Page 41 of Ava Stargazer

Nuor shook her feathered head and waved her hands, ending on a melodic sigh. “So much has happened.”

Ava smiled at seeing Nuor wave her arms like she always did when she got a bit overwhelmed. “Yes we got them, we’re all here safe on Xai and Vox is ... fine.”How do I explain he isn’t here right now? All that happened?She bit her lip.Later. I’ll tell her more later.“Have you talked with Ebel?”

Nuor melodically sighed again. “Not since we parted in the shuttle at the transfer station.”

“I tried to put a message out. A few actually. I can’t contact him directly like I did for you. Nuor, he gave me ...R526. I call itCelestialnow. And files on my family. And all the Human information logs the Phor had. Everything from Cipra, where I was born.”

Nuor nodded, feathers flying. “Yes, he told me what he did on the ride away fromR526. I can see the biologics tank behind you, actually. I didn’t think I would miss them, but I do. I didn’t know about the files though.” After a pause she spoke again, her beak tightly pressed together, lending a clipped tone to her voice. “Give it time on Ebel. I’ll reach out too; I still have some contacts from being a contractor. More importantly, how is it there now on Xai?”

“It’s so different. It’s nice. It feels like how you said your planet was, with a sun and plants. I...”

Nuor sighed a melodic trill. “I’m glad you are happy there, Ava.”

Ava nodded. “I am.”

“Even with all the telepathy?”

Ava looked away, her eyes leaking again.Eh . . .“Not that part. That is sometimes difficult. Being in the ship seems to stop some of it from outside. Vox says sometimes he thinks my body is building a resistance. Like the immune system.”

“Do you notice a difference though?”

“Not really. Yes, maybe if it isn’t directed at me ... ever since Torga I can kind of tune it out a little now in a crowd, like detach. I think I can sense things more too, like deeper meanings I missed before. But that’s about it.”

Nuor sighed, her eyes searching the feed, studying Ava. “That would drive me batty. Absolutely batty.”

Ava shrugged. “I guess I’ve gotten used to it. They’ve all been very kind here.”Other than the quorum still being unsure.She bit her lip and looked away.

“How is it with Vox?”

Ava looked down and smiled.

Nuor’s eyes lit up. “I guess that says it all.”

Ava met her friend’s eyes again. “It has been good with him. Sometimes he is a bit pushy.”

“I could tell that from the ship. He is good to you?”

Ava pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yes. We are going to go to Cipra soon. Where I was born.”

Nuor narrowed her eyes. “What for?”

“To see what we can find about any other Humans. Iryl, one of the Vorbax here, was able to find another for sale. Remember that flier I had?”

“Oh. Another? Was it Joy? I remember that photo.”

“Yes!”

Nuor’s feathers flashed as she brought her hands together excitedly. “That’s great, Ava. Keep me informed. I’ll keep my ears open here to see if I hear anything as well. I’m glad it worked out, and they are helping you.” Nuor’s eyes gentled further. “Well, you look healthy. Your eyes seem brighter. Being outside that ship in real air is good for you.”

Ava took a deep breath, wishing she could hug Nuor instead of just looking at her through the feed. “It is nice. It’s just a lot to get used to still. It doesn’t feel real sometimes.”

“You deserve it, Ava. It sounds like a good place to call home.”

Home.Ava’s gut clenched on the word. “How are you? Are you going to go back to the Phor?”

Nuor shook her head, feathers flying. “No, unfortunately. The Vali here were appalled after I told them that the Phor assisted the Tuxa by allowing them to transport the Vorbax on the cargo ship as prisoners. I know that ... ah ... didn’t turn out so well for the Phor, but the fact that they were willing to do that for money in the first place showed they didn’t value us as contractors.”

“So, what . . . ?”

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