Title: Questions of Science

Spoilers: Including all of season 1 of Orphan Black but largely ignoring season two spoilers, some time has passed since the end of season 1. As for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. spoilers include all of season one as it has aired including 1x17 before going beyond canon after, as well as the events of the movies.

Disclaimer: I own neither AoS nor Orphan Black

Parings: Cophine though that will take time, and Skimmons. Various other crossover parings.

Prologue

Cosima stared at Delphine, and silently cursed the look of abject betrayal she knew she must be wearing as Delphine leveled a gun at Sarah's chest with a blank look in place as Leekie smirked behind her. His hands came to rest on Delphine's shoulders as he beamed triumphantly at Cosima.

Rachel's voice sounded from just behind Leekie, "Aldous... do they all have to die?"

Cosima was surprised to hear something approaching regret in their erst-while sister's voice even as Leekie snapped, "They've become too much of a liability Rachel. We have to salvage what we can." He glanced down at Delphine and once again Cosima was reminded of their gag inducing dynamic as his expression wavered between almost fatherly and proud and then back to blatant lust, "I am surprised that Delphine wants to shoot them though."

Delphine's lip curled as she snarled, "Why wouldn't I..." The gun dipped just a bit as she glared at Sarah, "This one has treated me like trash even as she screws her own monitor and Cosima..." Delphine's voice was heavy with bitterness and not for the first time Cosima wondered where they might be had she not caved to Sarah, Alison, and Felix's demands and broken off all romantic entanglement with Delphine. Delphine heaved a sigh, "Although I am sorry to have to shoot you Alison." She ruined the brief moment with a sneer at Felix, "You I will enjoy killing."

Sarah twitched at Cosima's side and Cosima knew her punk rocker of a sister was trying to figure out if lunging at Delphine and going for the gun was a good idea. Before Sarah could make a decision the new silence was interrupted by the ringing of a cellphone.

Delphine started just a bit before she reached into her pocket and pulled out a phone Cosima didn't recognize speaking as she glanced at the screen, "I have to answer, it is my mother and she worries."

Leekie, high off of his apparent victory and reclamation of Delphine's loyalties smiled, "Of course."

Delphine answered the phone and her tone was pleasant, "Hello maman..." She went quiet after, just listening, and Cosima watched through narrowed eyes as Delphine's posture straightened and the blank look passed over her face again as she spoke after a prolonged silence on her end, "I understand mother... yes I will call you after." She hung up the phone and slipped it back into her jacket pocket as the stillness settled over the room.

Delphine let out a heavy sigh, "Well... that makes this easier..." In a blur of motion that Cosima was helpless to follow Delphine's hand shot out and it was only after a knife had embedded itself in the eye of Leekie's henchman that Cosima realized Delphine had flung a knife before she spun and shot four bullets, one for each of the three other DYAD muscle bound toadies and then one that slammed last into Leekie's chest. Delphine moved like a viper as she leveled the gun at Paul.

She snarled out, "They were spies Paul... whom do we hail?"

Paul stared at her blankly as Rachel spit out, "Bloody Christ Dr. Cormier!"

Delphine was suddenly fixated on Rachel, "Whom. Do. We. Hail?" Both Paul and Rachel exchanged helpless looks as Delphine hissed out, "Answer the fucking question or I will shoot you too. Whom do we hail?"

Finally Rachel lifted her chin and snapped out in that condescending way of hers, "Then shoot me Delphine because I don't know the answer to your bloody question."

Paul's shoulders sank as he spoke, "I don't either Delphine..." He closed his eyes, waiting for the bullet he assumed would be aimed at his head and then flinched as Delphine pulled the trigger. He missed her shifting the gun and unloading two more bullets into Leekie.

She kept the gun in her hand, pointed vaguely in their direction as she spat, "That was a test Paul... one you both passed. For now." She pulled out her phone, the one Cosima didn't recognize and spoke instead of dialing, "Delphine Cormier, access code Alpha-Tango-six-eight-zero-two, requesting extraction for assets from project codenamed Gemini." She rattled off what Cosima recognized as coordinates before the phone flared to life.

A voice sounded into the speaker, "Agent, Protocol Hercules has been implemented?"

Delphine replied quickly, "Yes, I am surrounded with friendlies..." She eyed the group before adding, "Mostly. All enemy agents have been put down, and I've severed a head." She looked down at Leekie with a look of hatred so intense Cosima fought down a shiver. "Can I expect extraction and a cleanup?"

