Earth - Omegaverse
The light started to diminish, decreasing little by little until images started to appear, forming all around into objects became familiar, more clear. Kuza's group stood in the middle of a busy park with children playing on the playground, people jogging around them for exercise, and just normal folk walking, chatting, and lying on the grass to relax or to sunbathe. Yes, everything appeared ordinary.
"Is everyone okay?" Scott asked his friends.
Allison touched her waist and stomach just to make sure. "I think so. Everything appears to be intact." She looked around to see her father, Chris, Scott's Mom, Melissa, and even Sheriff Stilinski standing around in a semicircle. Yet, she failed to recognize someone missing.
"Stiles!" gasped the Sheriff. "We're missing Stiles!"
Everyone scanned the park. No one recognizable and no sign of Stiles.
"Everyone split up!" The sheriff instructed. "Allison with Chris. Melissa with Scott. Each takes sides around the park and meets back here in a few minutes. I'll cover the northside!" They all agreed and made their way around the area as they each called out "Stiles!" Still, no one answered by that name.
After five minutes, the regrouped at their meeting place and decided to move outside the park and toward the city hoping for the possibility of finding Stiles. Crossing down the main downtown area, the pack watched as the local residents went about their business but Scott could sense something was off.
"What is it?" Melissa asked her son. "Is it Stiles?"
Scott shook his head. "No, it's something else. This universe. There is something about it."
Alarm bells rang in the distance as police cars passed by them and drove around the corner where a local bank building was situated. The pack ran down the sidewalk and followed the commotion to see what was happening and came across a yellow barrier and several law enforcement vehicles in front of the financial institution. By this time, curious bystanders were watching behind the caution tape as the cops surrounded the front of the bank with guns drawn.
"A robbery?" Melissa wondered. The rest of the pack watched from a safe distance as a scene unfolded. Out of the entrance, a pair of bandits, a man and a woman, with stockings over their faces came out. The female held two large garbage bags, most likely the stolen money, in both hands as her male companion held a woman bank employee in a chokehold as he pressed a gun to her cheek.
"Release the hostage and drop your weapons!" One of the officers shouted through the megaphone he held up.
"Fuck you!" The man sneered. "Now back off or I blow this bitch's head off!"
Sensing her fear and dread from the victim, Scott began to move forward before Chris stopped him. "Scott! Don't be foolish! Let the police do their jobs!"
"But we can't just stand by and let a person get hurt!" Scott protested.
"Chris is right, son," the sheriff agreed with the Argent hunter. "We're strangers in this world and interfering will get us exposed. Let the cops handle this!"
Another cop car pulled up, this time a familiar woman got out. A short sense of relief came when Braeden appeared, made her way toward the police barrier and took the megaphone from her fellow officers. "This is Sergeant Braeden Moore of the LCPD and we have you surrounded! There is nowhere you can run to! As per the supernatural laws, you are to surrender your weapons and the hostage and give yourselves up or we will have to use force if necessary!"
Allison and Melissa looked at each other. "Supernatural laws?"
The female robber dropped the bags, tore off the stocking on her head, and opened her mouth wide. She wailed.
A sonic banshee scream sent some of the policemen flying as the vibrational tone shattered the windows of the vehicles. Everyone closed their ears as Braden hit the ground to avoid the ear piercing sound. Next to her, her male partner shoved the hostage to the ground who suddenly sprouted feathers on her face and hands as small wings appeared behind her back. Her captor ignored her as he ripped off his own mask to reveal glowing yellow eyes, yellowish spotted fur, sharp teeth, and claws.
A were-leopard.
The feral robber roared and raced toward the officers, most likely with the motive to kill them.
"Fuck this shit!" Scott scowled. Chris and the sheriff protested but it was too late. The Alpha wolfed out and ran at the were-leopard.
