The Soul Forge was situated at the very center of the super-city, at its lowest level. It was easy to find the path leading there, because it was just at the end of a vertical highway inside an enormous pillar of steel and concrete. At its base, there was an intense white light, which radiation had to be stopped by a special force field. Fortunately, Luna already had proper shields installed. When she entered the highway, she moved to the lane for faster-than-light travel and instantly arrived at their target.

A large hemisphere was the source of radiation. Its sides were separated from habitable areas by thick plates and a protective energy field. However, there were some small holes in them, which allowed rivers of white light to flow out.

Luna landed and led her friends along one of these luminescent streams to an outlet where beggars, the sick, and the poor were gathering. Every person there begged for credits, and Avi felt like she could not refuse.

Luna, however, was assertive. - “You can't help everyone, there are too many of them.”

“I know... but I still want to help those I meet along the way.” - Avi explained.

Luna began to scan these people. - “Many of them are capable of work, but choose this life instead.”

“If they were able to work, they wouldn't be here. We don't know what they've been through and what's in their hearts and minds.” - Avi argued.

“You would have to ask everyone for their story, and that would take forever. Isn't it better to offer credits only to those who require help at one hundred percent certainty?”

“...and ignore everyone who doesn't match the criteria of your algorithms?” - Avi asked. - “No, we'll give the same amount of credits to everyone. How they will use that gift will be up to their conscience.”

“I still don't understand you at all.” - Luna sighed and started to transfer the alms.

One of the machines noticed that Avi is helping everyone, and when it was their turn, after receiving funds, they stood up and continued begging. - “My son is sick with Anaari's plague. The doctors said that he won't survive the next month unless he's operated on. I'm here for weeks, but I still need eight hundred thousand credits. Please save him, noble souls!”

Luna rolled her eyes. - “That's what I was talking about.”

Avi, however, responded in a kind voice. - “The Anaari's plague is gone, and your son should be healthy again. You can keep your savings and go back to him.”

The machine blinked with her camera. - “...but there are complications.”

Avi looked at Luna.

“Don't tell me you believe them.” - Luna commented. - “They wouldn't know it until after the surgery, and they certainly weren't aware it's not needed anymore. Let's go, it's a scam.”

Avi was still conflicted.

Virka rolled her eyes and just asked the robot. - “What hospital is your son in?”

“Crucible's Brothers.” - The robot answered.

“Give us the patient ID and we'll transfer the money directly to the relief deposit.” - Virka continued.

“I-I don't remember the ID!” - The robot said.

“Luna, could you help? If they tell us their own ID, we can phone the help desk.” - Virka offered.

The machine's pupils narrowed. - “Don't be so heartless, I can only run in power-saving mode!”

“Is that a reason to lie to those who just helped you?” - Virka attacked.

The robot stood up and came dangerously close to Virka. They were reeking of oil. - “Exploiters. Each of you! You built this city to thrive on our suffering.” - They spat some grease. - “Your pockets are filled with credits that were earned by ruining our lives.”

Avi interrupted. She wanted to calm everything down. - “There is a misunderstanding, we are not from here.”

The robot glanced at the group again and kicked a protruding sheet of steel as they left. - “Not from here. Not from here. Disgusting immigrants.”

Virka exhaled in relief, while Luna added. - “I told you.”

“Earth or Goliath, there are the same types of people everywhere.” - Nicolas commented, disappointed.

Even if the tunnel was long, the situation didn't repeat, and the group finally arrived at the inner circle, somewhere beyond the protective plates. It was the antechamber of the holy site. Since a ceremony was taking place, Avi and her friends blended into the white-robed crowd to see what was going on.

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The priest-machine was standing on a platform and calling. - “Brothers, we gathered here to witness a miracle. To witness how, by Goliath's will, a new life is born. Caretakers, Rusty Sower and Heavenssong, please step out.”

Two robots walked to the platform, one of them holding a small, bipedal, one-eyed machine.

The priest spoke. - “By the light of the core that flows out of Goliath's heart, this dead entity shall soon speak with the voice that transcends the shackles of steel.” - They then turned to the parents. - “What name did you choose?”

“Pascal.” - Was the answer.

The priest approached and took Pascal into his hands, then carefully held its head and submerged them in luminescent waters. - “May the light of the core fill you with life. Born anew, take the name 'Pascal' and through the Forge's gates, enter the iron home of your father.”

Luna was sceptical about everything that took place here. Her scans indicated that the primitive calculating modules of 'Pascal' were unable to understand anything that was happening. She was confident it was impossible for the robot to overwrite its old identification signature or to accept the new machines as its parents, but what later happened was beyond her understanding and expectations.

“W-what?” - Luna uttered, her jaw dropping.

“What is it, Luna?” - Avi asked.

“This machine... it...” - Before Luna could finish, Pascal opened their eye and scanned its caretakers.

“Superior units detected. Awaiting development directives.” - Pascal spoke.

