Page 54 of Ava Greasemonkey

“You would sacrifice yourself for our cause? I can see you are truthful. Your plan could help us, but contains too many maybes to be logical. It could easily turn into an issue where we need to rescue you as well as our females, and you would be a burden.”

That wasn’t a firm no. Ava spoke excitedly, encouraged. “Then keep me with you and I can be a distraction for the Tuxa, a shiny new toy, while you figure out where your females are.”

“Why?”

“Because it could give you more time?”

“You misunderstand. There is a very good chance you could become injured or die doing what you are proposing. Do you not have any self preservation?”

Ava stuttered, “I am scared. Witless. But I also know that if I just run away, then nothing will happen for my mother or sisters. Or Humans in general, like her.” She held up the picture of Joy. “I have to try. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t try to get help for Humans and the people I love.”

Rhutg turned to the screen and sighed, posture slumping as silence filled the room.“You do raise a valid point about our females being unaware on Torga. My own mate is there. I worry the Tuxa will retaliate and harm them before we can get to them once we begin the attack.”

“You can control the Tuxa here on the ship, right? How far is the range?”

“The breaking does not work like control of a sentient creature. Until they break, we can control physical movements and scan thoughts for information, but the mind constantly fights us. When we break them, they become a husk. We can order them to do a task, but beyond that they sit like a puppet waiting to be used again until they expire. They expire fast.”

Ava thought quickly. “They can communicate, I mean talk, even if they’re broken? Can the husks send a picture of me over and arrange for me to go in where the other females are once I leave this ship? Is the one on here high enough ranking?” She was grasping at straws to try to formulate a plan with only part of the information. It was like trying to put together an engine piece and not having a manual, but she knew he was considering it.

“The lead one here knew their general location and that they are still alive. But we knew that before choosing this ship and coordinating this whole event.”

Ava didn’t push him further, letting him stare at the map of Torga and think.

Finally he turned back to her.“Human. I am interested in what you have to offer. On both counts. Help with the rescue and then further help with the biologics as a technological benefit. I cannot, however, promise to speak for all Vorbax regarding becoming an ally to such an impoverished species.”

Ava’s heart fell. She lowered her eyes to the picture of Joy, feeling defeated, and crumpled the image in her hands.

Rhutg continued,“I can, however, say that I will speak for you when we are back on our planet. I will make sure your cause will be heard.”

She thought for a moment before nodding affirmatively. It was probably the best she would get. A chance for someone,anyone, to listen. “And if something happens to me, can that still happen?” she asked while she held out her hand, looking to shake on it like she did with her family. If he was anything like Vox, she knew he would keep his word. She had to believe he would.

Rhutg looked at her hand and then her face. “I swear it.” Then slapped her hand as if that was what she expected.

Ava closed her open hand into a fist, feeling it ring from his smack and shaking her head. She was dumb to think he would understand what a handshake was in the first place.

“Why Ava cares for you, I cannot comprehend,” Vox said to Ebel. He left to come down here to have a moment alone with this Phor while Ava went to the med bay. He did not want her around to hear this conversation.

The Phor Ebel didn’t respond, only kept staring ahead. Ebel’s misery coated Vox’s senses. He was sad for his queen, but not devastated, more in shock than anything. The queens were interchangeable for these drones; there was no true love there. He hurt being without one but not like Rhutg felt being separated from his mate.

The silence stretched before Ebel responded in a soft voice, “I don’t understand it either.”

The truth in that statement and the genuine feelings he had behind it allayed some of Vox’s anger. “Why was she kept like this? Why was this her life?”

Ebel turned and looked at Vox, shame coating his feelings. “I wish it were different.”

“Yet you had control over her and did nothing to make it different. She cares for you and you kept her locked away.”

Ebel flinched. “I tried. Nuor . . .”

“The Vali was the only one on this ship that showed her what life is like outside. Her I find honorable. You I do not.”

Ebel’s antennas lowered, but Vox felt no forgiveness within him, thinking of the life Ava had lived. Trapped in this room with only a patchwork blanket and an image of an unknown Human to show for her life. The sadness she’d felt when she came to that realization earlier herself still hung heavy on his soul.

“I will be taking her. She will come to Xai and live like a creature of a planet should,” Vox finally said. “I will put her in that transport but not in your care. In the care of that Vali. She will not return to the Phor. You will let her go.”

Ebel nodded slowly, sitting curled up in a defeated posture. “Don’t let her return. Take her far away. I let her . . . off the ship with Nuor when I could.”

Vox nodded, but did not attempt to sooth the guilt he felt coming from the Phor. “You didn’t do enough.”

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