7. Jesse
JESSE
The vessel in question was not the small craft I’d been expecting. Something bigger than a shuttle, yes. This was much larger. Much, much larger. So much so that first, much to the consternation of my fellow human companions and myself, we boarded a small shuttle that flew us out to it.
“Welcome aboard The Taloned Wing, I’m Captain Hrtha.” Then, to my complete bemusement, he gave me a small bow. “It is our pleasure to have the honor of taking you.”
“Um, okay. Nice to meet you too,” I replied, unsure of what else to say.
“Ritsha!” the ambassador said, addressing an equally formal but less ornately dressed Dragonii who looked to be about my age. “Are the quarters prepared?”
“They are, and their belongings are aboard.”
“That was fast,” Samuel commented. “Though you all did say we should be packed and ready to go, so I guess all you had to do was grab it all and run.”
I’d packed my belongings that were in the motel room, except for Buster’s new toys, food, treats, and his water fountain, back into my duffle and suitcase.
“I must admit, without a set of keys, getting his vehicle into the shuttle and into the cargo hold proved an interesting task for the team. The dog was happy enough once the inn’s manager came out and lured him with a treat.”
“Oh, yeah,” I chuckled. “Buster will do anything for a treat.” Then my mind screeched to a halt. Had he just said…?
“You brought his vehicle?” Kyle asked, sounding miffed. “Why not mine and his?” he jabbed a thumb in Samuel’s direction.
“Apologies, but if you wish us to send for those, you will need to place them on a request that adds them to your shipping allowance. As long as you do not exceed that amount, we will be pleased to have it shipped to you. Though if it is a combustion engine fueled with noxious chemicals, you may need to have them converted before you may make use of them.”
“My truck runs on unleaded gas,” I admitted.
“I will put in a request for conversion before it is delivered.”
“So why’s he getting special treatment?” Kyle was not willing to let this go. “And when are you going to tell us who we’re mated to?”
“Do you know who he is?” Captain Hrthra asked him.
“Some jumped up bureaucrat from what I can see and hear.” Kyle’s jaw jutted out stubbornly.
“Dude, that’s Ambassador Helkhor,” Samuel hissed under his breath at him.
“What? So that’s why he looks familiar, and that’s also why he’s got such a big stick up his ass.” He turned to the ambassador. “You’re pissed that they sent you to escort the first lot of us, huh?”
“Not at all, though I find myself wishing we’d left you behind to come with the next batch,” Helkhor snapped.
“Ohh, burn,” Samuel said, looking entertained.
“I’ll see that these two get to their quarters while you settle Jesse Wilson." The captain gave me another one of those little bows before taking hold of Kyle’s arm firmly and leading them away.
“I just want to know why the favoritism!” Kyle shouted insistently.
“I sure hope his claim isn’t close to mine,” I commented.
“He’s going to one of the other colonies, so no worries about that,” Ambassador Helkhor replied. “Both he and Samuel are heading for Talkeir V, which has a ten year head start on New Haven."
“Oh, so their mates were already there, huh?”
“They were not matched,” came the answer, and my brow furrowed in confusion.
”Please come with us, and we’ll show you to your quarters.”
I followed along, but curiosity got the better of me. “I thought you said you started getting our stuff picked up and all as soon as you were notified of our matches, plural.”
“Yes, yours and Carl’s and Alex’s. It was simply convenient to include the other two as we would be taking you immediately.”
“But why me immediately specifically? Is it so I don’t miss a scheduled flight to New Haven?”
We stopped in front of a door. For some reason, it was flanked by two armed guards, who, upon seeing us, snapped to attention and gave a small bow before straightening.
This is definitely getting weird.
“Please place your hand on the panel here,” Rishka requested, gesturing.
“That adds your bio signature to the door and will allow you not only access, but the ability to have the AI follow your commands, within reason. Her name is Glia, and like Xeranos, she is sentient. On Dragonii vessels and mainly Dragonii worlds, you will encounter her instead of Xeranos. Once at the colony, you will make use of the new iteration of Xeranos, Bob.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, turning to look at him, my hand still on the faceplate thingy, “But did you say Bob?”
“Indeed,” the ambassador replied. “He chose the name Bob, liking the symmetry of it.”
Yep, definitely weird.
“Now if you remove your hand and replace it, the door should open for you,” Rishka said.
I looked at the two guards. “And will I be locked inside there for the duration of the trip?”
“Absolutely not. They are here for your protection,” Helkhor replied, as if that should reassure me.
Which, of course, it didn’t. My mouth went dry.
“Am I in danger?”
“Not at this time, no.”
Again, not very reassuring. But Buster must have heard my voice as he began barking excitedly on the other side of the door, so I palmed the thingy again, and he was right - the door slid open, and I was immediately greeted by a very enthusiastic doggo.
“Hey, buddy!” I said, kneeling down to ruffle his ears. “You missed me, huh?” He licked my face, his tail wagging so hard I was surprised the air didn’t make a whistling sound. “Did you like your ride? Was it better than going in the truck?”
Wag, wag, wag.
I glanced over my shoulder at the ambassador and the guy I decided must be his aide. “You said they brought all his stuff? Any idea where his treats are?”
“If you’ll give us leave to enter, I can show you where I placed them,” Rishka said.
“Huh? Oh, yeah.” I stood up and stepped inside, holding onto Buster's collar so he didn’t decide to go check out the hall or something like that, because, you know, dog. "Come on in.”
The pair entered cautiously, and the door slid shut behind them.
“I put them here, in a sealed container on your table,” Rishka said, going over to a sort of dining nook.
I panned my gaze around the rest of the space, noticing only now how downright luxurious the space was.
Rich pile carpeting, fancy carved bedposts and headboard on an enormous bed that held a lot of pillows and had a very expensive looking bedspread on it, a plushly upholstered sofa with no back, and a wing backed chair that I had the sneaking suspicion was purchased and brought aboard just before I arrived, as its blue didn't quite match the rest of the space which color coordinated perfectly.
Dining table and chairs, with low backs and legs that were as ornately carved as the bed, and of the same sort of wood.
I licked my lips. “Who exactly am I mated to?”
Ambassador Helkhor sighed. “Perhaps you should sit down.”
I swallowed, taking a seat in the rather comfy looking armchair. Nothing good ever followed those words; that was for sure. Buster followed me, placing his head on my knee.
“There’s no other way to say this, so I’ll just come outright and say it. I know it will be a lot for you to process, but you have several days to grow accustomed and for us to coach you on your arrival.”
I frowned. Why would they need to coach me?
“You were matched to Prince Johree, the King’s youngest son and fourth in line for the throne.”
“Well, fuck me.”
It was a damned good thing I was already sitting down, as I probably would have fallen over.
Goddamit! A prince? There’s no way they’ll let me ranch now.
Bitter disappointment filled me. Some folks would be happy to be a real life Cinderfella. Not me. I just wanted a nice little spread with a few head of cattle and my horses, and some acreage to grow silage and maybe some veggies for my own consumption. Maybe even an orchard.
So much for the matching program being infallible. Leave it to me to be the first screw up it’s ever made. I sighed, fisting my hands. A prince is bound to have stables, right? Maybe he’ll still help me get Socks and Meadow while we straighten this mistake out.
Buster placed his paws on my lap and licked my face.
Damn it, I was crying. I decided I didn't care. I’d been through so much and now this? I’d earned every damned one of these tears.