From afar, Avi could already hear Luna scolding Nicolas for returning alone. His assurances that Avi would return soon didn't help either. When Nicolas noticed that Avi was returning with Virka, he felt half-relieved, while his other half didn't know how to address the situation. After two steps inside the spaceship, Virka finally collapsed from fatigue and wounds, but Luna quickly flashed to her and held her.
“I'll take care of her.” - Luna inford.
When Luna and Charlotte left, Nicolas gave Avi a aningful look.
“I know...” - Avi said. - “...but let's keep this secret.”
“It's fine with , but once she recovers and we find a good place, she is leaving.” - Nicolas demanded.
Avi lowered her eyes. Despite being aware of what her heart wants, her mind couldn't find a better solution. - “I will let her know.”
Nicolas sighed. Although he knew Avi well, it was hard to read her feelings now. The whole situation was too complicated for him. - “She...” - Nicolas paused. - “Virka is pretty aware of the consequences of her choices.”
Avi pressed her lips together. - “She needs help.”
“This issue is no longer ours to handle.” - Nicolas replied. - “She must find her own path.”
“Who will accept her after everything she has done?” - Avi asked. - “She has nowhere to go.”
“Avi. Virka is older and more experienced than you and . She'll be fine.” - Nicolas argued.
“She... she...” - Avi's lips shook as she spoke. - “Before your revival, she attempted suicide.”
Nicolas didn't seem too surprised, but still had to sit down and rethink everything. - “It's already difficult. How much more complicated are you trying to make it?”
Avi didn't answer. She had no strength to negotiate. She also wasn't sure about what Virka feels, so she couldn't suggest a different solution.
“She still won't stay here.” - Nicolas stated. - “It's set in stone. Although I think we will still need to find her a place that would allow her to rehabilitate.”
Avi lowered her head, full of doubts. - “...but does such a place exist?”
“If we keep searching, we'll find one.” - Nicolas said. - “Every sufficiently advanced civilization should have those types of institutions.”
Avi nodded quietly. She knew that the next few weeks wouldn't be easy. For them, and for Virka.
---
Virka was slowly recovering, at least physically. Still, Luna was worried because Virka refused to eat and take dicine. As a consequence, she had to be connected to an IV drip. When Luna tried to consult with Avi, she quickly noticed that Avi was dodging her questions.
After so ti, it irritated Luna greatly. - ''Avi, look straight in the eyes.” - She said suddenly. When Avi listened, Luna asked. - “Do you trust ?”
Avi realized that her actions were hurting Luna and felt sha. Tears quickly welled up in her eyes. - “I'm sorry... I...” - She explained to Luna everything that had happened in the outpost on the previous planet, revealing all Virka's cris and describing how she had saved her.
Luna put her hands on her waist and sighed, then began to walk back and forth, deep in thought.
“I always had a feeling that sothing was wrong.” - Luna finally admitted. - “Although I would've never predicted that the situation was this bad.” - She stopped and turned to Avi. - “What's your opinion about this?”
“We need to help her.” - Avi said as she wiped her cheeks.
Stolen novel; please report.
“I think that our priority should be isolating her from society.” - Luna uttered. - “We should find a place where she won't be hurt by anyone, including herself. It won't be easy given her intellectual capabilities, so a standard ntal health institution won't do.”
“What do you suggest?”
“Nothing right now.” - Luna replied. - “We should focus on surviving the next few weeks. I assu your mom also already knows what had happened. Your dad would surely tell her. We all will know her secret, and we all will keep it to ourselves, but Virka will be aware of that. She's already alone.”
Avi lowered her eyes with a sad expression.
Luna noticed it. - “I can tell you care about her the most here, even after everything she has done. I won't stop you from trying to talk to her, but I don't think it will help.”
“I'm worried she will... that she will...” - Avi didn't finish her sentence.
“I know what you an.” - Luna said.
“She shouldn't have to endure this.” - Avi added. - “I only want her to feel better.”
Luna crossed her arms, sighing. - “I already told you that you don't need my permission. If you want to be useful, make her eat again.”
