Page 50 of Ava Greasemonkey

Ebel absently palmed the controls on the static-filled screen while looking around. The feed didn’t respond. It was still completely offline.

At a loss on how to help him, Ava instead chirped how she cleaned the room before he got there. Her voice sounded fake in its positivity, even to her.

She set about keeping busy at the food processor while he walked around touching the controls. Lirell stood outside the room, supposedly giving them privacy, but when she checked he was flickering on and off. She decided to ignore him for the moment to focus fully on Ebel.

Ava presented Ebel with a plate of his favorite wiggling noodles a second later. He looked at it and with a sigh accepted it. She was afraid he would refuse to eat as well, but he sat still and ate the entire plate with her in silence. Ava ate her own plate that she created, even though she wasn’t truly hungry. Her thoughts kept straying to how she would confront Rhutg soon. She kept trying to distract herself from thinking about it in case Lirell was observing.

“I know this isn’t what you wanted, Ebel, but their cause really is just. They are trying to save their females the Tuxa took,” Ava said, mouth full of her own pasta.

Ebel chittered softly before responding, “Yes, but they killed mine in the process.”

They both ate in silence after that statement. Ava walked out to Lirell to confirm he didn’t want anything before settling in across from Ebel again.

“What will happen to you once you get to safety? I know you were assigned here, but can there be another female for you?”Would the Phor accept you back?She didn’t add the last part.

“Yes, typically we will be assigned again, though we likely won’t get our first picks anymore for companions or assignments. We were . . . we are . . . Phor males that failed. Incapable.” His antennas flopped as he said the last word.

“You will prove yourself again.”

“I know. I can. It is just hard to be here in this room and on the ship right now but not be in control. If the Vorbax are true to their word and release us I will be grateful.”

“We will be true to our word.” Vox had come back, his broad shoulders filling the entrance, where he stood listening to their exchange.

Ava’s heart did a flip when she saw him.

Vox’s voice continued in a low rumble. “We are back on track thanks to the biologics picking up speed. I have also spoken with Nuor in the cargo hold. She is in agreement about taking charge of you, Ava, in the next cycle. We will send you off the ship once we get a bit closer. I do not want to risk the biologics shutting down if we send you off sooner.”

Send us off?Ava’s mind whirled. Vox had moved fast. Faster than she’d expected. She wouldn’t have much time to put her plan in motion if Vox already had coordinated something. She needed to get to Rhutg soon.

Vox moved into the control room and watched as Ava halfheartedly washed the plates they’d used out of habit. He looked out of place in the small room, standing over the computer feeds. Ava felt tiny with him in there, not used to others in the space she shared with Ebel.

Ebel was not making eye contact and instead seemed to close inside himself. Ava had mixed feelings as she finished up the plates. It was going to be hard to leave Ebel, even though a part of her wanted to give in to the temptation to just have the plans made for her be enough. Yet a much bigger part of her was ready to be free. Staying anywhere near the Phor would not help her long-term in those goals.

She looked down at her hands, scrubbing the plates. Her own two hands could do something. She closed them around the dishrag, clenching it in her fist as the water pounded her skin.

She had to try.

Watching Ebel turn off the static video feeds made her uneasy as she realized she might never get to see him after they parted. She made a promise in her heart that she would find a way to communicate with him again, somewhere, when she had a better position herself.

She turned and saw Vox observing her as she finished the dishes. He was not shining, respecting her request to not be probed. He nodded and moved out a second later to go talk with Lirell by the biologics tank, giving her space with Ebel.Talk to him. Tell him.

Ava took the opportunity to go to Ebel, stopping a foot away from him. She looked at him closely, making sure he was focused on her. “Ebel, no matter what happens, I will find you someday if we get separated, okay? I’ll send you a message, somehow.”

Ebel’s convex eyes narrowed, fangs sweating. “If we get separated? Ava . . . what are you . . . ?”

She moved quickly to reassure him, not wanting to say more. The Vorbax had no qualms about exploring his mind unannounced and she didn’t want them to find her plans. The courtesy privacy was only extended to herself right now by Vox and Lirell. “Everything has changed so much, I want to be prepared, just in case.” She gave him a tired grin.

That seemed to work. Ebel sighed and looked at the empty static feed that linked up to the queen. “Everything sure has changed.” He clicked it off and settled into his chair surrounded by the now powered-down screens, looking thoughtful.

Ava patted his fuzzy arm and left him alone a minute, walking out by Lirell and Vox.

Both turned to her, Lirell splitting into a smile. “We know everything about the biologics from the Phor’s mind, but it is incredible how knowledge cannot overcome the bonds these creatures feel.” He was motioning to the tank behind him. The biologics were spinning rapidly, a stark difference from when she first came in earlier. They all watched the yellow bubbles pop and dance.

“I never knew they could feel that much either,” Ava admitted. “I guess I always assumed they were more like a plant than an animal.” She patted the tank fondly.

“On our planet we have something similar to this creature,” Vox started to explain, turning an intense gaze on Ava. “They are not nearly as strong. They can’t generate enough energy for ships, but their actions do power small lights on their backs. As children we catch them and put them in jars for nightlights.”

“Oh, like fireflies?” Ava’s eyes lit up, remembering the Phor logs on insects from Earth.

---