaking and loud voices in the background. “Is everything okay, Erend? I-” Glass shattering.
“Yeah everything’s great, Alva!” Erend’s hologram reappeared. “How’s that? Can you see me?”

“I see you!” I waved.

He waved back with a big smile.

“What’s with all the… chaos?” I asked tentatively.

Erend laughed. “Chaos? This?! Ah, it’s nothing. Just a little Oseram event. Oh!” Erend ducked suddenly and I heard a crash from his background. “Nice try Stemmur!”

“When you say event… some kind of ritual combat?” I asked hesitantly. Aloy mentioned the Tenakth had ceremonial battle arenas… and there was an Oseram one in Chainscrape… maybe-

“Haha! Good one! Nah, just dinner. We just found something in one of the Old Vegas Car-See-Nose. Do you want to-”

“Maybe later!” Gosh that did sound cool though… “Only because it sounds like I won’t have you for long! I’d love to hear about it another time!”

“Course! Of course! So, where’s the fire?”

“So you heard about Seyka?”

“That rings a bell… some Quen marine from the Burning Shores, right? Beta seemed really excited to meet her.”

“Yeah… probably because she’s Aloy’s… well… special to Aloy…”

Erend stared at me blankly for a second, then his face split into a huge grin. “Aloy has a girlfriend?!”

I winced. “Yes, but maybe not so lou-”

“STEMMUR! MORLUND! YOU GOTTA HEAR THIS! IT’S ALOY! ALOY-”

“EREND PLEASE, SHE’LL KILL ME!” I yelled.

Erend winced, touching his holographic ear. “Right, right, sure… MORLUND, STEMMUR, FALSE ALARM! KEEP DRINKING!”

“Thanks.” I breathed a sigh of relief. I had no idea what Aloy would do to me but… it would be bad. I’d let Beta keep gossiping around. Aloy might huff and puff but she was incapable of getting properly angry at Beta. It was impossible.

“That’s fantastic news!” Erend beamed. “What’s she like?”

“Umm… talented warrior and machine-hunter. Courageous, kind, principled, quick on the uptake… gorgeous in that very muscular marine way… extremely stubborn…”

“Sounds like a perfect fit! Hammer to anvil.” Erend was nodding now. “Do we toast? Shall we toast? Do you need me to tell anyone else?”

“No, no… Beta is telling people I think.” Or at least she told me. I assume she was the one who told Zo? Or did Zo just read Aloy’s mind? 

“Ah, got it. Nice. Smart. Damage control.” He tapped his temple meaningfully and the hologram winked out as he accidentally ended the call.

I waited patiently. Erend reappeared a moment later. “Sorry, that keeps happening… some kind of tech glitch…”

“Mmm.” I nodded politely. 

“So, what’s the problem? You’re sitting like there’s a problem.”

“I just… you know… want to bring them together again. They’ve been apart a while and they’re both acting stubborn or proud or scared about not contacting the other…”

“Aha. If there’s one thing Oseram know, it’s pride and stubbornness.” Erend paused. “Two things.”

“I think most tribes have a good handle on those.” I smiled warmly. “Any ideas? I’m totally dry.”

“It’s simple.” Erend held a finger in the air. “First step, get a loot of ale and food.”

The Oseram step one for everything.

“Step two, organise an amazing party. Free flowing drink, great food, beautiful venue, lots of good people, dancing…”

“Oh-kay…”

“And then you invite both of them.” Erend grinned. “And don’t tell the other they’re there.”

“Okay…” This was starting to make sense. “But what if-”

“One spots the other and skedaddles? I’ve thought of that.” He nodded knowingly. “You stick like glue to one of them, and someone you trust sticks to the other like glue. And then you lead them both to a pre-arranged place, and the chaperones vanish. Poof. Together again. And nobody paying them a damn bit of notice on account of the party… and they’ll be in pleasant surroundings. Again on account of the party.”

I thought it through for a moment. “That’s actually quite a good plan.”

“I know, right? Look at how far I’ve come.” Erend winked. “If you want, Morlund and I can host it in Vegas? Famous old world city for partying. Plus we’ve got all the essentials, and some gorgeous light shows.”

“I think Seyka will smell a rat if I try flying her that far. And getting Aloy to come would be tricky as well.” I pursed my lip. “I’ll try to organise something like that here.”

“Sounds good. Can I come?”

I hesitated. “I’d love that… but the guards…”
“… would shoot me on sight as a barbarian.”

“Yeah…”

“Pretty barbaric policy.”

“Yeah.” I nodded, and smiled apologetically. “I’m trying to change hearts and minds.”

“You’ll get there, I know.” He smiled at me. “Okay. You can do this Alva. You know why?”

I frowned. “Why?”

“Because you’re the best.”

I smiled. “Thanks, Erend.” I giggled. “And thank you to the ale, for making him say that.”

Erend laughed, saluted jokingly, and cut the call.

Kotallo — 2 days ago

“So that’s the problem.” I finished. “I figured you’d know what to do because-”

“Because, like Aloy and Seyka, I have the outlook of a warrior. And I have been separated from many past loves by the winds of battle and fate.” Kotallo nodded stoically.

Because you’re stupidly handsome and muscular, and a deadly warrior, and I figured Tenakth women must go crazy for that so you’d have a ton of experience.

“Spot on.” I smiled.

Kotallo stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I must confess Alva, usually it is you or Aloy that comes up with an elaborate plan. My thinking is often painfully direct.”

“Yeah but you crush me at machine strike.” I grinned. “Clear example of strategy.”

“Less than you’d think.” One corner of his mouth tugged slightly upwards, which for Kotallo was the equivalent of a big full-face smile.

I’d learned to read the guy during our assault on the Zenith base. And during a couple of missions travelling around the Clanlands in the aftermath. We complimented each other well… in both skillsets and personality. As well as just with compliments. Well, I gave him a lot of compliments. He nodded a lot and spoke in short sentences. But I knew what he meant.

“Well, among the Tenakth, there are three kinds of couplings. Each of different levels of emotional importance.”
“Okay.” I nodded, getting ready to write this all down.

“In ascending order there are liaisons prior to battle, relationships formed during training, and relationships forged after the battle is won.”

“Okay.” I scribbled furiously.

“Liaisons prior to battle are fleeting, desperate, and yet often very intimate. The closeness of those who do not know if they will live to see another sunset, and do not wish to spend this one alone. Yet they rarely last.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And then many Tenakth form close bonds of friendship or more during the long stretches between battle, when training and living together in peace. These relationships are often stronger than those pre-battle, for they have the expectation of greater permanency built in. But at the same time, there is less passion, less energy.”

I nodded, gesturing for him to continue. He was very good at talking at the same speed I wrote at.

“And then there are the relationships formed after the battle.”
“The strongest!”

“Yes, Alva.” Kotallo sounded amused. “They are formed in that glorious moment when a soldier realises that against any odds, they are alive. That they will live to see another day, another sunrise. And they see someone else has survived, and in that glorious moment of post-battle euphoria, they realise they are beyond glad simply to be together, and to face the coming battles as one.”

“Makes sense.” I finished writing. “So…”

“Aloy and Seyka have formed the third kind of relationship, after their many battles, including against the Horus.”

“Yes.”
“Among the Tenakth, these bonds are unbreakable.”

“Yes…”

“So you don’t need to do anything.”

“Yes…” I frowned. “Wait, what? Yes I do!”

“They will work this out on their own.” Kotallo shook his head. “They will find their way back to each other. You need do nothing to involve yourself.”

