Avi didn't wait for the priest to catch up with her, and she didn't need him to unlock the next door either. She fiercely pushed them open, making them hit against the walls with a loud thud, then entered and walked to the center of the room, where she declared. - “I am Avi. Luna, my friend, and I rescued the Goliath from Anaari's plague. I demand to meet the administrators.”

Things got heated at the meeting. The machines didn't believe it was this 'Avi', but after double-checking her identity, their voices fell silent.

The first robot voted with his right hand. - “I vote to grant her permission.”

Another machine, however, disagreed. - “I vote against it.”

“Why would you!?” - Avi approached that machine in anger, she almost felt like grabbing it by the cables.

“The data from your purification indicates that you have no self-control.” - The machine replied. - “You're a danger to our supreme leaders.”

A diode on the third machine lit up with a red color, indicating a 'no' vote.

“We did all the dirty work, and this is how you repay us?” - Avi protested.

The fourth machine also refused to support the girl.

The fifth, however, spoke. - “She accepted her guilt, we can't condemn her only due to her fiery nature. This unbreakable will was exactly the reason why they could change the Goliath's fate.” - Then raised hand to vote 'yes'.

“But what guarantee do we have that she'll actually travel to Prison of Aeon's and atone?” - The second machine argued. - “Her behavior doesn't show that she would cooperate.”

The first machine stroked its chin. - “I think that her accomplishments outweigh her crimes. They saved countless lives after all. Along with the vote, I propose granting amnesty.”

The sixth machine raised its hand to vote against it.

Avi took a deep breath and calmed down. She lowered her head and bowed in an act of humility. - “Out there, beyond Goliath, there are people who need your help. Please, don't do this for me, but for them.”

The seventh machine raised its tentacle to vote 'yes' and the eighth followed.

The ninth, however, added. - “We can't sacrifice our safety for refugees and outcasts.” - Then votes 'no'. - “Goliath is the last of the Twelve, it's an ark that carries the last of life.”

“That should be decided by administrators, not by us.” - The third machine countered, but their vote didn't change.

Avi's fingers clutched her knees. She was still bowing, but spoke through gritted teeth. - “Shouldn't we all be in this together? Is it only due to fear that you don't want to destroy these barriers between us? Did you forget love? Those people all have great potential. If you only decide to share what you have, instead of running away, maybe we can still bring the stars back to life.”

“It's too late for that...” - The eighth machine sounded sad. - “...but I believe in love that you speak of, and I believe we should spread it across the universe until the very end.”

Avi straightened immediately, her warrior-like gaze directed at the robot who just spoke. - “Even after witnessing a miracle of saving Goliath, do you still have no hope? Why do you doubt when someone tries to open your eyes? While the last stars are still shining in the night sky, while Goliath's heart is still beating, we shouldn't give up. The hope lives in each of us. It lives as long as even a single person is still fighting.”

The tenth machine voted 'yes', then the eleventh too, but the twelfth voted 'no'. Only one vote remained.

The thirteenth machine spoke. - “Due to one person, we lost hope, due to one person, the world was doomed... but now, due to one person, your friend, the fate of Goliath has reversed. However...” - The machine raised both hands. - “...it takes more than one person for the hope to live. Without unity, all chances to rebuild will be lost. While the Fathers of the Forge are divided, the matter should be left unresolved until later. I hold my vote and declare a tie.”

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Avi slammed her hands against the table behind which the congregation was sitting. - “You're wasting time by waiting for a sign that will never come. Open your eyes and discover your true selves. These were your own words! How long are you going to debate? You just sit locked up as if in a coffin, afraid to make mistakes and insensible to life, insensible to where people are. Faith shouldn't be dormant. It requires courage to try, because without risk, no change will come.”

The thirteenth machine looked around to check if anyone was moved by her speech, but nobody seemed to care. - “Our decision is final. Please leave the penitents' hall until the next hearing.”

Avi crossed her arms and moved to the center of the room. - “Absolutely not.”

