Orphans Beloved: "Attack of the Fifty-foot Clones…"

Summary: Like my Immortal Beloved and Sheldon Swifties bits in my Buffyverse and Sheldonverse, these are fragments and short bits, some longer…Just to fiddle with ideas, possibly forming longer tales later.

Disclaimer: No copy write infringement intended…

Note-There are always these minor consequences to any great advances in Science.

(PS-Some divergence from S-3 in that Aldous did not…Yet…while in mine Cal left without Kyra and engaged to Sarah, to resolve the pesky problem of a murdered police officer, and Ally is not going in for breaking somewhat bad. (And of course the ladies are not yet18-50 feet tall…Yet). And Seth is not…Yet…Dead. But we need Seth. The Castors deserved their own road trip, right?)

Part XXVII…

Westmoreland, on computer screen to Susan Duncan at Brightborne, now rejoined in split screen by Evie Cho, from her own office there…

"Of course, we have the problem of Mrs. Hendrix…" Westmoreland sighed. "Aldous Leekie is sure to learn she's escaped your friends the religious fanatics." Slight sneer.

"They've been useful allies in the past, John, if a bit inclined to their own path. And whatever you or I may think of their doctrine, the science they employ is sound." Susan noted.

Sounder than the crap you feed those morons at Topside, certainly…She thought.

Evie rolling eyes a bit, though avoiding her camera…

Well, at least I'm included…This far…

"It's a regrettable problem…A pity she wasn't killed the other evening by Chevalier's people." Susan shook head. "But that in itself is interesting…Helsinki, I mean. And the killings of other clones…"

"Yes…Exactly…" Westmoreland nodded. "We've managed the killing of our test subjects before as necessary…Such killing, however quick and painless as Mr. Chevalier, and even Helena, managed it, was sure to induce 'stress'…Yet we see no signs of regenerative ability or growth in those cases as now. Leaving the question…?"

Is he trying to be polite? Or patronizing? Evie eyed the screen.

I'd say going for both…

"What's changed?" she spoke up. Westmoreland nodding.

"The growth and regeneration seem confined to the set in the Toronto area…" Susan noted. "That could be important."

"What common factors besides the pleasant environs of Canada's metropolis?" Westmoreland, rather grandly.

"We could consider self-awareness but that had no effect on the Helsinki group…Or Katja…" Susan pondered.

"Indeed." Westmoreland agreed. "Though this group has had more time exposed to the knowledge…Though of course, dear Crystal…"

"She was become a bit suspicious about her nature…" Evie offered. "But I can't see how it would affect these results."

"Nor I." Westmoreland nodded. "But given the growth and regeneration are outside normal scientific laws, I'd say we must consider all evidence and observations."

"There is one other point…" Evie, quickly cutting in. "The Castors attempted to activate, using Crystal…And it was after that we first saw these symptoms."

"That is interesting…" Westmoreland smiled.

"You're suggesting it affected all those other girls?" Susan stared.

"A pheromonal trigger is involved…" Evie noted.

"More and more interesting…" Westmoreland agreed. "Lets say, for the sake of argument and the lack of data, there is something here…The Castors activated, Crystal reacted, pheromonal triggers fire…And some of Ethan's precious test sequences, which he told no one of, were activated."

"At such distance from the initiation area?" Susan eyed screen.

"It would be remarkable if so…But our LEDAs seem quite…Remarkable." Westmoreland, thin smile.

"With no effects on the Castors…?"

"Can we know?" Westmoreland smiled at Susan's questioning image. "Would CASTOR even share the knowledge with us?"

"Not likely…" Evie, hands folded.

"There I must concur…" Susan sighed. "Foolish of them but they prefer to play close to the vest…Admirably British at times but here…"

"Yes…" Westmoreland nodded, considering. "But sadly, little we can do. For all their pretensions to power the Topside board cannot easily deal even with the British government."

Hmmn…Evie frowned involuntarily. Disappointing…Makes me wonder sometimes if I've backed the wrong horse powerwise.

Like maybe I should have run for Parliament in Toronto, got elected, become the first Asian-Canadian prime minister…

But there's that dratted "democracy", "rule of law", "transparency", and "ethics" crap…Hindering our march to a glorious new world, despite a few brave souls in government who can see the forest for the trees.

I could have done so well in a good ole fascist dictatorship…If they weren't the kind to consider Asians fit for the gas chambers…Or similarly for the congenitally ill. Which does rule out North Korea, damn.

Not to mention the lack of amenities, not even a decent mall there…

"Unfortunately, with Dr. Coady lost to us, we have no high level contacts in CASTOR…" Susan noted.

"Yes…A bitter truth." Westmoreland agreed. "Still we have things CASTOR and its governments want. Negotiations are still a possibility, as always."

"Possible but extremely difficult…" Susan shook head.

"We do have friends in said governments…Members of Topside and so on…Friends who can be relied on to make our case forcefully." Westmoreland insisted. "It may be time to call on them. And remind them of their duty to Neolution."

"You'd risk exposing our people?" Susan blinked. "If they're marked as Neolutionists…"

"Risks sometimes must be taken, Doctor."

"Yes, I agree…" Evie, hastily. "The stakes are too high here…"

Regeneration, a permanent cure for me…You betcha the stakes are too high.

