Jamie turned around to the sound of approaching feet. What he saw was that Fleet Commander Vorik and Copilot Lera were approaching. His eyes softened as they lingered on Lera as she came closer.

Lera was wringing her hands in agitation. Seeing her hands, he wondered if Vorik forced her to come. Jamie worried that she might not want him. He could feel the bond pulling him toward her.

The two aliens stopped in front of Jamie. "May we speak to you two?" Commander Vorik asked as he glanced between him and Alice.

Jamie, taking a chance, stretched out his hand to Lera, offering his hand. "Walk with me?" he asked, a soft smile on his lips.

Lera blushed a darker shade of green as she took his hand shyly.

Fleet Commander Vorik looked uncomfortable, not sure what to do. Alice had shown no interest in him as of yet. He wasn't sure if she would ever.

Alice suddenly sighed loudly and stretched out her hand, offering it to Vorik. "We might as well go too."

Vorik frowned before taking her hand but said nothing. By her tone, it felt like she was forcing herself. They walked through the small town as couples. The builders all around them stole glances. Their eyes were zoning in on Vorik more than any of the others. It was odd seeing their Fleet Commander with a mate.

Jamie watched the faces of those around them, seeing the shock, which was then rapidly replaced by hope. They could see that even their fleet commander found a fated mate.

"You wanted to talk to us. So talk." Jamie stated to Commander Vorik. His tone was neutral.

"I have sent out squads to search for human survivors. Their instructions are only to locate them. If they are being attacked by toxic..." Vorik began.

Jamie cut him off. "Zombies. We call them Zombies."

Vorik frowned again before continuing. "If they are being attacked by zombies, they are to assist and then leave them in peace. I was wondering if any of the humans in your group would be willing to speak with any groups we find if we need you to, to ease their minds?" he asked.

Jamie stopped and turned to look at Vorik. He was unsure of what exactly the Fleet Commander was asking of them. He needed to clarify. "You want us to help you bring them here?"

"I don't want to bring them here until they're ready. They need to accept supplies and medical attention. That is the priority. We need to preserve those that are left," Vorik stated. "Although, as we discussed three days ago, it would benefit us in their protection to bring them all to one location, I will not force them."

As they were speaking, the dome suddenly opened above them, and a shuttle flew through. It was a larger shuttle for passengers. Vorik frowned as he watched it descend. "I have to find out what they're doing," he stated before gently kissing Alice's hand and then heading over to the shuttle.

Alice, Jamie, and Lera watched him go. Jamie, not even looking at the girls, spoke. "I kinda want to know too," Jamie stated, then gently tugged Lera toward the approaching shuttle. Alice sighed, then followed behind them.

They quickly caught up to Fleet Commander Vorik. He stood waiting for the passenger shuttle to land.

"Why would a passenger shuttle be coming here?" Lera couldn't help but ask. "The dwellings aren't even ready."

Commander Vorik turned and looked at her. "I'm not sure," he stated evenly.

The shuttle landed smoothly on the new landing platform; a smoke-like mist came from underneath, and it hissed as soon as it touched down. The large door opened, causing a billowing mist. When the mist evaporated, one of the patrol squads exited, walking down the large ramp. Behind the patrol squad was a rough-looking group of humans and several aliens who were among them.

Alice gasped. "They must be some of your missing officers. They found their mates!" she said, gripping Vorik's arm excitedly without thinking.

When the missing officers exited the shuttle, they scanned the area in front of them. They paled, fear in their eyes when they saw their Fleet Commander was there to greet them. They watched as Alice grabbed onto their Fleet Commander; their fear turned to shock as they made their way down the shuttle's large ramp, confused at what they were seeing.

Commander Vorik, taking the opportunity, took Alice's hand and led her toward the once-missing officers.

The group stopped in front of Vorik. The humans looked around them in fear. The aliens among them had their heads bowed.

"Has the medic seen your group?" Vorik asked one of the aliens in the group. He tried to ignore the fear in their eyes.

"No, Sir," the alien stated, his head remaining bowed. His body trembled as he waited.

Vorik lifted his com, pressing an area of its small surface, then spoke. "Send Medic Kaul down to the surface; he's needed immediately."

"Yes, sir," came the reply.

Vorik turned to Jamie. "Jamie, may I ask that you find Xant and Tina, please?" Vorik asked Jamie.

The aliens from the shuttle looked confused as they watched their Fleet Commander talk to the human, Jamie.

"We'll see if we can find them," Jamie told him, gently leading Lera with him and disappearing around a newly built row of buildings as they walked hand in hand.

Commander Vorik turned to the small group. "You will all wait here until after the medic looks at all of you," he told them, his eyes scanning the entire group. Most of them, which included the aliens, were trembling in fear, unsure of their fate.

"Sir," one of the aliens started. "What will happen to our mates?" His voice was shaky as he asked. It was clear he feared for his mate's life.

Before Commander Vorik could answer, the dome suddenly opened, and a small shuttle glided through. They all watched as it landed. Everyone was silent as they watched. They watched in silence, unsure if it was really a medic or a squad of soldiers about to arrest them. What exited was Medic Kaul. He stepped out of the shuttle and made his way down the small ramp, carrying his supplies. Around the corner came Xant and Tina, walking hand in hand. Jamie and Lera were next to them.

"More found their mate?" the alien in front of Vorik asked in disbelief.

"Many," was Vorik's only response as he watched them approach.

"Sir," Xant asked once he and his mate arrived.

"Private Xant, this group has just arrived. Their human mates may not wish to live on the ship. I wish to ask your mate, Tina, if she would be willing to let this group stay with hers if they do not wish to go to the ship. The dwellings here are not yet ready," Fleet Commander Vorik explained to Xant.

Vorik watched Tina scan the newcomers. "Yeah, they can stay with us. We have room." She told him. "As long as no one causes problems," she added, raising a brow.

"We won't cause problems," the alien assured her. "I am Remy; this is my mate Sarah," he introduced.

Medic Kaul took out his scanner and started scanning the group. He stopped at one of the females. His face paled. "Looks like Kaul found his mate!" Alice laughed loudly, causing some of the builders to notice. They stopped what they were doing and looked. Alice's loud response was done on purpose; she wanted those around them to notice what had just happened. If they were to survive, every little bit of hope spread would help. Medic Kaul, finding his mate with large groups of builders around, was perfect timing.

"You two can speak after everyone is checked, Medic Kaul," Commander Vorik told him.

Kaul nodded and continued his duty. When he got to Sarah, he looked up at her. "You have a fetus that is three weeks old," he notified her. "You will need to be checked often. We do not yet know the dangers of humans carrying our children," he explained to her, then turned to Remy. "She is with a fetus. The gender is not yet showing itself. She needs to be checked daily. Make sure she gets enough food and hydration."

Remy nodded as Medic Kaul continued checking the group. A wide smile spread on his dirt-covered face as he gently pulled his pregnant mate closer.

Out of the entire group. Sarah was the only one who was pregnant. Everyone else was deemed healthy, if not in need of food and a bath.

Medic Kaul went straight to his newfound mate after he was finished scanning the group. It turned out that her name was Julie.

As the group was led to Tina's group, Julie stayed behind. After speaking for a while, she had agreed to go back with Kaul as long as she wasn't left alone on the ship. If he had to go to the surface, so would she. He had agreed without hesitation.

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