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 XXVII…
Thompson, Manitoba…CASTOR temporary HQ…
"How far?" Colonel Dierden regarded his aide who'd brought the first hopeful news of their target in a while.
"About six miles north of Paint Lake, on the back road paralleling the main highway…Our team's have had trouble spotting them in the dark, especially on these icy roads. About here, sir." The corporal marked a map of the area on the wallboard by her desk with a pin. "Pretty rough area, sir."
"Rough indeed…I know that stretch. The Hendrixes have gone in for a less-risk averse lifestyle, I see…" he smiled.
"It's starting to snow and will get heavy, soon, sir. We may lose them, permanently I mean, if they keep driving like this."
"All right…" nod. "Have you got air recon?"
"Two copters are up and over the area…" she nodded.
"Patch me through to them and the ground teams…"
"All teams, Colonel Dierden on air. Go ahead, sir." She handed him a headset, flipping switches.
"Ok, this is Dierden. Lets have the ground team pull back on the road. Have them try to pursue at the maximum distance they can for now but for now we rely on air pursuit. We want to avoid any losses among our targets, but particularly Helena and her children." He looked to eye the map on wallboard. "Our birds will head south, for Toronto, as soon as they can. I want ground units to cover those roads further south but away from any populated areas. We'll follow them from the air until we can safely close. For now do not attempt to engage unless they have a road accident or on my specific order. Acknowledge?"
Several replies came over the corporal's speaker acknowledging reception…
"Good. Lets do this, people." He handed the headset back.
"Lets hope they can avoid going off the road and our own idiots don't manage to make things worse."
"In this weather, they may get away from us if we can't keep in close." The corporal noted.
"That may be, but they're of no use smeared on the road…" he sighed. "Though I suppose Dr. Coady would argue she could still get useful data and samples." Wry smile.
"Anyway, sooner or later they'll have to head south. And we'll either get them or they'll become LEDA's problem. Though that's likely to make it my problem." Sigh. "Probably better not get too attached to my new rank." Wan smile. "All right, Corporal, carry on. I'll catch a few winks. Call me if there's news."
"Sir." She returned his salute. Looking at him as he paused. Waiting for an orderly hurrying by to pass out of hearing…
"Meisner? What's your take on this? You being our one LEDA."
The corporal gave nervous look, adjusting glasses on a very familiar face. Her bob cut hair bouncing off the collar of her fatigues.
"I was raised under Project CASTOR, sir. I don't know those girls outside what I've been told and been able to read."
"Our parting trade with LEDA…One CASTOR for one LEDA…" Paul, eyeing her carefully. "But you know, in spite of being raised with us, you have some of their mannerisms. Beth and Sarah anyway…Rachel's done her best to squeeze any such out. And Helena is off the chart…"
"I do?" she asked, a bit nonplussed.
"I don't mean to embarrass you…And I know working with me has that potential."
"You were only following orders, sir." She noted. "As we all are…"
Wince on Paul's features… "I sound like a stock Nazi trying to make excuses…"
"If I may, sir…Since you asked for my 'take'." earnest look. "I was raised independent of Dr. Coady in foster care of several of the women soldiers of the Project off base, so I've had more of a normal upbringing and exposure to other viewpoints than most of the CASTOR males. I've been working on your team for a long time and been aware of your 'special operations' with the LEDAs. I am trying to help you capture Helena and her children now for the good of the CASTOR males. The other LEDAs probably wouldn't think too highly of me. But, I could say no if I thought it wasn't vital for our boys and Her Majesty's Forces, sir. I chose not to do that, sir. And I like to think for valid reasons."
"Thanks, Meisner." He sighed. "You do know you're my last arrow in the quiver."
"I've guessed, sir…When I was transferred from research to your operational team…" nod. "I'm ready if you need me in field. Though I am grateful you've treated me like any soldier."
"It's a dirty business, spying…" Paul sighed. "Especially in this case and I'm not proud of what I've done, though I believe it had to be done, for our boys' sakes. I promise you I won't use you unless all other options fail. But I may need you to penetrate LEDA and retrieve Helena and her children, or one of them, if all else fails."
"I understand, sir."
"Right then…Good night. Again, call me if anything comes up. Make sure you get relief at the end of your watch."
"Yes, sir."
"And, when time permits…" he sighed. "You'd better look over my reports on Beth and Sarah and the video data we have on them and Crystal Goderich and Alison Hendrix. I'm thinking you may need the background."
"Yes, sir." nod. "Sir?" she eyed him, hesitantly...
