Chapter Text
A week had passed and Beta has made good work on the rig and the pulse generators.
There were a few snags, like the fact that Beta just couldn’t make GAIA’s original specifications work. She had really hoped with some time, she would make a functioning model, but it just didn’t work, so they had no choice to go for Plan B: the two-person generators.
The job had to be split between two people; one person would be inside the cauldron with the main device, the one that was going to release the energy pulse, and the person outside would be with the initiator, the one to actually turn on the device. The pulse generators devices would activate one after another and should be able to mimic a giant energy pulse strong enough to hopefully mask GAIA during her assimilation process with HEPHAESTUS.
Now, this made perfect sense in her head, the devices and the pulse generators were easy enough to understand, But having to explain all this? Beta just wasn’t sure she could do it.
Originally, GAIA was going to be the one to explain this whole plan, but the AI encouraged Beta to do it instead, as a human explanation might be better for human listeners. Beta wanted to refuse and just let GAIA do the honors, but against her better judgment, she allowed herself to accept that she was the one going to do the explanations.
Varl assured her that he and Isaac would be right by her side, and although part of her appreciated the sentiment, it didn’t exactly help the fact that this was going to be nerve-wracking. Still, Varl did his best to prep her by taking the time to tell her all about their little ‘GAIA Gang’ as he called it.
Knowing the faces she was going to explain to didn’t exactly eliminate her fear, but it did eliminate the idea that she would be explaining to complete strangers.
Eventually, the dreaded day came. Aloy still wasn’t back so that was a plus, but now that she was standing in front of the whole group, she felt that spike of nervousness come back again.
“Hey, GAIA gang,” Varl addressed the people in the room. “Beta here is going to start explaining about the pulse generators we’re going to use to help mask GAIA’s signal. Please save all questions until after Beta’s done explaining.”
“Understood,” the big man known as Kotallo said with a nod of his head. Varl told her that Kotallo was very thoughtful, and that if he asked something, it was because he truly wanted to understand.
“Sure thing,” Erend, the Oseram man, added. Erend was probably going to ask the most questions, but it wasn’t because he wasn’t listening, he just needed more help to understand things, supposedly. Beta could… understand that.
Talanah and Zo were quick learners, so she probably wouldn’t have to answer any questions from them at all. Those two just nodded, supportive looks on their faces. Beta was glad she didn’t have to worry about them.
“Alright,” Varl said, turning to Beta. He shot her an encouraging look as he adjusted Isaac in his hands. “The floor is yours.”
She stumbled a bit, of course she did. But after a few sentences, she managed to smooth things out and explain the devices as best as she could. At first, Beta didn’t think she managed to do it, but by the end of it, people actually had an understanding look on their faces.
As predicted, Erend asked the most questions, simple things that Beta was sure she covered before, but she answered and re-explained it anyway. Kotallo asked a few good questions, but seemed to have a good grasp on what he was supposed to do. Talanah and Zo asked no questions, and seemingly had written notes on their Focus about what to do. Unexpectedly, Varl had some questions, but like Erend’s, they were just simple ones.
And somehow, Isaac stayed silent the whole explanation, which was a surprising thing for a baby to do. He spent the whole time just watching her with those cute eyes. It made Beta feel like she could do anything.
“If anyone has any other questions, feel free to ask me, and I’ll relay them to Beta,” said Varl, to wrap up the debrief. But before he could say anything more, his Focus rang.
“Oh, it’s Aloy.” He handed Isaac over to Zo and reached up to take the call. “Hey, Aloy, what’s up?”
A pause.
“Oh, that’s great news!” He glanced at the others with a wide smile on his face. “She got the Omega Clearance, guys!”
Beta’s heart skipped a little. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Aloy to find it, she just didn’t think there would be anything left of Faro’s place left to salvage. This was supposed to be good news, but somehow it made Beta feel way more nervous. She had been too complacent working on the generators and the rig, it had busied her mind from all this stuff and now… she just got reminded how big this was all going to be.
