After leaving a generous tip, Luna returned to her spaceship, and the journey continued. They reached the gate of Silent Night's church, which was a tunnel filled with ten massive gears. Beyond it, there was a vast space with many pillars that were like infinite skyscrapers. Below them, at their very foundations, there was a cluster of shacks constructed from steel sheets and scrap, right next to a residential area fully made of industrial containers.

It was close to impossible to find any place to land, at least until Avi traveled a few dozen miles deeper, where there was a garbage dump for metal debris. She landed on a flat pile of rods and bars, looking at the busy streets.

In front of them, in a narrow alley illuminated by burning barrels, kids covered in dirt and in torn clothes were running around, playing games with a makeshift ball made of rags. Here and there, it was possible to notice a few people with long polearms covered in yellow slime. They used the tips of these tools to reach inside gaps between the steel and glue worms to them, then collect their prize in baskets on their backs. The paths between the buildings were also patrolled by militia with similar polearms, but with tips replaced by shards of glass. A few of them would also be equipped with armor made of dented metal plates.

When our travelers got outside of the spaceship, the kids stopped playing and ran up to them, gazing curiously. Their dirty hands reached for girls' clothes and sometimes tugged the fabric to see what it was made of. At some point, when way more children arrived, it seemed too dangerous and invasive to Luna, so she summoned a shield of light and separated them from onlookers.

“They look neglected.” - Avi noticed.

“It's the charm of outer sectors.” - Virka commented.

“How would you know that?” - Avi asked.

Virka sighed. - “I visited Goliath a few times.”

“...and you didn't tell us at all?” - Avi wondered.

“You didn't ask...” - Virka replied. - “...and I have to keep the purpose and place of my visits secret anyway.”

“I understand, I won't ask again...” - Avi assured. - “...unless you want to tell us more.”

“I can help you to look for the administrator, it doesn't go against my business ethics...” - Virka added. - “...but we'll need Luna for that.”

“I'll do my best.” - Luna said.

“Ooo... so what are we trying to find?” - Avi asked.

“Any transmission tower.” - Virka replied. - “While these people are unlikely to know how to use it, we still should be able to contact someone from deeper subsectors. You'll recognize the towers by their screw-like antennas.”

“Caleb?” - Luna called. - “Can you scout the area?”

“Yes. On my way.” - Caleb informed, then flew high up above the rooftops.

When Avi's team was close to the main street, Luna kept her head still to keep up appearances, but her eyes started glancing around.

“Did you notice it?” - Luna asked Virka.

Virka confirmed with a nod.

“What exactly?” - Avi asked.

“There are a few hooded people on the roofs, they are watching our every move...” - Luna informed. - “...and the militia also appears to gather in front of us. Not that these are reasons to worry.”

Luna's observations were correct. Soon, eight armed men blocked their path. Two of them were equipped with tridents and had heavy plates that covered their entire bodies, to a point where it was impossible to see anything even through the narrow gaps.

“Stop!” - One of the two men spoke. - “Do you have an immigration pass?”

“We are not immigrants.” - Luna replied.

The man seemed confused. - “Then... do you have a tourist visa?”

“We are not tourists.” - Avi added.

The militiaman looked at his friends, who were as lost as he was.

“The purpose of your visit?” - The man finally asked.

Luna was clearly annoyed. - “Just let us stay here for a moment to study the Goliath's infrastructure, we'll be gone before you even notice.”

The man understood. - “Do you have... an official permission to conduct intelligence and research operations inside this district?”

“No...?” - Avi uttered.

The militiaman pointed his weapons at them. - “You'll go with us.”

“What if I object?” - Luna said.

“Luna, chill out.” - Avi requested, then spoke to the militiaman. - “Okay, we'll come.”

As they moved along the streets, Avi still felt that something was wrong. She felt they were still being observed, but not by law enforcement. She turned her head for a moment, and high above the pillar foundations, she noticed a dark silhouette that quickly disappeared behind one of the shacks.

Their walk continued uninterrupted, even if Avi could tell they were being watched at all times. When they finally reached their destination, they were escorted down the stairs to a well-guarded bunker. The six militiamen stopped to wait outside, while the others led Avi and her group deeper. There, inside an office, was a representative of their officials – a woman in a white outfit made of silicone fibers, which was slightly cleaner than what other citizens wore. It stuck close to the skin like tough armor.

One of the guards whispered to the official's ear, and then she asked in a hoarse voice. - “What is your residential sector and registered address?”

