Warnings: Violence, Blood, Torture, Language.

"Alex using sign language to speak"

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

There will be no pairings and some other unit will have found Alex.

RTI And The Power Of Words

Alex twitched as he slowly stirred back to the world of the awareness. He stiffened immediately, this was not the gentle woods where he had accidentally fallen asleep in the night before, the K-Unit had locked him out of their cabin so he found a comfortable tree to sleep under. This was a dark, damp room. He looked around through half opened lids to see the K-Unit laying down and unconscious. He scrambled to sit up from where he was laying on his side but found his arms tied tightly behind his back. He struggled against the ropes twisting his wrists and easily dislocated them with a loud snap, ignoring the sharp pain he quickly pulled it out of his binds. He winced popping them back into place before waving them to make sure they were alright. Once finished he stood and swiftly began untying the other four men knowing that they were now awake and knew what he had just done, but they made no sounds. After making sure they were sitting up and appeared unharmed he moved to sit back down in a spot away from them only to be stopped when Snake grabbed his arms and inspected his wrists to make sure there was no bad damage.

"That was incredibly stupid of you, Cub." The medic mumbled before sighing. The hybrid shrugged, he had been in worse pain before, something as simple as dislocating his wrists had been used on a daily basis in order to escape the binds he had been put in by the scientists just to see if he could in fact escape different traps and settings before death took him.

He had been with the K-Unit for just over a year although he was usually away on missions for MI6. In total he had only really spent about four months in their presence. Nothing had changed much the four older men were still rather cruel and harsh to him. Alex kept telling himself that it was because he was a "useless child" as Wolf so often put it and those were his "nice guy" words. After all adults knew much more then children and there was a lot in which children knew that Alex did not.

The five males looked up when the door slammed opened with such force it began to close again before a large hand pushed it back open.

"Oh good you are awake." The male grinned sending shivers down the small blonde's spine causing him to shift away which unfortunately caused the attention to turn to him, the evil grin grew wider. "What do we have here?" Alex flinched when the hand snatched his chin and forced him to look up and into the cold black eyes. It took everything for the hybrid not to hiss and growl at the man who was giving off bad vibes. The teen scrambled away when the he was released. "Which one of you shall we play with first?" The man mocked tapping his chin before pointing to Alex, he didn't even glance at the others. "We'll take him. Lets make him scream."

The hybrid struggled as he was roughly grabbed and forced him out the door. He heard the yells of protest from his team mates, much to his surprise. He was shoved harshly into a room where the next few hours were horrible he was whipped and beaten, sometimes fading out of conscious, but he never spoke, it's not like he could, which he found oddly amusing in a creepy morbid way.

He hissed very much to his cat nature as he was shoved back into the room colliding painfully with the cold stone, irritating his wounds that were openly bleed, luckily none were deep or fatal. He pressed his head to the stone and closed his eyes gulping in air the fall had knocked the air out of his lungs and it was taking quite some time to get it back. He immediately squirmed as hands turned him over fighting against them.

"Cub! Cub calm down it's Snake." The words were muffled and disorientated but he understood just barely but he did. Forcing his body to relax he went limp letting his head fall back as he regained his breath.

"Did you speak?" He blinked looking up at Wolf who had now grabbed his shirt yanking him into an upright position causing him to bite back a whimper of pain. "Did you fucking speak, Cub?!"

Alex shakily tried to push Wolf away, eyes glinting green in his fear, right now his emotions were locked on terror and pain. Wolf let him down and he fell to the ground heavily before trying to curl up into a ball. He refused to move until the male was out of the way and far enough away from him. Slowly he relaxed with the help of Snake whom was rubbing his back gently, but it felt more like the older male didn't want him to go into shock and pass out or something, he probably didn't want the paper work that would come if he died.

One by one the others were taken out and came back bloody and bruised, but Alex became the favorite "toy". He was dragged out more then the others, it took them quite some time but the men finally noticed the bandages. They seemed to figure it out quickly or they were just very mad. He actually grinned in triumph when they dragged him roughly inside the room where the others were and threw him on the floor, roughly kicking him in the stomach until he coughed blood. He spat a mouthful in the man's face earning himself a harsh slap, which he was positive would bruise later. Once they left he pushed himself up and wiped his mouth of the blood that trickled from his lips and down his chin. He was pretty sure he had a few broken ribs at least among other injuries. No one was moving they just watched him.

"How have you not spoken?" Snake asked softly inspecting the damage, and not liking what he saw by the grimaces and winces. Alex smiled sadly and gave a half shrug.

