To Free Will
Chapter 10 – Ultimatum
A/N: Hello all! Damn it feels good to be back. I missed you guys so much but I really needed to take some time away for my mental health. Quarantine has not been easy on your girl but I'm taking this one day at a time. Hope this find safe, healthy, and happy. ENJOY! R&R PLZ!
"Don't shoot!" a voice shouted down. "I'm not here to fight." Presumably as a proof, a gun clattered to the ground.
River and Dean shared a look. "Last time I checked, you can carry more than one gun," the woman said skeptically.
"Alright," Dean shouted to the 'visitor' "We'll ease up but that's the best you're gonna get." The five lowered their weapons to the side and waited tensely for the person come down the stairs. It was man in a blue suit, with dark hair and a full beard.
He stopped by the gun but held up his hands, keeping them where they could see. "Look truly I'm not here to start a fight. I'm here to offer you the option to avoid it."
"Let's start with who the bloody hell are you?" John threw back.
"Fair enough, the name is Mick Davies. I'm from the British chapter of the Men of Letters."
"Who?" Rory said dumbfounded.
"The guys that created this place were called the Men of Letters." Sam filled him in. "An organization dedicated to getting rid of all the monsters in the world."
"And who precisely decides who the monsters are?" the Doctor asked tersely.
"No one. Their actions do. That's the way we run things." Dean replied evenly. "As long as they're not hurting anyone, we leave them be."
"Well no wonder this place is the way it is," Mick scoffed.
Dean narrowed his eyes, "Excuse me?"
"Monsters are anything supernatural. Vampires, werewolves, ghouls and these red devils."
"These red devils," the Doctor growled dangerously. "Have a right to be here. The government allowed them to settle here when their home world was destroyed. They are refugees, innocent."
"They know. They don't care." Cas was back and glaring daggers at Davies. "I met your leader Doctor Hess. She plans to exterminate the Zygons without mercy regardless."
"Was my brother there?" Sherlock spoke for the first time.
"Yes."
"Good." He immediately took out his phone and began texting.
John spared him a glance before returning his attention to the intruder, "So if your plan is to kill them anyway, I can only guess that you're here to warn us off. Save your breath."
"Ditto." Dean concurred.
"What he said." The Doctor added.
"Look you are some of the best and brightest this world has." Mick said. "Sam, Dean, we may disagree on methods but you're the finest American hunters ever. The deeds of Mr. Holmes and his team are known the world over. And you," he turned to the Doctor, "we tried digging up what we could and you've a long involvement with the government at its most covert levels, an asset to the planet. Are these things really worth your lives?"
"You're not worth much either," Sherlock quipped.
"What?!" Mick demanded.
"You're a pitiful liar you know that?" The detective tucked his phone away and strode right up to Mick's face. "You're just the red herring. You know it. Even your precious Dr. Hess knows it. The suit and shoes, just window dressing for a foot solider. They want us to think you're someone important but if any one of us decides to kill you, no real loss for them."
"Is that what you think?"
"No it's what we both know. Now do something smart for yourself, read the room then get out before someone actually does kill you."
Mick's eyes moved over the space, the multiple guns, the cold, glaring eyes and nodded slowly. He bent down to pick up his weapon but Sherlock stepped on it. "You still have the one holstered to your ankle."
"Leave the key while you're at it," Sam added.
The British Man of Letter glowered but still tossed an antique key on the ground before leaving. Sam and Dean rushed to lock the door as the rest of group looked around at one another in disbelief. "What the hell was that about?" Amy demanded. "He did not just come here for nothing."
"No he didn't," River said.
"Alright so what are the options?" Lestrade supposed. "It wasn't intimidation. He didn't really make any threats."
"I mean mate, the implication that they would kill us for getting in their way was pretty clear," Rory pointed out.
"Yes but he didn't begin with that," the Doctor braced the table, thinking. "What did Dr. Hess say to you Castiel?"
"Nothing…except…she seemed to know me." Cas frowned. "She called me by name and made a remark about being Sam and Dean's pet."
"Maybe that's point," said Molly. "They want us to know that they know who we are."
"Except me," the Doctor frowned. "He downplayed me did you notice that? If they were really able to find me in the government records, they should know a lot more than my just being an asset."
"Maybe it was just recon," Sam supplied as he and his brother returned. "They wanted to see who exactly was here and what we had so far."
"Entirely possible but I think there are other motives at play," Sherlock murmured. "I have my brother looking into something important but until then, we need to warn and protect any pockets of Zygons we can find."
"If only we know how these guys keep finding them," Lestrade huffed.
"The Zygon we met, Kathleen," River recalled. "She said her sister was taken by them. Maybe there are others who have had contact with these Men of Letters."
"I'll call her," John got out his phone. "Should check-in anyway."
"I'll ask my brother to get into contact with the leader and make inquiries," Sherlock began texting again. "I'm also going to advise him to abandon the subtle method for evacuation. The Zygons need to get to safety immediately."
"Agreed," Cas said. "I only came back to make sure you all were safe. I'll return to London and begin moving the refugees."
"Be safe man," Dean said seriously to which Cas nodded and took off. "I should make some calls myself," he told the room. "Let every hunter be on alert. They'll let us know if something comes up."
"Keep running down those real estate purchases," Lestrade told Sam. "If you've got a spare laptop I can join you."
"I'll help you too," Molly added. "I brought mine."
"Me too," Amy chipped in. "Mine's in the TARDIS."
"Thanks guys," Sam gestured around. "Let's set up shop and get to work."
While everyone was occupied, River quietly approached the Doctor. "I know that look my love, what's wrong?"
"I'm missing something, I know I am," the Doctor's jaw tightened. "And I'm terrified more will die if I can't figure out what it is."
"It's 'we' sweetie," River gestured around the room. "We're all in this fight together and we will save the Zygons and anyone – everyone else."
"I hope so."