“Uhm... sorry, but there is a misunderstanding.” - Avi said. - “We just visit Goliath.”

The official raised her eyes, as if slightly surprised or annoyed, but she quickly recollected herself and continued. - “Refugees?”

“No, we are looking for the administrator.” - Avi replied.

The official moved her hand to the nearby drawers and took out a document folder with flexible, blue, and transparent sheets. She then grabbed a scriber and punctured a few holes in the correct checkboxes.

“Your visit here isn't legal yet. Please go to the Frozen Shriek's district and get the proper documents issued.” - The official informed.

“Okay, we'll act according to the local laws... but can you point us in the right direction?” - Avi requested.

The official just nodded at the guard, who led the crew to another room, where they could see a large information board with a map of a small part of this subsector.

Luna studied it thoroughly. - “It's pretty far from here, we'll have to make a big detour, and it'll take at least two weeks.”

“What...!?” - Avi exclaimed.

“Virka's plan was better.” - Luna sighed, then spoke to the guard. - “Can't we get a temporary pass somehow? We only want to contact someone at lower levels, and we'll be gone right after.”

The guard shook his head. - “Law is law.”

Luna sighed and started leaving, she clearly didn't like it. - “It's a waste of our time.” - When she exited the building, she called Caleb. - “Did you find it?”

“It's eleven blocks away.” - Caleb informed.

“I don't want to break the law...” - Avi uttered quietly.

“By wasting our time, we miss the chance to help someone else.” - Luna replied.

“I know.” - Avi said.

“You have to make tough decisions.” - Luna added. - “Even if we don't know the consequences.”

Avi sighed, resigned. - “We turn back.”

Luna was clearly disappointed by Avi's choice, but didn't object to it. Silently, she began walking back to the spaceship, but after she barely passed to shacks, she detected something fast piercing the air. Her scans couldn't tell what it was as it was concealed. She only picked it up due to the movement of air particles. Luna decided to detonate the incoming projectile with a barely visible ray of light, and once it exploded, it created a cloud of black, charged smoke that engulfed the whole street.

Luna coughed. Her shields apparently didn't work against this type of dust.

“Death to Anaari!” - Could be heard above her.

The next arrow bounced off the ground next to Luna and exploded in smoke, leaving Avi and her companions in absolute darkness.

Luna fell to her knees, aware that she was losing her strength. She felt someone grabbing her and pulling.

“Luna! Run!” - Avi shouted, and they both quickly got out of the smoke. However, there was no sign of Virka and Avi's parents.

The militia responded and rushed to help, but hooded enemies dropped from the roofs and blocked their path, engaging in combat. On top of that, there were over forty more of them. The first half surrounded the street in a circle, and all of them were wielding daggers and machetes. The other half stayed on the roofs, preparing their bows.

Luna extended her hand, but her powers wouldn't work.

“Luna... are you alright?” - Avi asked.

“I don't know how, but they disarmed me.” - Luna stated.

Avi closed her eyes. She felt a familiar sensation of her feet touching the shallow water. Although afraid, she stayed calm. When she opened her eyes, she could see far better and scanned the cityscape. Her multitask cell moved, creating a hemispherical shield that deflected the arrows aside.

Four hooded rogues rushed to attack Avi, but her cell moved like a flexible vine and bound their legs, holding them in place. Her improved hearing could pick up someone talking to a transceiver.

“They have the 'Black Beast'! They have the 'Black Beast'!!” - Someone shouted in panic.

“Hold on, we'll send the Vanquisher!” - A different voice replied, as afraid as the first one.

“Gods...” - Someone else whispered. Avi could see him dropping his weapon and running away.

“Surrender!” - Avi shouted after analyzing the situation. - “Right now!”

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“HOLD THE LINE!” - The voice from the transceiver begged in desperation. - “OTHERWISE WE ALL ARE GOING TO DIE!”

The multiask cell shifted around Avi like numerous tentacles. They struck their enemies with lightning speed, grabbing them and lifting them high into the air. Avi could clearly hear their screams of horror, but it didn't stop the archers, who fired another volley of arrows in her direction. The cell, however, stopped each of them.

“Are you there!?” - Avi called her parents and Virka.

There was no reply.

“The Vanquisher arrived.” - Could be heard from the previous transceiver.

Avi's blood ran cold, she felt that her friends were in danger. She turned back to run inside the smoke, but then she overheard a cold, stoic voice. - “Objective secured.”

