18. Chapter 18

“Ebel!” Ava squealed seeing him from where she was sitting in her old alcove. She was making the rounds throughout the whole engine hall to see what had been changed in her absence. So far everything looked the same other than a bit of disorder in the control room. The Vorbax must not have spent much time here after taking over the ship. Ava had picked up the last bit of clutter on the floor before retreating to her old room, knowing how much Ebel hated mess in there.

Ebel’s antennas were low as he came in through the engine hall doors, walking slow. He appeared to be in a daze looking around. Lirell walked beside him, but gave Ava a big smile when he saw her. Ebel didn’t smile, but reached forward with a hug, which Ava gladly returned.

“You hugged before when you saw him in the cargo hold. Is that how Humans say hello when needing additional comfort?” Lirell asked her when she and Ebel broke apart.

Ava’s heart felt so light seeing Ebel that she didn’t answer but instead leaned forward and hugged Lirell as well in response. Lirell stood stiffly, then patted her on the back. She broke apart fast and grinned. Lirell grinned back at her, his long teeth on display in his blue face. Her smile fell off a minute later when she looked at Ebel gazing up at the biologics, his antennas still flattened and limp.

The biologics, for their part, were putting on a show. If Ava thought they had missed her, it was nothing compared to the swirling they were doing upon seeing Ebel. The whirr that the engine had been making was gone now as they picked up their movement. Vox, who was going to navigation, should hopefully see the difference in their speed.

Ava, ignoring Lirell for the moment, took two of Ebel’s hands that weren’t resting on the tank. He looked at her, and she squeezed them. She didn’t know what to say to comfort him. Telling him it all would be okay didn’t feel right, seeing as he just had even more of his world shaken up than she did.

She settled for, “I have their word that they will send you and the rest of the Phor to safety.”

Ebel looked back at Lirell, who had moved over to Ava’s alcove and was examining her bed. “Their word? I don’t know what to think of that.”

“Yes . . . I know you don’t believe them after what you went through, but they will get you to safety.” Ava opened her eyes wide and stressed, “They will.”

Keeping his eyes on Lirell, Ebel nodded, “I can’t say what I really think of everything right now with him here . . . even though he probably already knows. I’ll just settle with saying that I’m glad to see you.”

Ava let go of his hand and turned toward Lirell, who was still walking around her room. “Lirell, how long is Ebel going to stay here?”

Lirell moved down the shelf to pick up a long feather that Ava had from dressing up like Nuor. “As long as necessary. I can stay with him down here indefinitely.” He looked back over his shoulder, frowning. “He would be fascinating to talk with if he wasn’t so angry.”

Ava grimaced at that, thinking it would not be likely for them to be friends anytime soon. If Ebel heard him he didn’t respond, instead moving toward the control room. Ava followed him like a ghost.

Ebel absently palmed the controls on the static-filled screen while looking around. The feed didn’t respond. It was still completely offline.

At a loss on how to help him, Ava instead chirped how she cleaned the room before he got there. Her voice sounded fake in its positivity, even to her.

She set about keeping busy at the food processor while he walked around touching the controls. Lirell stood outside the room, supposedly giving them privacy, but when she checked he was flickering on and off. She decided to ignore him for the moment to focus fully on Ebel.

Ava presented Ebel with a plate of his favorite wiggling noodles a second later. He looked at it and with a sigh accepted it. She was afraid he would refuse to eat as well, but he sat still and ate the entire plate with her in silence. Ava ate her own plate that she created, even though she wasn’t truly hungry. Her thoughts kept straying to how she would confront Rhutg soon. She kept trying to distract herself from thinking about it in case Lirell was observing.

“I know this isn’t what you wanted, Ebel, but their cause really is just. They are trying to save their females the Tuxa took,” Ava said, mouth full of her own pasta.

Ebel chittered softly before responding, “Yes, but they killed mine in the process.”

They both ate in silence after that statement. Ava walked out to Lirell to confirm he didn’t want anything before settling in across from Ebel again.

“What will happen to you once you get to safety? I know you were assigned here, but can there be another female for you?” Would the Phor accept you back? She didn’t add the last part.

