Page 5 of Jorhee

“I have decided my name is Bob,” the AI announced. ”It is a palindrome, which gives it a nice symmetry, and being a common human name, will bring a note of familiarity to the colonists who have left their homes to begin anew.”

“Bob,” I repeated. “It’s a good name.”

“Thank you.”

Revven coughed politely. “Now, if you’ll simply answer the questionnaire here on the data pad, Bob will scan you and then, once you’re finished, if you’ll hand it back to either myself or Piral, we’ll then proceed with taking a swab of saliva from inside your cheek.”

One of my guards, Kiprr, stepped forward. “Would it be permitted for me to also test today?”

We all looked at him in surprise, all except for the second guard, Fethri. I realized then that the pair had discussed this before coming here today.

“Your Grace?” Piral asked, as if seeking my permission.

I waved my hand. “If they wish to test and it’s not an imposition for them to do so now, I am fine with it.”

“Very well,” Revven replied, looking at Fethri. “Are you also wishing to?”

“Yes. We wish to do so in order to be guaranteed going with him to New Haven."

I felt touched by their devotion.

“You know that you could end up matched and mated?” the Mylos officer pressed.

The pair shrugged.

“I’ve not had any luck so far, and I’ve used services to introduce me to far too many unmated persons to keep count.So, if that takes the guesswork out of it, I’m good,” Kippr declared.

“Same, only my mother is the one who keeps pressing. Every week, we get a new guest at the week’s end meal and wouldn’t you know it, it’s an eligible Dragonii who’s hoping to meet their fated mate. I have to admit, the idea of being mated appeals to me, and I’d like the stress of being set up taken away.”

The pair were handed data pads, and we settled down into the comfortable chairs provided to answer them. The questions were extensive and varied, and I was glad when I finished at last and was able to go to the next phase. Piral took my swab and processed it, but no match came back for me, of course, as the testing on Earth had not yet been implemented. Then the same was done for my two guards, and we took our leave.

This time I smiled and waved while quickly returning to the peace and quiet of my vehicle, breathing a sigh of relief that it was over. Now all I had to do was travel back to Rednath along with my brother and nephew and formally hand over the mantle of governor. Then, after a good night’s sleep, I’d depart on my official vessel, theStar Eyrie,to New Haven, where I’d either stay aboard until an official manse was built, or reside in a 3D printed temporary dwelling. I had already made up my mind to see how the locals received me and what they expected before deciding which I would do, though my personal preference would be to park my ship, live in it, and commute to the 3D temp building I’d use as an office. Of course, in the infinitesimal chance that I did end up matched, I’d need to consult with my new mate as well, as I’d have to see to his comfort. And it would most definitely be a he, as I was not attracted to females in the slightest. As for my guards, we’d make arrangements for accommodations for them based upon where I ended up and if either of them ended up mated.

4

JESSE

Three weeks and the best thing I’d found was with a temp agency, cleaning offices in the dead of night. It was honest work and nothing to be ashamed of, but I found myself longing for the open air and the gentle nudges from the cattle and horses that had filled my days. My coworkers barely spoke to me, wearing earbuds to listen to music and podcasts and books or whatever, so I was feeling rather lonely too. There was none of the camaraderie with the other ranch hands, and my work schedule precluded me from meeting up with my buddies at the bar. Though really I was beginning to realize they were more like friendly acquaintances, even Jase who’d mysteriously stopped being online when I was. I kept logging on and saw that he was online, only for him to immediately disappear.

I wasn’t stupid - Jase had obviously fibbed about his cousin and the family party, or at least, decided he’d dodged a bullet being able to stay out of my drama in a personal manner. He must have told the others too, as they all kept popping offline just as quickly or popped up a DO NOT DISTURB message. It hurt that they’d also turned their back on me as soon as I wasn’tthe fun guy they hung out with and who played wingman as needed.

Another day, another dollar come and gone,I mused to myself as I pulled out of the parking garage of the office block I cleaned at, holding my debit card out to pay for the parking. The agency paid it back come payday, marking it as an expense that the client covered since, unlike with the regular cleaning staff, I did not have a parking pass, though why they paid for a temp for so long instead of simply hiring one on, I also remained clueless about.

I pulled out, and instead of heading back to the motel immediately, I turned the other direction to hit the twenty-four hour box store so I could get Buster some more food and pick up a few more ready meals for myself. As I drove along, a billboard advertising the new Mylos-Dragonii programs came into view, and that got me to thinking about the land claims the Dragonii were offering. By the time I’d checked out with my purchases, my mind was made up. I was going to sign up. Everyone knew the odds of getting matched were low, and I’d heard personal pets would be allowed with very few restrictions, same as with the Mylos, so Buster could come along. Given it was an agrarian colony and I’d be ranching, I no doubt could gain permission to have my horses shipped as part of my personal moving allowance, and if not that, using the stipend they would provide as seed money to start me off.

Open skies, gently rolling grasslands as far as the eye could see, and folks who wouldn’t look down their noses at me, as none open to marrying an alien is likely to bat an eyelid at a fella being gay.

I loaded my shopping into the truck and got in, taking a moment to look up the local center on my phone. It was still closed from the integration program groundwork, but a message was up giving a link to fill in an application for an appointment. Ifilled that in immediately as it only asked for my name, a picture of my ID, my age, and if I had any dependents or pets, as well as which of the programs I wished to apply for. I selected Dragonii only as I didn’t want to go to college again, just start my own ranch. That done, I put my phone down in the center console and returned home to feed Buster.

“Hey, buddy,” I told him as he bounded to me when I opened the door. “Who’s my good boy? That’s right! You are the bestest boy!”

His tail wagged enthusiastically, as much a display of genuine affection for me as it was the large bag of dog food I had in my arms.

“Hey, guess what?” I asked him once I’d put a filled bowl in front of him. “We’re going to move to another planet. I don’t know when, but soon, hopefully before we have to pay for here again.”

He kept eating, snuffing his puzzle bowl eagerly so as to miss not a single bite of kibble. I walked back out to my truck to fetch the bag holding the three ready meals I’d purchased. Placing two in the fridge, I popped one into the microwave.

Wonder what kind of food they’ll have there?I pondered.Not that I’m super picky, but I hope it isn’t creepy crawlies or some shit like that. What do Dragonii even eat?