Warnings: Child trafficking, abduction and Abuse integral to plot.
Chapter 1. Rescue
By the time the Security teams got to the last cell in the underground facility, they were heartsick with fear and horror. The lights in the corridors were activated by sensors, so they moved from light to dark to light which added a surreal façade to this monstrous task. They had despaired of finding any more left alive. But at the last cell, hope flared.
There were five of them in there. The Alphas could smell them; even the Betas on the back up team and communications could feel something different about this cell.
All Omegas, all so heartbreakingly young and the scent of their terror enraged even the trained professional Alphas in the armed response and rescue team.
They wanted to tear down the walls with their bare hands to get to this group, to protect them, to safeguard them, to sooth the pitiful sobbing and whimpering from those little throats. They had found so many of the little ones dead but this group; all of them were still alive. Afraid and hurt but still alive thank God and now they had to get in to that blasted cell to rescue them.
Mycroft Holmes ordered the main team to fall back. The Alphas were becoming unreliable in their desperation to get to the last group. The Beta team had looked sympathetically at their comrades but got on with their jobs with trained efficiency.
They were good, extremely good; they just didn't have the heightened senses of the Alpha team or the overriding bone deep need to protect Omegas, which was even more pressing when the Omegas were distressed children.
The horrors they had seen going through the underground chambers had truly challenged each of the teams. Although the Alphas seemed to feel it the most this time, their protective instincts were on overdrive.
Each cell had a different dynamic, but they were all children, combinations of Alpha, Beta and Omega. Only this last one was different, it was comprised of only Omegas. This last one which was the hardest to gain entrance to, had the strongest, thickest metal door which barred them from those terrified children.
As an Alpha, despite his legendary self control Mycroft Holmes felt the same protective instinct, and he was viciously pleased that the vile creator of this torture chamber abomination was even now heading for the autopsy table in Dr Molly Hooper's lab, along with a dozen or so of the evil twisted cretinous minions he had employed.
However these children deserved their best efforts, not a mad uncoordinated scramble which could end up causing them even more harm and terror. They also had to ascertain if there were any booby traps or unpleasant surprises which had awaited them in some of the other cells.
His brother Sherlock and his Omega mate Dr John Watson had made it to the last cell alongside, Mycroft's own mate, unusually another alpha, but they were both unusual men and their mating pleased them. Gregory Lestrade was a Detective Inspector of New Scotland Yard.
Mycroft Holmes assuaged his Alpha instincts on a national level, he protected his country, the only personal appeal to his protective instincts was his family and his family only. Especially his younger brother Sherlock, although also an Alpha, who had triggered the worst excesses of that instinct because of his irresponsible and reckless behaviour when he was younger and still unbonded with his mate, and even now when Sherlock had "the work" and his mate to keep him centred, if not actually danger free, his older more dominant Alpha brother still worried about him, constantly.
Mycroft's Alpha mate took his instinct to protect on a more individual level and combined it with his duty to serve the public very seriously and would have brought home every waif and stray he could, if Mycroft had allowed it.
Although he didn't complain too much because it was Gregory's nature to protect that had prompted him to take Sherlock to his own home, and look after the idiot boy when he had been high on drugs and unable to look after himself, which inevitably meant that Gregory had fallen gift wrapped into Mycroft's path, a beautiful unexpected and joyous life affirming gift.
Both were Alphas but Mycroft was the more dominant, except when Gregory surprised him. The early days of their courtship had been interesting to say the least They were both secure enough in their relationship now that they didn't need to challenge each other… too often, or unless they wanted to. Gregory might not bring home more waifs and strays but Mycroft did not interfere with Greg's work (unless Greg needed his assistance), football or allow himself to be kidnapped any more. Gregory had been most vocal and unforgiving the last time that had happened.
This case involved an illegal international child trafficking trade. The children were abducted and then sold on to the highest bidder to many countries across the world. The information they have received had pointed to the children all being betas and the tentacles of the lucrative operation reached all the way into Government which was why it was Mycroft's teams that were leading the operation, with Lestrade's police in attendance but only called in when required.
It was only when they had arrived at the facility that they had realised it held Alphas and rare Omega children too. Not only held them but the way the facility was set up, they were kept for some time, trained, terrorised and tortured and then sold on the market place, or fulfilled special "orders".
Mycroft Holmes was going to find everyone who had been involved in this vile and shameful business and utterly and completely destroy them.
Sherlock had been instrumental in finding this place of evil insanity and the fact that they had actually rescued any of the children alive was solely due to him. Although Mycroft knew that wouldn't appease his little brother's guilt when they found that many of the little ones had been slaughtered as a prelude to their entry and even Mycroft's ice cold logical heart had nearly broken at the terrible sights they had seen.
Sherlock's mate John Watson whined involuntarily in his throat as he heard the distressed cries of the children behind the thick steel door, and also scented the aroma of their fear. Sherlock put a large warm hand against his neck and the other two Alphas moved closer to him to offer comfort but John straightened and scowled at his over protective family. "I'm fine" he grunted, warning them off.
