Luna woke up in Avi's room, and the first thing she saw was her friend, who was sleeping on the nearby chair and under a blanket. Apparently, Avi waited until Luna regained consciousness and fell asleep in the process.
Luna quietly stood up and lifted her friend, moving her to bed to allow her to continue resting.
When she moved out of the room, Virka was already waiting for her. She sighed, saying. - “You're back. Maybe Avi was right after all.”
“I'm sorry, Virka, but this conversation has to wait.” - Luna replied, then disappeared in a flash of light.
---
When Avi was back awake, she noticed that Luna was gone. She ran outside and looked for her in the recreational room, but only Nicolas and Charlotte were there.
“Are you looking for Luna?” - Nicolas asked.
Avi nodded.
“She is outside.” - Nicolas inford.
“Thank you.” - Avi said and continued moving, but Nicolas stopped her.
“Do you rember what we were talking about after your return?” - Nicolas asked very seriously.
“Yes. I understand.” - Avi replied. - “How many tis am I supposed to keep apologizing?”
“You have to rember what you need to explain to Luna.” - Nicolas reminded.
“Please, give it a rest. She already feels guilty enough.” - Avi pleaded.
“Maybe you forgave her, but people died because of her actions...” - Nicolas pointed out. - “...and you, too, could die. That could be prevented.”
“Do you still want to argue about this?!” - Avi shouted. - “Then talk to her yourself!”
Nicolas was silent for a longer mont. - “Just go to her. We'll talk another ti.”
Avi jumped out of the ship, her feet landing softly on the mushroom floor. Virka was sitting nearby, gazing at the city in the distance.
“Virka, where is Luna!?” - Avi exclaid.
“On the bottom of the city, she is tinkering with transmitters.” - Virka inford.
“Thank you, Virka.”
“Wait.” - Virka stopped Avi.
“Yes, Virka?”
“Are you sure that you're alright?” - Virka asked.
“Yes.”
“That's... good. I was worried you'll be more affected by what had happened.” - Virka continued.
“If it's about Yakiri.... then I didn't forget.” - Avi lowered her gaze.
“...but you are happy that Luna is back and alive?” - Virka investigated.
“Yes.”
“What exactly had happened?” - Virka inquired. - “I have an impression that you didn't go into the details again.”
“I didn't want to worry my parents.” - Avi replied. - “Luna... I think she was probably dead for a mont.”
“Probably?” - Virka asked.
“It's complicated, but I'm sure she wouldn't deceive .” - Avi added. - “I don't know what exactly had happened, but it definitely was a miracle.”
“That explains a lot.” - Virka observed Avi inquisitively. She felt it wasn't the only reason for Avi's strange joy. - “Well, I won't keep you any longer. Go and enjoy your reunion.”
Avi nodded and hopped to the mushroom staircase, then disappeared in the depths of the village.
---
When Avi was climbing down, she noticed that most of the machines had left the slums. They also didn't crawl next to her feet, but strolled through the village in full health. Most of them were already working on recycling useful electronics from the plague victims, which was apparent due to their wheelbarrows full of gutted corpses.
Avi wondered where they were taking them and why, but then quickly noticed that most were transported to Luna, who was standing underneath a pillar full of antennas. Avi timidly approached her friend, not wanting to interrupt her work. She stood next to her without uttering a single word.
“Hi, Avi.” - Luna greeted her.
“Hi, Luna.” - Avi said, staring at the impressive installation. - “What are you building?”
“A relay station.” - Luna explained. - “It will reprogram other units in this sector to allow them to produce the antibodies.”
“You really made it happen.” - Avi whispered.
“I wouldn't succeed without you.” - Luna said as she installed the mory cubes. - “I... when I was dying, I heard your voice. It saved .”
Avi was a bit gloomy for a mont. - “When I received your letter, I thought that I would never see you again.”
“It was close...” - Luna exhaled. - “...but it's in the past.” - She paused, then added. - “Avi.”
“Yes?”
“Do you rember what I said to you?”
“Every single word.”
“Then you already know what I feel for you.”
Avi averted her gaze, and her feet shifted nervously. - “I... I was suspecting it.”
“What is your answer, then?” - Luna asked firmly. - “I need to know.”
“I can better understand you now... but...”
Luna closed her eyes. She was anxious.
“...even if I think that I love you too, I'm still not ready for a relationship.”
Luna opened her eyes, but she couldn't comprehend what it ant. - “I don't understand.”
