The trip to Maker's End would take them two days to get there, if they didn't procrastinate helping someone or fighting machines.

Allam and Aloy were riding their mounts, making small talk from time to time to entertain themselves, it was 4:30pm and they were both bored. Both were unhappy about the scorching heat of the desert.

Allam: I hate this stupid bullshit, between solace and boredom, I don't know which is worse -complained the soldier while he passed a sleeve over his sweaty forehead.

Aloy was sweating like a waterfall, but she didn't have any protection from the sun like Allam did, so her fair skin was starting to burn. Allam noticed that she was turning red, so he took off his poncho and passed it to her.

Allam: Here, so you don't get sunburned -said the soldier offering her his poncho, but the huntress denied it.

Aloy: No thanks Allam, I appreciate it, but I'm fine -she told him with a forced smile, but he noticed that the touch of the armor on her exposed skin hurt.

Allam didn't accept the redhead's answer and he brought his Broadhead closer to her and covered her with the poncho anyway, Aloy looked at him with a surprised expression on her face. Allam gave her a smile and nodded to her. He took off from her to give her space.

Aloy: Thank you -she thanked him with a blush and a shy smile.

Allam: Whenever you need help, don't be afraid to ask me, we're in this together -he answered her with a smile, which made the redhead's heart jump, to her surprise.

Aloy Pov

Me: Why does my heart jump every time Allam smiles at me? What is happening to me? Why didn't Rost talk to me more about social interactions? -I wondered silently as I glanced at Allam, who was looking at something in his Focus.

A strange smell began to fill my nostrils and it was something recognizable, but I couldn't identify it, I inhaled it again and it was something... aphrodisiac... it reminded me... of how Allam smells. I brought a bit of the hood of the poncho closer to my nose and the smell came in greater quantities, it was like a drug, I couldn't get enough of it. It felt like I had Allam himself holding me.

While this was happening...

Allam Pov

I was looking through my documents, something quite important. Until I finally found it.

Me: Modifications-I said outlining a smile as I opened the document that contained the information.

Me: Well, it will be better if I keep this document in a folder so that I don't forget it-he said as he moved it to another folder that said "Tutorials".

I was about to start reading the document when I feel something push me off my Broadhead and I collapse to the ground. I close the interface and see that I have an arrow embedded in my left chest, but thanks to the armor, it didn't get embedded in my body.

I heard screams coming from behind some rocks in front of us and saw that it was a bandit ambush. Aloy got off his Strider and went to assist me.

She helped me up and we quickly took cover where we could.

Aloy: Damn, I didn't see them coming, Aloy said as she readied her bow.

Me: Neither did I, I was distracted with my Focus -I replied to her while ripping the arrow out of my armor.

Aloy: Are you hurt? she asked me with concern, but I shook my head.

I got my assault rifle ready and started shooting at the bandits. One of the bandits, who seemed to be the leader, was carrying a kind of rustic machine gun, he began to shoot dozens of arrows at us.

Me: Aloy, I'm going to distract them, I need you to shoot that asshole over there in the head -I ordered her and she nodded with a confident and determined look.

Me: WE SURRENDER!- I yelled and raised my hands, the bandits stopped shooting at us and I left my cover, moving a little so they wouldn't see Aloy. There were still several checking the rock, so I decided to use one more distraction, talk about stupid things.

Me: Hey, do you guys know what the movie I Like a Virgin is about?... Well, it's about a girl who falls in love with a guy because he has a giant penis, the whole damn movie is about that and the moral The story is that women like big penises, something I disagree with -I told them and they looked at me confused and one or another looked at their crotch.

Seeing that all the raiders were paying attention to me, Aloy shot the arrow at the leader and it pierced the leader's brain, causing everyone to go on alert.

Me: Say hello to my little friend! I yelled as I started shooting with my rifle.

Me: One, two, three fell and... -I was counting but someone bumped into me and took me off balance and I saw that it was another bandit and he was coming with a metal axe.

He lowered the melee weapon and almost hit me in the groin. I kicked him causing him to lose his grip on the weapon. I did a tactical parry and lunged at his legs, grabbing both legs at the knees and brought his left leg up to my waist and shoved him to the ground, causing him to fall onto his back. I kneed him in the balls and started punching and hooking him left and right.