“I mean, eventually, fine, probably, but they’re driving me mad right now!” I pleaded. “C’mon, just… just give me something.”

Kotallo sighed. It was a long sigh. “If you truly need one of Aloy or Seyka to sprint to the other’s side, and believe it would be best, there are two obvious options.”

“Great. Two options. Love that. Hit me.”

“The first is to inform one of them that the other is in danger. Ideally, they actually should be in danger. Machines, bandits… enough to present a serious threat. Then the other will come flying to rescue, and leap from the Wings of the Ten to aid them in glorious battle… I can imagine nothing more romantic…” Kotallo was staring into the middle distance.

I coughed politely. Kotallo’s eyes returned to me. “Apologies I was… distracted.”

“Mm.” I nodded. “But, hypothetically, if I didn’t want to endanger my friends over this…”

“You would have to lie.” Kotallo frowned. “But this would be dishonourable.”

I nodded glumly. “Yeah.”

“You would also risk Aloy or Seyka attacking you most viciously in a fit of rage.”

I winced. “Bad option. No-go.”

“Yes.”

“What’s option two?”

“Equally simple. Tell one of them that the other has a new admirer.”

I felt a chill up my spine. “That feels very dishonest.”

“You need not fake it. Aloy gathers admirers wherever she goes. Set Seyka on a chase to find Aloy. Or the reverse - inform Aloy that Seyka is pining for her, and that in the meanwhile many eyes have fallen on the heroic marine.”

I pursed my lips. I mean, not ideal… but… “That could work… and they’d both be happier once it was straightened out…”

“The method is highly effective.” Kotallo nodded. “A companion of mine once hunted me across half the length of the Clanlands, believing that I had… liaised… with another woman.”

“Oh. She came to yell at you? Or the woman?”

“She came to kill me.” Kotallo chuckled, and shifted his arm to display a scar on his side. “She nearly succeeded.”
“Oh nooooooo….”

“Fortunately, I was able to convince her that I had not betrayed her. The only treachery in this case was that of a worm in her home town who, jealous of our bond, convinced her of my infidelity.”

“I see where this is going…” I grimaced. “You went all the way to her village to kill him?”
“Yes.” Kotallo nodded.

“I don’t suppose you showed mercy?”

“No.”

“Right…”

Oh, it was so easy to forget that Kotallo had killed so many people…

“And my companion challenged the woman accused by the liar to a duel as well.”

“But nothing happened between you!”

“No, but this other woman had made advances, and my companion took offence. It was an honourable duel. The loser was allowed to live. Her legs healed in time.”

I put my head in my hands. “I don’t want to get a random person with a crush on Aloy or Seyka crippled, Kotallo.”

“I expected not. Fortunately I have an alternative recommendation.”

I looked up hopefully. “Which is?”

“Do nothing.”

+++

GAIA — 1 day ago

“Alva. It is good to speak with you again.” GAIA’s hologram smiled at me warmly. 

“Same, GAIA. Same.” I thought for a moment then smiled. “I suppose for you, a video call is the same as me being there?”

“Very nearly. A closer approximation than it is for you humans.” GAIA nodded thoughtfully. “Still, I have grown to like speaking to people in the base. It relaxes me when I feel that you are all… home.”

“I feel very relaxed when I’m near you.” I whispered.

“Thank you, Alva.”

“How’s Beta?”

“Beta is doing well. She is enjoying having access to the Apollo database that Sylens retrieved.”

“Wow.” I shook my head. “I’m so jealous. I’m never talking to her about that. Until I get my hands on it. I’d die of envy from the data trove I’m missing out on.”

“Yes, the amount of knowledge is… wonderful. She is also enjoying the media trove it contains.”

“Oh?”

“She has ‘binged' seasons five through eleven of the show ‘Second Time Around’ in the last six days.”

“WHAT!” How could she do that!

“I know. Beta has lost significant amounts of sleep.”
“No, I meant… Beta said she’d wait to watch that until I was there!” She’d told me all about the show - her favourite from the media portal provided by Tilda (yuck). She’d described the plot of the whole show up to season four and promised to watch it all with me.

“In her defence, she has been waiting many years.”

“Yeah…”

“And she still has every intention of watching it with you.” 

I perked up. “Really?”

“Yes. I catalogued seventeen instances of her saying variations on ‘Ooh, this will blow Alva’s mind, I can’t wait to show her this!’.”

“Aww. Okay.”

“But this is not the reason for your call.”

“No…” I hesitated. “Am I allowed to ask you for help with Aloy and Seyka?”

“My overriding objective is to support human life and happiness in any way. I am also very keen to support Aloy in her newest… endeavour. In whatever manner she needs.” 

“Okay. Great.” I explained my problem.

GAIA pondered for a moment. “I am afraid that I have no experience with human romantic relationships. Elisabet provided my predecessor with no guidance on the subject.”

“Yeah.” I sighed. “I knew it was a long shot.”

“I can however send you a compressed file of all human media on teenage romantic relationships and first loves.”

“That sounds handy! How compressed?” Surely there was something in the collective trove of humanity’s knowledge that can help me… and by the time civilisation collapsed, they had to have had some pretty definitive answers on this stuff.

“Hmm. There is more than I anticipated. A meta-analysis indicates it would take you several lifetimes to watch all of it.”

“Err… I can’t do that. Definitely not in time.”

“Agreed. Allow me to extract the key data.” GAIA closed her eyes for a moment, analysing the files. “I have identified key factors leading to reunions and more open communication.”

“Great. What have you got?”

“According to human media: Shared or solo near-death experiences. Critical yet predictable miscommunications. Meetings at bridges, harbours, and airports. Jealousy over a true love being in a relationship with someone else, or imminently marrying someone else.”

GAIA cocked her head. “There are more, but all occurring at lower frequency within the Apollo database.”

I sighed. “That’s not hugely helpful.”

“I know. I am sorry.”

“I’m running out of options here.”

“Have you considered asking Beta? She consumes human media at a remarkable rate. Especially human media concerning relationships.”

“You’re right.” I nodded firmly. “If anyone can get into Aloy’s head, it’s Beta. I just have to make sure she doesn’t know I asked her last.”

+++

Back to Beta

“You asked me last?” Beta looked at me indignantly and crossed her arms.

“You said yourself that you’re the worst person at this!” I said apologetically.

“You don’t get to say that!” Beta huffed. “And you definitely don’t get to ask me last!” She turned to face away from me.

“I still love you and treasure you?” I smiled hopefully. Beta tapped one foot on the floor and shook her head disbelievingly. “You’re the only person I can enjoy old-world holos with? Especially the sappy ones? And the only person in this hemisphere who wants to talk about old world stuff with me late at night or early in the morning?”

Beta let out a long sigh. “I can’t stay mad at you.”

“Thank you.” I smiled angelically. “Like I said, I love and treasure you.”

“I love and treasure you too.” Beta sat back down in front of me and smiled. “Just tell me you didn’t ask Sylens before me?”

“Of course I didn’t.” I giggled. “What sort of idiot would I have to be to ask Sylens about this?”

“Right. Of course.” Beta laughed. “Yeah. Silly me. You’re not an idiot.”

+++

Sylens — 2 hours ago

“So… err… yeah.” I shuffled awkwardly in place.

Sylens stared at me silently, his face expressionless. But then it always was.

“I just…” I couldn’t bear this silence. “I mean you’ve known Aloy for the longest, I think. And you’ve been around a while, and-”

“Alva.” Sylens interrupted me and I stopped talking immediately. “I’m going to be very honest with you as a courtesy.”