"I'm not"admitted Lestrade, "I need to rip that fucking door off its hinges", the last words were accompanied by the growl of a really, really angry Alpha, and his mate ordered sharply
"Enough Gregory, the children come first, not our emotions"
Lestrade scowled back at Mycroft unimpressed. He could see what his mate was feeling even if he had the Iceman image to preserve. Mycroft would be a total mess tonight when he got him home.
The loud angry growl from Lestrade had triggered a sudden silence in the cell. The men all looked at each other. The children must have extremely good hearing or be especially strong empaths to have caught the sound of Lestrade's growls through the thickness of the cell walls and that huge steel door.
The specialist charged with setting up the surveillance equipment informed Lestrade that the fibre optic device was in place and they could now see into the cell. They all turned towards the portable monitor. On the screen, they saw the dark room which held a number of thin mattresses and thin blankets. The infra red camera picked up the children. In one corner there was a group of little bodies huddled together. The oldest, a girl who looked to be about 12 or 13 sat in front of three others as if trying to protect them from whoever or whatever came through the door, they were draped over her shoulders and neck as if seeking as much comfort as possible and in her arms was a tiny boy child of no more than three. Very softly they heard the young girl whisper desperately,
"We have to be quiet darlings; we have to be quiet, please"
The little one in her arms looked up at her with big scared eyes and whispered in horror "Alphas, bad Alphas".She pulled him closer to her neck and whispered"Shh baby, if we're quiet maybe they'll go."
One of the little ones, a girl of about six, standing behind the older girl leant down towards the boy and whispered in fear
"Matty, if we make a noise and the Alphas hear us they hurt us remember, they punish us because we are freaks, so we mustn't make a noise."
And her small delicate hand reached down to stroke lovingly through the little boy's hair.
Lestrade stared at the screen appalled, "Dear God, what have they done to them"he uttered in shock, "Lestrade shut up and listen"Sherlock ordered impatiently, but with a tightness to his mouth and eyes that spoke volumes.
Mycroft's face had frozen into grim forbidding lines, someone would pay dearly for this and John fiercely blinked back the tears which he refused to allow to fall.
The other two children were twin boys, who could have been about eight, but all the children were so small and thin none of the men watching could really determine how old they were.
The children jerked with fright as they heard a drill begin its work on the metal door, and they crumpled terrified against the older girl.
"Seren" wailed the little girl in fright, as she clutched harder at the older girl.
"Its ok Jenny baby, its ok. Just stay quiet, remember and don't look at them. Benny, Markie" She pulled the twin boys in front of her for a second "you are so brave, I know you are and you can run really fast, can't you. Listen to me; we are going to put Matty and Jenny in the corner behind the door, because they can't run like we can. Matty's leg is still bad from the last time they hurt him, and Jenny can't breathe properly when she tries to run. So if we hide them in the corner and put the bedding over them the nasty alphas won't see them, and we are going to make them chase us, ok."
The two little boys didn't speak just simply wrapped their arms around her neck and hugged her tightly.
"Love you so much"she whispered to them all.Then she got to her knees still holding Matty and staggered upright, carried him over the corner of the room behind the door and lay him down gently, soothing his quiet whimpers, she held her hand out for Jenny and the little girl came and huddled besides the distressed little boy.
"Please baby we need to be quiet" Seren whispered lovingly.
A tear escaped John Watson's rigid control and made its way down one cheek, but the look in his eyes was murderous and Lestrade was almost incandescent with rage.
"I want to kill that fucker again, resurrect him then kill him again and again. He got off too easy" he ranted through gritted teeth.
Sherlock looked at Mycroft, "Not a bad plan for a terrified and abused Omega child trying to protect younger children from a rampaging horde of Alphas"
"How the fuck can you joke about something like this Sherlock" Lestrade asked him in fury.
John glared at Lestrade and spoke sharply "He's not, he means it, and it is a good plan, but there won't be any Alphas' going through that door first, it will be an Omega"
Sherlock's protest was instinctive but he stopped it when he saw John's face,
Mycroft said firmly "No John" and Lestrade was shaking his head instinctively
"Not gonna happen John, tell him Sherlock" he grunted.
Sherlock leant back against the wall, arms folded prepared to enjoy the show.
His John was in full Omega mode and his brother and brother-in –law in full protective Alpha mode. He knew who was going to win this round.
John said calmly and simply, "Those children are too traumatised already, you heard what they are going to do, how do you think they would feel about being stopped and restrained by a strange uniformed Alpha, then surrounded by all the Alphas out here desperate to protect them. The only Alphas they have come across in their short lives have been evil twisted bastards who have hurt them. It's a sure-fire recipe for disaster; on the other hand how many adult Omegas do you think they have met in here"
Lestrade growled his displeasure again, especially when he could see Mycroft was considering it. "Mycroft" he started to argue, but stopped as his mate sighed tiredly,
"What do you suggest Gregory, flooding the room with anaesthetic gas, terrifying them with unknown Alphas? I hate to admit it as much as you do, but John's right. They are in no state to deal with an Alpha rescue force in full protection mode, or even the Betas who would also be armed and unknown. What do you need John?"