Near me I saw a rather large rock and smashed it into his head, knocking him out.

I got up and took my rifle, another arrow hit me and it was in the helmet, look who had fired the arrow at me.

Me: Oh now you've done it sucker -I ran towards him and gave him a flying kick with both legs, making him lose his balance and fall several meters away from me. I grabbed my sword and plunged it into his chest.

The last bandit tried to run away, but I shot him in the leg, causing him to fall to the ground. I put it in a chokehold and dragged it off a cliff and it was reminiscent of a scene from an old action movie.

Bandit: P-please, d-d-don't kill me, I beg you- said the bandit stammering in fear.

Me: Don't worry, I'm not going to kill you-I lied with a serious look.

Bandit: S-Really?-asked the man, hopeful

Me: I lied- I said while he pushed him and he fell down the ravine screaming.

I walked away from the ravine and went to look for Aloy, who was checking the bodies of the bandits in case they had any valuables. I see that she had some blood running down her arm and that made me worry about her, so I started running towards her.

Me: Aloy, are you okay? -I asked the woman in dismay, as she checked her body for any visible injuries.

Aloy: I'm fine Al, it's just that an arrow grazed my arm and cut me -she told me as she put her hands on my shoulder, I kept checking for any injuries.

For a moment I looked at my hands and saw them bloody, as well as certain areas of my armor. The desert had changed to an abandoned and destroyed office floor, with a destroyed city in the background. Beside me I saw my old battle partner, Kayla Jackson, dead. When I see myself again I have in my hands her old sniper rifle and I see a Kopesh approaching my squad's location.

Aloy Pov

Aloy: Allam, are you okay? Are you having another attack? -I asked him while I took off his helmet, I put a hand on his cheek and I see that he was in a kind of trance, I realized his breathing was faster and his pupils were dilated, he had a sad expression and there were tears threatening leaving his eyes, whatever he was remembering, hurt quite a lot.

I started to remember what the healer in Daytower told me, that I was to calm him down and reassure him that everything would be okay and that he wasn't there anymore.

Aloy: Calm down...everything's fine...I'm fine Allam...you're fine...we're both fine...you're not there anymore...it's over now -I told him slowly and with a tone soft, which was having an effect, seeing how his pupils returned to normal and his breathing calmed down.

Aloy: You're safe...it's over...there's nothing to face -I kept telling him while I looked into his eyes, I took his hand and held it gently, he began to close his eyes and put his forehead against the mine, even calmer.

I felt like my heart was beating a million times a second, for some strange reason; but seeing him so calm and serene was soothing and comforting at the same time.

I could feel his breath so close to mine, I could see every feature on his face, his scars, the wisps of his beard and his lips. He seemed to me...cute...Is that the word?

I felt his arms wrap around me protectively, making my heart jump the highest it had ever been in my life, so much so that it almost hurt. He and I were enjoying each other's company.

Allam: Thank you Aloy -he thanked me in a whisper as we separated from the hug.

That has been the most physical contact he and I have had since we met. The soldier got up and rubbed his eyes and he offered me his hand to help me up.

Allam: It will be better to continue on our way, isn't it? -he told me with a smile, I smiled back and nodded. We packed up our things and continued on our way.

9:00 pm

General Pov

Aloy and Allam were sitting around a campfire. They were eating some lizard skewers, while Aloy was looking at the stars, Allam was reading something in his Focus.

Allam Pov

Well, from what I understand, the Ultrawave can be modified in the arms with hooks, blades, or shields. A shield wouldn't do anything against machines to tell the truth, so I'd better discard the idea.

But I need to find the blueprints so I can recreate the mods or I'd have to get them out of some armor that has them, but I doubt I'll be able to find any of those parts intact today. Maybe I can also modify my rifle and add a grenade launcher to it and ask Aloy to help me make some of those elemental ammunition, like the ones she uses in her slingshot.

I looked to where the redhead was and saw that she was looking at the stars, lost in her own thoughts. She looked beautiful with the campfire lighting her up. I could see her facial features, her freckles, her nose, her lips, her beautiful eyes. I shook my head a little to try to get those thoughts out of my head, but, it was impossible.

