Chapter One

Chapter One

BinjaOB

He took a deep breath. The sweet scent of Viant's air was strong, even though he used a re-breather to remove the drugs. The sun was fading, soon it would be full dark. This planet had two moons that ruled the night. The small one came up first and gave off just enough light that a normal person wouldn't run into a building and yet someone standing across the street couldn't be seen without special night goggles or a bright light.

This was the darkest time of the night. Those who lived on this planet rarely came out on the streets during the small moon. Most people slept, or at least stayed inside. All the houses and businesses in this area were closed up and dark. Except for the house across the street.

Binja's eyesight had been enhanced. But even he couldn't see more than a few feet in front of him. Nor was he able to determine any detail. He'd left those lights on to attract attention. To serve as a temptation for evil.

It was during the small moon that Binja expected the Andaran to visit the house where his new sister Catalina had been kept a prisoner. When the Midnight Moon rose, the second, larger moon would fill the sky with almost as much light as the midday sun. The streets would come alive again. Providing too many witnesses to what the evil male wanted to do within those doors.

Not just to Catalina, but the three other women the Andaran had locked away behind those walls. All four women had been kidnapped from Earth.

Throughout the day, Binja had a rough time keeping his mind off those women. He kept thinking about what they had gone through, and what he'd seen in the house when he rescued them, and what he'd felt when he helped the women escape.

Binja wasn't the only one affected by the events of the last day. When Catalina explained to the Father and all his brothers how the Andaran had impregnated the four Earth women with one of the most violent sentient creatures within the Galactic Alliance, they'd been furious. And frozen with fear. The fear lifted as soon as a plan to save the women was agreed upon.

The fury remained.

With several of his clone brothers, Binja had outfitted one of the new six-man hovers with medical beds. They'd acquired those hovers and several other great tools from the Andaran's now worthless spaceport.

While BaOBy and Catalina fought their battle for her health and well-being, his small group of brothers went to save the other women. It was easy to sneak into the house through the window his brother JayBOrB had hidden with illusion. Jay had also hidden the front of the house with his illusions, making it easy to park the hover inches from the front door.

In silence and shadow, they went inside and followed Catalina's guidance. His new little sister had told him, "The guards all sleep in the rooms at the back of the house. Once their door is closed, they never check on us. My window is unlocked. Jay…" At that point, Cat trailed off.

Binja reassured her that, "Jay will be with us."

Pushing back her long blonde hair, she smiled at him. Her green eyes twinkled. "Good. He knows which window is mine. Go out my door and into the hall. The women are in the room that is behind the first door on the left. Once you have them, you can take them right out the front door."

Then she asked for a favor. Hesitating until Binja nodded his agreement.

Cat explained what she wanted. "In the bathroom that is joined to my bedroom, above the shower, you will find loose tile on the ceiling. If you push them up, you'll find a small bag. It holds my favorite small dagger, some money I secreted from the Andaran, and more digital files detailing his atrocious acts. Will you retrieve it for me if you can?"

The question had stilled his heart. He'd known that while the money and files were important, what she really wanted was her favorite dagger. Binja hadn't considered there might be a woman who would fit his dark soul. When his clone brothers started finding their mates, he was pleased for them. Knowing he would remain alone. That one small request from Cat made him wonder if there might be a woman who could share even some of his passions. Guns, knives, and saving the innocent at any cost. One who reveled in the danger and the opportunity to make evil ones pay for their sins.

For all their sameness, BinjaOB's physiology was vastly different from his nineteen clone brothers. Oh, he had the same body they all had. Including the same hair and eyes, along with the same trim beard that many of the brothers wore. However, the Father created him to be their Master of Stealth. His soul was different. It meant Binja walked on the darker side of life. His skin was silver and he could camouflage. Hiding anywhere. He enjoyed being their assassin. The one the brothers called on to bring the worst criminals to justice.

Yes, he enjoyed rescuing the women. Carefully, quietly removing them from their room—without alerting the four guards who played some Viant game of dice in the back. It was a rush to take them from the house, load them gently onto the hover, and whisk them right to the DoMicile. Where some of his brothers placed them into the cryo pods for the long journey to Megoth and safety.

But more, his blood rushed with excitement when he went back to the house across the street. Where he hid in the shadows and watched when the guards discovered they were alone… that all their captives had somehow disappeared. He delighted in the chaos and fear those men felt. Feeling they deserved what they got, for the part they'd played in terrorizing the women.

As the Master of Stealth, Binja had the ability to look into someone's heart and soul. To read their worth. BinjaOB watched as not all the guards ran off. One man stayed behind when the others escaped. Binja felt the evil radiate from this creature. He saw the memories in the man's mind of what he'd done to the women when they slept. Even seeing glimpses of what he planned to do to Catalina, his captain's mate.

