3013: MATED (3013: The Series) Read Free Page A

training facilities that catered to
others like her who had been given the enhancements. Even at a young age they
had to begin learning how to use their gifts.
    The training was rigorous in many
disciplines. Not only were they regularly tested for physical strength and
endurance, they were all tested in a multitude of mental assessments that
helped place them for service when they were older. The training facilities
were run sort of like boarding schools, only for people like Alexis, they had
nowhere to go when they were given leave.
    Jax was one of the older members
at the training facility, and upon arriving it had been clear to Alexis that he
was a natural born leader. There was ten years separating them, but she had
looked up to Jax as if he were the older brother she had never had. At that
point, Jax had been a junior commander in the Academy. He had been tasked with
looking out for the new recruits, and everyone at that facility followed him
without hesitation.
    Born an empath, the enhancements
had only made Alexis’ natural abilities stronger. At first she’d had a very
hard time learning how to control her gift, but after a while it became second
nature. More than that, Alexis had honed her gift to the point she basically
became a walking lie-detector, and as a liaison officer it came in handy when
she was asked to feel out the true intentions of any visitors. Jax had helped
her become the officer she was today, and had always been there for her when
she needed him…just like family.
    “Spartan.” Jax’s deep voice was
clipped as it sounded through the comm link, and his scowling face on the small
video screen made Alexis smile.
    “Commander.”
    “Hey, Lex,” Jax’s voice softened
slightly with affection as soon as he saw it was her calling. “What can I do
for you?”
    “I need to speak to you,
Commander Spartan.”
    The official tone of her voice
had Jax’s eyes narrowing at her as he barked out, “I’m in the main landing bay.
Dock C. Meet me here. Now.”
    She chuckled as he abruptly cut
off the call. She was glad she had contacted him rather than trekking all the
way to the command post building where Jax’s office was. Although most
commanders spent their time in cushy offices, with multiple staff members
running around doing their bidding, Jax was a hands-on leader. It exasperated
the generals that reported to him because he was always out in the field, so to
speak, since he couldn’t stand being cooped up in one place for long.
    Alexis opted to take one of the
glides down, making her way to the main landing area in the open air instead of
one of the elevators or trekking thought the underground tunnels. It wasn’t far
and she could use the few extra minutes to figure out what she was going to say
to her commander about the incident. She knew she had to report it, but there
were other things to consider. She wondered just what the hell she was going to
do about her new assignment, but the most pressing issue was how she was going
to stop Jax from pulverizing Director Farris into bloody dust.

 
    ***
    Chapter Two
     
    The main landing bay was a bevy
of activity as Alexis entered the building.
    Waving absently at a few officers
she knew, she headed straight for Dock C. When she arrived, Alexis wasn’t
surprised to see Jax Spartan glaring at a few officers who looked like they had
just swallowed razor blades.
    Jax’s stance said it all. A
large, intimidating man, Jax stood at six foot eight. His thick, corded muscles
bulged under his uniform as he stood with his arms crossed over his impressive
chest. Feet braced apart, with a fierce frown on his face, he looked like he
was seconds away from ripping the heads off the two smaller men standing in
front of him.
    “Commander Spartan.” Alexis stood
at attention and struck her fist over her heart as she waited for him to
acknowledge her. She saw the entourage that followed Jax wherever he went was
standing a safe distance away, out of firing