"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.
Part II...
Level SSB labs, Dyad Institute…
The tall and short minions of government carefully eyeing the group of Dyad personnel, led by their executive-vice president, Rachel Duncan off the just-arrived elevator…
The said Ms. Duncan in an unusually pleasant mood…And unusually wearing a rather jaunty hat.
But, as one lower-level type noted to her colleague…She did come in on her off-day. God knows what Leekie's ice princess does on her days off.
"Ok…Here we are…Level…" Helena eyed the elevator LCD sign… "SSB…Eh…Doctor Phillips? Whould you be so kind as to give us the grand tour?" she eyed the narrow gaze of Dr. Phillips.
Come, smart guy…Give tour…Last chance to mouth off about your great achievements before unfortunate demise, take advantage…She frowned.
"Certainly, Ms. Duncan…" the slightest of sneers which did not go unnoticed by their intended target.
Always nice when they piss you off before you butcher, she thought darkly.
"These are our special projects, level 1, labs…Preproductive research." Phillips began.
Hmmn…Would still like to know how they put babies in poor true Mama…Helena thought, listening attentively. You can tell before die, smart guy…She eyed Phillips with a warm smile. Maybe I be nice and make it quick, then.
Still…May need help reaching Tomas…She reflected. Not an easy person to get hold of…Generally…
But…Say someone he trusts calls him. A good ole friend and co-worker...
"Ms. Duncan?!" Short called sharply, halting the group.
"Thousand apologies…Mind preoccupied with so many things." She smiled. "Please forgive…Lets go."
Dutiful fellow, this one…Nice to know government has such people…Restores faith a little.
…
"Am I understanding this correctly?" Short eyed Phillips from the console at which he sat in Lab 102B on Level SSB. "You people actually generated over 100,000 genetically identical fertilized cells from this sample?"
"The uh…File records would indicate that, sir." Phillips nodded.
"I should say…" the lawyer, now standing by "Rachel"/Helena cut in… "We do not admit to that, we merely agree it might be possible."
"Sweetheart…" Helena cooed to him. "Give it rest. When I want legal attack dog I tell you. Let boys do their jobs."
The lawyer sighed, shaking his head.
"I recommend that policy, Ms. Duncan…" Short nodded.
"See?" she beamed at the lawyer…Smiling glance to Phillips.
Hows about you, smart guy? Some applause for boss's crafty ice princess moves to win government boys' trust? Or, if you like, to incriminate rest of big-guys staff and grab remains for self?
Surely lessons learned from Master Leekie in art of cutthroat corporate diplomacy…Regular Machiavelli's Renaissance Italy here, eh? Friendly leaning smile to Tall as he stood near Short at the console…Hello, cute junior government guy.
Tough to be second guy in the line-up…I should know. We get all dirty work, no information.
"Uh…So long as you boys busy learning our secrets here? Mind if I have word with my employee? Just down the hall in conference room there, we not leave floor, ok?" Helena addressed Short. "If you prefer, your friend can watch conference room door?" winning smile to Tall who returned smile.
"Ms. Duncan has not been formally charged, sir." The lawyer chimed in...Eager to at least score one last point before the end.
Finally do something useful, eh lawyer guy? Thanks…And you do make excellent tea, she beamed at him. He returning pleased smile.
Always nice to be shown a little appreciation...
"Fine, just stay on the premises and be available, Ms. Duncan. I'll need you back shortly." Short noted.
"Of course…Dr. Phillips? We need to conference…" she eyed the immediately somewhat nervous Phillips.
"Ms. Duncan? I think I may be more useful staying here…" he tried.
"Matters most urgent, doctor…Come, we both be back in a few." She smiled at him.
Big strong scientist like you afraid of little clone? Now, now…
Though of course you know truth about us…Our military application, eh…? Why we all so good with guns, fight so well when trained…Facile with languages and accents…
Why ancestry from other mother of mitteleuropa extraction was so attractive to your masters.
"Doctor, please come along now." She gave appealing look.
Don't embarrass poor Rachel in front of staff by opposing orders, bad for morale…
He considered, shrugging, then followed.
Yeah, hoping for deal, not quite ready to let full role come out, eh? Yeah, we talk, assistant creator…Little daddy.
