Page 69 of Ava Stargazer

Pictures, of everything in Ava’s life, were sent. The biologics tank, with a message about how the biologics swirled and powered the ship. Ava’s little container of biologics. A picture of Vox as he sat at the control panel in the engine hall, his eyes amused, watching her. One of Rhutg, who was with Pyra in navigation, equally amused. She even found Fijjak in the solarium, tending to the plants, and sent a photo of him as well. The only ones she didn’t go hunt down were Zeed with Tiral and the other young Vorbax.

She snapped her com shut, taking a break.I still don’t want to see Zeed just yet.She wasn’t upset with him, but still felt a vague sense of awkwardness knowing he wanted something more from her, something she was unable to give. That, plus the confusing conversation that followed with Vox, had left her heart feeling like it was fluttering outside of her. Even while he held her close, like he did every cycle they went to sleep.

Ava tapped her hands idly on the railing as she looked at the biologics, thinking of other pictures she could send. She had another thought and immediately opened her com again.“Since we’re sharing so much information, try asking Iryl for the Phor’s information packet on Humans. You can see what data I already have.”

Joy sent a picture Ava a few minutes later.“Is this it?”

The photo showed the familiar log that Ava had been adding to over the years. The familiar information log initially made by the minders of Cipra that was given with every Human purchase to their new owners.

Ava was quick to respond back.“Yes, add anything you can remember to there, okay? I tried to put everything I could about myself on it, and what was told to me.But I didn’t write most of it. The log came from Cipra, so I’m not sure if everything is right. If there’s something you think is wrong please add to it.”

A note came a second later.“Alright.”

Joy responded throughout the cycle, and also sent pictures back of things by her. Iryl’s living quarters. The pictures through his windows. She hadn’t left Iryl’s rooms. Not only because she was timid and fearful, but Iryl also was unsure of having a Human walk the halls. Particularly knowing that there was covert surveillance happening there.

The Human information file got updated some during that time, with Joy sharing her memories from what her mothertold her of things not documented on the logs. Elephants, and a small little flower that was yellow that her mother remembered picking and told her about. The flower turned white after it bloomed, and the seeds would blow away when she blew on it.

Ava sat, glued to the feed as the information trickled in, and slowly realized Joy had not moved much over the last cycle.She still isn’t leaving Iryl’s rooms.She knew Iryl didn’t want her seen there publicly but ... .

Ava messaged her, remembering all her trips off planet.“I used to dress up to go off ship with Nuor. Just cover yourself up all the way. It worked out alright. Maybe Iryl can take you out at least once or twice like that.”

A message came later that cycle of Joy wearing a cloak, in front of a mirror, having taken Ava’s words to heart. It was quickly followed with a few pictures from around the Galactic Board.“You were right. It was easy actually, a lot of other aliens are covered up too so it didn’t look out of place. When I have the cloak on, no one can see what I am. There’s so many interesting things here.”

Ava frowned at that statement. She was happy Joy was starting to get out, but also unhappy that the best solution for them both was to figure out more ways to hide.

Ava’s body had adapted easily back to the cycle system for sleep. Vox kept time with it as well, resting with her at the same intervals. She lay in bed, restless. The entire ship’s inhabitants bedded down at the same time, a difference from before, when a rotation was always awake. Now, just one or two took anextra awake shift in the navigation room while the others slept—usually one of the younger Vorbax.

They were one day out from Cipra, the directions having to be programmed manually intoCelestialdue to Cipra not being found on any known star chart.So close now.Her mind went over the plans while she sat up in the artificial night, still illuminated a little to keep it from total black. The light was something that Ava insisted on.

Now that Iryl was back, plans were being discussed more in earnest. Cipra was not on any star charts. Nor were there any records, really. But, in a way, it was the lack of any references that gave the most information.

From that, they learned that no regular transports from anywhere respectable had visited Cipra, at least officially. In fact, the area was listed in the star chart as a dead zone completely.

Discussions had instead turned to how they could infiltrate a presumably locked facility, and how to scout. Fijjak supplied his knowledge on any AI programs that he could gather from the logs Ebel sent, preparing for that angle as well.

Ava rubbed her arms while Vox slept soundly next to her.What if we get there and there isn’t anything at all?Anxiety prickled at her as she rejected that though.No. The information came from Ebel.Ebel, who still had not responded. Even though Ava kept sending messages, including on the contractor channels she got from Nuor.

Vox held her in his sleep, but sleep did not come easily for Ava that cycle as she lay in their alcove and counted the tiles overhead. She had already told Joy goodnight, and didn’t want to communicate with her any further since she was also going to sleep. Even the container of biologics looked like it was resting, not moving as vigorously.

Ava frowned, frustrated that she couldn’t rest. The large tank of biologics, still swirling, at least matched her mood. She watched the bubbles, as energetic as ever, float as the biologics provided energy to the ship and life support systems. Ava pushed out from Vox’s arms after trying, again, to sleep.Why am I so restless?

The answer came to her slowly as she sat there listening to the engine whirl.There’s too many things happening. Her mind listed them out. Finding Joy, the encounter with Zeed and uncertainty with Vox, painting the ship, and the closer they got to Cipra, the more she debated if going there was even the right choice at all. Maybe those memories should have just remained in the past for her.

No.Closing her eyes, she remembered what she said to Joy, just a cycle ago.We both need to do our best.Her mind warred with itself, remembering the nightmares from both Cipra and Torga.I’m going because I’m hoping to find something to help Humans. I’m not a coward.She got out of bed, her heart pounding.It doesn’t mean that I’m not afraid though.

Just sitting wasn’t going to help her, and she didn’t want to wake Vox either. He needed to rest, and he couldn’t be expected to soothe her every minute.I'll figure it out.Silently, Ava left the engine room and walked the halls, her mind spinning, until she found herself standing in the area outside of the med bay. She went inside and got a sedative patch to use to force herself to rest. The cabinets were nowhere as full as they had been when the Phor ran the ship, as the expensive components they would not use had already been parceled out and sold off. There was a good supply of patches though. Ava put one on, peeling back the sticky side and placing it on her neck.

She then looked at the stars, watching them twinkle until she started to feel drowsy as the patch took effect.One day away.From . . . home?Ava shook her head.No. Cipra was never my home.

Her feet pointed away from the alcove, her eyelids drooping. She wanted to go back to bed with Vox again rather than curl up there in the med bay alcove to sleep. However, as she was walking down the hall, for the first time she noted that she did not feel fear, or the need to run since the ship takeover. The metal walls felt cool under her hand, but her heart rate was steady.I didn’t even need to run going up here either.She had been too lost in other thoughts to notice that the fear didn’t intrude.Maybe I’m just too worried about Cipra to think about it?

But no, even without being lost in those thoughts, she wasn’t afraid. She smiled, feeling brave as she walked the hall, hand against the wall.Painting the ship was a good idea. It feels better overall to me.

Her hand traced one of her lopsided designs as she walked back into the engine room.

Ava settled down to rest next to Vox, finally tired.Maybe it's not the paint. Maybe the reason it isn't scary is because I've spent so much time in here, making it mine.

Vox put a band across his chest and several phasers within it, adjusting the length. He sat on the bed in the engine room. Ava’s alcove there had been expanded over the last few cycles by punching out one of the walls into the adjoining storage closet. As she painted the walls, he’d taken it on himself to expand their sleeping area, giving them both more space to rest comfortably.

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