Thunderjaw Heart - Horizon Zero Dawn Fanfiction

Li

Kïma was still leading the way, brushing every cradle she passed by with her hand and taking a look at the person's inside. Quatu was constantly scratching the back of their hand, pressed against Bast who was, obviously, hitting his thigh with his fist. 

A freezing mist was leaking from pipes on the walls, indicating they were in the right direction. Some of these robots called supervisors were laying on the ground or sitting against the wall.

"They're freaking me out...", admitted the Trailblazer.

"Why ?"

"I don't know... A human shaped machine is just... *disgust noise*."

"Please, don't get scared when you see Mama, then. She's super nice.", Kïma assured, stopping by a cradle. "Hey, this one has sick tattoos ! Look at these animals !"

"Kïma, we're a bit in a hurry, remember...", Bast rolled his eyes and pushed her to get her to walk again. "Where was APHRODITE in the last bunker ?"

"Let me think... There was this room full of powdery food, and she was sitting somewhere in it. We have to find the supply room..."

"Okay, maybe it's written somewhere on the indications our focuses show us. We should try to see if we find any of this thing in the syringes that saved you and Maxime."

She nodded and activated her focus. She only had the time to take a single step forward before Bast poked her shoulder and whispered :

"Where's Quatu ?"

"I thought they were stuck to you like they always are ?", she replied.

Their interrogation was cut short by a high pitched squeal coming from behind a cryogenic bed. They found Quatu, pointing their spear at a white android that had raised its hands.

"Quatu, I told you not to get scared !", Kïma sighed, pushing their spear down. "Hey, Mama. It's me."

"Kïma ! I'm so happy to see you again. Who are they ?", AHRODITE said with her soothing voice, welcoming her child's hug.

The Banuk was pale -paler than usual- and their eyes had adopted once again the impressive size of dinner plates. Bast just shrugged. He saw worse.

"This is Bast and this is Quatu. They're my friends."

"Where is Aloy ?"

"She uh..."

She paused, shut her eyes for a second, breathed in and out. When she opened her eyes, a transparent drop had appeared in the corner of one them. 

"She is gone."

The android let out a small 'Oh...' and stepped forwards to hug the girl again.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Kïma. Wherever she is now, I hope she is okay."

Not knowing if APHRODITE understood that Aloy was truly gone, Kïma stepped back and, holding the robot's hands, declared :

"Mama, we don't have a lot of time before HADES finds you and we all know that. So I'll go straight to the point : how are we suppose to use the Master Override ?"

The android crossed its arms and tilted its head. Kïma wondered if her robotic mother shut herself down to avoid having to answer the question but her doubts disappeared when the AI answered :

"I've rarely heard about this object. Elizabeth Sobeck referred to it only twice in my presence. She said it had to be wielded by an Alpha member of the Horizon Zero Dawn project. If you need other informations, I would tell you to find APPOLO but it's been destroyed centuries ago."