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 VII…
A "Rachel" dressed in suit, seated, eye patch in place, facing the devil Beth had come to know slightly and the devil she didn't, but who seemed to know her…Or at least her sister.
"Rachel, I hope you know how sorry I am this unfortunate incident occurred." Ferdinand, seated next to Marion in hospital room chairs pulled near Beth's. "Are you sure you're feeling better? You should know the whole board joins me in best wishes for a speedy recovery."
"Thanks." Cautious stare. Marion silently regarding her.
"I hope that didn't sound facetious." he hurriedly added. "I realize the damage to your eye was permanent…You know we'll do all we can to help you in that regard."
"If you can grow me another, I'd appreciate it." Beth, calmly. Ferdinand smiling…
"Glad to see you've kept a sense of humor…"
"Actually, I wasn't being humorous." Coolly. "Can you?"
He sighed, leaning back… "I wish I knew. Marion?" he turned to her.
"That sort of selective organ cultivation is still in the future, I'm afraid. Though experimental work is promising." Marion noted.
"I'm sorry." Ferdinand, a regretful look. "But whatever we can do, we will. You know that."
"A prosthetic should be ready to implant in a couple of days. You should be able to tolerate the surgery by then without any risk." Marion, gentle smile.
"Thanks…I might want to go home first, if it's going to be a few days."
"Of course." Marion nodded. "In fact, I'm told you can go home tomorrow, if you like."
"But don't push it…" Ferdinand, hastily. "We want you to feel as comfortable as possible before you leave here."
"Yes…" Marion nodded.
"I'd prefer to get home…Things to do." Beth, shrugging. "I've no great love for the hospital, even with the luxury accommodations."
"I feel that way myself whenever I'm stuck in one." Ferdinand, smiling.
"Have you been?" Marion, a bit surprised in spite of herself.
"I've seen the inside of a hospital room before, yes." Warm smile… "Even for an administrative type like me, there are the occasional hazards…Plus I'm a terrible skier, much as I like it."
Somehow I can't picture you on the slopes, buddy…Beth thought. Unless with a rifle in your hand, taking a bead on some poor schnook.
After a few years on the force I don't need to see the Dyad company registry to guess what your role in the corporation is…Given you're sure no scientist or office clerk…
"Well, if you feel you can handle things at home, you're probably best off there. I hate these places myself." Marion noted. "But Rachel…If you feel up to it…"
"You're here for more than just a friendly visit…" Beth finished. "Yes, I'm up for it…Marion."
"Good. It's best we do this and let you get on with things. Rachel, the board was deeply concerned by your actions in the Manning affair. And by the tragic loss of your father…"
"My…Father…?" Beth, carefully.
"I mean Dr. Duncan, of course…Tragic as the loss of Aldous is for us all, Dr. Duncan merited a special concern. He being irreplaceable."
"Dr. Duncan…My father…" Beth stared. Duncan, right…Rachel Duncan, Dr. Duncan…
"Rachel? You do remember?" Marion, a bit concerned.
"Of course…Of course…My poor father…" Beth nodded, careful stare.
Hmmn…Should I have said "poor" father? What if I killed him or had him killed? Should I tear up or…
"We know how hard it was for you, him taking his own life as he did." Ferdinand, concerned tone.
"Yes…" Beth, opting for slight tearing…"I wish it could have been different."
Unless of course the man was another one of you maniacs…
"It's a tragic loss…He was a brilliant scientist." Marion… "And the loss to the work can't be overstated."
And somehow…Beth thought, eyeing Marion's slightly sterner stare… I'm…Rachel, anyway…Responsible.
"Yes…I agree." She tried.
"Then I hope you can understand…That between this and the Manning incident, Topside feels there is no choice now but to ask you to step down as CEO at Dyad." Marion sighed.
"We understand what you were going through, Rachel. We want you to know that." Ferdinand noted. "Please consider this as a chance to rest and heal…You won't be abandoned by us. And, when you're ready, there will be a place for you. Just not involving Project Leda outside your own participation as a subject."
"I see…" Beth eyed him, then Marion. "Well, maybe it's for the best."
