Three days have passed since the funeral. Luna's spaceship continued to travel across the fallen lands, but this time there was no chance of danger. Despite passing many metropolises that were starting to recover and rebuild, these were still separated from the larger settlements by desolate wastelands. Luna estimated that it will still take thousands of years for these areas to begin functioning normally again and welcome their first migrants from the most densely populated territories.

As they passed the area of canyons of tall spires, Avi's mind was occupied with forming questions that she would like to ask the administrator. - Where and who was Daichi? What were the Immortals looking for here? What do the administrators know about the Infinity Witch?

She gazed at the twisted steel scraps in the distance, wondering what their life would look like after the journey was over. Was she really supposed to spend the rest of her life, or even eternity, with Luna? Even if her heart hinted that she wasn't wrong about her feelings, she still doubted if it was possible to achieve their goals. Would it be better to resign and just enjoy each other until there was still time left? Or would, instead, it be better to sacrifice even their love for these ambitions? After all, the astronauts were still fighting, and what could she alone do? Why did she still care so much?

“Fifty-two stars.” - Avi whispered and understood that until she kept that promise, she wouldn't stray from her path.

Luna entered the bridge and hugged Avi from behind. - “We are so close.”

“The Administrators.” - Avi replied. - “Who are they, and what will they tell us after everything we did?”

“We saved Goliath.” - Luna said rather optimistically. - “They'll surely thank us.”

“Luna...” - Avi uttered. - ...the astronauts were here, and even they weren't able to help them. Are you sure that your capabilities are greater than theirs?”

Luna was slightly surprised by the question. - “No, I don't think so. I was just a bit luckier. I... still don't understand how they are able to revive others.”

“Okay...” - Avi replied quietly.

“Are you worried about something?” - Luna noticed.

“A bit...” - Avi answered. - “...I saw the astronauts as the sole beacon of hope, but even they can fail. Anaari, on the other hand...”

“We can't forgive them after what they have done.” - Luna stated firmly.

“...but their technology saved us. Do you think that it's possible to save the universe without cooperating with them?” - Avi asked.

Luna sighed. - “I'm afraid it might be difficult. Even if we manage to persuade them, they still have to take responsibility for all their crimes.” - She started to stare at the endless space in front of them, just like Avi did. - “Sometimes, I feel like what we're looking for is moving away from us faster than light and fades somewhere in the darkness.”

“We just need to accelerate...” - Avi assured. - “...and we'll surely reach it one day.”

Luna smiled sadly and closed her eyes. - “...but until then, let's enjoy every moment of our journey.”

---

The spaceship faced a vast, open space. From the circles and rings in the steel floor, many white, luminescent slabs protruded. As they continued their travel, the height of these objects gradually increased as they were getting closer to the center. Canals full of white liquid illuminated the rows of silhouettes of praying robots that pilgrimaged toward the Soul Forge, which was a super-city in the shape of an apple core, with both ends connected to Goliath's gargantuan floor and ceiling.

In the distance, like tiny crumbs of steel, the newcomer spaceships formed endless lines, which ended somewhere in the depths of their mothership, behind the massive walls or in the dark tunnels. Like a swarm of locusts, they gathered around the docks, which were a flat ring that encircled the Soul Forge and obscured even the millions of lights that were visible on the megastructure's surface.

“Will we get through?” - Avi asked with doubt.

“I received a signal from the flight control.” - Luna informed. - “We were granted a priority.”

“Uhm... that doesn't change the fact that it's too difficult to maneuver or squeeze in.” - Avi noticed.

“We'll have some fun.” - Luna said. - “You need to activate the phase shift.”

Stolen story; please report.

“I don't recall you using this before.” - Avi stated hesitantly.

“That's because there was no need.” - Luna stated, then pointed at a lever. - “Pull it.”

Avi did as requested.

“Now... this, this, and this. Choose the automatic mode.” - Luna continued.

After a moment, the entire spaceship turned transparent. The technology also seemed to affect the nearby ships, within a radius of a few dozen meters. Luna's ship slowly moved forward, passing through other objects like a ghost.

“Is it safe?” - Avi asked, seeing how the blurry outlines of other people enter the bridge and pass through her body.

“Certainly.” - Luna said. - “The phase shift won't deactivate when its field is colliding with foreign bodies.”

“Oh, okay...” - Avi uttered, not understanding what Luna meant by it at all.

When they arrived at the docks, Avi could finally turn the phase shift off. Four lines of lights in the corners of a rounded tunnel led them inside the city, but they ultimately had to stop.