"John. We've lost Dyad to Leekie and Cormier. We've lost our link to CASTOR. Our only power base is Neolution, now." Susan, carefully.

"And Brightborn…" Evie, insistent. Warm smile to John's image. "You know we can be counted on, John."

"I'm sure…" he nodded graciously.

"Yes, fine…We have a cutting-edge clinic full of eugenicists, Neolution and even neo-Nazi to add to the pot…Lovely." Susan, wryly. "My point is, if we expose our people in government, we could lose all our legal and political protections. We'd be the ones running in the Black, not our self-aware LEDAs."

"Caution is always wise, Doctor." Westmoreland, grandiosely. "But, as my career, and yours, have shown…One sometimes must take risks. We must know if the Castors are affected. We must have Helena and the Castor genetic material and, if possible, Sarah and Kira. Bold action may be required."

By us, of course…Never the great "P.T. Westmoreland" aka John the confidence man…Susan, a tad bitterly.

The Leader being too important to take such risks…Right.

Still, his confidence charade is the only thing holding those self-important half-educated buffoons at Topside to us…

How can people holding such positions have such an ignorance of basic Science to believe his game?

"Talk of bold action is all very well, John." She frowned. "But what action?"

"I thought I'd made it clear, Susan." Slight annoyance now. "We press our people in government to bring CASTOR to terms."

"Exactly…" Evie nodded eagerly.

Damned suck-up, seizing her moment…Susan thought, grimly.

"And the same with Dyad?" Evie followed up.

"We can make Leekie come to see reason with the right pressure…" Westmoreland nodded benignly. "All will be well, ladies."

"I'm sure…" Evie, confidently.

Hmmn…Susan, slight roll of eyes…Still, he's got us through other rough patches. And I may be able to persuade Aldous…Especially if…

"John? As to Ethan…?" she quickly moved to regain her place in the pecking order…Evie, a bit miffed.

Right, the nerd who actually got things going is likely still alive and probably still a push-over for her…Damn.

But maybe he's dead after all…Or, if really alive, perhaps he's done with icy British, now middle-aged, genius beauties and could go for a hot young Asian genius, with a warm heart.

Of course, warm…See how I love kids, just like him…I set up a clinic to make perfect ones, right?

And sometimes you break a few cookies and have to toss 'em, no biggie…

"Yes…Ethan…" Westmoreland nodded. "We must also know if my ole friend yet lives. And you are of course essential there, Susan."

Right…The middle-aged plus whore needs to sleep it out of Leekie and then get her nerd hubbie back in the fold. Get to it, you elderly bimbo…Chop, chop…Evie thought, eyeing Susan.

Not that I couldn't handle it…Them…And then some…

Heck I could turn Sarah's gay brother…

Yes, "essential", eh? I know what that means…Susan sighed.

"So, I'm to continue contact with Aldous?" she asked.

And I know just what sort of contact is meant there…

Though even a genius like me can be a little pleased that she can still vamp it a bit, at least with mature fellows like Aldous and Ethan…Inward grin.

"Certainly…And to do all you can to win Dyad back into the fold, my dear." Westmoreland, leering slightly.

Jesus…Even I'm a little…Eehew…There, Evie thought.

"And the immediate problem? The escape of Allison Hendrix?" Susan asked.

Yes, lets focus on something a bit less like to involve…Eehew…She thought.

"She won't get far in her condition…" Evie noted.

"And yet a horde of armed fanatics couldn't stop her." Susan noted. "What can we do?"

"Not very much at this time, I'd say." Westmoreland shrugged. "Except take heart in that Allison would prefer to avoid publicity as a freak of nature for her childrens' sake and will no doubt try to conceal herself as best she can until she makes contact with Dyad. To that extent I suggest her and our needs coincide for the moment and that we should do anything we can to see she reaches Dyad as quickly and least fuss as possible."

Really? I thought for sure we'd grab the kids…Evie thought. I'd sure love to have them over, I'm so good with children, really.

…

"Are you all right, Mr. Appleyard?" Allison asked as she moved carefully through woods, trying to avoid any signs of human habitation yet keep somewhat, as best she could manage using the Pole Star above as a marker to the North and her guess as to the west based on her last view of the setting sun earlier, on course to Toronto.

"Thank you, yes." Appleyard, surprising calm as he remained in her tight grip. "But you'd be wise to release me and surrender, Mrs. Hendrix. We mean you no harm if you cooperate…And it's not likely you can reach your sisters or Dyad as you are."

"I'd prefer to take my chances free, thank you. But I will detain you a bit longer just in case, sorry." She carefully stepped over a small dip to her that was actually a shallow dried creek bed. "If you'll be no trouble I'll set you down somewhere you can reach your people later."

"Thank you, but my dear…" slight tensing as he felt her large finger against his face.

"Sorry, bit of a dip here. I don't want to let slip and have you fall." She noted to him.

"Yes, thanks…You do realize we can threaten your…" Sudden halt, Allison opening hand to look at the man she held in her grip.

"Mr. Appleyard. You're an old man and blind. I don't wish to harm you." Allison, coldly. "But if you ever threaten my kids. Or my Donnie. You and your friends are going to suffer greatly. I mean that."

"I believe you, my dear…Just remember I cannot control either my people or your other enemies from here." Appleyard, calmly.

"Lets hope, for your sake and my kids, that they see the reason of not involving my family." She frowned.