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 XXIII…
"Tell me it's not been totally fucked up yet again, Colonel." A grim-faced Dr. Coady in fatigues glared at Paul at his command post, as he was taking the latest report via radio from the agent in command at Thompson Airport.
"Dr. Coady, please." He put up a hand.
Awful when Mother chooses to use strong language…One clone soldier on duty noted to another…
"Do you have any idea…?" she began. He waving in clone guard, a corporal.
"Ma'am…You'll have to leave. The Colonel is occupied." Grim tone.
"The Colonel is relieved. I'm in charge here!" she fumed.
"No, ma'am…" Paul, quietly looking over… "You are not. While the General is recuperating, I'm in command and if you don't comply with my orders, under the martial law conditions in effect here, I will have you confined."
She eyed him…And the corporal who'd summoned two more guards, one clone, one normal human, over…
"And if you don't comply immediately…I'll have you shot." He noted calmly.
She eyed the clone guards, several clone soldiers…
Come on, boys…Mama needs you…
Geesh…She frowned at the expressionless faces…How sharper than a serpent's tooth…
Guess it was a mistake to post the report on my latest experiments on our base intranet page…But I wanted the boys to know Mother values their contribution…
The pictures featuring exposed brains probably didn't help much either…She sighed.
"Very well, but I want reports on Helena's status…And…"
"You'll be kept informed, nothing more." Paul noted.
"Listen, you little uniformed clerk, this project has been mine since its inception! I'll take this over your head, Dierden!…To the Director, himself!"
"I've already done that, Doctor. Here are his orders confirming me in command." He handed her a sheet which she grimly took and scanned hurriedly.
"I should've known. Goddamn Brit wusses." She glared, crumpling paper.
"Those wusses are my and your, while you're attached to Her Majesty's unit, superiors and have given me authority to confine and shoot anyone interfering with my orders, ma'am." He noted quietly. "And I won't hesitate to do so if I feel I must, for the sake of the project and our men."
"My men! My boys!"
"Their creator, the late Dr. Duncan, might say otherwise. Please go with the corporal, ma'am. I promise I will keep you informed as to Helena."
"There are people, even above that miserable Brit of a Director! If you screw this operation, Dierden…I have friends! 100% percent American friends!" she fumed but complied with the corporal and his men, angrily stalking off with them. "God Bless America! Land that I love!... Sing, boys…Sing with Mother! Boys!?" she glanced round.
Mmmn…Mama, we do like to consider ourselves Canadian troops…Several clones eyeing her. Royal Canadian troops…
You know, the fellas who kicked invading US ass, twice…
And those latest posted pics of your experimental rounds…Ehew…
Not exactly "Motherly…"
And as the Colonel says, our parents are the Duncans, actually…Though we'll always think of you as our…Evil…Stepmother…Several eyed her.
Just thank God we're not American-made…If you're any example, you people really are crazy down there.
Yanks…Paul sighed, shaking head. Various personnel doing likewise, at least internally.
"See Dr. Coady is kept in the science section and if she tries to leave, confine her to quarters." Paul told his aide, a female corporal, seated at desk next to his. "They have my permission to use force to hold her, if necessary…" faint smile… "…or if they really feel like it."
"Yes, sir…" faint smile, then look of concern… "She really does have friends, sir."
"Types like her usually do, corporal. Now, what do we got on the situation on the roads around Thompson?"
….
A local highway, about fifteen miles southeast from Thompson, Manitoba.
"Do…Do…Da, do, do…Da da da da dah da dah…" Donnie, Helena, singing to radio… "If you want my body and you/yous think I'm sexy…"
"Donnie…!" Alison sighed. "Can't you be concerned?!" Donnie eyeing Helena who nodded, he turning down the radio.
"If you wants my body and yous thinks I'm sexy…" she breathed.
"Ally, I'm tellin' you. Rachel is still back in Toronto with that one good eye. She's nowhere around here." Donnie insisted.
"Well, that wes knows of, brother." Helena corrected patiently, gentle smile to the nervous Ally. "But we have not seen the devil Rachel about us here, sestra Alison."
"I know I heard her…Talking, plotting…Something…Here, in my head." Tapping forehead. "Donnie?" Ally, anxious glance to the back of his head as he continued to drive. "I'm not bonkers. Remember 'Fringe'? When Olivia could hear people, in her mind? Maybe this is some kind of Dyad thing…An experiment…"
Or something Dr. Leekie's spirit dreamed up for us as a torment…She did not say.
"The devils of Dyad are very clever…" Helena considered. "But you must consider that this could just be the stresses, sestra…"
What? Rachel blinked.
Uh…
"Stresses, Helena?"
"Yes, all of us have been extreme in the stress, sestra." Helena nodded. "Maybe you are suffering the post traumatic stress?"
Ah, so did you murder someone with a psychiatric degree and read a few pop-psychology books while in their place, dear? Rachel eyed her.
"Just what did you hear Rachel saying, honey? I mean, in your head…" Donnie, anxiously.
What? "What?" she repeated aloud. "What did I hear…? Uh, well…She said she'd have vengeance on us all, especially Sarah."
