Page 41 of Ava Stargazer (Planet Xai #2)
That afternoon, after the winds died down, they had company.
Sai handed her a dish and they set up a meal outside, next to the lake, where the biologics were still racing across the surface. Joy was standing, her face in the afternoon sun, looking peaceful as she looked over the water. Orla and Erox were already sitting, wonder on Orla’s face and concern on Erox’s scarred one as they watched the lake. Miral was there too, absently dishing out food.
The water already looked different from the biologics being added. It was beginning to turn crystal clear in spots, down to the very bottom, instead of the muddy brown it had been before.
“Are you sure this was wise, brother? I know I agreed but...” Erox asked Vox, who was watching the biologics dance in the lake with an amused expression.
Ava watched Vox look across the lake and then grin at his brother, who was still gazing at the lake with concern. “Not in the least. But we will see what happens. They are good creatures.”
“Yes, but can we drink this water now?” Erox looked at it with a frown. His wounds had finally healed, but left disfiguring scars across the side of his face, and his left eye was now permanently drooped.
Vox gestured across the lake. “I already have. Tastes fine. Tastes better than ever, actually.”
Ava had to stifle a laugh, putting her hand on her much quieter container with the biologics that had stayed with her. The container felt different on her chest, through the new outfit the women had presented to her once she got back to Xai.
Ava now wore a shirt and pant set more like the others, colored brightly and made from a lightweight plant fabric with pockets everywhere. The pockets already were bulging, stretching the stitching with things she’d found to bring back to the house.
We are missing Rhutg. Ava looked around the table that was being set with a meal. Rhutg had stayed at the Galactic Board, even though his distaste for being there was strong. He wanted to be on hand for the next peace talks. And missing Lirell and Iryl. Basically all the ones she had come to define as her family. She bit her lip, considering. And Ebel and Nuor .
Ava frowned, but then looked around at who was there. Joy smiled back at her, still not talking much, but listening to Sai, who took to her just as much as she did to Ava. Miral patted her arm, putting the dishes that she had brought on the table. “I’m happy we have so many to care for.”
Orla, already sitting with food in front of her, put her hand over her stomach. Her eyes were bright, and the sun lit up her shimmering scales. “And another in a few months.”
Ava looked at her in confusion, her vision choosing that minute to cloud with a memory of her mother rubbing her stomach in the same way, the many times she was pregnant. Oh. She shook away the thought, taking in Orla’s excited expression as she held her stomach.
Ava rushed over to her, understanding. “Really?”
“Yes. Before you left I thought I might have been, but I wanted to wait a bit to make sure.”
“How long until . . . ?”
Orla smiled. “It will be before winter here. Around four of our moon cycles.” She laughed, giving her stomach another pat. “I’m so excited.”
Ava reached over and took her hand, then smiled back at her, and at Miral standing next to her. “Me too.”
That night Ava sat with her com feed up, working at the little desk area that she’d set up. As what was quickly becoming her habit, she checked in on the scans of the data that they had gotten from Cipra.
She was starting to read the results, summarized from the scanning, starting with her own family’s records. That initial summary was done almost instantaneously, but Ava was taking her time in absorbing it. The program was now doing a slow crawl across the stars, looking for references and any facial matches like it did with Joy. No hits yet.
Ava had also been messaging Nuor, and talking with Joy and Sai, letting them both know tidbits of what she found. She found it helped to share, especially right after looking at the data. The information was frustrating. The sales records were vague; a sold notice, and nothing more. Once the Humans were sold, the minders didn’t really seem to care to update other than a few internal notes to each other referencing the credit amount. There were more numbers than anything, referencing costs and profits. The computer could sort the rest of the data, better and more impersonal, than she ever could. No solid leads yet. On any Humans. That’s the important part.
She rubbed her cheek, feeling overwhelmed. Ava bit her lip, almost worried raw. How will we find any more? How can we help them?
“We will,” Vox said, sliding up and rubbing shoulders with her. “I’m sure there are some out there. Joy was found. As for what we’ll do about what we found on Cipra ... we need to wait and see. The quorum and Spry are discussing the merits of leaking some data anonymously, or having a formal hearing. We only had the Yar at the facility; we need more concrete evidence linking the Riolie.”
“Zeed brought back some samples. And the data?”
“We will have to see if that’s enough.”
Ava went to a shelf she had also claimed in their house, emptying her pockets of the things she had found over the day and added to her growing collection. Rocks and a seashell. She lined them up, organizing them all by color, next to the first dried flower from the Violie plants that had started to bloom while they were gone. The plant had an official name, but Ava didn’t care what it was. It would always be Violie’s flower to her.
Ava took the biologics off her chest and put it on the shelf as well, next to one of Nuor’s leftover feathers, wanting to undress for bed.
“Vox?” She turned to him, pulling off her new outfit, wearing just a thin shirt now.
He was organizing the hides on the bed after washing them earlier. “Yes?” His eyes met hers before going back to fixing the blankets.
The moons were halfway full outside. Ava pointed out the window. “I’m not tired yet. Would you sit with me by the lake for a while? I’ll bring the biologics some powder.”
On the chair was a brightly colored shawl from Orla that Ava put over her shoulders, followed by the smaller container of biologics. The weather had started to turn a bit cooler at night, different from the relentless heat of the last few weeks.
Vox finished putting the blankets on and then stood to join her. He noticed her shiver. “I think we might need to trade for some winter clothing for you, with your thinner skin. It will get cooler faster than you know now that the seasons are starting to change.”
“Okay.”
They walked outside and Ava enjoyed the slightly crisper air that flowed around her. She went to the edge of the lake and spread the powder on the pond, noticing the ripples where the biologics came to greet her. “Hello to you.” She fed her little container as well while Vox looked over the fields.
“What are you thinking?” she asked, noticing his far-off gaze.
He motioned in front of him. “Summer is almost over and I never planted much this year with being gone.”
“Will we have enough to eat?”
“Yes. Others will contribute since I went to battle. But my hands feel idle. I might take some turns in the caves for more IO minerals to trade. The Spry are also interested in doing trade runs more frequently now that we have Celestial to help.” He looked at her. “After all, I have more than myself to provide for now.”
Ava grinned at that while she watched the biologics splash. He held her close, warm behind her back, and Ava said softly, “Things are going to be happening too. I don’t know what will happen, but we are just going to have to try to live around it.”
Vox nodded, tightening his arms. “Yes.” He reached down and picked up a bavla stalk, then tapped it, like he did at the mating ceremony. “And speaking of living . . . ?” He looked to the side at her, a question pressed on her from his mind. “Would you like to try? To join together?”
“Yes, Vox.” Ava looked out over the lake. “ Can we join here? On this lake? With the biologics? Are you ready?”
He flushed a deep purple from behind her. “Yes, Ava.”
Ava closed her eyes and listened to the seeds inside rattle as he moved close to hold her tight. The sound traveled over the night and she leaned into him, feeling content in his arms, her nose a little cold in the nighttime air. It’s peaceful. In all her imaginings, alone in the stars, she never could have thought of her life now.
Soon Vox stopped the song. The quiet pressed around them. He said softly, “There we go.”
Ava opened her eyes to see luras flickering all around.