Chapter 46: Preparations

It was two in the afternoon, fourth day since the escape from the building. The whole group was gathered, planning a rescue mission; they would make sure there was no mistake this time.

"He's gonna be waiting for us, that's for sure," Rhino commented.

"But maybe not all of us," Bolt reasoned "Assuming that I learned anything being there, he'll wait for the pillar to go save them."

"Why?"

"Well, I don't know what his plans are all about but for them to work, he needs the pillar out of the way. Since the pillar can do anything, it's probably the biggest threat to his plans."

"So, you think it's a trap?" Delta asked.

"I'm sure it is. What I can't tell it's if the trap is for everyone or just the pillar."

"Well, it's not that important given the circumstances."

"We're getting sidetracked. It has to be a trap, but we can also make our plays; we can distract them in some way to get the place cleared for them."

"Alpha is right. With the help James and Bud have been giving us, we could easily get to their control room and open the cells from there. We could split up: half goes into distraction and the other half goes right to open the cages."

"Leave the distraction part to us," Rhino offered. "If the pillar is what he wants, he'll fall right for our presence. We'll make perfect bait."

"And in the meantime, we go straight for the cells. Sounds good," Beta added.

"Well, that's it for the general structure of the plan. We can discuss details after eating something."

While everyone went back home to eat, Bolt stayed under the tree, laying down and thinking a little. A dark voice brought him back.

"Why the face, dog?"

He turned his head and found the two shadows that would come around those hours daily.

"Hi, guys," He nodded before returning his head to its previous position. "I was thinking a little."

"Well, it looks serious," James said. "Can we help you?"

"I don't think so, James."

"Well, if you don't tell us we won't know."

Bolt let out a sigh. "I'm worried about Mittens."

"Something happened to her?"

"No," Bolt said. "And that's how I want to keep it. All of this… the rescue, the bait, everything, it does nothing more than worry me. I don't want to see her in danger. I don't want Centauri to lay a finger on her."

The dog took a deep breath and a few seconds to get to his conclusion.

"I want her to stay out of this. She'll be safe like that."

None of the shadows said anything after that. A minute felt like an hour.

"Tell her," Bud finally said.

"What?" The dog asked in surprise.

"Tell her," The shadow repeated. "Tell her that you care, that you want her to be safe and, if you want, tell her that you don't want her to come to the mission."

"You're aware that she'll argue before accepting such a suggestion, right, Bud?"

The shadow looked at his companion and shrugged. "If he doesn't try, he'll never know."

Before Bolt could think of an answer, Penny called out for him.

"Bolt, time to eat!"

"Thanks, guys," Bolt said the shadows as he got up. "Maybe I'll talk to her afterwards."

"Sure. We'll wait here and report to Alpha."

Bolt nodded at the shadows and headed inside, where everyone was already eating.

During the meal there were few conversations, but Bolt paid no attention at all. He was still thinking. He didn't want Mittens hurt, and he was aware that Centauri had an interest in taking her, ever since the incident with the memories; even before that, another shadow had given him the same impression, with the dream where he had to choose between Mittens and Penny, and it got emphasized when they all shared the dream. He had it very present: Centauri wanted to force him to choose between his mate and his person. And if he hadn't stopped the elite shadow from taking Mittens' memories, the man would be already in position to do so. He had to make sure that didn't happen, he had to keep them both as far as possible from that situation.

Before reaching even further into that train of thought, a voice returned him to reality.

"Bolt?"

The dog shook his head, trying to get rid of those ideas and looked up, where Mittens was standing in front of him, looking slightly concerned. "Are you okay?"

"I…" He couldn't finish the sentence. He didn't know how to; a few seconds later he let out a sigh.

"What's wrong?" She insisted, taking a step towards him.

The dog didn't answer for a while. He was looking for an answer, for a way to explain that he didn't want her on the mission, but his head just stopped working. Meanwhile, the cat was still looking at him, trying to guess what had gotten into his mind. When Bolt finally managed to organize his thoughts to speak, Rhino came in.

"Guys, hey, everyone's already in the barn. We're the only ones late." He announced before leaving the place again.

"Could we talk after the gathering?" Bolt asked her before anything else happened.

"Sure," Mittens replied almost in a whisper.

As Rhino had said, everyone was in the barn, including Penny and the shadows. As soon as the two got inside, Alpha resumed the meeting.

"Well, then, Bud and James have reported that Centauri is fortifying that section of the building to make it harder for us to reach them."

"The boss will continue to fortify as long as he needs to; it's like a desperate move," James added. "I've never seen him do something like that. And he's still calling shadows to the building. For this reason, I suggest you move as quickly as possible: the longer you take, the more shadows you'll have to deal with."