Aloy was a brave, curious, kind and very altruistic girl, in addition to the fact that she is very agile, skillful and funny. But above all, she is intelligent, she reminds me a lot of Aunt Eli, I could even say that she would be her daughter.

Aloy has helped me so much, from teaching me what plants and mushrooms are good to eat to calming me down when I have my PTSD attacks. I wish I could return her favor, but I don't know with what.

I started looking in my Focus and I see the video section and I see that I have a movie, it was "22 Jump Street". Luckily my bulb was the latest model and it had a lot of memory. I played it and saw that the file was not damaged, that brought a smile to my face, and after watching a few seconds of the video, I had a great idea and I knew what to do for Aloy.

Me: Hey Aloy, do you want to watch a movie? -I asked with a smile and she looked at me strangely.

Aloy: Movie? What's that? -she asked me confused as she approached me

Me: A movie is a set of images that move and have sound -I told her as she grabbed her sleeping bag and put it near mine. Then I connected our Focus and now she could see the screen of my focus.

We lay down and looked up at the sky and I started to play the movie and Aloy's eyes widened and she was staring at the movie in awe.

Aloy: I have so many questions, how do they do it? Why do they do it? What are those words? What's that? Who are those little people? -she asked, astonished and with a smile that she couldn't handle.

Me: Aloy, Aloy, calm down, I'll answer everything tomorrow, but for now, enjoy the show, beautiful -I told her between laughs, and I realized what I said, which made us both blush.

Oh, I'm so stupid.

10:20 p.m.

The movie was over and Aloy was exhausted, using my shoulder as a support for her head, although I was kind of nervous at first, I got used to having her there, I turned off my Spotlight and looked at the starry sky until I started to feel sleepy.

Allam: You know what? Hell, I'll admit it...I'm in love with Aloy and I swear I'll protect her, no matter what it takes -I said feeling as if a great weight had been lifted from my shoulders, I looked at the Nora huntress sleeping next to me, and with a smile I gave her a kiss on the forehead and closed my eyes.

Me: Good night, beautiful -I said with a smile falling into the world of dreams.

The next morning...

General Pov

The sun began to rise and it began to hit the old soldier in the face, he moved from discomfort due to the recent light, but a shadow covered him from the sun, causing him to stop moving, but then he heard a kind of a metallic bark, causing him to open his eyes to find a Watcher lens staring him in the face. Allam just gave a cry of terror as he tried to get up, the Watcher backed away with his light now yellow.

Allam got out of his sleeping bag and saw Aloy approaching with some rabbits in his hands.

Aloy: Allam, you're awake -Aloy greeted him, standing next to the Watcher.

Allam: Yes, but I almost had a heart attack because of that damn robot, it scared the living shit out of me -said the ancient soldier putting a hand on his chest to try to calm down.

Aloy: Yeah, sorry but that, but I tamed him recently and well, I ordered him to protect you while I hunted for breakfast -she said while she picked up the rabbits.

Allam thanked the huntress and they both set about cooking the animals, then continued on their way, the Watcher trailing behind.

5:30 pm

Allam and Aloy finally came out of the desert and were in a wooded area, where it was no longer hot.

Allam was jamming with Aloy thanks to their Focuses. The huntress became a fan of Ariana Grande, the favorite artist of one of the soldier's younger sisters. The soldier noticed a rock that he had seen a while ago and by chance he had seen it two or three times about two hours ago.

Allam: Em, Aloy -the soldier called while he kept looking at the rock.

Aloy: Yes, what's up? -asked the redhead looking at the man.

Allam: I'm pretty sure we've already passed that rock -I told her pointing to the rock we passed.

Aloy looked at the rock and realized what he was saying. She had seen that rock about an hour ago.

Aloy: Yes...I saw her an hour ago -she replied and they both looked at each other and slapped her face.

They've been going around in circles for the last three hours.

Aloy: How did we not notice? -she asked stopping her Strider.

Allam: Arian Grande was more powerful than us -said the soldier while he lowered his head in defeat.

Aloy opened her map and saw that they were indeed further from their destination than they thought.

Aloy: Damn -she said as she sighed.