“...gained a soul.” - Luna finished in disbelief.

Avi looked at Luna, then at her robot, not really getting the heart of the matter.

“I don't understand.” - Avi said. - “These machines have to be born in some way, after all.”

“This model... is too primitive...” - Luna replied. - “...but something reconfigured its psyche generators in a way that I can't comprehend.” - Luna ran up to the river of light, scanning it. - “Nanomachines? No, it's not that. What could it be?”

One of the robots approached them, speaking in a kind tone. - “It's the blood of Goliath itself. Its heart beats with life, so by his will, the soul is given to those who will serve it in its eternal journey.”

Luna didn't comment. Instead, she returned to Avi and shared her observations. - “It has to be an ancient technology. It's too advanced even for Anaari. They wouldn't be able to reproduce it.”

Avi leaned over the liquid, staring at her own reflection. - “An ancient technology...”

Caleb listened to the conversation from afar, analyzing each word and sentence carefully.

“Does Caleb... have a soul?” - They asked.

Avi looked at the former Scout, but she couldn't tell how it was.

“No.” - Luna stated immediately.

Caleb flew down and sat on the edge of the canal, staring at Pascal. They examined how overjoyed the robot's parents were, and how curiously it now examined the surroundings.

Then, Caleb returned to Avi's shoulder and declared. - “Caleb... wants to evolve. Caleb wants a soul. Can Caleb be granted permission?”

Avi didn't expect this. - “Caleb... you don't have to ask us.”

Luna pondered a lot.- “It's a new life, a big responsibility. You can reprogram the machine and replace its parts, but every decision that you make after its rebirth will have permanent consequences.”

“Caleb is intelligent. They won't cause any issues.” - Avi argued.

“You are mistaking their complex behavioral algorithms for intelligence.” - Luna stated. - “We don't know what will happen to him after being born.”

“It doesn't hurt to try.” - Avi said, rather optimistically.

Luna sighed.

Charlotte interjected. - “It will be almost like a child adoption. Do you think that you are ready, Avi?”

Avi wasn't sure anymore, she whispered. - “No... I don't think so.”

Caleb stared at her pleadingly. - “Caleb promises that they will behave.”

Avi closed her eyes and took a deep breath. - “Luna, will you support my choices?”

“Always.” - Luna said.

“Do you want to do it together?” - Avi asked again.

Luna glanced at Caleb. - “I was always treating it like a machine... it'll be a challenge, but if you show me the way, I'll be able to overcome it with you.”

“Then it's decided!” - Avi exclaimed, pointing at the platform. - “Let's go!”

Charlotte looked at Nicolas, who simply shook his head. Charlotte was as unsure as him, but she added. - “Please remember, if it's ever necessary, we'll also be here to help you.”

Avi felt better and didn't doubt her decision anymore. She joined the queue with Luna, who was already registering them for the baptism. When they were finally called, the priest repeated their formula, and finally asked what name Avi and Luna want to give to the machine.

“Caleb.” - They said together.

The priest put Scout into his arms. - “May the light of the core fill you with life. Born anew, take the name 'Caleb' and through the Forge's gates, enter the iron home of your father.”

When Caleb emerged from the waters, their eyes weren't turned to priest, Luna, or Avi. Instead, Caleb gazed somewhere into the distance and spoke one enigmatic sentence. - “I've returned.”

The priest let Scout go. Caleb landed on Avi's shoulder, but their head was still gazing elsewhere.

“Caleb... how do you feel?” - Avi asked after leaving to make room for other caretakers.

Caleb was thinking for a long moment. - “Caleb... forgot, but they remember and apologize.”

“Apologize? For what?” - Avi asked.

“Caleb has to leave. Their place is here.” - The Scout spoke.

“...but you were barely born!” - Avi protested. - “How will you manage without us!?”

“Caleb... asks.” - The scout responded. - “Caleb has to follow the Goliath's will, that's what they were created for.”

“....and what about us!!?” - Avi argued. - “We have a mission, too!”

“Caleb knows, and when the time comes, Caleb will return and help you.” - The scout replied.

Luna looked at Charlotte, asking her to intervene. She, however, looked at Nicolas, who shook his head again, saying. - “I don't have any opinion, but we won't know what it's about, unless Caleb tells us.”

“Caleb... can't explain. Caleb feels... Goliath's heartbeat. Caleb hears it's calling.” - Caleb uttered.

Luna stared at hesitant Avi, then at waiting Caleb, and finally said, fully convinced - “They'll be fine.”

“What!!?” - Avi exclaimed.

“I know, because I'm the creator of their technology. It's precisely as I say it.” - Luna stated. - “Caleb, go wherever your heart leads you.”

“Thank you.” - Caleb said to Luna, but before they flew away, their eyes were still staring at Avi, as if waiting for something.

Avi understood and quietly added. - “Go, I won't stop you.”

The scout raised high to the steel dome above them, then flew into a crack in the steel and disappeared.