"So," Bud continued. "It is true that he wants the pillar, but if he only sees you three coming in, he'll know something's not right. He's smart and it's not easy to deceive him. My personal suggestion would be that the most of you work on the distraction, while only one or two, three at the most, deal with the silent part. That way it'll be easier."

"You don't want to make a direct attack either, because they'll suspect; you have to make it look like you were trying to sneak in and you failed. That may trick them into believe that you don't have a backup plan. Even so…"

"It's not for sure. After all, he is very cautious, insightful and cunning. And he now has Kia as a right hand, totally submerged into anger."

That last sentence caught Bolt's, who hadn't pay much attention to anything before that.

"What do you mean?"

"What you heard, dog. Girl's gone crazy, like she's another one. She's aggressive, impulsive, impolite and keeps growling to everyone. Even her appearance is changing."

At such news, the shepherd only managed to feel guilt. Though he didn't understood exactly why he would feel that way.

"It's not your fault, Bolt," Mittens answered to his thoughts, leaning against him.

"She's right," Bud agreed. "The boss had her drowning in lies, making her believe that you loved her and that the cat was manipulating you. He fed a flame of hope he shouldn't have, and when reality hit her, it broke her too."

"But that doesn't mean… she's lost," Peep's quiet voice made it through the whole barn and everyone kept silent to listen. "She can still… made it out of there. With love… friend's love… and warmth."

"Peep's right, we can still help her," Alpha said. "But that'll have to wait. For now, our priority is to get our team back together."

The meeting went on, but Bolt was no longer listening. He heard them perfectly, but he didn't listen at all. All that had happened, and what could happen, the danger they were getting into. All this continued to increase his concern, especially for Mittens, but without leaving Penny behind. Helplessly, he began to think about the situation that Centauri was apparently dragging him into: Mittens or Penny. His mate or his person. For a while, he analyzed that he would be in that situation, not achieving much, considering that he loved both, but in different ways, but still loved both. In fact he loved them all, as his friends, as his companions, as his family; he did not see himself choosing one while condemning the other. His obvious choice was the same one that he had put into practice in the dream: to surrender himself so that they would not hurt either of them.

Then there was Kia. Although they had met with his memories altered by the shadows, it was someone who he ended up liking, a good friend. Heeding what he had been told, he tried to see that it wasn't his fault. But if it was not his, whose would it be? It was because of his naiveté that he believed in the shadows and not Mittens when his memories returned, so it was his fault all that happened afterwards, right? Bolt shook his head, trying not to attract attention; there was no one else, no other possible culprit than he. He thought it for a while until a single word came to his mind. Centauri. It was he who caused all that. He gave false hope to Kia, he sent for Mittens and Penny, he sent the shadows to his house several months ago; everything that had to do with his participation in this conflict had been caused by him. All this, and more, everything came from him. The only way then to keep those things from happening, was ...

"Defeat him," Bolt whispered to himself.

After getting to a conclusion, he returned his attention to the front, where the meeting was still going.

"That's why I think it's better if I, Beta and Peep go for the cells, and the rest of you make the distraction."

"Sounds good, Alpha, but how will you get inside?"

"Leave it to us," Flor said. "Since Beta's going with them and I'm going with you, each group has someone who knows the building quite well. And if the potential pillars were to get separated, Bolt's with them."

"Yes, but I didn't mean. I meant that we have to know where we are going to pretend a failed rescue mission. And I meant that we can't enter the building through the same place, or they'll know we have two groups."

"I think we'll set that tomorrow," Alpha said. "It's getting dark now."

"What time is it?"

"Eight o'clock," Penny said, looking at her phone.

"Then that's it for today. See you tomorrow."

The meeting was over with that and everyone went back home. Bolt stayed last and asked Mittens to do the same. When they were the only ones, this silence formed again, and it lasted until the cat asked her beloved once more.

"What's wrong, Bolt?"

The dog took his time. He arranged all of his thoughts before giving his mate an answer, making it a couple more seconds of silence.

"I don't want you to take this, uh, in the wrong way… You know that you're the most important being in my life, and that I would never do anything to hurt you. I want to…"

"Why do you tell me this?" She asked, puzzled by the words the shepherd had chosen.

He took a deep breath and looked into her green eyes.

"I want you to stay here,"

"What?"

"I want you to stay out of the rescue mission. Please."

Mittens froze for a few seconds, not knowing how to react.

"W-Why?" She asked at last.

"Because I don't want anything to happen to you. I don't want Centauri or Kia, or anything trying to hurt you. I…"

"You think I can't take care of myself?" She interrupted.

