Star XXXIII ~ Cage ~ Part XVI
Avi was running until she ran out of breath, trying to catch Una, who disappeared without a trace. The empty corridors of block zero-six were like a labyrinth to Avi, and she felt lost.
“Please, not in a moment like this.” - Avi uttered quietly.
“Did our little girl lose her way?” - A familiar voice responded from all directions.
“You...” - Avi muttered.
“Mm...” - A melodic, humming echo filled the tunnels. - “...the first bird fell out of the nest and will not fly again, the second bird is looking for worms to eat, but the third bird... the third bird...” - In that very moment, the voice became grim and sharper. - “...the third bird forgot its mother's words and ran away in search of freedom, way before it grew feathers... and that's not good.”
“I have no time for your games!” - Avi shouted.
“Do you know why I am here?” - The entity asked.
Avi was quiet.
“Because I ended up having to take care of an egg that a cuckoo left me...” - The voice explained. - “...but I can tell from my children's singing which bird is mine. Still...”
“Cut it out.” - Avi shouted way louder. She had had enough after everything she had been through.
“...I love and will embrace all the birds just the same.” - The entity continued. - “Even if it pains me that some are not obedient, I still remember to reward those who look after their family. Especially, if I promised them that.” - The voice paused. - “You're looking for someone, aren't you?”
Avi calmed down for a moment and decided to pay attention to any further words, but all she could hear was a fading giggle in one of the tunnels, followed by lamps lighting up one after another as if to lead her somewhere.
---
A battered fighter jet stood alone, concealed in a niche. From its half-open cockpit hung the torso of a dead pilot. Avi pulled it down onto the floor, then inspected their spacesuit. If not the cracked helmet, the equipment would be fully functional, so she kept searching and found another in a locker hidden under the seat, then dressed.
Without a moment's pause, Avi powered up the ship's launch systems and the communicator. She switched the signal to contact Luna's spaceship and took a deep breath.
The light was indicating she could talk. - “Luna. It's me, Avi.”
“Av-” - Before Luna could finish, she was interrupted. Her signal was intercepted.
“Avi! You are alive!?” - A voice asked, surprised.
“Yes, I am, and it's not thanks to you!” - Avi yelled. - “I WANT TO TALK TO LUNA, GET LOST!”
“Avi... I'm sorry for losing sight of you.” - The voice replied.
“I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF YOUR WORDS.” - Avi kept yelling.
In the background of the mysterious voice, it was possible to hear a man talking. - “She had suffered enough. She deserves answers.”
“...but...” - The voice protested.
“Please, give me a few minutes.” - The other person said.
The first voice relented and allowed their friend to communicate with Avi. - “Avi. You might not know me, but I still want to tell you something important, and I would like to ask you to believe me. The person you're looking for is gone. Please, live your own life, because you only have one and it's precious and important.”
Avi hit the cockpit panel in rage. - “Don't anger me! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH AND WHY I'M DOING WHAT I'M DOING.”
“I don't...” - The male voice spoke calmly, yet in a downcast tone. - “...but you still earned another day to live. Even if it was paid in the blood of many victims, it's still yours.”
Avi started to scream at the top of her lungs, which soon turned into a violent and tearful outburst. A moment later, Avi collapsed, sobbing onto the console.
“I'll leave you alone.” - The man said. - “May the starlight continue to guide you.”
“Wait...” - Avi uttered. - “Why... did you flee to the sky?”
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The man sighed, his heart heavy with regret. - “Walking among the dead, I won't find forgiveness.”
“Daichi...” - Avi whispered.
“You're speaking the name of someone who lost it due to his sins, and died.” - The voice answered.
Avi leaned over to the microphone, recalling the words she was supposed to say. - “Even if you can't forgive yourself, I'll forgive you.”
There was a long moment of silence, after which the first voice told the man. - “Don't go back, please.”
“I have nothing to go back to...” - The man replied. - “...but I have to listen to Mother's words. I owe her too much.”
“Daichi.” - Avi stopped and wiped her tears. - “Now I know it's you.”
“That name was erased from the book of life.” - The runaway astronaut said. - “What's left of me is merely an empty shell, which is fleeing from responsibility for the crimes of its previous life.”
“Whatever, whatever. Stop wallowing in self-pity and listen to what I've to say, because there's a lot.” - Avi spoke. - “I didn't go through this hell, so you can simply fly away.”
“I'll listen, because that's Mother's will.” - Daichi declared.
“First – I need you. I have to find the astronauts' soul-killing space weapon.”
“Why are you looking for it?” - Daichi asked.
“To neutralize it.” - Avi revealed.
