Page 11 of Ava Stargazer

She grabbed and held up her clipboard that she’d put down on the counter in her haste to rush to the hologram to see Joy closer. “I have finished going through everything in the cargo bay and cataloging it all, though we’re keeping some parts behind as spares for the ship, forCelestial.”

Iryl nodded. “Excellent. We were able to sell most everything you sent on the last transport with Lirell. The Spry here are helping us, funneling some through their connections and name in return for a cut.”

“Okay, I’ll keep sorting.”

Iryl looked over to address Vox. “How about the IO minerals? The Spry love them; they’re using them more as a fuel source. Although, speaking of energy, the biologics . . .” His eyes trailed to the container on Ava’s chest.

“I already told Vox the Spry can see them.” She placed her hand over the container. It pulsed back under her fingertips.Just to look.

“Yes, great. Well, between that and the IO minerals, the Spry are quite pleased with us right now.”

Vox cut in, “Good to hear. The cave’s water level receded in all this heat, and we have had a good summer collecting the minerals. We were even able to sense more deposits farther in.”

“I’ll let them know. Several will be coming with Lirell on the next transport back to help modifyCelestialto pass as one of our own ships.”

Ava half listened as the talk became more political, her mind back on her clipboard list. The IO minerals made up the bulk of Xai’s exports. It was a fuel source that burned clean and was plentiful in all the caves around the area they lived in. But the items of the ship that Ava had been cataloging were even more valuable, at least until the ship ran out of sellable parts.And you, the most valuable of all.She glanced down and patted the container as the biologics spun within.I'll never sell you, don’t worry.

Now that Ava knew the credits could potentially be used for buying Joy and maybe even others, the mission to find things to sell took on new meaning.

She waited for a break in the conversation to ask, focused again on her clipboard. “Iryl? I’ll send you the data I have from what we’ve collected so far. Also, before Lirell comes back, can you give him this formula as well? I have run the biologics’ powder through the food synthesizer a few times. I have the protein components for it, but is there a way you can source some more?”

“Sure, sure.” Iryl moved his head and gestured behind himself. “Alright, I’ll need to go to this meeting, but I’ll send over a time for us to talk later, Vox.”

Iryl looked over at Ava again. “And the data from Cipra I already sent, so look for it .”

Vox nodded and tilted his head forward. “Thank you Iryl. I will let the Vorbax Quorum and others know you will want to meet again soon.”

Ava gave the universal sign of deference. “Yes. Thank you. For everything. It means ... so much to me.”

“Of course, Ava. I’m interested as well.” After another brief smile at her, the hologram, and Iryl’s reflection with it, winked out.

The room was now lit only with the bright light from Xai’s sun once more. Vox and Ava both stared at each other for a minute before she let out a shriek of excitement and rushed forward to throw her arms around his neck. “Oh, Vox. I can’t...”

He quickly enveloped her in his arms as she jumped up and down in his embrace, tears of joy on her face.

She spoke with the side of her face pressed into his chest, voice muffled. “He found Joy, Vox. One just like me.”

Vox stroked her hair, his heartbeats steady under her cheek. “I can only hope she is like you.”

Ava danced in the control room. She danced in the engine hall. She danced in front of the biologics. Her energy was not able to be contained in walking, even after her fast, nervous run back to the engine room.

The biologics in the tank followed her movements, sloshing as she danced from side to side, until the panel in the control room lit up and an alarm sounded, suggesting an error code from all the extra movement.Oh no.That brought Ava back to reality, and she rushed to the tank to soothe them.

“Shh ... not so much, not so much.” She laughed at the bubbles, waving her hands slowly until they stopped swirling so fast. Smashing her face against the glass, she spoke in a rushed tone. “They found another Human, that’s why I’m so excited. Remember that photo I always carried? They found her! Joy!” Ava watched and clapped her hands as the biologics swirled again, choosing to assume they were as excited as she was.

Between today and yesterday evening with the rain, Ava felt so much better. It was almost enough to put the meeting from yesterday morning with the quorum out of her mind. She tamped down her thoughts and breathed deep to try to settle her heartbeat.Alright now.

Dancing wouldn’t help the situation, even if it felt good. She huffed out loud and retied her hair as she looked around the engine room, hands on her hips.Credits. Right. Need credits.She could do this.

As she was sorting through more boxes, Vox came back in, taking steady, measured steps across the engine hall. She glanced up to see a speculative look on his face.What happened now?

He answered before she could ask out loud. “Iryl pinged back soon after you left. He wants to meet with the quorum this afternoon to brief them on the peace talks.”

Ava paused with one hand on the box she was in the middle of sorting. “So soon? He looked nervous earlier when talking about it.”

Vox leaned against the railing and looked up at the engine, appearing to think hard as well. “Yes, I had to leave your dancing in here to go answer the call.”

“You could have joined me.”

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