No, that one didn't run. He played his sick games in the empty rooms and then left, but he didn't go far. Binja took care of him… ensuring no other woman would ever be at his mercy.

When Binja's soul soared with vengeance served, he knew there could never be a mate for him. No woman would condone his darkness.

BinjaOB told himself it didn't matter.

What did matter—was that Catalina was now safe. Mated to his captain. Binja glanced up and behind him as he camouflaged his flesh and walked across the street. All the brothers who had mates were currently on the roof of the building with their women. The Earthlings wanted to make sure the Andaran knew he'd lost. They demanded to be close enough to hear his scream of frustration and anger at losing his female captives before he died.

Binja's lips turned upward for a moment. Maybe he would find an Earth female who could love the dark inside him? Time would tell.

For now, he was happy that the three women they'd rescued from this house and certain death… were now several days away. Deep in space, on the DoMicile, headed for Megoth. Eight of Binja's brothers acted as crew and guards. Most of those who volunteered had been involved in getting the women out of this house of horrors and into the cryo pods. It was good they felt protective, responsible. His brother Jay stayed behind. Knowing they'd need more of his illusions tonight, and possibly through the weeks ahead as they helped the people of Viant claim their freedom. He glanced across the street, and up to the roof of the building where his brothers were, and saw nothing. Jay hid them all.

Binja kept his body camouflaged and ready to bring justice to the Andaran. He was sure the alien would show up. Jacanas had promised to torture Cat tonight. The evil one wouldn't miss it.

Throughout the day, Binja and his brothers watched over the house. His brother, LanBeOB, their Master of Technology had filled every room with cameras for the viewing pleasure of those who waited on the roof. Lan set up monitors so they could all watch the Andaran's reactions when he entered the house and discovered all the women had disappeared.

Binja took a deep breath. The night air was cool on his skin. It was a clear, starry night. He was tense, his body poised and ready for the Andaran to show up. This mission was serious. He was acting as the savior of his brothers' mates and the guardian of three unknown women. The Andaran had ruined so many lives. His actions were evil, and he needed to be stopped.

BinjaOB was just the man to do it. Silently, he watched for movement, waiting for Jacanas to arrive. He wasn't the only one in hiding. There were other brothers on the street. Some using their own camouflage, like Binja, while Jay's illusions hid others. Further out, more were crouched in alleyways or on rooftops.

When his brother Bard signaled, Binja froze. The cherry-red skinned Master of Sound's hearing was far superior to anyone's. He must have heard something. There was a whisper of sound on the far street corner. Moments later, the Andaran appeared, flanked by two of his special service guards. The marching precision of his guards broke the silence of the night and within quick seconds, the Andaran was on the front porch, inches away from where Binja was hidden, as he waited for one of the guards to unlock the front door.

Binja watched Jacanas push back the hood of his robe, exposing his cone-shaped head. The man's eyes were fever-bright with excitement. The sick kack was shaking with anticipation.

Binja kept pace as Jacanas cleared the threshold. He could see every expression flicker across the Andaran's ebony flesh. His creepy gray eyes narrowed, and he tilted his enormous head to one side. Listening.

The house was silent. Too silent. Even if everyone was asleep, there would be the slight sound of rustling blankets and bodies moving.

Jacanas wasn't happy with the silence. His dark brown, bushy eyebrows pulled together before he stomped down the hall. Followed by his guards, he stopped in front of what had been Catalina's bedroom door. One of the guards glided around Jacanas and into the room. He came out shaking his head. It was empty.

Jacanas spun around and dashed down the hall, headed for the room where three women were kept in comas for months. Their bodies serving as incubators for this man's evil plans. Hidden from sight, Binja followed every footstep. This time, the Andaran didn't wait for a guard. He slammed through the door… into the empty room.

Binja watched disbelief morph to absolute fury within seconds. The Andaran was livid. He screeched and pointed toward the back of the house, and the closest guard took off running. They waited for the man to return, telling them that everyone in the house had disappeared. Captives, guards… everyone.

Binja stepped out of the way as Jacanas erupted. The man waved his arms in the air and screeched, before dashing toward the front door, screaming out instructions to his men.

Keeping pace, but maintaining a little room, Binja pulled his knife. Then waited for the man to calm down just a bit. All that thrashing around might deflect a killing blow.

The laser blast came out of nowhere. Shocking in its wild intensity. Binja was stunned. This was his task. Who dared to interrupt his destiny?

Jacanas crumpled to the ground. Within seconds, his guards surrounded him. The bigger man lifted him into his arms and they ran, taking him to safety. Worse, it appeared the shot missed anything critical. For tonight, the Andaran escaped justice.

BinjaOB was furious. Until he heard a little sob. Frowning, he reached up and scratched his right bicep. Tilted his head and followed not only Jacanas—but also the one who missed the shot.