17. Chapter 17

Clenching her hands in tight fists, Ava steeled herself before leaving the room, staring at the doorway. It was just a hallway. Nothing to be afraid of.

Taking a deep breath, Ava left the crew member’s room at a run with her head down. She avoided looking side to side. The still halls creeped her out, and the bloodstains still ran on the floors and walls. Thankfully, her feet knew the path by heart, so she was able to just keep her head down and run, ignoring everything else around her.

Ava scanned her com outside the engine hall and her shoulders visibly sagged upon seeing that that the pass still worked, unlike the communications, and the doors swung open to admit her. She smiled in relief hearing the familiar ping.

She leaned back against the door as it closed and let out a sigh. It felt good to be back here, even if things were different. The metal parts and engine grease smelled like home.

Squinting, Ava looked ahead of her toward the large tank in the center of the engine. It was not good, however, to see that the biologics were clearly disturbed. Ava walked forward carefully, eyes wide, her previous relief from being back in the room forgotten. Lirell was understating it when he said they were not calm. It looked like a tornado instead of the lazy bubbles popping inside of the container like she was used to seeing.

She walked, hesitantly, to the front of the tank. Vox was standing there with his hand pressed to the side of the glass. He wore a frown, clearly frustrated.

He turned as she approached, eyes gentling when he saw her. “Right now, seeing you, has been the first positive feeling I could get out of these creatures since last cycle.”

Ava walked up to the tank and put her hand on it, spreading her fingers out wide. At the top she could see a layer of food sitting uneaten, which had to be from the last time she was in here over a cycle ago. As silly as it was, her heart swelled in the fact that the biologics, whatever they were, might actually care for her. She took her other hand and also pressed it against the tanks until she felt a pulse inside from them swirling around.

Ava didn’t know if they could hear but said a soft, “It’s okay,” and sat back on her heels next to the tank. She rubbed the side of it and watched the biologics start to follow her hand, slowly.

Vox stepped away, watching her interact with them. He kept his distance but glanced up and down the length of the tank. “Thank you. They seem to finally be eating. I know it is inconvenient to sit here, but the engine’s output has been affected by their emotions.”

He didn’t have to continue. Ava responded as she swirled her hand along the front, “I will stay for a bit. I miss it here anyway. If Ebel could come visit, I am sure they would feel much more at ease.”

Vox shifted on his feet. “I will see if that can be arranged. The engine needs to pick up speed. He is not a threat anymore with you here and with his queen no longer alive.” He went and sat across from Ava, at the wall storing the biologics’ food, sliding down with his knees up and feet planted firmly on the ground.

“How are you feeling?” he asked her after a pause. “Do you need anything I can provide?”

Ava was surprised by his asking but answered, “Sleeping helped a lot. Lirell said you had your check-in already?”

“Yes. As long as the ship moves at a bit more of a brisk pace,” he said, glancing up at the tank, “we should be arriving within three more sleep cycles.”

That wasn’t very long. Ava felt a bead of anxiety rush through her. She would have liked more time to prepare and psych herself up to talk to Rhutg. Now she was crunched for time.

Vox didn’t appear to share her anxiety. He sat against the wall calmly. It reminded her of when he was in the holding cell just waiting. The silence didn’t last long before he asked her, “Ava, Lirell said you dream. What do you dream of?”

“What dreams are? I told Lirell . . .”

“No, what would you imagine for yourself if you were not here?”

Ava didn’t have to think long. “A place where I could grow real food and have sunshine above me. To do things that I want to do, rather than have to do. What about you?” As attracted as she was to him, he was an enigma.

“Hmm . . .” He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes, contemplating the question. “My dream is similar to yours. Above all though, it is a desire of all Vorbax males to have a mate to protect and care for.”

Ava’s heart thumped at his simple words.

Vox looked up at the biologics, which were now so much calmer. “Our planet does not have technology like this. Or at least, it didn’t before we needed to learn for protection. We lived in harmony with nature, not against it like some do, who exploit it to further themselves. In a lot of ways, this ship is more organic than other tech that I’ve seen. Other machines, they have to operate with batteries or little nuclear devices. This is . . . ‘

Ava completed his sentence while she strung her finger along the front of the tank. “It’s alive.”

