Page 22 of Ava Stargazer

Orla glowed, both literally and figuratively as she stood knee-deep in the middle of the lake in the generational outfit that Ava watched her sew the thread on from two days ago. Dew and the dress clung to her.

“She’s gorgeous,” Ava said softly, eyes glued to Orla. There were beads plastered on Orla’s cheekbones, accentuating her face and making her look more exotic than the woman who joked and played cards with Ava when she visited.

Ava didn’t have to force herself to pay attention now. The view before her was breathtaking, with the luras flickering around Orla and Erox standing in the water together. The scene was prettier and more vibrant than any video feed she’d ever watched.

Vox dipped close to her ear to explain, his voice rumbling low and making desire spike in her blood. “The dress Orla is wearing is made from an insect’s silk.”

She looked up to meet his eyes. Vox stared back at her like it was only her in this world, only her at the ceremony, leashed fire in his eyes. It made her core clench. She pushed that thought down to focus on his words. “I know. I helped her a few days ago with it. It’s beautiful,”

Ava scratched her manufactured fabric jumpsuit absently.

The new couple broke one of the bavla grain stalks in half and split the seed pod inside of it, adding it to a cup before drinking it down. Her eyes opened wide to take it all in. It moved her to be a part of the ceremony and ride the waves of the sense of community surrounding the couple. She could never have thought things like this happened. How much had she missed of life?And to think parties and events like this happen all over.

A flush of regret came over her as she thought of all the cycles she’d spent in the engine room instead of living. Sitting, watching the gears spin instead of being at parties and making friends and celebrating like they were now. She pushed that thought away as well when the biologics pulsed against her, still copying the lura’s blinking pattern.

She looked down at the container and rubbed it gently.I’m not the only one who’s missed things.Her arms circled the biologics, holding them close.

Vox whispered about what different aspects of the ceremony meant in her ear. Erox and Orla drank in unison, arms crossed to symbolize their joining. “They are marking each other’s minds now.”

And Ava could feel it too, like Orla had said. The link between them shone in unison as they radiated it out for everyone to feel. She looked up to see Vox looking at her speculatively before saying, “I think you are beginning to pick up on more of our cues. I can feel subtlety echoing in your mind. Your mind is flexible enough to adapt some, I think.”

She nuzzled him back. “I wish I was more like you. I wish I could participate more.”Could I ever even be a part of a bond like that?

He pressed the chin of his head to the top of hers, not answering her unspoken question. “You can participate enough.”

Ava smiled but internally cringed. How could she truly join with Vox if she couldn’t share in a connection like this? Then again, would she really want to be different from who she was?Is that why there was no talk from him of doing this with me?

She tapped the reeds on the ground idly. “Do you think that is something I can do as well? That connection?”

Vox shifted. “I believe so, yes.”

He didn’t add anything further and Ava turned pensive, thinking again of what ceremonies or traditions Humans might have had like this.

But ... hopefully she wouldn’t always be the only Human. As the ceremony wound down, her mind turned to Joy. It would be so nice to have another Human here. Another Human like her. “Do you think Joy will be like me?”

Vox took a moment to answer. “Was your entire family just like you?”

“No. But they were ... similar.” Ava’s brow furrowed as she tried to remember. A lot of the details were fuzzy now, so long after.

“Then that’s what I think she’ll be.”

Ava sighed as the Vorbax hummed around her. Living here was a chance for peace. From what Ava saw in Joy’s tired eyes in the photo, she could probably use a healthy dose of that.

A woman walked around, offering a drink in little woven cups. Ava took one and muttered her thanks.

“To health, Ava.” Vox accepted a drink as well, thanking the woman before throwing it back himself.

Ava drank and felt the sharp bite of something that began to swim in her veins and heated her body. She pulled her hand back to look at the little bit of liquid left swirling in the cup. “Is this alcohol? I only had this a few times before on the ship when a contractor brought some. The Haroo really liked it.”

Vox placed his own empty drink aside. “Mmhm. It is quite strong.”

As the ceremony ended, Miral, Vox’s mother, came up to them. She pressed her forehead into Vox’s as they sat there, then shifted lower to do so to Ava in a quick press.

“Mother,” Vox said in greeting after she stood.

“Your dress is beautiful too,” Ava said, eyeing the fabric.

Miral wore a gown similar to Orla’s as the mother of Erox, representing Erox’s family’s side of the union. It was just as long as Orla’s, and she held the folded end in her hand so it didn’t drag from the many extensions added.

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