I nodded.

“Out of Aloy’s entire team of rag-tags and misfits, you were the only one I respected.” 

I blinked. Wait. Was he… being nice? In his own way?

“You worked tirelessly to uncover knowledge of the old world. Despite being born into a tribe that shrouded knowledge in mysticism and taboo, you rose above their ridiculous beliefs. You also possess a spine. Under immense pressure, you snuck through the Zenith base, destroyed their regulator to enable HEPHAESTUS to turn the tide of battle, and were than able to secure valuable information from the Zenith database during the middle of the highest caliber battle this world has seen in a thousand years.”

“Oh… thank you.” 

“Therefore,” Sylens’ hologram began to pace from side to side. “I entertained the notion of you calling me. Something I allow only Aloy and GAIA to do. I believed, naively, that as an intellectual, the topic of conversation you brought would be meaningful. Stimulating. Or would, at the least, be an urgent challenge I could assist with, that we might build a closer working relationship.”

Oh dear. I could see where this was going. “If we could hold on to that impression-”

“And instead, you bother me with trivial gossip and ask me to involve myself in some harebrained scheme involving Aloy’s love life. No, worse,” He shook his head. “You ask me to invent a harebrained scheme to influence Aloy’s love life? Do I have that right?”

“I-”

“Restrict yourself to five words or fewer.”

I swallowed. “Yes. I am very sorry.”

He nodded. “You have squandered at least half of the respect I had for you before this. I am blocking your Focus number, as I have the others’.”

“Wait, what-”

“If you wish to speak me again, do so through Aloy or GAIA.” He paused. “You have disappointed me gravely.”

Sylens vanished.

I sat on the ground dejectedly. “Yeah, I… I really should have seen that coming.”

I blinked. “I can’t believe he actually respected me at one point…”

+++

Beta

“Right. Of course.” Beta laughed. “Yeah. Silly me. You’re not an idiot.”

“Yes. That’s me. Not an idiot.” I nodded. “So, any ideas?”

“Well.” Beta leaned forward. “I can give you some advice.”

“I sense a ‘but’.”

“But it’s not free.”

“Right…” I sighed.

“It would have been free if you hadn’t asked four people before me.” She looked at me meaningfully.

“Fine.” I threw up my hands. “Not like I have a choice.”

“If anything works, you have to tell me how it happens.”

“Agreed.”

“I haven’t got to meet Seyka. Tell me about her.”

I thought for a moment, then repeated the description I’d given Erend.

Beta nodded thoughtfully. “Okay. She seems appropriate.”

“I also wouldn’t judge her too loudly, since she or Aloy could beat the hell out of us.” I suggested.

“Good call.” Beta nodded again. “How much is Aloy pining?”

“A lot, that’s the problem.” I grumbled.

“Yeah but like… how embarrassing will it be for her.” Beta grinned. “What can I use against her?”

“She asks how Seyka is all the time.” I offered. “She asked me to investigate Seyka and her sister for her.”

Beta laughed. “That’s good. What else?”

“Oh, she asked me for a Quen recipe she could try to cook.”

Beta shrieked with laughter. “Oh that’s perfect. Okay, wait, does she make a face when talking about Seyka? Is it like this?”

Beta made an over-exaggerated pining face. I giggled.

“Ooh, or maybe like this?” Beta stared moodily into middle distance. She dropped her voice half an octave. “Oh, oh woe is me. I’m Aloy, hero and saviour of the world. I’m mysterious and lonely, and nobody understands my pain. Except one person that I refuse to speak to but want to kiss so so much.”

I chortled. “That’s pretty good. Cathartic for me.”

“Glad to be of service.” Beta flashed me a grin. “So. You never asked Sylens. Kotallo and GAIA were a bust.”

“Yeah.”

“What about Zo and Erend’s ideas? Did none of those work?”

“Not even close.” I said glumly.

+++

Zo’s Idea — 4 days ago

“Wow. She kept Londra piloting a Horus distracted? Without getting hit? On her first time piloting a machine?”

“Yeah. It was amazing.” Aloy smiled wistfully, staring into the distance.

“It sounds it.” I shuddered, remembering my first flight. I’d nearly thrown up. Then nearly crashed. And then I crash landed.

And then I threw up.

“And then what happened?” I smiled mischievously. “A kiss amidst the flaming wreckage?”
“Alva!” Aloy laughed, blushing slightly. “You can’t expect me to tell you that!”

“Why not!” I pouted. “C’mon.”

“Alva…”

“Please?”

Aloy sighed. “Not amidst the burning wreckage, no. Seyka… invited me back to the spot we first met.”

“Aww…”

“A really beautiful beach…”

“Awwwww…”

“… where we’d fought a pack of Apex machines together…”
“Okayyyy…”

“But the carcasses had been taken away by scrappers and Glinthawks at this point.”

“Back on track…”

“And there was a lovely sunset and…” 

Aloy smiled and closed her eyes. “Thanks Alva.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And?”

“That’s all you’re getting.” Aloy opened her eyes and smiled at me. “But thanks for taking me back.”

“It sounds like a very happy memory.” I smiled.

“Yeah…” Aloy closed her eyes again and her smile widened.

So so close… what had Zo said…“How did you feel in that moment?”

“Err…” Aloy opened her eyes. “Happy… obviously?”

I had to push… get her to relive the moment… “There must be more to it than that…”

“I mean… sure… but…” Aloy’s eyes narrowed and her hologram stood up. “What is this?”

“Huh?” I blinked, confused.

“Is this a set-up?” Aloy swiped and I saw her scrutinising the metadata. “Is Beta watching?”

“No, of course not!” I shook my head desperately. “I just-”

“We’ll see about that. I’m talking to Beta.” Aloy hung up.

I sighed and put my head in my hands.

Half an hour later, I got a very short but heartfelt apology message from Aloy. No dice.

+++

Zo’s Idea — 3.5 days ago

“Aloy told me you took her back to the same beach you met on.” I bumped Seyka’s shoulder and smiled. “She thought that was so romantic.”

Seyka blushed. “Really?”

“Yes. She seemed overwhelmed when I talked to her.” I smiled. “I don’t know… maybe… oh, forget it.” Hook…

“Maybe what?” Seyka frowned at me.

“I’m probably wrong.” I crossed my fingers behind my back.

“You have to tell me now.” Seyka propped her head on her arm, sitting up slightly in her bed.

I scooted a little closer to the edge of my mattress and lowered my voice. “She seemed… well, maybe Aloy felt like nothing she did could compare to that.”

“That’s crazy.” Seyka frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I mean… that the way you reached out to her was so perfect… so emotional… so overwhelming that…”

“That she’s worried if she just calls me… she’s showing herself up?” Seyka frowned thoughtfully.

Sinker!

“That… can’t be right.” Seyka shook her head. “I mean… Aloy’s fearless. There’s no way…”

“Machines, tyrants, and death-defying stunts? Sure, fearless.” I nodded. “But you were her first kiss. You should have heard her talk about those days she spent with you…”

“They were so special…” Seyka murmured. “What an adventure we had…”

“She misses it too.” 

I couldn’t lay it on too thick, that’s what had scuppered this with Aloy. I just had to wait… and wait… and-

“Well if she thinks she has to make some grand gesture…”

Oh no!

“… I can prove her wrong by just calling her.” Seyka nodded firmly.

… wait? Really?!