Varl had wrapped up the call while she had been ruminating on her thoughts. “Uh-huh, okay, I’ll see you guys then.”
He looked at the others. “And it looks like she’s bringing a new friend.”
“A new teammate?” Erend seemed happy. “Hey, I mean, the more, the merrier, right?”
As the group devolved into idle chatter, Beta started to feel like she didn’t belong. She glanced at Varl, who seemed to understand immediately.
“I’m sure you want to get back to work,” Varl said to her with a comforting smile.
“Uh, yeah,” she replied, glad that he understood.
He took her back to the fabrication room and now, within the safety of her work and tools, Beta felt a lot better. She was still incredibly nervous about how this HEPHAESTUS capture was going to go, but for now, she still had work to do.
-~*~-
“Aloy!’ Erend exclaimed excitedly. “You’re back!”
“Welcome back, Aloy,” Zo greeted her with a smile.
“And more importantly, with the Omega Clearance,” she stated with a tired smile. Next to her was this new person whose clothes Zo has never seen before in her life. “And this is Alva, she’s a Quen, a tribe from across the ocean.”
“Nice to see you again, Alva,” Talanah said, walking up to them.
“Oh, Talanah!” Alva practically chirped. “It’s nice to see you again, too! I’m sorry again about the actions of my people, I just-”
“Easy,” Talanah assured her with a smile. “I get it. You don’t need to apologize.”
“So the ocean, right?” Erend expressed in surprise. “You mean that place with the big water? How’d you get across?”
“Oh, yes, it was a multiple day-long journey. It wasn’t easy, but…”
As Alva continued to socialize with the other members of the gang, Zo saw Aloy was looking around. She turned to her. “Where’s Varl? And Isaac?”
“I believe they’re in the fabrication room,” Zo informed her. “Would you like me to get them for you?”
“... No, it’s alright, I’ll get them myself.”
“Allow me to come with you then.”
She and Aloy walked to the fabrication room and inside, Zo saw a rather heartwarming sight. Beta was carrying Isaac, probably for the first time. Varl was right there, by her side, making sure that she didn’t fall. Beta had this huge smile on her face, Zo could tell this was an important moment for her. Isaac himself was just playing with the tools on the table, without a care in the world.
Meanwhile, Aloy was smiling at the scene, seemingly happy that Isaac was having a good time. But Zo watched as the expression on her face slowly darkened. And instead of calling out or joining in, she turned on her heel and went up the stairs up to GAIA.
Zo watched her leave, surprised that she didn’t call out to let Isaac know she was home. Something seemed to be wrong.
“Was that Aloy?” Zo looked back into the room and saw that Varl was looking at her in confusion. Meanwhile, Beta had frozen in place like a frightened Grazer.
“Yes,” she answered. “She just went to go see GAIA.”
Beta quickly handed Isaac back to Varl and moved to start working on the GAIA rig she was working on. “I-I’ll be here,” she told them both. “If you want to go talk to her.”
Varl nodded. “I’ll be back,” he told Beta as he walked out to see her.
“Is she okay?” he asked as they turned to walk to the stairs that lead up to GAIA. “She’s never ignored Isaac like this before…”
“She didn’t ignore him,” Zo told him firmly. “It was more…”
Before she could answer, Aloy had exited GAIA’s chamber and was walking back down the stairs. She met their eyes and sent them a look of acknowledgement. But she didn’t stop, and kept going, heading straight for her room. They didn’t even have a chance to call out.
“... Mama?” Isaac asked, just as bewildered as they were about Aloy’s strange actions.
“I’ll go talk with her,” Zo decided.
“Good idea,” Varl agreed. He moved to hand Isaac over to her, but Zo refused. He was confused. “Shouldn’t you take him along?”
