After the course to the twenty-fourth star was set, Luna spent the next few days tracking the Goliath down, and once she succeeded, she instructed Avi to accelerate and direct the ship to the computed coordinates. After over a week, they managed to catch up to the Goliath and match its speed. What now appeared before them was seemingly an infinite steel hull.

“This is... the Goliath?” - Luna whispered.

“We are still so far away, and yet there's no end to this wall.” - Charlotte added.

Avi was in disbelief. - “How... how large is it?”

“It's hard to estimate... but it's around as high and wide as a few hundred suns and three times as long. No wonder that it entirely blocked the star's light during our scans.”

“...It could hold more people than there could be alive at all of the star systems together...” - Avi muttered. - “Something like this... was hiding in the void? How long did it take them to build this?”

“I would like to know it, too...” - Luna replied. - “...but I'm even more interested if it's still inhabited by someone. My scans can't penetrate its thick armor at all.”

“I'll send a stronger signal.” - Avi said. - “Maybe someone will respond.”

For a few minutes, the screen of the receiver resembled a flat line, which later began to weakly oscillate. Avi turned up the volume to the maximum, but the voice was still barely audible.

“The administrator of six hundred and seventh section of the slumbering-tortoise sector is speaking. In the name of the collective – I beg you, Anaari, please deactivate your nano-lymphatic cells program.”

“Luna... any idea what it's about?” - Avi whispered.

“No.” - Luna said, then approached the intercom. - “We're using Anaari's ship to travel, but we have nothing to do with them. Can you enlighten us? What kind of program are you talking about? I'm not sure if we have anything like that on our vessel.”

There were a few minutes of silence again.

“You're not Anaari? Forgive us, but it's not a thing on your ship, but a plague inflicted by Anaari, that we have to face to this day. Dear travelers, do you come in peace and plan to stop here?” - The voice inquired.

“We have no hostile intentions, and we would like to look around.” - Luna answered.

After another few-minutes-long break, the scans indicated that a few dozen miles to their left, on the side of the ship, a hatch to an airlock opened. There was no further answer from the communicating device, so Avi decided to direct their ship there.

Once she entered, she had to travel for four hours through a place that resembled an endless vent of steel protrusions. When she finally made it out, she flew into a vast, cylindrical tunnel that was occasionally visited by automated repair ships. Sometimes, single drones also hovered next to the walls, welding cable-filled pipes amid a rain of sparks.

Avi followed the path and found small docks, where her receiver picked up another signal.

The mechanical voice that spoke to her was unusually slow and made long pauses between words. - “Welcome to outer docks... the shell maintenance station number... E... 6... 1... 7... 7... 1... 8... 0... 1... 9... 1... 3... model... a stone hollowing beetle. Keep flying... to the seventeenth junction... to the left.”

Avi accepted the instructions. Unfortunately for them, increasing speed in the developed area was too unsafe, so another seven hours passed before they were at the next destination. Then they kept flying deeper inside the ship for two days, only to find themselves at another cylinder, this time with a diameter of a few hundred meters.

However, next to their last exit, there were signs pointing to different sectors, which didn't help a lot, because Luna couldn't decipher their meaning without a map. The main thing that attracted their attention was a sign with the name of a bar – Carcass of Serenity. It took them about an hour to reach the place, where in a small recess, there was a desolate spaceship parking that used to be able to hold about a dozen vessels. Behind it, there was a building shaped like a sandwich, though its glory days were long gone, evident from dried, cracking paint.

After landing, Avi and Luna decided to scout the area on their own, mainly to see if someone was still living here, only to notice that the door had a sign that said 'Closed'.

“Ehh...” - Avi sighed and kicked the door. - “...how long is it going to take to get anywhere?”

“If we take the size of this spaceship into account, it can take weeks.” - Luna mentioned.

“...and we can't even ask anyone for directions, and the comms are still silent!” - Avi complained.

“It's not unusual. There were appropriate devices outside. Here, there are only walls that block the signal.” - Luna explained. - “I know that you don't want to turn back, so try to be patient.”

“Try to be patient... she said.” - Avi grumbled. - “Luna-robot can't even complain a bit with her friend. Instead, she has to overexplain everything to bore her to death.”

Luna raised her eyebrow. - “I know how to complain.”

“Prove it.” - Avi said, without an ounce of strength in her voice.

“Of course – I'm more than irritated that your mind, even if primitively simple, still can't endure a few moments without stimuli.” - Luna responded.

“Hey!” - Avi exclaimed. - “I won't tolerate those kinds of remarks!”

