The Last Star

Avi felt there was no reason to stay in the current star system any longer. She started the spaceship, set the course for the next star, then shut herself in her room. After many hours of Avi not showing signs of life, Charlotte decided to intervene.

“Avi, my darling, can you open?” - Charlotte asked as she gently knocked at the door.

There was no answer, so Charlotte opened the door slightly. Avi was burying her face in a wet pillow.

“We're all worried.” - Charlotte said and sat on the edge of the bed.

“Why... why does life have to be like this?” - Avi uttered.

Charlotte, sad, replied. - “I don't know. Perhaps, there's more evil than good in the world. Maybe it's a punishment for our selfishness.”

“It doesn't make sense.” - Avi sobbed. - “Why would the punishment be greater than one's sins!? Why are the innocents the ones being punished, not the evildoers!? Why... why is there so little mercy in everything?”

Charlotte didn't have any answer. - “The world operates by its own laws. It's hard for us to grasp all the truths.”

Avi was silent.

“Are you not hungry?” - Charlotte asked.

“I'm not.” - Avi quietly answered.

“Do let me know if you need anything.” - Charlotte mentioned.

Avi turned her reddened face to her mom. - “I need... for this nightmare to end, once and for all.”

Charlotte took Avi by the hand. - “You'll get through this. I know you have the strength.”

However, Avi withdrew her hand. - “It's not about me! Those people are gone, and their last moments were nothing but years of suffering. I can't bear the thought that even in death they knew no mercy.” - Avi began to stutter. - “Luna... she... had a shorter, but similar experience. I'm worried about her, I'm worried about us.”

“You have never told us about it...” - Charlotte noticed. - “...but now I understand why Luna was so afraid.”

“I'm missing how confident she used to be.” - Avi uttered. - “She was always the source of my hope, she was making me believe that everything will be fine... but now, I'm worried that the farther we wander, the harder it'll be to confront our problems.”

“Haven't you considered that Luna doesn't want to confront anything?” - Charlotte asked.

“...but ...how come? When I was younger, you always told me that problems shouldn't be ignored.” - Avi said.

“Back then, it had a meaning. Life was less... complicated...” - Charlotte explained. - “...but now, when I see what Luna has to face, I think it's important to spare her the stress and relieve her of that burden of responsibility. Well... and you should be aware that not every problem can be solved.”

Avi moved to the corner of the bed to sit, wrapping her arms around her knees. - “Our problems aren't of that kind. I believe in it. Otherwise, there would be no hope.”

Charlotte looked at Avi's and Luna's photo. They were so happy there. - “There always is hope.”

“Are you trying to say that it has nothing to do with our current situation?” - Avi asked.

“Even if there are problems that can't be solved, a miracle can always happen...” - Charlotte explained. - “...when there is no way out, it's worth concentrating on what we can do and let the stars handle the rest.”

Avi was deep in thought. - “...what can we do.” - She repeated and raised her eyes to Charlotte. - “Do you think that I can... support Luna somehow? I... I think that I overstressed her.”

“I believe that cooperation is the key.” - Charlotte stated. - “Don't leave her alone with her problems. Act together. She'll gain more confidence and trust you more.”

Avi lowered her eyes. - “...but I can't do even a fraction of what she can.”

“You don't need to.” - Charlotte added. - “Simply do your best.”

“...and don't do anything stupid.” - Avi mentioned, as if she were speaking only to herself.

Charlotte nudged Avi. - “You, too, need confidence.”

“Ehh.” - Avi sighed. - “At least I know where to start.” - She looked at the door. - “Is Dad still angry?”

“A bit.” - Charlotte admitted.

“I would prefer to avoid him and talk to Luna first.” - Avi informed.

“Go to her, I'll keep him busy.” - Charlotte suggested.

“Thank you, mom.” - Avi said, then hugged Charlotte.

Charlotte smiled, then stood up. - “Just don't take too long.”

---

Avi sneaked to the garden, where Luna, dirtied by soil, was tending to the plants.

“Hey. What are you doing?” - Avi asked.

“I repot flowers.” - Luna stated. She seemed tired.

“Do you need help?” - Avi suggested.

Luna looked at Avi. She wasn't sure. - “I'll be fine.”

“Maybe... I can at least help you water them?” - Avi said and grabbed the watering can.

