Aloy (Part One)

Kieran sat alone in his study, the fire in the hearth burning low and casting flickering shadows across the otherwise dark room. His gaze was unfocused, resting somewhere in the middle distance though his mind was far away, preoccupied by a decision that had already been made, yet continued to bug him. The rebels. His connection to them had once felt like a tether, a line stretching back to those willing to fight for something more. And now, that connection was severed- by his own hand.Kieran contemplated him using the Spectra-Link, holding it in his hand. The device was originally made by Aloy himself, to facilitate communication between Prowlers during battles. This gave Prowlers a strategic advantage over their opponents by relaying data from one side of Arnem to the other in seconds. It was also Aloy who´d severed the link between the Spectra-Links that he and Ed´s team used so that it ran on an independent wavelength, different from all the other comms the Prowlers owned. This made it safer for them to converse with each other without interception.Theoretically, all five senses could be linked via the Spectra-Link, but typically Prowlers only chose to link their sense of hearing at regular intervals. The amount of data shared by linking eyesight was often overwhelming and could potentially result in sensory overload, risking serious damage to the users involved. Neither was it worth it, since hearing gave one a solid grasp of the situation on the other side with minimal data, allowing them to focus on their own surroundings. Kieran could´ve helped them a lot more by linking sight. The rebels didn´t know that the device was capable of more than syncing speech, however, and thus he´d decided against it. Maybe knowing as little as possible about each other was in favor of all of them. It also spared Kieran from seeing many things, especially the awe-inspiring sight of the enemy charging towards you. They were right. Finn was right. He had been keeping as much distance from them as possible. He was never one of them, and he probably never would be. No matter what he thought. In the end, they were the ones fighting. As he turned this over, his thoughts drifted to a memory from years ago, a shard of his past that he rarely allowed himself to dwell on but couldn’t keep at bay tonight.He could still picture it clearly: the two of them by the riverside as children, the lamplights casting golden patterns on the water, their voices mingling with the whispering breeze. Lea had sat beside him. She always had that knack, seeing through his silences to the burdens he tried to hide."I´m sure Gareth is watching over you," she had said softly, with a strange sincerity.He had frowned, uncertain whether she was teasing him. “As if you can see the dead.” He could still remember his skepticism, a disbelief softened by the warmth of her expression.Lea nodded, wide-eyed and earnest, her seriousness making him wonder if she truly believed it. She stretched her hand out to the rain above.“Sure I can. I can also hear him telling you from up the ceiling. ´Go on a journey´, he´s saying."And they´d she´d smiled. And they´d both laughed, Kieran feeling better for the first time in weeks. Lea had that gift too, along with her powers of Technomancy, Kieran felt sure of it.The memory lingered, her words carrying a comfort he hadn’t realized he needed at the time. Whether or not she truly believed Gareth’s spirit was guiding him, her faith had somehow fortified him, her presence like a light piercing the darkness.Lost in his thoughts, he nearly missed the rapid footsteps echoing down the hall. A heartbeat later, his study door swung open, and Lea herself stood framed in the doorway, breathing hard, her face flushed with urgency.“It´s Aloy,” she said, barely able to get the words out. “He is on trial before the council.”The words hit him like a blow. “Aloy? What did he do now?”“They kept it quiet, but I overheard them in a council meeting. We don´t have time," she replied, her gaze flicking to the corridor as though expecting the council guards to appear at any moment.Kieran moved without another word, striding towards the door. They slipped together into the hall, moving quickly and silently, a sense of urgency pushing them forward.They turned a corner, nearly colliding with a pair of guards who gave them a suspicious look. Kieran and Lea exchanged a glance, both of them tensing, but Kieran held up his hand, commanding them with authority. “Council business,” he said curtly, leaving no room for questions. The guards nodded, stepping back with a salute, and Kieran felt a flicker of relief as they continued, undeterred.“Do you think the council intends to go through with it?” Kieran asked, keeping his voice low.Lea’s jaw tightened, her eyes dark with a fierce protectiveness that he recognized well.They slowed as they neared the doors, Leanna glancing at Kieran with a flicker of hesitation. For all her courage, he could tell she was bracing herself, aware of the risks they were taking. He gave her a nod, a silent promise that he was with her in this. She met his gaze, her expression softening for the briefest moment. And somehow, he felt as though Gareth really was watching, a silent guardian lending them strength.---The council chamber of Arnem was silent but for the shuffling of people and the low murmurs of councilors and noblemen, their voices a whisper beneath the grand stone archways. Ornate banners of the kingdom hung high along the walls, their embroidered sigils glinting in the dim, fire-lit glow. Around the long, polished table sat the most influential men and women in the realm, each watching the princess with veiled apprehension and curiosity. At the head of the table sat Princess Thalia, poised and dignified, her golden tiara catching the flicker of candlelight. The absence of the king loomed over the room. Thalia’s eyes swept over the council, assessing each face momentarily. This was her kingdom, as much as it was her father’s.The whispers died as Kain strode to the front of the room, his footsteps echoing in the chamber. Kain offered a short, respectful bow to the princess before turning to face the council. “Thank you all for gathering today,” he began, his voice firm yet respectful. “As you are all aware, the Ghoul attack a few days ago has been a massive blow to us. Our scouts still report organized sightings dangerously close to the city’s perimeter."One of the councilors, a middle-aged man with a furrowed brow, raised a hand. “Kain. These Ghouls. . . aren´t they merely acting on primal instinct? Mindless creatures, after all, are capable of only so much.” He turned and looked at the princess, catching her eye. He smiled softly to himself.Kain’s jaw tightened. “With respect, Councilor Lysander, I´m merely a Prowler general. I have reason to believe commander Quilt would be able to provide much detailed information on these sightings."Lysander cleared his throat. "Your Highness, if only the Monarch were here, surely-""The Monarch has more pressing matters to attend to, councilor," Kain said. "Do you, by any chance, deem the princess unfit for residing over the council?"His eyes widened. "Of course not," he said softly, then fell silent. "Is there any immediate danger to the sectors?"Kain answered respectfully and calmly. "The Ghouls have successfully been led out of residential sectors, princess."A murmur of unease swept through the council, councilors exchanging worried glances. Thalia raised a hand, silencing them. “Thank you, Kain. We will take this matter into serious consideration as soon as Quilt is here. Now, if there are no further questions, we would like to proceed with the trial.”The heavy doors at the back of the chamber creaked open, and all eyes turned as a figure was led in, flanked by two guards. He was young, unkempt, with tousled hair and a faint unfazed smile on his face that did not quite reach his eyes. His hands were bound behind his back, but he carried himself with a defiant, almost casual demeanor.“Aloy,” one of the councilors sneered, eyeing the young man with disdain. “The infamous scientist. What a pleasure.”Aloy offered a slight bow. “Always a pleasure, Councilor Alice. I’m honored to be summoned before such. . . esteemed company.”As silence fell, he looked around the hall. "Nice decoration."The princess arched an eyebrow. “Aloy, you stand accused of illegal experimentation and endangering the citizens of Arnem. What do you have to say for yourself?”Aloy shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”