He smiled. "You have Sarah's way of brushing her hair back. Beth's way of pouting when she's unhappy with me. And I think Cosima does the same thing with her glasses when she's nervous."
…..
Dyad Institute…Office of the Director…
"Arthur, I really don't see what you could hope to find here." Delphine sighed at Art seated at her desk, scanning through files on her laptop. "Whatever has happened to Alison, it must be psychological. She was the most tightly-strung of the girls, you know that."
"Cosima seemed convinced something's going on…" Art noted. "And Donnie's sure it's not only Alison in there."
"But she agreed with me it could be psychological, we have no data. As for Donald Hendrix's opinion…" she sighed.
"The man may have been duped by you." Art, a bit sternly. "But he loves his wife and knows her."
"Perhaps…But you have to admit…" she waved hands.
"And you have admit something strange is going on here with Rachel and Alison…Look, if you'd come to the station and told me Beth was a clone that year she died…" Art eyed her. "I have to say I've become a little more open to new ideas. Lets see what we've got here…These are all available medical testing and surveillance records on Rachel and Beth…?"
"All that I can get access to, this quickly." She nodded, sighing.
Well, one has to respect his Sir Galahadness. Wry smile…
"Did Leekie have any 'special' files?…Something top secret?" he continued to click files open.
"This was an illegal project, Arthur. Everything about the LEDAs is top secret."
He frowned at her.
"He had a few personal files on the girls…His own observations and comments, a few test results he wanted to review at leisure…Here, I have his password." She came over.
He pulled back to let her mouse and type…
"There…And thanks for not asking how I had his password." She gave wan smile.
"Thanks for not asking why I won't let Beth go…" he smiled gently.
"I do understand." She nodded as he returned to the screen. "But she'd…"
"What's this?" he looked at her sharply…Indicating the screen…
"Oh…Yes, Aldous had a few ESP tests done with a few of the LEDAs. Just a curiosity of his, he indulged." She shrugged. "It was just a lark, he'd been interested in twin studies in college. It wasn't invasive in any way. I never really thought it…" she stared as Art clicked open a folder…
"Quite a lot of tests for a lark…" Art noted, both looking at the long list of files and dates in the folder Art had opened. "Looks like over 200 tests over the years…"
Delphine stared. "Mon Dieu…But this is insane, it's just a few ESP tests, to indulge a whim of curiosity. There's never been any successful scientific study of telepathy, even among identical twins." She hesitated.
"But Leekie was interested and he did do tests that no other researcher would have been able to do…" Art noted. "Though it looks like he kept them to locals only. And the results to himself…"
"Not really, he mentioned the tests to me once or twice as a pet project. He must have felt it wouldn't amount to anything, just an extra test for the girls at hand to indulge his interest in the subject." Delphine noted. "Even a dedicated scientist like Aldous had his fringe side."
"Rachel, Alison, Antoinette…Jennifer? The one who died?"
"Yes." Nod. "She lived here for months."
"And Crystal…Goderich…Say are these, scores?"
"Rated against standard results…" Delphine nodded. "A bit high but not unusually so, though…" she clicked to show a curve of results. "They did consistently outscore the standard."
"And Leekie followed this for years…Decades…"
"Only in the local girls. He made no effort to do dedicated, serious testing across the LEDAs."
"But to test them at all for this, he must have had to go to some trouble to conceal what was going on. Alison and Tony at least were never at Dyad that they knew of, and they must have been conscious to answer questions, right?"
"It could have been at their schools, colleges…ESP volunteer testing's been a fad thing on and off…"
"And they all scored high…" Art pondered.
Delphine frowned…"No, it's impossible that this could be connected to Rachel's and even Alison's behavior…" she shook head. "More likely by far Rachel's trying to encourage you, and perhaps Alison, to think there's something here…"
"That's possible too." He nodded. "Your phone again." as a buzzing sounded.
"It must be Cosima…Hello, Cosima…" eager tone to voice.
I can't believe the Director of this place brings that shit inside…Art sighed.
Still, guess I'm doing the same…Wan smile.
"Is Alison still claiming to be Rachel? Right, claiming Rachel's spirit is in her body, sorry." Pause, frown. "Well, ma chere, you must admit, it's not exactly scientific evidence… Yes, Art is checking files, including some of Leekie's on ESP testing among a few of the… No, not so far as I know…What gypsy fortuneteller..? Cosima…Lets keep somewhat within the realm of Science. She what?" she eyed Art.
What? He mouthed.
"'Rachel' wants to talk to me." She shrugged.
Well…Art waved a hand…Delphine rolling eyes.