She instinctively wanted to rush to her parents, but before she could make even a step, she noticed a movement in the smoke and immediately raised her shield. A missile was fired from the depths of smoke, it struck the barrier in a flash of golden light, which froze multitask cell in a stasis-like field.

Avi, without hesitation, sent a cloud of her nanomachines in the direction of the enemy, trying to detect them, but she only found three immobile shapes. There was no sign of the Vanquisher.

“Avi! Above you!” - Luna yelled.

Avi summoned another barrier, and a heavy mech soon struck it with its legs, bending the shield like a metal sheet.

“They have gravitational enhancers!” - Luna warned.

“ELABORATE!” - Avi shouted.

“Run or they will crush you!” - Luna shouted back.

Avi jumped to the side, keeping the multitask cell shifting its shape to defend her. In the spot where she used to stand, there was now a large crater, and she kept being assaulted by the fire from autokinetic guns.

“I lost him!” - Avi yelled to Luna. - “I can sense him at all!”

Luna got up. - “Avi, I'll help, but you only get one shot at this.”

“I trust you.” - Avi said, her voice drowned out by the thunder of bullets.

Luna closed her eyes and extended her hand to the sky. Her hair and hem of the dress raised, lightly waving as though hit by small bursts of invisible energy. A lance of light fired from Luna's hand, illuminating the entire district in a blinding, white flash. Afterwards, all the lamps within a radius of a few miles turned off.

There was an absolute radio silence, but Avi could still feel a massive shape in the air. It fell down with a heavy thud somewhere near her cell. The farthest lamps started to turn on, so she knew there was no time for hesitation. Her multitask cell shot like two black spears, each attack tore off a plate after plate of the mech's armor, then its electronic components, until there was nothing left but a single soldier trapped between bent metal.

The smoke cleared, and Avi's eyes turned to Luna, who was now back in a sphere.

“I'm fine.” - Luna assured.

“My parents!” - Avi shouted and ran to them. They were both kneeling in the middle of the street, while Virka helped Charlotte stand up.

“Their vital signs are normal.” - Luna informed.

“Avi... what was that?” - Charlotte asked.

“Danger...” - Avi said. - “...but it's neutralized.”

Nicolas looked at the battlefield and the immobilized, disarmed enemies. He wasn't pleased. - “Let's get out of here.”

“Not yet.” - Avi requested.

“Avi! We're returning to the ship!” - Nicolas replied, more than irritated.

“Dad!” - Avi shouted. - “I have to talk to them!”

“With them!? They wanted to kill us!” - Nicolas yelled.

“All the more reason I have to clear it up!” - Avi protested.

“We aren't safe here!” - Nicolas was angrier.

“I have to agree.” - Luna added. - “They can have a second Vanquisher, and we will be defenseless when it comes.”

“Luna, I thought that you were on my side!” - Avi complained.

“I am on your side, I'm just sharing my opinion.” - Luna stated calmly.

“Everyone tells you what you should do, and you're forcing your will upon us!” - Nicolas argued.

“I don't force anything! If you want, leave. I want to stay!” - Avi said.

“Avi... my daughter, be reasonable.” - Charlotte tried to persuade.

Avi ignored it and, determined, started walking to the man in the Vanquisher.

Nicolas grabbed her wrist. - “Stop!”

“Let me go!” - Avi yelled.

“You're not going anywhere!” - Nicolas started pulling her to the spaceship, but Avi pushed him with the multitask cell, and he fell to the ground.

“I'm sorry...” - Avi muttered, then ran to the Vanquisher's wreckage.

---

Avi started to free her former opponent using the multitask cell, while he was still holding a pistol and with horrified eyes, waited until the last armor plates were removed. The first thing he could see, though, was not a monster, but a hand extended in his direction as if to help him get out.

Still shocked, the man lowered his weapon.

“I'm Avi.” - Avi introduced herself. - “Can we talk?”

“Why... didn't you kill us?” - The man said, still in disbelief.

“It wouldn't be a moral thing to do, would it?” - Avi replied. - “But I must admit, you backed us into a corner.”

“I felt... I really felt that something wasn't right. A true 'Black Beast' would level the entire city in the blink of an eye.” - The man explained, taking Avi's hand.

When he got up, he glanced at Luna's form and exhaled in relief, then looked at his team at asked. - “Will you free my brothers?”

“If they behave.” - Avi said, playfully sticking out a tongue.

