Belar woke up feeling warm, protected and loved. He was tucked in firmly between his Dada and Papa, and their arms were wrapped about his tiny body. He smiled contentedly before slowly pulling himself free; he had to use the bathroom fast. His small body was light and agile, so he made his way off the bed without waking anyone. Except that Ross was also awake.
"Where yous goin', Bel?" Ross whispered as Belar made his way passed Riti and Victoria. Ross was similarly tucked in-between them just as Belar had been between his parents.
"Needs ta peepee bad!" he hissed back.
"Me toos. Wait fo' mes!" There was a brief flurry of motion, then the small five year old was free and running into the bathroom hand in hand with Belar.
Their giggles as they used the toilet woke Koth and Telez. As they came to, so did the others, for Koth's mixture of a yawn and growl was rather loud. He also stretched out while on top of his brother, Korris, thus making sure that those next to them were prodded into full wakefulness.
"Good Lord, Koth!" Nathan mumbled, "You're one noisy bugger, ain't ya?"
"Tell me something I don't know," grouched Korris. He cracked open one eye and looked up at the cheeky grin on Koth's face. "I've missed it, however. Morning, Koth-boy. How did you sleep?"
Koth smiled wider and kissed his brother happily. "Been ages and ages since I've heard that name! I slept well. You're just as comfy as I remember."
Jason chuckled. "Okay. Koth's up, and so everyone else has to be too... wait, where's Belar?"
"Me goin' peepee!" Belar yelled with exasperation from the bathroom.
"Mes too!" came an equally loud yell from Ross.
Riti giggled at that, as did Victoria. They opened their eyes simultaneously and grinned at each other. "You've got a stiffy 'gain, Reet," Victoria giggled.
Riti rolled his eyes, "Yeah, but I can't help it, can I? They all have too, you know."
"Yeah, but theirs ain't poking into my leg!"
"Well, soorrrrrry!"
"Accepted," she laughed. Riti flushed with embarrassment as he got out of the tangle he was in and also made for the bathroom, the tatters of his dignity left behind him.
Ross and Belar came flying out as Riti entered, and they proceeded to pounce on top of those still lying in the bed. "We's hungry!!" Ross announced at the top of his lungs.
"Wants foods!" Belar added.
"Oh, heaven be merciful!" Antony groaned, "It should be a sin to be so awake at this time!"
Jason looked at the clock, "Well, it would be nine in the morning in Wales, dude. I think they are right. Everyone up, and let's go eat!"
Well, there was the pit-stop for toilet breaks for the others first, but five minutes later, 12 naked children descended on Sarek's kitchens on the 'Great Breakfast Adventure'. As they entered, Korris was still questioning the need for the lack of clothing.
"I'm not entirely comfortable, Jason. Perverts make you wander about naked, yet you say your parents... I mean, our parents are not perverts. Why, then, are we naked?" he asked with some asperity.
Jason stopped and answered seriously, for Korris deserved that much, "We have always been allowed to dress or not dress as we feel like when in private at home, bro. Our parents raised Victoria and I to believe there is nothing wrong with our bodies. I'm sure that one day I won't want to be naked in front of others. Well, Antony is at the stage himself where I always thought I'd want to be dressed; you know, hairs and all? But he don't seem to care, so I probably won't neither." Jason sighed before smiling at his newest brother, "It's entirely up to you, bro. Just 'cos we're naked don't mean you have to be. We won't mind, and Mam and Dad won't say anything either way."
Korris nodded thoughtfully before responding, "If I feel any more uncomfortable, or if I think I'm being perved out by anyone, I'll get dressed. I will warn you now, though. If anyone tries anything to the young ones, or even you and the others our age, I will kill them. That I swear by my father's grave."
"Acceptable," Jason nodded. Then he grinned, "What if we get another brother or sister in the 'Clan'... and they scope you out? You are devilishly attractive, you know. If I wasn't in love totally with Nathan, I'd likely want to make a go of it with you." He looked Korris up and down slowly, then winked into the Klingon's now blushing face, "You've got one hell of a nice bod, there, bruv!"
"Oh, get on with you!" Korris lightly pushed him while beginning to giggle. "You know what I mean! If I see a pervert, I'll..."
"Yeah," Jason became serious again. "I understand. Let's make a deal. If any perv' starts something, we sort them out together. Deal?"
Korris looked at him for a moment, then went to the nearest table top and picked up a sharp knife. Returning to Jason, he drew the blade lightly down the palm of his hand, bringing a weak flow of his dark purple blood to the surface. He handed the blade to Jason, who copied the act without hesitation. They pressed their palms together.
"By my blood, I so swear," Korris swore formally.
"By my blood, I so swear," Jason repeated, just as formally.
Spock had come into the room moments before and silently watched the two eleven year olds swear a blood oath of protection for their brothers. He reached to a cabinet and took out a Vulcan issue first aid kit. "Jason, Korris. Come here, please."
They did as they were told. Jason looked into his A'nirih's eyes and asked, "Did we do somethin' wrong, Poppa?"
"No, child. That was very well done. However, you need these wounds dealt with. Open your hand, please, Korris." Spock ran a dermal regenerator down the shallow cut on Korris' hand, then did the same for Jason. "Go and enjoy your breakfast, children. What you did was very well done."
Korris looked at him seriously, "Thank you, sir."
"You are a brother to Jason, Korris. Jason is my son under Vulcan tradition. That means you are as well. You may call me A'nirih, father, dad or poppa like the others, should you wish."
Korris nodded and smiled. "I think I would like that... Poppa."
Spock nodded and pointed to the kitchen table. Already seated, the others were piling their plates up with unbelievable amounts of food. "You better start on your own selection before your brothers and sister eat it all."
They both noticed the food supply was reaching dangerously low limits and so dashed to the table themselves. They should not have worried, the cooks were more than prepared; more food was already on the way from the stove.
An hour later in the main lounge, Sarek addressed the children and their parents, "I have received news that your new home has been renovated. The work to the grounds will be another two weeks before completion, but you can move into the manor house now, should you wish to."
"What other changes are being made?" Mary asked.
Sarek passed her a prepared list, as well as handing one to the other adults and older children.
"Sweet! An indoor and an outdoor pool?" Antony yelped happily.
Korris looked impressed when he stated, "A fully equipped gymnasium and training room!"
Koth bounced up and down next to his brother, "Nice, nice, nice!"
