Page 18 of Ava Stargazer

Keervel turned toward Rhutg. “I understand you don’t want anything to do with them, Rhutg. I don’t either.” He hesitated and added, “But, like Iryl just said ... I want lasting peace, and will do anything if it means we will no longer be adversaries. The other quorum members are in agreement that it does not hurt, and arguably could help, to at least explore how this could happen with them. We are forced to participate in these talks anyway.”

Vox and Rhutg’s gazes were hardened in opposition. Erox stood fixedly at the panel in front of the hologram, looking on.

Ignorance. Vox shifted his feet impatiently. He looked at Keervel coolly, who had taken the lead over the other two members. The other one, Pyra, remained silent, his aged face speculative.

Iryl watched over all of this silently from his vantage point in the hologram call and didn’t offer any further insight, except to state, “I think coming and visiting is a good idea.”

He nodded at Vox, Rhutg, and Erox. “You should be able to get more clarity than I can about their plans. I do not have as much battle practice as any of you, and therefore my abilities are limited.” Iryl’s tone turned frustrated as he averted his gaze. “I have to be so careful now in these meetings. I don’t want to tip my hand more about what we can do. Other species are already wary after hearing the Tuxa spin the tales of us taking over their bodies.”

Rhutg leaned forward on the navigation controls, his arms outstretched. “Yes, let’s come and figure it out. We will come with the next transport.”

Iryl sighed heavily. “Understood, I will arrange it.”

Vox focused back on the call, taking his mind off the video feed of an injured Ava. “Thank you Iryl,” he said with feeling, hoping to convey his gratitude.He has been more helpful than anyone.

“Please do let us know of any progress,” Keervel added, stepping forward.

Iryl nodded. “I will. Like I said, there is a balance we need to learn to strike.” He then terminated the call.

Silence fell as the call ended. The tension was almost comical in its difference to how Iryl’s earlier conversation with Ava went after she heard about Joy.

Rhutg pushed off the table, his large, muscled body walking closer to Keervel and the others in a swagger. “This quorum is making a mistake in even entertaining thoughts of talking with the Tuxa civilly. Other species, like the Spry, fine. You see that the Tuxa are even now looking for other species to victimize. They are trash. They will not stop. You forget our wars and sacrifices.”

Keervel focused on Rhutg. “We do not forget. Any agreement would be in name only.” His nerves betrayed him, though, and he stepped back as Rhutg walked forward to engage him.

Rhutg spat, advancing further. “I don’t even want to pretend to be cordial. Anyone that thinks they can force us to become neutral toward each other is mistaken.”

Vox hardened his posture and crossed his arms. “Tell the rest of the quorum they are being fools to try to pretend a false peace. Or better yet, show them this.” He glowed a deep purple and stared at Keervel, who stepped back, alarm on his face.

Rhutg nodded along with Vox’s display, stone in his eyes.

Look. See.Vox breathed heavily, and his nostrils flared. He had no mercy in his gaze as he gifted the quorum the memories their women had shared from when they were taken. Of how the Tuxa had acted toward them, and the things they endured. Vox focused his mind, trying to make it hurt, his face fixed in a leer ashe felt the wince in the three quorum members’ minds once he finished the transfer.

The first cracks of awareness, of emotion, appeared in Keervel’s eyes before he swallowed and looked away.

Rhutg kept his stiff demeanor as he watched on, his eyes as dead as his mate at the Tuxa’s hands.

Pyra came forward and spoke softly, his aged voice strained. “We know. I feel their pain as well. We are not without feeling.”

Vox breathed heavily and looked aside. “We have fought and fought. I do not want to just roll over now. We are respected and have status now because we fought back. Ask any who defended Xai and lost loved ones. Ask the ones who fought after we first discovered the Tuxa looting our planet how they felt.”

Pyra looked at him again. “Yes, but like Iryl said, we need to look at how everything is connected. Like your Human even. Ava. Nothing is simple. Iryl is right that we are not able to fight everyone on our own.”

Vox pointed at the now empty feed. “Never that filth. Never the Tuxa.”

Pyra nodded, then turned to his other two companions. “We will leave now and talk with the others. Perhaps the Spry will give us more of a perspective when they come.”

They left, but tension remained high in the room. Vox’s posture slumped now that it was just him, Rhutg, and Erox alone. He rolled his shoulders, still taut with stress from the conversation.

Vox glanced at Rhutg, sympathy in his gaze.“I’m sorry for making you relive that memory. Of Violie. You should have shielded yourself.”

Rhutg just shook his head and broke the quiet. “I don't want to forget. I think it finally hit its mark though, to make them see, and feel.”

Vox spoke in a low voice as Erox nodded. His head hurt. “They have not actually fought before. Regardless, we will take matters into our own hands. I need to see what is happening myself.”

Solidarity traveled through their connected gazes as Erox continued nodding and Rhutg joined him.

Vox looked down at his hands, which were trembling with the stress of forcing that vision on the quorum. He breathed deep and willed the shaking to stop, slightly concerned, but it didn’t.Why?His hand kept the tremble as he balled it into a fist. Alarm flared in his gut.

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