After the ceremony had ended, Luna suggested approaching the priest and asking where to find the fathers of the forge. The robot replied with a smile. - “You'll find them lower, in the penitents' halls, but please do not disturb them. Should you have any concerns, you may relay them to me, their loyal servant.”

“I don't think so.” - Luna uttered. - “We have to find the administrators.”

The priest was still smiling kindly. - “Many want to find them, but are many worthy?”

Luna crossed her arms. - “We'll see.”

“Ahh, I understand. If it's so, I'll show you where the fathers of the forge are, but only after your purification.”

Luna raised her eyebrow. - “....and what would that be?”

“Please, come downstairs with me. I'll explain everything there.” - The priest said, then raised his hands in front of him. With this gesture, the floor before them split, revealing a passage illuminated by torches. First, Luna and her companions were asked to leave their equipment in the lockers that were built into the walls, then after they reached the very bottom, they found a round hall with fewer than a dozen machines, which were standing in front of a large gate with a symbol of a tailed sphere.

Virka recognized it and took a step back. - “I'm sorry... I'm not going in.”

“The awareness of one's unworthiness is the first step of purification.” - The priest informed. - “Do leave, but know that you may always return.”

Virka didn't comment, but she seemed downcast by the priest's words.

“Go, I'll wait here.” - Virka uttered quietly and sat down on the bench.

Nicolas felt sorry for her. - “Charlotte, can you watch over them? I'll stay with Virka.” - He suggested.

Charlotte agreed, and when the time came, she walked to the next room with Avi and Luna, and the priest walked right behind them.

---

The priest raised his hands, speaking. - “Open your eyes and discover your true selves.” - After that, chalices with oil lit up with blue flame, illuminating the darkness.

In front of everyone, on a large throne, there was a person in a gas mask. Their body was like many thick layers of fat that spilled over the edges of the seat. On each of their hands, there were nine signet rings, three on each of the fingers except the thumb.

The entity extended her arm, and the priest approached, then kissed it and invited the women to do the same. - “We need to show respect to the sub-judge.”

Avi flinched at the mere thought of it, but ultimately decided that she had no other choice and copied the priest's action. Luna approached and did the same, but it was clear that she was cold and indifferent, or even disregarding the necessity of this procedure. Charlotte was last, but when she came closer, the creature raised its hand to stop her.

“You walk when you no longer should.” - She heard.

Charlotte was confused. She tried to ask the priest for clarification, but he only said. - “Leave, you aren't worthy.”

“What!?” - Avi protested. - “Why!!?”

The creature moved in its throne, clearly disappointed. The priest ran up to Avi, scolding her. - “Quiet! It's a sacred hall, and there is no room for debate.”

Avi clenched her fists and shot the fat entity a lightning-like glare, but said nothing.

“Avi, my child. Leave it alone, it's their customs. I might not understand them, but I'll respect their choices and leave.” - Charlotte calmed down.

When Charlotte disappeared, the next gate opened, but the priest asked to enter one person at a time.

“Who goes first?” - Avi asked hesitantly.

“It doesn't matter.” - Luna replied. - “Let's get it over with.”

“Okay, then I'll go.” - Avi suggested and crossed into the next room, instantly feeling a strange sensation, which was like an invisible forcefield that pushed against her, taking away her breath and causing a boneache. This overwhelming presence didn't leave her, even when she was finally inside.

Surrounded by darkness from every direction, Avi could only notice a single chair illuminated by a cone of light that came from the device that surrounded it. The machine appeared to be a collection of steel spheres, inactive terminals, and instruments that appeared like surgical or dental tools. Above the chair, the largest sphere was suspended, right in front of a helmet with hundreds of sensors.

“Am I supposed to sit there?” - Avi whispered to herself.

No voice answered, so she sat down in this rather uncomfortable chair and immediately felt her ankles and wrists being pulled by an invisible force to the arm and leg rests. Right afterward, her limbs were restrained by shackles.

“Hey!” - Avi shouted. - “Let me free right now! I didn't sign up for this!” - She began thrashing around.

The steel spheres slowly opened, revealing dozens of cybernetic eyes, each staring at Avi, and the displays were flooded by data that Avi couldn't decipher. The helmet tightened around girl's skull, and the largest sphere lowered to the level of her eyes, revealing a deformed half-cybernetic, half-biological face.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

“Who are you?” - Avi asked.

“Who are you?” - A voice echoed, repeating.

“I asked first!” - Avi shouted, squirming in an uncomfortable seat.

“Who are you?” - The voice repeated once more.

Avi didn't answer. She tried to get out, but it was futile.

“You better free me, Luna won't leave it like this.” - Avi hissed.

“Who are you?” - The voice said a third time.

“Someone who will kick you but soon.” - Avi threatened.

The voice said nothing more. Instead, the device revealed a sharp needle dripping with green liquid. It was slowly getting closer to the girl's neck.

“No, no, no!!! Luna!” - Avi screamed, but she couldn't be heard.

---

The needle penetrated Avi's skin, pumping the fluid into her blood. Avi felt dizzy and slumped to her left, barely conscious. She was drooling from the corner of her mouth, and her thoughts were blurry.

“Who are you?” - The voice repeated.

“Avi.” - Avi said without thinking, the substance caused her to be obedient.

“Avi. You'll be judged. Answer each question according to your conscience and truth.”

Avi looked at the face of her oppressor, then at the needle. She didn't want another injection to happen.

