Page 20 of BaOBy

Lan passed a handheld device to Baby. “Here is the formula, Captain.” He looked up at Grace. “Our Captain can look at anything and decipher the chemical composition. He creates most of the medicinal items we use on our ship, the DoMicile. I imagine he’ll do the same thing here.”

“Grace. How long do I have before I need to do this?” Cat asked.

“I would recommend as soon as the compound can be created. Every day the being inside you will increase in size,” the doctor clarified.

Baby looked up. “We have everything we need on the DoMicile… if not within this med bay. We can do it tonight.”

Cat shook her head. “No! First, we need to save the other women and kill Jacanas.”

Behind her, a powerful voice filled the room. “I believe that is my job.”

Chapter Thirteen

BaOBy

He watched his mate turn in her seat and see BinjaOB for the first time. Binja had the same body they all had. The same hair and eyes. The same trim beard that many of the brothers wore. But the Father created their Master of Stealth for the darker side of life. His skin was silver and he could camouflage. Hiding anywhere. He was their assassin. The one the brothers called on to bring the worst criminals to justice.

Gliding soundlessly until he was right in front of Catalina, he kneeled before her and gently took her hand in his. Binja’s voice was deep. Mesmerizing. “Newest sister. Please allow me to do this small thing for you. Your health comes first. I will take great pride in ridding this planet of one who is so evil. A being who hurt you and these other women in such a villainous manner. Several of my brothers have prepared one of our new hovers with medical beds. They are waiting for me to assist them. We plan to go in silence and invisibility. To park right beside the house. Our only goal is to rescue the women and take them right to the DoMicile. I could finish this mission before you even head to the med bay. Let us take care of this important task.”

Catalina filled her lungs with air. His mate tightened her grip on BinjaOB’s hand. “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…” she trailed off.

Binja nodded. “Jay will be with us.”

“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. I ask a favor?” Cat hesitated until Binja nodded. “In the bathroom that is joined to my bedroom, above the shower, you will find loose tile on the ceiling. If you push on them, 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? If not, don’t worry about it. I have others hidden in places outside the house.” Cat smiled at Binja and patted their joined hands with her free one. “Thank you for saving them.”

Bowing, Binja stood and shot him a look. One that said Bao had better take care of this woman. He was pretty sure it was because his mate had asked his brother to retrieve her favorite weapon. That said a lot about somebody.

Cat asked, “Will you tell Baby when you have them?”

Binja choked. But didn’t laugh. “Yes, sister. I’ll tell Baby when the women are safe,“ he promised and left the room.

“I have one more question for Cat,” Grace said. “When was the last time you ate or drank anything?”

“This morning. The guards insisted I have fruit and bread.”

“It is night there, correct?”

Cat nodded.

Grace smiled. “Then you are ready. Don’t drink or eat anything until this is over. Let Cameron help you get ready. She knows what to do. Cameron, if you could contact me when it’s over? Goodbye, everyone. Let Falcon know when your spaceship is on the way.” And her screen went blank.

BaOBy handed the formula to Lan. “Have someone check the medical storage here and lay out the ingredients in the lab. If something is missing, get it from the DoMicile. I need to talk with Catalina for a moment. When we’ve finished, I’ll bring her to Cameron.”

As they headed out the door, BaOBy heard the Father ask, “Why did you all shave your heads?”

Catalina laughed as he tugged her down the hall.

“This is the Captain’s quarters. So, it will be our home. Feel free to change anything you want.” Bao turned and faced her.

Grinning, Cat said, “This is where the girls gave me the dress. The room looks like it was made for you. I don’t want to get blood on this.” She picked the skirt up with her fingers.

“No. It looks beautiful on you. Let me see if they put anything else in here. Oh, look. One of my shirts and a soft pair of pants that should fit you. That will work. Would you like to change before or after we talk?”

Taking the clothes from his hands, she tilted her head. “Before. I’ll go into the bathroom. Which is also very nice, by the way. Big for a ship, I think. There is even a bathtub.”

It didn’t take her long to come back out. She hung the dress in the closet and sat next to him on the couch. “What’s wrong?” she asked solemnly. Her eyes looked worried.

Bao smiled at her and leaned in to kiss the tip of her nose. “Nothing is wrong. I just wanted to make sure you understand what all this means. About the mating bands. They exist, not just to heal you, but to provide a close connection between mates. Between me and you. Much of what they do will tie us together for the rest of our lives. Those ties are emotional and physical. Once you heal, you will sometimes feel the bands on your body. They don’t hurt. But they are there.”

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