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.
Disclaimer: No copy write infringement intended…
Part XV…
Dyad Institute…
Office of the mysterious Ferdinand…A man who seemed to hold rather an enormous amount of power in his hands yet held no fixed position anyone curious (foolhardly) enough to investigate him could determine.
Even the new Director, Delphine Cormier, now seated across from him in said office, seemed rather intimidated by him at least to those few who knew her reasonably well.
"Dr. Cormier, thanks for coming in on such short notice." Ferdinand smiled, buzzing… "Martha, could we have some water and coffee? Doctor? Tea or perhaps a glass of wine? Martha even has some wonderful cookies, we can do quite a nice tea."
"No, thank you…Just some water." Delphine eyed the famed/infamous "fixer" of Topside carefully.
Even Marion Bowles showing apprehension at the notice of his coming…
Martha in blouse and skirt, glasses, entering, smiling and pushing a cart.
"Just leave it for us, dear." Ferdinand noted, beaming at her. "I know you've got a load of more important things to get to. We can manage."
She nodded and went out, closing door.
"Nice girl…I suppose she must remind you of Cosima Niehaus with those glasses." He smiled at Delphine.
"Each one is unique, Ferdinand." Delphine noted calmly.
"Without question…" he put up a hand. "And all are remarkable. A treasure we must work together to keep safe, Doctor. Not just for their biological uniqueness but their spirit and humanity. They have lessons to teach us."
Seriously? Delphine blinked a bit. You're infamous for participating in the elimination of a number and their families and you can wax Aldous about them?
"There have been tragedies in the project which I for one deeply regret…" he perceived her thoughts… "And which I am determined to see are never repeated. I know you're on board with that, Doctor. Both as Director and in terms of your own personal interest."
"It will never conflict with my duties as Director." Delphine, coolly. "I'm Cosima's monitor above all."
"Of course…But it is difficult to avoid personal feelings for the ladies. I know I'm already very fond of Martha." Smile.
And yet, in a heartbeat…Her last…Delphine thought.
"And who couldn't admire Sarah Manning?…That spirit of hers. I'm anxious to meet her…I only hope I can convince her my concern for her and the others is sincere." He went on…
"Yes, Ethan and Susan Duncan chose well, incredibly so…" he nodded.
"Indeed." Delphine, carefully. "But you needed to see me…?"
"Rachel is in contact with Detective Arthur Bell. Who, sadly, seems to have had some sort of cardiac trouble…" Ferdinand put up a hand. "Honestly, Topside is not involved there, whatever sentiments were expressed in the past toward him."
"Rachel? With Arthur Bell?"
"Really, I can't understand it myself…Unless she's initiated contact for some purpose having to do with her dismissal."
"I can't help you there…She might well be afraid, seeking to make contact with the others, hoping even to make a deal with them via Bell." Delphine nodded. "But I doubt Bell would ever trust her."
"Yes…" he nodded, thoughtfully, rising… "Are you sure about tea or coffee?" he stood by the cart.
"Just water, please."
He set a glass and glass bottle of sparkling water by her on his desk, opening and pouring…
"Yes…Officer Bell wouldn't trust Rachel. But are we sure we are dealing with Rachel?"
"What?" Delphine stared, genuinely startled.
"The ladies have taken each others' places before now." He noted, pouring himself a cup of coffee which he took over to his chair, setting it on the desk.
"You have to consider the possibility…Replacing Rachel might be a good source of intel for our girls." He smiled. "I'd certainly take that course were I guiding them…" he looked at her nonchalantly.
"If you're suggesting…" Delphine frowned.
"Not at all…" he put up a hand. "But if the ladies have maneuvered one of them into Rachel's place…Presumably after she left Dyad…It should be easy to confirm that and determine which one did…My money being on Sarah." Smile.
"You want me to have her brought in…?" Delphine, questioning stare.
"No, I think it's best we have this done quietly…Without her knowledge, and without any unnecessary disruption. I could be wrong, it might be that Rachel herself has initiated this contact. I don't want to upset or frighten her if we can avoid it. I just want to have you on board with all my actions. I've arranged a minimally intrusive exam for tonight, at her apartment."