“Not at the moment, no,” replied Zo. She looked at her partner meaningfully. “I think she needs a talk, on her own.”
Varl didn’t seem to understand, but he nodded. “Okay, if you say so.”
“She’ll be back for him,” Zo assured him, and she made her way towards Aloy’s room.
She knocked on the door, more to signal to Aloy she was coming in, more than it was to ask for permission. When Zo entered, she found Aloy sitting on the ground near the table, looking distantly ahead as she fiddled with her weapons and ammo.
Aloy snapped to attention as soon as she came in.
“Aloy?” Zo asked.
Her friend blinked, then sighed. “Zo,” She greeted back.
“Isaac is waiting for you outside,” she told her softly, coming to sit beside her.
Aloy was deathly silent as her hands stilled from her fiddling. She flexed her fingers, her knuckles growing white from the strain. Then finally, she spoke, “I think he’s better off out there than in here with me.”
Zo frowned. “That’s not true,” replied Zo. “He misses his mother, as we all do.”
Pressing her lips, Aloy just shook his head slowly, letting her hands fall to her lap. She looked young like this. Too young to have been on her own with a young child. While Zo didn’t know the nature of Isaac’s birth, other than it was ‘complicated’, had Aloy been with the Utaru, she and Isaac would’ve had the support of dozens, a whole tribe. But she didn’t, and now the stress of a young single parent was catching up to her.
“Zo, I’m… I’m not much of a mother,” Aloy finally said bitterly. “I’m not like you, Varl, Erend, even Beta. I don’t know what makes him happy.” She gestured to the door, to her son out there. “I don’t know how to play with him, I don’t know how to make him smile.” Her tone grew more frustrated. “The only thing I know how to do is survive. This life I live…” She gestured to the weapons and ammo strewn around her, “It's not the life for a baby.”
Zo had a lot to say in reply, but she didn’t voice them yet. She wanted Aloy to speak her peace first.
Aloy took a big, shuddering breath. “I’m a motherless outcast who didn’t even have parents. How would I know what a baby needs?” For the first time since they met, Aloy actually sounded close to tears, a rarity. “He deserves a tribe, a family that will love and care for him… more than I can.”
“And so do you,” Zo responded kindly, putting a hand on Aloy’s shoulder. “You shouldn’t have had to go through everything alone.” Aloy looked away, hiding her face behind the curtain of her hair. “Aloy, being a mother isn’t easy. And for what it’s worth, you’re doing a wonderful job despite the dedication to your mission.”
“It isn’t enough,” Aloy snapped, sounding absolutely heartbroken.
A silence grew between them as the words set in. Zo felt for her, she really did.
“You know,” Aloy started after a moment. “In the months he’s been with me. He didn’t fuss much. Everyone tells me it’s a good thing. But he didn’t laugh, either. Isaac was so quiet, I thought he was-” Aloy shuddered at whatever memory she recalled. “But here… he does all those things babies are supposed to do. I’ve been the one depriving him of all those things.” She finally looked Zo, both devastated and angry at herself. “Don’t you see, Zo? I can’t… I can’t be the mother that Isaac needs.”
So young, so emotionally alone. Zo couldn’t imagine what it was like to have her roots, to be a child and shunned by all others except for a father figure. Now she was thrust into something so much bigger than herself, and had to tend to an infant at the same time. The pain and stress seemed monumental.
And honestly, Zo would be lying if she said that this was an ideal life for a child. In the past few weeks, Isaac has barely seen his mother. Aloy wasn’t trying to avoid him, but the weight of saving the world understandably trumps mothering a child. It was hard to fight violent machines and delve into dangerous ruins with something as vulnerable as an infant. Zo had no idea how Aloy managed in the time she was alone with him. It couldn’t have been easy.
