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It’s 3 am and Fore is waiting in a dark car for Marcey. Fore stopped being religious after his parents divorced. Hard to believe in a god that ordained the programs. It had been one of the hardest things Fore ever had to witness. Forced to watch as his mother was hauled away. Deemed a ruined omega because she… had a son? Because the program believed she had sex out of wedlock?
Which was ridiculous. She hadn’t. His father was even working to secure her a new marriage contract. Specifically to keep her safe and ensure Fore could still see her.
Not that it mattered.
Watching Ivy run into those woods that night was almost worse. With dirt in his mouth and a hunter’s boot on his neck, Fore had known then what his father felt. The desperation, knowing he failed had burned in his gut. It was his fault little Ivy lost ten years to that hell and now he couldn’t even get him out.
Except…
Fore glances at the little plastic wolf he’s glued to his car’s dashboard. Home amongst a handful of precious stones and a bobblehead chihuahua. He’s gotta be careful. It’s only a matter of time until rumors of Sleep make it to the authorities. So he shouldn’t have an obvious altar to a forgotten god in his car.
A plastic wolf, some dried flowers hanging from the rear-view mirror, a few stones. The perfect incognito altar to a god that has to decided to protect those hurt by this system. Fore is damn sure it works, too. There’s been too many lucky strokes and odd coincidences for it to be anything else. Like how CCTV always glitches without fail.
The passenger door swings open, Marcey sliding into the seat. ”Okay, Bluebird has the safe house ready. Nala and Squeaks are in place at the rest stop. The facility caravan truck is on schedule to leave in five minutes.”
“Then let’s go.” Fore taps the little plastic wolf on the head and pulls away. Five minutes later they’re on the tail of the red caravan truck. Blending in with the other cars on the dark motorway. Their mission is simple. Trail the truck until it makes its stop at the same rest stop it does every time. The driver is a smoker, something forbidden while moving ruined omegas. Lest it affect their health. So this particular driver takes an unsanctioned break to smoke. Fore passes the truck. Eyeing the ventilation slits in the trailer.
“Soon,” Marcey says.
“Soon,” Fore agrees. Pulling ahead to arrive at the rest stop. Nala and Squeaks are already there, standing by the open hood of their car. Doing an excellent job of appearing absolutely confused over what to do. The caravan truck pulls in, rolling to a stop near the bathrooms. The driver stepping out for his smoke. The omegas stay in the trailer.
Marcey – Moppet while on mission – goes to the bathroom, Fore staying back with the car to examine a map.
“Excuse me! Can you help us?” Nala calls, approaching the driver. He agrees and follows her back to the car. Putting him in the center of them.
Bluebird arrives then. Parking in a spot that closes the circle around the driver.
Squeaks dropping their keys is the signal. They move as one. The lights all go out at once. Fore flies across the parking lot. He’s always moved fast for his size.
The driver is trying to fight off Nala and Squeaks. Nala has a hank of his hair clutched tight in one fist. Squeaks has one arm twisted behind his back.
Moppet and Bluebird dash across the rest stop to unlock the trailer. The omegas inside are shouting, screaming. A dozen voices crying to be saved.
The driver manages to shake free of Squeaks’ grip. Knocking them to the ground and reaching up to grab Nala’s arm. Fore slams into him. A wall of muscle much harder to fight off. He gathers both of his wrists behind his back and wrenches them up to his shoulders. Steering him away to a nearby tree, kicking him in the back of his knees to drive him to the ground. Keeping the man’s face buried in the dirt as the omegas are helped out of the trailer and into the cars.
Once they are all ready to go Fore wraps his arm around the driver’s neck and squeezes. Until he goes limp.
“Alright, he’s out! Go!” Fore shouts.
Car doors slam. Fore leaves the man against the tree and jumps back into his own car. Moppet breathing hard in the passenger seat, the omegas in the backseat absolutely buzzing with anticipation. Tires squeal and gravel flies as they all peel out of the rest stop onto the empty highway. When the driver finally wakes up they’ll be gone.
“You’re an alpha,” the omega in the center seat whispers.
“Yeah, I am,” Fore says. “There’s a duffle on the floor with clothes, we’ll stop somewhere for you lot to change in a bit. For now at least get the ridiculous hoods off.”
“Fuck just the hood,” the omega behind him snaps. Yanking off the white hood and tugging at her robes. Well hell, okay then, Fore pins his eyes to the road.
“Peony, please!” The omega in the center gasps. Moving to try and cover his friend.
“I don’t fucking care! I’m not wearing this shit another moment!”
“So what happens now?” The one behind Marcey asks.
Fore lets Marcey fill them in. Keeping his eyes on the road, only sparing a glance to the plastic wolf. Offering a small prayer to Sleep in thanks for ensuring another rescue went smoothly.