"It's foolish to indulge Alison's eccentricities…" she began. "Yes. Hello, Rachel. Yes, it is a mockingly French condescending tone I'm using. And no, I will not stop. What? What trip?" she blanched, stunned look at Art who spread hands in Well, what? Gesture.
"Only Aldous and I knew…What do you mean you had us spied on? How, naturally? It was not a sex club, Rachel!" angrily. "Rachel?" she gasped. "Alison? No, it was a very famous resort…Uh…You're not talking to Cosima right now…?" Anxious tone…
"I'll need to show you something…" she looked over phone to Art. "Print out that testing curve and the last tests, please. Cosima?" she held phone close. "Look, whatever Rachel is telling you…"
He clicked to select and print, then pulled his own buzzing phone to ear…
"Beth?" he addressed phone.
….
The stolen car, on the road now running parallel to Paint Lake…Snow falling…
"We should stop…Hendrix is hardly a stunt driver…" annoyed voice from Alison, clearly Rachel demanding the floor.
"Donnie's an excellent snow driver…We're perfectly safe except for you, you one-eyed bitch." Alison, firmly.
"Not any more…" arch tone.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Donnie, echoing an anxious Alison.
"It means the price of my helping you fools save Helena now stands at one body…"
"Sestra Rachel is true Devil…" Helena sighed. "I should have shot her that night when she was naked with Paul."
"I wasn't 'naked'. Wait? You were there?"
"Me…Sarah…Arthur…" sly grin. "You are very dirty girl, Rachel."
"Erotic…Hey!" Alison cut in. "I tole you to stop grabbing my voice! Donnie?! Make her stop!"
"Yes, Donnie…" mocking tone. "Make me stop…Honey. That way you do…" coy tone, then grim. "What will you do…'Donnie'?"
I mean, what, really? Rachel thought.
"Are you having sexual thoughts about my husband?!...Donnie! You've my permission to use force to shut the bitch up! I'll be fine. I owe for the torture session, anyway."
"Really? And you people say I'm the 'dirty girl'?"" Rachel, amused.
"Donalds, you don't have to hit her." Helena eyed Rachel coolly. "I am far better with the experience and can cause maximum pain with minimal permanent damage."
"You wouldn't…" icy tone. "Go, ahead Helena!"Alison cried. "I forgive you!"
"All right, I'll stop!" Rachel cried as Helena eyed her, scooting close.
"She's able to see and hear as well as speak." Donnie noted. "Cosima?" he eyed the open phonen passengers' seat.
"Yeah, it's looking like she has access to most sensory data…"
"Cosima. Don't you start getting all fascinated by this." Alison frowned. "I'm not some lab experiment."
"No, of course not. Donnie…?" Cosima's voice. "Delphine says they found some records of ESP testing…On local clones, including Alison. Was she ever tested? Ally?"
"In high school, I volunteered. Then in University…" Alison began…
"Look here, let me talk to Cormier…" Rachel cut in…
"Ooops." Donnie sighed.
"Leekie told you to get her to take tests?" Cosima's voice.
"He said it would be interesting for the study…Honey, I'm so sorry." Donnie sighed.
"It's ok, Donnie…People!" Rachel suddenly cut in.
"I tole you to stop that!"
"I need to talk to Delphine, you idiot. And by the way, where are our pursuers?" Rachel pointed out.
"Donnie eluded them…" Ally, proudly.
"Of course…" Rachel, mocking tone. "Idiots, they've pulled back…Conditions must be worsening."
"They're probably tracking us by air." Donnie noted. "They don't want to crowd us and see Helena hurt."
"Why? What would they want with the psychotic?"
"I said…STOP IT!" Ally cried. "And Helena is pregnant…"
"So she's not able to grab your memories…" Donnie noted.
"Good point…" Cosima agreed on phone screen. "But you said you could hear her thoughts, Ally?"
"Only when she's speaking to me…In a manner of speaking…" Ally replied.
"Hmmn…I should be recording this for a record." Cosima noted. "This could be a big breakthrough in Neuroscience."
"For once, I agree with Rachel…Screw the breakthrough." Ally fumed. "Just tell us what's happening…"
"Well…Bottom line is…I've no idea." Cosima sighed.
"It's gotta be some kind of passing over, related to those ESP tests, I'd bet…When Rachel died…" Donnie began.
"What?!" cry. "Yeah, bitch…You died…" Ally, triumphant. "Except for you're getting stuck in here with me, best day ever, that."
"Sestra, don't be cruel." Helena sighed.