Vox nodded, watching her so intently Ava blushed. “If we had an energy source like this, our technology might have looked different too.”

“What technology do you have? What is Xai like?”

Glancing up again at the biologics and the engine, Vox sighed before answering. “Nothing like this. We are, sad to say, primitive in comparison. Thankfully we have our abilities to understand and absorb other’s information. This helps us to not be ignorant of what is beyond our planet. Those on Xai still enjoy living how we always have but we have bartered and traded for items for protection. We now have a few ships and a neural net that covers most of the planet, making it harder to breach.”

They sat in silence a few more moments until he spoke again. “Ava? You do not need to fear the halls anymore. They have been cleaned, all the innocent have been properly cremated, and it is safe to walk them again.”

Ava felt a flash of anger replacing her fear from earlier as she’d barreled down the halls. “I thought I asked you to not probe me?”

“I quested out when I felt something nearby coming; I did not know it was you until connecting. I am aware of your distaste of our methods.” He almost snarled the last bit.

Ava sat forward on her knees. “Vox, I don’t mean it as a negative. Not as a slight to you. There’s just a lot to get used to.” She scooted up to him until they almost touched and put her hand on his knee. He made a low hum in his throat and covered her hand with his. She wanted to have contact with him again, not only to become a part of their plans but also because she craved being close to him. The attraction made her feel lightheaded and giddy. She didn’t know how to place it.

She felt silly asking, but did anyway. “Vox? Can I go to your planet someday? Could that be a place I could stay?”

He chuckled, a low sound that reverberated in her gut down to her nether region. “With the way you smell and look, our men would fight to make you stay.”

Ava flushed at his words. He took his hand and rubbed it on her cheek, then let it linger down her arm, caressing the length of her hair that fell to her breasts. Ava felt marked where his hand touched and empty where it didn’t. She never wanted it to stop, almost leaning into his hand.

Vox’s eyes took on a hungry, hooded appearance. “You are so soft and delicate, Ava. Your mind is pure and honest, despite confusing me. Had I not this mission to rescue Orla I would claim you myself right now.”

“Orla?” Ava wracked her brain. She knew he was rescuing females, but this was a specific female? Her hurt reaction was stupid, because who was Vox to her? She looked away, crestfallen. He’s already taken.

He didn’t remove his hand but explained, “She is why I am here. We are rescuing the females, and they chose the males for this mission that have a personal stake. She and I have a contract together on our home world for procreation. It is done like that a lot now to keep bloodlines pure with so few females being available.”

Ava’s heart sank. Stupid, stupid. She moved to take away her hand but Vox held fast.

“I do not care about the contract, Ava. Not anymore. It was the means for me coming here, and led to me meeting you, and for that I am grateful. I will rescue Orla and fulfill my obligation, but I will also find you again.”

“Find me . . . ?”

“I will.”

Ava’s heart fluttered, still holding his hand. She didn’t know how to respond but felt a flush down in her core. She broke the tension by looking around the engine room at all the familiar sights. That feeling was at odds with the unfamiliar man now holding her hand and rubbing it gently.

He was still staring at her when she looked back, and she quickly looked down. He put a hand under her throat and gently lifted her head to his face to look in her eyes. His were all gold amber, but looking closer she could see a darker shade in the very center fixated on her. At their center, his eyes flashed different colors, mesmerizing her.

Ava looked away and put her hands on top of his. She gently tugged his hand away from her face and examined it. He allowed the contact, his firm hand pliable in her smaller ones. The contrast, stark from his blue skin to hers, was startling, especially in the fluorescent lights here in the engine hall. His skin everywhere felt hardened compared to hers, almost like a callus that covered the palms, except for the pads of his fingers, which were softer.

“More similar than different,” Vox said as she compared.

He let her push on his fingertips and explore the texture without moving. She spread her hands out on top of his. Compatible. Looking at the hands side by side, they were so different, but yes—they fit together as he curled his fingers around hers, five to a hand and shaped the same.

Vox let out a low hum and Ava felt herself relaxing. It would be easy to give in and let him take care of her. Too easy. The paper with Joy still sat in her shirt, reminding her guiltily to not get too comfortable. I know. I know.