Before the were-robber could gut one of the police officers, Scott slammed his entire body into the beastman, driving him full weight at a nearby cop car. Dazed but not down, the were-leopard retaliated by trying to swipe a claw at the Alpha but Scott proved more efficient in the fight. He dodged the attack and was able to slash through the were-beast's chest causing the were-leopard to fall back in bloody damage. Then with a strong punch, the Alpha knocked out the were-leopard as the robber's head struck the back of the vehicle's window, smashing it, and finally ending it with the thief being unconscious.
Scott took a moment to savor his victory before an ear piercing scream knocked him forward, causing him to topple to the ground. The robber's partner, a banshee, took in a breath to release another scream but found a punch to the throat cutting off her air. Allison slid in, connected her fist to the banshee's neck, and drew her knee up into the bandit's stomach. Clutching her damaged vocal cords and her aching belly from where the Argent hunter kicked her, Allison finished her off with the blow of her fist to the head and a knockout punch to the nose. The robber was finally done for the count.
"That's for my boyfriend, bitch!" Allison spat at the sleeping robber.
"Thank you! Thank you!" The bird woman bank employee came up to Scott and Allsion and bowed to them. "You saved my life! You're heroes!"
"Not today, you aren't!" Sergeant Braeden interrupted as both the Alpha and the Argent Hunter were placed in handcuffs behind their backs. "You've interrupted a robbery and hostage situation and could've gotten yourselves or anyone else killed! You know how stupid that is?"
"Hold on, Sergeant!" The sheriff jumped in as he approached her. "These are friends and mine and they just saved that bank employee's life. They're not the criminals!"
"They still broke the law!" Braeden said sternly. "There are guidelines, supernatural and human." She pointed to Scott. "He Alphaed out and abused his abilities which go against Section 5389 which states that no lycanthrope or were-person is allowed to use their gifts as a form of aggression against another party, whether it be human or supernatural. Your friend used his werewolf gifts to harm another which constitutes assault and battery. What if he could not control his impulses and murdered the robber? That would lead to a whole other court case. For now, we're booking him and he will be detained as well as his human girlfriend."
"Now so fast!" Chris Argent protested. "That's my daughter and I demand they have an attorney!"
"We'll appoint them one!" Braeden said dryly. "You can post bail at the precinct!"
She led the cuffed Scott and Allison into a non-damaged cop car and got inside. The sheriff, Melissa, and Chris watched helplessly as it drove away. Meanwhile, an ambulance came by as they picked up the unconscious banshee and were-leopard who was bloodied by Scott and loaded them inside the vehicle, followed by a police escort. They could only assume they would be arrested once they reached the hospital.
"What do we do now?" Melissa asked her companions. "We're in a strange world and have no money to post the kids' bail. And we still don't know where Stiles, Eli or even Kuza are!"
"Maybe I can help?" The bird woman bank employee said, overhearing their bizarre conversation. She transformed back to her human form. "I don't know about money but I can at least drive you guys to the police station where they're keeping your friends."
"Can you do that?" Noah Stilinksi asked the girl. "Can you take us to the precinct of this city?"
The bank employee nodded excitedly. "Sure, it's the least I can do to help the people who saved me. The name is Tierney. Tierney Sprayberry."
The sheriff shook her hand. "Nice to meet you, Tierney Sprayberry. I'm Noah Stilinski." He then addressed his other two companions. "This is Melissa McCall and Chris Argent. Their kids are the ones that saved you!"
Tierney clapped her hands and smiled. "I'm so grateful. I thought those pricks were gonna kill me!"
"Tierney," Melissa began. "Forgive me for asking but what kind of shapeshifter are you?"
"Oh!' Tierney smiled. "I'm an alkonost! A human bird hybrid. My kind are a rare species but when we get nervous we sprout these beautiful, colorful feathers. Plus, it's said we have healing abilities and properties but I haven't seen it. I sometimes get a hangnail that hurts and it takes a while to go away!" She giggled.
"Tierney," said the sheriff. "Do you have a car?"
