Page 49 of Ava Greasemonkey

Vox nodded, softly smiling. “I know. It is as strong as ours. Since that is how you view Ebel, then I am glad he was spared. It just seems at odds to be able to care for a creature that took away your free will.”

There was no real defense to that statement, only that Ava really didn’t see Ebel that way. She felt the need to defend him. “He was as much a captive as I was. He had to be at the beck and call of his queen night and day. There was no feeling he was above me because he was bound by his duty as well.”

“What would have happened if you had fallen ill and were unable to be a servant? That is the true measure of family.”

That gave Ava pause, an uncomfortable feeling flowing over her. What would have happened had she gotten injured beyond repair? A sour feeling filled her.Would I have been abandoned?She shook her head. “I don’t know. But I do know that Ebel cared for me beyond just being useful. Nuor as well.” And Wert sometimes. But she knew better than to mention that. Some time over the last cycle, she had put Wert in the same compartment that housed her memories of her mother and sisters in her mind, in a place to grieve later when she had the time.

“Yes, they both do care for you. Nuor is an admirable creature. We have not had much contact with her species previously. That might change going forward if all have as much loyalty as she has shown.”

Ava half smiled at the thought. Nuor would have found it funny to think that the Vorbax would want to be allies instead of clients. She didn’t know if they had many of those.

“I would do anything to make sure both of them aren’t harmed.” She spoke slowly, letting her wishes known.

Vox hummed and squeezed her hand. “Arrangements are already underway. I need to go down and speak with Nuor regarding plans. If it is agreeable to you, I will send Ebel here, with Lirell observing, to sit and help soothe the biologics. That is on the condition he is willing and I sense no malicious intentions.”

Ava’s heart lifted and she gave Vox a huge smile. He hummed louder.

“When your face shines like that, it becomes even more beautiful.”

Ava’s smile faded fast, blushing a bit as she looked down. She fidgeted, having a hard time knowing what to do with his concentrated affection.

He seemed to take her looking away as a cue to start moving. Ava was starting to understand his mannerisms, and that when he had an action solidified he did not linger long before executing it.

In tune with that observation, he stood up and walked toward the exit before addressing her again, “After Ebel arrives with Lirell I will speak with the others in navigation to be certain we are back on track. Then I will return.”

Ava sat, watching him walk away, her thoughts swirling. He didn’t look back as he exited the door. She never did ask him what he needed to talk with Nuor about.

It was only a few seconds after he had gone that she realized he had left her alone in the most valuable part of the ship, the engine.

She bit her lip and looked up at the biologics that were back to lazily swirling.I don’t want to mess up their plans.It was a huge measure of trust that Vox no longer thought she would as well.

Chapter 18

“Ebel!” Ava squealed seeing him from where she was sitting in her old alcove. She was making the rounds throughout the whole engine hall to see what had been changed in her absence. So far everything looked the same other than a bit of disorder in the control room. The Vorbax must not have spent much time here after taking over the ship. Ava had picked up the last bit of clutter on the floor before retreating to her old room, knowing how much Ebel hated mess in there.

Ebel’s antennas were low as he came in through the engine hall doors, walking slow. He appeared to be in a daze looking around. Lirell walked beside him, but gave Ava a big smile when he saw her. Ebel didn’t smile, but reached forward with a hug, which Ava gladly returned.

“You hugged before when you saw him in the cargo hold. Is that how Humans say hello when needing additional comfort?” Lirell asked her when she and Ebel broke apart.

Ava’s heart felt so light seeing Ebel that she didn’t answer but instead leaned forward and hugged Lirell as well in response. Lirell stood stiffly, then patted her on the back. She broke apart fast and grinned. Lirell grinned back at her, his long teeth on display in his blue face. Her smile fell off a minute later when she looked at Ebel gazing up at the biologics, his antennas still flattened and limp.

The biologics, for their part, were putting on a show. If Ava thought they had missed her, it was nothing compared to the swirling they were doing upon seeing Ebel. The whirr that the engine had been making was gone now as they picked up their movement. Vox, who was going to navigation, should hopefully see the difference in their speed.

Ava, ignoring Lirell for the moment, took two of Ebel’s hands that weren’t resting on the tank. He looked at her, and she squeezed them. She didn’t know what to say to comfort him. Telling him it all would be okay didn’t feel right, seeing as he just had even more of his world shaken up than she did.

She settled for, “I have their word that they will send you and the rest of the Phor to safety.”

Ebel looked back at Lirell, who had moved over to Ava’s alcove and was examining her bed. “Their word? I don’t know what to think of that.”

“Yes . . . I know you don’t believe them after what you went through, but they will get you to safety.” Ava opened her eyes wide and stressed, “They will.”

Keeping his eyes on Lirell, Ebel nodded, “I can’t say what I really think of everything right now with him here . . . even though he probably already knows. I’ll just settle with saying that I’m glad to see you.”

Ava let go of his hand and turned toward Lirell, who was still walking around her room. “Lirell, how long is Ebel going to stay here?”

Lirell moved down the shelf to pick up a long feather that Ava had from dressing up like Nuor. “As long as necessary. I can stay with him down here indefinitely.” He looked back over his shoulder, frowning. “He would be fascinating to talk with if he wasn’t so angry.”

Ava grimaced at that, thinking it would not be likely for them to be friends anytime soon. If Ebel heard him he didn’t respond, instead moving toward the control room. Ava followed him like a ghost.

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