Chapter Three

Chapter Three

BaOBy

"You're sure about this, Captain?" The voice was pitched low, barely a whisper of sound.

BaOBy eyed the street. They were on a main road. There were both hover-type vehicles and beast-drawn wagons on the paved thoroughfare. On both sides of the street, were dozens of additional pathways winding around buildings of all shapes and sizes. Many were built with the common purple brick. Some were created with wood, painted in a rainbow of colors. And others were more modern, using manufactured materials instead of natural resources. A few of the yards and common areas were clear of foliage, and others were overgrown with flowering plants and small trees. There was a riot of color everywhere he looked. If all he paid attention to were the buildings, Viant looked prosperous. Healthy.

But there was no laughter. No children playing in the bits of yard. Once you looked at the people, you questioned that prosperity. Many different species walked down the roadway or gathered in the shops. Many obviously had money. Just as many were poor. Overwhelmingly, Bao noticed signs they were nervous. Unhappy. Demoralized.

Bao partnered with his fuchsia-toned brother, BOlaBe. As the Master of Destruction, Bol's abilities focused on blowing things up. From the creation of smoke to the demolition of an entire planet, this brother might embrace his explosive calling, but he was one of the most levelheaded of his crew.

Bol asked if he was sure?

Last night, Catalina had left him rather abruptly. Bao sighed. Once she explained where the re-breathers were located and described the other items she wanted him to retrieve, she returned to her prison. Leaving him with restless mating bands and a strong feeling that his mate had given him a test.

Bao was pretty sure he and his brothers were on a quest to not only test their abilities, but their loyalty to a cause. Would they go against the Andaran? Would they stand for the people of Viant and help them gain their freedom?

Most importantly, would they put themselves at risk to save Catalina?

There was no hesitation. "I'm sure, Bol. Not only sure that the female is my mate, but that she's sent us on a mission to prove we can save the people of Viant."

He couldn't see his brother's face. They were walking through the market, dressed in the multi-colored robes his mate suggested they wear. Cat explained how the Viant nobility kept themselves covered from head to toe, making sure the Andaran's spies and technology wouldn't recognize them. Her knowledge of all the unwritten rules of this planet would keep them from being challenged while carrying out the task she'd given them. Long ago, the Andaran passed laws that made it a crime to accost a noble.

"Not to save her, but to save the planet?" Bol asked, wanting his answer clarified.

"She believes herself to be beyond saving. So, we prove our worth and rescue both." Bao was certain his woman was prepared to die. He didn't understand why, but he knew her intent. He and his men would get the re-breathers, the bag she stashed under the floorboards of her bed, and if they felt it was possible… break into the Andaran's office to get the second bag.

When she came to him tonight, he would demand more of her. But first, Bao and his brothers needed to prove their worth.

Walking through the market, Bao kept his breathing shallow. More and more, he felt the effects of the air. As Master of All—his ability to look at something, anything, and know the chemical composition—had provided their first clue that something was wrong on Viant. Well, second clue. The first had been a screaming Earther female.

But the very definite, sweet smell in the air had been unexpected. The concentrated floral scent was light enough that it took some time before most would feel the side effects. And because it was so mild, they might blame the lethargy or sexual interest on something else. Cat ran through how the essence of the native flower—the Viant Violeta —had been mixed with chemicals designed to override a being's natural purification abilities. He and his brothers had air filtration built into their respiratory systems. Yet, it wasn't enough to combat what the Andaran was pumping into Viant's air. The longer they were on the planet, the less their lungs helped.

The very air they breathed had taken over Viant's population. They knew they should care about their circumstances, but were too tired to do anything about it. And because of the aroma's aphrodisiacal properties, their minds turned to sex anytime they had enough energy.

The two brothers turned a corner, close to their target. Leaning against a brick wall that was several feet taller than his six-foot frame, was his brother, JayBOrB. With skin the darkest purple and his face covered in a full beard, his body shimmered and seemingly disappeared. Jay was the Master of Illusion. He could hide himself and others in plain sight.

Bao was sure that LanBeOB hid beside him. The lilac-skinned Master of Technology stood ready to scale the wall and enter the Andaran's compound.

Crossing the street, another brother glided into step with Bao and Bol.

BeOBard also wore one of the multicolored robes of Viant nobility. Hiding his cherry red flesh and the mustache on his face, Bard was the Master of Sound. This brother possessed incredible hearing and the ability to mimic any voice or signal.

They were all in place. Two brothers scaled the wall… while the others headed straight for the front door.

Getting in is the hardest part. That is what Catalina told him. She also gave him a rudimentary map of the city and a more detailed drawing of the Andaran's walled compound.

The compound held one large, sprawling, multilevel building that was the Andaran's residence. A smaller office building on the other side of the center courtyard, and a warehouse at the back.

The most interesting thing about both the city map and the drawing of the compound was all the handwritten notes. Filled with live-in slaves and over a dozen bodyguards. They stationed two guards at the front gate, twenty-four-seven. They created the wall with Viant purple stone. Like granite, the note read. A few moments later, his translator provided an explanation. Granite is the most common igneous rock found on Earth's surface and is used to make many countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, and other items found in everyday life. It is a hard, durable rock showing visible grains of varying colors that interlock with one another.

The Viant stone was unbreakable without the proper equipment. It met the definition of hard and durable. The base color of the stone was gray, and it was covered in multiple sizes of purple and blue marks. The description of Earth granite fit the Viant stone.

