Page 16 of Ava Stargazer

“What does that mean? Marked?”

Sai answered, “Just a link, through minds. It shines bright when it first happens. You’ll feel it and see then. Better than explaining.”

Both of the women kept the connection open a minute longer, then returned to sorting the thread.

Ava did so as well, with renewed focus. “Okay.”

Sai turned flippant again. “And now, next, you will say okay to going to visit the rest of the women with us. The ones in this sector have all been waiting.”

At Ava’s stricken expression, Orla swatted at Sai and chuckled. “Too much.” She added in a gentler tone to Ava, “They will accept you, though. I know what’s what you’re worried about.”

Bria nodded, staying silent, but her eyes were wide and fixed on Ava.

Ava grimaced, at her limit in talking.This day has just been too long.

Orla wisely let it drop, and Sai put another large tangle of thread in front of Ava. “Get to work.”

Vox stood, arms crossed, next to Erox and Rhutg in front of the hologram onCelestial. The three of them were meeting with Iryl and three Vorbax Quorum members, at Iryl’s request. Vox wouldn’t let more than the three on the ship, claiming it was for the biologics’ comfort, but truthfully it was because he was still angry with them for how Ava and the biologics were treated at that meeting yesterday.

He eyed them distastefully.It is good Ava agreed to visit Orla.She didn’t need to be in front of any of the quorum members for a long while. His lip curled.Useless.

Iryl cleared his throat. “I have another thing I have waited until now to share.”

Vox leaned forward, staring at the hologram intently.At least he is to the point.

Iryl flicked his wrist and a video popped up, large in the room.

A looping clip played, and a flash of fear ran down Vox’s spine as he watched. It was a video clip of Ava leaving the vents on Torga in Vox’s arms, scratched and bloodied. Vox’s mouth turned chalky looking at the video, shocked.What is this?

His hands clenched into fists. Rhutg’s eyes were narrowed, and Erox leaned forward in concentration. They shared their mental concern with Vox as they watched the feed loop, exchanging wary glances.

The three quorum members, Keervel, Pyra, and Drua, all watched with varying levels of concern. Vox didn’t have the energy to have anything but disdain for them, as his focus was glued to the feed their enemy had. Of his Ava.

Iryl spoke as the others watched the video. “Right. So. I wanted a chance to talk with all of you first before alarming Ava or having her see this feed. I figured Vox would know how to tell her best, after everything she went through.” He clicked on the screen as he elaborated, the feed changing to play different scenes. “The Tuxa sprang this on me at our last meeting.”

Vox watched, jaw tight, as he saw himself rip away the vent and pull Ava out before turning and exiting the area the women had been kept in back on Torga. His hands clenched at his sides.I don’t like seeing this.How wounded Ava had been after they rescued the women on Torga was something he would rather forget. He looked away from the feed and breathed deep. “What did you tell the Tuxa?”

“Well, I was put on the spot so I omitted some details . . . a lot of details. I said Ava was one of our females.”

Rhutg leaned forward, his eyes also fixated on the images. “Did they question that?”

Iryl’s tone was frustrated. “Yes. They said that she looked different, but I told them that we were compatible.”

The quorum member Druau, next to Vox, shined a brighter blue at this. Keervel, the one in front, stepped forward. “You overstepped.”

Rhutg spoke over him. “Was this accepted?”

Iryl shook his head and said in a strained voice, “No, not really. They said that they had passed the photos around and found out Ava was a Human, a Class 3 species from a planet called Earth that was deemed void of sentient life. They know she isn’t one of ours.”

Void of sentient life? What a lie.Vox’s eyes narrowed. Ava’s face splashed through his mind, her eyes sparkling with intelligence. Ava’s words from back on the ship, when she was dressed up to be a Vali to serve him, came back, echoing in his mind in her soft, scared voice as she described how Humans were labeled.“We’re in there next to the prey animals and fungi,”and then his response to her of,“Neither of those are sentient like you.”

Those thoughts weighed heavily on him as Iryl continued, eyeing the quorum members, who looked back with stony expressions, “Look, I know I overstepped, but Ava is going to be one of ours, right? Any offspring Humans have with us will be a part of us anyways.”

Vox nodded, inwardly satisfied with Iryl’s actions. The quorum likely would not be as pleased as he was, as their hand was being forced now.No matter. He stepped back to look at the three of them. Keervel was stony faced with the lackey, Drua, behind the others, but there was a hint of concern in Pyra’s eyes. Iryl’s lie by omission would cement Ava more with their people. And it would become public record, regardless of Humanity’s current official status.

He looked with renewed gratitude to Iryl, wishing he could convey it mentally, but unable to do so with Iryl only being a hologram image. Instead Vox leaned forward to ask, “Whotold the Tuxa about Humans and Earth, and that they are not sentient?”

Iryl answered, “I don’t know. The Tuxa were interested, though. The bit I could read from them saw them wondering if Humans were breedable and worthwhile to find.”

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