John smiled with sympathy at the discomforted Detective Inspector, but answered Mycroft succinctly
"Warm food, something to drink and all the Alphas out of the building. Medics on standby who are Omegas only, preferably female"
Sherlock interrupted firmly "The Alphas do not leave the building John"
John sighed with resignation "Ok but far enough away that the children can't hear them or scent them"
Mycroft turned to look at his beautiful beta assistant, who nodded her sleek head and addressed John directly "Any special requirements for the food and drink Dr Watson?"
"Something to tempt terrified little kids"he shrugged, "Something that smells really, really good and will not allow them to think about anything else except the smell, something they can eat from a single bowl with a spoon"
The noise from the drill at the door had ceased for quite a while and nothing had happened. The children were exhibiting the classic signs of stress waiting for the door to open. The two little ones in the corner were trying desperately to restrain their sobs, and the girl standing in front of the twins was visibly trembling. The twins had their heads buried against her back, and she was constantly touching or stroking them for comfort whilst her attention switched between the little ones covered by blankets in the corner and the door to the cell.
John was getting impatient, "Aren't we ready yet, have you seen the state they are in" he rounded on Mycroft and Lestrade. Sherlock touched his shoulder soothingly.
Mycroft reassured "Go to the cell door now John, the food and equipment are on it's way, and the medics are here, all female omegas, here put this in"and he handed John a security earpiece
"I meant what I said, stay out of the way"John looked at the three men sternly, "stay here and watch on the monitor"
It was one of the twins who actually mentioned it first; the men could see the children frowning with the confusion. "What's that smell Seren?" She looked at him and stuttered "I don't know Benny, smells so nice" the other boy whispered "I'm so hungry Seren" "Me too" "And Me" whispered the other little ones.
She looked at them, trying to calm them and trying to ignore the pain in her stomach and her watering mouth
"They haven't rung the bell for food darlings, and it doesn't smell like anything we've hard before, it might be bad stuff"
Lestrade threw an agonised glance at Mycroft, whose face was rigid. The knuckles of his hand were as white as bone as he gripped the ubiquitous umbrella. He would hunt down the faceless shareholders of this organisations and ensure they would feel the same terror as these children before he had them wiped off the face of the earth.
The earpiece John wore was dual purpose; it picked up the conversation inside the cell and allowed Sherlock to speak directly to John.
John had heard their words and Sherlock told him it was time to open the door.
The door swung slowly open and as the twins and Seren tensed themselves ready to run, they were stopped in their tracks with sheer amazement, quickly followed by fear. Nothing good ever came of a change, not in this place, it was another way to torment and hurt them, to make them scream and beg.
There was a man in the door way, not someone they recognised, he was a stranger but he was sitting on the floor, cross legged and eating something. He seemed to be totally engrossed in eating and hadn't even looked at them when the door had opened.
The children looked at each other scared and confused. The smell of the food was so delicious it hurt.
After a few seconds the strange man looked up from his bowl, smiled at them and then carried on eating; he was even making noises as if the stuff he was eating was really good. The children stared at him wild eyed with shock.
The twins moved closer to Seren, and looked up at her silently asking what to do.
Seren looked at the man who was blocking the door, they would have to climb over him to get through, and he might hurt them.
But he was sitting there, not really paying them any attention, just eating, and what was he eating, it smelt so good and she couldn't think because she was so hungry, but she had to think to protect the little ones. She wasn't even sure if he was an Alpha because every time she tried to scent him, the delicious aroma from the food hit her tummy, and she could barely smell anything else. And her tummy felt so empty it hurt.
"Are you hungry?" the strange man asked kindly, a sweet smile on his face, "I have more than enough for all of you" and he pulled a trolley into sight from behind the wall that held five bowls
Markie tugged at her sleeve and whispered "So hungry Seren", she looked at him and tried to smile. She didn't know what to do, she was so scared. What if he was here to hurt the babies, but why would be sitting there just eating? If he wanted to hurt them he could have walked in and started. But, but, but her brain was going round in circles,
John could smell her distress and hunger and he hardened his heart, the sooner they did this, the better for the children's sake even if they didn't realise that at the moment.
Suddenly she seemed to decide, "How do we know they are safe?" she asked in a small voice. "Such a brave and clever kid" John thought, proud of the young Omega.
"I will eat a spoonful from each bowl" he said simply, still smiling kindly "Does that sound like a good idea?"
She looked straight into his blue smiling eyes, "What do you want?"she whispered desperately. He didn't stop smiling, but there was a more serious look in his eyes and he answered earnestly
"To help you sweetheart, just to help you and the little ones"
She didn't take her eyes from his, she so wanted to believe him, but no-one had ever helped them before.
"Why don't you all eat first and then we can talk?"the strange man continued kindly and patiently.
She suddenly looked determined "A spoonful from each bowl you said" her chin was raised defensively.
At least this way they would have some food, even if the smiling man with the kind face was bad and turned out to be as evil as the rest of the grown ups in this place in the end.
AN: Decided to give the Alpha and Omega Universe a go. Mature themes but not explicit. More interested in the psychology and behavioural traits behind it all.
Disclaimers: No infringement intended. All belongs to other people who are amazing. No money being made.
Please let me know what you think. Thanks