YES!

“That’s great!” I beamed. “Do you want me to transfer her focus details and give you the tent?”

“Oh… I mean… Alva it’s the middle of the night… and I don’t want to make you go outside in-”

“No no no, it’s no trouble at all!” I rolled out of bed and rushed to pull on my sleeping gown. “Seize the day! The hour! This very minute in fact! I won’t have it any other way! Let me just-”

Beep beep!

“She’s calling me!” I smiled at Seyka, who gasped. “Probably to ask about you like usual.” 

Seyka blushed a deep red.

“I’ll put her on speaker and then transfer it to you, okay?” I raised an eyebrow.

Seyka nodded firmly. 

I suppressed a woop of excitement. YES! Go Zo!

I answered the call, switching it to speaker. “Hi Aloy! What’s-”

“Alva! We have a major emergency.”

I sat straight up, feeling horrid mood whiplash. “What’s the situation?”

“I’m at Cauldron IOTA. HEPHAESTUS has a team of machines in here rewiring it to mass produce Apex Rockbreakers.”

My blood chilled. “But if it does that-”

“They’ll be within striking distance of the Base. They could tunnel right in.”

“What do you need?”

“I need a way to shut down production. GAIA has schematics but can’t interpret them because that’s the HEPHAESTUS subroutine function. I need you to analyse and talk me through it while I-”

I heard an explosion sound in the background.

“- keep slowing it down. Beta is in the loop with the others working out an intercept plan for if any get out. Okay?”

“Okay! Send me the data and I’ll get cracking.” The sound of machine fighting intensified before Aloy hung up.

“Alva!” Seyka stood up. “If I fly as fast as I can, will I get there in time?”

I shook my head. “IOTA is on the other side of the Clanlands. It would take you fourteen hours at the least, you’d never get there in time to help.”

Seyka nodded, pacing back and forth, arms folded.

No time. Data. The package arrived, and I started scanning. I patched Aloy back in five minutes later.

“I have an idea of where to start. On the right hand side of the entrance, there’s a vertical shaft which should take you…”

Eight gruelling hours later, the sound of an explosion nearly blew out my eardrums. “That did it, Alva! Production shutting down.”

“Thank GAIA for that Specter gauntlet.” I let myself breathe.

Seyka looked up from her chair and beamed a smile of pure relief.

“That railgun is no joke.” Aloy agreed. “Alright. Two Rockbreakers got out. I’m going in pursuit. HEPHAESTUS won’t be trying that again unless it wants to lose more Cauldrons. Aloy, out.”

I flopped back onto my bed. I felt so stressed. So so stressed.

“That… was a busy night.” I let my eyes close and tried to breathe normally.

“Yeah… horrible.” Seyka agreed.

We rested there for a long time before Seyka piped up.

“Well, I guess that disproves your theory Alva.”

“Huh? What theory?” I frowned, keeping my eyes closed.

“Aloy’s not called because she’s busy saving the world. Alone. No need for help. And no other reason.”

Oh, no. I felt hope slipping through my fingers. “Wait-”

“I’m gonna grab us breakfast.” Seyka marched out of the tent.

I pouted.

“Stupid HEPHAESTUS.” I muttered.

+++

Erend’s Idea — 3 days ago

“You convinced Aloy to come?” Kina beamed at me.

“Yep. Took some doing.” I nodded. “Had to… tell misrepresentations. Lies. Many lies. But all white! Very white. Harmless lies.”

“Incredible.” Kina shook her head. “And I convinced Seyka to come. That was pulling teeth. Imagine having to convince a Marine to go to a party with free booze.”

“These are confusing times.” I nodded. “Okay. And we’re gonna get both of them to the sandy rise behind the Hunter depot?”

I nodded. “Should be empty. Private. Aloy will believe that’s where Admiral Gerrit wanted to meet to discuss how she can help depose Bohai.”

“And Seyka will believe it’s where the hunters have stashed their best liquor. Once I tell her.” Kina smirked. “This is a genius plan.”

“I know.” I frowned. “That’s what worries me.”

“Huh?”

“I think my new friends are rubbing off on me. I just hope it’s Aloy’s paranoia and not something else.”

“This can’t go wrong. It’s too simple. We just need to get them to the same place. What could be easier?”

“Right.”

+++

Erend’s Idea — 2.5 days ago

“Where’s the Admiral? This is taking too long.” Aloy scowled.

“He should be here… I’m sure he’ll be here soon.” I glanced nervously at the outdoor party down the hill. What was taking Kina so long?

But Aloy was in a weirdly bad mood.

“So there’s dancing at this party.” Aloy stated like it was an ongoing massacre.

“Yep. Bet you’re glad you’re well shot of that.”

“I am. Very much.” Aloy folded her arms. “I hate dancing.”

“Me too.” I smiled wistfully, brain going slightly fuzzy at the memory. “Well… except with one person.”

“Mm.” Aloy’s eyes narrowed.

What was up with her?

“Are there lots of marines at the party?”

“Marines will jump on any excuse for a party.”

“Huh.” Aloy nodded. “And there are a lot of female marines in the forces too?”

“About half and half. Forty percent minimum.”

“Good. Good. I’m glad.”

Wait a second… was Aloy…

Aloy was staring daggers in the direction of the party. Maybe… maybe we could just…

I heard a rustle in the undergrowth and my spirits soared. I glanced over: Aloy hadn’t heard. She appeared laser focused. 

I shuffled over and saw Kina and-

Just Kina. What??

“Seyka got really moody.” Kina whispered. “Said she needed to clear her head and went off to swim.” 

Damn Seyka and her constant athleticism!

I shuffled back to Aloy. “So… uh… the Admiral backed out.”

“Nice of him after I flew all this way.” Aloy’s voice could have cut a Stormbird in half.

“Yeah… I’m sure he had…” I wilted under Aloy’s gaze. “But, umm… since you’re here, we could go and see Seyka. I think she’s-”

“I’m sure she’s having fun with the marines.” Aloy shook her head. “After all, she could have been here if she wanted. The Admiral trusts her.”

Oh, darn. Bad lie. Bad lie. I messed it up, I hadn’t thought-

“Umm, oh, I’m sure she… she just…”

Aloy’s face was in her stubborn ‘nothing-will-convince-me’ look.

I swallowed. “Fancy a swim in the ocean?”

“I’m leaving. Sorry the Admiral wasted your time, Alva.” Aloy whistled.

“Wait, no, we can still-”

A Waterwing swopped down from the sky, grabbed Aloy, and vanished again.

The blast of air nearly bowled me over.

I slumped. “Stupid honest me with my stupidly bad deception skills… how can I have worked for Bohai for this long and still be an awful liar?”

+++

Present day

“Wow… that sounds painful.” Beta frowned.

“Uh huh.” I nodded.

“I can’t believe Erend’s plan was so close to working. You got so unlucky both times.”

“Yes. Yes I did.” I nodded, clenching my fist under the table.

 Beta exhaled deeply, looking thoughtful. “Man, this is nightmarishly complicated.”
“Yeah.” I sighed, then forced a smile. “Gotta keep trying through!” Anything to make it stop.

“Well, on the bright side.” Beta smiled at me. “At least it’s you, dealing with this Alva!”
“Huh?” I frowned, confused.

“Well, if it was anyone else on the team, we’d have lost it by now.” Beta beamed. “Zo would have stormed off or yelled at them, Erend would be drunk off his ass, Kotallo would have vanished into the wilderness and not come back, and I’d have pulled my own hair out. But you’re perfect for this Alva! So chipper! Endlessly optimistic! Your spirit indomitable!”

