Page 85 of Ava Stargazer

Ava just stared at him, deciding to let it go for now as she took in his tired eyes. She instead firmed her thoughts, now determined. “I want to go through the data, and I want to have something official about Humans saying we can think and that I am one of them, living on Xai. Reclassify us as a Class 1.”

Vox took her hand off where it rested on her biologics and held it tightly in his own. He rubbed his thumb over hers. “The Spry is wise with what he said. Let us speak with Iryl to build on what he’s done in those meetings with the Tuxa already, saying you are a part of us. So the Tuxa and any others know that we have an agreement from you and Joy to bond with us instead of it just being one way.”

A flash of fear ran down her spine. “Okay. I’m afraid to do more, to do things that will put a target on Humanity’s back. Isn’t that a danger, if we make too many waves?”

“What more could be done to Humans? Also, we did just destroy Cipra,” Vox said flatly.

“Rhutg said the same thing.”

“Well, it is a fact. Waves are going to be coming.”

Ava leaned forward and put her head in her hands. “I don't know. Politics. It all confuses me.”

“Humanity has already almost been torn apart. We do not need to make any grand announcement yet; just having it official, or on the record, is enough. These things happen in stages. We need time to go through everything if we are going to expose the Riolie’s actions.”

She wrung her hands as he said it, feeling the truth of the words. “You’re right.”

Vox shifted his weight to hold Ava more easily in his arms. “We will claim you, Ava.”

“What about the Vorbax Quorum?”

“What about them?”

Ava gave him a flat stare, bristling that his casual confidence that his way was right was back. “You can’t just speak for everyone, Vox. I might not know that much about politics but even I know that.”

“Watch me.” Vox’s lips twitched slightly.

Ava glared at him.“You clearly feel fine enough to be arrogant.”

Vox just chuckled. “Alright, alright. I’m not this time, though. Pyra coming with is a symbol enough that there is cooperation. I know you don't want to hear this, but Zeed already spoke about it, how our genetics logically would combine. That also has helped, having that clarity.”

“Zeed said any children would look like the Vorbax.” She flushed.Maybe Humanity will be erased in a different way, after all.

He put his finger under her chin. “Not completely.”

“Somewhat.”

“I see it more as evolving. For both of us. They say that, but do we really know the full extent until it happens?”

Ava chewed on that a moment.

Vox continued. “At any rate, that, plus the men...” His eyes rolled back, the dark amber circle hitting the top of his eyelid. “Like Zeed, they are anxious for more. We are in need of more women after the Tuxa invasion. This is crude, but true. And makes it even easier if our genetics would assimilate that easily.”

“I am not ready for children.”

“I know, Ava. But others might be. And that’s enough.”

Vox settled back into the bed and reached to pull her down with him. “We can speak more with the others later. I need to rest. Another cycle of rest and then we can talk more clearly.”

Ava didn’t add out loud,“And it will give us a pause anyways, for you to heal.”

Vox didn’t comment on that thought, but she knew he heard by the way he sighed. He reached for her and Ava rested with him, relieved that he was no longer shaking, and his arm was steady across her chest.

Ava sat in the engine room, up high among the gears. Vox had left soon after waking to go talk to, or more likely chew out, Rhutg, and to discuss their plans. She declined to join, instead retreating back to the engine. She’d said her piece and needed some time to herself to process everything. She trusted Vox now that they were in agreement together about the way forward.

Although sitting up on the engine doesn’t feel quite right anymore. It reminded her of Cipra, and how she’d just traded one hiding spot there for another here. She felt restless, stationary up on the machine, such a difference from seeing the engine as her sanctuary only a month or so ago.

But still, she needed a break. With Vox away, she turned her thoughts inward to Cipra and allowed herself to think on what she’d remembered. So she sat there, almost trying to force herself to feel something about it. But strangely, she didn’t feel much of anything at all. Nothing new, at least.I knew all of thisalready. Even my mother, deep down.Her brows furrowed in confusion, trying to make sense of her reaction. It was an old, old wound. And it hurt being ripped open, but it was not fresh like before. Those tears had already been cried, many times.And I know now that my other sisters were sold and didn’t die in that place.That part still haunted her. Not knowing their fates.

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