Oh, no. "No, it has nothing to do with that. I know you can take care of yourself, even better than I can of myself. Just… do this for me, like a favor, please?" His tone has changed almost into a pleading one.

"Then what does it have to do with?" Mittens pushed. "Why should I stay here and not go rescue our friends?"

"It's just that… Centauri, he has his eyes on you, ever since the memory issue." The dog took a few seconds. "He wants to force me to choose between you and Penny."

"So, what? You would choose Penny?"

"No, but…"

"So?"

"Mittens, please, I–"

"Tell me something, Bolt. And tell me the truth: Why are you asking me this?"

"Let me finish, please," Bolt begged. "I don't want either of you to go; I wouldn't be able to make that decision. If I had to choose between one of you, and let the other die, I… I couldn't."

"You didn't answer my question, Bolt." He was silent, even after she gave him time to respond. "Fine. Then, I'll see you tomorrow."

The cat turned tail on him and began to walk away.

"Wait!" She stopped and turned back to him. "Don't go."

"Then answer me, Bolt. Why…?"

"Because I don't want to lose you! Because, if something happened to you, I wouldn't ever forgive myself!" The dog lowered his head and ears after that and began to sob slightly. "I wouldn't…. I wouldn't be able to…"

Mittens watched him for a few seconds, beginning to understand. Seeing Bolt broke like that just reached her heart. He was just trying to protect her, like he said he would, like he had done so many times before. He wanted to be her hero.

She walked slowly and stopped inches from him.

"Bolt," She called softly. The shepherd raised his head, tears in his eyes, and looks at her. She smiled, leaned closer, and held him. He stood still for a few seconds before reacting and copying the gesture. Without letting go, she kept going: "I'll be fine. One of us is the pillar, remember? I know you don't want me in a dangerous situation, but we're already quite involved into this anyway. If we find Centauri or Kia, we'll deal with it."

She broke the contact and looked into his eyes.

"Mittens, I…"

"You are my hero, Bolt. But I'm not your damsel in distress," She told him tenderly, to which he smiled.

"No, you're not," The dog sighed again. "I guess I can't persuade you to stay." She shook her head. "Okay. But promise me one thing,"

"What?"

"If things get out of hand, you'll get out of there. No matter what, you'll come home."

She thought about it for a few seconds. "Fine, but only if they get really out of hand."

"It's a deal then."

She smiled and he smiled back. They both left the barn and went inside to have dinner. Once finished, Bolt went upstairs to talk, this time to Penny; Mittens stayed downstairs with Rhino, watching a movie that was halfway-started when they found it. The dog came down ten minutes later, with a face that gave nothing away.

"What happened?" The hamster asked.

"I don't understand why girls are so… determined," He replied without even turning to look. "Penny, too, insisted on going."

"So…?"

"I couldn't change her mind. I don't know how."

"You can leave that to me, Bolt."

"Soul," The three of them called at once. "Where were you, why do you disappear so long and then come back out of nowhere?"

"Well, it certainly has an explanation, but it would be more interesting to show you what I'm doing when I'm done. On the other hand, I think I can convince Penny to stay out of this rescue."

"How?"

"I had once a sister, I know how to deal with girls… I guess. And I can be persuasive, yes. Anyway, I'll see what I can do. See you."

"I hope he convinces her," Bolt sighed.

"Why? She could help us." Mittens asked.

"I don't doubt that, that's not the reason. Centauri wants you both. If you're going, then at least I'd be a little calmer knowing that she is staying here." The cat just nodded, making it clear that she understood the dog's concern.

They went silent, and the only sound was the television turned on for a few seconds, before a scream was heard from upstairs.

"What?!" And it was followed by another, louder one. "How dare you?!"

The strength in both was such that it made all of them three jump; before they could ask, Penny's clearly annoyed voice sounded again.

"You better thank you're dead, because if you weren't, I'd kill you right now!"

"I think… he doesn't know how to deal with girls after all."

"What could've made her so angry?"

"Oh, nothing special," The voice chuckled. "I was just testing her patience with something that used to piss my sister of. Guess it works on all girls, though I don't know why. Anyway, she's furious with me right now, so I'll just wait 'till tomorrow to try her again. Anyway, see you."

Once more, there was a minute of silence before anyone said anything. This time it was Rhino.

"Should we call it a day?"

Mittens stretched and yawned. "Yeah, let's call it a day, rodent."

The three of them headed upstairs with no hurry at all. Once in Penny's room they saw the girl pacing back and forth without stopping, muttering things in a low voice. Every so, she would go to her bed, take her pillow and hit it a couple of times or press it against her face and give muffled screams, Whatever the dead prankster had told her must have touched a sensible filament. None of the three had ever seen her so angry before, and, based on what they were seeing, they decided never to provoke her until that point.

