Page 26 of Ava Stargazer

The Vorbax Quorum showed up as well. It was the first time since Ava met them in that meeting a few days ago.

Oh.She forced a smile, and the Spry twisted their head to watch her as she gave the group, almost all ten of them, the universal sign of deference as well, determined to try again.I will do what I can.

Ava eyed them warily as the quorum moved forward, each with a muted glow. Their focus was not directed at her, but they also made no effort to really try to exclude her from their scan of the environment. At least they were not probing her directly, which was a start, and a relief to her pounding head.

Keervel in particular cooly nodded at her as they passed, then continued walking toward the transport to inspect it.

Ava kept her hands held in front of her a bit longer than was necessary before she slowly lowered them.I’m trying. That’s the best I can do.She clenched her hands together, now back at her side. Despite Vox saying they didn’t matter, Ava felt like she needed them, needed their support, or at least their acceptance. Not just for herself, but for the other Humans, if she could ever start getting some data on them.

Ava eyed the shuttle as Vox and Lirell walked in and out of it, greeting the quorum while she stood on the side with the Spry. The communicator presumably inside that transport could help with her getting more data.Or at least I can try to contact Ebel and Nuor.

Her hope rose when Pyra broke away from the others and walked toward her.And he does not look angry.

“Ava,” Pyra said out loud, “it is good to see you again. Under better circumstances.”

Ava nodded, giving a smile. She said in a rush, “I can understand needing to know more. I am an alien, like the ones who harmed you.”

Pyra blinked and looked taken aback at that statement. “You are not like them. Not like them at all. Anyone could see that if they looked.”

He reached out with his wrinkled hand as if to touch hers, but then brought it back to his side. “Truthfully, I wish to help more than the rest of the quorum seems to at the moment. But I will be watching from afar.”

Vox walked up, curiosity on his face as he regarded Pyra. “Thank you. Acceptance is what we need right now. And space for us to figure out the next moves.”

Pyra nodded and with his small smile, Ava’s heart leapt. “We all need that, it seems.”

****

Ava led the Spry into the room the biologics were in, her hands slick with sweat as she keyed the room to open.It should be alright.She glanced up and down the tank. These biologics had met so many different species by this point.Nuor, the Vorbax, myself.Not to mention all the places the ones on her chest had gone now that they weren’t tethered in the tank with the others.

Still she took deep breaths while watching the initial meeting, where the two Spry that were allocated to work on the ship walked up close to the tank to watch the bubbles swirl. Ava walked closer as well, wanting the biologics to see her, hoping it would help put them at ease.They accepted Vox.She didn’t think they would slow down for him now even if Ava was absent, not like they had on the journey to Torga.

One of the Spry raised his bony hand, clawed fingers extended. Their hands looked like they could clamp down hard on objects. Ava, leaning against the wall, wondered idly how they could handle touch screens, or if their technology was modifiedsomehow. Their black carapaces moved swiftly across the floor. They even climbed a bit on the tank, making Ava wonder if they could climb the walls.Which would make it even easier to repair things.

But those thoughts were pushed out of her mind as she looked at one of the Spry’s hands resting against the tank, his eyes and the tank’s reflection mirroring each other, making the image look like it went on for infinity.

The Spry stood there, pressed against the swirling orange bubbles, until the silence became uncomfortable for Ava, and she fidgeted with her container of biologics.I wonder what they’re doing.The collection of Spry eventually turned away and spoke quietly to each other. Ava tried to catch the conversation but was too far. She looked at Vox in question.

He took his hand and put it over hers, holding hers steady in his own. Ava’s heart rate spiked immediately at the contact.

He leaned over and connected with her.“They’re discussing how the biologics’ energy works. I’ll admit it’s a bit beyond me, but they seem to understand part of it. Something about how their energy is compressed and that adds extra power.”

“Even I don’t understand it fully.”Then again, Ava had to admit she’d never thought too deeply on it. She smiled down at her container, tapping on it as she whispered, “You’re just magic.”

More than the two Spry working on the ship had come inside. Around ten were present in total; they had all wanted to see the biologics for themselves before moving on to other tasks here on Xai. The engine room felt cramped with so many in here.Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever seen it this full before.

One Spry, part of the pair who initially talked with her, came closer, moving away from the others that stood marveling at the tank. He was identifiable to Ava by the red hues on the top part of his head, which were brighter now in the fluorescent lights.

He gave what looked like a bow before her, his antennas extended, voice reedy and without clicks. “I am Fijjak. I will be overseeing the modifications here to make this ship part of the Vorbax fleet, and not identifiable as a Phor ship.” As the Spry spoke, his antenna dipped forward so close to Ava that she took a step back to put more distance between them. “I saw those around your neck earlier, outside. Are those on your chest ... ?”

Ava nodded, clenching the container. “They are more biologics, yes, but these like to be with me.”

Fijjak extended his clawed fingers, eight attached to a hand. They all were segmented with a hard shell on the outside. “Can I feel?”

The swirling inside her container appeared calm and Ava had no reason to refuse. Still, she hesitated as she walked closer to him to hand the container over, though she left the loop around her neck.

Fijjak held it for only a moment before releasing it and looking at her speculatively. “These are more aware.”

Ava looked down at the container in confusion. “Aware of what?”

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