Just as he spoke, the taller structures of T’sali came into view on the horizon. They were setting down on a landing pad beside a huge multi-level home set in the center of a huge green lawn dotted by exquisitely arranged garden rooms of beautiful flowers and plants. Aside from the obvious affluence, the landscape of suburban Narova didn’t seem all that different from Earth.
The house belonging to Zeke’s mother looked like a mansion to Jenna who had grown up in a doublewide mobile home. She expected the door to be answered by a servant or a domestic robot, but a woman of ageless beauty opened the door even before Zeke pressed the courtesy signal. She was tall and slender with ice blue hair and pales green cat’s eyes and bore more than a passing resemblance to her son.
“Zeke! It’s been so long, my offspring,” she cried and came forward to hug him fiercely. “You don’t call; you don’t text. If I didn’t hear from your brother, I wouldn’t be sure that you were even alive.”
“I’m sorry Mama, I just don’t know what to say,” he murmured contritely as he hugged her back.
“You could just say hello so I know you are alive and well,” she scolded as she drew back to look up at him. “Perhaps, your meomee can influence you to do better.”
“I shall try,” Jenna said slowly in Narovian.
“Mama, this is Jenna Harper of Earth, meomee to me. She is one of the women we rescued from the Tenzari. That she is meomee has been a major shock, though a very pleasant one.” Zeke said. “Jenna, this is Mama---Arkessa Be’Kal. Our last names are matrilineal, which means our offspring will be Harper.”
Jenna dipped her head as though in prayer as a sign of respect at the introduction. “I am very pleased to meet you,” she added with a genuine smile.
“As I am you,” Arkessa replied. “Come inside, both of you. I am so pleased that Zeke has found meomee. He has grown into a fine man, and he deserves such unconditional love---something that his father and I didn’t achieve.” She turned and led the way into the huge house.
It was a beautiful interior with a variety of modern décor with original sculptures and paintings, plants and furniture arrangements creating points of interest throughout its open concept structure. Arkessa led them to a comfortable, intimate sitting area and summoned a domestic droid to bring them drinks and a light snack as it was midway between midday and evening meal.
Both Zeke and Jenna regaled her with Jenna’s kidnapping and rescue by Zeke and his brother. He also related that he’d made himself available for other such missions in the future. That made his mother so proud.
She found Jenna delightful and showed no sign of scorn for her humble background.
“Although I was and still am fond of their father, my one regret is that I never found meomee,” she lamented.
“It’s not too late, Mama,” Zeke said. “Have matchmaking check your DNA against the Earth database. You might just get lucky. We just brought in five people from Earth to meet their meomees. If they find one for you, I will either take you to Earth or bring him to you. I know you can afford the testing.”
“I just might do that. Your father should do as well. We have always felt something is missing in our lives. We don’t regret one bit making you children.” She explained, but our friendship was not enough to keep us together. I supposed that is the bane of our kind. You father and I are both thrilled that you and Jenna are meomee. He will be coming to join us for dinner.”
Jenna was surprised at how much she enjoyed the food, though none of it was recognizable as Earth food. However, many of the flavors were familiar. During the meal, Zeke told the story again of how he got maneuvered in taking Arkis to Se’Nar to rescue the abducted Earth women. He emphasized that never in his wildest dreams did he expect to find meomee at a slave auction on Se’Nar. Jenna injected details that Zeke missed and they ended the story convincing his father to have Matchmaking run a comparison of his DNA with the Earth-based lab to see if they would find his meomee.
The couple spent four days visiting back and forth between Zeke’s parents. Sajh commed on the third day to let Zeke know that they had four passengers bound for Earth to seek out their meomees.
“One of the meomees was a man who was rescued by Raptor One from pirates---the bigoted jerk who swore up and down that he did not want to be mated to any cat person,” Sajh relayed, “I’m sure of it---and she is just gorgeous.”
“Jenna said he wouldn’t even look at her picture, but we don’t know what happened after that. Meg thought he was venting his frustrations about the whole ordeal,” Zeke replied. “He won’t have any choice if she turns up at his door. What else do we have?”
“Both decks are filled with cargo---one for Mars City with two modules for the moon, and a full bay for Rhambda Station.”
“Great work, Sajh. Jenna and I will be back day after tomorrow after a quick tour of the city. It was great seeing my parents, but I’m ready to come home.”
Sajh laughed. “Enjoy. See you when you get back. One day with my family was more than enough.” They both chuckled as they signed off.
Jenna was as happy to be back on the ship as Zeke because she had begun to think of it as home, as well. The couple was delighted to meet their new passengers, all felines---two females and a male all going to Earth to seek their meomees. Zya Lann’s was one of the pirate abductees, and she was thrilled to meet Jenna who immediately offered to teach all three of the felines American English. With her bioimplant, her Narovian language skills were improving tenfold. Teaching them English and telling them about the culture gave her purpose as part of the crew.
She was so good with the passengers and anticipating their needs that the crew voted to put her in charge of passenger relations. It worked out well because they often had runs between Earth and Narova due to direct referrals from the Narovian Matchmaking Service. Jenna was sure they could thank Marcie for that. The service had jumped at the chance to hire Marcie as a consultant for their Earth-based services.
The Be’Kal Zephyr quickly became the preferred transport for mates between Earth and Narova. The loop back was lucrative as well because there was nearly always a full load of freight going to Mars City, the moon base, and Rhambda Station.
While their life together took on a certain routine, Zeke and Jenna’s passion for each other never waned. Love flourished in its wake. It pleased them that their work helped to facilitate relationships like theirs for others.
Two weeks after leaving Narova, Tray shuttled down the three felines to the Alliance base on Earth in the dead of night. Two of the felines prospective mates expected them. Zya’s did not. He had refused to be contacted by her in any manner. Zya didn’t take it personally because he didn’t know anything about her. She believed as Meg Casey did that he was directing his anger and frustration at being kidnapped by alien pirates at her. But it was not her fault. She was just looking for someone to love and share her life with---not just someone, her one true mate. She found him, and then he was kidnapped by pirates.
Now she was on Earth with the coordinates of his location. Soon as her car arrived, Zya was going to find him. His name was Drake Hylan.