Allam: Goddammit -said the soldier still with his head bowed in defeat.

They both heard metallic footsteps approaching his position, they got off their mounts and moved them away, to then hide and see a Shell-Walker convoy. Allam was wondering what kind of machine that is and he decided to silently follow her, despite Aloy's protests.

They both watched as the Shell-Walker reached a mountain with a large metal gate. It was a cauldron.

Aloy: That's where the machines are born -she said in amazement looking at the cauldron.

The doors closed and they both came out of their hiding place and began to walk towards the doors.

Allam: Wow, that's amazing -said the soldier as they approached.

As they approached, a kind of flare came out of the ground and shot into the air. Allam knew there was something wrong. Allam readied his assault rifle and Aloy drew his bow and they formed a circle to finish off whatever machine was stalking them.

Allam Pov

Something tells me we're not alone, besides the flare that went flying. I see something moving in front of me, but I can't see it very well, it's like it's...invisible!

I pushed Aloy out of the way and the machine lunged at me and I put my arms in front of me and I saw the machine trying to bite me, thanks to the force that the exoskeleton gave me I could keep it away from me.

It had a single red eye and serrated teeth, but it wasn't a Sawtooth, it was smaller and lighter than them, plus the damn thing turned invisible.

I punched the machine in the head to try to get rid of it, without much success. I punched it in the lens and it did some damage. With the sword I cut him on the side of his face, but he bit the sword and broke it, he climbed up again and was scratching my armor, if he continued like this he could tear it to pieces. Aloy impaled the machine with her electrified spear, causing the machine to fall and move away from me.

The machine had some sort of small cannon on its back, no bigger than the barrel of my rifle, and it fired what appears to be a small ball of plasma, but capable of destroying a stone.

I started shooting at the machine; his armor fell a little and with his paws he kicked up a cloud of dust and became invisible again.

Aloy: A machine that disappears and reappears whenever it wants, that's great -said the huntress sarcastically.

Me: You got to be fucking kidding me -I seconded her while pointing to each blind spot we had, since this machine is stalking us...it should be called Stalker.

That thing will probably want to go for the weakest of the group. For him I am the strongest since I resisted him and although Aloy hurt him a lot, he has not tried her yet.

Me: Aloy, stay close to me, don't walk away from me -I said to her as I started to circle around her to cover every angle of her.

A small ball of plasma hit me and sent me flying a few meters backwards, leaving a burn mark on my abdomen. The bastard pushed me away from Aloy so he could attack her, but I'm not going to let him.

The Stalker appeared and lunged at Aloy, but she was faster and rolled out of his way. She shot two heavy arrows at him and broke a mine launcher he had on his thigh. I riddled him with bullets until he finally fell to the ground in defeat.

Aloy and I walk over to the machine and let out the sigh we didn't know we both had in store. We started to review the salvageable parts of the machine, such as its core and other parts. I saw the plasma cannon of the stalker, activated my focus and saw the possibilities of use. Maybe if I reverse engineered it, I could make it a grenade launcher for my rifle. I checked the tail and saw that it had some kind of hidden blade, big enough to go through a person or a small machine.

I ripped the blade off the stalker and put it in my rucksack, maybe if I could sit down and work with it for a couple of hours, I could make it a blade for my armor and make melee easier.

We packed up our stuff, called our mounts, and continued on our way to the Maker's End, now a day late.

7:05pm

General Pov

Allam and Aloy set up camp near a stream in the wooded area. Allam was modifying his helmet using the corpse of a lookout he fought.

The lookout's lens can be used to improve the viewfinder of his mask, and thanks to the Focus, he will now be able to see the weak points of the machines as long as he wants. Aloy was watching him work in his helmet with great intrigue and admiration for what he was doing, for her, Allam was the most amazing and intelligent person in the world.

After fixing and testing his new viewfinder, Allam disassembled his rifle on a large rock and started cleaning parts of it. Aloy watched in amazement and curiosity as the soldier reassembled and disassembled the weapon. He checks his magazines and sees that he has about 200 bullets in total, it was time to ration the bullets.

They would both eat something and go to sleep early, since by noon tomorrow, they will arrive at Maker's End and continue with Aloy's mission to find out why she was attacked.