A week later, two days away from Rhambda Star Base, Zeke dropped Jenna off at the dining hall/conference room to meet with the other rescued women. He agreed that the other women might feel uncomfortable if he stayed. Instead, he went to the bridge to confer with Tray. His friend and pilot.
Marcie, Susan, Katy, Tasha and Dana all exclaimed their delight in seeing her again when she came in and sat at the table with them.
“Lieutenant Be’Kal said that you mated with the Captain of your own free will,” said Susan. “Is that true?”
“Yes. Once I was exposed to his pheromones, there wasn’t a real choice. Not bonding with him made us both physically ill.”
“But, he’s an alien with funny cat-eyes. How could you sleep with him?” Susan asked.
“They only look that way in bright light. They almost look human when they’re dilated in low light.” Jenna told them. “They call it meomee. It’s a biological reaction to finding a genetically complementary mate. Once you’re exposed to the pheromones, you become sexually aroused, so all you can think about is getting naked and fucking your mate.
“They call it bonding. It’s both passionate and tender. The physical---sexual bonding and the pheromone facilitate emotional bonding, and you fall in love with each other. It doesn’t wear off, either. We’re mated for life, and I am going to stay with him.”
“How can you be genetically compatible with an alien of another species,” Susan asked.
“Because I carry feline genes even though I look completely human. They have been coming to Earth for centuries and breeding with humans, so there are many more of us with mixed parentage than anyone knows.”
“And that is why we are here,” Arkis began. “Your people’s participation in ancestry genetic testing has revealed that many men and women of Earth have feline genes and “fated mates” on our home world of Narova. Susan and Tasha have meomees living on Narova who have paid much currency to find you. You are free to choose if you wish to meet them…”
“But…?” Susan prompted.
“If you come into contact with the meomee pheromones as Jenna did, you must mate or risk death.”
“Crap,” Susan grimaced.
“Even if you decide not to meet them, they have the means to come to Earth to find you,” Jenna explained. “The meomee phenomenon is revered among the felines of Narova, so they are willing to go to great length to find their fated mate,”
“If you decide to accept your meomee, we will contact them for you, and they will pay your passage to Narova.” Arkis interjected, “If you want that, you must decide by the time we reach Rhambda in two days. You who want to return to Earth---the Alliance will arrange that for you.” He paused, searching for the right words. “Sorry, my American is not so good. It is long since I used it. Did I tell them right, Jenna?”
“That’s pretty much what Zeke said. It’s almost a sure thing they will come looking for you even if you go back to Earth.”
“So we might have no choice after all,” Susan said in frustration. “I just want to go home. I don’t want to live on some planet I never heard of with some feline cat man.”
“Well, I do,” said Tasha. “If they are all as gorgeous as Zeke, count me in.”
“As you wish,” Arkis nodded. “We will contact your meomee.”
‘Will it matter to him that I am black?” Tasha asked. In reality, her skin was the color of coffee with cream, and she was very attractive.
“You are homo sapien. Skin color is not relevant. Felines are other colors too. That you are meomee all, he cares.”
“What about me?” Susan demanded.
“Our agents on Earth help you change identity and go to a new home,” Arkis said calmly.
“If that’s what it takes,” Susan agreed. “Sort of like witness protection.”
“Except, the man who wants you is not out to kill you. He wants to mate and have a family.”
“I don’t care. I just want to go home.”
“And you will,” Arkis agreed. “And I almost forgot. Since Tenzari took your clothes, the Alliance will provide some at Rhambda for you to take home with you.”
“I never did one of those DNA tests,” Marcie put in. “Too expensive on what I make. Can I get one before I go back? Jenna is just glowing like a woman in love---and I saw the way Zeke looked at her. Wow. If there is a chance I can get someone like him, I want it.”
“Yes, you can get tested at Rhambda, and they will put your DNA into the Narovian database for matching. If we find a mate, you will know before you leave for Earth. Then you go to Narova if you like.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant Be’Kal. I like.”
Katy volunteered too. She had to be sure that marrying her boyfriend was the right thing. If she had a meomee out there, it would tear her marriage apart if he came looking for her someday. Better to find out before the wedding.