Page 44 of Ava Stargazer

Erox added,“Maybe they just don’t have anything to think about?”

Rhutg smirked, turning his focus on the Haroo sitting nearby.“I think that needs to be revised.”

Vox had a moment of shock. He couldn’t reach them, but he saw through Rhutg that he could get a vague impression of their thoughts.“That’s more than before. Not much. I doubt you’d be able to break one, but at least it isn’t a complete blank slate.”

Rhutg nodded, closing his hand in a fist that tremored from the effort.“All the practice really has expanded our capability.”

Vox frowned at Rhutg’s trembling hand before looking up. But the thing he now focused on was not the Haroo. It was the rest of the crowd. And the undertone that he could pick up underneath their conscious thoughts. The thread of guilt that in some that seemed ever present.“It is so confusing. They are all like Ava. Acting in a way where their thoughts say one thing, but they do another.”The universe definitely was different from Xai. It was a fascinating play since he could see the parts that were hidden.“How do they live in their own deception?”

Erox rubbed his face in thought.“Wouldn’t it be great if we could break them all and find out every secret they’re hiding?”

Iryl snorted.“Erox. I didn’t know you were that bloodthirsty.”

Erox fired back,“True war does that.”

Vox regarded his brother with amused eyes.“Really? Did you forget I've known you my entire life?”

“Iryl, didn’t you say there was a bartender ready to poison our drinks? Where is it; I’ll go get Vox one.”

Vox snorted, but the reminder of enemies here made him look inward, feeling for the same echo that Iryl had felt in his room when he found the camera.

Rhutg followed the train of his thoughts and answered before him, mirth over the drinks forgotten.“Whatever it is, there’s more of that mineral signature everywhere. Someone is watching the entire board.”

Iryl glanced around the room, as if that would make the cameras visible.“Fascinating how much more you can sense. I will have to be more careful, I can feel it now through you.”

Vox inwardly agreed and held his drink to his lips as he looked over the crowd, thinking on Erox’s more cut and dry view. Especially when a few of the bigger species like the Riolie came into view. The Riolie were remarkably beautiful, their crystalline bodies catching the light, though Vox noted they seemed to have a marked disdain for everyone around them.It is harder to read their thoughts too, with the mineral makeup of their bodies.

But then he caught thoughts from the others. Gentler creatures like the Decata. One of whom stood on a large stool to reach the top of the counter. The Decata counted his currency to buy a drink, stroking his long ears and whiskered chin in concentration as the credits here were foreign to him. He was debating what he could buy here to bring back home to his family as a gift.

And then, outside, was a group of the Fira, who were so happy to be somewhere the air was clean as they unfolded their many limbs and stretched their arms, which were covered in limp greenery, to the sun. A small family of them also sat on theterrace of the bar and were just taking deep breaths in with their siblings as they watched the plants sway in the breeze.

Even the Haroo, who Rhutg was tracking intently to try to glean what he could, was only thinking of the next charter ship they were going to be getting on. Vox had a pang of guilt, thinking of the contractors on the Phor ship that had gotten caught in the crossfire.Maybe we are in the wrong in some ways as well.

He thought then of the ones who ran the facility on Cipra that Ava referred to as the minders. After going through the memories Iryl had gifted him of the various creatures he’d seen, none matched her memories of a robed figure with sallow yellow skin. He tilted his head in Iryl’s direction and shared Ava’s memory with him.“Have you ever seen this form? It is what Ava remembers from Cipra.”

Iryl just shook his head.“Never heard of or seen it. Not every species visits or has an envoy here. I’ll keep an eye out for them, though. They don’t look pleasant.”

Vox sipped his drink again while watching the crowd.“Can’t be them either with the cameras then. Unless they are working with someone else.”

His mind spun as he worked through all the information. He then shared his thoughts with his brother,“Erox, I understand taking a hostile stance. Especially after all we have been through fighting for our place ... but ... I am beginning to see why diplomacy is harder than just remaining isolated on Xai.”

Iryl overheard and nodded.“Yes. The rest of these species aren’t as cut and dry as the Tuxa. Not all are bad. We had to fight for our place, but now that we have it, we need to think more on what to do.”

Rhutg shook his head.“Annoying.”

Ava went outside to sit on Vox’s doorstep and feel the winds as they rolled in during the afternoon.

These last few days she’d kept herself busy cataloging boxes and monitoring how the biologics were adapting to the new AI systems. Now she watched the land around her as she ate one of her ration bars, her hair whipping freely around her face, gathering knots. She looked up when she felt a touch on her mind and saw Miral standing there.

Miral smiled, her footsteps solid as she approached. “I wanted to check on you, and to spend time together while the winds are high.” She held up the basket she carried. “Can I come in?”

Ava jumped up, immediately feeling a bit awkward. She didn’t really understand why Vox’s mother evoked that feeling in her. Of being afraid of being found inadequate.She’s been nothing but kind to me.She forced a smile at Miral. “Of course. I was just ... sitting.”

Miral walked closer, eyeing the bar Ava ate. “I brought other food for you.”

“Oh. Thank you.” She brushed her hands off to take one of the rough hewn bags Miral carried. A bit of rain began to sprinkle as they walked inside. The rain reminded Ava too much of Vox, so she shifted her mind to ask Miral a few questions instead. “Do you always stay with the other women?”

Miral handed Ava some bread. “Not always. More now that Vox’s father has passed. It was lonely here with both of my sons gone recently. But with you and Orla settling here, and my sons back, I have been moving my things back to stay more permanently in the little house I have between them.”

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