30. Chapter 30

Rhutg was in the solarium when Ava finally asked Vox where he was. She wanted to find him. After she showered, ate, and slept, her mind turned to her last glimpse of him. His sad expression while closing the cargo bay doors came roaring back. The memory hung in her mind, guiltily pricking her to go find him.

Vox walked her there himself, a guard in the silent halls.

“Where did all the women settle?” Ava asked as they walked. It was the first bit of curiosity she had about them since being assured they were all unharmed the cycle before.

“They took over the Phor queen’s habitat as their temporary home. Although they spend most of their time in the solarium.”

“Are they there now?” Ava’s steps faltered, forehead wrinkling.

“No. It is just Rhutg.”

Ava sighed in relief. She wanted to see Rhutg alone. She didn’t want to see the other females. She couldn’t piece together why she didn’t want to see them other than she had an association with them of the fear she’d felt.

A sour feeling and anxiety churned in her stomach when she thought of them. No matter how she rationalized their actions to herself, and she had come to terms that it was not directed or malicious toward her, she still felt sick when thinking about visiting them. She knew they were just defending themselves. She hated that she felt this way. More than anything, she hated that the fear was winning in keeping her trapped.

Vox didn’t press her, letting her know that the females were fine with giving her time. Time. Is that what I need? Vox seemed to think so. He was probably right, as now she was venturing out to find Rhutg when she couldn’t have imagined doing so earlier.

Rhutg, however, Ava wanted to see. She knew Vox could have called him to her in the engine room, but Rhutg was hurting himself in a way that was more permanent and lasting than Ava was. Ava had Vox by her side. Rhutg now was alone, his hopes of reuniting with his Violie gone. The shock must have worn off, and Ava knew how lonely the grief afterward could be.

So Ava had left to find him, walking out of the engine room for the first time in two cycles. Her mind felt clearer than when she first got on the ship, but she was still jumpy. Still, it was good for her to get out and not keep herself closed in. She knew this even without Vox reminding her.

At the door to the solarium she turned to Vox, hand on the pinpad.

“Are you wanting to speak with him alone?” he asked before she could express the wish.

Ava nodded.

Vox hummed, connecting his forehead with hers before turning to flank the doorway. “I will guard outside.” Even though no threats could exist out here in space—she knew the only threats were in her mind—she appreciated the gesture. “Call for me if you need me.”

Ava rubbed his hand in thanks and went in, door closing behind her.

Her eyes stung as they adjusted to the bright artificial sun. Blinking, she walked ahead, rubbing her arms and feeling the warmth on them while she looked around the room for him.

She found him almost immediately. Rhutg was sitting on a bench next to the artificial pond, head down, watching the recirculating water rippling through the rocks, constantly being recycled. His large frame took up almost the entirety of the small bench.

He looked up when she approached. He was hunched over, looking broken instead of the strong, tall warrior he was when they first met.

“Ava.” He spoke gently, scooting on the bench to make room for her next to him.

Instead of just sitting, Ava leaned over, put her arm around his shoulders, and hugged him. He flashed purple at the gesture and then hummed, a deeper sound than Vox usually made. He put his hand over her arm that slung around his shoulders.

“I’m sorry, Rhutg,” Ava said, squeezing her arms with the words. “I’m so sorry.”

Rhutg nodded stoically. He didn’t shrug off her embrace. They sat like that, enjoying the sun and listening to the water trickle, in silence. They did not need words between them. They were there for each other through their grief.

After some time, Rhutg cleared his throat. “I appreciate your help. Even though we did not rescue Violie, the females gave me her last memories, her unending devotion. I am grateful for this, and that her last wish of rescuing all of them was fulfilled.”

Ava nodded, head on his shoulder.

Rhutg continued, moving out of her arms and taking one of her hands in his. “Ava,” he said seriously, waiting until her eyes connected with his before continuing, “I will help you.”

Not comprehending, Ava frowned, “I thought you already did.”

“You misunderstand,” Rhutg said, shaking his head. “Regardless of what the quorum decides when it comes to assistance for your species, I will help you. I owe that to Violie, and to you.”

Ava’s heart fell. “Did the Vorbax decide not to help?”

“They are as of yet undecided. Several meetings have already taken place. There is jubilation for the females coming home. That is their first priority. What to do with you and others like you is an afterthought. Your case will be presented, but regardless of the outcome.” He caught her eye again, sincerity shining in his. “I will help you. Vox will help you. Lirell will follow. Erox is still undecided.”

Ava stared at him, lump in her throat. “Really?” The shadows in her mind that whispered to her, blaming her for inaction, lost some power. She started to tear up again. “Can you ask Vox to come in?”

Rhutg shone a second, and Ava felt Vox walk up, gait smooth and unhurried. She looked up at Vox’s looming frame. “You will help?”

Vox nodded. “Yes, Ava. I cannot see your brethren held. There is no distinction between Vorbax and Human females for me anymore.” Vox sat on the other side of Ava on his knees, the bench not big enough to fit the three of them. He sat there and took her other hand not held by Rhutg. “I will follow where you need to go.”

“Not right away. There is a chance the Vorbax will come to the right decision to intervene,” Rhutg continued, speaking slowly. “But we will not wait long for them to decide.”

“How will we . . . ?” Ava asked.

“This ship. As long as the biologics are willing, we can keep it indefinitely. It was marked as destroyed on the official logs,” Rhutg explained, letting go of her hand and gesturing at the pond in front of him.

“R526? It was?”

“Yes.” Vox nodded, smiling. “A gift from Ebel. It will need a new name at some point. When Ebel had access to the database to program your tracker, the serial numbers were cleared off the official logs. This ship was uncoupled from the Phor mainframe and registered as part of the Vorbax fleet. It will probably need to be modified some or cloaked but we can do that on Xai. As long as we keep from contacting the Phor mainframe ourselves, there will be no trace. Iryl checked. On the Phor”s systems this ship was put as a casualty of war between the Vorbax and Tuxa. Both of our species are now on the restricted list for contracting any Phor transports and needing to undergo mediation.”

Ava’s heart swelled, thinking of Ebel doing that for her to give her a chance. Thank you, Ebel.

Ava checked her com, but it was still powered down. She had put it on out of habit. “I can not send a message to them, ever?”

Vox shook his head, placing his hand over her now useless com. “Not from here. In time, perhaps, from Xai.”

She frowned. It was hard to know she was going to be completely disconnected going forward. She would find a way to communicate with her friends somehow. Ava nodded slowly, twisting the com on her wrist idly.

“The craft has been picked up, Ava,” Vox explained, watching her spin her com.

“How do you know? Are they safe then?”

Rhutg answered, “Iryl was monitoring it. He received a notification that it was retrieved by another Phor cargo ship. They should be fine. I would not contact them until later when we are settled ourselves. Much is undecided about their lives.”

Ava nodded, breathing out in relief. If they were safe, then her concerns about communication truly didn’t matter.