But Zo also knew that this arrangement was only temporary. Once GAIA had reached her full strength, Aloy would finally be free to be the mother she wanted to be for Isaac. Zo has seen them together, and she could tell that Aloy genuinely loved her son. It might not be the most conventional relationship between mother and child, but wasn’t their love for each other worth something? To Aloy, who grew up without much of a family, that was something probably more precious than she even realized.
“There are many willing parents among the Utaru,” Zo began, breaking the long silence. “Those who are unable to conceive or parents who have lost their own. Some have even made it their mission to care for orphan children.”
Aloy pursed her lips together, breath hitching slightly. She knew what Zo was suggesting.
“If you truly believe Isaac needs someone better,” Zo continued. “I can find him a good home among my people.”
Now presented with the option, Aloy looked unsure. Considering the circumstances, Zo was willing to adopt Isaac herself. Varl certainly wouldn’t mind, especially if it was to keep Isaac close to his birth mother. But she wanted to present another solution, a broader scenario, to put it into perspective.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” assured Zo, with a soft gaze. “Children do get rehomed within the tribe time to time. Isaac will be loved by a tribe, as you wish.”
“I…” Aloy seemed to be panicking slightly. She tried to respond, but the words seem to catch in her throat. “I don’t…”
Zo smiled, looking at her friend sincerely, gently grabbing Aloy’s hand in her own to quell her fears. “I know.” She smiled. “It’s not an easy decision. You can still think on it, if you’d like. But do you know what I think?”
Aloy was silent for a moment. “What… do you think?” she asked, finally finding her voice.
“Isaac loves you,” Zo remarked wholeheartedly. “He knows you’re his mother. He may fuss, or laugh, in our arms, but have you seen the look in his face when he’s in yours?” Aloy appeared confused and Zo gave her a knowing look. “Isaac looks peaceful, sheltered, and safe. Maybe he doesn’t fuss because he knows your struggle. I think he didn’t laugh often because sometimes, he likes the peace and quiet, just like his mother.”
“That…” Her friend stammered. “That can’t be right. Babies aren’t that smart.”
“You’d be surprised.” Zo smiled at her. “They are a lot more perceptive than they appear to be,” she chuckled. Then in a more serious tone, she added, “Whatever you choose, Aloy, I will be here to support you. Everyone is.”
Aloy still had that uncertain look on her face when the door to the room suddenly swished open. They both rose to their feet to face the newcomers, alarmed by their appearance. It was Erend, and Varl, as well as little Isaac, who was crying.
"Sorry to interrupt," Erend announced as Varl came over, holding a very upset infant. "But Junior started crying, and he won't stop."
As Varl approached the two, Isaac finally caught sight of what he was looking for: his mother. He reached out from Varl’s arms towards Aloy, crying even louder. Stunned, Aloy looked slowly at Zo who gave her a small encouraging nod.
Swallowing thickly, Aloy reached over and carefully took her son from Varl’s arms, and she was shaking a little from her emotions.
Now finally reunited with the person he loved the most, Isaac quieted down and looked up to smile at his mothers, his face full of snot and tears. As Aloy adjusted her grip on him, he curled against Aloy’s chest, his hand grasping something in familiarity, his hands had found one of Aloy’s blue beads.
Nothing else really gave Isaac that same comfort.
Aloy's eyes were glistening in the low candlelight as she brought Isaac closer to her. She was a fierce warrior, who often not spent more time snarling at her enemies than she did with a smile on her face, but Zo thought she had never seen a more soft, loving face of a mother.
"I think they need some catching up to do," Zo whispered, walking over, reaching out to grab a star-struck Varl from his daze to lead him towards the door. She shooed the Vanguardsmen much the same.
Herding out the other two, Zo looked back to see that Aloy had sat down again, but this time with her baby in her arms. It was a heartwarming sight, but she won't steal anymore than a glance. This was some much-needed together time for them.
"Guessing the talk turned out well?" Varl turned to his partner, Erend grinning beside him.
Zo gave him a deep nod. "The path ahead has many thorns, but… they'll be just fine."