Page 3 of Jessica's Mates
The slaves that were mining there, though the M’Mori didn’t care, they were shipped in and no one said a word. More often than not, they were then shipped off to a terraformed planet called Theros Six. It was known for slave trading and its gladiator rings. It was not located within the Federation’s reach. That was also where they were getting the slaves. The Federation had no say over what went down outside their reach, only what went on inside.
And slaves, good fighting ones, were worth money. So, after they worked the mines here… growing stronger, they sold them off before the aket could affect them. This had been going on for a long time. Long before I was even born.
“I’m locating her for you now, brother. From what I can see, the females have started to all locate close to mine eighty-three. Now that I’m in the system, I have set your commands to report for duty at mine eighty-seven. They were the closest to where she will be and they are leaving this day, brother. They will be swapping shifts with the other soldiers and some prisoners. This is your best chance at finding her sooner. Hopefully, before she has taken on all her Aashi mates.”
I knew that was a possibility, that she had been given five males to mate with. This was something not told to the females of Earth. We were told never to tell them, and after so many conversations with her, telling her of all the bad things our people have done, I didn’t want to frighten her more with the Aashi people’s ways of life. They were good to their females, so I hoped she was safe and being taken care of. But I also hoped she wasn’t mated to them.
“You need to be prepared to share her. I know that is not the M’Mori way. But what is right and wrong now? Look what our own government can do to other peoples, other worlds.”
He was right, and if my Jessica had taken on other males to survive, I wouldn’t be upset with her choice. She needed to do what she needed to survive. I just hoped that she would still accept me. After all this time.
“Thank you, R’Nam. I will take everything I need with me. But if you do not hear from me, don’t come for me. I know this is crazy but I must find my mate, and if she chooses to stay, I shall stay with her, and any mates she may have I will accept. Please tell Mother and Father of my decision once I have left. And tell P’Tam, our baby sister, to stay safe.”
I felt sad that I would no longer see my family, but I could feel my hearts. They beat for my mate and without her I would surely die from broken hearts.
“Goodbye, my brother, and may the gods bless you with many children.”
I quickly packed everything I had brought with me, including the datapad. I hoped I would still be able to communicate with my brother, but I would do so sparingly. Not wanting to be found by any M’Mori while I was on Aarzyn. I made my way out of my quarters and down to the port hub. Our ships were all connected to one large main hub. It sent soldiers off to where they were needed and picked up humans from Earth. It was where we could rest while off duty.
It took me almost one hour to find where I needed to be to get to Aarzyn. I scanned my way into the restricted area. I had seen this place before, wondered what it was for. And now I knew it was for the mines. As I entered, a soldier looked up at me, and I could see the question in his eyes.
“Who are you?” he asked informally. Standing up from where he sat, he put his datapad down and looked me over.
“I’m K’Tem, I have been selected for mine eighty-seven.” My fingers twitched with nerves as he reached over to check his datapad. I watched as he saw my name, confusion in the sound he made. He looked up at me and nodded.
“I didn’t see any new soldiers added to the roster earlier. You’re late, they are all ready to take off. Get in there now, before they leave you behind.” I nodded and ran down to the porthole. I pressed my hand to the datapad at the entrance, the doors opened and all eyes were on me.
I could see them looking around at each other, noticing that I was an added extra. I wasn’t supposed to be here and they knew it.
“Are you training to be a mine guard? I didn’t have you on my list today.” An older M’Mori looked down at his datapad. I nodded.
“Yes, sir. I am to be trained.” I watched as he slowly nodded. He tapped his finger a few times on the datapad. Unsure what he was doing, I felt my chest start to flare up. I hoped my uniform would hide the glow; fated males were not soldiers. And if they found out now, I wouldn’t ever see my fated. My Jessica.
“Grab a seat, boy. We take off in five. I want to have a meal before I start back on shift.”
I took a spare seat to the back. My luggage placed in a hold beside me. As soon as I felt us disconnect from the Mori Mori fleet, I felt I could finally breathe.
I am coming, my Jessica.
Chapter Four
Jessica
Okay, officially, Bezen was the biggest dick. He was demanding the females of this clan come out and tell me to mate bond him. Like, what the fuck? No way would they do that. That wasn’t why I was here; I was here to get away from all of that shit.
There was a lot of yelling, and there was an Aashi without tails and long black hair who kept telling the guys to free me at once. That they were being disrespectful of a female and undeserving as males to be my mates. I liked him, an Aashi like him would have been nice from the start. Maybe he would understand my need to find the girls. And then in turn find K’Tem. That was if he would come here. He probably already forgot about me.
Finally, Bezen had said I could go and speak with the girls, but that I had to be returned. As if they owned me. I rolled my eyes at him. I knew the girls wouldn’t allow that. The Chosen assholes moved to the side and let me free. As soon as I saw Quinn, I made my way on shaky legs. I was so tired, mentally and physically. I hadn’t stopped walking for so many days; I was dehydrated, and to top it off, I was just so relieved to see them.
“Jessica,” Quinn called out, but there was now two of her. My eyes playing tricks on me. I dropped down and sobbed in relief. I sensed Luna now, she was talking to me as she stroked my hair. I could hear the other girls being greeted by Brooklyn—I liked her. She had her head in the clouds most of the trip to Aarzyn, but she was sweet… maybe a little annoying.
“We are all here,” I heard, and I cried more. I cried for the life I lost, the friendships I wasn’t able to form with them because I couldn’t tell them what Agent Booker was going to do, what the M’Mori were up to… In doing so I missed this. Friendships.
I just hoped they would all forgive me in time.
We were sitting around a table. Quinn was talking about making this area bigger, and all the improvements they would make in the clan. Once I had some water in me, the headache started to feel less like a stabbing pain and now was a dull throb.
The table was located in the middle of huts and a big watering hole. It was really lovely here. I almost crawled down into the water to drink it all, but that was before Luna mentioned it was only for bathing. I was handed cup after cup of water, and so much food. I felt sick after not eating for a few days. It was hard to get food on your own when it grew up the big trees. I lived off the mushrooms I could see at the base of trees. The Chosen were no help with food or water for me. They refused to help until I mate bonded them.
