"Orphans Beloved: "Helena Has Busy Day…"

Summary: Summary: Like my Immortal Beloved bits in my Buffyverse stories, these are fragments and short bits, some longer…Just to fiddle with ideas, possibly forming longer tales later. (actually this is lifted from my tale "Fringey" in progress but I had so much fun with the notion of Helena impersonating Rachel at Dyad as Dyad faces exposure and collapse that I couldn't resist doing an expanded, stand alone…)

Disclaimer: No copywrite infringement intended.

Present…The Dyad Institute…

Currently more the home of lawyers, it seems, than scientists…A host of ever-expanding charges, some anonymous, some made by private individuals, others by law enforcement, including various police departments and the FBI, moving ever more relentlessly towards a tipping point at which, as several of the more experienced and financially secure attorneys were pointing out on an increasingly daily basis, the institute must be forced to hand over the records it had been battling to retain and almost certainly, almost immediately thereafter, close its doors. With a definite likelihood of the senior staff and directors facing criminal charges, despite the efforts of well-placed "friends" of the Institute and its work and all the arm-twisting, polite and sordid Dyad was yet capable of performing.

A rather surprisingly pleasant…To those familar with her… young woman of professional appearance entering…Offering her id to a guard…

Id just that day stolen from the home of the supposed bearer, Ms. Rachel Duncan...By the actual bearer, come to seek the Devil and his minion in their lair…

Two junior scientists in the elevator rather floored by Ms. Duncan's polite acknowledgement of their existence…

Almost making them wish they'd hesitated on sending out their resumes…

If the Ice Queen was in a good mood, Dyad could hardly be the sinking ship flying rumors, increasingly backed up by factoids, were claiming.

"Ms. Duncan?" her secretary stared… "I thought you were out this week? Should I let…?"

"Shhhh…" Shake of head…"I am…Hold all calls." Helena, putting a finger to smiling lips…Approximating the voice as best she could remember from her previous trip and Tomas' playing of telephone message recordings…Preparing his protégé for the great final day when the Devil's final minion would at last face the avenging angel of the Original…

Well, had sounded nice when he was constantly reciting it to her, back in the old days…When life is so much simpler and direct…

No complications…No Maggie casting doubts…No murdered mother…No twin sister so angry…No angel niece…

No throbbing head from bullet wound…Oooh…

Need more aspirin…Well, ask on way out…

Yes…Just abominations to send back to Hell and a Devil named Leekie to fight…

Well, at least the Devil still remained in his Hell…She eyed the picture of Aldous Leekie just above eyelevel on a mantelpiece. Moving over to take it…

"To Rachel… Aldous, 2011…"

"Ah…Do we add sin? Do you lie with the Devil, dark sister?"

The Devil hath charms…She reflected, eyeing Leekie's image…

Hmmn…No minion of Hell at her work…No Dr. Leekie the Devil at his work…

Hell frozen over or what? What happened to work ethic in country? She eyed the laptop on the desk…Opening…

Typical…All moneys spent on security…Girl forgets to shut off her laptop…

Still…Password required for relog-in…

Hmmn…Try secretary?...She looked to the frosted, sleek glass door.

No…This one would never trust a secretary with password.

But, with an impatient type with name like…What did they call her last time she had come, pretending to be a mere lab assistant with Tomas' provided id? To take survey of Hell for the future, he had said…Ah, yes…Ice Queen…

She eyed her image in the wall glass…

Yeah…Very ice queen…Impatient Ice Queen…She began opening drawers…Ah…Notebook…

And…Passwords…She moved to what seemed like the latest and typed…

Yes. Typical…She rolled eyes…Let impatience run wild, ruins life…And compromises good security…

"Ok…" she eyed the now open laptop screen… "Where are you and your Devil father, Ice Queen? Hell takes a holiday?"

"And where is Mother of mothers…Where we came from? I must see her, before I die…After I save angel niece and sisters…" she pondered, clicking through the computer files…Hmmn…Personal files/Rachel. Nice.

Ah…There we are…Sisters, hi. She eyed the cascade of open photos…

"I wonder if little new not-Beth sister here…Somewhere? Like to see her babies…" she clicked the files into a list.

