Page 29 of Ava Greasemonkey

She glanced guiltily at Ebel while he watched his video feed, knowing he wouldn’t approve of her changing loyalties. Maybe, just maybe, she could make a difference in both her life, and for Vox.

She grabbed a notepad to take with her when she was putting her tray together, growing excited as she fleshed out what she was going to say and do.

Thinking of Vox’s desire for fruit, she also slid a few of the yavi fruit she still had left into her bag, feeling them weigh it down. Again, she didn’t tell Ebel about her addition to the menu. She doubted he would approve. And if the Tuxa saw the fruit, they would be suspicious. It didn’t matter.

Ava felt reckless.

She wanted to do something, anything, to change her circumstances.

“Vox?” Ava said softly when she was in front of his cage.

He was already there, sitting on his cot, silent as she approached, his head angled toward her while he emitted a steady glow.

Ava quickly looked back to the room with the Tuxa and made sure she was alone. She was. They were really single-minded creatures when they got their food.

“Yes, Ava?” Vox asked in a rumbling tone. He walked up to the front where she stood.

Ava lost her courage briefly and fumbled in her bag before she brought out the yavi fruit for him. He took it from her slender hand, turning it over in examination.

“This was on the transport with us. Do I want to know how you got it?” he asked in an amused voice.

“Just eat it fast. I can’t let them know I have some. You said you wanted fresh fruit, and I just brought what I could.”

Vox put the yavi in his mouth and bit on it, not bothering to spit out the pit. “Thank you for this. I can sense there’s something else on your mind though.”

Ava’s fingers nervously twined for a second. Vox followed the twitch but didn’t say anything and waited for her to speak.

“Yes. I wish I could help you. Are there . . . any Vorbax ships that are nearby? Anything that can maybe help you out?”

Vox became deathly still, part of the fruit still held aloft in his hand. “You wish to help us?”

Ava flushed under her hologram, her nervousness picking up. She started sweating under her outfit. “I think so, yes. Yes, I do want to help. I know . . . I know what it feels like to be trapped. I don’t know what I can do with the communications down, but I know there’s ways to override it and I can probably send a signal. I could send out at least a beacon or something if you had any . . .”

“Ava.” Vox’s voice was like velvet. “There are no Vorbax ships nearby. We will face our fate like warriors. Do not worry about us.”

Ava shook her head, not deterred, and pulled out her notebook and a pencil. “Well, if you want, I can also carry a message. I can let your people know what happened after we finish the transport.”

She offered both to Vox, sliding them through the bars carefully.

He pushed them gently back to her, humming and glowing.

“The calming feeling I have comes from you, doesn’t it?” she said, feeling it strongly now.

Vox nodded, amplifying it. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she put the notepad back in her bag.

“I want to help, Vox,” she said gently, feeling calmer despite her anxiety. “I can do something to help.”

Vox ate the fruit the rest of the way and didn’t answer, watching her raptly while he ate.

She took out another fruit, not knowing what to do with his silence. “Here, I have more.” He took it from her and ate it whole again, glowing and not breaking eye contact.

“Go back and sleep, Ava. Everything will be fine. After you rest, everything will be clearer.”

“How can it be fine? You’re stuck in here!” Ava hissed, frustration swirling inside of her. Vox didn’t answer.

Ava put her head down, feeling like she’d overstepped in trying to help. This wasn’t how she expected the conversation to go. She backed up, embarrassed and avoiding Vox’s gaze.

She stepped away to exchange the trays with Lirell and Erox next and offered them both a fruit, which was accepted.

---