“Did you hear?” - The man said to everyone through the comms. - “They aren't hostile, but we will need to explain the situation to the militia. Send a messenger with a hunting warrant quickly.”

Avi let the hooded people go and allowed the law enforcement units to capture them, while others, on the roofs, simply scattered.

“What about the 'White Devil'?” - The man heard from the transceiver.

“She's temporarily disabled. She won't cause any trouble.” - The man said.

“'White Devil'?” - Luna snickered. - “Phi.”

The militia soon arrived and cuffed the mech's pilot.

“Wait!” - Avi asked. - “He won't hurt anyone.”

“There are procedures for situations like this, please step back.” - The militiaman demanded.

“Avi... please wait for me.” - The pilot said before he was escorted. - “I'll be back and explain everything.”

---

Avi returned to her parents. Nicolas was clearly angry and wouldn't speak a word.

“I was right, there was a misunderstanding...” - Avi informed.- “...they don't want to kill us anymore.”

“Avi, it's not about tho was right...” - Charlotte said. - “...but about the fact that you're risking everyone's life for no reason.”

“Do you really think it would be better to leave it unclarified!?” - Avi protested.

“It would be safer.” - Charlotte replied.

“Safer doesn't mean better!” - Avi argued.

“Since when did you become so stubborn, Avi?” - Charlotte asked. - “You didn't object to our advice so much before... we died. Luna, maybe you can talk some sense into her.”

“I've tried many times, but she always does what she wants.” - Luna replied.

“It has to change.” - Charlotte stated. - “You're not living alone anymore.”

Avi clenched er fists, yelling. - “You said that if I wanted to do something good, you wouldn't stop me!”

“My child, it's a different situation.” - Charlotte replied.

“Child, child!” - Avi shouted. - “I wasn't wrong, you just want to babysit me forever!”

Nicolas was clearly mad. - “Don't you see how worried we are? Don't you see how ridiculous it is to risk and talk to someone who just tried to kill you?”

“It's not the first time you misjudged the bigger picture, Avi. Do you remember the mines of crimson dust?” - Luna recalled.

“Luna!” - Avi was barely holding it together. She wanted to shout at Luna because she wasn't supposed to mention it. - “We've been through so much together, and you still doubt me!”

“I trust you, but there are situations where there is more than a single solution, and choosing the right alternative can prevent conflicts.” - Luna said.

“Everyone knows that you're in the wrong here! Everybody but you!” - Nicolas added.

“I'm not in the wrong!” - Avi hissed.

“Virka, please try to persuade her.” - Nicolas said. - “She should know that nobody supports that kind of behavior.”

Vikra was just standing behind them, indifferently, not paying any attention to their arguments. She only replied with a short. - “I'll stay neutral.”

“Don't even try to drag her into this! It's between us!” - Avi protested.

“...no, it concerns everyone! You abandoned us three when they attacked!” - Nicolas stated. - “What if somebody were to lethally wound her or us?”

Avi didn't have any answer. - “Quit it! I need a break!”

“Answer!” - Nicolas demanded.

“I would find a way to save you!” - Avi shouted. - “I'll always find a way, I believe in it!”

“You're deluded.” - Nicolas said.

“I already did it once!” - Avi countered.

“It was luck, Avi.” - Luna interjected.

“No, it wasn't, and I'll prove it!” - Avi declared. - “I'll find Daichi, join the Astronauts, and fix everything!”

“I see that you already decided that we can be discarded, only because our lives returned once.” - Nicolas replied.

“I never said that!” - Avi hissed again.

When they argued, the pilot of Vanquisher was already freed. He stared from afar, reluctantly listening, and feeling guilty, decided to interrupt them.

“I'm sorry...” - The man spoke.

Nicolas glanced at him, wondering what he wanted, but Avi recognized the man instantly.

“I wanted to hurt your daughter. I must apologize.” - The man declared.

Nicolas lost it, raised his hand, and took a swing at the pilot, who didn't stop him at all and let Nicolas strike him in the face.

“I deserved it.” - The pilot spoke.

Avi grabbed her father's arm to stop him from continuing with another blow. - “Stop!”

“It was the order of the lookout-machines.” - The pilot explained himself. - “Their words are absolute.”

“Do you really think that following every order blindly is going to make the world a better place?” - Nicolas yelled.

“It's the first mistake that has ever happened. Daughters of Anaari... they usually come to kill and destroy.” - The pilot said. - “We thought you were their mercenaries.”

“Luna... she is different. You have my word.” - Avi said in a gentle voice.