"Sarah?...There you are…Sarah Manning…Daughter…" she scrolled the files… "Ah, my angel…" she sighed, touching the image of Kira Manning…

"Who is Daddy, Sarah? You love him? Or was he little devil? Ah…There…" she paused, pleased.

"Allison Hendrix…That must be her…" she eyed the file… "Ah, sister…I see you. Oh…Look at my niece and nephew, black like Mama…My angels, oh…I your Auntie Helena, angels…" she touched the images. "Beautiful angels…Little sister, why you go play cop with angels at home who need Mama? Look at that…" she eyed the photo of Donnie with Allison and the kids… "There is my brother…Nice…I have such nice family…" smile…

Hmmn…Wonder when cafeteria opens?…She eyed the elegant wall clock on the mantel.

Bet it's very nice lunch here…

…..

Dyad Institute, Office of Executive Vice-President Rachel Duncan…

A now somewhat annoyed Helena, finding the passwords available only getting her into personal files…

Like I want to know she's got hot pics of Paul what's-his-name, dead Beth's boyfriend in "Rachel: private" folder. Wait…Is that brother-in-law? She eyed the image of Donnie on screen.

Why she have separate pics of sister Allison Hendrix's husband in personal files?

Not like ones of Paul…Nice…Sweet…Still…

What is with creepy ice sister? She like fantasizing about sisters' lovers? Very strange girl, this Rachel.

Note to self…Ask before kill…

Well, need to find more passwords. She began opening drawers…

Like pharmacy, she eyed the quantities of meds in bottles…She and Beth…What is it with them? Pill for every little problem?

"Buzz…buzz, buzz…" she grinned at the computer on her desk which indeed was buzzing…She opened the screen… "Your secretary, with an important message…" the screen box read.

The devil's hands are never idle…She pouted.

So important, what?…Hell run out of ice for ice queen?

Finally assuming frown and adjusting hair under hat to show only the frosted end hairs of her rather unfortunate (well, not many ladies like ice queen hair, not easy to find…) wig, she clicked the box. The nervous secretary from the outer office appearing…

"I say no calls. I mean modern technology kind, too." Helena, sternly.

Can not get good help in this country…

"Sorry, ma'am…But the investigators from the NSF/FDA team and the Department of Justice are demanding to see you. I guess one of them saw you come in."

"Tell them I left immediiiaaately." The secretary blinking at the accented "immediately"… "I'm going now."

"Ma'am…" she pushed the scanner round to show two grim-faced middle-aged men in dark suits. "They're here."

"We need to see you, Ms. Duncan. Right now." The shorter, grimmer-faced of the two spoke up.

The hectic life of busy executive…Helena sighed.

"Yeah, yeah…Ok, come in."

"Ma'am? I can't buzz them in, it's locked on your side." The secretary noted.

"Right, yes. Ok…Fine." Helena hunted the desk…Hmmn..She pressed several buttons…

A window blind opened…Music...Ah, Rimsky-Korsakov, "Song of India"…I love that…Good choice, dark-hearted minion of Hell ice sister…

And at last the door buzzed and released…

"Anything else, ma'am?" the secretary, anxious…

Everyone in the coffee room this morning eyeing each other, awaiting the next series of heads to hit the chopping block as the Insitute implodes…

"Ah, yes. Have a car brought round to front for me, I will drive. And take the rest of the day off, dear. I won't be needing you till tomorrow."

If tomorrow finds Hell…And dark sister…Still standing…

"Yes, ma'am…Thank you, Ms. Duncan."

Ok…She didn't say don't come back…Phew.

My God, she seems in a nice mood today. Never seen her so happy…

And what's with that hat?

The two men entered…

"Wait…!" a third calling from the outer office…Entering behind the first two…

"Ms. Duncan, sorry…" the third man, sporting a Dyad Institute badge. "You gentlemen have no business bothering Ms. Duncan, you should be reporting to me, as per our agreement."

"We need to see Ms. Duncan." The taller of the two men eyed the third…The lawyer who'd "rescued" Sarah Manning from her arrest months ago.

"We have a formal agreement with the federal governments of the US and Canada…" the lawyer began…

"It's fine." Helena put up a hand. "I'm happy to speak with these nice gentlemens…gentlemen, for a while."