The woman on the other end of the line replied, "Affirmative agent, a bus is en-route."

Delphine made eye contact with Cosima and asked quietly, "For everyone? DYAD will still be looking for the Gemini assets."

The voice replied, "For everyone Agent." There was a pause and then, "Be safe Delphine... these are... be safe."

Delphine finally cracked a small smile, "You as well Maria."

A computerized voice sounded, "Transmission ended."

Delphine stored her phone in her pocket again before nodding to Sarah, "Check them for weapons and then go back to stand next to your sisters." She glared at Paul before she drew back her hand and smashed the butt of her gun into his face, dropping him like a bag of stones, "Too many variables. He can stay out until extraction gets here." She leveled the gun at Sarah as the she searched through the dead DYAD agents pockets. As she found the guns she slid them to Delphine suddenly much more cooperative than she'd ever been before now that it was clear that Delphine wouldn't hesitate to shoot anyone she viewed as a threat.

Cosima cleared her throat and said what she was sure was on everyone's mind as Sarah settled next to her again, "What the hell Delphine?!"

Delphine shrugged one shoulder, "I told you I was on your side..."

Cosima scoffed, "Then why is there still a gun pointed at us?"

Delphine nodded towards Sarah and Rachel, "Because I don't trust them not to try and shoot me."

Sarah let out a dark chuckle, "Science Bitch has a point Cos..." She narrowed her eyes and growled at Delphine, "I get a chance and I'm going to shoot you in the face."

Cosima elbowed her sister, "Sarah..."

Delphine's formerly blank face morphed into an expression of intense dislike, "I'm not the bad guy Sarah, but until I'm sure we're going to wait here for extraction."

They weren't waiting long, maybe forty-five minutes with the gun held steadily in their direction when a shadow loomed overhead and then a massive plane was landing vertically behind Delphine. The landing platform was lowered and a man in a suit descended with an Asian woman bearing a gun at his side.

"Agent Cormier?"

Delphine spoke crisply, "Identification code Bravo-Sierra-seven-four-Foxtrot."

The man nodded, "Welcome to the Bus." He looked pained, like he almost wanted to smile but had forgotten how as he stared at Delphine's back.

Delphine paused before she spun and leveled the gun at his chest, "What is your ID code!?"

The man held up his hands even as the Asian woman at his side brought her own gun to bear, "ID code Charlie-Golf-eight-eight-Hotel."

Delphine relaxed almost completely, "My apologies Agent Coulson. I've severed a head you see." She nodded towards Leekie's rapidly cooling body and Cosima watched as a dark look crossed over the man's face.

He nodded, "I understand Agent. Please, join us aboard?"

Delphine nodded and then to Cosima's astonishment she handed her gun to the Asian woman and boarded the plane as she spoke over her shoulder, "You are safer on board this plane Cosima, you and your sisters." She walked out of sight as Cosima stared after her before turning her attention to Agent Coulson.

He waved towards the plane, "I'm Agent Phil Coulson... From S.H.I.E.L.D."

Alison's jaw dropped out, "Like the heroes of New York Shield?"

Agent Coulson nodded, "Like Agent Cormier said, "You are all much safer on board the plane, until Hydra has been dealt with."

Sarah narrowed her eyes, "Why should we trust that your aren't after us like DYAD was? That you won't take us apart?"

Agent Coulson shook his head, "We have no reason to take you apart. We have all of Dr. Cormier's research from her time inside DYAD. Taking you apart wouldn't serve a purpose," He wrinkled his nose, "And it would be messy."

Alison moved forward, "I'm going with them. Delphine's done more for us today than anyone has in a long time by killing Leekie. Shield are the good guys." Rachel moved to follow after one last look towards Leekie's body.

Sarah and Cosima both hesitated but for different reasons before the exchanged a look and followed with Felix on their heels. As they made their way up the ramp two men in black hurried down and hefted Paul's unconscious form off the ground and hustled him up the ramp.

The Asian woman snapped out an order, "He's disabled for a reason, put him in the box until Agent Cormier explains."

The two men nodded as they carried Paul past them an up the winding stairs.

With a great heaving sigh Agent Coulson spoke, "Welcome to S.H.I.E.L.D." He looked impossibly sad as he added, "Such as it is."

Read and Review