Page 70 of Ava Stargazer

He began taking inventory of the supplies left on the shelves while Ava watched from the bed. They would be arriving at Cipra after the next rest cycle, the plan already solidified. Their approach inCelestialwould be in the stealth mode enabled by the Spry. They would orbit to find a few areas they could land, then shuttle or walk over to enter the facility on foot. Cutters were fixed and oiled, ready to be used if they needed to break in, but Vox was hopeful a more discreet entrance could be found.

He tightened the synthetic strap on his chest, thinking it through.We'll get whatever data we can and then get back to Xai as fast as possible.

Ava watched him prepare, anxiety on her face as she spun the com watch on her arm. She had not been sleeping well the last few nights. Vox knew that because he had woken up several times and realized she was not there beside him. When he connected with her, he mostly found her in the solarium, or wandering to lookouts, where she watched the stars.

He felt at a loss at times on whether to join her or give her privacy.She has had so much to think about. Besides just going to Cipra now.Nostrils flaring, he regarded her as she watched his preparations.Once we are done and back on Xai, she can continue to live again. We both can.

Vox held up an additional strap and shook it, getting her attention. “Come here, Ava. Let me try this on you.”

Ava slid off the bed and walked toward him and his arsenal of weaponry on the counter. Her voice belied her fear. “I thought Cipra was mostly deserted. Why do we need all of this?”

Vox adjusted the buckles on her while he answered, “We don’t really know what to expect. The logs from Ebel are all that we have to go off of really. They indicate that there are offensive capabilities to keep the facility safe and that an invitation is needed to enter. They are doing something unclean there. It is best to expect unclean minds and actions to go with it.”

“Okay.”

“Hopefully it is deserted. There haven’t been any references to it anywhere officially. But I’d feel more content if you had something for self-defense on you as well. It would be foolish to not prepare for any possibility.”

Ava squinted her eyes at him, as if she was seeking clarity. “So you do not think there will be combat, right?”

Vox shook his head as he put the band across Ava’s chest with one phaser on it. He was gentle with her as he slid the buckles closed. His hands were steady and did not betray his nerves.Ava looks stressed enough for us both.After he secured the strap and tested it by pulling on her chest lightly, he took her head into his hands and looked into her eyes. “It will be fine, Ava, when we get there. I do not think there will be much fighting.”

She looked up into his eyes, hers wide and vulnerable. “How do you know? How can you always be so calm?”

He let go of the straps but kept gazing into her eyes. “What is the alternative? If I give in to chaos I will become it. This place is not hostile to us. We are hostile to it. Ava. I will break them for you.”

Ava swallowed. “That shouldn’t always be the first line of thinking though. To just overpower everything. That’s not right either, Vox.”

Vox paused to consider that.It’s true. At some point, we will become what we hate if we approach every situation with extreme hostility.

He cleared his throat, justifying his line of thinking. “Cipra was a facility that captured and bred all sorts of innocents and sold them into slavery. I think for here, at least, a hostile mindset is warranted.”

Turning to the side, she pulled her legs up to her chest. “You’re right. This place. It’s evil. It’s not just the fighting that I’m worried about.”

Vox was about to try to dismiss her fears again, but the slumped shoulders and curled up posture made him hesitate.Just ignoring her fear will not make it go away.He took a deep breath, frustrated, both with his nerves and knowing that he couldn’t just put her in the same action mindset that he was able to tap into.Her mind is not the same as mine.In a gentler tone he continued, “I know there is more here personally for you, Ava.It is easier for me to focus on what I can do to prepare.” When her eyes were back on him, he pointed to the supplies next to the bed. “Like these weapons, just in case.”

She fiddled with the strap on her chest, adjusting it so it fell lower on her instead of across her neck, where the biologics’ strap also lay. “How do you know you can break who we find?”

Vox dropped his brisk actions and took a different tack to try to reassure her instead. Standing close, he leaned over her, arms on either side. “Because I am strong. I can always break a weak mind.”

Ava looked at him speculatively. “Other than the ones you can’t read, like the Haroo.”

“Yes, but their bodies are weak.” Vox looked at her and smiled smugly. “I am strong physically as well.” He leaned even closer. “Did I tell you that Rhutg even felt something from the Haroo when we went to mediation? We might need to revise that statement of not being able to read them.”

Ava rolled her eyes at him, took the phaser out of her belt and placed it on the counter, then walked over to push him back on the bed. She laughed. “I can still push you over though.”

Vox, amused, went easily, rolling backward to lay splayed out on his back. The room felt heated from her being so near.Yes, she can. His hand raised to her face.I love hearing her laugh.Taking advantage of her laughter, he leaned up to nip at her neck. His tongue lingered on her before taking the strap to pull her closer. Soon, the strap around her was undone and thrown to the floor.

Vox rolled her on her back and pinned her under him, pressing his pelvis into her. “Are you so sure you can push me over?”

She smelled like citrus from the soap she’d brought on board from Xai. He placed one hand on her breast and sat up, straddling her, then gave a questioning look. With his other hand, he pushed her hair behind her ears and ran his fingersdown her cheek, tilted in the way she liked. They had not joined for several cycles, with the pressure from Zeed earlier and now the uncertainty of what lay ahead at Cipra.

It was like a drug was missing from his system to have any distance from her. To feel unsettled like this weighed on his soul.I miss it, the connection.But after telling her she had a choice, he was now uncertain about pushing or coming on too strongly, despite knowing that she still wanted him.I want her to be sure. Hearts pounding, he pulled back his hands, uncertainty in his eyes. But Ava reached up, wrapped her hand around his head, and pulled him back down.Yes, Ava.He would not deny her.

Ava sucked in a breath, and Vox felt her nipples harden from his hand wandering across her breasts. She looked down at his fingertips. He knew, compared to her, he was so powerful. But with her, so gentle.Always so gentle.“You are so beautiful, Ava. My Ava,” Vox said softly, stroking his hand down her side. He saw Ava look down and blush, watching his hands move.

Vox knew it was hard for Ava to believe him sometimes when he said that, surrounded by the Phor as she had been, but Vox’s eyes always shone with sincerity. “And so soft,” Vox murmured, pulling his hand across her front.

“Yes, Vox.” She pushed the straps aside and took off her jumpsuit and biologics, watching as he did the same across from her, matching her movements.

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