"Ms. Duncan?"

"Go." She eyed the lawyer sternly. Who sighed, shaking head and left…

"Hey. Close door, please." Slight wave of right forefinger… "All will be fine…We do conference later, ok?" offhand wave…

"Yes, Ms. Duncan." Slight sigh as he closed the door, frowning at the secretary at her desk gathering her things…

"When the hell did she come in? Senior staff was supposed to stay away and leave these guys to Legal…"

"She just came in a few minutes ago, sorry…" shrug. Pressing button on computer…

"Yeah." Helena's image…

"Your car's being brought, ma'am."

"Good, have a nice day." Friendly smile, wave.

"You, too…" return smile…Closing screen…

"What's with her?" the lawyer stared. "Was she drinking or anything, did you notice?"

…..

Within Rachel's office…

"Ok, I'm very busy woman…Have seat, what's up?" Helena eyed the two.

"Ma'am, you do realize this institute is facing some very serious charges…Ethical malfeasance in the form of undocumented illegal human experimentation, rumors of financial misconduct to support this research, rumors of criminal behavior including murder and assault...The list goes on…" the shorter man eyed her from the chair he'd taken.

"…And seems to include possible kidnapping attempts?" the taller, from his.

"We sound like very bad people…" Helena sighed, adjusting the hat on her head, eyeing herself in the computer monitor, then the far wall mirror.

"This isn't a matter for humor, ma'am." The shorter grim man noted. "And we've been steadily denied access by your legal staff to your labs and your computer records and paper files. Our people must have full access, immediately."

"Drink?" she asked politely. "I see tea maker, would you like?" she pointed.

"No, thanks, ma'am." The shorter man shook head…The taller indicating some interest, quickly repressed at the shorter's glare.

"Ok…Let me know if change mind. Well…" She leaned back in her chair…Oooh, comfortable…Waving, then pointing marker from desk at the taller man… "I am firm believer that Truth is important…So, fine. You have access to everything here. Ok?" with a wave of hand, she smiled at the shorter.

"We'll need all passwords and all hard drives…And all the files…And all labs opened up, as promised…No more evasions." the shorter man insisted.

"Anything you want…" Helena waved hand again, expansively. "Is he still out in office, that nervous guy?" she looked at the frosted glass door.

"I'm sure he is…Your legal department's the only one that been only too willing to talk." the shorter man nodded.

"Lawyers." she shrugged… "What can do? Could you…Please? My secretary just left." She smiled winningly at the taller man who rose and went to the door, opening…

"Nice music, eh?" she smiled to the shorter man. "You like Rimsky-Korsakov?"

"She wants you…" the taller man called from the opened door to the lawyer, waiting nervously in the outer office, on the reception area sofa.

"Ma'am?" the lawyer entered, cautiously.

"Yes. You give nice gentlemen from governments everything they want. Full access to all…Things." Helena told him, stern look.

"Ma'am?"

"Honesty, best policy." She noted solemnly. "Go with him…He help you…Or else let me know and I speak with him." Dark look to the blinking lawyer.

"But first, give them all passwords for access to computer files…Write here so we can show them it works. You have, right?" She pointed to a pad on her desk.

"Yes, Ms. Duncan…But…That's…Ma'am, I think I should speak with you, just a moment…"

"Write." Grim tone, pushing pad. "All of them and which computers…" She eyed him as he hesitated.

"You trying to make me look like I don't keep word?" grim stare…

The lawyer nervously writing as the two others eyed the pad…

"Ah…Remind me…Which is this one, for company, not mine?" she tapped her laptop… "Personnel files, start there."

The lawyer pointed, sighing and she typed. "Ah, there…See?" she swung her computer screen round for the others to see. "Everything you need, anything you want…" nod, another expansive wave of both hands… "You can build houses on Rachel Duncan."

Old European expression, time-honored…I collect for book I write…She explained… Leaning back in chair, eyeing both…

"Ok. Lets see how this goes. Ma'am? You were planning to leave shortly?" the shorter man eyed her.