“Okay... okay... the hanging flowers and potted ones require one fifth liter of water, and I already watered the red ones behind you.” - Luna instructed. - “Don't water the ones with bulbs and the ones with thorns at all, and shrubs should be watered evenly, one and a half liters.”

Avi moved closer to Luna, then began her task. Luna was watching her with a corner of her eye to make sure her friend wasn't sabotaging her efforts, but quickly decided to give it up, seeing that Avi was doing well. Avi kept smiling as she worked, but Luna could tell it was forced.

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They continued in silence until Luna was done. She sat on the bench, spreading her arms on the armrest, then stared at Avi, who skillfully reached for pots hanging under the ceiling.

“You came here to talk.” - Luna guessed.

“I came here to be with you.” - Avi corrected. - “We can always talk later.”

“Got it.” - Luna said and let Avi finish her tasks. Once Avi was also done, she joined Luna and snuggled up to her side. Luna wrapped her arm around her, but her eyes were gazing somewhere else. - “Anaari and Astronauts.” - She spoke after a long moment. - “We might have to confront them soon.”

Avi raised her eyes, gazing at Luna. - “We'll be fine.” - She whispered.

“I dream of vacations...” - Luna uttered. - “...but what awaits us is only trouble.”

Avi's expression turned sad.

“Avi. Anaari – I know that they'll come for me one day.” - Luna added. - “Unless I come back to them on my own.”

“I won't let them take you away.” - Avi assured.

“That's not the matter of what you want...” - Luna said. - “...or what you believe.”

Avi wouldn't give up. - “We'll find help or run away.”

“Avi.” - Luna uttered. - “Astronauts won't bother at the moment, and I don't want to keep running forever.”

“Then, we'll face Anaari. Together.” - Avi promised.

Luna looked at her. She didn't want to say it, but she felt it would be something she needed to do alone.

“No matter what awaits us, I'm confident you'll get through it, even without me.” - Luna stated.

Avi averted her eyes. - “That's not what I want.”

Luna held Avi's hand tightly. - “I know... I care about us, too. That's why... we should make good use of the time we have.”

Avi lay her head on Luna's lap. - “I won't give up.” - She whispered. - “We promised. Fifty-two stars.”

“I know... I know...” - Luna whispered back, gazing at the flickering lights beyond the spaceship's window. - “That's why I'm praying to these stars, so they let us keep this promise.”

---

Avi fell asleep on Luna's lap. Time passed slowly, and Luna enjoyed each second of this tranquil afternoon. She gazed at Avi's serene expression, which hinted that she no longer had nightmares. As she caressed the girl's hair, Avi smiled gently in her sleep. Being able to feel her warmth was more pleasant to Luna than bathing in full sunlight. Avi's pulse and slow breath synchronized with her own, and it felt like they were one.

Luna wasn't aware of time passing, at least until she heard Charlotte and Nicolas coming downstairs to sleep. This small commotion caused Avi to wake up and wipe the drowsiness from her eyes, then yawn.

“What hour is it?” - Avi asked.

“Don't worry, you can keep sleeping.” - Luna uttered in a gentle voice.

Avi, however, stood up and stretched out her arms, then looked behind her. All the spaceship's lamps were now turned off, and there was not a smallest sound. She yawned again. - “I must've slept enough to last forever.”

“There is still a long night ahead.” - Luna pointed out. - “I'll escort you to your room. You have to make sure that your biological clock is synchronized with the spaceship's.”

“One night won't make a difference.” - Avi replied and grabbed Luna's arm. - “I have other plans.” - She pulled her friend, urging her to follow to the recreational room. She then locked the door, set the lights to evenining mode, and ran over to pull an acoustic guitar from behind the wardrobe.

Luna sat down on the sofa.

“I was practicing a lot, I hope it'll turn out alright.” - Avi mentioned, then sat on the corner of a table. - “One... one... one.. two... three... one...” - She took a deep breath and started playing.

Luna swayed to the rhythm of the music. It was a simple, repetitive, yet calm and soothing melody.

“...and what do you think?” - Avi mentioned as she continued to play.

“It's nice.” - Luna complimented. - “Did you write it yourself?”

“Yes, just for you.” - Avi revealed. - “I wanted to save it for a special moment... but then I figured, why wait?”

The song looped for a few more minutes, during which Luna closed her eyes and let her mind relax. Once the melody was completed, Luna gently smiled at Avi.