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“It's hard to explain, even after all the ti we have been together. I just got my parents back... I feel that there are many unresolved concerns, too... and well, you know... our argunts... maybe we both aren't ready yet?” - Avi uttered, it was clear she was nervous too.
Luna was disappointed by the answer, but accepted it. - “I can wait.”
“...but...” - Avi continued once more. - “...I won't be mad if you occasionally invite for a dinner for two.”
Luna's eyes sparkled. - “Wait, does that an...?”
“It's official. We're dating.” - Avi added. - “I'm just not sure how to tell my parents.”
“We'll do it together.” - Luna said enthusiastically, and Avi gently smiled back.
---
After activating the relay station, Luna and Avi returned to their spaceship, holding each other's hands.
Virka could see their happy expressions from afar and could already guess what it's about. She sighed and waited until the girls were close.
“Virka...” - Avi spoke.
“I know. You're together.” - Virka replied.
Avi blinked a few tis, shocked. - “How do you know?”
Virka rolled her eyes. To her, it was obvious. - “It's not important.” - She ca closer to the girls, then moved her hands to draw a circle with a tail in the air. - “According to Khazan tradition, I bless you both. May you always find solace in each other's arms, and may your love and happiness, like the stars in the sky, illuminate your path.”
“That was kind of you, Virka.” - Avi comnted. - “Thank you.”
“You have my thanks, too.” - Luna added.
Virka crossed her arms, then smiled with a hint of pain. - “...you have a reason to be happy, but let's not forget about the families of the fallen. Yakiri's hunt is over, and their bodies will be sent on to journey to the Goliath's heart. Our duty is to give farewell to those who accompanied us during our fight against Anaari's plague.”
“When will the funeral ceremony start?” - Luna asked.
“Soon, when the lights go out.” - Virka inford.
“We'll co.” - Luna assured.
Virka smiled with sadness and lowered her gaze. - “That's... good. I won't keep you here. You need to take care of a few more matters.”
Luna looked at Avi, who squeezed her hand tighter and said. - “At first, we'll get a scolding, but it'll be fine. We saved the Goliath after all.” - She took a deep breath, then added. - “Let's go.”
Luna nodded, and they both entered the spaceship.
---
Nicolas looked at Avi and Luna with a corner of his eye, and the girls were still holding hands.
“Did you talk?” - Nicolas asked decisively.
Luna walked a step closer. - “If I didn't et your expectations, I'm sorry...”
Nicolas interrupted her. - “You shouldn't apologize to , and you can't apologize to those who are already gone.”
Luna lowered her head in repentance. - “I made a mistake. It won't happen again. You have my word.”
“Words, alone, are not worth much.” - Nicolas argued. - “Your decisions broke the trust we had. If anything bad had happened to Avi, would you be able to look us in the eye?”
Avi walked a step closer, too, ready to defend Luna. - “Dad! That was my own decision!”
“Don't interrupt.” - Nicolas demanded, then turned to Luna. - “What is your answer?”
“Without Avi... I would lose my reason to live.” - Luna stated. - “I won't let anyone take her away from , even if it would cost my life.”
Avi took Luna's hand once more. - “We have always protected each other, and we both would sacrifice everything for one another.”
“Everything? Even us?” - Nicolas asked.
“No...” - Avi whispered, and Luna quickly added. - “Only if you try to separate us.”
Avi squeezed Luna's hand tighter. - “Yes. She is correct. I love Luna, and if I die because of it, that's still a better choice than living without her.”
“You love her?” - Charlotte covered her lips.
Nicolas felt that everything was getting way more complicated than he could currently handle. He stared at Avi's black eye and felt unsure.
“Yes, and I love her back.” - Luna added.
“Did you hear, Nicolas?” - Charlotte seed astonished.
Nicolas sighed and crossed his arms. - “Whatever happened between you two, I think it's too early for it.”
“Avi told a similar thing.” - Luna added. - “I plan to ask for her hand one day, but only when she is ready. Until then, I'll prove that I'm worthy of your blessing.”
Avi blushed at the thought of marriage.
Nicolas sighed again. - “If that's how it is, I won't oppose it.”
“...really?” - Avi uttered.
Charlotte smiled with content, and a happy tear ford in her eye. - “My Avi... you grow up so fast.”
“Rember one thing, though.” - Nicolas ntioned. - “If you hurt Avi ever again...” - He looked at his daughter's eye again. - “Then you won't be able to convince it was just an accident.”