"And if it isn't Rachel?" Delphine asked.
"Then we'll have to point out to the lady that while turnabout is indeed fair play, kidnapping is a federal crime with serious penalties. After all, Rachel's safety is important…Though I'm sure the ladies would never harm her…Further."
"Perhaps." Delphine shrugged. "But Sarah was, understandably, very angry with her."
"Then you see the need to prevent this from going too far…" Ferdinand nodded. "For Sarah and the ladies' sakes as well as Rachel's. Delphine, if I may call you that…"
She shrugged… "Certainly…"
"We need to work together on this…Convince the girls that we're not their enemies and that we can be, to some point, trusted. And should they be engaged in anything…Foolhardy…To see that they don't put themselves or their families at risk. And you know the potential risks here…" calm stare.
"I do…" she said, a bit bleakly.
"But it's odd…" he sighed. "The reports I've had from my surveillance don't suggest Sarah masquerading here…She's never had an intimate relationship with Detective Bell, correct?"
"No…" Delphine, startled. "Not that I know of…They were close when she impersonated Elisabeth Childs and have been very friendly since."
"Detective Bell has a touch of Sir Galahad about him…The knight errant protecting the sisters of his lost lady love…" smile. "But Sarah has her heart elsewhere, at least, so I'm told."
"Yes…" Delphine, wondering… "But, you have evidence to suggest they…He and Rachel…Were intimate?"
"I was told she was very upset by his collapse, has been trying to stay with him, demanded the best care for him…Even when confronted by her sisters she tried to stay with him. Hardly the behavior of a woman with no connection to the man. Particularly our Rachel…" rueful smile. "She's not given to emotional displays or giving her heart easily, as you know."
"It does sound strange. But I could wish you'd cleared that exam with me, as Director of the Institute and this project." She noted calmly. "If you didn't trust me…"
"I do…" warm smile… "I simply wanted to be sure it was arranged as quickly as possible so that it could be done tonight. After all, Delphine…If it's Rachel and she has had a secret relationship with Bell, we need to know as quickly as possible…For her sake as well as the project's. And if not…As I've said…We need to make the ladies aware that their antics could have serious consequences that we all want to avoid. After all, we're now in a position to be able to answer many of the questions they have, if not all. There's no need for them to be stumbling dangerously around in the dark…Like those poor girls in Helsinki."
Delphine eyeing his calm stare…
…
"This is unbelievable…" Alison glared at Beth who sighed…
Ally…
"It's not bad enough you kidnap my niece and my sister and your own father/creator…" she fumed.
"Alison…" Beth put up a hand…
"Mrs. Hendrix to you, Ms. Duncan." Ally frowned. "…No, all that's not bad enough but you harm the fine man who's been trying to help us."
"Hey!" Beth snapped. "I didn't hurt Art…I'd never…" Then collapsing a bit… "Not intentionally…Alison, I'm telling you what I told Felix and Cos here…" she eyed the two grimly staring at her in the ER waiting room. Donnie frowning on sofa, arms folded.
"…That you're Beth?" Ally shook head. "What kind of sick, twisted Dyad-Felix? What was your phrase for her?"
"Sarah's I think you mean…" Fee, helpfully… "Uber-bitch?"
"Right, uber-bitch…Are you?" Alison, grim stare. "Get out of here and don't you dare come back!"
"I taught you to use a gun…I said a ladygrip Glock was the best for you."
"Rachel was monitoring us…Any Dyad spy could've picked that up." Ally, off-handedly.
"You told me what you've never told anyone, about your father…And how Donnie reminded you of him…" Beth noted, quietly.
"Really?" Donnie blinked.
"Easy guess…And again with the monitoring…" Ally shrugged. "And, yes…You remind me of Daddy, Donnie…But no fixation…"
"You told me how you caught him with that girl…And how glad you were, cause you thought he and she and you would run away together. And how much it hurt when he just left, without you, despite the lies your mom told about throwing him out…" Beth, calm stare. "And I told you how my father always made me feel like he wasn't sure I was his."