The alkonost nodded excitedly. "It's parked in the lot. I can drive you to the precinct. It's the least I can do since your children saved my life."
"We'd really appreciate it," smiled Melissa.
The quartet followed the girl into her tiny Volvo and drove off toward the station where Scott and Allison were detained. It was a twenty minute drive but the group made small talk as they attempted to comprehend this world.
"Something tells me you're new to town!" Tierney smiled as they got on the freeway.
"We are," said Chris in the backseat. "Could you tell us which city this is?"
"Lighthouse Cove!" Tierney giggled. "It's the fourth largest developing city in California and the epicenter of the tech industry in the coastal region. Where are you guys from?"
"Oh, here and there," the sheriff lied. "It's complicated."
Sensing that her passengers were lying, Tierney pressed them further. "No seriously. Where are you ACTUALLY from?" No one said anything and remained mute, but Tierney was not having it. "Oh come on! I promise to not tell anyone. Cross my heart and hope to die!" She made the gesture across her chest to prove it.
Finally, Melissa relented. "All right, I guess I'll confess. Tierney, do you believe in infinite Earths or multiverses?"
Tierney's eyes widened as she looked at the rearview mirror at Melissa. Then she squealed. The group could not tell if it was a frightened squeal or a happy one, until the young girl excitedly gasped with happiness.
"No way!" Her mouth dropped with excitement.
"You're not freaked out or think we're nuts?" Noah Stilinski raised his brows in surprise as he stared at her with curiosity from the front passenger seat.
"Are you kidding?" She laughed. "I would give my right up my right tit to say I met someone from an alternative universe!"
Chris cringed at her comment. "That's a strange choice of words. Why would you believe us?"
Tierney clucked her tongue. "This world contains supernatural creatures and magic. Trust me, nothing is shocking to me. There is always a possibility that a portal could open and let in any Tom, Dick, or Harry. Just a decade ago, a kaiju from some monster realm passed through a magical gate and attacked New York City. It took an international army of the entire supernatural community to put it down and magically close the gate. Parts of the monster are being studied today and placed on the city's memorial and museums. It's in our history books as one of the biggest tragedies."
"A kaiju, huh?" Chris asked with interest. "That must've been a nightmare."
"It was," nodded Tierney. "Many casualties, lost lives, property damage, building repairs. It took a long time and billions to restore NYC!" She then addressed her passengers. "So I'm assuming from your Alpha that you have supernatural creatures in your world too?"
The sheriff nodded. "We do but we're not as open about it. The supernatural community is still very hush hush and the knowledge of werewolves and other shapeshifters are kept under wraps with a select few aware of their existence. I'm surprised that this universe is very accepting of it."
"Accepting? Maybe." Tierney said with honesty. "Tolerant, for the most part. We still have species wars, racism, religious, and political conflicts, but we have laws in place to ensure that everyone can coexist together. Yet, it's still a struggle."
"At least, you have coexistence." Chris replied bluntly. "Our world is still not prepared for the truth."
"Give it time,' said Tierney. "Change doesn't happen overnight. It needs time to progress."
"Wise words," noted Melissa. "We only hope that it does happen someday."
"We're almost there," remarked Tierney as she took the off-ramp and entered another part of Lighthouse Cove where the precinct was. Parking in the visitor lot, the group got out and made their way into the building.
Surprise overtook the pack's face as they looked around the precinct to see hybrid and shapeshifting creatures out in the open. A bull with a large nose ring, a minotaur from the way it appeared, wore a police suit and assisted an old woman with paperwork while a ghostly white rabbit escorted a prostitute in handcuffs toward the nearby cells.
"Skyvader," whispered Tierney toward the group. "I dated one and ghosted him because he was so needy."
"Uh-huh," said Noah trying to soak everything in. "I'm still adjusting.."
Melissa held her composure. "Just act normal. This is their everyday lives in this universe."
