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 informed.

“Thank you.” - Avi said and continued moving, but Nicolas stopped her.

“Do you remember what we were talking about after your return?” - Nicolas asked very seriously.

“Yes. I understand.” - Avi replied. - “How many times am I supposed to keep apologizing?”

“You have to remember 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 moment. - “Just go to her. We'll talk another time.”

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 exclaimed.

“On the bottom of the city, she is tinkering with transmitters.” - Virka informed.

“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 moment.”

“Probably?” - Virka asked.

“It's complicated, but I'm sure she wouldn't deceive me.” - 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 memory cubes. - “I... when I was dying, I heard your voice. It saved me.”

Avi was a bit gloomy for a moment. - “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 remember 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 meant. - “I don't understand.”

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“It's hard to explain, even after all the time we have been together. I just got my parents back... I feel that there are many unresolved concerns, too... and well, you know... our arguments... 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 me for a dinner for two.”

Luna's eyes sparkled. - “Wait, does that mean...?”

“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 times, shocked. - “How do you know?”

Virka rolled her eyes. To her, it was obvious. - “It's not important.” - She came 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 commented. - “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 informed.

“We'll come.” - 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 meet your expectations, I'm sorry...”

Nicolas interrupted her. - “You shouldn't apologize to me, 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 me, even if it would cost me 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 seemed astonished.

Nicolas sighed and crossed his arms. - “Whatever happened between you two, I think it's too early for it.”

“Avi told me 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 formed in her eye. - “My Avi... you grow up so fast.”

“Remember one thing, though.” - Nicolas mentioned. - “If you hurt Avi ever again...” - He looked at his daughter's eye again. - “Then you won't be able to convince me it was just an accident.”

Luna felt overwhelming shame. - “I understand.” - She uttered quietly.

Nicolas stood up, then looked at the girls, commenting. - “This ship is starting to feel crowded. I'll probably go get some 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 comes 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 something to eat.”

---

The evening soon came. 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 moments 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 some time, 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 something bad?” - Virka inquired. - “The biological beings will become 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 mean to transcend human understanding? Will she keep her 'self' or will she become something 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 commented. - “...but I understand what you mean. She was partially raised in this world. In some part, it even replaced you.”

“I never wanted it to happen.” - Nicolas said gloomily.

“You had no choice.” - Virka commented. - “You are trying to make up for it... but maybe it's the time 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 time to leave.”

Nicolas sighed. - “Time. 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 seemed 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 became dimmer.

“Do you have someone to take care of you?” - Luna asked.

“The collective will assign a replacement 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.