“I sense you've planned ever more fun.” - Luna assumed.

“Uhm...” - Avi nervously put her guitar to the side. - “...yes, but it's mostly improvised. How about we watch something first? Though, you know... I'll need your help.”

Luna raised her eyebrow, and a telling smile played across her face. - “Let me guess... You wanted full access to the synthesizer?”

“Oh, Luna... let's make this day special, okay?” - Avi pleaded.

Luna giggled. - “I'll bring us a healthy snack.”

When she walked out, Avi took a silver, bullet-shaped device out of her pocket, then approached the TV. - “Uhm... I just need to twist it, right?” - She whispered to herself.

The screen soon turned on, and Avi immediately paused the film and turned the spaceship's lamps off. - “...and now, this.” - She pressed a button, and the device opened. Little clusters of light, resembling stars, flew out from its interior and scattered throughout the room.

When Luna entered, she was positively impressed. - “Well, well... you put in the work.” - She sat down, putting a bowl with carrot and apple slices on the table. - “...but when did you acquire it?”

“It was back on the Goliath... uhm, Virka helped me.” - Avi explained.

“Ah, I understand. You wanted to keep it secret and surprise me.” - Luna realized. - “I have to say, you succeeded.”

“I'm glad you like it.” - Avi said and played the film.

“Is it from Goliath, too?” - Luna asked.

“Yes.” - Avi admitted.

“What's its name?” - Luna inquired.

“White Lantern.” - Avi revealed.

The film was about an android boy with a serious manufacturing defect in the psyche processing unit, causing him to be forced to live in a simulation. He had parents who were caring for him from a few sectors away. One day, the simulation was interrupted, and the boy found himself alone. He woke up, seeing only a white lantern in front of his pod – it indicated how many years of life he was left, so he took it with him and began his ten-year-long journey to find his parents. It was a story about self-discovery and growing up, but also about indomitable will and determination. As he carried his lantern and told his story, many of Goliath's citizens began to care about his journey and support him, until he became famous. However, when he finally reached the sector where he was supposed to find his parents, it turned out they were also part of the simulation and never existed. The lantern dimmed at last, and the screen faded to darkness.

“A heavy film.” - Luna commented. - “I wasn't ready for the ending. It raises many questions about our identity, seen through the lens of the illusions we create.”

“Eee... did you like it, though?” - Avi asked anxiously.

“I really did, but I'm puzzling over why you chose that one in particular.” - Luna replied.

Avi didn't want to admit that it was simply a popular one and that she liked the poster. - “I wanted... uhm... it to suit your tastes! You know! I'm aware that you like that kind of intellectual things.”

Luna stood up from the sofa and stretched as the credits rolled. - “I do like that kind of entertainment and I'm not hiding it... But after four hours of sitting, I feel it's time to get the muscles moving.” - She winked to Avi, but after noticing that Avi didn't get it, she added. - “Well... I also prepared something special for you.”

Luna held out her hand to Avi, inviting her to get up, then snapped her fingers and activated their gaming console. On the colorful screen, there were two silhouettes in dance poses and a flashing title. - “Rhythmic Revolution.” Thıs content belongs to n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net

Avi quickly got up, excited. - “You bought a new game!?”

“Better, I programmed it myself.” - Luna proudly stated.

Avi briefly regained alertness. - “Wait... Luna... what did you mean by 'getting our muscles moving'?”

Luna pulled Avi closer, then enabled the level selection. Beneath their feet, the dance pad now glowed, and the motion sensor activated above the TV. - “Let me explain... do you see these symbols? Following the beat, you must place your feet on them accurately. Prompts will be displayed on the screen. Moreover, the two dancing silhouettes will show more advanced moves to involve your entire body, which will earn additional bonus points.”

“Sounds... easy...” - Avi uttered. - “Too easy.”

Luna smiled slyly. - “...so, how about a duel?”

Avi felt it was a trap. She snatched Luna's controller. - “Five stars? What is it supposed to mean!?”

“Uhm.” - Luna sensed she had been caught red-handed. - “Nothing, nothing... It's just, uhm... level of fun! Haha...” - She laughed nervously.

Avi narrowed her eyes and changed the mode to one star. - “Level of fun... sure.” - She took off her slippers, then chose a song named - Jump! - and prepared...