“You've started it.” - Luna said, offended.

“You're so clever, but you won't find a solution!” - Avi shouted.

“Patience is a solution.” - Luna repeated.

“I disagree.” - Avi kicked the door even harder. - “Every moment of delay is a moment where we can lose someone or something important.”

“...and every moment of unnecessary haste is a moment when you can easily make a mistake.” - Luna added.

Avi kicked the door again with all her strength. - “Why are you always challenging what I say!!?”

“Because...” - Luna wanted to answer, but she was interrupted by a loud curse coming from inside the bar. Its door slammed open fully, banging loudly against the building walls.

“MAY YOU BE ABDUCTED BY THE CORE'S SPIRITS, MAY YOUR SKIN BE ROTTEN BY ANAARI'S PLAGUE, MAY YOU BE HUNTED DOWN BY EVERY HORNET!!!” - Could be heard from the elephant-like trunk of an enraged, fluffy creature. - “WHO IS BANGING LIKE THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!!?”

The creature looked at both girls, and Luna just pointed at Avi. - “It's her fault.”

Avi, clearly red from the shame and embarrassment, couldn't utter a word to defend herself.

“DON'T YOU SEE IT!? CLOSED! OR CAN'T YOU READ!!? DO YOU WANT ME TO CALL THE LAW ENFORCEMENT!?” - The creature screamed.

“I...” - Avi tried to explain herself, but she wasn't allowed.

“I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR EXCUSES. I'M GOING BACK TO SLEEP AND IF I HEAR EVEN A SINGLE SQUEAK, I'LL COME BACK TO SHOVE YOUR HEAD UP THE PLACE THAT THE SUNLIGHT CAN'T REACH.”

Avi spoke nothing, and the door was soon shut as loudly as they were opened.

“Congratulations. You showed your manners.” - Luna commented.

“Shhh... he might hear us!” - Avi whispered.

Luna laughed quietly and returned to the spaceship, where they both waited until the bar was open.

---

On the next day, our five explorers exited the ship and walked to the restaurant. Avi was still very abashed by what happened yesterday. When the bell above the door rang, signaling that there were guests, an old-fashioned, rusty, levitating robot approached them and pointed to a scratched table with worn-out seats where they could wait. Before disappearing, the machine mentioned. - “Orders are placed at the cash register, and the full offer is displayed on the banner above the counter. I would like to recommend our special offer, the chief's sandwich, and a breakfast set from the Misty Islands sector.”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

The bar was completely empty, so after deciding what Avi's parents and Virka wanted to order, Avi and Luna got up to look around. There was no cashier, but there was another bell next to it. Hesitantly, Avi pressed it and waited for over a dozen minutes.

“They don't really care about potential clients.” - Luna commented.

“Excuse me!?” - Avi called the robot waitress, who approached her as tardily as it could. - “Is anyone working here? We are still waiting... and hungry.”

“A moment.” - The robot spoke, then flew to the backroom. - “MARCUS! WAKE UP, YOU LAZY PIG! WE HAVE GUESTS!”

“SHUT YOUR MOUTH! I HEARD THEM RINGING!” - Marcus exclaimed, it was a familiar, trumpet-like tone.

A few more minutes passed before Marcus, in a stained apron, approached the counter with the cash register. When Avi noticed him, she lost her ability to speak. Seeing this, Marcus raised his eyebrow. - “By the scavengers' prophets. You are still here after everything you've done?” - He spat on the floor. - “What's your order?”

Avi glanced at Luna nervously, silently pleading for her to speak instead of her, but Luna waved her head to point out it's Avi's problem.

“I'm sorry... for yesterday.” - Avi muttered.

“WHAT'S YOUR ORDER?” - Marcus repeated.

Avi quietly requested. - “The vegan oat cookies, two bowls of rice congee, a small spicy frittata, yoghurt musli... and uhm...”

“Think faster.” - Marcus demanded.

“Can I ask... what uhm... would you recommend? But no meat, please.” - Avi asked meekly.

“Darn plant-eaters.” - Marcus commented. - “Msuhroom toasts.”

“I'll take two.” - Avi replied.

“Anything to drink?” - Marcus added.

“Two espressos, one spiced coffee with white rum, a cold berry tea, and one warm, black tea.” - Avi ordered.

“That will be forty-five thousand credits.” - Marcus calculated, and Luna transferred the money.

Avi was shifting nervously from foot to foot. When Marcus finished writing their order down, she gathered the courage to speak. - “Excuse me... can I have a question?”

