Avi inhaled deeply. She felt pressure in her chest and was disoriented. She fully ca to her senses only once she felt Luna squeeze her, and her warm tears fell onto her neck.
Nicolas and Charlotte were waiting aside, but once Avi was back, they also threw themselves at Avi, relieved.
Virka was the only person who kept her cool. - “Avi! We need you! Take us out of here right now!”
Avi got up, stumbling. - “A mont... a mont, please.” - She wanted to turn the engines on, but the ship didn't listen. - “Luna... I might've lost the connection to the ship.”
“What!?” - Luna exclaid and hurried to examine the readings. She was in control of the systems again. - “Okay, we can make this work... I have the control now.” - She scanned the area, but quickly realized that they were surrounded by the hornets. - “Bad news, we can't pierce through.”
“Can you figure sothing out?” - Virka asked.
“No...” - Luna uttered. - “...but there's a signal from Anaari. They want to speak.” - She activated the intercom and turned the volu up.
“Remarkable. Indeed, remarkable.” - Anaari spoke. - “Luna... that's your na now, isn't it?”
“Yes, and I plan to keep it.” - Luna replied firmly.
“I must congratulate you. Your counterhacking thods are truly innovative... I never thought that you would be able to control the spaceship to this degree.” - Anaari complinted.
“You should congratulate my friend, Avi. You almost killed her, but she figured you out.” - Luna hissed with anger.
“Really?” - Anaari laughed. - “Are you trying to tell that a biological being was connected with the ship?”
Luna didn't answer. She didn't know what kind of ga Anaari were playing.
“Huh? No reaction?” - Anaari continued. - “Irrelevant. Our plans don't change, unless you influence them.”
“Your plans!?” - Luna yelled. - “I'm not coming with you, and I won't sacrifice myself for you!”
Anaari didn't pay attention to Luna's comnts. - “I suggest that you listen. I don't want to repeat myself, so your lack of attention might have a fatal result.”
Virka put her hand on Avi's shoulder. - “They've an advantage. We should listen.”
“You've chosen your companions well. They know how to assess a situation properly...” - Anaari said. - “...and the situation is as follows – we wanted to capture you without any losses in your crew. We failed, though, and that's why we're making your crew a bargaining chip.”
“Cowards.” - Luna uttered. - “Don't you try to drag them into this.”
“You?” - Anaari repeated. - “My dear daughter, you were the one who dragged them into this... but allow to continue – we either eliminate them and take you by force, or you willingly allow us to put a collar on you and travel back to the outer systems.”
Luna clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. - “Do you really think you can take by force?”
“We have ways to do it... but they are more drastic than the solution we're offering.” - Anaari declared.
Virka comnted with a serious expression. - “We've played with fire and we burned ourselves.”
Avi looked at Luna with concern. It was clear that her friend was furious, but at the sa ti, didn't want to put the crew at risk. - “Luna... I'm with you, even if it kills . They can't take away your freedom.”
“Ohh... do you rember how I ntioned that you choose your companions well? I take it back.” - Anaari uttered with disappointnt.
Luna took a deep breath and cald down. - “You've won. I'll co.”
“Luna?” - Avi whispered.
Luna, however, smiled at her gently, although with pain. - “I'm sorry, it's my fault.”
“You promised! Fifty-two stars.” - Avi replied. - “Together.”
“We're not in a rush...” - Anaari said. - “...but if it's necessary, you'll arrive on ti. We'll make sure. Our rendezvous point is at the pre-farthest star system. Until then, you can enjoy your journey... but we'll not allow you to visit the farthest star. It's a closed region to you. That's all. Your collar waits deeper in the station. There, you'll make your final choice. Over and out.”
The connection to Anaari abruptly stopped, and Luna was left alone with her crew.
“Luna...” - Avi uttered. - “...you don't have to do this.”
“I certainly won't sacrifice myself for them, but I can do that for you.” - Luna declared, then turned to Avi. - “Avi, I believe that you'll find the solution, even without , and that we'll et again.”
“Luna... I don't want it! I don't want to lose you!” - Avi hugged her, in tears.
“You won't lose . I'll always be with you.” - Luna whispered.
“They gave us so extra ti.” - Nicolas pointed out. - “We'll have ti to outsmart them.”
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Luna shook her head. - “Anaari aren't a joke. With their technology, they'll make sure I won't try to sche. A miracle would have to happen.”
Upon hearing this, Avi's expression beca sadder.
“You believe in miracles, don't you, Avi?” - Luna asked in an attempt to cheer her up.
“I do... but I don't want to place all my hopes in them.” - Avi replied.
Nicolas sat down on the map's platform, clearly irritated. - “You knew that we're heading into an ambush, didn't you?”
Luna was silent, but her averted gaze explained everything.
“Why did you choose to co here?” - Nicolas continued. - “Why couldn't you just live your lives?”
Luna took a deep breath and decided to stand up to Nicolas, her voice full of conviction. - “I live my life and I won't let anyone question it. It was my choice.”
Nicolas gazed at her with a grim expression.
Avi reacted before he could add anything hurtful. - “...and I decided to live with Luna. It's also my choice, and whatever she does, I'll support her, even if I have to risk my life.”
Virka didn't like the mood, so she interjected. - “Don't take it personally. Avi simply infected Luna with her stupidity... but if you prefer, we can drop you off on Earth. You don't have to be part of this.”
Nicolas nervously tapped his fingers against the steel. - “Maybe it's a solution.”
“Nicolas?” - Charlotte uttered. - “You want to abandon her after everything we've been through?”
