Page 64 of Ava Greasemonkey

Ava felt like she was missing an important part of the conversation that Vox knew and she did not.

“What . . . ?” she asked, then stopped as Vox turned away.

Vox checked the time on the screen behind Ebel, his tone kinder than she heard him use for Ebel before as he said, “You should eat before departing. The send-off will need to happen in the next few hours before the ship gets too close to Torga.”

A rush of panic surged through her, pushing all other thoughts out of her head. “Where will you go on the transport?” Ava tried remembering the maps and came up blank where the outposts were along this route. The Phor had several, that much she knew; it was one of the reasons the Phor usually got a monopoly over this quadrant.

“There are other Phor ships that go along nearby routes. We will get picked up by them. It will be a while though.”

“How long?”

Ebel shrugged. He did not seem worried.

Vox answered for him, “The communication unit in the transport has been destroyed. They will have access only to enough fuel to get them to a nearby starpost and send a distress signal. As much as we are working with them now, we do not trust all the Phor we are releasing to not tip off our enemy.”

“It’s fine, Ava. We will be fine. You just worry about yourself and send word to us somehow when it’s done,” Ebel said, nodding his head, antennas gently waving.

Chapter 23

Nuor gave Ava one last hug before getting into the transport. Ebel had already entered after enduring a deluge of tears on his shoulder from Ava. It was the only time he looked to one of the Vorbax for guidance, imploring Vox with his eyes over her head to come help make her stop crying.

Vox, for his part, kept back, allowing Ava to have this moment with her friends.

Her tears continued while saying goodbye to Nuor. Nuor’s feathers draped over her as they hugged and Nuor hummed a melodic tune. Ava collected herself, hiccupping only now, eyes rimmed red.

“Ava. You will find me when this is over,” Nuor said, putting Ava’s hair back behind her ears.

“Yes. I’ll send a message however I can.” She rubbed her face, wiping her tears away, and took a deep, shuddering breath to compose herself.

Nuor nodded, then turned to Vox, her bright blue eyes narrowed. “Keep my friend safe.”

Vox nodded, keeping his head tilted down before answering solemnly, “On my life.”

Nuor mustered up the fiercest expression she could. “It better be.” Ava grinned through her hiccups. Even trying to be fierce, Nuor looked like a fairy tale creature. Vox, however, took her seriously and kept his head tilted.

After touching her feathered forehead to Ava’s in a soft press, she swept inside the transport and sat next to Ebel. The four Phor captives were already inside and buckled, staring absently out the window. Rhutg stood guard, blocking their view of Ava’s goodbyes, not that they had much interest in anything lately anyway.

“Be strong, Ava. Message when you can, I'll scan the galactic boards looking. Put that you’re looking for a drone, I'll understand and it won't look out of place.” Ebel chittered softly, antennas low. Ava nodded and reached forward, stepping into the transport, and gave him one last hug. Then Nuor as well. She stepped back quickly, feet dragging over the metal opening, feeling irrationally scared the transport would close and she would be sent off with it.

Both Nuor and Ebel looked up at Ava as Vox engaged the locks to shut the door. The seals automatically engaged to pressurize the tiny ship.

The craft was small against the backdrop of the larger ship, looking inadequate for the harshness of space travel.

Ava watched from the adjourning room as the bay doors opened. Her two friends were sent out a minute later, a silent departure into the vacuum of empty space.

She stayed by the window, watching the transport leave until it was just a pinprick outside. The transport bay doors had closed automatically after the shuttle left, leaving the bay empty otherthan the small Haroo transports, one of which Ava would take herself in less than a cycle from now. Vox stood next to her, holding her hand, while humming. Lirell stood on her other side, now taskless after his guard duty watching the captives was over.

Ava leaned in to Vox, seeking comfort, and he put his arm around her, watching the transport disappear completely from the window looking out past the transport bay.

When it was truly gone, she collected herself and turned back to him. “I know we need to talk to that board member but I have to go down to the engine hall first.”

Vox nodded, arm still around Ava. “We have time before the check-in with Iryl. What are you needing from there?”

“The other half of my bargain with Rhutg.”

Vox frowned, flashing purple, eyes narrowed. “There was more to this bargain? Other than risking your life with us and not being safe on that transport?” He gestured out the window.

“I promised him the biologics. I want to show them to the Galactic Board member too.”

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