Passing Motions
2008 Words
Nero stormed out of his parent's home in a fit of anger. Without a second thought, he quickly shifted into his large silvery grey wolf and raced towards the tree-line that took him to babbling brook a few miles or so away. As his paws pounded against the ground, working out his fury, he sent clods of earth flying behind him. Nearby wildlife could sense the angry, powerful waves emanating off the young Alpha and they retreated out of respect and fear. Nero wasn't quite sure what the reason for his anger was; whether it was the thought of someone ending Amelie's life as a mere baby or the fact that such a thing had been kept from him and as Alpha he had been left in the dark this entire time. That he had been asking questions but was yet to receive satisfactory answers, or any answers at all in some cases.
As the brook came into view and the clearing it was nestled within, his wolf began to slow down to a gentler pace. Eventually, he came to a stop and curled up on the grassy bank; his head resting against his paws, jaw slightly open as he caught a little breath back.
Nero began to wonder if Amelie knew anything about her origins. What programme had she been on? Did she possess any genetic modifications or was she just a mistake? He swiftly decided against asking her anything of the sort for the time being as she had already been through enough. Nero could broach the topic at a later time. Right now he had bigger fish to fry; namely his father, Doctors Conway and the other cronies that formed the board. Nero needed to find a way to get access to the files, not just Amelie's files but the entire database. The countless hours Nero had spent with his fathers over the years; learning about the programmes his pack were leading, looking at new ones that had potential and even designing a few of his own.
"Alpha? Where are you? We need to start getting ready for our meeting," Carter's voice rang in his head.
"How much time have we got?" Nero mind-linked back.
"Just over an hour."
"s**t! I'll shower and meet you in my office in 30 minutes."
"Ok Alpha."
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The meeting at the IPRC had been a tense one. Nero had assembled a small team of his nearest associates within the pack; from legal representatives and pack council members to researchers and medical professionals in a bid to share some of the control. They all, including Dr. Joshua Chamberlain had argued cases in favour of diversifying control to improve efficiency of operations while maintaining a tight level of control.
"We understand your position Alpha, we really do, but we can't just handover files to you without consulting the agreements we have under alliances with other packs or organisations," explained Idris. "We have a legal obligation to think about."
"That's why I have brought my legal team here to help you with the legal wrangling," suggested Nero, with a smile that could melt butter. "You should now be able to work together towards a solution without infringing any legalities. Besides, my first objective is to understand the involvement of the Imperium pack in our programmes not of other packs so this shouldn't be an immediate problem."
"Legalities aside Alpha, our core team manages the resourcing, the alliances, the administration and the protocols we adhere to," explained Christian.
"Dr. Conway, be that as it may, don't you think it prudent that just like my father has appointed me as his future successor, that each of you have a second-in-command? It is vital we retain the valuable knowledge and experience the five of you possess. Who better than people I trust, for the good of the future of this pack?"
"Indeed and while I cannot speak for the others, I already have a second-in command for this precise reason," Christian added.
Idris and Octavius agreed they would work with the Alpha to appoint a deputy with the aim of training them to be their successor. While Laurence remained silent on the subject.
"Who is your successor?" Nero asked Christian.
"Nils, Nils Berendsen. He is an excellent researcher; a bit young but he is growing into the role."
"Nils Berendsen, who recently submitted a research grant proposal in rehabilitating wolves who have lost their mates?"
"The very same!" answered Christian, surprised at the Alpha's awareness.
"Well, I agree that he has a lot of potential, I have spent time reading his papers. I would like to meet with him soon," Nero replied quickly. "Are we all agreed that we have a monthly performance review on how the IPRC legacy planning is proceeding and we can discuss the continual progress on the file access protocols?"
"I'll make the arrangements Alpha," replied Carter abruptly, before anyone could brook any opposition.
"Wonderful," smiled Nero. "This brings me to the last order of business."
As Nero said these few words, all of his team except Carter and Josh rose to their feet and walked out of the conference room. Nero watched them file out and as the door clicked shut, he turned his attention to Dr. Conway and his colleagues who were sat in state of mild confusion.
"I would like to speak to you about Amelie Dr. Conway. If you would like to continue this talk in private, you may dismiss the team as you see fit," added Nero politely.
Before Dr. Conway could react, his four associates already rose to their feet out of respect to leave.
"I appreciate the respect gentlemen, while all of you are welcome to stay, I would like to request that Alpha Nox and Laurence in particular, remain," Christian replied courteously.
While Laurence and Alpha Nox stepped back and re-occupied their seats, Idris and Octavius nodded as they continued to make their way out stating they had other meetings they were running late for. The room quickly fell into silence again with only the clock in the room ticking away dutifully. Nero cleared his throat and began to speak.