Avi looked at her mom, then at her dad. She was sad, but accepted this kind of possibility. - “I'm sorry for what I've done and said in the past. I shouldn't have dragged you into this... I only wanted to show you the better side of the universe... and it turned out the way it did.”
Nicolas slamd his palm against the map's platform. - “Charlotte. Are you staying?”
Charlotte wasn't sure and preferred not to reply.
“I get it. It's not an easy choice.” - Nicolas uttered calmly this ti.
“My place is with you both.” - Charlotte answered.
“I suspected as much.” - Nicolas said, then spoke to Avi. - “I don't want to leave you by yourself, too, but maybe it's sothing you want, or sothing you need.”
Avi lowered her gaze. - “No, I still want to be with you. Even if we keep arguing, you're still my parents.” - She uttered quietly. - “I love you.”
“I don't know. I really don't.” - Nicolas muttered. - “Do what you want, I need ti to think.” - He stood up and left them alone at the bridge.
Charlotte followed, but before leaving, ntioned - “He's exhausted. I'm sure he wasn't serious.”
When Avi, Virka, and Luna were finally alone, Virka ntioned. - “Deep down, I expected it to end this way...” - Her both tails twisted slowly and calmly. - “...are you considering pulling out of the deal with Anaari, or are you sure about your decision?” - She spoke to Luna.
“Do I have a choice?” - Luna replied, suppressing her anger.
Virka thought for a mont, her eyes glanced at Avi for a fraction of a second. - “Anaari. I think they might relent.”
Avi's eyes were full of hope. - “Virka!? Do you have a plan!!?”
Virka sighed. - “No. No, I don't. That option is unlikely to work.”
“To the point, Virka.” - Luna requested.
“I was thinking about transferring you to a replacent body...” - Virka suggested. - “...but it requires its compatibility and Anaari's cooperation.”
“You shouldn't even have suggested it.” - Luna imdiately replied.
“You pressured .” - Virka uttered dispassionately.
Avi was gloomy again, but still declared with determination. - “We won't give up. Luna, contact them. I'll talk so sense into them.”
Luna shook her head. - “It won't work, the channel is closed. They are rely awaiting our decision.”
“Then we'll give them a clear sign to get lost.” - Avi replied.
“What are you planning to do? Attack their entire squadron of hornets?” - Luna asked. - “They'll blow us to dust. No, Avi. There's only one option.”
“To surrender?” - Avi uttered, tears welled up in her eyes.
Luna felt she couldn't bear that sight. - “Yes, to surrender.” - Although she was often composed, she felt her light leaving her body. - “Avi, I'm going to the station. I'm not going to delay.”
Avi, however, grabbed Luna's arm before she could move. - “Please, wait at least one day.” - Avi begged. - “We'll figure sothing out.”
“Every day wasted here is a day closer to Anaari summoning .” - Luna explained. - “I still want to see other stars with you, even if we don't get to see them all. We should make the best use of the ti we have.”
Avi averted her eyes. - “...so you haven't fully quit.”
“No.” - Luna replied. - “Once again, I'm going to the station, Avi. Right now. I only want to ask you one thing: stay with .”
Avi was silent.
“Avi, I know that's not what you want, but please accept my decision and do it, at least for . I'm scared that Anaari might not keep their word, and then these would be our last monts together. I want you to hold my hand when they take .” - Luna requested.
“I'll go...” - Avi whispered. - “...but heed my word – there will co a day when we break your collar, and if they try to trick us right now, then they will regret it.”
Luna smiled, masking her pain.
---
Luna exited the spaceship. Holding Avi's hand, she entered the dark tunnel leading deeper into the station, where white lamps ahead of them lit up one by one, showing them the way.
At the end of the path, inside a dark chamber, above a pod, a dozen thin robot arms worked on restoring Anaari's technology. When Luna arrived, they withdrew their needle-like tips to make more space.
“It's here.” - Luna whispered.
Avi felt that Luna's hand was shaking, so she squeezed it tighter to show that she was with her. It cald Luna down, but she still needed a few minutes to ntally prepare.
“I'm ready.” - Luna finally said and lay in the pod.
Avi held her hand tightly between both of her hands. She sensed that robotic arms passed next to her silhouette. She saw he needle penetrate Luna's neck, causing circular ripples in her luminous shell. It took rely a fraction of a second, and the arm imdiately withdrew.
“Is it finished?” - Luna asked, surprised. - “I don't feel anything new.”
“Uhm... could it be a malfunction?” - Avi asked, concerned.
“No.” - Luna stated. - “And that scares . The ease with which they did it.”
Both girls left the Anaari's station in silence. Virka greeted them once they were on the ship, informing them that hornets simply disappeared in a spatial anomaly.
Luna slowly approached the consoles and finally realized that her fate was dood. - “I... I'm setting the course to the next star...” - She inford, activating the engines.
“Luna... is everything alright?” - Avi asked.
Tears of light began to fall slowly onto the control panel. Luna collapsed onto it, hiding her face in her arms. - “It's over.” - She muttered.
Avi had no idea how to cheer her up.
Virka was aware that Luna needed ti to co to terms with her fate. - “I'll leave.” - She said, giving both girls more space.
Avi slowly moved closer to Luna, who turned to her, gripped her blouse, then buried her wet face in it.
“I have nothing left!” - Luna sobbed. - “Four hundred years, wasted. For them.”
“Luna...” - Avi whispered.
“Why now!? Why do they co after I finally understood what life is about!? Leaving with rely months!” - Luna continued. - “Why!? Why is it so unfair!!?”
Avi hugged her tighter into her chest and began to cry with her.
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