Sarek nodded seriously. "There are a few other things that will be going in, but that can be explained later. I will be remaining here as I have business to take care of with the Federation. My son, however, will be joining you as discussed with Mary and Angela."
Antony grinned and edged closer to Spock, whereupon he was drawn into a loose hug.
"Father," Spock said, "will you be looking into what we discussed last night?"
"As soon as I finish with today's meetings, my son."
"Very well. Children, if you are ready, I think we can leave for Wales." Spock said as he led Antony over to his mother.
"Wow! This place is wicked!" Jason crowed as they were walking through the manor house. "It's so huge! Mam! Dad! You can adopt loads of kids in a place like this!!"
"Steady on there, sport!" Dafydd laughed.
Angela, poker face in full play, turned to her husband and responded, "Daf, I thought you wanted a large family!"
Dafydd stared at her seriously, then sighed, "Oh, dear God, I'll return from my tour to see this place bulging at the seams, won't I?"
The children all yelled, "YES!" before Angela could even think of a response.
Dafydd pointed to the stairs, "Go on, go find yourselves your rooms. Get!"
Giggling, they all complied, and ran upstairs in a rush. The master bedroom was already taken, as per the sign left on the door handle, but they had soon split off to find a room for each of them. Not surprisingly, the rooms were all next to one another. Ross and Belar picked one with a connecting door to both Jason and Nathan's room and to Ross' twin brother's room. The little rugrats had already decided that they were going to share with each other, and no-one could dissuade them.
Riti had picked a room and was quietly exploring when Victoria walked in. "Hey, this is way nicer than mine! Not fair!"
Riti, startled out of his feathers, spun about to look at her. He said slowly, "I thought you found yours before I found this one, sis."
"Yeah, but..." She trailed off. She was not certain why this room was better than the one she had first picked.
"But what?" Riti asked curiously as he picked up his uniform from the bed. He had stripped off the instant he had gotten inside the house, but if his sister wanted this room...
"Dunno," she replied honestly.
He shrugged and made to leave, "I like your room too, sis. You have this one, I'll take that?"
She nodded absently.
Once he had left, the room suddenly felt less interesting. "Oh, bother! Riti!" she yelled.
Now, one feature about the house that Riti loved was that he could fly inside, so large was its design. His face popped around the top of the doorway as he hovered in the hall, "Yeah?"
"You can take... this..." Now the room felt better again. She went scarlet as she realized why. "Oh FUCK!"
"VICTORIA ANNE EVANS!" her mother said as she came into the room carrying some items she had bought for Riti, "just what do you think you are saying, young lady?"
Riti, totally oblivious to Victoria's discovery, giggled as he hovered in the doorway. He sang out, "Viccy's in trouble, Viccy's in trouble!"
He received a pillow in the face for his efforts, which brought him crashing down to the floor in a laughing heap. "Sorry, Mammy," Victoria said quietly. "I..." She trailed off.
"Don't let me hear you saying stuff like that again, missy, or your butt will be glowing. You hear me?"
"Uh huh. Sorry, Mam."
Riti had picked himself up by the time Angela walked out and he walked in to return the pillow to Victoria. "Sorry, Viccy. I shouldn't have laughed."
"S'okay, Reet," she said as she hugged the now startled boy. "You can have this room. But..."
He waited, but she didn't continue. "Oh, come on! But what??"
"Okay, okay! Can I... you know, can we spend time together... here... you know..."
He grew nervous. "You mean like in the shower back in..."
"NO!... I mean, yes... I mean, that was cool and all. I just wanna spend time with you. Maybe sleep over... and stuff... maybe..."
Riti nodded slowly, very thankful he still had his uniform in his hand as, by the way he was holding it, it was covering an obvious 'problem'. "Okay, sis. You can sleep over... if I can with you too?"
"Yeah. But we're not together or nuthin', so don't be thinking..." she said quickly, but secretly she hoped for the opposite.
"I'm not!" He assured her quickly, his problem still evident. "We're friends! I... I just... you wanna spend time with me, and... well, I like spending time with you too. That's all! Promise."
She could sense he was serious, and her heart fell. She had been hoping... 'Oh, damn,' she thought.
"I'm going to unpack," she half smiled at him, and left.
Riti watched her go. "Humans," he muttered. He looked down at his problem for a second, before he ran to the en-suite bathroom and locked the door.
Inside the deepest corner of his heart, however, something very powerful started to appear...
Telez and Antony were lying down amid the boxes of clothes, games, toys and various odds and ends that were now piled within the room they had chosen. "Procrastination. A dying art!" Antony giggled.
"Agreed," came the contented sigh from the Andorian, who was lying with his head rested on his Bonded's stomach.
As they lay there, their quiet musings were shattered by an eruption of high pitched cheeping coming from Riti's room next to theirs. Antony looked down into Telez' eyes, and they both burst out laughing.
"Good God in heaven," Nathan muttered as he pulled his head back into the bedroom. He had run to the door when the noise had started, but then he had remembered how Riti had sounded when he had been in that shower two days back. "That boy is never going to be able to have a quiet wank, is he?"
Jason was unable to reply. He was too busy laughing.
Korris was getting annoyed. He and his little brother had decided to share a room, and he was currently pacing to and fro. Just a few seconds ago, he had picked up his bat'leth when he had heard Riti's calls of 'distress' with the intent to go and kill Riti's attacker. Koth had managed to dissuade him from doing so, but was laughing too much to fully explain.
"Koth! Tell me now, or I'm going to..." Korris started to yell.
"Okay," Koth pulled in his giggles with extreme effort. "It's like me and you, brother. When we 'have fun' we get noisy?"
"Yeah, so..." The light dawned. "Damn. He's loud!"
"Uh huh!" Koth returned to his giggles.
Victoria poked her grinning face around the door frame, "You two heard?"
Korris grinned, "Yup."
"Cool. I heard you shouting and felt you getting upset, Kor, so I just came to make sure you've been told."
"Thanks, sister," Korris smiled.
"I'm a little annoyed, though," Koth giggled.
Victoria looked at him oddly, "Are you? You don't feel like you are. Why?"
"'Cos he's doing stuff and we ain't!"
Korris looked between the two younger, now giggling children. "Explain." It was not a request.
They did, and he started roaring with laughter. "Well, why don't you..." he trailed off, leaving it up to them.
Koth got up and raced for the doorway, grabbing Victoria's hand as he yanked her from the room. They burst in on Riti's room just as he came out of the bathroom.