“Yes, typically we will be assigned again, though we likely won’t get our first picks anymore for companions or assignments. We were . . . we are . . . Phor males that failed. Incapable.” His antennas flopped as he said the last word.

“You will prove yourself again.”

“I know. I can. It is just hard to be here in this room and on the ship right now but not be in control. If the Vorbax are true to their word and release us I will be grateful.”

“We will be true to our word.” Vox had come back, his broad shoulders filling the entrance, where he stood listening to their exchange.

Ava’s heart did a flip when she saw him.

Vox’s voice continued in a low rumble. “We are back on track thanks to the biologics picking up speed. I have also spoken with Nuor in the cargo hold. She is in agreement about taking charge of you, Ava, in the next cycle. We will send you off the ship once we get a bit closer. I do not want to risk the biologics shutting down if we send you off sooner.”

Send us off?Ava’s mind whirled. Vox had moved fast. Faster than she’d expected. She wouldn’t have much time to put her plan in motion if Vox already had coordinated something. She needed to get to Rhutg soon.

Vox moved into the control room and watched as Ava halfheartedly washed the plates they’d used out of habit. He looked out of place in the small room, standing over the computer feeds. Ava felt tiny with him in there, not used to others in the space she shared with Ebel.

Ebel was not making eye contact and instead seemed to close inside himself. Ava had mixed feelings as she finished up the plates. It was going to be hard to leave Ebel, even though a part of her wanted to give in to the temptation to just have the plans made for her be enough. Yet a much bigger part of her was ready to be free. Staying anywhere near the Phor would not help her long-term in those goals.

She looked down at her hands, scrubbing the plates. Her own two hands could do something. She closed them around the dishrag, clenching it in her fist as the water pounded her skin.

She had to try.

Watching Ebel turn off the static video feeds made her uneasy as she realized she might never get to see him after they parted. She made a promise in her heart that she would find a way to communicate with him again, somewhere, when she had a better position herself.

She turned and saw Vox observing her as she finished the dishes. He was not shining, respecting her request to not be probed. He nodded and moved out a second later to go talk with Lirell by the biologics tank, giving her space with Ebel. Talk to him. Tell him.

Ava took the opportunity to go to Ebel, stopping a foot away from him. She looked at him closely, making sure he was focused on her. “Ebel, no matter what happens, I will find you someday if we get separated, okay? I’ll send you a message, somehow.”

Ebel’s convex eyes narrowed, fangs sweating. “If we get separated? Ava . . . what are you . . . ?”

She moved quickly to reassure him, not wanting to say more. The Vorbax had no qualms about exploring his mind unannounced and she didn’t want them to find her plans. The courtesy privacy was only extended to herself right now by Vox and Lirell. “Everything has changed so much, I want to be prepared, just in case.” She gave him a tired grin.

That seemed to work. Ebel sighed and looked at the empty static feed that linked up to the queen. “Everything sure has changed.” He clicked it off and settled into his chair surrounded by the now powered-down screens, looking thoughtful.

Ava patted his fuzzy arm and left him alone a minute, walking out by Lirell and Vox.

Both turned to her, Lirell splitting into a smile. “We know everything about the biologics from the Phor’s mind, but it is incredible how knowledge cannot overcome the bonds these creatures feel.” He was motioning to the tank behind him. The biologics were spinning rapidly, a stark difference from when she first came in earlier. They all watched the yellow bubbles pop and dance.

“I never knew they could feel that much either,” Ava admitted. “I guess I always assumed they were more like a plant than an animal.” She patted the tank fondly.

“On our planet we have something similar to this creature,” Vox started to explain, turning an intense gaze on Ava. “They are not nearly as strong. They can’t generate enough energy for ships, but their actions do power small lights on their backs. As children we catch them and put them in jars for nightlights.”

“Oh, like fireflies?” Ava’s eyes lit up, remembering the Phor logs on insects from Earth.

Vox tilted his head, “Fireflies? We call them luras.”

“We had something similar back on Earth, where Humans originally came from. It was in the logs.”

The thought of a young Vox made Ava smile. She pictured him as the same, only miniature. “I saw pictures of your planet before on the feed when you first came on board. It looked beautiful.”