The wall was taller than the top of their heads. And the brothers were all over six feet tall. Two of his brothers climbed over and were already inside. Jay, the Master of Illusion, created a loop of the street so Bao, Bol, and Bard could slide right past the guards at the gate. Unseen. They all gained the compound courtyard without issue. Their Technology Master, Lan, duplicated the loop for the cameras. It would run for five minutes until they were all… hopefully out of sight of the cameras and inside the targeted buildings.

Catalina's notes continued. There is extensive camera coverage of the compound grounds. Spotty coverage in the warehouse, and the cameras are noticeable. Easily timed. The house doesn't have any coverage except when the Andaran is entertaining. He doesn't want a recording of anything that happens within the walls of his residence.

Bao was grateful the residence was free of security cameras. His group focused on avoiding anyone in the house. Those in Lan's group were capable of dealing with the Andaran's technology. Yet the warehouse would most likely be empty.

Cat also provided them with an audio chip. It was a recording of the Andaran saying vibrant Violetta on Viant —his password. Or at least it was the password before he arrested Catalina and took her from the compound. They all counted on the man's feeling of superiority—believing he didn't need to go to the trouble of changing his security with Cat imprisoned.

Lan had the audio file. The Master of Technology and Jay would follow the wall to the right. Skirting behind the office building until they made it to the compound storage area—the warehouse. Their mission was to find and acquire the re-breathers. Along with anything they thought might be helpful in the coming days. The doors to the storage facility were password protected, but Lan would use the audio file to gain access. They had thirty minutes to complete their mission and get back to the wall. Ready to help Bao's team leave the compound.

Bao's mission was to retrieve Catalina's other items. It wasn't such a long list. There were two bags. But both were in different hidey holes. One hidden under the bed in what used to be her room. Under the floorboards. The second she hid in the office building close to where she worked. Bao thought she'd hidden the things she wanted in this way, just in case she got the chance to run. Given the opportunity, she hoped to have one bugout bag close at hand. She asked if he would bring her at least one bag. They all had unique items inside, but she said any of them would provide the proof she needed for the Galactic Alliance on how the Andaran took over Viant.

Bao had Bard with him. The Master of Sound not only had incredible hearing, making sure they were warned long before anyone came near, but he also could mimic any voice or signal. Bard practiced the Andaran's code phrase for several minutes before they left. Catalina's written notes showed all the areas of the compound where they would need to use the passcode to go through a door.

Bol was also with Bao. The Master of Destruction could create any size diversion or blow a hole in the compound's outer wall if they needed to escape, and stealth was no longer the most important aspect of the mission.

The Andaran rarely went out at night, and he often entertained. He was seldom in his compound during the day, and that was when security was just a little more relaxed.

Bao hoped so. Once they slipped through the front gate without alerting the guards, his group followed the wall to the left until they came to the door Catalina marked as a typically unused entrance to the house. If they couldn't get in with the passcode, they'd have to abort the mission and come up with another plan to retrieve what Cat needed.

Bard stepped in front. Facing the speaker on the door frame, he softly said, " Vibrant Violetta on Viant." And they all held their breath.

Later that night…

He sat in the garden on top of the building waiting for the cover of darkness, and for the guard to change across the street. Bao's dark eyes were clear. He willed his woman to be careful. To come to him soon. He needed to see her.

The password worked. And Catalina was correct. Getting in was the hardest part. The brothers gathered enough re-breathers for all of them. And more for anyone they might save. Lan and Jay had time to go through the warehouse. Mostly to scan its contents so if the brothers needed anything else while they were on the planet… they would know what the building held. They also retrieved some food.

Bard, Bol, and Bao collected the bags on his woman's wish list. She said one of the bugout bags would be enough. But since the most thrilling part of the experience was being stuck in a closet for several minutes while one of the many rooms was cleaned—they had time to collect both.

It was a clear night. The stars began to shine as the sun slipped below the horizon. For the first half of the night, the small moon ruled. Keeping it darker and easier to move around unseen.

Using the re-breather, he could inhale the scented air without feeling the effects. The longer he used the air filtration device, the more he realized how much he needed it. Bao had doubted not only his worth, his abilities, but the lethargy and fear made him believe he couldn't change anything. So, why bother. He could see the changes in his mental state so clearly, now that the Andaran's concoction wasn't filling his lungs.

Breathing clean air had given him back the fire in his soul. The knowledge that he was more than capable of saving not just Catalina but the entire planet, if needed. He wanted more of her story and the time to convince his mate that he could help her. After all, this was what the Father created him for. This was his mission in life, to save those who couldn't save themselves. And she was his mate. This would be his most important assignment.

The sound behind him alerted Bao to her presence. He hadn't seen her move across the street. Turning around, his heart ached when he saw the woman before him. She'd already dropped the robe that covered her from head to toe. Her long blonde hair draped over her shoulders and curled just above her breasts. She had brushed the magnificent bounty until the moonlight gleamed on its surface.

She wore a dark nightgown that hid, rather than accented her curves, but brought attention to her very pale skin. Her stunningly bright green eyes focused on him. Cat's pink lips raised at the corners and she smiled at him. "Good. You did it." Her voice was a little husky. Just above a whisper.

As the notes teased his senses, Bao felt his mating bands move.

The physical ache in his body throbbed… but the worse pain was in his soul. He felt divided. And it hurt. Knowing that the one who would complete him was standing right there… and he couldn't do anything about it. Not yet. It was enough to drive a man insane.