"Dr. Conway, I would like to firstly request access to your daughter's personal file and secondly I would like to discuss her physical and mental well-being."
Christian's and Laurence's eyes both flew up and met the Alpha's gaze as he uttered the last few words.
"What of her well-being? She is alive and well isn't she?" Christian asked, unable mask all the uncertainty in his voice.
"What has happened to her?" Laurence demanded.
"Are you aware she is bullied on a daily basis?"
"A little bullying never harmed anyone, it'll make her stronger," Christian remarked, dismissively.
"Bullying? How bad is it? How long has it been going on for?" Laurence interjected before the Alpha could reply.
"I believe it has been going on for a number of years but only worsened in the last two years or so. She has been subjected to physical and mental abuse."
"She has been making regular trips to the pack hospital as a result, my wife has been tending to her and the concern has been growing more and more seriously than ever. She has suffered with multiple fractures, bruises and concussions," added Josh.
"HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN! WHAT KIND OF A FATHER ARE YOU? SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF DEAD THAN ALIVE!" roared Laurence, rising from his seat and pulling his brother up by the collar and shaking him. "YOU STOPPED ME FROM SEEING HER BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT I WAS A BAD INFLUENCE? WHAT BAD INFLUENCE?I GAVE THE CHILD A REASON TO LIVE - HER EDUCATION! IN WHICH SHE IS FLOURISHING!"
Christian growled and shoved his brother off, sending him backwards into the wall.
"She is my daughter and I will do as I please," Christian replied, calmly straightening his clothes. "She is an Omega, at the bottom of the food chain. Omegas have always been on the receiving end of our tempers. It is how the hierarchy operate, the survival of the fittest. However, if there was to be a change in the way we treat our Omegas there is a person in this room with the power to change this."
"YOU f*****g INGRATE!" spat Laurence, "YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A BEAUTIFUL CHILD TO CHERISH AND LOVE AND YOU DON'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE A DUTY TO PROTECT HER OR SAFEGUARD HER! SHE WAS ONLY A CHILD CHRISTIAN!"
Alpha Nox was completely disarmed with the most recent set of outbursts. Dr. Conway was his friend, and as long as he had known him, Nox knew him to be a logical, calculating and intelligent person. However, when he had allowed Amelie's life to be spared he didn't realise she would be brought up in such a callous and unfeeling atmosphere.
As infuriating as Christian was, Nero realised that he was right. Even if Amelie was protected, this wouldn't change the fate of all the other Omegas in the pack. Nero began to feel a little guilty himself; he was sure in his youth that he must have mistreated the Omegas in the pack; he definitely recalled his friends doing so. If this was a change to be implemented, it had to come from the top down; after all, the bullying came from the top down. His father spoke up, breaking him from his thoughts.
"I, Alpha Nox, motion that we remove Amelie from Dr. Christian Conway's legal guardianship. He has proven to be an unfit parent. I further motion that we place her into Lily's temporary custodianship until we can ascertain the best place for her within the pack."
"I, Dr. Joshua Chamberlain, second this motion as her medical consultant," added Josh eagerly, as he was going to motion the same thing.
"No! You can't do this!" shouted Christian. "This isn't even a Council meeting! You need"
"An Alpha, an Elder, a proposer and seconder," interrupted Laurence. "Well, we have three out of four , not to mention two Alphas, and because a young life is hanging in the balance, the motion will carry I think dear brother! As for her file Alpha, please come with me."
All of them marched out into the corridor following Laurence who was now on the phone giving instructions to someone, leaving an irate Christian hurling insults and destroying what remained of the poor conference room.
"Why are you so quick to turn against your brother if you don't mind me asking Laurence?" Nero asked as Laurence finished his call; Nero had always been curious about their animosity towards each other and how they never really seemed to be brotherly.
"My younger brother has always got what he wanted, not always through the most righteous of ways. He married the love of my life; we never found our mates and she was my chosen mate. He stole her away from me. He has stolen my ideas for some of the early research programmes, taken credit for them, and has repurposed them for other twisted means. Finally, as I was building a meaningful relationship with my niece he took that away from me too. He has been like this from childhood. I haven't turned against him; I have chosen the side that will benefit that poor child as she is an innocent."
"How magnanimous of you."
"Spare me the sarcasm Alpha, just please don't let me regret this decision. I know your father was going to terminate Amelie, but she was allowed to live. She is very special as you will find out."
By this time, Laurence had brought them to what looked like a hall of archives. There were countless boxes and files that were being tended to by workers and the cabinets and shelving seemed to stretch for miles. Moments later, an older woman marched up to him and whispered something in his ear. Laurence nodded and she walked away.
"Gentlemen the documents are being copied, and will be with you shortly," Laurence explained.
- Writer
