Page 37 of Ava Stargazer

The birds finally quieted down and the silence grew louder again. It made her body tense as she listened to just the clock again, still drawing out her design.Tick ... tock ...

She put down the project and sat on the bed for a moment, frowning as the last of the sun outside slipped under the horizon.I don’t want to stay here alone.

The clock chimed as she came to a decision. She bundled up some of the furs that held Vox’s scent, along with her patchwork quilt, and carried them outside. The moons were halfway full, still light enough to see, but nowhere near as bright as it was for Orla’s mating ceremony.

Ava hesitated at the threshold of Vox’s house, but then crossed the distance at a run, her heart pounding as fast as her feet did on the dirt, even though the night was peaceful. Her bare feet barely took in the sensation of the dirt and rocks underneath. She breathed deep once she got back into the light again, entering the familiar cargo bay. The engine hall was already lit up as she again ran through the halls, welcoming her, friendly in a way that the stark fluorescent lighting shouldn’t be.

Ava sighed, feeling better as she caught her breath and dumped her blankets all in a heap at the bottom of the biologics tank. After inhaling the familiar smell of engine grease and oil, she took the communicator with her to the control room.

There she played the Boxhi tournaments, the connection clear and strong, dialed in from her memory, the feed Ebel always watched. She played the sound loud enough to echo through the entire engine room.Maybe Ebel is watching this game now too?She listened to the Boxhi tournaments, still not understanding the rules, and wiped her tears away while she fed the biologics.

Eventually she curled up to sleep with one hand resting on the tank.

“It is good to see you, Vox. It has been too long since we have been in person,” Iryl said, coming close and tapping his forehead with Vox’s as he stepped off the transport near the Galactic Board headquarters on Elyheim.

Vox took a minute to update Iryl’s appearance in his mind.It has been too long.The hologram distorted him some, and the image in front of him was more in line with the Iryl he remembered.

Iryl stood proud in front of him, slightly shorter than Vox but with longer frills and more angles to his face. His distant demeanor had always hid his true intentions, but Vox knew that aloofness was a front designed to keep most others at arm’s length, even though Iryl himself felt deeply.

Vox put his hand on Iryl’s arm after their foreheads broke apart. “I am also glad to see you. I appreciate your help withAva’s tasks.” Vox shone and connected mentally, wanting to stress this point.Thank you.“I will share her gratitude.”

Iryl closed his eyes and grinned, absorbing the feeling. “I have felt an echo of her mind through Lirell, but yours adds extra depth to her character. I like her. Truthfully, it was nice to have something else to work on other than these peace talks and trading deals for credits.” After a pause he added internally.“I have contacted those who have Joy. After the meeting, in more secure halls, I will share more.”

“Is it hopeful?”

In response Iryl just nodded and moved to greet Erox, pressing his forehead and grinning.

Rhutg, walking stiffly out of the transport, looked around glumly at the Galactic Board’s docking station. “Maybe you need a break back on Xai. This place feels unnatural.”

Iryl chuckled and connected foreheads with Rhutg. “Tell me about it. But I’m happy with my role here.” He stood back and gestured for them to follow. “Alright, we have a bit of time before the meeting. Let me show you what I know, now that we can connect better.”

Vox nodded, rolling his shoulders, stiff from the flight over. “Good, good.”

While they walked, Vox had to agree with Rhutg’s initial assessment that the station felt unnatural. The Board reminded him of the Phor ship, full of long, closed-in hallways. The design shouldn't be the same though, as they were on a planet and not in space. Offshoot halls led to open-air garden meeting areas, so the closed design was not due to the planet, Elyheim, being inhospitable.This area must be enclosed for a reason. Maybe it makes the essential areas easier to defend.

Vox kept his eyes open while walking, determined to absorb as much information as he could as he swept his head side to side. The flowers were in bloom here in the courtyards, lending thearea a riot of colors. It was beautiful, this planet. Such a contrast to the ones like the Tuxa who also walked these halls.

This was the first time Vox had been to the Galactic Board. Had this visit been for different reasons, he would have liked to explore more, as the station that housed the board was a cultural hub for the varied species that had delegations there. Vox craved learning, as he knew that information could make the difference in planning for success.

As it was, though, his senses were overwhelmed within minutes of exiting the ship. He turned on and off his meditative state, almost rhythmically, to absorb some data but then to have silence to process.The newness of everything is exhausting. This must be how Ava feels.

Iryl spoke aloud, over his shoulder, as they walked down the halls lined with murals and paintings. “Okay. So. The meeting is in half a cycle. Would you like a brief tour or to head to my quarters to prepare?”

Erox answered, scanning the walls as they walked just as thoroughly as Vox did, “Half a cycle? We’ll look around more after.”

Vox spoke, still craning his head to see down every corridor he could. “Iryl, everything is hard to make sense of here in just one sitting. Just share what you know and then we can look around after.”

“Alright, you really don’t know anything?” Iryl said, side-eyeing Lirell, a slight frown on his face.

Lirell waved his arms nervously at his sides. “I did share everything on the ride here from my time learning with you. I told them as much as I knew!”

Erox clapped Lirell on the shoulder. “The boy did well, but youth and optimism colors his perceptions.”

Lirell looked down as he continued walking, shuffling his feet.

Vox changed the subject as they walked down the hall from the spaceport to Iryl’s delegated area. His thoughts were spinning with strategy and putting every piece he was learning into the puzzle he was constructing in his mind. “Who is mediating? Do we know this species and if they are fair?”

Iryl shook his head as they entered his rooms, gesturing for them to sit at the table that took up the majority of the area. A quick glance around showed a few living quarters off this main meeting area. Vox remained standing, still stiff from sitting in the transport all the way here.

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