Fee eyeing Cosima…
"Enough. Donnie and I have a plane to catch…" Alison waved a hand. "This is all nonsense…You're either viciously cruel or insane and probably both. Go home to your uber-bitch lair and plot your next foul move, you miserable excuse for a clone. Helena finally has her abomination in you…Donnie? We'd better get going."
"All right, fine…" Beth waved a hand. "You can't believe and that's probably wise. But I have something important to tell you…All of us…And associates…" she eyed Fee and Donnie.
"Please, get your lying over with and go…" Alison nodded coldly.
"Topside has sent out a 'fixer', a man named Ferdinand. He's extremely dangerous and everyone, I mean everyone, at Dyad is scared to death of him. And he had connections to Rachel…You have to listen…I think we're all in danger from him."
"We know about Ferdinand…" Fee shrugged. "He stopped by and gave Ms. S your loving mother corporation's blood money check."
"He's here to review the situation. And if he finds danger to Topside and its board…" Beth eyed the group. "He's eliminated batches of clones before…I found the records in Rachel's…My…Apartment…Something to do with Helsinki, Finland and some self-aware clones in contact, cooperating."
"Delphine's told us about Ferdinand." Cosima noted. "She said he's a pretty infamous character and probably a Daniel type, with real power."
"But Dr. Cormier didn't mention Helsinki to you?" Beth asked.
"No…" Cosima stared.
"Then you need to talk to her…" calm stare. "Whether you believe me or not, Ferdinand is a danger to all of us. Even if you think I'm lying or crazy, you know Rachel Duncan is out at Dyad and would have the same reason to fear this guy. Talk to her, Cos…For your own sakes, make her tell you everything she knows."
"Are you sayin' Delphine is keeping this from me, deliberately?" Cosima, starting to rage a bit. "Cause if you're tryin' to divide us up again…"
"We may just decide to divide you up…" Fee finished for her, cold stare.
"Whatever…" Beth shrugged. "Just don't ignore what I've said. I don't why Delphine hasn't told you more but you need to get it out of her. You know where I live, for now, and if you want to call or come, just let me know. I'll see Art gets the best."
"Anything happens to Detective Bell…" Ally, angrily… "We will go nuclear…Even, Helena…"
"You're still the luckiest person I know Alison…" Beth gave her a wan smile. "Give Beth's best to Gemma and Oscar, I bet they still remember the fairy twin…I love you all, guys. Know that." She turned and walked out of the ER though sliding doors.
"Well, she does do a good Beth voice…From what I've heard Sarah do…" Fee noted.
"It's perfect…" Alison stared after her.
The fairy twin? That night Gemma and Oz had sneaked down to watch TV and saw Beth with me in the dark and I said…
"It's not possible…" she whispered.
"Ally?" Donnie stared.
"We have to get to the airport…" Ally suddenly, catching sight of the clock. "Keep an eye on Officer Bell, Cosima…" she addressed her. "And maybe…Not that I believe Rachel…"
"I'll speak to Delphine. There may be something in what Rachel says if she's in this Ferdinand's sights now too." Cosima nodded.
"All set…Lets go pick ups de sestra…" Donnie rose.
"It can't be…" Ally shook head. "Right, then, we're off." She nodded.
"Be careful…" Fee urged, pressing Ally's hand. "Donald, nothing is to happen to my sister."
"Absolutely nothing…" Donnie nodded. "Just a bit of nippy weather…"
"Take care…" Cosima beamed. "Tell Helena we love her and good job not killing everyone in sight for once."
"We will…" Donnie nodded. "Tell Art to watch those cheese natchos and take his meds on time. Tell him the Hendrixes have the situation well in hand in the North. Don't roll those eyes, Mr. Dawkins." He eyed Fee with smile.
You all right? He whispered to Ally as they walked to the ER doors.
"Fine…" she hissed back, still a bit stunned.
It can't be…It can't…It has to be a trick. Just good monitoring…