Orphans Beloved: "Beth Rhymes With Death…"
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.
(Note-We'll see how this goes. Art gets an unexpected visit, creating unexpected complications.)
Disclaimer: No copy write infringement intended…
Part IV…
Snow-covered road, east of Hudson Bay…Five hundred plus miles north of Toronto…
"You know I know you…" Helena noted as the sergeant, frowning slightly, drove along, his currently trussed up subordinate's gun jammed in his side. A subordinate whose current sufferings he would rather have magnified, given the ease with which Helena had surprised and overpowered the clumsy idiot to secure a weapon, the same now sticking in the sergeant's ribs.
Well, any hope of retaining that "sergeant" rank now gone, he reflected. Though given Helena's recent displays of mercy, he could retain some hope of surviving at least until Colonel Dierden got hands on him.
But as to this "knowing" me kick? Well, at least something to distract from thoughts on my unfortunate future, he thought. And if she could be distracted…
"I don't think that's possible, ma'am." He eyed her briefly.
"Oh, yes…Mark, was name. A Proleithian. But it was not you, was it?" careful stare.
"No, ma'am."
"And you have no twin brother…" sidelong glance.
"No, ma'am." He shook head.
"Interesting…" she smiled. "I think I sees why the Queen's guys wanted me." She paused.
"Just one. I'm a few. No family, too. Who am I?" she eyed him.
"What?"
"Sorry…A riddle me sestras like to say. Never heard before?"
"No, ma'am." Shake of head.
"Ok…Please turn here…To left." She pointed.
"Ma'am?"
"You were watching road too well…We are near another stop with your guys." She smiled. "Lets take scenic route."
"Ma'am, it's not possible to go this way. You're endangering us both."
"We go as far as we can…But drive careful, please. I'm pregnant. And got family now to live for…" rather warm smile.
….
"Marion…" Charming smile…
Marion Bowles looking up from her computer to see the beaming, handsome, almost boyish, face before her, her secretary looking sheepish, behind him.
"My fault…" the man, tall, slender, early fortyish in understated, yet reasonably elegant suit, put up a hand. "I saw the door open a crack…Really, I apologize." He smiled back at the nervous secretary.
"It's fine, Claire." Marion nodded, waving her out.
"May I?" the man indicated the open door.
"Certainly…" she pulled back from her desk, leaning in her chair. "So, what do I owe this visit to, Ferdinand?" she eyed him.
"I wish I could say it was just that I had to see you…" he grinned, then shrugged. "I will say I leapt at the chance…"
"I'm pleased to see you, too…" smile. "What do they want?"
"Tic…" he clicked tongue. "I'm afraid it has to do with our girls, again. Sarah Manning in particular."
"Is the board displeased? I had approval to deal with the situation."
"You did." He nodded. "You do. It's just…" sigh. "Some of the board continued to express…Reservations."
"Bringing Sarah in and holding her like a prisoner or a piece of property was a mistake. I stand by that call."
"And the board agreed with you…As it did regards the other matter regards Dyad's leadership."
"So?"
"Well…" he gave a boyish, somewhat embarrassed look. "Because some of the board did have reservations, I've been asked to assist in dealing with things…"
"Assisting me?"
"Any way I can." He nodded. "With the full assurance that your authority remains the bottom-line here. Consider me a direct line to the board…Particularly any members who might be concerned about matters. A way to ease their concerns quickly."
"I appreciate that." She nodded. "If you need a report…?"
"Marion, I hope you don't think I'm encroaching on your position. I'd appreciate being filled in, of course but…"
"Fine…Sarah and her daughter were released and have promised not to file charges against Dyad for Rachel's…Hasty…Actions. Fortunately, no serious harm came to either of them."
"That's good to hear…" he nodded. "I have to say I agree with you that Rachel let this situation get to her on a personal level. How did you persuade Ms. Manning to be so charitable, may I ask?"
"She knows it's in her interests and the child's…And her clone sister, Cosima's…To continue to have a relationship with us." Marion eyed him.
"That's a relief…" he smiled. "The poor girl's been through quite a time…I can't tell you how much I admire the way you've managed to restore the situation. And really, whatever concerns the board may have, I know they share my feelings here."
"That's good of you…And them." Calmly. "And, yet…?"
"Mmmn…Yes…Aldous Leekie?" he eyed her. "Very puzzling his sudden decision to step down and request a chance to remove himself from the equation."