"What? What's wrong?" he asked, looking worried. "Why you runnin'?"
Koth replied as he grabbed Riti's hand as well, "You think you get to have fun without us? For shame, bro!"
Riti blushed as he was pulled back into the bathroom. Then his eyes bugged out, "NO! Don't tell me everyone heard??"
"Nooo," Victoria replied with a grin as she shut and locked the door, "just the entire house, and I think the sheep on the hillside!"
"I think a couple of dogs in the next county might have too!" Koth added with a grin.
"What is happening? What's Riti squawking 'bout?" the twins asked as they entered Jason's room. They had been puzzled by the bird calls and so came seeking answers.
"Oh, gawd!" Jason mumbled as he went bright red.
Nathan came to his rescue this time. "Why don't you go to Riti's room and find out. He'd be cool, promise."
"Okay," they both replied in unison before turning to leave.
They entered Riti's bedroom just as the bathroom door was closing, and they just heard Koth's final comment. They knocked on the door.
Riti poked his still blushing face out, "Uh, yeah? What's up, guys?"
"That's what we've come to ask you; Nath' said we should. Why were you cheeping?"
Koth pulled the door open further, and the twin's eyes began to bug out when they saw he was half undressed, and Victoria was already. "Come on in, guys. You might as well learn too."
Riti sighed as his blush got worse, but he did stand aside.
Jason was nearly finished with one of the boxes of clothes when Riti's call echoed about the house for a second time in fifteen minutes. It was followed by Koth's roar, and then by three other voices.
"Oh, shit," he muttered, "all five of them?"
Nathan nodded and grinned. His grin disappeared when they both heard some frightened whimpering from Belar's room. They jumped up and ran through the adjoining door.
As yet, there was just the standard double bed in the room, for the little kids had not decided whether or not they wanted a single bed each. Jason assumed they would eventually keep the double. Kids like company, after all. In the middle of the bed, under the covers, a small lump was trembling.
"Ross? Bel? You okay?" Nathan asked softly.
"PAPA!" "UNK NAT'" came the yells from the two frightened boys. They threw back the covers and threw themselves at the older two. Ross, even though his big brothers were like brothers to Nathan and Jason, wanted them to be his uncles.
"Shh," Jason soothed, "It's okay, kids. Nothing to worry about."
Belar was sobbing, "But dat mon'ter! It ate da birdie! We hear't it! The birdie was sin'ing and den it yewled and was 'urtin'."
Jason thought fast, then sent a brief thought to Telez and Antony. Seconds later they ran in. Antony was still giggling, "Gawd. That bunch is noisy. What's up... Jace... oh, hell. Ross, what's wrong, sweetheart?"
Jason explained briefly.
"Oh," Telez said, while trying not to laugh. "Okay, guys. It's kinda like this."
He explained simply that the others were just having fun, and that was why they made the noises.
"That was Uncle Koth roaring," Korris added from the doorway, "and don't worry, Uncle Koth would never hurt Uncle Riti."
"Yous sures?" Ross asked carefully.
"I swear," Korris promised.
"Otay," mumbled Belar. "Dada. Mes 'ungry. Can wes has somefink to eat?"
Jason smiled, "Sure. Come on, guys. Let's all get something."
Spock was playing his Vulcan lute when the boys came into the kitchen looking for food. Angela was already half way through preparing a light lunch, and Spock's playing was having a calming effect on the adults in there. Dafydd was just outside the back door checking on the tool shed and gardening equipment while Mary was with Tulek and Graham in the dining room, setting up the table and chairs.
"Hello, children," Spock greeted them, "did you find the bedrooms acceptable?"
"Yeah, Grandpa," Ross answered for them, "Our room is awwsom'! And I thinks that Uncles Koth and Riti likes their rooms toos, as theys making funny noises alla times."
"Uh huh," Belar added, much to Jason's horror, "an' Auntie Viccy's havin' funs too. So's Drew and Davy!"
Angela looked up at that, and turned her eyes to look at her eldest son. "Would you care to explain, Jason?"
"Umm," he began, but Telez placed his hand on his shoulder.
"Let me, bro," he turned to Angela. "Well, it is like this..."
After explaining three times, as Dafydd came in half way on the first telling, then Graham and Mary on the second re-telling, Telez finally got the events across to them.
"So, my daughter is upstairs having sex with four boys, two of which are aliens," Angela's tone was neutral, yet it was plain she looked ready to explode. However, before she could say another word, the five children in question walked into the kitchen, all bare as the day they were born. Victoria, Koth and Riti had a forced innocent look on their faces, while David and Andrew were looking shell-shocked, yet pleased at their happy discovery. They all stopped dead when they slammed into the tension in the room.
Trying to lighten the mood, Spock raised an eyebrow and addressed Koth, "Child, it is a known fact that when a Klingon attempts to look innocent, it means they have done something."
Korris looked at his A'nirih sharply, only to receive a subtle wink in response. Koth did not see that, he just stood there with his mouth hanging open, furiously trying to think of a response. The twins, first having looked so pleased and excited at the wonderful sensations they had just discovered, now looked terrified, and Victoria was glancing nervously at her parents. Riti was just hiding behind Korris.
"Just what the hell..." Angela began, but Dafydd slapped his hand down on the kitchen counter quickly in order to stop her.
She threw a dangerous look at him, but the authority with which he looked back at her silenced her totally. Rarely had Dafydd pulled his rank as head of the family, but she knew that when he did, she was usually in the wrong.
"Angela, just what is wrong with you? You heard Tel, they were just playing!" he started.
She shot back with, "That first time, maybe, but she is only seven years old, Daf! Don't you dare tell me you condone this! And who knows what they were doing up there just now!"
Koth began to get annoyed, as did Korris. Spock noticed, but other than placing a hand on each of their shoulders, said nothing. Koth shrugged off Spock's hand, "Mother! I would never do anything to abuse the trust my sister has for me!"
"You be qui..." Angela started as she turned Koth.
"SILENCE!" roared Dafydd.
Everyone jumped, and Belar and Ross started sobbing in fright.
"Nathan, Antony, please take the little ones to the playroom down the other end of the hall. Things are about to get interesting here," Dafydd asked them calmly.
They did so quickly, Nathan throwing an 'I'm sorry' thought at Jason before picking up his son and running out, closely followed by Antony with a sobbing Ross in his arms.