“Yeah!” I smiled and nodded.

Then I frowned. “No, actually, that’s a no. Beta. I’m really angry. So angry. Like… incredibly, violently, angry!”

“Oh.” Beta blinked.

“But not at you!” I clarified, forcing a smile.

“Oh. Phew.”
“But I could strangle them!”

“Alva… I know they’re… frustrating but-”

“I haven’t seen Federa in TWO YEARS, Beta!” I screamed in anger and frustration, turning and kicking a bit of rubble as hard as I could. It sailed off the rooftop and I heard a distant Clamberjaw screech angrily. Good!

Beta’s eyes softened and she took a step towards me. “Oh, Alva…”

“Federa is back home, and I have…” I was hyperventilating. “I have no idea what’s happening. I have no idea if she’s gotten sick, I don’t know if she’s hurt, I don’t even know if she thinks I’m dead!”

“Alva, you can’t start worrying about the worst-”

Still hyperventilating and not able to stop! Not able to stop at all now I’d finally given voice to the panic and the panic was everything and everywhere in my mind! 

“I don’t know if once she decided I was dead, she… she found a more confident and beautiful diviner to-”

“Alva, Federa is fine and she has not found someone else.” Beta’s voice was so firm I thought for a moment Aloy had joined the call. I started in shock and turned to look at her. “Alva, there is no diviner as beautiful or as brilliant as you. Federa knows that. She loves you. She misses you. And she will hope, and wait, and wait until you come home. And when you get home she will give you the biggest hug in the world and shower you with kisses and affection.”

I took a deep breath and nodded.

“Okay?” Beta smiled.

“Okay.” I whispered.

“Close your eyes.”

I complied.

“Picture the look on Federa’s face when you next see her again.”

“She’s so happy. So relieved.” I sniffled. “Federa has the most beautiful smile. The prettiest laugh.”

“Picture the first thing you’ll say to her. And what she’ll say back.”

I missed you like breathing, Federa. I never want to be apart again. I love you.

I love you too, Alva.

I sniffled. I wiped my nose. I rubbed my eyes.

My voice was hoarse. “Thank you, Beta.”

“You can look at me now, Alva.” I opened my eyes and wiped them again. Beta smiled at me warmly. “We’re a team, okay?”

I nodded. 

“Come here.” Beta stretched out her arms.

“You’re a hologram Beta.” I frowned. “I can’t hug you.”

“Well from my point of view, you’re the hologram, and I’m gonna try.”

I laughed loudly, walked up to Beta’s hologram and put my arms ‘around’ her. “Okay… this is nice.”

“Told you so.”

“Fine, you were right.” We stood there a few moments longer, before separating.

I sat down on the floor again and sighed. “I’m sorry… can I keep talking about Federa?”

“Please do.” Beta smiled.

“It was bad enough when it was impossible to communicate with her… but now I probably could. I have her Focus ID memorised, ‘FAS-ZQQBT-0443228’, so if GAIA set up a net connection I could call her… but if I did it would register on the Quen systems. They monitor every Focus.”

Beta nodded sympathetically. “Federa would get in trouble.”

“Interrogation and jail levels of trouble.” I nodded. “Courtesy of Compliance.”

I shook my head and stared at my feet. “Do those two idiots have ANY IDEA what I would give to be able to talk to Federa again? Even for one minute? Even for ten seconds? Just to tell her that I’m alive and I love her?”

Beta nodded. “Alva.”

“They could talk as much as they want!” I sighed. “Seyka could fly to the base right now to see Aloy! And instead they’re wasting it… and killing me… and making me want to kill them…”

“Alva-”

“I know what it’s like to be afraid!” I threw my hands up in the air. “I thought Federa hated me when I started to realise I had feelings for her! We both delayed saying or doing anything for so long… and I just wish so much that I’d talked to her a month, or a week, or a day, or an hour earlier so I could have had just that little bit more time with her…”

“Alva!” 

“What?” I looked at Beta, exasperated.

Beta was smiling at me. “Tell them that. All of it.”

I stared at her for a moment.

I laughed out loud. “Are you crazy? I’m not telling them that! That’s personal, that’s like the most personal feeling I’ve ever had, I can’t just tell them!”

“I think it will make them listen.” Beta scooted closer. “I think it’ll change their minds.”

I frowned. “But-”

“And you were the one saying how important this advice was.”

“I mean, yes-” A creeping sense of dread was stealing over me.

“And it’s the best thing you could possibly do for them.”

My jaw worked silently. I searched in vain for any counterargument.

“Fine. You’re right.” I grumbled. I sighed. “You’re right! I’ll tell them my deepest darkest feelings! Happy?”

“Kinda.” Beta holo-shoulder bumped me.

“You Sobecks really are a menace.” I lay down on my back on the floor.

Beta followed suit. “And you, Alva, are a truly selfless and dedicated friend.”

“Thanks.” I smiled.

“Hey.” Beta said. I looked over at her. Beta looked back. “I promise that we, the whole team, will move heaven and Earth to make sure you see Federa again.”

I smiled wider and closed my eyes. “Thank you so much.”

I believed her.

Chapter Text

I took a deep breath. “Hi Aloy.”

“Hi Alva.” Aloy smiled at me.

I was sat crosslegged on my bed, a cushion on my lap for emotional support. Aloy’s hologram was sat cross-legged in mid-air opposite me (on her end she was on the floor, but on my end the Focus was keeping her at roughly eye level).

“Thanks for making the time… I know you’re a very busy woman.” 

 “Always, Alva.” Aloy shook her head ruefully. “I, uh… I know I’ve been asking a lot. Of you.”

“What else are friends for?” I shrugged. 

“Yeah.” Aloy smiled slightly. “I uh… I like having friends. It’s a very nice change. To being alone.”

“It really is.”

“Aloy,” I squeezed the cushion extra hard. “I, err, I need to tell you something.”

Aloy frowned slightly. “Okay. Shoot.”

+++

“You can tell me anything, Alva.” Seyka said earnestly, turning to face me.

Our legs dangled over the edge of what I’d come to think of as my ‘alone’ spot atop the ruins near Legacy’s Landfall.

“Yeah… it’s a bit personal. A bit awkward.” I sighed. “I, umm, don’t usually talk about this with anyone. To be honest. Never have, before today, so…”

Seyka was starting to look concerned. “Alva, are you okay?”

“Fine. Fine as ever.” I shrugged. “I just… I’m gonna feel really embarrassed. And you might feel embarrassed. And I just ask you to bear with me.”

“I will. You’ve saved Aloy’s life. You did so much for my people. You have my word, Alva.”

I nodded, then spoke abruptly. “I’ve kind of been exactly where you are.” Seyka looked at the floor, clearly sceptical. 

“Emotionally, I mean.” Seyka quirked an eyebrow.

What the hell. 

“Back home, there’s a girl. And her name is Federa.”

+++

“You’ve told me about her before.” Aloy nodded. “Another Diviner, right? Used to be your rival?”

“And hate turned out to be another side of love. Yeah.” I nodded. “What I haven’t told you was how… awkward that turned out to be in practice. As romantic as it sounds.”

“Okay.” Aloy looked at me attentively.

 “The first turning point in our relationship came when Federa realised I hadn’t done something to hurt her. That really hurt her. That I’d done the opposite.”