"Not at all…He realized Rachel was not happy about the Duncan situation and decided it was in Dyad's best interest to accept early retirement. We followed the usual protocol to respect his privacy, given the sensitive nature of his work."
"Can't believe Aldous would step down without a fight…In the figurative sense."
"He hoped I'd support him…Given the feelings of the board and my agreement with them, I couldn't. It was the best solution for all concerned."
"Rachel must have been rather upset by all this…The Duncans were, for all effect, her parents." He noted.
"She was angry. But, she's a professional. She dealt with her feelings and kept it strictly business."
"And yet…No one can locate Aldous…" he sighed.
"He followed protocol. Rachel handled the matter, if you need to speak to her…"
"I would, when she's up to it, yes. But even given 'protocol', it shouldn't be possible for the man to simply disappear as he has. Not this effectively…Not from me and my people."
"Ethan Duncan did…For over twenty five years." She eyed him.
"But he feared us…Irrationally, of course." Wave of hands. "Though perhaps, he did have some reason to fear Aldous. Was Aldous afraid of Rachel? Surely if she was handling the matter as a professional one…?"
"Even Aldous might suffer a few exaggerated concerns…" she shrugged. "I'd be glad to offer any help I can in that direction, but I fear there's not much I can."
"Well, perhaps Rachel…When she's better. Tell me, have you told her the board's decision yet?" his face suggested concern.
"Not yet…I wanted to give her some chance to recover."
"I'm sure that's for the best…" nod. "Still, it's sure to be a bit rough for her. I hope you'll tell her she has my best wishes."
"I will…" smile…Hand concealed holding chair rest now white from clenching.
"And that I will, if she doesn't mind, be by to pay my respects in a day or two?"
"Of course. I'm sure she'll be pleased to see you."
"Wonderful." He moved to peek her cheek, then stepped back and made for the door. "Oh?" he paused. "Sarah…"
"Yes?" she asked as he eyed her.
"Now that she's self-aware…I think it would be ok for me to speak with her, get to know her a little." Smile. "Give her a peek at the big picture, Topsidewise…Within the board's agreed limits…To help build a little trust, that sort of thing. Just so she knows she has a couple of people to turn to, if there should be any problems in the future. Not right now, but in a bit, when she's had a chance to get herself settled. Maybe you can give me a few pointers there in dealing with her. After all, we want her to feel comfortable dealing with us from now on…All our ladies, of course."
"I'm sure…The way you handle things, Ferdinand…Sarah'll feel…Comfortable dealing with you."
"I'll do my best. And please, give my best to Rachel. And let me know when I can drop by to see her?"
"Certainly…" smile.
"Naturally, if you think it would help, I'd be happy to be by when you speak to her regards the board's decision."
"I know she'd appreciate that."
He nodded, beaming smile and left, a friendly greeting to the secretary on his way out.
Marion catching breath…
Never thought I'd feel for Rachel Duncan…She thought.
….
Art's car, enroute to Fee's loft…
"Well, at least she hasn't burned down any more religious colony's farms…" Art noted, wan grin over to a Sarah lost in thought.
"Yeah…There's one relief…" nod. "But she's gotta be somewhere, Art."
"She does. But without some record of her…And so far there's nothing on her in immigration or police or FBI or Interpol records…We can't track her, at least through the department."
"Just as well…" she shrugged. "If we could, someone else could, easy enough."
"True." Nod. "So, what next?"
"Wish I knew…I hate just waiting to hear from her."
"Not too comfortable with that myself…" he noted wryly.
"She won't hurt anyone, Art. At least…Anyone who doesn't try to hurt her…Or us."
"Her judgment on that may not be completely reliable, Sarah." he noted quietly. "Frankly, I can't take that chance…Beyond a certain very limited limit."
"I know…I know…" she nodded. "But I really believe we've reached her, Art…If you could have seen her with Ally and Cos…"
"I'll settle for being glad she didn't try to kill them." he eyed her.
Sarah sighed, brushing a tear… "I hate what she did to Mama…Amelia…And the others, Art, but…I really…"
"I know…" he nodded. "We'll find her." He paused. "Is there anywhere she might have gone? Some place she mentioned or that you think she might have wanted to go?"
"The nearest Ukrainian convent, you mean?" wan smile. "Resumin' her vows and all, now she feels right with the world again. Or maybe, Disneyland…I hear everyone from that way wants to see Disneyland, when they come over." Genuine grin.
"Just that guy Khrushchev…Everyone else wants to see Walt Disney World these days." Grin back.
…