"Just tell me which one you are…?" he hissed, coming to her side as they walked down the hall, the disappointed lawyer, held in place by the door by Helena's friendly but final…Not you…Stare as he'd tried to follow them out, watching them.
Tall likewise still by Short at the computer console, reluctantly held in place by Short's glare as he'd tried to follow Helena and Phillips out.
"…Sarah, Allison?…Cosima?…Or did they find more of you?" Phillips whispered.
"You got me, doc…Sarah." Helena put on accent, whispering harshly. "But you want a chance to get outta this, you hear me out, bloody ok…Mate?"
Not too bad…Ok, not great. But he not likely ever meet Sarah.
"All right…But remember, I can prove you're not Duncan." He whispered.
"Tremblin' in boots over that, doc." She noted. "Here…" she opened the conference room door.
"Johnson?" Phillips turned to an assistant standing in the hall, eyeing the goings-on.
"Yeah, Johnson!" Helena frowned at him. "You suddenly got nothing to do today? Maybe we don't need you?"
Uh…Johnson stared, blinking… "Uh, the lab's being shut down…I just wanted to see if I was…"
"You're not needed here, get back to work till I say we shut down." She insisted.
"Yes, ma'am…" he hurried off.
Phillips eyeing her.
"Fine, you don't trust me. Have her listen at…Bleedin' door." She pointed at a young female lab technician who'd been eyeing them.
"Girlfriend or just very devoted?" she grinned at him as the woman blinked.
He frowned but waved to the woman to come over.
"Keep by the door, dear." Helena, quickly cutting him off.
Lets remember who's Executive Vice-President and daughter/mistress(?) of Director Leekie(s) here?
"Let us know if government people want us, please? Dr. Phillips?"
He glared but followed her in…She turning to shut the door.
"I should tell you, Ms. Manning…Ms. Duncan's accent is more British." He eyed her as she waved him to a seat.
Everyone critic…Helena frowned.
….
Helena, seated across from Phillips at the conference room table…Let little junior creator have his space, feel more secure.
"So, you're one of those I have to thank for all this?" she indicated herself, cool stare.
"You could show a little more appreciation, Sarah…The staff here and the science we created is the reason you and your duplicates exist." Phillips noted, frostily.
"Lets keep to roles…Ms. Duncan to you. And we will never be on first-name, whoever I am." Helena eyed him.
"Fine…" he shrugged, slightest sneer. "So? What is it you want from me and what are you offering? And what about Ms. Duncan? Has she made a deal with you and the others?"
"Ms. Duncan's right here…Mate." Stern look. "I meant what was said."
He gave a thin, just the lips, smile… "Ms. Duncan, then. Well?"
"Where is Tomas? Dr. Paleogolikis? And where is Claire Leekie?"
"Tomas has important outside duties and doesn't keep a fixed schedule these days. As for Dr. Leekie, probably at home."
"Home…Ok…Where's that?"
"I'm not a personal friend of the Leekies…Ms. Duncan. I've never been to their home. You'd have a better chance of locating it via your own files."
"Your value to me is sinking…Mate." Helena eyed him. "Tomas and Dr. Leekie must keep ways of being contacted for emergencies? I don't see them in the personnel or my personal files. And if you work under Tomas…?"
He was eyeing her, carefully.
"That's not your natural voice…You're not Sarah…" he stared.
"Maybe I just exaggerate for you? Bloody good, eh?" she grinned.
"Why are you so interested in Tomas Paleogolikis?"
"He and his…Protégé…Killed my sisters…Is not good reason to want to meet him?" Helena smiled.
"It can't be you…" Phillips rose, backing from chair.
"Sit down, Doctor." She said, calmly but icily. "I won't ask again…"
"Helena?" he stared, resuming seat. "You're dead. I saw the report by Tomas. He inspected the body immediately after Sarah shot her. Pronounced you dead, arranged for transport…But we assumed the police…"
"Yeah, Final delivery not made…Sorry you not get corpse to study." She smiled.
Fascination taking precedence over fear, he eyed her. "You regenerated to that extent?"
"I suppose so…" wan smile. "I woke up before your people came…I guess things got too busy for Tomas to confirm sad demise with coroner?"