“If that's the case, I'm willing to be your ally. Still, I can't locate their station.” - Daichi said. - “However, I can still explain its inner workings to you. The existence of the station is destabilized. It's as if it were splitting into multiple layers of zero-dimensional points, which jump between different planes of infinity-dimensional limbo. When that technology is active, no one can get in, and no one can get out.”
“Can't it be turned off somehow?” - Avi asked.
“From the inside, it can.” - Daichi added. - “It'll cause the station to materialize in a specific location, selected by the command. However, to find that location, you would need the station's encrypted signal.”
Avi pondered for a moment. - “Allow me to talk to Luna. I think I might have something that will help.”
“Of course...” - Daichi confirmed. - “...but I'll be unable to join your conversation. Otherwise, it'll be too easy to detect us both. When you're ready, call me again.”
“Understood.” - Avi added, then the communication channel to Luna was open again.
“AVI! AVI! Reply, please!” - In a tearful voice, Luna kept continuously calling her friend. Her fear of losing Avi again was evident.
“Luna... I'm sorry.” - Avi finally spoke.
“AVI! AVI!” - Luna burst into tears. - “Tell me you're safe.”
“Soon, Luna.” - Avi assured.
“Don't ask me to wait...” - Luna pleaded, still worried.
“I know, Luna. I know... but I've found Daichi. I think he can help us.” - Avi informed.
“Avi. After everything, all I want is for you to return.” - Luna stated. - “Even if Anaari were to take me, I want to live my last days with you. That's why... please, be cautious.”
“Luna.” - Avi sighed. - “It's not like that. I want to fight for you, and that fight is still ongoing.”
“As you wish.” - Luna said calmly. - “I'll always be by your side, no matter what you choose.”
“I know. You, too, are always with me. If not the memory of you and our shared promise, I would have given up a long time ago.” - Avi replied.
“Fifty-two stars, right?” - Luna reminded herself.
“Yes.” - Avi confirmed.
“Tell me what you need and I'll try to help.” - Luna declared, already way calmer.
“The signal from Goliath. Do you have it?” - Avi asked.
“Yes.” - Luna said.
“Can you send it to me somehow?” - Avi asked. - “In a way that allows me to send it to someone else.”
“It won't be an issue.” - Luna informed.
“Okay. Once you're done, I'll disconnect and finish my talk with Daichi.” - Avi responded. - “Please, wait for me, because I will always return to you.”
“Even if it hurts, I'll always keep waiting.” - Luna uttered quietly.
“I love you, Luna.” - Avi added at the end.
Luna reciprocated. - “I love you, too, Avi. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.” - Avi said right as the signal from Luna was finished downloading. Once she was alone, she had a short, nervous breakdown and cried for a minute, but she quickly recollected herself and called Daichi.
“Daichi.” - Avi said as she sent the encrypted coordinates. - “Can you decipher it?”
Daichi was silent for a long moment. - “Yes. It's the weapon's location metadata. Unfortunately, it indicates that the station is currently desynchronized. I don't know how to help you get inside.”
“You can leave it to us. We'll figure something out.” - Avi decided. - “Now, another thing. I know that you are collecting soul fragments.”
Daichi's voice appeared sad. - “It's our only chance.”
“No.” - Avi declared. - “I was told what it takes, and I disagree. You have no right to decide who gets to live!”
“I don't.” - Daichi replied. - “I'll carry the weight of this sin alone.”
“Listen!! Our whole planet died due to Universal Necrosis. Our people suffered in their last moments. I also lost my parents and my only chance to have a normal life.” - Avi lectured. - “Life is precious, as you said. Turn back from this blind road. There's no point in struggling alone, because in the end you'll realize that no one will be left but you.”
Daichi didn't answer.
“Go back to your home and live your life. Those were your words.” - Avi added.
“Avi.” - Daichi's voice appeared even more depressed. - “I've never apologized to you for it, or never admitted it, but... I was the one to bring the Necrosis to Earth. I killed your parents, your sisters, your brothers. That's why...”
“The words of your mother are mine own. I already forgave you, so you, too, forgive yourself!” - Avi declared aloud. - “There are better solutions than what you're planning to do!”
Daichi, instead, continued. - “...if you try to stop me... if anyone tries to stop me, I won't blame them for my death. However, when the time of the final battle comes, remember what I tried to accomplish, because it's the only way.”
“YOU DON'T KNOW THAT!” - Avi shouted.
“...but I believe in it.” - Daichi uttered. - “I hope that the next time we meet, it'll be in a better world.”
“DAICHI!” - Avi screamed, but he wouldn't respond. The signal faded, turning into static, and Avi couldn't find them anymore.