She doesn't have the authority to transfer Cosima from grey sector, but she can authorize holding her in the lab for observation. The guard complains that this is a waste of time and leaving the clone in the cell is easier but he's forced to comply. Delphine has tinted a large number of windows in the lab - making it more private.
Cosima sleeps soundly on one of the beds, tucked out of the way in the most discrete corner of med lab. Delphine sits awake, completing her paperwork and sorting through messages she's been sent. She doesn't sleep, not now; though in several hours she will really need to. She eyes the guard. His face impassive. She's not sure she trusts him to watch Cosima alone. She's heard some awful rumours of things going on in grey sector.
"So... did something go wrong with her injection?" Aldous' voice interrupts her reflections.
"No. I am just keeping her for observation while I go over her test results." She answers as honestly as she dares.
"Well... it could be interesting. The life of an off-the-grid clone." Leekie pauses in his speech, waiting to have her full attention, "Why don't we make a little experiment of it? She seems well-behaved enough."
"What are you asking for?" She looks at him, wanting him to cut to the chase. She didn't have the patience for his games right now, even though, she always finds herself playing into his hand.
"Why don't you befriend her. Babysit her. No, no... Monitoring. Keep her with you, get to know her. Something interesting might come of it."
"Something for your next paper?" She couldn't believe she was being dragged into this on his side. She did medical tests, looked at blood samples and illnesses. Leekie shakes his head and cups her cheek with his hand, "Ah Delphine... you could get credit on it. And, as it seems you don't want to keep her with the others, she's your responsibility. Understood?"
"Understood." This was a good thing: permission to remove Cosima from grey sector, from that cell, from those...clones to whom she bears no resemblance.
"Of course you'll have a guard."
"I don't think I'll be needing one." She responded honestly, "I don't think she'll hurt me."
"To be on the safe side, you'll be followed - if at a distance. And for now? She returns to her cell at night."
It wasn't up for discussion. "Understood."
He eyes her carefully, considering before deciding on a course of action. "Excellent. I'll watch her. You go get some sleep."
Delphine stands, saves her work and finds her way back to her quarters. She collapses into her bed unwilling to think anymore.
The computer wakes her automatically after eight hours. She longs to sleep longer - but the system will not allow it. Eight hours of work, eight hours of sleep and eight hours leisure time. That is what the system is designed for. She changes her clothes, pacing the small space of her quarters. There is no space for entertaining here; a tiny bathroom, her bed, a glass divider she could darken on demand for privacy, and a couch. The small kitchenette takes up one corner - Cosima was wrong about the food. It was possible to get fresh produce from the surface. Shuttles came up daily bringing supplies, personnel and travelers through their hub. Though she expected the clones were kept on packaged rations.
She hesitates about preparing food - she's left Cosima in the care of Dr. Leekie. Assumably he will have returned her to her cell down in grey sector. She changes her clothes and quickly rushes out back to her lab. The lift seems to take forever to take her from the residential sector to the blue sector- DYAD's part of the station.
When she arrives the dividing walls are clear glass again, Leekie and Cosima are standing about a metre apart having what looks like a rather intense conversation. Merde. The first word she hear's is Cosima's.
"Bullshit." Cosima crosses her arms and is staring down Dr. Leekie.
No. No, no, no. Not good. Delphine quickly positions herself between them, she's been awake less than fifteen minutes, and already she knows she'd slept too long. She'd never seen anyone stand up to Leekie in the five years she'd been with DYAD. It would be a lie to say that she was completely unimpressed.
Aldous turns to address her, "I think you're in for an interesting time, Dr. Cormier."
"She's cheeky. It's kind of charming really." Delphine tries, attempting to brush off whatever she's walked into.
"She's a smart-ass," He shoots her a look, with a half smile, "Dr. Cormier, enjoy your day - I'll be seeing you at 2200 hours."
"Dr. Leekie." She maintains formality, nodding as he leaves the lab. Probably for his own office or his private lab.
"Well. He's creepy. Brilliant. But kinda creepy." Cosima comments to her calmly as Delphine watches her boss leave.
"I am just happy I caught you before he put you back in your cell." She breathes a sigh of relief. He must have let Cosima sleep a long time.
"Oh that was purposeful. I engaged him on a debate on the finer points of genetic engineering and transgenics." Cosima smiles that same genuine smile.
She laughs, unable to help herself, then pauses, "Are you hungry? There are restaurants and markets on the non-DYAD parts of the station?"
Cosima perks up noticeably, "Real food?"
A meal of pancakes and fruit later Cosima eyes her contentedly across the table.
"Is space still awful?" She asks.
"No. Not when you can get real food. Think I could convince you to get me some of that chia seed pudding?" She eyes the closet food stand. They're sitting at the open market. Surrounded by travelers, merchants and some military. There are scientists around, whoever happens to be on break but not many. No one knows Cosima is a clone here. It's feeling more like a secret. Left unsaid in their glances and science-loaded conversation.
"Mmmm, tomorrow is looking good for that." She glances around, some people are watching her. They've probably only ever seen her eating alone, or buy food in a rush eager to get back to her work.
"Gluttony isn't allowed then?" Cosima teases.
"No, but you aren't chipped so all this food is coming out of my food allowance." She sweeps one hand across the table, but she's still smiling.
Cosima leans forward, elbows on the table, "They restrict your eating too?"
"Somewhat." She shrugs, "It's an allotted amount of my pay."
"Bastards." Cosima shakes her head, still smiling.
"Yes. Bastards." She nods her head in agreement laughing at her exceedingly endearing subject.
"Least you're not on rations. And thanks to you, neither am I."
"I'll cook tonight, it's more affordable." Delphine muses.
"Ooh dinner... hey any chance we can get some wine?" Cosima asks playfully.
"It's possible." Delphine thinks, wine was expensive - even the stuff from the surface. "But expensive."
"Hmmm Dr. Creepy seems the type to have a bottle put away somewhere - think we could sneak in and steal it?"
She's not sure whether to laugh or to cry. She certainly could get Cosima into his private office and steal a bottle of wine but... She's not even sure if she's joking. But this is the most fun she's had in years.