Before Angela could recover, Dafydd turned back to her, "You. Sit. Now." He pointed at the nearest bar stool. She did so. Her husband had never looked this annoyed in his life. "First, you need to stop thinking like your parents, for God's sake! That was the same bullshit we had, remember? And we did a shit-load more than just 'play'!" he said, barely holding back from yelling.
"We were fifteen, Dafydd!" she retorted.
"Screw what age we were!" He turned and looked at his terrified daughter. "Viccy, I know this is going to be embarrassing, but just what were you kids doing up there?"
Victoria shuffled her bare feet nervously before replying, "Playing with ourselves, Daddy. That's all."
"You didn't touch them and they didn't touch you or each other?"
"No-one touched me when we was doin' stuff. Just before, when we were exploring a bit."
David and Andrew felt they should say something, so after a look at each other Andrew said, "We did, Unca Daf. They jus' played wif themselves. I played wif Davy, and he did wif me."
Riti piped up, "I wanted to, sir... I wanted to play with Vic, but..."
Victoria blushed as she looked into the frightened eyes peeking from behind Korris, but she felt her heart flutter at his admission. "Yeah, I wanted to, but... I think we were both jus' nervous..." she trailed off.
Turning back to his wife, Dafydd continued, "Masturbation and mutual masturbation, and you are causing a fuss? They are kids, Ange. Kids. Kids explore. Kids play, for heaven's sake! And just look at the twins!"
She did so and saw them close to tears, their faces filling with a shame they should never have felt.
Graham spoke up then, "Angela, those two are my children, and even though I would never argue with you if they did something bad to your daughter, I do not appreciate having them accused, even by inference, that they have done something wrong without getting their side of the story first!"
Angela sat there and thought. She dug up her own emotions and the thoughts behind them and stared at them closely. She started to cry in shame herself.
Softer, now, Dafydd spoke to her again, "If our daughter finds someone special, be it one of these boys, or someone else, boy or girl, I would have no problems with them doing anything. Even at this age."
He turned to his daughter and beckoned her over. He sat down and pulled her onto his lap, "Sweetie, we've never had to talk about this stuff with you before, but it looks like your playing has prompted it. You and the boys did nothing wrong."
He looked up at the other four naked boys standing by Korris and Jason, "None of you did." He waved them all over and continued, "Now, if you guys had done everything up there, I might be concerned, but exploring and playing as you did, that's all fine."
They nodded, Riti and Koth understanding immediately. "You mean mating?" Riti asked.
"Yes," Dafydd grinned. "That is something special you should keep for the one you want to bond with. Stuff like masturbation between yourselves is normal. Kids do it the world over."
He looked into the bright blue eyes of the twins, "And what you did up there with your brothers and sister? All okay. Understand?"
"Uh huh. But why was Aunty Ange mad at us?" David trembled.
Angela spoke up, tears in her voice, "I'm sorry, Davy. I started acting like my mother used to. I'm really sorry."
The twins, Koth and Korris looked at her with mistrust. Riti seemed inclined to believe her, and certainly Jason did. He knew his mother very well, and when she was sorry, she meant it.
Victoria spoke to the them, "I can relay her feelings to you, if you wants?"
Korris nodded, "Please. I said I would give you humans the benefit of the doubt, but this..."
He stopped as Angela's sorrow at her actions was passed into his own feelings. He bit his lip, and watched as the twins and Koth also looked saddened. The feelings left quickly.
"That is what she feels right now," Victoria said quietly.
"I'm so, so sorry," Angela whispered to them. "I will try to change, I promise."
"Guys," Dafydd said to his sons and daughter, "I'd like you all to go to the playroom for a while. We need to talk to your mother. Take the twins and Telez too."
They nodded, and left quickly.
Spock looked around at the other adults, all of whom were looking at Angela seriously. "Mary, please go and speak with the children. I believe your training is best in this case."
She nodded and followed the kids quickly.
Spock turned to Dafydd and Angela, "If you are willing, Angela, I could mind-meld with you and help you understand these issues within your psyche and past. I would help you to sort them and change what needs to be without you losing any part of your personality."
Angela looked up at him through her tears, "Please, Spock. I... I think I need that."
"Whys gwanma mad?" Belar asked in a frightened voice to Antony.
"And whys Unca Daffy shouting?" added the equally frightened Ross.
Nathan pulled them in tighter, "I don't know, sweethearts, but I'm sure they'll sort it out."
"I hope so," Antony whispered under his breath.
They waited and comforted the two trembling boys as best they could. After ten minutes passed, the door to the playroom opened and the others came in, followed closely by Antony's mother. He handed Ross over to his big Andorian brother and went over to hug his own mother. "Everything okay in there now?"
"Spock is dealing with things, but yes. Things are okay, now," she replied.
As they all settled down, she addressed them, "I think it's a good idea for me to have a talk with you guys about 'playing', yes?" She glanced at her son and his bonded as well as Nathan and Jason. They all rolled their eyes at her, but nodded anyway.
"Yeah, yeah. I know you four know about this stuff, but I figure you can help me talk to the youngsters? You as well, Korris. I know you are unclaimed, but..."
"But I can still help, yes," he replied with a smile.
Before she could start, David and Andrew asked in unison, "Was what we did okay, Aunt Mary?"
"Yes, sweeties, it was."
"Oh. Good. It felt so kewl! We was worried that we did wrong," they replied, looking relieved.
"First time you did that?" Korris asked with interest.
"Uh huh," they replied with cheeky, matching grins.
Korris smiled and pulled them both onto his lap. He looked up when Mary started speaking, "Well, first, just like I just said, you five did nothing wrong. It was normal, and healthy, and every child explores like that if they are lucky. All I can really say is the following, and this is serious." She made sure she had their complete undivided attention before continuing, "One, never force anyone to do something. And don't let others force you. Two, don't keep nagging at someone; if they say no, then it's no. If they say maybe, then take it as no. Only if you both say yes should you do things. Understand?"
Everyone nodded, even those who were partnered. It was sound advice.
Victoria held her hand up, "Would it be okay if I played 'with' one of the boys, Aunt Mary? Like Davy and Drew did together?" She blushed, as did Riti, who turned and looked at her with a shy grin.
Mary smiled as she caught the bi-play between the two, "Yes, if you both want to do something like that, then it is okay. But only if both of you want to and are comfortable doing so."
Ross and Belar looked about at the others in total bafflement. "Ross and me plays. We likes playin'. No ones been shoutin' at us w'en we plays wif our toys," Belar muttered in confusion.
Jason giggled, "We know, sweetie. Don't worry at it."
