Page 29 of Ava Stargazer (Planet Xai #2)
Vox kept a watchful eye over the entire area in navigation, his hands splayed out flat on the counter as he leaned forward in concentration. The ship was cloaked and had not been picked up on any sensors. The Spry had held up their end of the bargain of properly retrofitting the ship to be as useful as possible out in space. Fijjak was on hand in navigation next to him, monitoring the cloaking’s efficacy and making sure everything was in order, his many-fingered hands delicate on the controls.
The plan is working well. As it was, they could circle Cipra, getting increasingly closer without detection. He turned to watch as Ava stared at the planet and fingered her container of biologics. We will go there and leave fast.
Cipra was unimpressive. The planet was tiny. He looked out the window and over the view in disdain as they came in closer. An asteroid would be more proper of a term . The facility was on the north end of the planet. They circled it several times before finding a spot to land. Vox had a hard time believing that this insignificant tract of land was what they had traveled so far to find. At least it exists, though. It would’ve been worse if nothing was there at all.
He chanced a conversation with Rhutg, who was finishing the landing protocols, scanning the outside. “Where are the creatures here?” Are there any? The place felt dead and desolate as Celestial landed, undetected, outside the facility. They would need to walk a short distance to get in.
Rhutg shrugged in return.
The planet looked so minuscule to have been where Ava lived. Vox frowned, seeing her blank expression in the glass as the ship settled. Where a good section of the Humans lived.
Ava looked over to him as he regarded her. “I was actually born here.” She swallowed, and he felt her anxiety bloom. Vox put a hand on her shoulder and hummed, helping her calm down.
Celestial ’s sensors let off soft chimes as they landed. Outside the window, the edges of the facility loomed in the distance. It looked almost abandoned, and he could see rust, even from this far, lending the gray metal a reddish tone. If this is the outside ... I wonder what the inside looks like.
The engine went into stasis, and they moved down to the cargo area. A quick scan outside deemed it stable, and the doors opened, giving them their first view of the tiny world.
Vox stood on the edge of the cargo bay and breathed deep, extending his mind, reaching for any contact he could find. The air, metallic tinged, bit at his lungs and nose but was, as the sensors read, acceptable enough to be breathable.
It is cold. He could see small ice crystals outside. Such a contrast from the summertime that still reigned on Xai. He expanded his mind. “I feel them.” There were creatures still here, but they were below the surface, and there were not many. Some others were closer to ground level. Guards, perhaps?
“Should we wait? For them to come closer?” he asked Rhutg, angling his head in his direction.
“There’s one directly north. Alone. Too far for me to break from here,” Rhutg said.
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’ll be 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 exited Celestial and 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 the feel 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 to Celestial , 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 the creature’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.”
Vox forcefully asked, “Who? Who do you serve under?”
The Yar’s voice twisted, as if in pain as Rhutg shone brighter. “The Riolie. Yes, yes. And we serve as their hands, and as their shield. Yes, we are loyal. Yes, we serve.”
Fijjak’s antennas raised higher. “Oh. It is deep then,” he murmured.
Vox closed his eyes, feeling out the truth. “These Yar are the front so the Riolie stay unblemished.”
He looked back at Ava, and saw Pyra’s eyes widen over her shoulder. Ava made the same connection he did and she said aloud, “Where Joy was at the farm ...”
Vox watched Ava’s eyes grow wide as well as she repeated, “The Riolie owned the farming planet Joy initially worked at.” She then looked at Fijjak. “What do you mean by deep?”
Fijjak’s antennas swiveled back to her, even as his eyes remained on the Yar. “The Riolie are almost as old as us. We have a cordial relationship, but have kept our distance. They were too mercenary for us to consider anything more.” Fijjak walked closer to the Yar, its reflection in his eyes. “I have never seen these Yar creatures before.”
Vox remembered seeing one of the Riolie at Elyheim. Its tall body had caught the light, reflecting it back in a way that drew attention. They looked majestic. And beautiful. They even had a similar face to him and the Humans, but instead of being covered with skin, they were crystalline, with harder angles. An off-white color that shimmered in the light. “They are one of the main species on the board and hold much power. And influence. They are reputed to be ... respectable.” Vox added, as an afterthought, “I think we found who planted the cameras in Iryl’s quarters. I feel the same signature here.”
Ava’s words from when they first met filtered again through Vox’s mind. How Humans were incorrectly classed. They had us listed next to the plants and fungi. It was indeed a willful cover-up. The kind only one very high in power could achieve. Vox looked back at the Yar and said out loud, “These creatures have no classification at all. They are truly the Riolie’s puppets.”
Ava asked, “What does it mean then?”
Vox didn’t answer, still trying to study the information from the Yar, angling his head back and forth in concentration. A broken mind could be fully examined, but you still had to ask the right questions, or you would find nothing. And sometimes the data was inaccurate, as memories often were. And that damn crystalline coating . . . “I do not know.”
Zeed spoke, holding a steady shine. “These Yar are puppets, through and through. Look at the childhood memories it has. It was raised by the Riolie and injected with that crystal coating until they go insane and only obey orders. This one doesn’t know anything more, just its experiences growing up.”
Ava took a shaky breath before she asked, “How many other ... species are involved here at Cipra under their watch?”
Vox shook his head. “This underling does not know any more. It came after the facility was no longer being used, but he does know there were many.” He regarded the broken form, the broken Yar, in front of him, then stood and shook his head. “Other species would be livid to learn this. The Tuxa had to hide their actions toward us. And here, a whole operation was happening, facilitated by the board’s power.”
Fijjak nodded, his antennas forward as if they were spears, and asked in his stilted voice, “Are they ... connected? With the Tuxa?”
Vox shook his head “No. I’ve felt enough Tuxa minds now to know this is unconnected. But I could see them working together in the future. The Riolie apparently love having underlings.”
Rhutg snorted. “I doubt it. Tuxa are not as easily controlled and too stupid to be useful.”
Vox stood frozen in the hull, thinking of how this knowledge had been sitting here the whole time. In this hidden, tundra wasteland.
Sai spoke softly, her voice breaking over the distance. “The Tuxa wanted us for themselves. Not to sell like ... this. Or at least, they never talked about selling ... only...” She looked away and rubbed her arms. “So that’s different.”
Vox turned to see how Ava was taking it and saw a blank look on her face already. Will the rest of this be too much for her to handle? But it was too late to stop now.
Pyra came up then, extending his hand to the Yar, and Vox felt him weakly connect to try to see for himself. He watched as Pyra’s eyes opened wide, then connected with Vox to say, “It is evil. What was done here. Is being done here.”
“Yes. Now you see what is out there beyond Xai.”
Tiral made the Yar walk in front of the six young Vorbax. He had it stand and extend its arms in front of them. “Practice. He is already broken. Sift through yourself.”
Vox turned away from their practice, knowing it was necessary in order to develop but also seeing it as barbaric. He turned to Ava, gesturing behind him toward the open cargo bay. “There is an entrance, off to the side. It opens into a maintenance walkway in the facility. We should go there. The main entrance still has extensive security hookups. I am unsure how many we can override.”
Fijjak, still staring at the Yar, quivered his antennas. “Make this one put the security system in testing mode. If it is like the board’s one I will share the schematics. It would provide a good excuse for being offline for a bit. It won’t last for long, but enough to go in and out.”
Vox turned to the Yar and asked. “Will that work? Will the Riolie be alerted? Are they constantly watching?”
“No, only if triggered. No one comes here any longer, not for many rotations.”
Ava steeled her shoulders, and he saw determination flash in her eyes. “Vox, I still want to go. To see. I also think I can remember the way, down the halls. Where we need to go.”
“Yes,” Vox said briskly back to her, adjusting the strap on his chest holding the various phasers before meeting her eyes. “You shall. There are different minders in sectors. The place extends into the planet. There are still operations ongoing. Some longer term experiments that they had running...” He took a deep breath and then said in an undertone, “In addition to guarding, these Yar were in charge of collecting that data.” Turning toward Fijjak he said, “Your idea about the testing mode is good, but it will not last long enough for us to explore without something suspicious being on the logs. I don’t want any additional video evidence that can be used against us.”
Vox turned roughly to the Yar in front of him. Though he’d gone through his mind and hadn’t seen anything remotely Human there, he still asked the broken Yar in front of him, “Do you recognize her form?” He gestured to Ava.
“No.”
Vox sighed. They would need to find ones that were around from back then, when Humans were still being bred. Some will need to recognize her.
Rhutg watched Vox, then said, “Let’s not break too many. With any luck, this time we can do this and then leave without anyone knowing we were here at all.”
Vox nodded, feeling the fatigue from even just this one mind he held in his. He’d had a burst of clarity from the adrenaline, but his mind was already taking on that sluggish feeling. The coating on their mind made them hard to get through and heavy to bear. They would need to be stealthy. The less we need to break, the better.