"I… guess she's still mad at Soul," Bolt mumbled.

"Yes, in fact I am," She replied without even turning to look at him, with an annoyed tone.

"For a moment I forgot she understands us," He said again, lowering more his voice.

Evading Penny and her relentless moves across the room, the animal trio reached into their beds without major mishap. Rhino got into his corner and inside his ball, which he was barely using by that time. Bolt and Mittens wen to his bed, as usual.

"Good night, guys."

"Good night, Rhino."

"Good night," Penny told them before taking her pillow again and punching it.

Mittens, with her head resting on Bolt's chest, fell asleep almost immediately, but the white shepherd was another situation. Apparently, the roles had been inverted, and now it was his turn to worry about the well-being of her, but of Penny, too. Knowing that both were determined to participate, and that Soul had picked one of the worst moments to joke, was making him nervous. Recalling what the spirit had said when the things were the other way around, he tried to stop his thoughts from that matter, knowing that the more attention he gave to the issue, the more likely it would be for it to come true. However, it was of little use.

Bolt kept thinking about it, unable to help it, until a movement took his attention. Mittens, and she seemed to be dreaming, with a smile on her face. I envy you right now, cat, he though as he watched her sleep with a peaceful face. Cutting all of the thoughts that disturbed him, after Penny had also calmed down and gone to bed, Bolt closed his eyes, snuggled closer to Mittens and hoped to fall asleep.

Baby it's okay, someday…

We've gotta hold on to what we've got

It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not

We've got each other, and that's a lot

For love, we'll give it a shot.

Whoaaaaaa…

"Silence!" An angry vixen interrupted, entering the room.

Mega snorted in frustration. "Why, oh why, when we were starting the choir?" He asked in general.

Helang chuckled silently at his question. He had to admit that, in the short time since the truth had come to the light, both wolves had spent a lot of time on regenerating that lost bond. Most of it had been songs, but also storytelling time, and even jokes… from Mega, of course. The hawk couldn't see their energy through the cells, but he couldn't deny that this bond was being reformed indeed. If it all goes well, they may even turn Omicron one day.

Kia's voice echoed through the room again. "Are you going to cooperate today?" She asked as her eyes went through the cells.

"We have nothing to do for you, Kia. Bolt has a mate."

"Shut up!" She demanded, standing up to the wolf in an admirable way, considering that mega was easily thrice her size. Though the cell in between them probably had an influence.

"Hey, Kia," Byte called. The vixen saw her making a gesture with her paw. Reluctantly, she went to Byte's cell.

"What do you want?" She asked.

"If you let me touch your leg, I can show you we're not lying," Byte said softly.

"What are you talking about?"

"I can show you some of my memories so you can see Bolt like he is."

"And how can I know it's not a trick?"

The she-wolf shrugged. "You can't. But normally, before jumping into conclusions, it's wise to look at all the versions of it, isn't it?" The vixen's face didn't change. "Okay, how about this? They're my memories, so I can't alter them; you'll see what I saw. You just have to open the glass a bit to slip my paw through."

Before she could answer, the Pitbull came in, ignoring anyone but Kia.

"They're calling us. They say it's urgent."

He left the room just as he finished his message.

Kia headed for the exit as well. She didn't seem to want to talk anymore, but she stopped at the door and sighed.

"In two days, at noon."

She didn't say more and left.

"What's your plan, Byte?" Helang asked in her head.

"I'm not sure, but if she's busy in my memories and opens the glass a little, we could try something, right? But we'll need Umbra's help. Kass, you know what to do."

"Roger that," The cat answered.

"With this, we may actually stand a chance. But we still have to get Bolt and…"

"Actually, no," Kass said out loud.

"What?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry, I was thinking, about… the cells' color." A silence came back to the room. "Sorry, my bad. Now, Umbra told me they don't have Bolt, or Mittens or Rhino with them. Centauri was just tricking us, he knew we wouldn't leave without them."

"Okay. Smart man. Anyway, then out priority is to get the hell out of here. WE must rest as much as we can."

Everyone nodded and then got into either resting or thinking.

Meanwhile, Cenaturi was on his desk, taking to himself as usual.

"Very well. In two days it shall be." The guy smirked and raised a hand full of dark energy. "Two shadows and two days. By the end of the second one, they will all be in cages."


Yes, here it is. How do you think this rescue mission will be? What about Centauri's plans? Well, we're getting close to find out. Thanks to everyone that reads, follows and has this story on favorite; special thanks to Basbon and ShadowScare for reviewing constantly and for the support. Anyway, I've got nothing more to say, so nos vemos luego!