Jamie, Lera, Vorik, and Alice watched the new arrivals be taken to Tina's group down into the tunnels. They all appeared malnourished, their tattered clothes hanging from skeletal bodies. The newcomers needed food and rest. They seemed to be barely surviving the new, harsh world.

Before the new group headed toward their new home, Fleet Commander Vorik had requested more supplies to be sent to Tina's group due to the added mouths to feed. The only one who agreed to live on the ship with her mate was Julie. Even the aliens in the group wanted to stay behind. No one knew if it was because the aliens didn't trust the others of their kind with their mates or if they stayed on the surface because their human mates wanted to stay.

Alice wrapped her arm around Vorik, looking up at him with pride. "You're doing really good," she praised him, smiling. "They needed the choice, and they needed help, and you gave them both."

Vorik stiffened slightly, unsure of why Alice was suddenly touching him as if she accepted him. It was completely opposite to her previous behavior. He quickly relaxed, not wanting her to feel him stiffen at her touch. He was afraid she would get the wrong idea. He wanted her to accept him fully.

"Are there enough homes for everyone? Your people and mine? That's including the ones that are arriving from your planet," Alice asked Vorik. She didn't appear as if she had noticed him briefly stiffen.

Vorik looked at Alice. "I don't really know. I was planning on setting one of the ships down to provide more space to live."

"That's difficult to do. Our ships are designed for space, not for on planets," Lera stated, eyeing her Fleet Commander. Setting one of the ships on solid ground would be nearly impossible.

Vorik looked over at Lera. "I am searching for a way to do it. I know we have enough plasma domes, but I'm not sure if we have enough homes. We are making more, but I am not sure that there will be enough. I have to find a way, or not everyone will have a safe place to sleep. I'm running out of ideas. If you have one that might work, I'm open to hearing it." Commander Vorik's tone was sincere.

"Too bad you can't replicate the homes," Jamie said, more to himself than anyone else. He was remembering the sitcoms of the crews in space that had replicators to get wherever they wanted, as long as it was programmed.

Lera and Vorik looked at Jamie. "I never thought of that. We have food replicators. I will look into making one that can replicate a home," Vorik stated. "If it's even possible. If it is possible, that will save lives."

Jamie looked taken aback at hearing there were actually replicators. He thought they were all make-believe. Lera pulled Jamie away; she knew they needed some time alone. She wanted to take a walk and speak a little more privately. Alice and Vorik watched them disappear around a bend.

Vorik turned to Alice. "Would you be willing to accompany me to my ship?" he asked. "I would like to spend as much time as I can with you while I am able," he confessed quietly, taking one of her hands and kissing the back gently. He couldn't help it. Fated mates were intimate without even trying. He was having a hard time not being intimate with her.

He watched as she studied him before stepping closer. "Are they going to execute you for stopping the attack on our planet and letting your people find their mates?" she asked. There was a tinge of worry in her tone.

"I believe they will," he mumbled. His tone was strained. He didn't want to talk about his impending doom.

After a few moments' pause, Alice wrapped an arm around his, linking their arms together. "Then I suggest we go now and get to know each other a little more intimately."

Vorik froze in shock. He wasn't sure he had heard her correctly. Not only was she indicating she would go back to his ship with him, but she also indicated that she wanted intimacy. He looked down at her in shock.

Alice giggled, seeing the shocked look on his face, then gently pulled him along. "Come on, Vorik; we might be running out of time."

Vorik snapped out of his frozen state, a grin spreading on his face. He carefully unlinked their arms and took her hand. They walked hand in hand all the way back to the shuttle, where Jamie and Lera were waiting for them, already done with their talk.

Their eyes went wide. They were a little surprised when they saw that Alice and Vorik were holding hands. They were even more surprised when they entered the shuttle together. There was a small smirk on Jamie's lips as they watched Vorik sit in the co-pilot seat and pull Alice into his lap.

Alice rolled her eyes at Jamie, seeing the look on his face. "I'm going back with Vorik. Are you coming, or are you going to stay in the bunker?" she asked him. She sounded giddy. Excitement pulsing through her.

Jamie looked over at Lera; her eyes were hopeful. It was clear that Lera wanted Jamie to go back with her. He couldn't help but smile. "If it is all right with my mate, I would like to come and stay with her on her ship." His eyes not wavering from Lera's as he spoke.

Shock registered on Lera's face for only a brief moment. It was quickly replaced with happiness. "I would like that very much," she told him shyly.

They sat quietly together on the hard metal bench in the back as the shuttle suddenly ascended, heading to the mother ship.

Alice, staying in front with Vorik, looked out the window, seeing the ships floating in space in a large cluster. The largest ship was in the middle, surrounded by the smaller ones.

It was clear to her that they were headed to the largest ship. "That big one is the mother ship?" she asked Vorik excitedly. Her eyes scanned the large cluster of ships, stopping on the mother ship.

"Yes. Everyone on this shuttle lives on that one. That is my ship," he told her, smiling and lightly rubbing the backs of her hands.

Alice stared at the large ship in awe. It floated gracefully in the dark expanse of space. As the ship made a wide arc, she peered down at the glowing blue ball they had come from. She gasped at its beauty. Vorik watched her features, the emotions washing through her features. He noted that none of them were negative. It made him smile.

As if he couldn't help it, he briefly nuzzled her neck. Realizing what he was doing, he quickly pulled back. When she looked at him, his face was a shade darker. He was blushing. He had caught himself nuzzling her and stopped, thinking that it wasn't appropriate or that she wouldn't want him to do that. His blush made her giggle.

As the shuttle approached the large ship, a massive bay door opened. Changing course a bit to line itself up with the door, they smoothly glided toward the opening.

The shuttle flew through an open bay door. As they passed through, a shimmery barrier could barely be seen that allowed the ship to fly inside. It glided smoothly through the barrier, then gently descended to land on a polished black metal floor. It took a moment to land, giving Alice time to see everything from the windows of the shuttle.

Vorik watched her as she gazed at everything, as she smiled in awe. Joy bubbled in him at his mate's excitement.

After the shuttle landed, the sound of the engines stopping could be heard. The door shot steam, hissing around the opening as it slowly began to open. It looked like the large door was falling forward, creating a ramp. Once the steam vanished, Jamie could see aliens as they walked around the hangar, repairing shuttles similar to the one they were on.

Lera watched as he looked through the door of the shuttle. He quickly unlatched his restraints and stood up. Just as he was led to the door, Fleet Commander Vorik led Alice out of the front of the shuttle, where the pilot and copilot seats were located.

Lera led Jamie out of the shuttle and through the large hangar, disappearing down a long hallway.

Vorik gently took Alice's hand and led her through the large hangar. As she looked around the large area, many of the aliens working in the hangar stopped what they were doing and looked at the couple in awe. Their eyes flashed with hope as Vorik held her hand gently, guiding her through the hangar.

Vorik led her to the large hallway that led to the innards of the ship and down the long corridors leading towards his private room. They had a lot to discuss, and they were short on time to get to know each other. They needed all the time they could scrape together to do all that.

Alice smiled up at Vorik, happy with her decision to come to his ship with him.

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