Marcus coughed gruffly. - “What else?”

“We... are a bit lost.” - Avi said. - “Could you point us in the right direction?”

“Not now, I'm cooking.” - Marcus said, then, without any extra words, moved to the kitchen.

Avi silently returned to the table.

“Don't pay attention to it, he doesn't seem like a friendly type.” - Charlotte commented.

“I feel a bit guilty. I didn't make a good first impression.” - Avi replied.

Luna scanned the bar. - “They're not doing so great, maybe that's why he's so angry.”

After half an hour, the robot-waitress approached them, carrying the meals and drinks. All of the dishes looked appropriate, except Avi's sandwiches, which looked like a mess. They were drenched in grey-brown cream of sliced mushroom, and its overly intense aroma was a serious repellent.

Luna laughed at Avi's expression. - “Apparently, he really doesn't like you. To think he would serve this kind of masterpiece.” - She then took a spoonful of musli and ate it. - “Mmmm... delicious...” - She teased Avi, giggling.

Avi looked at Virka, who moved her frittata away, making it clear she won't share.

It didn't help that Avi's stomach was rumbling. - “Mom? Dad?” - She almost begged.

“You need to talk to him and explain it. File a complaint or make a fuss about it.” - Nicolas said coldly, drinking his coffee.

“...but...” - Avi uttered. - “...I'm hungry.”

Nobody seemed to care. Avi waited, glancing in silence at her companions, who enjoyed their meals. She peeked behind her, trying to find the waitress, but instead she noticed Marcus, who walked in their direction. She sank into her chair, hiding to avoid the confrontation.

Marcus approached the table with a scroll under his armpit and lightly raised his eyebrow, staring at Avi's untouched sandwiches.

“Why are you not eating?” - He asked bluntly.

“Uhmm... I...” - Avi tried to explain herself.

“It'll get cold!” - Marcus said and moved the plate closer to her.

Avi flinched seeing how close that food abomination was, but once she noticed how Marcus's aggressive demeanor, she couldn't say no. She reached for the sandwich, grabbing its corner with disgust, and lifted it up, a gray goo oozed onto the plate.

“...I ...I have a bellyache!” - Avi attempted to escape.

Marcus examined Avi thoroughly. - “I can recognize a liar. DON'T WASTE MY FOOD.”

“...but I've paid.” - Avi said quietly.

Marcus was furious. - “You made me bring that stupid map to you, but you can already forget about it.” - He added, ready to leave.

Luna almost choked trying to hold back her laughter. - “Now, now, Avi. Apologize and try the chief's sandwich.”

“A map? Wait!” - Avi uttered. - “I'm sorry... I'm eating, I'm eating.”

Marcus turned to her and crossed his arms.

Tears welled up in Avi's eyes as she closed them before biting into the soft toast. It took only a moment for all of her fear to be gone, replaced by shock. She took another bite, then another, and finished the sandwich in under a few seconds.

Marcus calmed down and spread the map on the table, without any comments.

“Avi...?” - Luna asked, still unable to grasp what had happened.

“It's fine.” - Avi said, grabbing the second toast. - “It's the best mushrooms I've ever had.”

Marcus sighed with a hint of sadness. He hadn't heard praise in forever. - “The nearest village is three sub-sectors away. You have to move into the vent under the tar waterfall, then turn into the tunnel E6177180184 and follow the path until you're at the gate of Silent Night's church.”

Luna saved the map in her mind. - “Thank you, I'll remember.”

Marcus wanted to leave the same way he came, without any courtesies or unnecessary chit-chat, but Avi stopped him. - “Marcus, wait!”

The chief turned to her and stared at the girl, clearly tired. - “What else do you want?”

“I wanted to say thank you for welcoming us so kindly.” - Avi smiled.

“Kindly?” - Marcus laughed, then left, but still mentioned - “Kindly, she said! Did you hear it, Hetty?” - to his waitress.

Hetty soon approached the table to clean it up. - “Please, forgive him. We don't have many guests, he forgot how to properly receive them.”

“It's okay.” - Avi replied. - “I really liked it here, you're serving amazing food.”

“I'm glad you liked it.” - Hetty said.

Nicolas agreed with Avi. - “It's really weird that you don't have more clients.”

“That's how we landed. It's because of our location, and resettlement permits are expensive.” - Hetty explained. - “...but well, at least we still have a place to live.”

“What do you mean by that?” - Luna asked.

“Our ark is divided into different sectors. Your place of birth usually decides where you will spend the rest of your life. Sometimes, the inner regions are so dangerous and alien that our security forces have to put them in lockdown.”