“We can't enter with our ship.” - Luna explained. - “It's too big for their regulations. We have to change our mode of transport.”

“I'll call others.” - Avi suggested.

“No, I'll do it.” - Luna requested. - “You have to ask about what we are supposed to do with our patient. We can't keep him with us forever.”

“Got it.” - Avi said and activated the communication device, letting Luna leave and handle her task.

---

When everyone was in the van, Avi opened the exit in the recreational room, and Luna flew out, directing them to a smaller exit illuminated by flickering, blue lamps. Beyond the glass walls, it was possible to notice the inner edge of the docks. Millions of similar cars joined them, heading towards the crevices in a huge wall of steel, all marked with numbers and symbols. Luna turned to the one that looked like a snake-entwined rod, described as 104601-BIO.

She entered a narrow gap between two seemingly endless walls full of round windows, behind which it was possible to notice bored, biological citizens, staring at the machines flying by. The deeper Luna was, the narrower the alleyways between the buildings became, and finding a path became more difficult, too. She was lucky, though, because there was an interactive map of this city region. The hospital was close, all she had to do was move along the Street of Condemned Ones and turn to the Bird Alley at the next crossing.

When Avi noticed the latter, she glued her eyes to the windows.

“So many real birds... It's so pretty...” - She uttered quietly.

Indeed, the Bird Alley stood apart from the soulless steel labyrinth. Homes piled layer by layer and from cracks between them, dwarf trees grew, many decorated with lantern-feeders, which were visited by colorful parrots and their smaller, white cousins.

These walls of living adornments led them lower, to a glass landing platform suspended above the void. That small spot was like a garden, full of green grass and trees.

When they finally landed, the crew was greeted by a nurse-machine in a feminine shape in a dress from rounded plates, which were like white porcelain with green edges.

“Welcome to the Oasis of Forgetting.” - The nurse spoke. - “Do you want to check in, or are you here to visit a patient?”

“We want to check in.” - Avi stated.

“Acknowledged.” - The robot pointed at the automatic, sliding door in front of them. - “Please enter, the check-is will be to your right. If you need any assistance in the patient's transport, please leave a formal request, and I'll take care of it.” - The nurse extended her arm and summoned a round, holographic screen.

“Luna?” - Avi asked her friend for help.

Luna nodded to let her know that she'll take care of it. - “The patient is in our van, but he refuses to move on his own. We'll be grateful for any help offered.” - She then extended her own hand and touched the nurse's fingers. The screen closed, and the nurse turned away, then hovered towards one of the hospital wings. It took less than five minutes for a levitating stretcher to arrive, accompanied by four four-armed members of personnel, with flying bodies in the shape of spheres.

When they took care of their new patient, Avi and Luna could begin to take care of formalities.

In the check-in, there was no staff, and instead, everyone entered the patient data into wall terminals. Even if every question could be answered by a highly advanced AI, Luna still didn't need its help.

Next, the crew was invited to the waiting room, which was a structure without a ceiling and with two rows of potted trees. It was possible to buy healthy snacks there or to access information terminals.

Luna didn't hide her amazement. - “They allow people to freely download the non-commercial descriptions of their medical procedures. Avi.... countless lives could be saved with this data. If only... I found it earlier.” - She requested everything she could, then sat on the bench, where her other companions were waiting.

They didn't have to wait for long. The nurse, identical to the first one, returned with a diagnosis. - “The patient is in a critical state, but it's not incurable. It's good that you came to the Soul Forge. It's the only place that heals this type of condition. Although the treatment is unfortunately very expensive.”

“How expensive?” - Avi asked quietly.

The nurse displayed the exact list of costs on the terminal.

“That's almost two-thirds of what we have.” - Luna sighed. - “Are you sure, Avi? This money could be used to save way more lives.”

“He's an astronaut.” - Avi said. - “We don't know how much his life is worth, and I believe we should help everyone we meet.”

“If that's what you've decided, I won't interfere.” - Luna stated and transferred the credits.

“Thank you.” - The nurse bowed. - “Order was received and will be completed.”

“How long will it take?” - Avi asked.

“We have to take your patient to the Forge itself. That's where we will transplant his soul. Acquiring necessary permissions will take forty-eight hours. If you want, you can visit the patient there after a successful operation.” - The nurse explained.

“In the meantime, I suggest we find the Fathers of the Forge.” - Luna suggested.

Avi nodded. - “Let's do it.”