The Zero Dawn Project Facility, and the Shadow Carja

“Hold for identiscan.”

Another door. Aloy bit back a sigh; at least she’d mentally prepared herself for this one first.

It was the worst place for one too, right below Sunfall. The Shadow Carja, a sect manipulated to follow an evil creature called HADES, and that wanted to kill her were just above her.

She’d managed to sneak in, knowing this facility was here, now it was just a matter of getting inside.

“Match inconclusive. Please provide more to scan.”

She figured as much. Aloy gave an annoyed exhale, and glanced back. At least it wasn’t catching her by surprise this time.

She took her Focus off first, though held it in her hand rather than putting it down. She didn’t feel like giving Sylens a free show again.

Her first layer of armour went off; unsurprisingly, it wasn’t enough.

Despite the fact she was prepared for it this time, Aloy still hesitated. Cheeks flaming, she stripped off the rest of her clothing and stood naked for the door’s cold gaze.

“Happy now?” Aloy said, flushing.

“Genetic profile confirmed. Entry authorised.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

“Malfunction… Malfunction…”

What?! “Are you kidding me?!”

She jumped a little, flushing deeper. She didn’t know whether she could get dressed again, or if the door would just expect her to strip down again.

Se moved her clothes back, trying to get a better look at the ground around it. Sometimes there were access points, or…

No, nothing.

“Let me in!” Aloy shouted, an arm moving to cover her tits as her other hand concealed her pussy. “Uh- Elizabet Sobeck here, let me in!”

“Access request acknowledged,” the synthetic voice said. “Root command functions available. Do you wish to proceed?”

“Yes!” Aloy shouted. She ran further from her clothes, hitting the metal. “Let me through this door!”

“Analysing… Primary access inoperable due to mechanical failure. Emergency venting procedure likely to circumvent blockage. Do you wish to proceed?”

She had no idea what that meant. Still, when a holographic display popped up, she reached for it.

“Yes,” Aloy said. She bit back a whimper at how long she’d had to stand there naked.

“Emergency venting authorised,” the mechanical voice said.

There was a whir, then a much louder whir than before. The door shifted, a layer of it managing to move up-

And then air whooshed out from it as the gate unsealed. Aloy stumbled back, and the momentary gale went on; when she turned she saw her clothes spiralling back out of the cave, the wind catching them.

She just about managed to grab her spear, falling over as she did. She straightened, looking back at the open gate, and then back to the entrance to this cavern where her clothes had blown.

“Quickly!” Sylens voice crackled from the Focus in her hand. “That would have drawn attention. We won’t have this place to ourselves for long.”

Damn it. Aloy flushed, but opted to instead hurry through the door, glad to feel it seal shut behind her.

She could get clothes later. What mattered now that she was in here, and that the Eclipse were out there.

Aloy kept moving. A machine voice droned about Project Zero Dawn, ancient knowledge all around her. Any other time she’d have been excited. Instead, awkwardly, she tried to cover herself, well aware of the musty, cold air on her exposed body.

She held the Focus awkwardly, well aware of how impractical it was to hold both it and her spear in her hands. Normally it clipped into her hair, but if she did that then, from what she’d gathered, it was able to project an image of her to Sylens.

The thought made her flush deeper.

Awkwardly she stepped over puddles, and past stalagmites and stalactites, entering the ancient facility.

And she got her answers. Well, most of them. Some raised more question, but it was something. She just wished she could enjoy it properly.

Then, when she made it through the holographic chambers, she froze. Were those footsteps?!

“The Eclipse found another way in,” Sylens’ voice crackled from her hand. “Be careful.”

Great. Flushing deeper, Aloy affixed the Focus back to the side of her head, squirming slightly at the appreciative sound Sylens made. Then she whirled her spear, glad to be able to wield it properly again.

She did not want to have to fight any Eclipse goons like this, though.