Aloy’s brow wrinkled. “You’d never hurt anyone who didn’t deserve it.”
“Quen politics are scary. And she had every reason to mistrust me after our academy days.” I twiddled my thumbs. “But anyway, I talked to her… and she believed me. She trusted me. That was step one.”

“What happened next?” Aloy put her chin on one hand.
“Well… at first… it was kind of great. Because we sorta became friends.”

+++

“Thanks, Federa.” I smiled, putting down the tea cup. “I have always been jealous of how good you are at that.”
“My gran-gran taught me.” Federa smiled. “She loved tea. I think if she could have drunk tea instead of eating food, that’s all she’d have done.”

“I know the feeling. My little sister… has the sweetest tooth in the world!” I shook my head. “She’d survive on sweets and pastry if she could. She snuck in the back of the town bakery once and ate a whole cake and a half.”

Federa giggled. Ooh, that was a pretty sound.

Um, no. No. Back to the story you were telling Alva. Scrub that thought. Erase. Delete. Didn’t happen.

“And, err, and then she was banned from the bakery.” I rolled my eyes, regaining my bearings. “And she was inconsolable. So my dad and I-”

“Started baking things for her.” Federa finished. 

“Yeah.” I smirked. “What are you, some kind of diviner?”

“Junior.” Federa flicked my nose. “You’re just so easy to read.”

“I am not.” I rubbed my nose indignantly.

“You so are.”

“Fine.” I rolled my shoulders and leaned in to stare into her eyes. “Tell me what I’m thinking right now.”

I just had to wait for her to lean in, and then I could flick her nose. Revenge!

Federa rolled her eyes and leaned in, those blue eyes of hers sweeping over my face. But lingering. Here and there.

I suddenly felt warm. Too warm. Was it the tea? Had I put on makeup this morning? Had the makeup lasted into the evening through a whole day of work?

Ancestors, she had beautiful eyes. So blue, and wide, and deep. And such a cute button nose. She was wearing her pink lipstick today, not the red. She hadn’t done that in two weeks. Well, 13 days.

… how did I know that?

“You’re thinking about flicking my nose.” Federa smirked at me.

“Yeah. Absolutely, busted, you got me!” I turned away. “We, should, um, probably get some work done.”

“Bohai is dining at a function with two members of the Board of Overseers. He’s going to be schmoozing all night.” Federa laughed. “Especially if the rumours about Overseer Paula’s preference for young and ambitious Diviners are well-founded.”

“Ohh, that’s so gross.” I shuddered. “Why would you say that? She’s like, a thousand years old, and he’s… he’s…”

“… Bohai.” Federa hit the nail on the head.
“Yeah. Ugh.” My skin was crawling. “You’re so gross.”

“You’re gross.”

“Am not!” I turned to look at her, indignant.

“Hmm. Fine.” Federa shrugged. “I give.”

I frowned suspiciously. “That was too easy. What’s the catch?”

“No catch.” Federa coughed, and turned away. “You’re right. Work.”

“What is it?” I frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong!”

“You’re blushing.” I quirked an eyebrow. “Is the unshakeable Federa-”

“Alva.”

“Is the imperturbable Federa-”

“Alva!”

“The invincible Federa embarrassed about something?” I laughed. “Oh, you are! Tell me.”

“No.”

“C’mon.”

“No!”

“Please?” I pouted.

“Don’t give me your puppy eyes, they don’t work.”
“I have puppy eyes?” 

“You do, and you just did it more!”

“Federa, you know me, I’m never gonna stop asking you questions until-”

“I couldn’t call you gross in good conscience, because you look really good today.”

I blinked. “Oh.”

“Yeah.” Federa coughed, turning away. “You, err, do something different?”

“I don’t think so…”

“Your hair?”

“Nope…”

“Makeup??” 

“No…” What could I have done differently today… “Although I have been wanting to borrow some of yours.”

“Ooh.” Federa sucked air in through her teeth. “Might be too advanced for you.”

“Hey, it is absolutely not.” I stuck my tongue out. “How hard could it be? You just paint some colours on your face, a two year old could do it.”

“How did your last attempt at painting go?”

I hesitated. “That’s fair.”

“Yes.”
“But also very unkind.”

“Sorry.” Federa curled one strand of her hair around a finger. For some reason it was hard to take my eyes off that strand. She was staring straight ahead at her desk, away from me. She spoke casually. “Let me make it up to you. I’ll show you how to do some advanced makeup. If you want.”

“That sounds fun…” I mused. “But then I’m gonna teach you how to bake.”

“Deal.” Federa nodded, still not looking at me.

For reasons I couldn’t explain, that bothered me.

I went back to work with an uneasiness in my stomach. 

A few minutes later, I murmured to her. “You looked really good today.”

A brief pause. “Looked?” 

I glanced over. Federa had turned to eye me curiously. Her eyes were still so blue. And somehow the light brought out colours in her hair I’d never noticed before. “Look.” I mumbled. “You still look good today.”

+++

“So what happened with the makeup?” Seyka stared at me. “Did you kiss her? Did she kiss you?”

“That’s, uhh, not important…” I blushed. “What’s important is-“

“Come on, you have to tell me.”

“I absolutely don’t, this is bad enough already.” I muttered.

“Tell me.”

“No!”

“C’mon.”

“Still no!”

Seyka looked at me pleadingly.

“Your puppy dog eyes aren’t as good as Federa’s.” I said apologetically.

She pouted. “I’ll tell Aloy.”

“And? I didn’t tell her either. She took it much more gracefully, I might add.”

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll ask Beta.” Seyka folded her arms.

I hesitated. “She doesn’t know.”
“Obvious lie, you tell Beta everything.”

I winced. “Fine, she knows, but she won’t tell you.”

“She might if I bribe her?.”
“What could you…” Right. Of course. Priceless incendiary information on Aloy. “Fine. But it’s really quick and highly embarrassing.”

+++

“You need to stay still.” Federa instructed firmly.

“It tickles.” I squirmed.

Federa’s hands shot to my shoulders and held me still in the chair. My breath caught in my throat. Against my will. I wanted to breathe, I should be breathing, but it was just… really hard…

“If you move, it’ll get messy.”

“For the makeup, or in the violent sense?”

“Both. This is expensive makeup.”

I giggled, and tried to stay still.

Federa drew back slightly, scrutinising my face (or more specifically my eyebrows) closely. “Can I see yet?”
“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m in charge.”

I huffed.

“I followed all your orders when you were chief baker.”

“I wasn’t putting dough on your face!”

“Not for lack of trying.”

“One time. One prank. Attempted prank, because you’re so stupidly graceful-”

Federa laughing and screaming all at once, as she ducked and twisted under my arms, begging me to stop; me desperately trying to catch her with dough and floury paste smeared all over my hands.  

“Mm. Keep still. Your eyebrows are done.”

“You said they were the last thing!”

“Last mandatory thing.”

“So what’s the optional thing?”

Federa looked away. “Would you like me to put some lipstick on you?” She looked in my eyes.

“Umm… yes.” What had I said yes to? It just felt very important I say yes to Federa. Always.

Ancestors, what was happening to me? What was I doing?

“Stay still.” Federa got out a tiny brush, dipped it in something red, and leaned in… incredibly close. So close. So… incredibly close.

The paint brushed my lips and I shivered.

“Is that… okay?” Federa looked at me.

“Yeah… yeah. It’s okay.”

“Okay.” Federa pushed the brush slightly harder. “Still okay?”

I nodded.

She kept going. She was… exquisitely gentle.

