Page 244 of Galaxy Games Four-Book Box Set (Galaxy Games)

244

Welcome to the Ark

A ’Dar

The room has more people in it than ever before. When we set off from Xenon almost two thousand years ago, we were one of ten arcs tasked with the mission of returning home with compatible females from all over the galaxy. I always dreamed of this room being full like this, with males and females comfortably mingling. Although this scene differs from my imaginings in so many ways, we’ve succeeded in one thing. Many of my crew will have a mate. That makes my chest swell with happiness.

I lift my mate by the waist and place her feet on top of a table at the head of the room, then leap up to join her there. The room quiets itself as every gaze is upon us.

“Welcome all. Thank you for coming. Today is filled with solemnity and celebration. Hope and sadness. It’s a time of looking forward and saying goodbye to the past.”

I pause and look around the room, seeing my males sitting tall in their dress uniforms, and so many females who are looking up at me. At first, I’d thought all humans looked the same, but look at them. All shapes and sizes. So many shades of pale to tan to black. Straight and curly arrays—hair. Some have yellow eyes. A few have flashed their fangs at me. If I had to place a label on it, I’d say it was with pride.

Some are looking at me with respect, some can’t give me eye contact at all. I understand. We all deserve free will and many of these women weren’t given a choice.

“Some of us chose to be here. To you I am grateful. Some were hijacked from their lives. Although I had no part in that, let me express my sympathy. We’re all here now, though, and there’s no going back, only forward.

“I hope you find meaningful work on board. I wish you peace and happiness. And I won’t lie, I hope each and every one of you can find love and machta , although the numbers don’t support that for some of the males.”

A flash of sadness pangs in my chest. I wish everyone here, indeed everyone in the galaxy, could find the happiness I’ve found with my Maya, the other half of my soul.

“We have 1,921 warriors, 19 human males, 15 children, and 1,576 females on board. Oh,” I add when Maya gives my hand a squeeze, “52 dats, 27 cogs, a porkster and a cake glider.” I glance at Maya and nod, ensuring I got that right.

“52 cats, 27 dogs, a hamster and a sugar glider,” she corrects sweetly. For some reason she’s trying hard not to laugh. I don’t get it. I thought my translator said I got that right.

“I plan to provide a place of safety and respect. We males are from Xenon. Our mission will not be complete until we return to our planet.”

I’ve tried to keep my worry contained as Maya and I fulfilled machta , but the news I’m about to impart causes all my concerns to flood back.

“Our communications team has been unable to hail the planet or another Xenon ship. I’m sure every male on board, like myself, is heartbroken by this fact. But we will return to Xenon, see what is there, and then decide how to proceed. In the meantime, I hope you find a way to enjoy your lives here on board our ship, the Xenon Ark.”

The room reverberates with applause. Some of it is heartfelt, some happy, especially the newly mated couples. Some of the females still can’t give me eye contact, which I understand. It’s easier to focus their anger on me than on the faceless TGN corporation or the evil and thankfully dead Jahzara Zedd.

Tucking my mate against my side, I gaze down at her. She looks beautiful in her uniform.

“It’s hard to express the extent of my happiness or my pride,” I say to her privately over the applause. “To have you as my mate is blessing enough, but to know you’ll be at my side, helping me with decisions, working with the females to help them acclimate and make them happy. It makes my heart sing.”

My mate smiles up at me, the look in her golden eyes full of genuine affection. She snags her arm around my neck and pulls me down to her level. After taking a swiping lick of the skin at my neck, she says, “I think I have just enough energy to take a quick trip to the medbay to meet those women and assess the extent of the problem. Then you’re going to have to join me in our quarters to help me fulfill machta , mate.”

“Happily, my heart. Happily.”