The machines looked at each other, unsure of what to do. The thirteenth robot asked again. - “Please, leave.”

“No.” - Avi uttered.

Anger welled up inside the robot. - “I said, LEAVE.”

Avi, however, sat down on the floor and averted her head, pretending not to hear it.

“You brat, show respect or we will throw you out.” - The machine yelled.

“I insist, please do so. Show that your butts aren't glued to your chairs.” - Avi mocked them.

The second robot added. - “I suggest we excommunicate her.”

“Did you hear what's going to happen?” - The thirteenth machine warned.

“Excommunicate me all you want, I'm not moving until you tell me where administrators are.” - Avi protested.

The eleventh robot decided to intervene. - “Child, your behavior will influence the next hearing negatively. Kindly leave, and we'll try to forgive you and forget about what happened today.”

Avi glanced at them as if they were being stupid. - “I don't know about you, but I can sit here for an entire day.”

The thirteenth machine, irritated, concealed its face in its hands. - “We will continue the conclave.” - They said in a calm tone.

Avi scoffed, smiling derisively. - “Well, will you pretend that I'm not here?”

The first machine continued, paying no attention to her. - “It seems the next matter to discuss is...”

“...the matter of your crooked antennas.” - Avi interrupted.

The first machine stopped.

“Pretend she's not here. Continue.” - The thirteenth machine insisted.

“I'm afraid that the data is marked by the seal of Tungsten Gates.” - The first machine explained. - “It's classified as a second rank secret.”

“I'll pretend that I heard nothing.” - Avi commented.

The twelfth machine lost its temper. - “We should send the report to the administrator, they'll send her away themselves.”

“Perhaps, they may even throw her out of Goliath.” - The sixth machine added.

“That's not a good idea.” - The thirteenth argued, but five of the machines already declared a 'yes' vote.

“Go on, keep voting, keep voting.” - Avi laughed at them. - “It's a serious matter, after all!”

There were three more 'yes' votes.

“Well, well, the vote has passed! Go complain to daddy!” - Avi continued.

“It has to be a unanimous decision.” - The thirteenth machine informed the gathering.

The fifth machine wanted to vote 'no'. - “Let's give her another chance. She's a Goliath's savior.”

Avi followed with a shout - “Coward!” - but the machine kept hesitating. Three other robots voted 'yes'.

“Please, I'm on your side.” - The fifth machine declared to Avi. - “The consequences of sabotaging the conclave are severe.”

“I'm not afraid.” - Avi declared.

“You don't understand the gravity of the situation. You are interfering with a sector-level legislative proceedings.” - The fifth machine explained.

“At worst, you'll just work overtime.” - Avi dismissed it.

“I'm sorry, Avi.” - The fifth machine raised its scrawny hand. - “It's more important than you.”

The thirteenth robot was disappointed by the overall vote, but didn't say a word. Their hand were trembling lightly, and they were ready to veto.

“Uh-oh, the rattling tells me that someone is about to fall apart.” - Avi commented. - “Did you get your hands confused, or is your software faulty?”

“Enough. ENOUGH. ENOUGH. ENOUGH!” - The thirteenth machine yelled as it stood up. Its right arm shot up, pointing at the ceiling. - “There is no place for the likes of you on Goliath.” - The very same hand soon slammed at their terminal and began typing the command to send the report.

“...and?” - Avi uttered. - “Nothing is happening.”

“Just wait.” - The thirteenth robot announced, quite satisfied.

Five minutes had passed, then the next ten, but nothing was happening. Avi was ready to start mocking the robots again, but she was interrupted by two black-green law-enforcement units flying into the room.

“Target reached. Intercepting.” - The first policeman said to his intercom, then approached Avi and grabbed her arm.

“Hey!” - Avi protested.

The robot paid no attention to it and dragged her across the floor, even as she pummeled him.

“Let me go, you savage bucket of bolts!” - Avi shouted, until she disappeared behind the door.