PROLOGUE
Re-lee looked over the cluttered, congested space and no matter how many times she saw this laboratory, that so much of the Intergalactic Dating Agency's services came out of this underground room.
The technology that powered their proprietary portals was a mystery to her, except that they worked. They located mates for those in the Intergalactic Dating Agency’s systems from anywhere. Across space, and sometimes, across dimensions.
Just like what had happened on Disguised Serenity.
The newest offices had been established because there weren’t any IDA offices in that particular quadrant, and the space station—a huge post that started off as a junk port—had become a premier spot for aliens from all across the quadrant to mingle and buy and sell wares. Many called the station home, and many more shuttled through the port on a daily basis.
A perfect location for the Intergalactic Dating Agency to set up offices. Find travelers their mates, and for the lonely to find their perfect humanoid partner or group.
Finding Happily Ever Afters was Re-lee's specialty.
Except when the technology leaped across dimensions due to a--
"Roooowwwwaallll," the little purple-spotted starline purred as he wandered across the desk right behind his owner. Re-lee watched the animal step around the smallest things as it pranced, its double-ended tail twitching and flicking over items on the desk.
"You know," she said, glancing at the technician, Jorak. "We cannot have a mistake like this again."
When she found out exactly what had happened, that a portal had been placed on a Terran-like planet in another dimension called Earth, she had been livid.
Mostly, anyway.
"I know." He pressed a few more controls, though his attention wasn't on her. She probably was supposed to think he was focused on his terminal, for he kept looking at it as he worked, but she couldn’t help noticing how often he glanced at his cup filled with warm, dark liquid.
Whatever it was, it drew his attention away from her.
She wondered if it was some kind of addictive drink.
The feline started to cross over, paw poised to step on yet another set of data controls.
Jorak didn't see it.
Re-lee did.
She caught the furry pet before another devastating situation occurred.
They were lucky that the two Terran-esque females had been matched so easily with the Rhimodian cyborgs. A strange match, to be sure, but it had worked out.
However, another mistake like that could not happen.
She knew that something had occurred initially, but it took some digging to discover that Jorak's pet had caused one of their scanning portals to be established on a planet of humanoids that didn't even have solar system travel yet. Or any clue about intergalactic or inter-dimensional travel.
A mistake that had to be remedied.
Their superiors were not happy with Jorak, and it had taken some testimony from Re-lee to keep Jorak in his position.
Despite his mistake, he truly was one of the best with the portal rings. He had made some remarkable leaps forward with the technology, programming them with all sorts of defense mechanisms to protect them, no matter what world they landed on.
Still, mistakes had to be tended to.
She petted the floppy-eared animal, before letting him go to dart out of the room. "He's charming."
"He is a pain sometimes," Jorak said with a grin.
"You need to keep a better watch on what he does in here."
Jorak sighed. "One time. One time he--"