“I’m going to do your other lip now. If you want that?”

“Yes.” I swallowed. “Yes please.”

She was so close. Closer than ever. Closer than since… that first embrace.

I could smell her perfume. Feel the warmth of her breath.

It would be so easy to lean over and… and…

Kiss Federa.

My heart, already galloping full speed, went into overdrive.

Oh, Ancestors, I’d admitted it. I’d admitted it to myself. There was no going back. I was always going to know that at this moment in time, beyond a doubt, what I’d wanted more than anything else in the world was to kiss Federa.

My arch-rival. My nemesis.

Who wasn’t either of those things anymore, not really. Not now she was my closest friend.

Not now I… Now I…

“Alva?” Federa was looking at me strangely. 

Oh Ancestors. Ancestors. What if she could tell? What if she could tell? 

She was so much more perceptive than me and… and… 

THERE WAS NO WAY FEDERA WANTED TO KISS ME!

She’d hated me so recently!! She barely… I mean…

I couldn’t lose this! I couldn’t lose being friends with Federa, and spending all day with her, and doing nice things with her, just the two of us, and-

“Alva!” Federa sounded worried enough to snap me out of my haze. “Are you okay? You’ve gone all pale?”

“Fine! Fine.” Deep breath. Deep breath. “Completely fine… it’s just… that… I… I…”

Federa was looking at me strangely. So strangely. So strangely that…

“I can’t wait to see my makeup!” Nailed it. Completely convincing.

“Well… that I can make happen.” Federa trailed the brush along my mouth one last time (I fought so hard to contain my shiver) and put it down.

She turned around and shifted to behind my shoulder, picking up the portable mirror. She held it in front of me.

I couldn’t help but gasp. I was… I looked…

“Wow.” I whispered.

“See how beautiful you are?” Federa murmured.

I blushed. Oh Ancestors, the blush was so visible, it was staring right back at me. I couldn’t look at her. I looked at her reflection when I spoke to her instead, that was easier.

“That’s I mean… it’s just because… you’re so talented…”

“Think about how beautiful you think you are now.”

“Oh-kay…”

“This is how beautiful everyone else thinks you are, every day.”

Oh Ancestors I was completely crimson. “Oh… I… Federa…”

I was reeling. What was Federa saying? What did she mean? Could she… did she… really…

“I should go.” Federa stood up suddenly, brushing her long hair in front of one shoulder to hide her face. 

“What?” I was thrown. “I… why?”

“I just… I have to. Trust me.”

I was confused. This didn’t make sense. What was happening… I thought she didn’t… and then she did… and now she…

She was at the door. The door was open. 

“You’re beautiful too!” I blurted out. Federa stopped in the doorway, her back to me. “Every day.”

She turned to look at me and smiled. Her eyes were damp. “Thank you, Alva.”

“I… I’m so glad… so happy… that I… that we…” Oh, where were my words when I needed them?

“That we’re friends now?” Federa said softly.

Friends. I knew it.

Too far for Federa. Too far. She didn’t… I couldn’t…

“Yeah. Yeah.”

“Yeah. That’s what I thought. Me too.” Federa flashed me a smile. Her eyes were still damp. “Tomorrow!”

She all but sprinted out of my room. I stared after her, completely lost. What… did she… had she meant-

+++

“And you chased her, right?” Seyka demanded.

“Huh?” I blinked.

“You just trailed off!” Seyka gesticulated. “Without saying what happened next… you chased after her, right?”

“No. I didn’t. That’s why I’m telling you.” I scooted a bit closer. “So the lesson is-”

+++

“That you and Federa were both so terrified of losing what you had…” Aloy swallowed. “That you froze. And did nothing.”

“Not just losing what we had.” I shook my head and smiled sadly. “We were both scared to death at the thought that the future we were hoping for would never come to be. So much easier to accept the comfortable present… that uncertainty, because then at least there was the potential-”

“Potential for it to come true.” Aloy said softly.

“Yeah.” I nodded.

“You haven’t seen Federa in years, have you?” Aloy scooted closer.

“Two years. Plus one month and twelve days.” I sighed wistfully and smiled at Aloy. “Do you know what I would give to have had one more day with her?”

“Anything?” Aloy whispered.

I nodded.

Aloy thought for a moment. “Thank you, Alva.” She said quietly. “I really appreciate that.”

“Just… be smarter than me.” I forced a smile. “You have no excuse… you and Seyka didn’t spend years at an academy pulling each other’s hair and sabotaging everything the other did.”

“Ha. Yeah.” Aloy smiled. “I’ll do something.”

“Good. I’m very glad.” I sighed in relief. 

“Alva, you know-”

+++

“Alva, you know we’ll make sure you see Federa again?” Seyka looked at me earnestly, one hand on my shoulder.

Deja vu. So freakishly similar. And I wanted so badly to believe.

But… Nemesis. 

Dictionary definition: The inescapable agent of downfall.

Inescapable doom. And maybe something the hero could survive defeating. But everyone else? They could only help… and pay the price they could, give what they had… to make a chance.

I believed Beta when she said she’d try.

But I couldn’t believe it would happen.

I smiled at Seyka, with just a touch of melancholy, and tapped my focus. “I transmitted Aloy’s details.” I stood up. “You should-”

Seyka’s Focus flashed. She started, eyes flicking away from me.

“It’s Aloy.” She looked suddenly panicked, looking back at me.

I winked. 

Seyka nodded and squared her shoulders. “Okay.”

“This is a really good rooftop for secret Focus calls. Just so you know.” I winked. “Go get her tiger.”

“Tiger?” Seyka frowned.

“It’s an old world… thing. Federa found it.” I made a claw motion. “Grr.”

I giggled to myself, and went back to camp.

+++

One week later

Ooh. Recorded message from Beta. And just as I was getting back from what Erend would call a ‘delve’ and we would call archaeology.

I opened it. 

It was a recording of Beta in the base. “Hey!” She whispered. “I’m whispering.”

“I can tell.” I whispered back, just for fun.

“Because…” The video feed turned around to look at the depression in the middle of the base’s main room.

I gasped and clapped my hands together.

Aloy had fallen asleep on Seyka’s shoulder! Their backs were pointed towards us as Beta slowly crept closer. Seyka had one arm around Aloy, and was gently stroking Aloy’s hair. Aloy mumbled something in her sleep and Seyka smiled.

Beta retreated quickly, before she got caught presumably, and slipped into a side room.

“They’ve been like this all week.” Beta beamed back into the camera. “Superstar, Alva.”

“Oh, I try…”

“And I’ve shared the picture with the rest of the team.” Beta grinned. 

My Focus pinged. A still capture from the video, just of Aloy asleep and curled into Seyka, her head on Seyka’s shoulder, popped into sight.

“You are in so much trouble when they find out, Beta.” I giggled.

The message had a cryptic caption. Well, cryptic for everyone else.

‘No room left for anything in the middle!’

I laughed, feeling genuine joy bubble up. I was so happy for them. For their comfort, their peace. I wasn’t sure Aloy had ever trusted anyone else that same way.

That… strength… was inspiring. If Aloy could grow enough, so quickly, to trust someone like that, then we were all capable of more than we thought.

Maybe… if we all learned enough, grew enough, trusted enough… then just maybe… we could get through this next battle. Together.

Seized by a sudden urge, I ran out of my tent and sprinted all the way to the Western shore. The moon and stars cast a pale and gentle light over the sandy beach, waves lapping gently against the shore. 