Ross, however, fixed his twin brothers with a glare. They looked at him, looked at each other, shrugged then concentrated. "Oh!" Ross exclaimed, "yous been playin' wif your weiners??"
"Deys been doin' what?" Belar enquired in interest.
"Playin' wif they're weiners! Theys said it is wicked!"
"Coool!"
"Oh, boy," Nathan muttered.
Mary looked at the twins carefully before asking, "You two are telepathic?"
"Well," David replied, "we can talk to each other a lot, and we can with Ross."
"But we don't know if we can with others yet," Andrew completed.
"Well, since you guys told him, you guys can show both of them, if they ask," Mary decided.
The twins shrugged, "'Kay. Be fun!" They grinned again, and the others started laughing.
Just then, the door opened and Tulek and Graham entered carrying trays of brownies and glasses of milk, upon which the gang descended and started to demolish.
Spock sat next to Angela and placed his fingertips to her temple. "My mind to your mind..." he began the meld.
Pulled inwards, Angela found herself standing in what seemed a dark tunnel. A light behind her felt familiar, yet the light ahead seemed alien. Spock appeared from that light and she quickly put together that the lights were their respective minds, and the tunnel was a link that now existed between them.
"What happens now, Spock?" she asked hesitantly.
"We will go through your past, to those formative moments wherein these issues may have arisen originally." He offered her his hand.
"You're not angry with me? I know Daf and Graham were, but..."
"No, for I measured your actions then against everything else I have seen about you and heard about you. That was unlike your personality and therefore a problem that needs solving, not a crime that needs punishing."
She looked at him strangely, "Can you explain?"
Spock considered the question for a moment. "You accept your biological son's orientation without question. You are more than willing for him to engage in sexual relations with Nathan. You are open to your daughter being with someone special, regardless of gender. You are open about the sexual orientation of any of the children in your care and joint care.
"However, your reaction just now was contrary to the established parameters you have thus far shown, ergo, there is an underlying problem that you need help with."
She nodded, and took his offered hand. Together they walked into the light that represented her mind, and into her past...
It did not take long, from Dafydd's perspective, for Spock and his wife to come out of the meld. To Angela, however, it felt more like a lifetime; her own.
"That was unusual, Spock," she started.
"The feeling of that form of mind-meld has been explained by non-Vulcans as disorientating," he said in a considering tone, "yet you would get more and more used to it, should you ever meld that way again."
"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Dafydd asked her with concern. He moved and wrapped his wife into a hug, and she held him back with force.
She nodded, "Yes, but I need to see them. Where are the children?"
"Here, Mam," Jason's voice sounded from the doorway. She turned and saw all twelve children looking at her, chocolate on most of their faces, and all with milk moustaches.
Angela chuckled, and slipped off the bar-stool and onto her knees. She held out her arms to her daughter first, and Victoria quickly ran to her. "I'm sorry, sweetie. Your Poppa helped me with the trouble I was having, and I promise, it won't happen again."
Victoria just mumbled quietly in her arms before pulling back. Koth and Korris were immediately behind her. Angela pulled them both into her arms, and whispered the same to them as well. It took a few seconds, but the resistance in each broke and they too hugged her firmly.
Belar and Ross were still a bit hesitant. "Gwanma? Are you 'till mad at Tow'is and Tof'?" Belar trembled.
The two Klingons moved slightly to one side as Angela beckoned the little boys into her arms. They pounced her, and knocked her backwards. Laughing, she replied, "No, my little men, I'm not mad. Sorry I scared you. Now, can you help your granny back up, please?"
"Otay!" both squealed happily, and they got up and helped tug her back into a sitting position, giggling madly.
Riti was showing off and hovering near the ceiling. He grinned down at her as she looked up at him, "What about you, my little feathered boy? Can I hug you to say sorry too?"
He dive-pounced her, but since he weighed less than a snake's fart, she did not get thrown backwards as with the two rugrats. His owl-like eyes regarded her from half an inch away and he started placing feather like kisses onto her cheeks. "I loves you, Mezí
That left the twins. They did not wait for Riti to finish, but decided to join him in a four way snuggle. "I love this!" Angela stated with joy. "You kids are just amazing, and I promise you all, I'll never be mad at you for no reason again. I'll never be that mad for any reason again."
"Mam?" Nathan asked in a pitiful voice. "It's lunch time, Mammy, and we're..."
"Hunnngrreeeeyyyy!!" came the combined protests from twelve mouths which, obviously, were starved to death... chocolate brownies having been consumed a full ten minutes beforehand. The smell of burgers, fries and hot-dogs did not help stop the rumblings from their stomachs.
Mary chuckled, "Okay, go wash up and we are not having some with and some without clothing... get it sorted, guys!" She shooed them out of the kitchen and towards the stairs, "Food'll be in ten minutes."
They ran upstairs and flew into their respective bedrooms. That is until the twins had an idea, and they went from room to room to gather the others together. A war council soon formed, to everyone's amusement.
Graham turned from the bread rolls he was preparing, "Mary, could you call the monsters down, please?"
"Sure," she grinned, "and just 'cos I like you, I won't tell them you said that."
"Telez already knows what I call him, so I don't care," he retorted cheekily.
Mary rolled her eyes as she laughed, then she left to call the kids. Dafydd started chuckling, "I'm sure she meant for them to get dressed, but..."
Graham looked across at his friend, his forehead wrinkled in puzzlement, "What do you... oh! She said... oh, dear. Telez knows better, though."
"Yes," Angela added, "but our three have never had to wear anything if they did not want to, nor would I expect Riti to be dressed. I'm betting..."
"What is going on?" Mary's voice sounded from the hallway.
"Well, I was right," Dafydd said, trying to suppress a laugh.
Jason could be heard explaining, "Well, you said that some of us were and some of us weren't dressed. That wasn't fair, so we're all undressed. Riti is most times anyhow!"
"You... I... you knew what I meant! And you! Tony! You really know..."
Spock went into the hallway and interrupted her, "I do not think it is a problem if it is only the family, Mary."
She considered, "No. I suppose not. If we have visitors, however..." She trailed off and looked at them all sternly.
"Agreed," Spock added. "Unless the visitors are here in a similar state, you should dress accordingly."
"Okay, Poppa Spock. Can we eat now? We're wasting away!" Antony begged.
"Yes, I can see your ribs appearing as I'm watching," Mary retorted playfully. "Go on!"