"Shopping, in a few minutes…But I give you cell phone number." She smiled. Writing on another sheet of the pad and handing it to him. "You call, I deal with it. No problem."

"All right. Lets go." The shorter man urged the lawyer who shrugged helplessly as she rose to see the two men out with him.

Go…She eyed his pleading stare. "We be on side of angels now, eh?" Smile. She resuming her seat behind her desk a moment later.

"Hok…Now…Where are you, Tomas?" she eyed the screen. "Where your file, my old friend? I need to get hold of you…" she scanned the index of files. "I know you are here…You worked for them…And still do, you little devil liar in pleasing shape…"

"But first, tea nice…" she looked over at the tea maker.

An hour later…

"Come in…" she called to a timid knock…

Eyeing the lawyer in her doorway, with a wave… "Yeah…Come, I don't bite. Much." Smile.

"I thought you might have left already, ma'am."

"So many loose ends…" shrug… "Even on day off, can't clear desk. But I go soon as I find something important here."

"Well…" he eyed the nearest chair to her desk…She catching and glancing…

"Sit. Talk. What's on your mind?" smile.

"Ma'am…We were under very careful instructions from Director Leekie…And you…"

"We rethink policy, Aldous and I…New approach, kill with cooperation." Smile. "You have objection?"

"Ma'am…There are things in the files still."

"We cutting edge of science, right?" she eyed him. "All for benefit of Mankind, regardless of cost…Right?"

"Uh…I wouldn't know, ma'am…And I really prefer not…"

"Fine, then. You know nothing, so no problem…Just assist government people and show them everything they want to see."

"Are you absolutely sure Dr. Leekie has signed off on this policy, ma'am?"

Frigid stare… "You question my authority here, now?"

"No…Certainly not, Ms. Duncan…"

"That is good. Well, we have nice talk…Now all better? You clear on program?"

"Uh…I suppose…" he rose.

"Very good. We talk tomorrow, say…Eleven? I leave memo for Dr. Leekie to join us, ok?"

"I think that would be…" he moved to the door…

"Wait…!"

"Uh…Ma'am?"

"You know how tea maker works?" she eyed him. "Cup of tea would be nice now."

Another knock at her outer office door…

"More interruptions…" she sighed. "Some day off…Get that, would you?"

He went into the outer office and opened for the two agents, tall and short, who bore, if possible, even grimmer expressions…

"Hey, boys!" she waved from her desk. "Had bit more to do…What's up?"

Both entered…The lawyer pondering whether to make his exit now and consider fleeing for Rio or…

"Tea, please?" Helena eyed him.

Right…He went to the tea maker…

"Ms. Duncan." Short, coldly. "We're finding some serious and highly incrimination information in your computer files."

"No…" she gave a startled expression. "You don't say."

"I'm afraid we're going to have to impound all records and you will have to stay on the premises until the police arrive."

"Police? Am I being charged?" she stared. Giving the taller a brief, friendly smile…Hey, there…

"I would say, definitely, yes, ma'am. And would you know the current whereabouts of Dr. Aldous Leekie and his wife?"

Helena, blanching…

"His what?..."

"Claire Leekie, the senior director?"

"Yeah…That wife…Oh…" she nodded.

Hello, other mother…

"Ms. Duncan? This is no laughing matter." Short frowned. "The charges against you may well include accessory to murder along with illegal human experimentation."

"Oh, no…I'm not laughing…Believe…" she shook her head.

And other mother will not be either, soon…

"I'm very shocked to hear this…Very…Distressed." She shook her head, biting lip.

"Earl Grey, ok?" the lawyer asked.

"Oh, yes." She beamed. "Lemon, one sugar. You want tea?" she eyed the pair.

"Thank you, no, ma'am." Short shook his head.

"That would be nice…" Tall nodded…Glancing at Short's frown…

"Is no problem…He get you some. Tea for gentleman?" she eyed the lawyer who was finding the making of tea a bit of a relief under the circumstances, actually.

"One of your staff…Dr. PhiLlips…Just told us, when we confronted him with one of your files on experiments he performed on several young women…?"

"No…" Helena stared. "Dr. PhiLlips is such nice man?" shaking head. "Can't believe it."

"Ma'am." Short eyed her coolly. "You were supervisory approval on that project. The files were created by you."

