Page 57 of Ava Stargazer

If anything, Fijjak looked even more curious. “More than half your life here. We do not like the Phor much. But they were kind to you?”

Ava nodded. “One was. Ebel, who I lived with. He’s the one I told you about. My Phor . . . friend. Others were too. Honestly, most of the drones were okay. None of them were mean. The only one who wasn’t okay was their queen. She ruled everyone, and they all hopped when she said to. But as long as you stayed out of her way, everyone else was fine.”

“But the queen liked you?”

A squirm went through her at Fijjak's line of questioning. She noticed that the rest of the conversation around the table hadquieted.I guess everyone is interested.“More or less. I brought her things from the cargo bay. I went in the vents and sort of stole things that wouldn’t be missed. You know how the Phor are with their cargo. I was a way around that. I was useful, so we just existed together.”

Zeed said softly, “More than just useful.”

Vox shot him a glance as he put a hand on Ava's back, rubbing lightly.

Fijjak withdrew his antennas, pensive. “We have not had much to do with the Phor. We tried early on, mostly because of that.” He pointed at the biologics around Ava’s neck. “But the Phor were evasive and didn’t ever trade in good faith. It sounds like even the agreements with their cargo were not in good faith either.”

Ava couldn’t disagree. “Yes, wherever they could cut corners, they did. But ...” Again, she felt the need to defend Ebel. “Ebel, the one I lived with. He was good to me.”

Zeed cleared his throat, his tone dubious. “But he kept you as a servant. Bought you to be a slave.”

Ava’s face heated as she looked away, biting her lip.None of them understand.

Vox waved Zeed down, his voice low as he glanced at Ava. “Don’t. It is a ... sore subject between us.”

Fijjak just clicked and changed the subject, reaching across to point at Ava’s biologics again. “These creatures work for the Phor too, willingly. May I see them closer?”

Ava put her hand on her container and felt them pulse back. She took that as them being in agreement and removed the strap from her neck, passing the container to him.

Fijjak held the jar, and his antennas raised straight up. “Oh, holding them like this is wonderful. Do you know any more about them? The Phor were the most secretive about them out of anything.”

Ava thought hard, enjoying the sight of Fijjak’s antennas stretching high as she tried to sum up what she knew.

Rhutg spoke instead, as he reached for some more fruit. “From the Phor ... husks ... back when we took over the ship, we learned that the biologics are native to their planet. It was always a symbiotic relationship between the two, power in return for protection and food, which was scarce where they lived. The biologics come from wells deep on their planet, not observable from the outside. They themselves cannot communicate directly, but there are indicators in the ship to show their well-being. The Phor do not know how intelligent they really are.”

Fijjak tapped the container. “If it’s food and protection they want, then us—and many others—would be overjoyed to provide that.”

I don't know what they really want. I don't think they want to be owned at all. At least I don't.Ava looked down at the container speculatively.

Fijjak continued. “Can they talk with anyone else because the Vorbax?”

Ava nodded. “Yes, if the biologics get too excited, there’s error codes in the control room. Or if they’re hungry, a red light will flash. That’s about the limit in how we could communicate with them. But we always knew they were smart enough to have basic needs.” Her eyes twinkled as she remembered. “One time they got mad at Ebel for not feeding them on time and even slowed down a little. I never knew they really could think or anything more until Vox began connecting with them. I don’t think the Phor even know how much they can think.”

Tiral leaned forward, his big frame looming over the table as he put a hand on the container. His hand covered it completely, and he closed his eyes a moment as he shone. “Leashed lightning. That’s what they are. They don’t mind us feeling. In fact, they’re happy to finally be heard.” He tugged the containergently out of Fijjak’s hands, bringing it close. “Here, feel. Let them sing in your minds.” He put the biologics in front of the young Vorbax, who took turns pressing their small hands to the container. Their faces lit up one by one as they connected.

Even Pyra, who had stayed back and just listened the entire time Ava spoke about her life, came forward to touch the biologics again.

Zeed also put a finger on the container, but his eyes slipped toward Ava once more as he did so.

That evening, Ava sat looking at the large biologics tank across from her alcove in the engine room.

Vox leaned forward, his eyes focused on her while she stared at the swirling bubbles, her hand on the ones on her chest. He tapped her on the nose. “Okay, try to shield.”

Ava shook her head away from him and scrunched her nose. She poked his nose back. Defending her mind had turned into an activity every evening between them. They sat in their room, on the bed, while Ava practiced.Well, attempted to practice.

“Okay.” Ava averted her gaze as she saw Vox begin.Let’s try again.She asked Vox to try to read her thoughts while letting herself drift away into that sort of detached state she’d felt right after Torga, where his mind couldn’t touch her.

Vox shone, a low gleam, as Ava sat with the deck of cards in front of her, having seen the top one and trying to not give itaway.“It is harder,”he said with a grunt, his amber eyes focused on her with such intensity it was hard to not focus on them back.

Ava didn’t react, and instead kept her gaze pointed mindlessly at the biologics tank while still keeping the correct number on the forefront of her mind. She already knew that distracting herself with random thoughts could obscure things for him, as the Vorbax could only pick up what her present thought currently was. She wanted to see if the way she was thinking, slightly out of focus, could also obscure her mind. Hard to do, though.

“A seven ring,” Vox said after a moment’s pause.

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