"Same reason as you." Was his signed reply. To be honest he was pretty surprised that the unit had not figured out his secret, both him being a hybrid and his muteness, they were pretty smart when they had to be. The door banged open and the men pulled in a large bucket full of water. Two large men grabbed him holding his hands behind his back forcing him down on his knees in front of the black looking liquid.

"Now if you don't tell us your names then the child will die. He's already so weak and tired. Just one more push until he breaks." The man grinned evilly grabbing the teen's chin and stroking the blonde locks tenderly. Alex jerking away trying to move away from the grimy hands but when they move closer he sank his teeth into the flesh with a feral growl. A sharp punch to the head dazed him and the hand was ripped from his jaws.

Panic set in as they forced his head into the cool icy water he jerked and struggled trying to force his head up with no luck, they were too strong. He cried out mutely into the water, his struggled became worse as his lungs screamed for air. He was roughly pulled out of the water by his hair, held up for a few seconds, he could hear dimly screaming and yelling, blurred figures looked to be struggling against other blurred figures, before he was forced back under.

Everything was cold and dark, he couldn't hear anything, without his content he breathed in the water which caused him to panic even more. How long had he been under the water? It felt like hours. All movement stopped as he sank into the darkness of his mind unable to tell if he was alive or not. The last thing he saw was the blurry tattoo of a scorpion tattooed onto the man's arm,as he was held up out of the water before being pushing back into the darkness.

There was a scorpion, a giant scorpion looming over his broken form. The stinger posed to strike, the bodies of his unit lay scattered about him. With all of the fear in his mind he was beyond panicking. He tried to move, tried to back away but he was trapped against a wall. The stringer came down drawing muted screams of panic and agony along with it.

Beeping, long rhythmic beeping, and pain, dull pain but it was pain. His eyes fluttered open four faces swam into view. He wanted to curl back up and sleep, he coughed weakly regretting it as pain swelled in his chest. He flinched trying to bury himself into his pillow as a large hand came towards him burrowing into his hair and ruffling it gently.

"It's alright, Cub, you're safe now, kid." Alex blinked slowly registering the voice as Fox's after a few seconds. Seeing the bandages on his unit-mates he nodded slowly and slipped off to sleep, as light as it was it was sleep. They were in a safe place now, he would rest.

Water, freezing cold water, surrounded him choking and squeezing him threatening to crush his very soul until there was nothing left. He screamed bubbles erupting from his mouth causing him to choke on the pitch black liquid as large hand drew him down until he was falling into the darkness away from the light in which he was trying to stretch his hands out to hoping and praying that someone, anyone would grab a hold. But no one came because he had no one that he could grab onto. He was alone. Just like always. The hands pulled him under dragging his limp body deeper into the icy depths. They were everywhere those hands he could feel them all over his body and it terrified him. They were large and clammy just like those men's had been as he was tortured and forced under the depths of the water. He had been lucky they hadn't gone farther, he was weak and vulnerable at the time, an easy target.

Then there was singing soft and warmth. It was so soothing and gentle. It made him want to curl up and cover his ears. He had heard music before from when it had leaked through the headphones of the members of the unit. But this music was terrifying, he found himself running away through a maze of hallways that had erupted from the darkness. Away from the sounds holding his hands over his ears in attempt to drown them out. He ran, he ran until he tripped colliding painfully with the ground, a burst of white light filled his vision before it cleared to reveal four faces hovering over him. The K-Unit, safe bandaged, and healthy. Alive. It hasn't been a dream at all. He gasped for air turning on his side and curling up, body jerking as he coughed, dry heaving into his hand a few times before the panic melted away. Shaking he uncurled himself forcing his body to sit up, he was not about to give the K-Unit another thing to bully him about. Spotting a pad and pen by the bed he grabbed it almost tumbling off the bed in the process as a wave of dizziness washed over him. Snake was kind enough to steady him and help him out which he was thankful for. Writing with a shaking hand frowning in concentration for the words swam before his eyes he made sure it was at least readable before holding it up.

"Are you alright? I don't remember much after they brought in the bucket." He had written, much too tired to sign anything.

"We're fine, Cub. Just a few bruises and cuts that will heal soon enough. We were more worried about you. You had water in your lungs and had gone into shock. You flat lined twice in the E.R. when they were trying to drain your lungs. The unit who did RTI weren't supposed to go that far, they have been binned, although I think their punishment should have been worse." Snake told him while the others nodded in confirmation.

"You were worried about me? That's new, sorry for that, I'll try not to be a nuisance anymore." He replied back head hanging and refusing to meet anyone's eyes. He flinched when a large hand landed on his head ruffling his hair lightly.