I'm sure I'd've said that…Though…What does the lump mean? Is there someone else in here? Come out and face me, damn you!
Hmmn…She listened…Is that Rod Stewart on the radio? I love Rod…Rachel thought.
"That sounds like Rachel…" Donnie noted. "But it could just be a nightmare, maybe you've been nodding off?"
"Probably so…You're right, Donnie…As always." She pasted a smile.
So, the hausfrau is in here too? Alison…Don't make me come to you. The consequences to your family could…
"Donnie!" Alison cried. "She's threatening the children!"
"What?" he started.
"Who is threatening babies?" Helena looked over behind her seat at Ally's terrified face, grim stare.
….
"Felix Dawkins, I presume." Ferdinand, at the apartment building lobby, beaming smile at a hurrying Fee, bearing knapsack of gear. "Honestly, no needles, no gas, no gun…I promise." He put up a hand. "And Sarah. This is a pleasure." Earnest beam to Sarah who had donned a slightly more Bethish upscale outfit to "blend" in the upscale surroundings of the lifestyle Duncan. "I'm so glad we could finally meet."
"Yeah." Sarah, grimly.
"Nice building, eh? And actually, my own, since I moved in the other day. But I'm guessing you're not moving in." another friendly smile.
"Just housesittin' for a friend."
"With surveillance equipment…"
"Sorry, my brother wanted to look at the night sky on the balcony with my specs. He just happened to look over your way."
"Rachel Duncan's way…" mock serious look. "I understand your concerns, Ms. Manning. About me as well as your completely understandable worries about Rachel. In fact, I was speaking to her just now to relieve my own and Topside's."
"Really. And how's her eye?"
"Well, it will never heal to functionality but she's better overall. Sarah, whatever you think of us, it's really best not to go out of channels…Legal ones, I mean. Sue us if you like…Call the police and have Rachel brought up on charges if you must…Though I'd hope you'd think that over carefully…But don't go outside the law here. After all, you hold all the cards so long as you stay within the law."
"Uh-huh." Frown. "Legal niceties never seemed to bother you lot before."
"They didn't bother Rachel. They do bother Dyad and even more so, Topside. Sarah, Rachel is out at Dyad, she's powerless. And not interested in pursuing you and Kira any further. And you've likely heard that Dr. Nealon is gone, for good. We've discharged him with intent to prosecute. Though he committed suicide to avoid that…"
"Dead, eh? Nice for you as well as me." She eyed him coldly. "How'd you do it?"
"He knew we were serious. He and Rachel acted without authority, putting us as well as you at risk, and we intended to prosecute." Sigh. "This has been a terrible tragedy all around. That police officer, Ethan Duncan…All Helena's victims. And those Proleithian fanatics…"
"Aldous Leekie." Fee noted.
"The one bright spot." Ferdinand shook head. "I don't know the details, but I can tell you he's alive, in hiding, even I don't know where. Rachel gave him a chance to run when the power struggle between them got serious and he took it. That's rather top secret, so…" he made a depreciative wave.
"Bright, eh?" Sarah, calmly. "I don't quite see it that way…"
"Aldous cared for you all, Sarah. And the fact we kept him in charge, knowing he put your safety so high does say something, however vague, about our commitment to you…All of you. And now, Delphine Cormier, your friend…"
"Cosima's friend, not mine." Sarah noted, coldly. "I've not given her my heart, sorry."
"Understandable…But the fact that we are trying to keep people in place who care about you does say something." He noted.
"And what did 'Helsinki' say?" Felix noted.
Ferdinand nodded. "That was a hideous tragedy…"
"There seem to be a lot of those with you people." Sarah noted.
"A Neolution tragedy, not Topside's making." He sighed. "I wish I could give you the details but…"
"Right, we can just trust you that it was for the best, murdering all those girls and their families…" Sarah.
"At least…At the very least…We should both be able to concede that to avoid another Helsinki, here, is in all our interests." He noted calmly.
"And how does Rachel, your girlfriend, feel about that?" Fee asked.
"My girlfriend?" smile. "I'm flattered…But I think she sets her sights much higher. As to her feelings…"
"They remain…Practical, as always." Beth in suit and rather elegant open overcoat noted quietly from the doorway she'd entered by. "Hello, Felix, Sarah." She looked about the foyer. "Looking to trade up in lifestyle?"
….
"Rachel…" Ferdinand sighed. "I asked you to stay at home. Sarah, honestly…" he turned to a coldly furious Sarah.
"He's not lying, Sarah." Beth shrugged. "But I felt it for the best that we settle matters between us. I have no power at Dyad now, thanks to our little escapades and no interest in being terminated as a problem…Which, despite Ferdinand's kind assurances to the contrary, you can believe I would be…With regret, of course…By Dyad or Topside or even several potentially compromised government officials, depending on whomever felt more threatened. So, I say…Once and for all, good-bye and good riddance. You have my eye and your daughter, lets leave it at that. And I'll be keeping my curtains drawn and my stereo playing…Loudly…When I'm home." She turned on heel coldly and walked out.
Ferdinand shaking head… Look to Sarah… "I'm sorry, I did not want you two to meet tonight."
