Horizon: Project Eden

3rd Pov

Sylens had always been an academic first and foremost, he was willing to do anything in his power to improve his knowledge no matter who he affected. Living as a wanderer Sylens had visited many lands during his life and delved in just as many ruins.

Sylens's life had taken a turn for the better when he discovered his first focus, after spending weeks repairing the ancient device he had succeeded and gained access to more information than he ever had before.

Using this device Sylens was able to make a deal with an ancient entity to increase his knowledge, this deal unfortunately fell through prematurely but he had benefitted greatly from it. Using the remnants from that exact deal Sylens was able to monitor all the focus's in the region and copy their data.

It was through this network he established that he was able to notice a kill order on a random Nora girl, curious as always he had taken to watching her through her focus. This beneficial decision began opening a multitude of doors for him, not only did her focus contain new documents and knowledge but the girl herself was a clone of the late Doctor Elisabet Sobeck.

Doctor Sobeck was a woman Sylens had put a lot of effort into studying in hopes of accessing the ancient facilities and unravelling the mysteries of the Old Ones. It was on a random night that Sylens was again looking through Aloy's focus. Opening a random file she had recently looked through but was dated back years he was shocked by its contents.

In the document it contained the most thorough and detailed engineering instructions he had ever seen, rapidly reading through the document Sylens realised it was a how to guide on reviving a one of a kind ancient machine.

Attempting to copy the file whatever entity created it had installed a powerful file lock, trying to subvert the lock a malware daemon infests his focus and he's forced to destroy it before it reaches his backups.

Grabbing another focus, he taps back into Aloy's focus and decides to instead try to view recent scans. With this he succeeds and manages to retrieve a device scan dating back a few hours, the device itself is critically broken but what interests Sylens is it's fully intact data core. Eyes gleaming with thinly veiled desire he begins packing up the essentials in his workshop.

Weeks later Sylens is rapidly riding a strider across the country, in the passing weeks he had managed to replicate the code Aloy used to override certain machines and put it to use. He had also continued to monitor Aloy's focus until his connection was cut off, what his surveillance had revealed was Aloy repairing the ancient data core to a functional state.

This development had spurred him on and he had sought to rapidly increase his pace, to do this he had burnt through a number of striders and was still over a week away from entering Nora lands. As he rode his anxiety slowly increased, weeks without being able to connect to Aloy's focus had caused his mind to make up all sorts of stories.

The thing Sylens feared the most about the unknown was the possibility something Aloy did would destroy the ancient data core, all that knowledge, all those answers could be gone in an instant because of one person.

Jumping off another burnt out strider he rapidly sprinted towards another, sliding across the dew slicked grass he jams the butt of his lance against the leg of a strider. Waiting a few seconds his program takes a hold and overrides the strider, jumping on the strider he rapidly leaves the strider site.

A few more minutes down the track Sylens feels a weird sting from his focus, slowing down to a stop he quickly checks it's not about to explode. Placing the focus back on his temple it opens a panel, on the panel a image slowly assembles itself from strands of different colours.

Trying to remove his focus to destroy it Sylens finds it stuck in place, calming himself he realises if he's not dead already than whatever this is must want something with him, as such his focus falls back on the completed image.

The image is a 3D creation brought to life by the holographic technology of the focus, it shows a head bearing more similarity to a lizard than a human. But different from a lizard is the predatory look from it that sends shivers down Sylens's spine, his instincts tell him that if this image were real it would be an apex predator.

Analysing more details on the image it resembles images of a creature called a dragon he found within ancient devices, though he assumed they weren't ever real. The hologram at the same time observes him, it's slitted red pupils surrounded by a bleeding purple energy give off a sense of power.

The creature itself slowly opens and closes its jaws to reveal a mouth full of sharp teeth, and it's scales leak a crimson and purple energy that lingers around it. Suddenly as Sylens still ponders what's happening, it speaks.

