Heart Like a Machine

Chapter 45

Since we had a lot of time on our hands, Aloy showed us around the Forbidden West. We didn't fly out to Legacy's Landfall. We just looked out upon it in the distance. It looked beautiful from where we were. We flew back around and headed back towards the base. We landed right outside the front and everyone was there to greet us back. My mom was a bit surprised with how many people were there. We headed up towards the base and Zo had given my mom something to welcome her.

"Mom, this is Zo," I said and started to introduce them to her.

"Next to her is Erend. We met him in Meridian and he helped with the battle there."

"It's nice to meet you," Erend said.

"Next is Kotallo. He's a Tenakth that was part of the Embassy that Aloy and I needed to go to get access into the Forbidden West."

Kotallo just nodded his head towards my mother.

"Alva is part of the Quen. Her people are currently at Legacy's Landfall. They want to get as much information as they can about the Old Ones."

"Were you able to make your way over there?" Alva asked, lighting up a bit.

"We were unable to," Aloy said. "Sorry, Alva. We will show her around once we get more time and the fate of the world isn't hanging in the balance."

"That's alright. At least she didn't have to deal with the Ceo."

"You're telling me," Aloy chuckled. "Sylens isn't here at the moment. He's inside working on figuring a way to stop Nemesis. And," Aloy looked around. "Where's Beta?"

The door opened up and Beta walked out.

"Sorry, Aloy. I was making sure Sylens didn't do anything too rash in there. You know how he is."

"By the Goddess," my mom said and walked towards Beta, examining her. "You really are a genetic twin of Aloy."

"Hi," she said and outstretched her hand. "I-I'm Beta. Aloy's sister."

"I've heard a lot about you, Beta," my mom said and shook her hand.

"Oh, Y/N has only mentioned you a handful of times," Beta said, being a bit awkward.

I chuckled to myself, knowing that both Aloy and Beta were awkward when it came to certain situations when speaking to people. 

"Here, we'll show you around. I think we have enough rooms for you to stay," I said and I walked into the base with my mom, Aloy following behind.

"It was nice meeting you all," my mom said as we walked into the base.

She loved how big it was and we showed her all the different rooms. Since there weren't many rooms left on the main floor and all that there were was on the bottom level were operating rooms. We had to do something about the situation. Once we finished showing her around, Aloy led her into the room that held GAIA. I walked in behind her and her jaw was on the floor when she saw GAIA.

"Good afternoon, Aloy," GAIA said.

"Hi, GAIA. You remember Y/N, right?"

"Yes. I remember all the people I have come into contact with."

"This is her mother."

GAIA looked down at my mother and smiled,"Hello."

"This--all of this--has been a dream and I love this. Truly, I do," my mom said as we were walking out towards the main part of the base where most of everyone was. "I want to stay, but I don't want to mess with the rooms here."

"We'll find room," Aloy said.

"I-I can always move out of my room and be here in the main part. My room is probably the most secluded and away from the others," I said. "It's not really that big which I don't think you want a big room."

"Not at all. Are you sure you want to do that, Y/N? I don't want you to do that."

"Yeah, that's fine," I said. "I don't mind at all."

She nodded her head and I went into my room to get my things cleaned out.

"I secretly think she wants to move into your room," my mom chuckled to Aloy.

"Glad I wasn't the only one picking up on that," Aloy chuckled as well.

When I finished getting my things, which wasn't really much, I headed into the main part of the base.

"Why don't you move into my room, Y/N? The bed in there is big enough for the both of us."

"Are you sure, Aloy? I-I don't want to encroach on your privacy."

"It'll be fine," she said. "I don't mind at all."

I stuttered over my words before I just nodded, briskly walking into her room and putting my things by hers. I also wanted to get away since I could feel my face getting warmer by the second. I took a little longer so I could calm down and not walk out like I was a tomato. When I did, my mom was in my room getting everything situated, even though she didn't bring much with her. I walked in to see she was sitting on the side of the bed, looking down at the floor.

"Did I make the right choice, Y/N?" she asked me. "It feels odd not having your father here. But it also brings a sense of peace."

"It was like I told Aloy when she killed dad. She had every reason to. He gave her so many opportunities to kill him, but she never did. It was all because I was the reason to kill him. He put her life in danger, which I think she's used to that since she has been sought after two groups of homocidial people. But I have only been once and I have saved her many times. I think she wanted him to give her a good enough reason to kill him."

"I'm glad she was protecting not only herself, but was looking after you."

"We've been like that since we left the tribe. I tried to have her back the best I could and so has she. Would I do it all over again? Absolutely because I don't think I would be where I am without her. And she can say the same towards me. So, I think you made the right choice coming out here. All you've ever known was the tribe and now you have the opportunity to see what the world can offer."

My mom smiled and looked over at me, "Thank you, Y/N."

Aloy walked in, knocking on the door frame.

"Am I interrupting anything?"

"No, not at all," I said.

"That's good. Tomorrow morning, we're going to have everyone come together and see what we can do about Nemesis. We might try your idea, Y/N. But we're going to have to do more than just cover the whole Forbidden West."

"Sounds good," I said.

"I'll see you in our room," she said and walked into the other room.

My mom chuckled and hugged me from the side, "Go to her."

"You'll be ok?"

"Yeah."

"Goodnight, mom."

"Goodnight, Y/N."

I got up and headed into Aloy's room.