"Oh…I see." Helena leaned back. "I must have forgotten." Winsome stare, sigh…

"We'd like to see the labs on floors SSB-SSSSB, ma'am?"

"Sure…Of course. Hello?" she addressed the lawyer… "You wanta take boys to labs they want to see?"

Wanta? As in…My choice? He thought…

"We'd like for you to accompany us, Ms. Duncan." Tall explained politely.

"As you aren't going anywhere, it shouldn't be too much of an inconvenience." Short noted, grimly.

Hmmn…Well…Someone there may know Tomas…He was lab guy.

"No…Fine…Good…" she nodded, rising. "I always love to see labs…Always stuck in office…Lets go." She paused.

"You come too…" she eyed the lawyer, dutifully and hopefully manning his post at the tea maker.

"Yes, Ms. Duncan…" sigh.

"Anyone hungry like me? We stop by cafeteria?"

….

Helena by turns leading the way, by turns falling back behind the lawyer…Nodding to various startled employees as they stared at her and the government agents…Increased now to six in the column…Plus a stunned looking couple of researchers, the aforementioned Dr. Phillips, a tall, lean graying man in late fifties, now among them.

She munching on a protein bar she'd had the lawyer get from the cafeteria as they passed…She rather regretfully noting the nice tables.

Must try to stop by before leaving after I find out about Tomas…

"We'll need a retinal scan, Ms. Duncan…" the lawyer noted as the group bordered the elevator.

"Sure…We very cutting edge…" she grinned to Short who eyed her as she went to the scanner indicated by the lawyer. Peering…

"Accepted…Duncan, Rachel…"

Very cutting edge…She felt her favorite knife in a pocket of her suit.

"Has she gone insane?" Phillips hissed to the lawyer as the elevator stopped and the group got off…

"You're an expert on this project, not me…" the lawyer shrugged.

"Hey, you…Phillips?" she called back to him. "You remember Dr. Tomas Paleogolikis?"

"Ms. Duncan?" Phillips stared. "Tomas is head of my department…"

"Of course he is…" she nodded, apologetic smile. "I lose track, place is so big." She noted to Tall who nodded.

Well…Now…Time to consider ending tour…Unless…

Mother…?

"You know when Dr. Leekie, Mrs…Will be coming next? When she's coming?" she eyed Phillips, who stared.

Uh-oh…This one knows about sisters…He has doubt…Better watch.

"All senior staff are on leave due to the investigation, Ms. Duncan." Phillips noted. "In fact I didn't expect to see you…"

"Some things to clean up…" she shrugged.

"I see…" careful look.

Oooh…You…See…Smart guy. She frowned.

Ok, you think you got me, huh? Can't say in front of cops here but you think you figured me out, eh?

Clever little devil minion…

But not so lucky guess…For you.

"And Dr. Paleogolikis?" she asked, pleasantly. "Is he out today?"

"I believe so…" Phillips, affecting casual tone now.

"We'll want to see him as soon as possible." Short noted. "He's been figuring in several rather interesting files."

I bet…Helena eyed Phillips.

Cute game…Tomas sends me to kill sisters for Devil, saying we fight Devil...Devils laugh at fool Helena…

But I stand in the light now…I am Cain with blood of sisters on my hands…Mark that can never be removed.

I make no excuses…I am Cain, not angel…Sinner, not saint…

But even Cain can have chance for redemption…Can save his dead brother's children…And her living sisters'…

Family…What to say?...Can't choose, can't leave, always part…Even Cain…She eyed Philipps who glanced at her nervously but affecting a bit of bravado…

Thinks he has me, little devil…What, try to make deal?...Clone girl, let great doctor/assistant creator go and I don't tell on you?...

I don't thinks so…

We need to have private talk, little devil…Before you decide to spill beans on me, I maybe spill a little blood, eh?

But first you tell me where I find Tomas…And other mother…

Devil incarnate in woman…The light and the darkness in one…Madonna and whorish devil in one…

And I find peace…And redemption…

Forgiveness, I leave to God…My poor sisters…And poor, true Mama…

Take pity on angry daughter, Mama…I have lot to deal with these last years.