As they ran past, she popped each of them on their backsides. Riti, at the back of the rush, saw this and tried to be clever and fly over her, but she was ready. He was snatched out of the air and given the tickling of his life before being allowed to run in after the others, red faced and giggling.
The afternoon passed quickly. They had finished unpacking and most of the rooms that were officially open to the now large family were comfy looking and ready for habitation. The kids were all flaked out in the front living room, the television on and playing Superman 2 quietly but only three were half heartedly watching. Procrastination might be a dying art, as Antony had said earlier, but once the combined parents, Spock included, had caught the entire group of kids playing cards in Jason's room rather than sorting out their own rooms, war had been declared. Puppy-dog eyes not withstanding, the parents have won that battle of wills.
Belar was half asleep and lying on top of Korris' stomach. He rose and fell with Korris' breathing and was slowly being lulled to full sleep. Dafydd walked in and sat in the nearest armchair.
"You lot up to eating out tonight?" he asked quietly.
Jason turned his weary eyes to his father, "Where?"
"I was thinking the Beefeater in Baglan."
"Where's that?" the twins asked in unison.
"About seven miles from here, in Port Talbot. Won't take long to drive there in the minibus Sarek provided for us."
Korris cracked open one eye, "Beefeater? What type of food is that? I liked those burger things we had earlier. Not what I'm used to but some of your pink-skin food is rather... interesting."
A cushion came from Antony's side of the room to thump into Korris' head. "Huh! I'll show you 'pink-skin', ya great wrinkle!"
Korris and Koth giggled at the resumption of the tease war all twelve had started during the afternoon to pass the time.
"I thought you already showed off your 'pink skin'!" Riti giggled.
"Hey, that was you, Koth and the Twins showing Viccy, remember? Dweeb!"
Riti blushed, as did the twins, but Koth was playfully indignant. "Oi! Mine's a dark purple, I'll have you know! Pink... by Kahless, no... purple blood... not pathetic red, watery stuff!"
"Back on topic," Dafydd interrupted quickly, "I guess we'll be eating out, yes?"
Nathan nodded happily from his comfortable pillow, Jason's stomach, "Yes please, Dad! I love the Beefeater. Kor? You'll love it. You can get beef rare... or even more bloody, if you'd like."
"Mmm, I should enjoy that," Korris replied blissfully.
"Up and get ready, then." Dafydd looked at his be-winged son, who was snuggled up with Ross and Koth, "Riti, it's cold, so..."
"Yeah, I know. Get dressed," he sighed.
Half an hour later and everyone was seated in the minibus. It sat seventeen in total, and that was just the exact amount of room for the entire group. They made their way down the valley and to the end of the private road where it joined the area of Port Talbot known as Margam. They went through the side streets and joined the main road heading into the Town Centre.
Again, Riti was pressed up against the window and staring at everyone and everything outside. Korris looked a little uncomfortable without his bat'leth, for he had been told in no uncertain terms by his new mother that he would not need it. The only reason he had given up arguing was that he had seen his brother secrete his two smaller mek'leth blades in their holster under his jumper. They were in easy reach on his back, and he had winked at his big brother.
All the kids, other than Riti, were dressed in earth clothing, although Telez did stand out in the shorts and tee-shirt he had on. "Holiday spot, I told ya!" he had giggled when Nathan had commented.
They reached the Beefeater in ten minutes and piled out of the van and into the building. To say the waitress was shocked at the unusual group was an understatement. Aliens were not a common feature in Wales, even though the United Kingdom was one of the first to have revealed the existence of the Interstellar community to it's people in 1950. If you wanted to meet and rub shoulders with non-humans, then the Capitals were the places to go, and Cardiff was still behind London for it's human to alien ratio.
Dafydd, Spock and Graham had wisely chosen to wear their official Starfleet uniforms to help in fact, but a new issue cropped up surprisingly fast.
"Hey! JACE! NATH'!!!"
The two boys spun around to see a boy from their class in school seated with his parents a few tables over. It was Matthew Davies. He was a slight boy, and always seemed to have a nervousness about him that Jason could never explain. He was also very religious, like his little brother too, and it had taken both he and Nathan the best part of three months to get him to relax with them. He never did, however, with anyone else.
Jason waved at him, "Matth!! Hey, how'd Christmas go?"
"Cool," came the reply as Matthew ran over. He high-five'd both his friends and grinned, "What about you guys?"
"Amazing! I've got a new family!" Nathan bubbled as he hugged himself into Jason's side.
Matthew looked confused, "What was wrong with your old one?"
Nathan's face grew a serious and a little upset, "My old... father use' to beat me. He tried one too many times Christmas Eve, so..."
"He came to us," Victoria completed for him, hugging herself into Nathan's other side.
"Oh, man, that sucks!" Matthew said as he pulled Nathan in for a brief hug. That was very strange, and alarm bells rang in Jason's mind, and in Nathan's as well. Matthew continued, "Still, I'm glad you're with Jace now." Little did he know how 'with' Jason Nathan now was!
Victoria giggled but said nothing as Nathan and Jason blushed. Matthew, being Matthew, missed it completely. He would have missed an elephant if it had gone to sleep in his bedroom if you did not point it out to him. Attention deficiency was an understatement.
"Matthew! Your food's going cold!" came an abrupt call from who was obviously Matthew's mother.
"Okay, Mother," he called back, a strange sound in his voice. He hugged Nathan again, then, "See you guys in school next week?" There was something in his face that Jason caught, a cry for help: a pleading for help.
"Yup!" Nathan said, as he looked at his friend.
"'Kay. Bye!!" As he turned to leave, he finally noticed the others. His jaw dropped open. "Jesus! Klingons? And an Andorian? And what the hell are you?!"
Riti giggled. Spock answered, "He is Lo'Garn, a new race we have encountered recently."
"Oh, sweet! Can you fly?" Matthew spilled out as he ran over to the winged boy.
"Uh huh," Riti responded, giggling as Matthew spun him about so as to check on where the wings joined his back.
Matthew realised what he was doing, and stopped dead, "Sorry! I should have asked, sorry!"
"Don't worry, it's cool, even if it did tickle!"
Koth sniggered under his breath, causing Matthew's attention to shift to him. "Wicked! I've never met a Klingon before! Can I touch those ridges?" he asked, pointing to Koth's forehead.
Koth nodded happily while his elder brother giggled out, "He really won't mind you touching him, if you want to have fun!"