Avi got up from her bed - “Thank you, Luna.” - then kissed her cheek before leaving.
---
When Avi entered the dical room, Virka averted her pained eyes. Luna already told Avi that Virka didn't utter a single word during the entire healing process, and instead gazed at her white coverlet with a depressed expression, so her sudden behavior change seed important to Avi.
Silent, Avi smiled gently and put the tray with a bowl of soup on a nearby cabinet, then sat down on a stool. She picked the bowl up and moved a filled spoon closer to Virka.
Virka bit her lip, but Avi was waiting patiently.
“Stop!” - Virka finally hissed and slapped Avi's hand, causing her to drop the spoon, which flew right up to the door. Avi got up, picked it up, washed it clean in a nearby sink, then smiled to Virka again as she tried to feed her.
Virka wouldn't budge, so Avi and she were stuck like this for a few minutes.
“Please, eat. It'll get cold.” - Avi finally requested.
“I don't want to.”
“If you won't eat, you won't recover.” - Avi explained.
“I don't want to recover.” - Virka insisted. - “Leave alone.”
Avi put the bowl aside. She kept smiling, but her voice beca more assertive. - “It can't continue. You must be aware of that.”
Virka peeked at Avi, but couldn't read her feelings, not anymore. Avi's smile wasn't natural. It was like a mask glued to her face. It reminded Virka of only one thing – her ho.
“Stop smiling at like this!” - Virka scread. - “It's disgusting!!”
Avi's smile disappeared instantly, replaced by fury. - “Do you think I'm doing this, because I want to!!? Do you think you're allowed to give up after everything you have done!?”
Virka endured Avi's outburst, but her fingernails dug deep into the coverlet.
“It would be so easy to die and escape your responsibility!! Not to fight at all!” - Avi scread.
“You don't know what you're talking about.” - Virka hissed quietly.
“I don't!? Are you telling this after everything we have been through together!!? After I've accepted you, regardless of everything!? After I've saved you!?” - Avi asked.
“YES, YOU DON'T KNOW!” - Virka also erupted. - “Nobody took everything away from you. Nobody ever enslaved your body, mind, and soul. You don't know what it feels like to wake up each day, naked and wounded, and be forced to smile! You don't know what it ans, when even your right to die is taken away!” - She cried frantically. - “I was younger... way younger than you. I would've given everything for soone to rescue from there... I was deceived, exploited, and abused. I thought that I'd get my freedom back, but their claws are still wrapped around . Even after.... even after everyone is already dead.”
Avi took a step back. Virka had monts of weakness before, but she never saw her this distressed. Virka was barely breathing, shaking, and her fingernails dug deeply into the skin of her arms.
Avi recalled how Virka ntioned her situation before, but only now understood how little she knew, and that Virka was mostly bottling her emotions up until now. Only now she understood that it was the first ti Virka had behaved like this, like she was no longer restrained.
Luna rushed into the room because her dical equipnt indicated there was a risk of a heart attack. She imdiately gave her a shot of a sedative and turned the knob above the IV drip's synthesizer. Virka slowly cald down, sinking onto the pillow with her face still in tears before falling asleep.
“I didn't... I didn't want to, Luna.” - Avi uttered, sobbing.
“She'll be fine.” - Luna comforted her with a hug.
---
Virka's attack didn't happen again. Luna was even able to talk to her for a mont after she woke up. There was only one thing Virka wanted – for Avi not to co to her again. After so ti had passed, she began to eat and was later allowed to return to her room, where she simply locked herself in and didn't get out at all. It was Luna's responsibility to bring her als, and no one else's.
After experiencing Virka's confession, Avi was depressed for a few days. She wanted to talk to her again, but she didn't know what she would tell her. She was still angry at Virka for her cris and for deceiving them. She also didn't believe that Virka acted fairly by isolating herself, but it seed to be a solution that worked best. However, what Avi felt the most was that she was sorry for what had happened to Virka.
Three weeks have passed without any changes, and the spaceship finally arrived at the thirty-seventh star system.
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