Page 27 of Ava Greasemonkey

She stood to look at him, finding him staring at her disguised face.

“Something is bothering you. It is not fine. Turn off the hologram,” he said simply.

Ava shook her head, glancing at the room with the Tuxa. Again, all the Tuxa were awake and in the other room. Vox and her had talked several times now. She was expecting him to ask her at some point for help escaping, which would probably end their truce, but this line of inquiry was a surprise. “Turn it off?”

Vox nodded. “The Tuxa will not intrude. Let me see your face.”

She breathed rapidly. Standing close to him like this made a tingle travel down her spine. “Please,” he added a second later, softly.

The please broke her down. No one had ever asked her that kindly before for anything. She was always just expected to obey.

Before Ava could second-guess it, she pushed the switch behind her ear, powering down the unit. Ava wanted to be seen. By someone.

Vox’s amber eyes met her brown ones, drinking in the sight. “You are beautiful, Ava,” he said, speaking in a low tone. His eyes were focused on her face.

You’re beautiful too.

Vox, still glowing, smiled softly as if he could hear her thought, impossible as that was. Ava’s body flushed at his words, that anyone would think that of her.

Her fingers were nervous and she pushed the button a second later, putting the disguise back in place.

He grabbed through the bars, reaching for her hand that was still up by her face near the hologram.

“What is causing your distress?” His voice rang with sincerity.

Ava let him hold her gloved hand before whispering, “It’s nothing. Just worried about a friend.”

She pulled her hand away and pointed to his tray. “You need to eat to keep up your strength. I’m worried about you now as well.”

Vox leaned over and grabbed the tray, lifting it in one hand to come and stand in front of her again. “Don’t be.”

He was so flippant about being trapped that it maddened her. Ava’s eyebrows furrowed under the hologram, not understanding his complete nonchalance about his situation. “How are you able to be so calm about everything?”

“The Tuxa can’t judge me. Only my conscience can,” was his reply.

Ava didn’t know what to say. So stubborn. Maybe it was better he was accepting of his fate. She huffed in frustration before she moved onto taking care of the other Vorbax. Maybe she needed to stop herself before she started caring about his fate as well.

Chapter 10

Ebel ambled back into the engine room after four full cycles of no contact.

Ava was overjoyed, her breath catching when she heard the engine hall’s ping. He walked in and Ava, looking up from her virtual card game, was happy she didn’t set up any pranks for him in the time he was gone.

He looks exhausted.She took in the droop of his antennas, and how all his convex eyes appeared dull instead of their usual bright shine.

He nodded to Ava and walked over slowly to sit on his beanbag, back legs draping over it as he worked the screens, bringing his video feeds back online.

Ava went up to him and touched his shoulder, her fingers sinking into his fuzzy fur.

“Hey Ava,” he said.

“I’m glad you’re back.”

Shaking himself, Ebel gave her a halfhearted fanged smile. “I see you’re in one piece as well.”

Ava smiled ruefully. She pushed off his shoulder. “Yes, and I think everything is going to be okay.”

Ebel cocked his head at her, one antenna raised in question.

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