“My superiors are sceptical, but in her current state, she isn't dangerous.” - The pilot explained. - “I don't want this situation to repeat, and that's why I brought an identification key. Before you travel elsewhere, send it to the deeper regions by any available communication devices. Nobody will trouble you anymore.” - He then raised his wrist, revealing a hologram made of fluctuating rings.

Luna immediately scanned it. - “I've noted it.”

“I'm imploring you, remember about it. Deeper, they have better defenses.” - The pilot warned once more. - “The nearest communication tower is eleven blocks away. I arranged a single-use authorization for you to allow contact with the overseer of this sub-sector. I'm sorry, but that's all I can do to apologize.”

He bowed deeply, then said goodbye and left.

“See?” - Avi said. - “If we ran away, it could be way worse.”

“That doesn't automatically make your behavior justified, Avi.” - Luna replied.

Nicolas, still angry, didn't want to speak to her. He had no strength or desire to argue.

Virka approached Avi. - “Let Caleb mark the route. The faster we handle this, the better.”

---

After climbing to a booth next to the transmission tower, Luna showed her permit to the guards and entered. The place looked as if nobody had used it for years. Thick layers of dust covered blue computer screens, and Luna could barely reactivate them.

The indicators of the communication device lit green, but the computer displayed that they would need to wait an extra forty-eight minutes in the queue, and relaxing music played in the background.

When the required time passed, a deep voice, like that of a giant creature, spoke. - “The information channel is open. Please confirm your presence.”

“I confirm it, and greet you.” - Avi answered.

“And I, too, greet you.” - The voice spoke. - “How can I assist you, miss?”

“We would like to talk to an administrator of this sector, is it possible?” - Avi stated bluntly.

The voice guffawed. - “Ho, ho, ho... no, no, it's not possible.”

Avi had a sour expression. - “...but can you tell us where we will find one, then?”

“That, I can do.” - The voice replied. - “Sending coordinates.”

Luna examined the map. - “It's quite deep... and it doesn't look like we'll be granted access there, even with an identification key.”

Avi wouldn't give up, though. - “Dear overseer, could you help us with this matter?”

“I only support the investors...” - The overseer said. - “...and your identification key is merely a transit pass. Although I honor your right to submit inquiries, we have nothing to discuss.”

Avi pondered for a moment. - “What will we gain if we become investors?”

“The right to vote on projects related to the investment, partial return of future revenue, and the right to contact the superintendent of the sub-sector that contains the regions under my jurisdiction. It could allow you to access deeper sections of Goliath later on.”

“What is the minimum required contribution?” - Avi asked.

“One hundred eighty billion credits.” - The overseer declared.

“Luna... that's a lot. Can you transfer it?” - Avi asked.

“Of course. Please send us the list of investment offers.” - Luna requested.

“You... you are not serious, are you?” - The overseer asked.

“We are serious.” - Luna stated. - “I expect the offers to include a detailed business plan and outcome projections. I don't want to spend that many credits, only to move laborers from one place to another. I expect results that will positively impact the population's standard of living.”

The overseer was silent, but honesty in Luna's voice made him no longer doubt their intentions.

“The re-educational offer for the poorest districts sounds like the best choice.” - Luna informed. - “There are human resources here that need to be utilized, not left to stagnate. Our next vote will be for schools of recycling of rare metals and technologies.” - Luna added. - “The credits were transferred.”

“Confirmed.” - The overseer said. - “I will overwrite the privileges of your identification key. It's current status... is misleading.”

“Nice, we seem to be done.” - Luna replied.

“Thank you, Luna.” - Avi said, then spoke to the overseer. - “I hope that it'll prove that we want what's best for Ark.”

The overseer pondered in silence for a moment. - “I feel that you must already be aware that your payment is merely an encouragement for people who will do the real work. Even if your vote is important and stands out compared to the widespread apathy and pursuit of profits, you still will need to roll up your sleeves and work hard yourselves if you plan to see the administrator.”

“Thank you for the advice.” - Avi replied.

“It's not advice, it's a warning.” - The overseer uttered.

“Still, it's very kind of you.” - Avi stated. - “We'll do our best to make Goliath a better place, even if we have to get our hands a bit dirty, to make sure that your superiors will recognize our worth.”

“Then, may the machine spirits guide you.” - The overseer said. - “I'm closing the information channel. Please confirm.”

“Confirmed and once again, thank you for everything!” - Avi smiled.