Luna felt overwhelming sha. - “I understand.” - She uttered quietly.
Nicolas stood up, then looked at the girls, comnting. - “This ship is starting to feel crowded. I'll probably go get so fresh air.”
When Avi and Luna were alone with Charlotte, she added with a gentle smile. - “I wholeheartedly support your love. Nicolas... tends to be overly cautious when it cos to relationships, but he'll certainly realize one day that you are destined for each other.”
“Thanks, Mom.” - Avi said, then she and Luna sat down on the sofa.
“You have to be tired after everything you have been through.” - Charlotte noticed. - “Please, rest. I'll bring you sothing to eat.”
---
The evening soon ca. Nicolas was standing on the viewing terrace, inhaling the filtered air carried by Goliath's slowly rotating turbines.
Virka approached him and rested her arms on the railings. - “In monts like these, I feel like having a smoke.”
“You have got many bad habits.” - Nicolas stated, gazing at the funeral preparations below.
“Yes, many, but I already quit that one.” - Virka uttered.
They were standing in silence for so ti, until Nicolas spoke. - “Avi and Luna, did they inform you?”
“They planned to, but I guessed it myself.” - Virka replied.
“Do you think it's a good idea?” - Nicolas asked. - “Well, you know, it's a human and AI.”
“Let them enjoy themselves.” - Virka said.
Nicolas turned, resting his back against the railing and staring at the ceiling. - “Luna... her human part seems young and inexperienced, but the capabilities of her mind are beyond our understanding and keep evolving.”
“What are you afraid of? That she'll get bored of Avi?” - Virka asked.
“I don't know.” - Nicolas said. - “There might be a day when our only daughter abandons humanity just to be able to keep up with her.”
“Is it sothing bad?” - Virka inquired. - “The biological beings will beco obsolete anyway. Our cognitive capabilities and the scope of what we can do are limited.”
“I'm aware of that, but I'm still afraid.” - Nicolas replied. - “What does it an to transcend human understanding? Will she keep her 'self' or will she beco sothing entirely alien?”
“Luna's human 'self' doesn't seem to be incomprehensible.” - Virka assured. - “You're worrying too much, she would still be your daughter.”
“Maybe.” - Nicolas lowered his eyes. - “But I already feel like she has changed a lot. She understands this world and handles it better than we.”
“Generation gap...” - Virka comnted. - “...but I understand what you an. She was partially raised in this world. In so part, it even replaced you.”
“I never wanted it to happen.” - Nicolas said gloomily.
“You had no choice.” - Virka comnted. - “You are trying to make up for it... but maybe it's the ti for her to walk her own path.”
“She's still so young...” - Nicolas uttered. - “...but you're right, her place is among the stars.”
“I'm glad you understand it.” - Virka said, then checked the bottom of the mushroom. - “I think it's ti to leave.”
Nicolas sighed. - “Ti. Considering the scale of the universe, there's so much of it – so why were we given so little of it?”
---
One after another, boats with Yakiri's bodies were sent to the canals. Their relatives were standing closest to them, mourning for the lost friends. When a small robot flew to the last of the boats, they seed not to comprehend everything.
“Dad? Your cognitive module seems damaged.” - It said. - “I will run remote diagnostics.”
Nobody stopped them. Apparently, the small robot was on its own.
“Dad? Your permission key seems corrupted. The checksums are incorrect. I'll restore them from backup.”
“I can't look at this.” - Luna said. - “If it continues, they will animate an empty shell, which will only imitate their father.” - She approached the robot and knelt next to it. - “I'm sorry, but your dad is dead.”
“Dead?” - The robot asked.
“There is no soul in that body. The consciousness signature is too flatlined. What you are trying to restore will no longer be your bad.” - Luna explained. - “You have to let him go. Let his body serve the Goliath.”
The robot's LEDs beca dimr.
“Do you have soone to take care of you?” - Luna asked.
“The collective will assign a replacent unit...” - The robot uttered. - “...but I don't understand, why did he die? Was it the plague?”
“No, the plague is gone.” - Luna explained. - “Your dad and his friends fought bravely to stop it. Every one of them was a hero.”
“My dad? A hero?” - The robot uttered, full of admiration.
“Yes, you can be proud of him.” - Luna added.
The robot stepped back, even if its visual sensors were still directed towards the body. They joined the crowd, and the last of the boats finally disappeared.
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