"I like you Cub, you're a good kid." Eagle grinned much like a child with too much candy, Alex tilted his head in confusion. "I think the others are mad because your rich parents made you come here as punishment." That was new. Alex frowned softly looking up at the others pen hovering over the pad trying to decide if he should tell them about his childhood or just let them think he was rich. He placed the pen down neatly, they had yet to give him a reason to trust them, until then he wouldn't tell them a thing. He managed a small smile, not very good at facial expressions just yet but he was learning.

"When can we go home?" He asked holding up the pad, brown eyes pleading them in hopes of getting out of the hospital that was bringing up way too many bad memories. It almost worked, almost...if the doctor hadn't walked into the room.

"Ah, you're awake, good good, we were worried. We would like to keep you over night but in the morning you may go home alright?" The man spoke soothingly, kindly...too kindly. The blond's eyes narrowed watching the man closely, there are something way off about him. He glanced at his unit-mates, they were tense showing they felt the same thing.

"I'd like to see your I.D. Please, your military one." Snake said holding out a hand for the badge, only to receive nothing. The man just gave a cruel smile tsking softly when he noticed Alex shifting slightly moving the pen in his hand.

"Now, now Cub. It's not nice to attack your doctor." The hybrid froze face paling, this man he knew him. One of the scientists, he survived. How many had? The man walked forward slowly ignoring the tense K-Unit who looked ready to pounce him. "We are going to have a little fun now, okay?" Brown eyes dilated, and he scrambled farther into the wall heart monitor he was hooked to going haywire. "That's right, lets play." He didn't register when Wolf tackling the man to the ground, nor did he notice Snake talking to him. He just stared into the blue eyes, those cold calculating eyes as the man's mouth moved, he didn't hear the words that came out. But he knew, he knew what the man had said. "Duratus."

The blond went rigid body unable to move, frozen, useless. Verbal orders were common hypnotizing techniques the scientists used to control the hybrids, a single word could cause them to kill, eat, run, sleep, anything. The language was Latin which was unfortunately becoming common among military and terrorist groups, they had tried different languages but they had not given the same effect.

"What did you do to him? Fox! What did he just say?" Wolf roared angry holding the man down.

"H...He said freeze, in Latin." Fox replied in shock staring at the unmoving teenager.

"Unfreeze him, unfreeze him you bastard.." Wolf growled shaking the man harshly. The man just laughed calmly before looking at the hybrid in the eyes.

"Mortuus" Now green eyes widened in terror as his hand lifted on its own, pen posed in front of his right eye. Fox grabbed his wrist knowing that had really been said, Alex didn't even registrar as his body tried to stab the pen into his eye, unable to break his gaze from the pen knowing if Fox let go he would die.

"Duratus." Fox tested the word making the hybrid freeze again, "Cieo" nothing happened causing the older man to frown before he looked at the grinning mad man on the floor then at Alex. "Libertas" The hybrid's hand dropped immediately as he regained his freedom to move on his own. He was shaking hard but slowly his heart rate was going down to normal. After the man was taken away and the room had gone to normal the blond finally relaxed watching Wolf pace the room clearly confused and trying to take everything in.

"It's called Word Hypnotism, it was used to make people obey an order with a single word, it's not used often now because it was deemed too dangerous, anyone could say the correct word and the person would have no choice but to follow it." Snake informed them calmly keeping a careful eye on the hybrid. "The language was Latin, it is the most effective to assure the orders are carried out. It seems Cub is a victim of it."

"But how could a rich kid like him have to be controlled like that?" Eagle spoke up from where he was currently attempting to fold an origami crane, it looked more like a lopsided ferret.

"Lets leave it for now, he'll speak up when he wants to." Snake said before the others could question the hybrid who shifted uncomfortably under their gazes. They nodded before plopping down in chairs around the small room where they stayed playing cards and talking until visiting hours were over. They made not move to talk to Alex but the hybrid enjoyed their company nonetheless. They were rather reluctant to leave but eventually they did after Alex told him he would be okay. It seemed the RTI had brought the Unit somewhat closer, they at least allowed him to stay in the room and had protected him from the scientist. He didn't mind their yelling and harsh words much, it was just Wolf now, the others left him to himself and didn't go near him much. Wolf still made a point to bully him when possible but it wasn't as bad nor as cruel as before.

SO I really need ideas for the next chapter.

What do you want to happen next?

The unit who rescued Alex to see him at Breacon Beacons?

Or

The K-Unit to discover Alex is mute, and how?

Or

Something else? (Ideas would be great!)

Sorry it the translation is wrong, I used Google translate...

Duratus means freeze

Mortuus means die

Cieo means move

Libertas means freedom

Please, Please Review. Any and all flames, suggestions, and random comments of any kind are greatly appreciated.

(I strive to better my writing style, anything helps.)

Any ideas would be fantastic.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you liked it.