“Do you believe in a higher power?” - The voice asked.

Avi didn't understand what it was about, so she didn't respond.

“Did you ever utter the forbidden word?”

She still didn't understand and started to sob in fear.

“Did you worship...” - There was a screech, followed by static buzz, as if the phrase was censored.

“No!” - Avi screamed. - “Let me go already!”

“No signs of required neutralization.” - The voice announced. - “The purification process will start.”

Avi felt a light puncture on her calf muscles, and the effects of the dazing substance were nullified.

When Avi regained her strength, the voice spoke again. - “Your creators, are they alive?”

Even if Avi was still trembling, mainly as a side effect of recovery, she regained her fighting spirit. - “Let me go! What you do is evil!”

“Do you refuse the purification?” - The voice asked.

After hearing 'purification', Avi recalled what she came here for. She still didn't want to play their games, but decided to stay and answer. - “No.”

“Then answer.”

“Only if you free me.” - Avi demanded.

The deformed face stared at Avi, focused, and after a longer moment, replied. - “Your wish can be granted.” - Then the shackles retracted.

Avi stretched out her arms and massaged her aching wrists. She hid her face in her hands, holding back her tears, then raised her head and added. - “Yes, my parents are alive.”

“Are you sharing mutual directives?”

Avi lowered her body. She didn't want to answer, not to this thing.

“Do you refuse the purification?” - The voice asked again.

“No!” - Avi protested. - “Give me a moment to calm down.” - The face waited patiently until Avi replied. - “I... me, and my parents, we sometimes argue when it comes to our directives.”

“Are you arguing in good faith, or is it due to selfish reasons?” - The robot asked.

Avi wrapped her arms around her knees, her fingers digging into her skin. - Why do you care!? - She wanted to shout, but instead replied. - “I don't know if it's in good faith or not, but I decided to walk my own path.”

“Are you ready to abandon it and return to your creators, if your path proves wrong?” - The robot asked.

“What kind of question is that!?” - Avi shouted. - “I love my parents, but they have to let me become independent, even if it may cause me to make some mistakes. What's important is that I'm ready to fix these!”

“Acknowledged. Are you guilty of harm or death of any sapient being?”

Avi felt choked up. - “Y-yes.” - She uttered.

“Have you answered for your wrongdoings?” - The voice asked.

“N-no.” - Avi stuttered.

The judge scanned her curiously. - “Calculating... Cross of Immortality... a second agent, the subject is disoriented. No guilt found.”

“W-what!?” - Avi almost stood up.

The judge continued without paying attention to it. - “Calculating... spaceship's wreckage... a knight... entity with psyche imbalance. Self-defense. Partial guilt.”

Avi fell onto the chair, and she remembered everything.

“Do you accept your guilt?”

“Yes.” - Avi answered, her expression full of regret.

“Three months were added to the time in the juvenile detention center of Prison of Aeons.” - The voice added, then continued. - “Did you violate the rule of not binding flesh and steel?”

“What are you talking about?” - Avi asked.

“Scanning... no cybernetic alterations detected.” - The voice relayed, then added. - “Did you connect your interfaces to artificial intelligence or plan it?”

A furious flame ignited within Avi. - “Now, that's too much... that's none of your concern when you look like a spam trying to escape from its tin.”

“Calculating...” - The robot began, but Avi interrupted it by attempting to take off her helmet.

“No, not this time!”

Immediately, her limbs were pulled back to the limb rests by the previous, invisible force.

“You twisted degenerate! Who allowed you to read my mind!?” - Avi protested.

“...found. Binding with unknown nanomachine-like technology. Guilty.”

“You were talking about the multitask cell?” - Avi exhaled with relief.

“Do you accept your guilt?” - The voice asked.

“You tell me, it doesn't look like I have any other choice.” - Avi uttered.

“Calculating... adding four years of rehabilitation in the Prison of Aeons.”

Avi scoffed.

“Calculating... detected a strong emotional reaction to AI companion.”

“Screw you!” - Avi yelled.

“Verdict: Not guilty, but a preventive warning is required.”

“Screw you twice.” - Avi added.

The voice continued. - “Did you steal?”

“Watch out, I just might tell you.” - Avi answered sarcastically.

“Scanning... willful complicity in the disposition of stolen funds. Blocking transactional IDs of Anaari's daughter, who identifies as Luna. A joint penalty amounting to five hundred percent of the total stolen sum was imposed. Due to financial inability to settle the interest, the sum will be broken down into monthly payments. Next required payment – in one month. Estimated date of full repayment: In billion years.”

“What!?” - Avi struggled in her chair. - “These credits weren't used by anyone! How are we supposed to pay it back!?”

“An additional penalty: Ten years in the Prison of Aeons. Total penalty: Ten years of prison, four years of rehabilitation, three months in a detention center. Purification complete. The guilt records were erased.”

The force that was pulling Avi's limbs disappeared in the blink of an eye, and she jumped out of the chair, deliberately hitting the main display of the device. The gate leading outside opened. Luna was there, waiting for her turn.

“Absolutely not, Luna! You're not going in there!” - Avi yelled. - “They're deranged.”

The priest gazed at Avi, who was clearly ready to fight, and spoke. - “Your purification is done. You are allowed to meet the congregation of fathers.”

“I'll go alone. Really, don't bother, Luna.” - Avi added, then turned to the exit.