“It is, Ava,” Vox replied. “One day I will make sure you see it. The planet you originate from seems to be similar, even with our insects it seems. Its not surprising, seeing as there are many similarities between us.”

Ava smiled. “I would like to see it.” She meant it. They stood watching the biologics for a minute while questions gnawed at Ava. Who else is he? Beyond coming here on this rescue mission?

“What do you do normally, at home? You know . . . before all this?” Ava waved her hand at the ship.

Vox smiled in remembrance, looking at the biologics. “We farm. At my home I have a few flocks of birds that I take care of that lay eggs. There is a pond nearby that has a layer of bayva, a type of grain, that grows well on top. I like to cook with that and the eggs that come from the birds. It is a peaceful life. Beyond this . . . rescuing excitement . . . I long to go back to that. I am a simple man.”

Ava sighed in yearning. She’d never longed to be somewhere more than now, hearing Vox describe his home. “Do you live there alone?”

Vox nodded. “For now. Erox lives nearby. Our properties back into each other to share the lake. Our mother has a cottage on these lands with our youngest sister. Our father died defending the city in the first Tuxa wave. He taught us how to protect, how to live.” He pushed himself off the biologics tank, shaking his head, and hummed.

Ava sighed. “It sounds like a dream.”

Vox nodded. “I spoke with Nuor about taking you there after we send the transport pods off. She was in agreement. It would be the safest place for you, and you could start to become one with our people.”

Ava inwardly bristled at Vox making plans for her without talking about it like she asked. She didn’t let it show though, her own plans already firm in her mind.

Instead she smiled widely at him. She really would like to go there. One day, she would like all Humans to be able to go there, since their native planet was now uninhabitable.

Vox moved up behind her and gently laid a hand on her shoulder. “I will come find you there, amongst the sweetened bayva fields.”

Ava flushed, feeling touched at his implication of being there with him, together. “I would like that. A lot.” She let the thought hang before continuing, “Would your kind ever help find more Humans? My family? Our entire species is like yours, not meant for living in space.”

His eyes focused on hers, but his posture remained stiff. “I wish I could say yes, but we are stretched thin in protecting our own females. We cannot take risks to start another war, despite your . . . attributes. We do not wish to be offensive, but we fight only when we have to.”

Ava’s stomach sank. This was why she needed to bargain and offer something worthwhile. Charity would only help herself. She needed them as an ally, not as just a personal savior.

Vox would have to see Humans in a different light from the females he was used to. Humans could fight back in their own way. Ava put her hand over his while thinking. He didn’t move away as they both pressed their fingers against the biologics tank. Humans weren’t just victims. Didn’t she already prove her worth to the Phor here on the ship?

It was sweet that he was trying to take care of her, and she worried he might not want to after she stopped being a fragile doll and took initiative. Would he still care for her then?

She looked at his face gazing back at her, handsome and exotic. Vox and the others were confident in their next steps, but it occurred to her that she would ache for him if he was gone. He was going into a battle. If anything happened . . . she would miss him . . . a lot.

Impulsively, she leaned forward. Vox straightened and stiffened at her movement. Ava had to stand on her tip toes to reach and angled his head down with her hands. She didn’t stop and gently kissed his forehead right below the small smattering of vestigial scales that gave way to his normal skin texture by his eyes.

Vox lit up with the action, flashing a bright blue that went away as quickly as it started. He gripped her upper arms and looked into her eyes.

Ava flushed red, already feeling embarrassed.

“What was that action, Ava?” Lirell asked. Ava had forgotten he was even there.

“Ah . . .” Ava started to reply.

“It was a kiss,” Vox answered, staring at her in wonder. “Humans do that to show affection.” At Ava’s quizzical look, he elaborated, “I have been reading the Phor’s logs.”

“Oh, is that like the hug she gave me earlier?” Lirell asked.

Vox flushed again, purple in intensity this time, and a growl came from him, along with a piercing glance toward Lirell.

Ava rushed to explain, “Hugs are more for friends. A kiss is something different.”

Lirell looked at Vox and Ava. “Something different . . .”

Vox exhaled and looked at Ava hungrily. “Come with me, little bird. Lirell, keep an eye on Ebel.”