“No surprise, the ark is an enormous place.” - Virka added.

Hetty examined the guests once more. - “Can I ask you something discreetly?”

Avi looked at her companions, and after they all agreed, confirmed.

“Are you refugees?” - Hetty asked.

“No.” - Avi said.

“...but your ship is different than the local trucks. You must be from the deeper sectors.” - Hetty incorrectly noticed.

“Uhm... not really. We are from the outside.” - Avi explained.

“The outside...?” - Hetty seemed surprised. - “The archives say that it's a void filled with millions of lights. Are you really coming from there?”

Avi was confused by that statement and needed to clarify. - “Yes... But there are only fifty-two lights.”

“By the Behemoth's screws, so it was true...” - Hetty uttered. - “...but what happened to other lights?”

“They died.” - Avi said with sadness in her voice.

“Terrifying.” - Hetty experienced some electronic shivers. - “To drift endlessly through the empty darkness, until we are killed off by Necrosis or Anaari's plague.”

“Necrosis.” - Avi whispered.

Avi's parents looked at the girl.

“Necrosis?” - Charlotte asked.

“Uhm...” - Avi bit her tongue.

“Avi, you don't have to hide anything.” - Nicolas said firmly.

“Eee... I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. I... didn't want to worry you.” - Avi uttered.

“What is 'Necrosis'?” - Charlotte asked again.

“It's... what made life on Earth extinct. It's a disease that affects the very essence of being.” - Avi explained. - “It spreads... across the entire universe, or rather, across what's left of it.”

“...and you're saying this now?” - Nicolas replied. - “I thought that the technology would allow humanity to be revived, and instead, life is almost gone? What's this everything about, Avi!?”

“I don't know! It's too complicated for me, too! The Astronauts try to prevent it, so we still have a chance!” - Avi answered.

“That's why you have tried to join them?” - Charlotte asked.

Avi nodded. - “We have to help.”

Nicolas grabbed his nose and shook his head. - “Stupid me, I believed that the afterlife starts now, that the intelligent life achieved it with their own hard work, instead of having to rely on imaginary gods.”

“Are you looking for Astronauts?” - Hetty mentioned.

“We had already found them...” - Avi replied. - “...but there was a man named Daichi with them, we want to find him too.”

“Daichi....? The hero of the eleven-headed hydra sector?” - Hetty asked.

Avi jumped out of her chair. - “Do you know anything!?”

“He was on the ark, eighty years ago, in one of the neighbouring sectors.” - Hetty replied. - “He single-handedly stopped the invasion of bloodletters, scions of the Cinnabar King.”

“What happened later?!” - Avi asked.

“You would have to ask the administrators.” - Hetty informed. - “He might still be living here.”

Avi turned to her group. - “Did you hear it!?”

“It sounds like good news.” - Charlotte said.

“Eighty years... eighty years...” - Luna repeated with satisfaction. - “It's a lot of human years.”

“What are you trying to imply?” - Avi asked.

“Oh... nothing, nothing.” - Luna tried to hide that she felt like she had been caught. - “I'm just wondering if he's still alive.”

“It's one of the Astronauts!” - Avi replied. - “With their technology, it must be possible!”

“A correct observation.” - Luna uttered. - “I assume that you will want to meet the administrators as soon as possible, to search for our old man?”

“That's not so simple.” - Hetty interrupted. - “The administrators... aren't accessible to an average mortal.”

“They let us inside the Goliath. I'm sure they will want to talk!” - Avi stated.

“No, they won't. Not unless you show that you have contributed to the ark's wellness...” - Hetty informed. - “...and by that, I mean a lot. You would have to achieve feats that affect at least the entire sector, the same way Daichi did it.”

“We'll figure something out! Luna is really good at this stuff!” - Avi said confidently.

“Well, if it's so, all I can do is bless you.” - Hetty said. - “The wellness of the sector is a wellness of the ark, and the wellness of the ark is our wellness. May the steel gods guide you.”

“Thank you!” - Avi spoke on behalf of her team. - “I'm glad we've stopped here!”

“The pleasure is all ours.” - Hetty said, collecting the cups and glasses.

When she left, Avi's parents were clearly concerned.

“Avi... you really believe in what you're doing, don't you?” - Nicolas asked.

“I won't give up until the very end!” - Avi exclaimed. - “I want to make the world a better place, as long as it's still possible!”

Charlotte and Luna looked at each other, then at Luna, but she just shrugged and said. - “Don't stress, I'll help this bungler out.”