8. Doran
DORAN
Three more days before my mate arrived. I grew more anxious by the moment. Comms were not exchanged prior to arrival, something I complained bitterly about to Bob.
“That’s not our fault. The humans insisted that it was unfair because the Mylos didn’t get extended contact prior to meeting either, even if they were in the secondary part of the original program matching non Mylos Defense Fleet members.
And the reason for that is the mere sight of their mate or the sound of their voice, compounded by the knowledge that they are theirs to be claimed, has been known to kickstart their mating display and all that follows. ”
I deflated. I knew he was right, but it still felt unfair.
“Wait. The humans insisted, not the Mylos?”
“The Mylos did not oppose such contact initially, but after much debate, came to the conclusion that the human’s stance was indeed more equitable, and since no Dragonii had mated a non Dragonii before, there was no way to accurately predict if a Dragonii’s mating drive might not be similarly affected. ”
“No simulations proved this otherwise? I thought they ran advanced biological simulations to confirm compatibility genetically after Redondo matched with that human male.”
“They did, and it proved that human-Dragonii offspring are possible, as well as the fact that all children born will be Dragonii, with only hair and eye color affected. The simulation did not, however, test the mating drive. There’s no way to test that without additional data, which is a completely different set from what is needed to determine offspring viability. ”
I took his word for it. I was no scientist. I was a cargo jockey who spent his time loading and unloading cargo. I’d continue to do so, too, unless my beautiful Sarah wished for me to help her run her lodging house.
“Are you aware she’s approved the floor plan and exterior styling?”
I perked up at that. “She has?”
Bob chuckled. “Yeppers! Twelve bedrooms, five for your family, seven for guests, plus a public and private living room, a playroom in the private part of your home, a dining room, and a kitchen. Plus an attic and ten bathrooms. She also requested an orchard and a greenhouse. The orchard has an area reserved for it, but we’ll have to go through the process of seeing if apples from Earth can be imported or if the lunar observation post is going to blast the sample into smithereens like it did the the bamboo plant the Mylos ambassador tried to send as a housewarming gift to Johree. "
I winced. New Haven was a rare planet, and not just because it was habitable.
No, it was even rarer than that, a world a race of Ancients had terraformed and maintained for millenia.
And by maintained, I mean that there was some kind of base on one of the moons that our scans could not penetrate, but which scanned incoming ships, putting up an impenetrable shield around the planet and its moons when first visited by species who would have needed to terraform the planet more in order to make it livable for them.
When the Alliance sent a scout ship manned by Algonians, Mylos, and Grazev, it let them approach and land, as the planet was perfect for those species.
And for us, which is why, when we joined the Galactic Alliance's Council as full members, the planet ended up being one that we were allotted. That lunar base didn’t simply stop doing things, however.
It kept scanning incoming ships and apparently could tell if a plant species would be invasive.
That became readily apparent when the small potted bamboo suddenly was beamed out of the hold and got blasted into nano particles.
There was no way to communicate with the outpost as far as we knew either, to tell it that the plant was strictly a houseplant and would never set root in native soil.
And the three other planets that were known to be of similar origin; archives indicated these things were true for those as well.
I’d heard that Chivga IV had a planetary shield go up when they tried to import a Grakka bird for their zoo habitat, and that was a full three hundred years after their last known interaction with their own lunar observation post. Those Ancients had been deadly serious about environmental balance, for sure.
“So, when does building start?”
“It started this morning. It’s a simple design, simply large, so we should be finished with the exterior floors today and the wiring and plumbing tomorrow. Your kitchen and private quarters will be done first, so by tomorrow afternoon you and Kaelor will be ready to move your things in.”
“Hold up. Kaelor?”
“Yes. He’s moving from the storeroom he’s been using to sleep over to Dragon’s Rest.”
“Dragon’s Rest?”
“That’s what she’s naming the rooming house slash inn.
Dragons are an Earthen mythological creature of great wisdom and ferocity that they believe the Dragonii resemble.
Indeed, prior to having encountered even the Mylos, the humans had shifter romances where some of the humans could shift into different forms, including dragons.
” My comm beeped. “There, I’ve sent you an image of a dragon. ”
I paused, rearranging the crates to make room in the general store’s rented storage overflow area to tap my wrist comm and look. The dragon was a beautiful beast indeed, and looked much like the creature our species had evolved from eons ago.
“It is a fine, noble beast,” I observed.
“Indeed,” Bob agreed. “Though apparently with a penchant for stealing maidens.”
I nodded. I could see how they would wish to find a mate among the human females and woo them in their shifted human form. It was a parallel to our own situation now, though we did not snatch anyone. They willingly applied and were overjoyed to find their star given mate, the same as we were.
“Are you not pleased Kaelor is moving in? He is your older brother, after all.”
I swiped a hand over my face. “I am not unhappy about it, no. He simply did not mention it.”
I pondered this as I resumed my work. Had he thought I would refuse?
That stung. Family was everything, and even though he was often pushy, he meant well.
He was also usually right, though I would never tell him this.
I also owed him my mate and kits; as if he hadn’t joined the original colony team five years ago and taken the job as New Haven's spaceport administrator, he’d not have been in a position to hire me once he convinced me to come here.
And since I came here as a colonist and not a temporary spaceport worker, I was able to sign up for the mate matching program.
Which I had, the same day I’d arrived. A mere two weeks later, I’d been matched.
“I hope he finds his own match soon,” I commented.
“Why, thank you, brother.”
I turned to find Kaelor smiling at me.
“It’s time for lunch. Come and join me.”
“Talk to you later, Bob.”
“Okie dokie, smoky!”
Kaelor laughed.
“You two are becoming good friends.”
I shrugged. “He’s always around, and easy to talk to. Though I did have to ask him to not run his jokes by me before using them with incoming ships or in his little wake up show.”
Kalor’s shoulders shook. “Oh, that’s funny. I don’t blame you there."
We walked out of the spaceport over to the tavern.
“When were you going to tell me you were moving in with me and my mate?”
He looked startled. “I thought you knew. Sarah had Bob list the available rooms, and I asked for one. She saw my name, and Bob informed her of our relationship and had me moved into the family part of the residence. If it dismays you, I can remain where I am.”
I shook my head. “Not at all. Bob did not mention it, and Sarah and I are not allowed prior communication.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. I hadn’t considered that. I will ensure you are informed of anything like that in the future.”
I chuckled. “Unless our sister or our parents decide to move here, I think I’m good.”
Kaelor looked aghast. “I should hope Kiria does not! She’s always so very, very nosy!”
A horrified thought occurred to me. “My Sarah will surely wish for a wedding. I shall have to invite her as well as our parents.”
Kalor shuddered, then clapped a hand on my shoulder. “I will help you endure her visit.”
“Help me? What about you?”
“Your wedding, so your guest.”
I stared at him open-mouthed, as he laughed and left me staring after him as he hustled inside ahead of me.