Vox spoke as she sat there examining his hand. “What does the Phor named Ebel mean to you?”

“Mean as in how?”

“He is your captor, yet I have felt such strong emotion coming from you regarding his well-being. Why is this so? Should you not disdain him?”

Ava took both of Vox’s hands and put them together with her hands on the outside. Immediately, he moved them and cradled hers instead, giving off a searing heat.

Clearing her throat she answered, “He was good to me.”

“He was adequate to you,” Vox shot back in a low voice.

Ava rolled that around a minute, not enjoying Vox putting his own spin on her life. “I don’t know if you understand how bad it could have been. Here he joked with me, cared for me. When I had to go through the vents when you first came on board, he helped me come up with that Vali disguise to try to keep me safe. I love him, Vox. He is family. That’s what Human families used to do when they loved each other—help and keep each other safe.”

Vox squeezed her hands briefly, sending a tingle up her arms, before responding softly, “We understand family bonds, Ava. Erox is actually my brother. My mother is missing both of us on Xai.”

“Your brother?” Ava thought back and began to see the similarities between Vox and Erox, particularly in their faces.

Vox nodded. “There seems to be a genetic link when it comes to how easily the offensive telepathic powers came to both of us. For us, it was easy to learn, and our father was one of the first to break through and go to war. He is no longer living. My mother is worried about us, but proud. She awaits us, going out every day to the bayva fields with our other brethren and wishing us safe passage and to come home soon.” Vox gripped Ava’s hands gently again and added, “We know the power of thoughts. And love.”

Ava’s mouth suddenly felt thick and cottony. She didn’t know what to say other than, “We know how to love too.”

Vox nodded, softly smiling. “I know. It is as strong as ours. Since that is how you view Ebel, then I am glad he was spared. It just seems at odds to be able to care for a creature that took away your free will.”

There was no real defense to that statement, only that Ava really didn’t see Ebel that way. She felt the need to defend him. “He was as much a captive as I was. He had to be at the beck and call of his queen night and day. There was no feeling he was above me because he was bound by his duty as well.”

“What would have happened if you had fallen ill and were unable to be a servant? That is the true measure of family.”

That gave Ava pause, an uncomfortable feeling flowing over her. What would have happened had she gotten injured beyond repair? A sour feeling filled her. Would I have been abandoned? She shook her head. “I don’t know. But I do know that Ebel cared for me beyond just being useful. Nuor as well.” And Wert sometimes. But she knew better than to mention that. Some time over the last cycle, she had put Wert in the same compartment that housed her memories of her mother and sisters in her mind, in a place to grieve later when she had the time.

“Yes, they both do care for you. Nuor is an admirable creature. We have not had much contact with her species previously. That might change going forward if all have as much loyalty as she has shown.”

Ava half smiled at the thought. Nuor would have found it funny to think that the Vorbax would want to be allies instead of clients. She didn’t know if they had many of those.

“I would do anything to make sure both of them aren’t harmed.” She spoke slowly, letting her wishes known.

Vox hummed and squeezed her hand. “Arrangements are already underway. I need to go down and speak with Nuor regarding plans. If it is agreeable to you, I will send Ebel here, with Lirell observing, to sit and help soothe the biologics. That is on the condition he is willing and I sense no malicious intentions.”

Ava’s heart lifted and she gave Vox a huge smile. He hummed louder.

“When your face shines like that, it becomes even more beautiful.”

Ava’s smile faded fast, blushing a bit as she looked down. She fidgeted, having a hard time knowing what to do with his concentrated affection.

He seemed to take her looking away as a cue to start moving. Ava was starting to understand his mannerisms, and that when he had an action solidified he did not linger long before executing it.

In tune with that observation, he stood up and walked toward the exit before addressing her again, “After Ebel arrives with Lirell I will speak with the others in navigation to be certain we are back on track. Then I will return.”

Ava sat, watching him walk away, her thoughts swirling. He didn’t look back as he exited the door. She never did ask him what he needed to talk with Nuor about.

It was only a few seconds after he had gone that she realized he had left her alone in the most valuable part of the ship, the engine.

She bit her lip and looked up at the biologics that were back to lazily swirling. I don’t want to mess up their plans. It was a huge measure of trust that Vox no longer thought she would as well.