"I'm glad to hear you take it in that spirit, Rachel." Ferdinand smiled. "The board will be pleased that you understood the circumstances forced their action."
"Naturally there can be no further future contact between you and any of the other subjects ." Marion, firmly. "Particularly Sarah Manning and her daughter…I hope that's understood."
"I've no wish to bother with Sarah again, especially if I'm not working on the project any more." Beth shrugged.
So, for now, I guess that leaves Art…Or poor Ally. God, Ally…She must've gone to pieces when I jumped. But I did think it was for the best, even for her.
"That's excellent." Ferdinand beamed. "I'm sure I can see that Ms. Manning is satisfied with such an arrangement."
"You will still, of course, be monitored." Marion noted. "Since you'll be on leave for the foreseeable future, we've appointed a new one for you. In fact…" she smiled. "And I hope you'll be ok with this, me."
"How nice. Please thank them…The board, for me. I can't think of anyone else I'd want." Beth nodded.
"There is the matter of Paul Dierden, your last monitor." Ferdinand sighed. "It seems he was a bit of a bad character…"
You know it, pal… She eyed him.
"…A spy for our brother branch in fact…Seems the military decided to try and get a leg up on us." Ferdinand frowned. "Rather a betrayal of trust I'd say."
"The military…Which?" she blurted.
"Rachel?" Marion eyed her. "Are you saying you don't remember…?"
"Sorry…God Save the Queen." Beth thought quickly.
"Indeed. And Her Majesty Forces have crossed the line a bit this time." Ferdinand noted sternly.
Whoa…That was a lucky guess. Though the girl was a Brit by all accounts.
British?
Well, I guess they would need clones.
Hmmn…So that would mean Paul…?
"Cheerio, my dear…" She imagined Paul briefly in crisp old-style British cavalry officer's red-suited outfit, on horse, no less. "Sorry to have deceived you, but all for Queen and country, eh what?"
"Well, it's hardly my concern…Now." Beth noted, a bit sternly.
"That's true. Still, should Dierden try to worm his way back into your confidences…" Ferdinand noted.
"I'm sure Rachel knows to let us know immediately if that occurs." Marion, calmly.
If I don't kill the sob first myself, sure…Beth thought. Still in the military, eh? A spy even for them as well as for Dyad on me? So doubly a sob, the bastard.
"I'll be sure to let you know." She nodded.
…
"Well?" Ferdinand eyed Marion as they stood in the elevator.
"She seems ok with it…Surprisingly so…" Marion noted. "Though with Rachel Duncan, it's hard to know exactly what she's thinking."
"Yes. You realize it's always possible she may try to reach an accommodation with the military via Dierden? She has a great deal to offer them." Ferdinand, quietly.
"I doubt Rachel would want to be in their hands, Ferdinand. Still, we'll still be monitoring her."
"We've lost subjects before now." He noted, a bit off-handedly.
"Rachel's my responsibility. I will keep her in the fold."
Ferdinand reached over, snapping the elevator hold button, then silencing the alarm. "Let me be clear on this, Marion." Grim tone. "Topside will not tolerate more difficulties with Project Leda on the scale of recent events. You will keep Rachel in the fold and out of Her Majesty's Forces' tender embrace. If we should lose her, the consequences will almost certainly fall on you." He resumed his usual smile, unlocking the elevator. "But as you've stepped up to take responsibility, I'm sure you'll handle things with your usual efficiency." The elevator stopped.
"You know we really need to spend a little time together outside work when we can, get to know each other better. I know we share a common interest in science, even if I'm not quite so advanced as you in the field. And I hear you like classical music…I'm a Wagner man, myself." he said, pleasantly.
"That would be nice, Ferdinand. Whenever time allows."
"Lets make a point of it. After all, we'll need to keep in closer touch regards Ms. Duncan. May as well take advantage of the opportunity…" smile.
"Absolutely." Marion's brittle smile.
"Well, I'll be in touch. Oh, and I'll let you know how it goes with Ms. Manning, naturally. You can expect to hear from me in a couple of days." He headed off, toward the front door.
Was I just courted…Or threatened? Marion pondered.
….