The ocean looked like it rolled on forever, but I knew it didn’t. I knew those currents and tides, and that beyond them was another land, my home, with some of the people I loved.

I walked down the beach until I was at the water, at the westernmost point. I kicked off my shoes and stepped into the water, shivering slightly at the sudden coldness of it. 

I waded up to my knees, and leaned forwards towards the west, stretching out one hand as far as I could, extending my fingertips.

Just to get a few inches closer.

“I’m coming back, Federa. I promise.”

And I meant it.

Chapter Text

“So… co-leaders of the expedition?” I spoke cautiously.

“A necessary compromise, for the moment.” Bohai nodded stiffly. “The Admiral has proven singularly obstinate and uncooperative.”

“Military types often are overly focused on official rank and protocol.” I kept my tone carefully neutral. Bohai had taught me this much.

“Yes. Short-sighted.” Bohai nodded, smoothing down his jacket. “Fortunately, I was able to think of the good of the Quen and accept the insult.”

It was with one of the greater efforts of my life that I contained my snort. “Indeed, Diviner.”

Bohai shot me a slightly suspicious look, then relented with a sigh. He rubbed his forehead.

The Admiral had got the better of him. I contained my smile.

And if Bohai could be defeated in political games, on his home turf…

Maybe there’s hope for all the world’s underdogs.

“Well. Someone needs to keep an eye on the needs of the people and it certainly won’t be our new military companions.”

“A good leader is close to the hearts and minds of his followers.”

“Yes, Alva. Indeed.” Bohai nodded. “I want you to spend the whole day tomorrow mixing with the common staff of the expedition. Learn everything you can and report back tomorrow evening. I have thinking to do. A great deal of it.”

“Of course, Diviner.” Typical. He was already thinking to do about how best to spin this to his advantage back home, or undermine the Admiral here.

I could see him now in front of the Board of Overseers.

“After the disaster separated us - completely unavoidable, I’m certain the Admiral did all he was capable of - and a stroke of ill fate left my half of the expedition without the Ceo, I naturally rallied the troops and intensified efforts to recover data. The data you have before you now. And when the Admiral belatedly returned to us and demanded to seize overall command once again, I naturally acquiesced. But he needed me to maintain the loyalty of the troops who felt failed by him, and to maintain our pace of Legacy artefact recovery. If you’ll turn to page 2, you’ll find a summary of all the finds made on my watch…”

But that was for another day.

“Very good.” He nodded slowly. “Despite Gerrit’s obstinacy and naked ambition, we can still come out of this ahead, Alva. Promotion to the Board for me. A promotion and increase in status for yourself, and naturally my ongoing support. And we can see what we can do for Federa. I hear she has some expensive tastes. You could treat her luxuriously.”

Ooh, he really was desperate, bribing me. Exciting.

I nodded solemnly.

Bohai’s face inched one millimetre towards a frown before he established his mask of impassiveness, and he swept from my tent.

So. Data work tonight, seeing whether anything from the latest set of ruins could be useful against Nemesis. Then reviewing the correspondence from Erend. He had a list ofquestions for me on Old World technology they’d dug up. Oh and I’d just got an alert from GAIA, which was…

… a maximum priority message??!

Oh dear. Not again.

I opened it and started.

It was a recording of Aloy, Beta, and GAIA in GAIA’s projector room.

“Hi Alva.” Aloy smiled sheepishly. Beta waved with a wide smile and GAIA inclined her head. “I, uhh… have to say sorry.”

“Because you want to.” Beta interjected.

Aloy glared at her for a half second. “Yes, I want to say sorry because I recognise I was… extremely difficult. They’re not forcing me.”

I giggled. As if anyone could make Aloy do anything.

“And… we’ve put something together for you. Executable file is attached to the message.” Beta beamed. “It’s from all of us! With supplementary love from Seyka.”

“I have put a great deal of effort into ensuring this program is maximally secure and functional.” GAIA spoke in her smooth, calming tones. “You will not need to worry at all, I assure you. It will however, only work once. I recommend using it immediately.”

“And don’t go for any longer than thirty minutes!” Beta chimed in.

“The program is completely safe up to and including thirty minutes.” GAIA clarified. “But beyond that… a low level of risk exists, which grows over time.”

“Also,” Aloy added, smiling. “Sylens and I have found some initial places to look for options for the fight against Nemesis. Some of the facilities are in or near Quen territory, so we’re going to put you on those once we know a little more. Fancy a trip back home?”

My breath caught in my throat. I nodded eagerly for a moment, then remembered it was a recording.

A reason to go home? Or near home? That would actually help the group effort? Amazing!

The trio let out a wave (Aloy), kind smile (GAIA), and blown kiss (Beta) and the message winked out.

What wonderful news! Oh, and there was the executable, tied to the message. 

Now what did it do… hard to tell at first glance. Well they said to use it now, so I didn’t have time to parse the code.

A few swipes and it started running. I frowned. It looked like it was running some kind of complex encryption and masking protocol. Now it was making an external connection, beyond GAIA’s net. What was it-

Federa appeared right in front of me.

I shot to my feet, everything slotting into place.

Encryption. Masking. Thirty minutes. 

Federa! 

Well, a hologram. Close enough!!!

Federa’s eyes widened. She stared at me. “Alva?” She whispered.

I smiled as widely as perhaps I ever had. “Federa!”

“Are… are you…”

“I’m great!” I stepped a little closer… nose to nose. “And, umm, we don’t have a lot of time. So to start with…”

I lifted my hand up to almost touch her cheek. “I’m alive. I’m safe. I miss you, I love you… and in a few months time… I’ll be back with you.”

Federa let out a sound of pure joy. “Also alive. Also safe. Miss you… so so much. Love you… so much more than you love me-”

I couldn’t help my grin. “It’s not a competition-” 

“It’s always been a competition with us-”

“- and if it was, I would win.”

“And I cannot wait to have you next to me.” Federa raised her hand to my cheek.

Oh no, I was gonna cry.

Oh, I was already crying. Okay, it was happening.

And Federa was crying too. So that was okay then.

“But even this is so much more than I ever expected.” Federa looked at me and smiled. “And I’ve noticed my Focus is sending junk data back to Compliance.”

“It might be.” I beamed.

“Care to catch me up?”

“Yeah. But I’m gonna give you the short version. Because there’s other things I want to use your time for.”

“Oh?”

I nodded. “Very much. But, story time… I made some friends. And they taught me a lot about the world, and our place in it, so much about the Legacy…and then they helped me talk to you.”

“I like the sound of these friends.” Federa smiled. “They seem good for you."

“They are.”

“I’d love to meet them.”

“I’d love that too.”

“Tell me the rest in a few months?”

“Okay.”

“Alva…” Federa blinked several times. 

“Federa?”
“I am so angry at you.”

“Oh noooooo…”

“But I’m going to put that aside because I have missed you so, so, so much.”

“Oh. OH!” I nodded, smiling. “What about if I promised that… once I’m back… that I’ll never leave again?”

Federa nodded firmly. “That would take the edge off. I suppose.”

“In a few months at the most, I’ll be back home. I’ll run to you as fast as my legs can carry me. And when I get to you, I’ll hold you so tightly that nobody can separate us. And when I have to let go, I will never travel far away ever again. Because when I cross an ocean, or climb a mountain, I want you by my side. Always and forever.”

Oh, that was a lot. I swallowed. “I mean… if… if that’s okay?”

Federa looked at me for a moment, then smiled warmly and said the most beautiful words I’d ever heard. “Always and forever."