Page 74 of Ava Greasemonkey

“If they remember, food should be brought soon,”Sai mentioned. With the weapons now in their possession, Ava could feel their bloodthirsty nature more acutely. For Lirell self-describing the Vorbax as being peaceful, they had such a formidable side when threatened.

Ava fidgeted, trying to find a comfortable position. There was none to find, but she shifted anyway to keep the pressure balanced on all her sides.

Sai was correct. A Tuxa opened the flap at the bottom of the door, a green scaled arm appearing there. He shoved several trays in, laden with unappetizing lumps of food much like Ava had on the ship. The Tuxa didn’t bother to come in or talk withthem further, instead closing the flap and locking it after the new trays were slid in.

The women went forward lethargically to eat, noting they needed to keep up their strength. They were also hungry. Starved even. Ava felt their hunger radiate up to her, reminding her to eat as well. Her stomach grumbled involuntarily.

She dug in her pack and took out the rations she’d brought with her. The food she ate was more satisfying than what the Vorbax females were served, but still left her hungry.

Ava rubbed the biologics as she watched the others eat. She had a little powder for them and added it to the top, watching them swirl and give off a muted light at her chest. They pulsed back as she stroked the jar.

She checked the com on her arm futilely, the food she managed to get down sitting heavily in her stomach.Where are you?

The women, after eating, sat communally on their nest pillows, lying back. They gave the appearance of lounging but Ava could feel the tension radiating through them, as acute as her own. The vents felt stifling hot, adding to her discomfort as she lay there. Sweat ran down her back, inadequate to cool her down.Her hair slicked down to her skull, heavy in her bun. She tried to drink some more water to cool herself down and dabbed a little on her forehead.

“What species are you?”Wyrl asked, speaking for the others, her head on the pillow turned toward the grate. The nature feeds on the wall had been dimmed, as if it was simulating a sun setting. Ava could just make out Wyrl’s eyes gleaming in the lowered light, a curious expression on her face.

“Human. On the ship they ran some tests saying I was very similar to the Vorbax.”

Wyrl hummed aloud, pressed against the other females.“You wouldn’t be able to hear us if not.”

Silence fell and Ava listened to them relax and doze. She felt sleepy herself, something she didn’t think possible a cycle ago with how action-packed the mission was going to be.

Her eyes were heavy, and she lowered herself next to the metal grate in order to stretch out a bit more, her long arms and limbs finally relaxing when they were fully extended. She was sore all over.

“Is he your mate?”The words came into her mind, unbidden. Ava wasn’t astute enough in understanding their individual voices to determine who was communicating without visually seeing who was lit up.

The question jolted her back awake, though sleep clung to her brain like a layer of fuzz.“Who?”

Vox’s face swam in front of her mind. It was not a vision she had of him, not how she knew him, not a warrior in the engine hall lit up by artificial lighting. It was an image of Vox from the women’s memories, a recollection from back on their home planet. His smile was soft and warm, dressed in only a simple loincloth as he dredged the grain on his fields and fed his flock of birds. Ava flushed, not wanting to answer or respond, her heart longing to live in that vision.

A soft chuckle came from the women. Ava, not by the outlet, couldn’t see who was asking. She began to get up to look out to see who was speaking with her before she heard,“No, rest, Human. We are in your debt. It is just very clear your minds are linked.”

Ava rubbed her suit sleeve anxiously, settling back down. She was not embarrassed of her connection with Vox, but mindful of her status as an outsider. Orla was the one he had mentioned so many cycles ago as having an arrangement with.“I do care about him.”

“Hush, it is fine.”Acceptance and the pressure of sleep pressed on her, projected strongly from the women. Ava, as tired as shewas, even cramped and uncomfortable in the suit, dozed in the darkness.

It was not long, however, until the com on her wrist lit up. Ava’s eyes widened, light bright in the darkness. Ava tapped on it hurriedly, eyes groggy from the little bit of sleep she did get.

Blinking to clear her eyes, she read the message and excitedly clanged in the vents, eager to get to the grate to look out and tell the women.

“They’re here.” Vox is here.

The women lit up in unison but didn’t get up from the nest. Instead they shifted while continuing to lay down, all moving the weapons to one another, gripping them under the blankets. All five pairs of their eyes were trained on the door, ears open to sounds outside. Ava, from where she was now perched, kept a close watch on the door as well. She put her ear to the metal of the vent to see if it would transfer any sounds from far away. It held nothing but silence and the whirring of the filtration system up above.

Ava didn’t receive any more messages from her com, though she held it in front of her on the vent in case it lit up. It was enough to know they were here and coming.

It was too tense in the room to have any small talk. They remained still, but alert. Ava took her cutter out, holding it aloft in case she needed to cut a larger hole in the grate.

Time passed, and streaks of dawn came on to the nature feed, giving a bit of light to the room.

“Ava,”Wyrl said, her mental energy taut.

Ava fixed her eyes on her, looking down at her aged face.

“Some Tuxa are coming. We will use our fear. I worry you will be affected.”

Ava gulped, sweat beading down her back, hesitation in her mind. Her hands, which loosely gripped the cutter, shook. There wasn’t any time to respond, to let them know that sheunderstood or to move away farther, before the door was kicked open. Ava let out a shriek of fear seeing the door slam open so suddenly.

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