Page 87 of Ava Stargazer

Ava picked back up the paintbrush, determined to think of something else. She made a long stroke of purple, starting on a new flower. “I’d like to be a part of Xai. Others can choose for themselves, but I want to. And Joy, I believe, wants to as well.”

Sai nodded, then squinted. “I mean, it’s one of the only good choices you have though, right?”

Ava laughed at that, a hearty sound that dispelled any remaining shadowy unease she had been feeling.Way to sum it up.“Well, yes. But I don’t see it like that. I’m happy with Xai. Any way you look at it.”

The com pinged once more as Ava leaned back over to paint again. Her lips curled upward as she took in Joy’s answer.

“Yes. I can’t wait to come see Xai with you.”

Ava clicked the com shut and stood. “I’m going to see what they’re planning,” she told Sai as she began walking up to navigation.

The door opened when she got there, and she felt Vox’s touch on her mind from within the room. Her eyes blinked, getting used to the lowered lighting. Iryl was on the hologram feed like usual. What was different were the others surrounding him. It was a full house. Pyra, Zeed, and Fijjak were there, along with Rhutg and Vox, whom Ava went to stand in between, giving a tentative smile to them all.

Iryl pointed to her com, which was still lit up with Joy’s last message. “I take it you already are aware?”

Ava nodded. “Yes. It all sounds good. Is it going to be difficult?”

Iryl shook his head. “No. It is just paperwork more than anything. I want to do it discreetly when you come so there are no disagreements or anything before it becomes official. After that, and after looking through what Cipra gave us, we can plan more.”

Ava reached for and took Vox’s hand. “Okay.”

Ava sought out Pyra during the next cycle. It was one thing for Vox to say the quorum was okay and another for them to actually mean it. And he was quiet during the last meeting with everyone there. She wanted to meet with him herself. And ask for herself.

Vox was still inside the engine hall, in a deep, restful sleep now that they’d left Cipra and the plan was in motion, but she was restless and needed to move around some now that she knew he was alright.

I’m glad he’s resting.Vox had been obstinate about trying to stay awake even though it was clear he needed to sleep more. She even went to the med bay at one point to get him a sedative patch that he flatly refused.

After wandering around trying to find Pyra and coming up blank, Ava went into the mess hall to ask Sai, “Sai? Where’s Pyra? I’d like to talk with him.”

Sai frowned as she looked at her, but then cast her gaze upward. “He is in his room. Hold on.”

Ava waited a minute while Sai walked away, connecting with him. She had to go up the stairs a few steps to overcome the ship’s dampening of her mental waves. She came back a moment later. “I told him you want to meet with him. Fijjak is in the solarium so...”

Ava said softly, “There’s a seating area outside the med bay. Have him meet me there. It’s far enough from everything.”

Sai nodded and wandered off to convey the message as Ava walked to the seating area directly.

She sat there and watched the stars zoom past in the little alcove by the med bay, alone, while she waited. Her body was pressed into the little corner booth with a cushion that was designed to provide a lookout.

It was restful here, on a different floor from the mess hall and navigation where the others mingled. Ava hitched up the patchwork blanket she’d brought with her. “No more Cipra. And after the board, back to Xai,” she muttered.

She had to admit to herself how nice that sounded. Her voice hitched, speaking her mother's prayers. “Oh, child of the stars, what do you see? Among the celestial, heavenly beings?”

With her hand pressed against the window she said it again, looking at the stars through her fingers. Her fingers closed and opened, making the stars look like they winked back at her. Ava sat, doing that, until she heard Pyra’s solid steps behind her.

His tone was a low pitch, but still a bit higher than Vox’s. “Is this about the Humans, Ava? Is that what you want to ask about?”

Ava turned and regarded him and his kind face, which still looked gentle. He sat down next to her, his older body moving slowly and the shells around his neck swaying as he did so.

She swallowed and held her fingers together as she forced herself to ask, “The Vorbax Quorum was so opposed to Humans before. What changed? And did it really change?”

Pyra shifted in his seat and answered slowly, “There are some who are still against it. But, we are still Vorbax males, Ava. We are not weaklings, even though most of us have not fought in combat.” He paused and added, “Before I left, there was much talking. It is easier for word to spread across our city being who we are and relying on mental ties. Most everyone on Xai has seen your face and an echo of your mind at this point. And we can feel their reactions. We know times are changing.”

“Outside the quorum, what was the feeling?” Ava leaned forward to not miss a single word. It was hard for her to understand that there was a large group, living farther away, that now knew her but still were unknown to her personally.

In fact, it made her sweat as she saw Pyra think through how to explain. “You felt them when you first came to Xai. There was a very large gathering then. They were welcoming. That feeling hasn’t changed. The women further out, outside of the group you met, are more indifferent. And the men are...” Pyra cleared his throat. “It is enough that the interest is there. We know we cannot be as isolated as we have been. Especially after I shared what I learned from Cipra with them.”

“Not all approve still?”

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