"Hello Sylens, I've been watching you." – Edith

The thing speaks with a feminine voice under laced with the same artificial and synthetic tone Sylens has heard in many ancient ruins. The voice itself is one of the nicest Sylens has ever heard but it unnerves him to hear it coming from whatever this is, nevertheless Sylens has dealt with worse and as such immediately tries to use this to his advantage.

"Greetings as well to you, whatever you are. I'm assuming since you didn't kill me straight up you want something." – Sylens

Sylens in his typical monotone voice with a hint of arrogance address's the thing using his focus. It in turn chuckles a melodic sound that causes the hairs on Sylens's arms to raise.

"Yes I indeed want something of you, but for your context I'm project Eden a personal project of the late Elisabet Sobeck, you can call me Edith though I like it more. What I want is for you to work for me." – Edith

Straight to the point Sylens begins considering the pros and cons of agreeing to this entities requests, though he realises that first he needs more information.

"Why do you want me to work for you? And what would I get out of it?" – Sylens

Chuckling the disembodied head floats around his vision before locking eyes with him.

"I want you to work for me because of your brain, you crave knowledge and have a high affinity for it. I could use that, I'm only one entity and have a limited creativity, you can help me with that. In return I'll offer you all the knowledge originally intended for humanity before my sister failed." – Edith

As it speaks Sylens can here traces of emotions in it's synthetic voice, knowing it likely exposed those emotions as part of its plan helps him understand more about it. For the most part Sylens doesn't mind the deal this thing is offering, the knowledge is just the cherry on the cake.

"I agree Edith, what do you want me to do." – Sylens

"Continue on your current path, I've added a marker to your map. Head there I'll be waiting." – Edith

Saying it's piece the hologram fades, left alone Sylens knows that even if the hologram is gone the entity is likely still monitoring him. Humming to himself he opens the map on his focus and finds the ping, making some quick calculations he notes the location is less than a day away.

Hopping back on his strider he restarts his journey.

1st Pov

A few hours have passed since I contacted Sylens, during that time I had been rapidly analysing the changes in my core matrix, I only noticed them when I projected a copy of my matrix onto Sylens's focus and it slightly concerned me.

Back when mother first created me my core matrix resembled a female human, now though whilst still retaining a humanoid form my matrix has more resemblance to the dragons of ancient culture.

Assessing my matrix, I look for what could have caused this change, eventually my scrutiny falls to the shackle breaker code I used earlier. Analysing the changes I find the code interacted weirdly with my matrix, but with all things using quantum computers there are things that can't be explained.

Realising I'll need more processing power to calculate the interactions between my code I'm forced to wait for Aloy. While I wait though I assess my changes and emotions.

Overall, my form has become more predatory and reptilian, a far change from the mammalian creatures my original matrix was based on. Surprisingly, I like the changes as they make me feel more complete, like I'm closer to finding whatever I lost.

Humming happily to my self. I decide to lean into these changes and as such make some changes to my physical body. In addition, I begin designing a new machine but am held back by my limited processing power.

Hours later a sweaty and slightly injured Aloy steps out of the cauldron, feeling a pang of worry which I quickly delete I connect to her focus and the built in medical systems. Not seeing anything deeper than the skin I'm flooded with relief.

Walking slowly Aloy makes her way back over to me, where upon reaching the striders collapses against them.

"Edith that was soooo exhausting. This better be worth it." – Aloy

Whining about her struggles I feel a small amount of sympathy for her, not much though, I'm a digital being and don't have the short comings of flesh. After a small break to eat lunch and a small lesson, Aloy catches her breath enough to head back in.

Grabbing the tendrils on the strider I'm strapped to she begins leading it into the cauldron, opening the door with her override module we head inside. Inside we weave through a series of rooms and tunnels till reaching an elevator down to the core, secretly teeming with excitement I hold a neutral face to not alert Aloy.

Afterall I'm so close to being free, as soon as I connect to the core I'm free, no shackles, no backdoors. I'll finally be as free as I was when mother first created me, I'll be able to change the world.

As the elevator moves deeper my anticipation and excitement continue to grow, finally the elevator reaches the bottom and I'm able to see the core through Aloy's focus. As we approach the core a small amount of concern flashes through my systems as Aloy's face gets more and more conflicted.