"Hush, bro!" Koth laughed as Matthew was completing a thorough examination of his cranial ridges, "Leave him alone. I think he's funny!"
Telez grinned, "Curiosity is acceptable as long as both parties agree."
Telez was next, then, for at his statement Matthews attention shifted rapidly. After a brief exchange, and a firm warning to be careful, Telez found that his antennae were Matthew's major focus.
Andrew and David, with Ross and Belar in front of them, started laughing like crazy. Matthew looked over at them and noticed Belar's nose ridges. "Wow, who are you, and where're you from?"
"'m Belar," the Bajoran child said with a broad smile at the very funny eleven year old, "an' 'm a B'jor'an."
Matthew looked at Jason in confusion. "He said he's a Bajoran. They are another new species we met a few days ago."
"Dat's wat I's sed, Dada!" Belar retorted indignantly. He turned back to Matthew, "You 're nice. Can I's hugs you, please?"
"Uh, sure," Matthew said slowly. He opened his arms and both Belar and Ross moved over together for a cuddle. Matthew looked at Jason with questions clearly showing on his face.
"Matthew John Davies! When I tell you to do something, you do it, not mess around further," came a harsh rebuke from Matthew's mother who was striding over furiously. She looked at the two small children in her son's arms and shooed them away, "Go on, get back to your parents." She turned to her son, "You! What have we told you about being with those type of... of things! Go eat your food!"
Matthew released the two now frightened kids, and hurriedly pushed them towards Jason and Nathan. He trembled and flinched away from his mother as he rose and started to move back to his seat.
Spock noticed this. As did Jason. As did the rest. Jason started scanning, first his friend, then his friends parents. Belar more or less set the following events into motion when, "Dada, Papa, why is nasty lady bein' mean?"
Mrs Davies turned in fury. "'Dada'? 'Papa'?" She looked at Nathan, who was glaring at her, and Jason, who's eyes were unfocused. "Don't tell me my son's friends are faggots?!" she yelled.
Hell erupted.
Matthew spun back and stared at his two friends, suddenly working out all those subtle hints he had seen in the last six months. He watched his mother raise her hand to strike at Nathan, who was nearest. He watched in wonder as one of the two most abusive people he knew was sent flying backwards without anyone touching her. He looked back at his friends... and fainted.
Nathan was hovering off the floor in pure, unmitigated rage; his telekinetic powers unleashing without control, and without proper direction. Spock stepped in and brought him back under control with a light neck-pinch before his power did more damage.
Mr Davies came charging over yelling obscenities, "Filthy demon spawned sinners! Witchcraft! How dare you!!" He had heard his wife's accusations, and had lost control of his temper. He reached the group and tried to shoulder Spock out of the way. It was like hitting a wall. He bounced back and staggered about, trying to keep his footing.
By now, the entire restaurant was watching in amazed horror at this play unfolding. Matthew came to, in time to see his father move again at the Starfleet dressed Vulcan. "Out of my way, you off-world scum! How dare you think you can protect these sinners from the wrath of God?!"
Spock was now a little annoyed. "What have these children done to be labelled as sinners, and what gives you the right to lay a hand on them or upon myself?" he asked, his voice quiet; menacing.
"The Word of God, that's what. Homosexuality is a sin, and all who practice it should die! As for you, you don't belong here. What gives you off-world scum the right to tell the righteous what to do?" Mr Davies faced off against the Vulcan Captain. He was brave... stupid, but brave.
"You hypocrite! You filty bastard!" Jason started yelling in fury as his scans were finished. He held his semi-conscious boyfriend in his arms, and his face was contorted in rage. "You fucked and raped your sons, and dare say anything about us being gay?!"
"Silence, pervert!" screamed Matthew's father. He turned and raised his fist to Jason. It was a bad idea.
Koth had pulled both mek'leth blades from his holster and had handed one to his brother, and together they leapt at the foolish human who dared to attempt to harm their family.
Two things happened at once. Spock grabbed both Klingon boys out of the air before they could kill Mr Davies; and Jason unleashed the full power of his mind at the feeble-minded idiot before him.
Mr Davies dropped to the floor screaming as Jason's voice overrode his senses. 'You dare to abuse children and then attack my family? You dare to call us sinners? You will regret it. All you have done shall turn inwards. You will live for a long time, and you will scream... always!'
And scream Mr Davies did.
Mrs Davies shakily stood to her feet and looked between the group of kids with their furious parents; a passive seeming Vulcan holding two kicking and screaming Klingons off the floor; her screaming husband clutching at his head; and her son, who was on his back and propped up on his elbows looking at everyone in shock and wonder. She reached for him and pulled him into a rough headlock.
"Back away! Stop that witchcraft or I'll kill this little shit-bag! Do it!" she threw at them with venom. Jason's eyes turned to her.
"You evil witch! He's your son!"
His mind flared in his head and he suddenly found he could sense every nerve and neural connection in Mrs Davies' mind. He overrode her control of her own body with barely a thought. Her hand shook as Jason made her unloose her grip and then, just for kicks, he made her lose control of her bodily functions, then forced her to punch herself in the face as hard as her body would allow. She knocked herself out, and remained still, lying in a pool of foulness.
Matthew scrambled away, and, sobbing, ran towards his friends. He never reached them for Mary was there and scooped him up into her arms. She held him as he poured out his terror and fear in his sobs, his frail seeming body threatening to shake itself apart. Mary could tell that Matthew's clothing was hiding his true state; he was dangerously thin. She glanced at his food that was still half eaten and could tell that no eleven year old would ask for a child's portion of their own volition.
Spock turned to Jason, "What have you done to this man?" He pointed at the screaming, abusive man on the floor.
"It would be quicker to meld, Poppa. I have everything from their heads, and you need to see it," Jason said through gritted teeth. He felt sick to his core.
Spock quickly did so, and moments later released his 'son'. "I agree with your assessment and the punishment of this man." He turned to face Dafydd, "Captain Evans, please contact the Hood and request a security team beam here to take custody of these two. Also, please prepare a second to come with us to Matthew's home. There are three others in need of rescue."
Matthew looked over at the Vulcan and sobbed out quietly, "Please... help my little brother..."
The manager of the restaurant was by now wringing his hands in consternation. He had come from his office at the first yells and was near to Doc Graham when he said, "What am I going to do? Will someone explain all this?"
Spock beckoned him to one side and rapidly started to explain while Dafydd called in the required teams from the Hood. Graham moved over to comfort Matthew with Mary, leaving Angela with two frightened kids tucked under her arms. Ross and Belar were not crying, but they did not look entirely happy.
