Page 72 of Ava Stargazer

Vox stood, feeling where it was from Rhutg’s connection. He said aloud to their entire party,“I’ll go observe so we can get some data on how to proceed.”

Tension stiffened his shoulders as he stood and glanced at Ava. She was still looking ahead, her arms crossed over her jumpsuit in the cold air.I’llbe quick.He addressed the room. “With any luck, there will be knowledge I can glean that can get us into the facility easier and help us with deleting any ... recordings.”

There would be no video recordings left here like on Torga. Not if he could help it.

Rhutg and Tiral nodded while Zeed stood behind them with crossed arms. The atmosphere was still chilly between him and Zeed, which was a distraction no mission needed.

“Be careful.” Ava said softly.

Vox pressed his forehead to hers. After one last nod at Ava, he exitedCelestialand walked stealthily down the path to the lone creature, inwardly hoping it was one whose mind he could claim easily and not something like a Haroo.

He walked away from the ship, across the open area, hiding behind any rock outcroppings he could find. They had been able to get relatively close, so it was only a short walk. There was snow here, deep. He looked at the footsteps behind as he walked.I'm leaving a trail.

He spread his mind out, trying to feel what he could as the facility loomed just ahead. There were not many minds present.It does feel mostly abandoned.But not completely deserted.Small areas still lit up underneath; not many, but a few. A skeleton crew left to guard the facility. Once he could read a mind, he could better assess the defenses.

He found the guard that Rhutg had indicated, pausing for a minute to sample the guard’s thoughts where it stood just within the doorway of the facility, shielded from the chill outside.There's one.From what Vox could tell, the creature’s surface thoughts were unimpressive, and he waited a moment, feeling hesitation. His mouth coated in distaste as he hovered in its mind, probing deeply enough for it to have a headache.

Vox didn’t want to break the mind completely right away in case this was an innocent forced to work instead of a willing participant. That pause ended, however, as he probed a bit deeper into its psyche and the creature’s thoughts changed.Such a vile mind.Vox saw the horrors it had inflicted on others. And even more horrific was how the creature had relished those actions.The more sadistic ones of his species were sent here to work. A task they fought to get. Back when the facility was still functioning.

He frowned as he felt further, feeling a madness there, a scramble on its mind that didn’t feel organic.There is something wrong. Beyond its twisted thoughts.Vox had to push harder than normal. There was an odd crystalline coating over their nerve connections that added more resistance, in addition to the distance. Regardless, he pushed through, gritting his teeth from the extra effort.Got him.

A wave of exhaustion rolled over his psyche, making him buckle and sit while breathing hard. From behind the rock, Vox sampled the mind as it started to filter in.It is called a Yar.

He balled his hands in anger as it all came in clearer, and he stared at the Yar’s reflection through its many eyes, which sat in a pale yellow face. It had a mandible with a mouth below, and long whiskers. Vox’s upper lip curled in distaste, hating thefeel of the creature’s mind. And the robe it wore. The one Ava remembered and had shared with him. They all wore robes like this.

Through the Yar’s mind, Vox learned the robes were a designation of rank for them. And that their minds were not fully their own—the crystalline coating on their nerves interfered with their thoughts in a way that Vox didn’t fully understand.

From the data he could glean from the Yar, the facility was indeed almost abandoned. But it had an AI and security system intact, all standard Class 2 systems. The same ones that the Galactic Board used, in fact.Fijjak should be able to help with those.He had the Yar leave its guard route and walk back with him toCelestial, sampling its mind on the way, feeling nauseated at his findings. The pair walked in unison into the cargo bay.

“I have one,” Vox said unnecessarily as the Yar followed him in, back into the fluorescent lighting of the cargo bay. “The place is mostly abandoned except for a few guards and automated security.”

The Yar took center stage on the floor as Rhutg and the others came to circle the husk. He watched the others try to glean whatever information they could from it, disconnecting himself for a moment to process.

His head ached, feeling the pressure from breaking already.The things these creatures have done in the name of profit ...Whatever balance they obtained in the future regarding other species and alliances they brokered, he would never be able to stomach being cordial to a species like this. But in the same moment that rang hollow, the feel of the odd coating on the Yar’s mind making him think something was not right there as well.Something is very wrong.

Vox almost missed Ava’s voice in the background as she said, “What?” A second later she walked closer, taking in thecreature’s many-eyed face. His eyes watched her approach, hearts panging at the fear reflected in her eyes. The Yar stood on two legs and was tall and thin, the robe disguising the rest of its body. There was a thatch of hair on the top of its head, above its eyes, but just a short cut of fur rather than hair that grew long like Ava’s. Her face paled, shuddering. “I recognize them. They ...”

Vox closed his eyes briefly, seeing that shudder and the echo of fear in Ava’s mind even as she took a deep breath. His fists clenched.I am glad she cannot see the rest of what they’ve done.Instead, he focused on answers. “Already things are much clearer. They were the main keepers here, back when it was operational.” He closed his eyes again, breathing deep, letting the thoughts of the creature in front of him flow over his mind. He didn’t know this species before, but now knew everything. “These are Yar. An underling of a much larger species. They do the dirty work. A front.”

Ava sat down in the cargo hold, watching the exchange with large eyes. She was staring transfixed at the Yar. The Yar stood there, head angled down, broken and barely breathing.

Vox didn’t reach for her mind to feel her thoughts; his were still too coated in the Yar’s and he didn’t wish to taint hers with it.Seeing it is hard enough.Sai was in the dark as much as Ava, unable to connect to the husks in the way Vox and the other males could.

Pyra and Fijjak were there too, but farther back, almost as spectators in a play, along with the six young Vorbax, who were watching from a step behind them.

Vox met Rhutg’s eyes as he saw the awareness happen in his as well. Then he shifted his gaze to Tiral and Zeed. The argument with Zeed was put aside for now, and the information they could find was freely shared. Vox spoke aloud with his mind so occupied, echoing all of their thoughts. “This filth.”

Fijjak came closer, poking at the husk with his antennas. “It feels alive but ... not. I have never seen you use this ... this ability. It is effective.”

Vox held his head. “Do you feel it? There is something odd about its mind.”

Rhutg finished speaking for Vox while he was wringing the Yar’s mind dry. “Yes, it’s as if it holds a . . . parasite almost. It feels like the camera Iryl found.”

He addressed the Yar. “Tell us your masters. Out loud. So we can all understand.”

Vox saw Ava take a step back as the creature spoke. “We serve under them. They take care of us.”

Rhutg tilted his head and glowed further. “The Yar is not resisting, but whatever is coating its mind is.”

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