"Do you have any idea what this means, Helena? How important you are?" Phillips, insistent. "You are the consummation of everything we've worked for on this project."
"An unkillable, immortal mass murdering soldier? Nice." She jumped the table and was on him, knife out. "Are you pleased, little father?!" harsh whisper. "Am I good girl?! Little devil creator, killer of my soul!" she put the knife to his terrified throat.
"You big strong type, do gym lots? Come on, you can't take girl?" she grinned…Holding the knife tight.
"Don't…" he gasped… "You'll never make it out of here alive…"
"I am dead, little father. You and the Devils Leekie and the little devil liar Tomas killed me years ago. But ghosts can still try to do good in world…Stop, or I cut little throat…" she hissed as he tried to squirm. "You still have value to me, little devil father…Tomas knows you…Mother and Father Leekie knows you…You help Helena do right, maybe you live, huh? Someone needs to go to prison, to discourage others, may as well be you, right?"
"Right, little father?" she pressed the knife.
"All…Right…"
"You'll find contact numbers and call Tomas…And Leekies…Get them to meet."
"They won't come to see me…" Phillips noted.
"I can be very persuasive…But no matter, I have numbers, I can find them. We have deal?"
"Yes…"
"You are thinking…" she smiled angelically… "Stupid bitch clone…I just get out of here, call cops. Prison better than knife in throat. But I have offer…You get numbers, we go…I get you out…You call…I give you blood sample. My blood." She smiled.
He stared.
"Come, you not have my blood even if you have everyone else's…Only Tomas has, or you would've known about my special healing. Tomas knows…But he's kept it secret…From you…Maybe even from Leekies." She beamed. "Yes…Dr. Leekie, he wanted Sarah to give me to him…To help poor sick…Feral…Helena…So sweet." She cooed. "He didn't know but he suspected Tomas was deceiving him…Keeping secret to himself. That is why Tomas wanted me to get Kira…Keep her from Leekie, his own boss. He was working for hisself…Using me to kill sick sisters, that was his job here but he wanted the secret for himself. Little devils all want God's power for themselves."
"I don't…Know…Anything…Killing…"
"Please…Little father? You were trembling when you saw it was me…Why you tremble, little devil, if you not know I champion killer, eh?"
"I knew you'd killed but…"
"You and Leekies and Tomas…You sent me to kill sisters you didn't want world to see die. Doctors maybe put two-and-two together if three, four, six, eight identical sisters die of identical disease, huh? So send Helena, test out neat killer skills. Did Tomas film me? Did you all watch with military guys to show how good killers you make? You made Beth killer too, didn't you?...Tell, little father…" she pressed.
"I don't…"
"Maggie Chen…Oh, my sweet Maggie…" she sighed. "She work for Tomas, she help him but she can't do evil…Can't watch me kill even dying sisters…She try to warn me…Try to save me. Oh, Maggie, poor Maggie…Like poor Mama, was all my fault, really." Cold stare at Phillips' terrified face. "And so, you made Beth kill her. Poor Beth, what a nice test for you, eh? Was fun? Little god, press button, make nice girl kill. Drove her over the edge, even more than liar Paul. She saw what she was…Looked into the face of the Beast and saw herself…Poor sheep…Baaaaaahh…" harsh whisper. "What did you do to her? Something in brain? Are we all like her? Press button, nice girl sticks knife in stranger…Or friends? Was CIA pleased? What good killlers we make, eh?" smile. "You did that, little devil…Now…You have one chance…Five seconds to say 'yes, Ms. Duncan' like good employee… Starting…Now."
Knock at the door…
"Ms. Duncan? The investigators are ready to start on the next floor." The young woman's voice…
"Five…Four…"
"Yes…Ms. Duncan…" Phillips gasped.
Repeat knock…
"Come in…" pleasantly calm tone…
The door opened to find Helena, seated again, hat in place, hands folded. Cheery smile…Phillips, likewise seated, a bit less composed…Breathing heavily…But wary stare to Helena…Saying nothing.
"The inspectors are asking for you…Ma'am."
"We be right along, all done here…Right, doctor?" she eyed Phillips who gave a cautious nod.
…