"What about Arthur?!" Fee called to the departing Beth, who ignored him, pushing her way out the foyer door.
"I'd rather like to know about that myself…" Ferdinand noted to both, with smile.
…
"I just know she was threatening the kids…Donnie…" Alison, anxiously. "I really did hear her, I swear. It's not more pills or alcohol. And I'm not out of my mind…"
"But how could you be hearing her, Ally?" Donnie sighed, still keeping eyes on the road.
"Rachel was claiming she was Beth, at the hospital…" Ally noted. "What if, some Dyad experiment…I don't know…"
"Rach says she's me?" Helena, attempted Beth accent. "She must be bonkers…" grin.
"Did she say anything else?" Donnie asked.
"I don't know…Nothing that was clear to me." Alison pondered. "My God, Donnie…That woman is in my head, in my mind…Or at least has some sort of connection to me."
"But why you?" he glanced at the rear-view mirror. "And if she's speaking in you…"
"Donald?! I think Paul's guys have found us again!" Helena noted, pointing at the rear view mirror.
Sarah would seem a more logical choice… Rachel nodded, pondering. But if it was Aldous or Nealon, perhaps they had no opportunity to prepare her…Or me.
Just as well…I'd've cringed at the thought of being in the tramp's body. God knows what she's picked up in her sleeping about every major city in North America.
…..
"Well?" Fee eyed Sarah as they headed out.
"Well, what? You expect me to believe either of them?" she eyed him.
"No, not at all… But it was a lot to process…"
"Lets stick with what we know. Ferdinand seems to be in some kinda cahoots with Rachel, maybe even deeper than…Cahoots, whatever they are."
"I think I want to say…Ehew…"
"Probably…" Sarah, dryly… "As for Rachel, well…Least she wasn't babbling about being Beth any more."
"She didn't even mention it. Nor did Ferdinand…" Fee pointed out. "That was the curious thing…"
"So? Sherlock?" quizzical stare.
"Maybe she didn't want Ferdinand to know…?"
"Fee? Not you now…I think Art already more than half-believes…" she frowned.
"Well…It might be a Rachel ploy but if she's not sharin' the scheme with Ferdinand or Topside…"
"We don't know anything about that…Stick with what we know."
"Which is precious little…Even if it might be important to know that Ferdinand lives side-by-side with our favorite executive. Sorry, just trying to lighten…" he noted to Sarah's grim stare.
"Might've known we'd go stumblin' round right into…" Sarah, pausing. Sudden, stunned look.
"Shite! Of course he knew…! Bone collector, me bloody arse! That bastard of a partner of mine…!" she fumed. Pulling phone…
"What?!" Fee stared.
As much at the 'partner of mine…" as the rest…
"He set us up here, that shite Bell…He knew Rachel or Ferdinand would spot us two idiots. He planned it!…Art?! Damn you! Pick up!" she yelled at the phone. "Fee, call Toronto General, his room on the cardiology floor!…Call, Fee, for God's sake!."
"They wouldn't've…" stunned.
"He could check himself out anytime. Damn him, no answer…Did you call?!" she gave Fee an anxious look. "Damn him! He played us like…" frustrated frown.
"I used to…" she sighed hand to head.
"No answer at his room. Hello? Yes, I'm a family member trying to locate the room for Detective Arthur Bell, cardiac patient? He seems to…Yes, family…Felix Dawkins. That's right, a cousin. When did he…? Hey!" he yelped as Sarah yanked at him.
"Hang up! Come on!" Sarah pulled at him. "He's gone to Dyad, the idiot. To get proof while we kept Rachel and any folks monitoring her busy watchin' us floundering around. Fee, that goddam bloody arsehole! He lied to me. He believes her, every word. Oh, God…If they find him pokin' around in there. Oh, shite!" she slammed hands to her head, tearing up. "How could I be so freakin' stupid! Like he'd ever let me or Beth take the real deal… Like he wouldn't grab at any hope, even somethin' as silly as this….Fee! I can't let him die!" she gave a desperate look.
"I promised Beth…" woebegone stare.
"They won't just let him in…At this hour…" Fee tried. "They don't want trouble, their security'll just…"
"He won't freakin' go in the front door, Fee!…And this hour is exactly when…I gotta get over there!"
"Sarah! We can't just go chargin' into Dyad! Listen, we can call Delphine! Sarah?!" Fee grabbed her as she tried to hurry off. She stared at him.
"Right, right! Call her, tell her to get him outta there in one piece or so help me…" she made as if to run off…
"She'll get him out…Sarah…We'll go over, but let me call!"
"Ok, ok…Lets get to the car!"
They hurried out, car pulling up suddenly from the garage. Stopping less than an inch from them, Fee grabbing a stunned Sarah back.
"Sorry, I can't judge distances well, now. Come on…!" Beth called to them from the open passenger window.
Ferdinand calmly watching from a rental parked nearby on the dark street as they jumped in and the car started off…
And what is this, my girl?
Rachel, Rachel, Rachel…The more intimately I get to know you, the more intriguing you become.
Hope she lets Sarah or Felix drive…He turned his car out to follow them as they passed.