Page 9 of Doran

“Is it a Mylos or a Dragonii?” the woman who turned out to be Merrilee asked, her tongue swiping her lower lip nervously.

“It’s a Mylos, and he’s the center officer in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Please relax and enjoy some lunch while you await his arrival. He’ll be here shortly.”

“England?” she perked up instantly. “I’ll be moving to England?"

“Yes, indeedy-do! If you refer to your datapad and click the new flashing icon, you’ll find where I’ve sent your options for in person classes in that area. Please look over them carefully and once you’ve decided, simply pick up the tablet, say my name, and I’ll assist you with registration.”

She let out a squeal. “I’m going to England! I’ll get to visit castles and see the changing of the King’s Guard and Big Ben!"

I hoped she knew she’d have to travel a bit to do all that. None of those were all in one place. I had no idea where Stoke-on-Trent was, but I had a feeling it wasn’t near London and might not have a castle. Besides, even if she’d gone up to the fleet, she could take a shuttle to visit those places. I’d seen on TV that Mylos and their families were able to take sightseeing trips and vacations doing so.

Another chime, and we all looked expectantly up as if Xeranos was somehow hovering above us.

“Sarah Bennet, you've been matched! Your mate will meet you on New Haven. Please refer to your tablet where I’ve sent several images of suggestions for your new home and business. Take a look, and in the next few days, please let me know which is closest to your wishes and what changes you desire. I’ll relay those to Bob so he can create the building blueprint. And Tyrone Gilbert, your colonial application has you placed upon New Gorvonia. As soon as Ms. Bennet’s children have been collected, a shuttle will carry you both up to the Bride Fleet where you will await further transport. The rest of you, your scholarship funds and stipends have been arranged. Your financial institution has already been sent your first installment, and if you’re already registered or attending school, they have been notified of your award. Those who aren’t, simply show them the award letter all of you scholarship applicants have been sent. Ms. Bennett, your grandmother will be contacted so we can get her financial institution information. Please note she is now considered a Dragonii citizen, as are your children and parents under the terms of the treaty, and they are therefore also covered for medical care under the Mylos healthcare program.”

“Grammie gets free medical care now?” I gasped as those who didn’t need to stay began to get up and file out.

“Yes.”

I grinned. I hadn’t known that. Mom and Dad also getting free medical care would no doubt also go a long way towards smoothing over any harsh feelings about what I’d just done. They had excellent insurance, but free was free, and Mylos medical care was much better than anything they’d normally have to pay to access.

“Um, how are my kids getting collected?” I asked.

Kharok answered that. “The Mylos driver who picked you up is on his way to their schools.”

“Oh. Okay. Umm, can I call my mom? I didn’t tell her I was doing this before.”

He inclined his head. “Xeranos will unblock your signal so your call may go through.”

I licked my lips, already hearing the tirade sure to come in my head. She picked up after two rings.

“Hello, Mom?”

“What is it, dear? Why are you calling me in the middle of your workday? Is one of the children sick and you need me to pick them up from school?”

“No, it’s nothing like that. I, um, took your advice, more or less. The advice you and Dad gave me about finding a husband.”

“Isn’t it a bit early to be planning a wedding with Ward? You only met him last night. I’m glad to hear you two hit it off so well. I was wondering how it went, as Phyllis said she’d not heard a thing from him yet.”

“It’s not Ward, Mom. I decided to just come straight out with it. “It’s a Dragonii. We’re moving to New Haven."

“You’re what?!” she screeched. ”Are the children there with you now? Have they met this Dragonii person?”

I held my phone away from my ear. Tyrone looked at me sympathetically while Merrilee looked like she wished for some popcorn.

“Not yet. The Center is sending a driver to pick them up now.”

“Where are you going to live? Don’t you have to build a house after reaching the colony? Or does he already have a suitable one?”

“They are building us a new house. In fact, we’ll be running an inn.” I wasn't about to say the words “and boarding house” as I just knew she’d start imagining all sorts of unsavory things based on old period dramas. “Well, why don’t you have the children stay with us until it's built? They’ll let us come see you, won’t they? There will be a wedding to plan too, and you can’t do that all by yourself."

She had a good point. It would be better to move the kids into an already built house and only have to move them once. They’d had enough moving around here, and this was supposed to be our fresh start. I wanted the start for them to be as it was meant to go on from there, not a temporary place and yet another move. Being on an alien planet was going to be a huge change as it was, bigger than anything they’d experienced before.

“Okay, Mom. I’ll ask them to have the driver bring them here so I can tell them good-bye and explain what’s going on, and you can come pick them up from here.”

“Fine,” she huffed. “I’ll inform your father, and we’ll be on our way.”

She disconnected the call then, and I realized I had no need to have them ask the driver anything. He was already bringing them here.