Chapter Forty-Six #2
“I’m so proud of you for both those things, Baba, both discovering other worlds exist and saving all those omegas,” Spencer said.
“It was why we kept doing it, even when they didn’t help us in return much or often. We saved hundreds of omegas, many of them male,” he continued. “Most of their stories broke our hearts.”
I could imagine.
“How did you manage that? Even over three years, creating identities for that many is a lot for one Center. You were using the Center’s Omega Protection Program, right?” Evan asked.
Nick nodded. “Oh, yes, it was too much. We actually had to confide in someone at the Temple of Artemis. They assisted us, both by placing omegas themselves and sending them to Omega Centers all over the world to be relocated. We didn’t want to be noticed.”
“I didn’t even know the Temple of Artemis did that,” Spencer said.
“Alphas aren’t supposed to know such things. But we couldn’t have done it without them.”
“Where was the equipment? Was there equipment?” Spencer asked.
“There was. We kept it in a closet, and they’d message us when they were making a delivery, and we’d set everything up and make sure no one was around.
Sometimes we needed Mrs. K to help,” Nick said.
“Ilena knew little about this, mostly because she didn’t want to know about our research.
She was afraid we’d anger someone or blow up the world. ”
“Fair.” Jett nodded.
“We also tried to hack the equipment so we could use it to send people ourselves. Their reason for not helping us much was that they said our illegal designations were also illegal in many other places and getting them to those safe worlds was difficult, which made sense. Also, I think that something happened previously which made them wary regarding sending our designations elsewhere, but I’ll get to that in a moment,” Nick added.
Spencer looked thoughtful. “Huh. I never found the equipment."
“Oh, you did. I don’t recall what Dr. K told you it was. Possibly a particle charger?” Nick looked amused.
“I remember that now.” He started laughing.
“It was a very coordinated effort, and it wasn’t always the same person reaching out to us or bringing the omegas.
We were one of several worlds that they brought omegas to,” he stated.
“Though toward the end, we were getting groups quickly, large ones as well, often with omegas that were ill. The Temple was getting frustrated with the load, but no one was going to turn them away.”
“Do you have records of them?” Grace asked.
“We did–both of them and the people we sent over, complete with world numbers,” he replied.
“I had hidden backups. I’ll see if they survived.
The first time an agent visited us was right around when we’d figured everything out.
We thought it was a courtesy visit, a bit of a congratulations.
Yes, there was a thinly veiled warning about rules, but they never explained everything. ”
Well, that tracked. They didn’t seem like they’d give you a handbook and gift basket.
“Then we got an actual formal warning, telling us that we couldn’t continue to accept these omegas because it broke the law.
Again, no explanation of consequences, and they wouldn’t tell us what to do with them, just not to do it.
We let our contacts know, and they said to ignore them, and that no harm would come to us because of our type of world.
” Nick looked away, scent souring. “We believed them, trusted them. The agents kept coming and warning us, but never actually explaining anything–and we kept ignoring them. If I had any idea that they’d take us away, imprison us, and blow up our super collider, I would have taken them more seriously, despite all the lives we saved. ”
Spencer squeezed his father’s hand and said something in Greek. Nick sniffed and nodded.
“Why did they blow up the collider if the other people provided the equipment? Was it to hide your qubit research?” Grace asked, still snuggled into my lap, though she held Spencer’s hand.
“Possibly. But we used the super collider to power the device,” he replied.
Spencer looked at her. “Did they do that at your old place of employment?”
“No. They used super computers, I believe. I never got much information on all the logistics since I was just a witness,” Grace replied.
“You did good work saving those omegas, Nick,” Brennan said. “It’s shitty they took you, but everyone is glad you’re back.”
“I am, too. I just wish I could remember the trial–and being in prison with Demitra.” Nick’s head bowed. “Do you know if it was just us?”
“I think they eventually took down the entire operation, since Agent Weigmier said it was a large, multi-world, person-smuggling ring. He also told me yesterday that it had been taken care of, though he also said more than once there was still a mess to clean up. I don’t know what that means.
He also mentioned that they were tenacious.
” Grace looked at Nick. “You weren’t the first that they were working with in this world? ”
“No. Though I didn’t know that until close to the end.
They let it slip that they’d worked with someone else, but something happened, which was why they were so happy to have found us.
All I knew was that they, too, were in Europe and engaged in similar research.
I’d meant to figure it out, after all, there weren’t too many people doing what we do.
But that didn’t happen. I’m so sorry, Grace.
I’m sorry that I don’t have the answers for you that you wanted,” he apologized.
Grace shook her head. “It’s okay. You’ve helped me to understand so much.”
“And now I can comprehend why the people we were working with who smuggled sigmas were so quick to accept our very vague help. They may have been working with our predecessors and guessed what we were doing. For all I know, they also worked with whoever came after us, if there was anyone,” Nick added.
All this information was a lot to take in, and I gave Grace another squeeze. But at the same time, I was glad for it.
“I don’t know if it continued. But I do know that people from other incompatible worlds besides this one were left in the world I grew up on–and I know that world number,” Grace said. “I think sasquatch legends are because they’re really refugees from shifter worlds.”
“What, Peaches?” I blinked.
“Think about it. We never hear about packs of sasquatches, it’s one or two. I know that you have those legends here, too, because you literally have a hockey team called the Portland Sasquatches, which I only know because they’re Tish’s favorite team,” Grace added.
Evan gasped. “That actually makes sense. Fuck. Now I want to go bushwhacking through the Pacific Northwest with a blanket brigade tote and offer services to the poor scared omega sasquatch refugees.”
“I’d go with you,” Jett offered.
Nick looked a little bewildered by all that.
Spencer turned to her. “Agent Weigmier was chatty yesterday?”
“He was. I mean, he didn’t answer all my questions, but he told me a few things.
Um, oh, I told him that if he ever returns anyone to this world to let me know so we can help.
So far, I’m the only one from this world returned here.
I turned out okay, but it could have gone so badly.
Like what if the Sergeant didn’t call Lexi?
I could have ended up in a homeless shelter, and you may have never known that I was here. ” Grace looked at Brennan, pleading.
Fuck. I never thought about how bad that could have gone. Yeah, we might have never found her, with her being right here.
“Well, we have the foundation now. I dislike the idea of someone suffering because Agent Weigmier’s good intentions aside, they are assholes,” Brennan said.
“Agreed,” Spencer said.
I didn’t actually have a problem with that.
“Did he tell you anything else, Peaches?” Jett asked.
“Only that I was interesting, and that wasn’t a good thing.” She shrugged.
“Do you have any other questions for me?” Nick asked. “I can feel my mate’s impatience.”
Spencer and Grace asked him a few more questions. I sort of dozed off.
A phone ring woke me up.
Frowning, Spencer answered it. “This is Spencer.”
I felt awash in sheer emotion and realized I was getting it from Spencer through my bond with Grace. She climbed off my lap and onto his.
“Yes, I see. Thank you. Yes, I do. I’ll do whatever you need.” Spencer was practically shaking. “Thank you again. I appreciate it. Please keep me updated.”
“What’s wrong?” Grace asked, hugging him tight.
“It’s not bad news, just unexpected,” Spencer told us. “The police are re-opening Elaris’ case–and they have a confession.”