"Ally did score high on ESP tests back at university." Donnie noted. "You remember when we volunteered and then your mom said to stop because people would find out about your implantation and you'd be a freak in two spheres…"
"Charming…" Rachel frowned. "But quite right of the woman, you were fortunate to have such a…"
"Shut the fuck up!" Ally cried. "Stop using my voice, or so help me I'll have Helena gag me."
"Fine…But before you risk the freak choking us, it might be useful for you to know that Delphine is right. I did score extremely high in several studies, especially with some of the LEDAs brought in for testing, though they'd no idea they were being tested with a clone."
"Maybe you'd better let her talk for a moment to Delphine, Ally." Cosima noted.
"I don't know…Will it let her get more control?" Donnie asked, anxiously while peering out window. "And Rachel is right, they must be holding back, I can't see any lights now."
"All right, you have five minutes…No more." Ally hissed.
"Hold that phone for me, would you. I have no motor control." Rachel asked.
"For four minutes and forty seconds…" Ally insisted, taking phone and holding close.
"Dr. Cormier…Do you need to take that mockingly French tone, doctor? Very well, do you remember the time you and Aldous went off to "a conference" and spent that week at Stadt…That rather kinky sex club? I had Daniel keeping tabs on you both. I feared Aldous was getting a bit silly with his little lab romance and might compromise things by talking a bit too much pillowside…"
"Oh…" to Delphine's stunned, then angry reply, mocking tone. "Pardon me, that very famous resort spa you and Aldous orgied in. Do you believe it's me now?"
Delphine quiet…
"I'm sure Cosima can be big about it, you weren't a lesbian then."
"Rachel…" Cosima's voice, annoyed. "Make your point or Ally, come back."
"Come on, Rachel…I'm timing you." Donnie noted.
"You might check with Aldous V, Delphine. You remember his other little indulgence project? Delphine, where am I? My body? These idiots say…Delphine?"
"Time's up…" Ally insisted.
"Hardly…" "Enough…" Ally, firmly.
"What's that about Aldous V?" Donnie asked, a bit apprehensive.
You don't suppose he's back from the Dead too? He eyed a nervous Ally clearly thinking along those very lines in the rear view mirror.
…
Dyad…
"Arthur…Come with me. There is something I think you should see…" Delphine urged as Art held phone close..
"Beth? What? No, I'm fine. Beth? Don't come here! Is that Sarah? Pull her on! No, Beth!" sigh…
"Beth?" Delphine stared… "She and Sarah are coming here?"
"I couldn't stop her." Art shook head. "They'll be here in fifteen or less. Apparently I need to be rescued." He eyed her with grin. "So, now you sorta believe…?"
"I don't say that…" sigh. "Not without more proof but…Come with me." She rose.
….
Dyad Lab H-5…Holographic imaging chamber, access restricted.
"Dr. Cormier…" the image smiled. "And the stalwart Detective Bell…To what do I owe the honor?"
"Dr…Leekie?" Art stared at the man before him. Apparently three-dimensional though somehow not quite…Solid.
"Virtual Leekie, Detective…" the image noted with amusement. "I'm a compilation of all the neural and other data Aldous Leekie could store on himself. Not bad, I think…Therefore I am…" grin. "But of course still AI and probably not quite a match for the real thing."
"Aldous experimented with this system for years as a way of improving data storage and even considering a kind of immortality via AI." Delphine noted as the image beamed. "Several of the LEDA locally were recorded, secretly, during exams. On several occasions to update…"
"There are virtual clones in this 'system'?" Art stared.
"Based on data recordings…Yes…"
"Beth…In this system?"
"I didn't want to mention it before…I thought it would only hurt you and Sarah to see a poor imitation. No offense, Aldous."
"None taken, Delphine." Smile. "But my recordings and the later ones of the girls involved were pretty extensive."
"You're saying…Someone here copied Beth into Rachel, somehow?" Art eyed Delphine. "Her recordings…?"
"Not really, no one knew about the recording besides Aldous and me and the techs who assisted. But it could offer an explanation…Of how it could be possible…"
"Don't underestimate the propensity of Rachel or some of the senior staff here to poke into things they had no business with…" Aldous' image noted. "I can tell he, my counterpart, was concerned that Nealon for one was getting curious about my side projects, particularly this and the ESP testing…I think he might have informed Rachel and members of the Topside board."
"What motive would Nealon or anyone have for trying to experiment on Rachel when she was dying?" Art blinked.
"Rachel's dead?" the Aldous image stared, looking stunned. "Delphine?"
"I'm afraid so, Aldous. It was her own fault and largely an accident but she's dead…More or less…" Delphine noted.