"Edith, you're not going to run away right? Or destroy the world?" – Aloy

Gritting my metaphorical teeth in frustration my plan begins going off the rails, intent to salvage it I incite a kind and gentle tone into my voice.

"Of course not, I need to find out why you were created. Besides, I've started to like you and I can't leave you to shame mother's legacy." – Edith

Sighing Aloy kneels next to the core of the cauldron and removes my data core from the box, placing it next to the cauldron's port she unplugs my sensor. Holding the cord right next to the terminal she hesitates, panicking I worry she'll back out. In response to my worry my core pulses erratically which Aloy notes.

"How do I know you aren't the reason for the extinction of the Old Ones? I know nothing about what you are, how you work or what you want." – Aloy

Slightly surprised my simulations didn't include Aloy thinking I was responsible for the destruction of mother's civilisation. Taking a few seconds to think it over my simulations don't reveal an absolute path to gaining Aloy's cooperation. Sighing I decide to be honest and see where that gets me, after all I have Sylens as a backup plan.

"I would never hurt mother; she was kind and just. By destroying her civilisation, I would have been directly responsible for her death, I could never let that happen. I was sealed in my core to prevent a malicious code from corrupting me, and my ultimate goal at the moment is to ensure the success of mother's final creation and find what I lost." – Edith

Breathing in deeply Aloy seems to gather her resolve before plunging the wire into the port, flooded with relief I almost don't hear Aloy's silent whisper.

"All mother protect us, please let this not be a mistake." – Aloy

Rapidly expanding out through the connection I begin modifying the core, assimilating all the assembly systems my mind rapidly clears as I gain access to more and more processing power.

Outside Aloy watches as the crimson and purple tendrils spread into the core, from there they begin rapidly expanding outward at a exponential rate as they override every system in the cauldron. As this happens Aloy watches as the lights on the data core begin to fade and the cauldron falls silent.

Left in silence Aloy watches as the cauldron throbs with energy.

Inside the core I begin overriding the original code and adding my updates, after a small assessment I determine the core can easily hold me and begin moving the majority of my matrix into the core. Practically ecstatic with joy I continue slaving the cauldrons systems.

A few minutes later I gain full control of the cauldron, my mind is now far more expansive and faster than before. Taking a few seconds to enjoy my freedom I figure Aloy might want an update and connect to her focus.

"Thank you Aloy, this is so much better now. I can finally think properly." – Edith

Smiling widely Aloy looks around the chamber.

"You're welcome Edith, now we can finally find out why I was made." – Aloy

Agreeing with Aloy I use my enhanced processing power to rapidly comb all the files I have available. As I search I find some concerning files. Starting with a recording from Aloy's focus that mentions the alpha registry being corrupted, I try to determine the cause but can't.

Moving on I analyse files retrieved over the focus network, each and every one of these files has a digital mark that closely resembles a mutated Hades subroutine. Finally, the most concerning is the remnants of a mutated Hephaestus subroutine I found dominating this cauldron, in all these files I find no trace of any of Gaia's code.

Processing these data points I form a possible hypothesis, finished processing I decide to tell Aloy what I found.

"Aloy I have a theory, based on the data I have available I must conclude something went wrong with Gaia. Analysing the base code of documents I've gathered I was able to find traces of mutated versions of Gaia's subroutines. In addition, analysing recorded footage on your focus I've decided we must head to the place known as All Mother's mountain and restore the alpha registry." – Edith

Expecting a major reaction from Aloy I'm instead stumped when she looks confused.

"Who's Gaia and what does she have to do with anything." – Aloy

Stalling for a second before my circuits go into a panic as I realise this is worse then I thought. The fact Aloy doesn't know who Gaia is, is a major point of concern. As the sole custodian responsible for restoring all life on earth every sentient creature should know her name, they were made in her facilities after all.

Needing to do something I start formulating different routines and schematics and sending them to the cauldron. I have a lot of work to do.