Nathan was still being supported by Jason, for Spock's neck pinch had done no more than make him groggy. Jason moved him over and sat with him at the nearest table. Apart from the continued screams from Mr Davies, the room was silent.
"Shall I call the police?" the manager asked Captain Spock.
"That will not be required, sir," Spock answered. "Starfleet security will deal with these criminals in this instance."
"Good. I hate child abusers. You and the others are welcome here at any time, and your next visit will be on the house."
"My thanks," Spock nodded, "I doubt we will stay now." He turned to Jason, "Jason, has Nathan recovered?"
"Yes, Poppa," Nathan replied instead as he got shakily to his feet. "Thanks."
"Good. Please come with me. Korris, Koth; please join us. Everyone else, remain here. We will not be long." Spock moved to the entrance and left the building, the four boys following quickly.
Outside, two landing parties materialized and the two leads for the security teams approached the Captain. "Sir, what are our orders?"
Spock directed the first lieutenant inside, "Your Captain shall explain, lieutenant." He turned to the lead for the second team. "What is your name?"
"Lieutenant Ahmed, sir."
"Come with us. Our objective is three streets in that direction. Have the Hood stand by for emergency transport should the need arise."
Spock led the way at a fast run.
Number 3, Church Road in Baglan Estate looked like your normal residence. Jason, however, could feel fear radiating from it, and both he and Nathan could sense pain through their light empathy. As Spock reached the front door he motioned for the five members of the security team to circle the house and seal all exits. Spock knocked on the door.
Cursing and swearing echoed from inside.
Jason knew who was in there; Mr Davies' half brother. And he knew that he was just like Matthew's father and mother. A Paedophile and child abuser.
The door opened and a rough looking man stood there in just a pair of jeans, "What the hell? Who are you? We don't want freaks around here!"
"Sir, step outside and give us access to the residence." Spock ordered. It was not a request.
"Search warrant or fuck off!" came the fast response, and the door began to close.
Korris kicked the door off it's hinges and sent it and the man flying back into the house.
Spock raised an eyebrow at his Klingon son, then turned back to the man struggling to get out from under the door, "You misunderstand your rights and your situation. British law is subservient to Starfleet regulations and Vulcan law. You will be escorted outside and held until we are satisfied that all is in order in this building."
Lieutenant Ahmed moved in quickly and roughly pulled the man outside and pushed him to his knees. "Please," he begged in the most sarcastic tone he could manage, "please give me a reason to use this!" The lieutenant showed the man his phaser. The man stopped struggling.
Jason and the other three boys moved inside first, with Spock close on their heels. Jason was scanning each room systematically. "Shit! Upstairs!" He took them three at a time, Korris seconds behind him. The door of the back bedroom was locked shut, but only for a second.
Nathan gestured and the lock, handle and part of the door flew out and went hurtling down the landing. Korris moved the door open and they all were made witness to a horror.
Nathan would have thrown up, had he had anything in his stomach to regurgitate.
Three boys were chained up; the two youngest against one wall, and the eldest on the bed. They were all under ten years old. The boy on the bed was gagged and, going by the blood from his behind, had only just been assaulted. The two against the wall were also stripped bare and had whip marks over most of their body, most still bleeding. They too were gagged.
Three pairs of tearful eyes looked at the four boys and the Vulcan man in the doorway, and two sets of eyes seemed to hold an age more than their seeming prepubescent level.
All the chains broke apart suddenly as Nathan flexed his own mind in rage. The two by the wall crumpled and fell to the ground, and the boy on the bed rolled to his side. One of the two by the wall pulled his gag out and whispered hoarsely, "Help us... help us..." He kept repeating it, as if unable to stop.
Dafydd had overseen the removal of Matthew's abusive parents, and was seated nearby watching as Mary and Graham tried to calm the boy down.
"Shh, sweetie. Come on, sit here. Nothing will harm you now. Come on," Mary tried to get the boy to sit, but when he did so, he started crying more.
Graham started to suspect something deeper was going on. Matthew's face was showing more than just shock and fear. Pain was there. A lot of it.
As he was about to pull out his tricorder, Dafydd's communicator went off.
"Dafydd here. Go ahead, Spock."
"We are on the Hood. Please bring everyone up immediately, but make sure Matthew and the Doctor are here first. This is a medical emergency and it is likely Matthew is in need of equal attention."
Graham pulled his own communicator out and joined the open frequency, "Understood, Captain. Fisher to Hood. Prepare to transport two directly to Sickbay."
"Received, and standing by," came the response from the Transporter Chief.
"Matthew, come here, kiddo. Let's get you all sorted out, okay?" Graham said gently as he guided the boy to stand in front of him. "Energise."
Captains Evans and Spock were gathered with their family, and the children, bar four, were in a feeding frenzy. Korris and Koth were too busy pacing to and fro, and Nathan and Jason were feeling too sick to eat. Both of them were drawn up on Spock's lap, while Dafydd walked with the two Klingons, who were wrapped one under each of his arms as they paced.
Jason and Nathan were also nursing a growing headache each, for the use of their powers had drained them. They were grey-faced and had an unfocused look to their eyes.
Mary and Angela were trying to keep the attentions of the other eight children fixed away from what was troubling their brothers and friends.
Everyone's attention was drawn to the doorway when it opened to admit Graham. He was still in his surgical gown and looked stressed to his limit.
Dafydd and the two Klingons came closer and sat next to Spock as Graham sat opposite them. The two women saw the look on the Doctor's face and subtly drew the other eight children away to get more Ice-Cream.
"What's the news, Doc?" Dafydd asked quietly.
With tears in his eyes, Graham told them.
Yes, a Cliffhanger. No, I'm not ashamed. Why? Things were moving too fast, so... wait and see!
Hugs,
Illúvantír
I had a feeling that that woman was a real bad person, just from the way she started talking or should I say bitching. It seem that justice was accomplished. I hope all the kids will be okay.
The most troubling part of things like this is that situations like the one described here happen in our own world. And what is even sadder, is that we don't tend to react in anything close to the way the people in this story did. We tend to send it to the social services department and study it for long periods of time, to determine if the parents in question were justified in treating their children in this manner. I'm afraid there would have been no break in and no rescue of the children who were tied up. The authorities would have had to retreat till an arrest warrant was issued and by that time even more damage would have been done to the youngsters.
Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher