Page 37 of Ava Stargazer (Planet Xai #2)

Ava watched Tiral as she sat in the mess hall after her talk with Pyra. He was in the hallway right outside and had the young Vorbax running laps around the ship, still training them even though the trip to Cipra was over.

Sai sat across from her, eating a meal. Both she and Ava were picking at the synthetic proteins glumly.

Zeed had come in briefly and nodded to them both, his eyes still lingering on Ava before leaving and working with Tiral and the other youngsters. Ava was able to meet his eyes and nod back to him.

“How long will they run?” she asked Sai, feeling lazy just watching the constant laps of the smaller Vorbax. They have been running for the better part of a cycle.

Sai shrugged, lifting the food on her plate lethargically. “Until Tiral feels them growing enough.”

Ava poked at her plate as well. Wish we had some fruit still. It was funny how this was all she ate before, but it seemed inadequate now.

Tiral came and stood in the doorway, filling it with his frame and casual demeanor. “In a moment they are going to attempt their meditative state while running. It is difficult for us to do both at once. That’s the real lesson for them today. Wear them out and see what they can do.” Hesitation was in his eyes as he looked at Ava. “I wanted to warn you in case you wanted to move away.”

Ava looked at him speculatively. “Is it dangerous?”

“No, they are weak and will barely get a read anywhere.”

“Then I’ll stay. As long as it is not harmful, they can see what they can sense from me and Sai as well.”

Tiral’s eyes sparkled with approval. “Very well.”

Ava felt a bit more settled herself as she gave a smile to Sai and continued eating. “It feels good to help. Even if it is just this.” She ate another bite. And if I’m truly going to be a part of Xai, learning how to handle this is the way forward.

Sai nodded, leaning back in her chair. “I’ll help with anything.” She threw her head back, squinting at the fluorescent track lighting overhead. “Being in a ship all the time can get stuffy. But we’re almost there now, to the Galactic Board. How are you feeling with everything?”

Ava’s nervousness reappeared at Sai’s inquiry. She ducked her head. “Okay. It’s only a cycle now.” She pointed out the door, toward navigation. “We talked a lot with Iryl about how to set everything up at the board.”

Sai nodded. “I know, I listened in. They weren’t blocking me.”

“Oh.” Ava frowned. I wish I could do that.

Sai sighed and breathed deep. “It’s all rather boring. But it’s good they’re very focused on it.”

“Yeah. Rhutg took some of my blood earlier. To register my DNA.” Ava pointed to a bandage she wore, under the area with the tracker in her arm. Rhutg had eventually been able to do it, with Erox on a video feed to talk him through. He wasn’t really good at using the medical equipment though. Ava had several wound marks around where he’d eventually succeeded, enough that she’d put the green ointment on after he was done, while checking in on Vox, who still slept.

“Yeah, that was more fun to listen to.” Sai smirked.

Ava wrinkled her nose back at her.

She leaned back and pointed at Ava’s com. “Even more interesting, how is the other Human doing? Has she bonded to Iryl? He was always one of the favorites.”

“According to you, all the men are the favorites.”

Sai leaned back, showing all of her sharper teeth in a smile to Ava. “All the ones that volunteer for rescue missions and go into battle are, yes. Basically all the ones surrounding you lately.”

Ava rolled her eyes. “How about you then? Are you going after one of them?”

Sai fixed her with a look that said enough. “What do you think?”

Chuckling, Ava pointed at her com. “Joy seems alright. I don’t know about bonded to Iryl, but she definitely feels most comfortable with him.” Ava frowned. Iryl was also the first one to be kind to her, like Vox was to me. After a pause she continued, “She is happy, even though she is mostly having to stay in Iryl’s rooms. I convinced her to put on a robe to go out and look around. She can do that as long as she is disguised. I think she’s okay. I can’t wait until she gets to Xai though, and doesn’t have to do that anymore.”

“Yeah, that’s not living.” Sai leaned back in her chair and stretched.

Ava was about to answer when she felt the muted touches of the Vorbax now running laps. Their energy did indeed feel weak as they scraped across her mind. It was easy to ignore and accept now, as she practiced that bit of detachment back like she did before with just Vox.

Ava shook off the feeling, not bothered by the young Vorbax’s attempts to connect at all. She fingered her com, thinking of Joy just starting to find her way. And how hard it was for her in the beginning. “No, it’s not living at all.”