Tierney led the group toward the counter where the precinct clerk, a reptilian female with full snakes in her hair, eyed them suspiciously.
"She's a gorgon," Tierney whispered. "Don't worry. They can control their stone gaze ability and can turn it off and on. Just don't piss them off or they will permanently petrify you. Let me do the talking."
"Can I help you?" The gorgon clerk asked sternly. She looked at the alkonost up and down.
Tierney smiled meekly. "Umm, yes. I was the victim earlier of the bank robbery attempt. You know where I was taken hostage and they said I had to file paperwork for charges. Well, I'm here!"
The gorgon rolled her eyes. "Fine." She groaned. She pulled a stack of forms and placed it on the counter in front of her. She then pointed to the pack. "And them? What's their business?"
"Our children were taken in due to the robbery," the sheriff defended. "They're heroes but they were arrested for intervening. We want to know about posting bail and getting a lawyer. You know, the usual?"
Once again the gorgon groaned. "Fine. I'll get the supervisor to talk about your legal rights…"
"It's okay, Loreen. I got this."
Sargeant Braeden interrupted the conversation from behind the pack. "Go take your coffee break and have Mary cover the counter. You've earned it."
"Thank goodness!" Loreen the Gorgon rolled her eyes. "I've been dealing with entitled idiots all day!" The gorgon left the counter as another clerk replaced her. She waved goodbye as Braeden addressed the group in front of them.
"Mind tell us where our kids are, Sargeant?" Chris asked dryly, not impressed by the policewoman's position.
"Better yet, I'll show you." Braeden told them directly. "Follow me."
The pack began to follow the sergeant but stopped when she addressed Tierney. "Sorry, but only these three can come. You'll have to wait here."
"Hey!" Tierney stomped her foot and pouted. "I was the victim here. I deserve to know what's going to happen to my saviors!"
"Tierney goes too!" Noah demanded. "She's part of this group."
Sargeant Braeden sighed. "Okay, but stay out of trouble and don't speak!" She warned the girl.
Tierney nodded and followed the lead policewoman to another hallway that led to a private room. Inside the office, the pack saw the back of a brown haired woman in a dark gray suit looking out the window of the room. Her arms folded in front of her and she exuded an aura of power. She did not address them as they entered the office.
"Mam, they're here now." Braeden told the mysterious woman. "Should I release Scott McCall and Allison Argent to your custody?"
"Yes." The mystery woman said.
Braeden pulled out her walkie and instructed the guards to release Scott and Allison and to escort them to the office. Within a few minutes, the pair were reunited with the pack.
"Mom!" Scott exclaimed as she hugged Melissa.
"Dad!" Allison did the same as she embraced Chris.
The group then turned their focus to the mystery woman with her back turned to them as she waited for their quick reunion to finish. It would be Noah Stilinksi who would start to speak.
"All right, the sheriff addressed the woman. "You arrested our kids, detained them, and forced us to come down to the precinct to deal with whatever ridiculous charges you're putting against them so tell us how much bail is but we want an attorney present because what our kids did, they did a better job in stopping the robbery than your own police department."
"Shh," the woman put her fingers to her lips. Still looking at the window, she began to talk. "All charges have been dropped, Mr. Stilinski. You needn't worry about bail or a lawyer. However, my real concern is what you and your friends are here! You don't belong in this world and your interference is causing a potential problem in our universe. I want to make clear your intentions so I can evaluate what to do with you!"
"Mam," Tierney announced shyly. "If I may, these people are good people. They saved my life. I don't feel they have any ill-intentions."
"For your sake, Mrs. Sprayberry," said the woman. "You better hope so. Because…"
She turned around. Melissa and Scott instantly recognized her but it was the sheriff whose eyes turned from shock to sadness.
"Hello, Noah," said the mystery woman who now faced them.
"Claudia!" Noah Stilinski muttered. His mouth was dry as he was tongue tied.
Standing before him was Claudia Stilinski.
His late wife.
And Stiles's mother.