Encounters and explanations.
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"My love…"
Cosima's knees weaken upon hearing those words. Her heart wants to believe this is true.
"You're not... You can't…"
But her mind refuses.
"It's me…" The blonde lets out softly.
"No, no" Cosima shakes her head incredulously. "I saw you… I held your body in my arms" Cosima leans back to stare at the woman's face "I had to identify you… I met your parents. They took you and buried you in France… I saw when she…" the words flow through her mind in a ramble.
"Mon amour I'm here … I came back… for you"
Again Cosima feels her heart constrict. She gazes straight into the blonde's eyes trying with all her being to see something, to see HER. And finally among the assortment of colors in the orbs in front of her, she finds Delphine.
"Oh My God… Oh my God…" Cosima grabs the face of her love "Del… Delphine" the name comes out ragged. Her chest is closing, she feels dizzy.
Luckily strong arms are ready to hold her when her legs give up.
"Hey! Easy, I got you, I got you" Delphine embraces her taking in the smell that never left her memory. She smiles with hesitation and astonishment; still not quite believing herself what she's experiencing.
With tears in her eyes, Cosima pulls back just enough to face Delphine again "but how?!... You were…"
"I know; I know…" Delphine doesn't allow her to finish "that was Elise, Elise Cote; the real one" she can't help the sense of grief at the mention of the other woman "she… she was my clone"
"What!" Cosima feels like her head is going to explode "woah, how!"
"I'll explain later I promise but right now I really need you to listen to me" Delphine holds Cosima by her arms "I was not supposed to tell you about this, but I couldn't hide it from you, not after all you've gone through" she smiles "You've been so brave my love, standing up for your sisters and I'm so proud of you for that. But the truth is things are gonna get really ugly once we go against Neolution and I need you to be strong and fight with me, you hear me?"
Cosima nods stunned.
Delphine now grabs her chin tenderly, staring into brown eyes "Do you trust me?"
"Yes I do" there's no hesitation in Cosima's response.
"Good. Because what I'm about to ask you will not be easy"
Cosima frowns intrigued.
"Nobody can know about me, not even your sisters. I'm Elise now Cosima, that is something you must understand and accept."
"What! Why?"
"Because it will only endanger everyone" the blonde swallows "Neolution thinks I'm dead and, in a way it is true" her face turns serious "Delphine Cormier as you knew her no longer exists; she's just a shadow, it's my past. I am Elise Cote now, you'll have get used to it, just like I did"
"But…" Cosima wants to argue but is silenced by a peck on her lips.
"Shhh, just trust me OK?" She envelopes the short woman in her arms "let's enjoy this for now"
Cosima hugs her back, this time with more tenderness than shock.
"We still have to go through the information; there's a long night ahead of us" Delphine murmurs.
"OK" It's the only response Cosima gives.
Neither of them break away from each other.
...
Already seated, Sarah doesn't waste time in starting her questioning.
"What's with this Pollux thing? Is it another clone shite?"
"No" Marion replies "Project Pollux is an organization I created in order to fight against Neolution. The idea of the name is recent, a formality really; I just followed the mythology nomenclature. Leda, Castor, Pollux; it made sense"
With the pointed look Sarah sends her way, clearly stating 'bullshit' Marion elaborates.
"Believe it or not Elise is the only clone of Delphine. In all honesty she was created with no real purpose other than to satisfy my own curiosity.
"Is that so? The expression on Sarah's face is still one of incredulity.
Marion sighs prepared to go into detail about the whole story "You see I became part of Topside at a very young age, thanks to my parents. They were business people and they bet their money on science which sounded like a good idea monetarily speaking; I was their only child so they thought it was best if I got involved early. But I wanted more than just the money; I was a curious, ambitious girl that really paid attention to what the other members of the board talked about during those meetings. When they mentioned clones they got me hooked completely. They had this brilliant scientist, Ethan Duncan who was in search of a suitable subject to work on his cloning project. He collected a list of possible candidates and he ranked their characteristics. Among them was strength, intelligence, agility and many others. But he forgot all about it when he crossed paths with 'the perfect candidate' as he called it; well, the one we know now as a chimera"
"Kendall Malone" Sarah remarks, already immersed in the explanation.
"Yes. Fortunately I got my hands on the list he dismissed, and I kept it just in case. At first I didn't have as much access to all the scientific part of the matter since I was there solely as an investor but I managed my way into it." Marion leans back crossing her legs "with the little information I got by then I hired a team and started my own cloning trials. I checked the list Duncan left behind and I had to decide which characteristic I wanted in the clone; I chose intelligence. To my luck the first candidate, who was a former colleague of Duncan, had recently become a father so I decided I would use the child and not him as my subject. Professor Cormier is a very intelligent man; the probabilities of his offspring being as gifted as him were high. And I wasn't wrong"
"That's when you created … Elise, from Delphine."
Marion nods "Even though she's a result of just basic cloning with little enhancements; nothing at all like you or your sisters, I was happy with the success of the experiment, call it intuition or luck but I just felt someday I would need her. Now she's my right hand and best collaborator"
She purposely omitted the part where Elise sacrificed herself to save a vital piece of the operation; Delphine. She clears her throat erasing for a moment the guilt from her mind.
"Since the very beginning I noticed something was not quite right with the board. There was this group of people that always talked about deviant technologies and had this obsession with controlling the human body; it caught my attention. I spent many years trying to figure out what they were up to; even with me being already an active member at Topside, it wasn't easy to get information about them. They were very cautious as to who would be part of their clan and for some reason they never trusted me. Everything was about science until out of the blue the military began guarding the laboratories. They claimed it was just for security but I found it suspicious. I was in the dark until one day I saw a soldier; he didn't seem happy at all about his job so I took the opportunity and talked to him in private. The things he told me" She chuckles "I couldn't believe them. They were not only cloning now, they were talking about body improvements that were beyond health reasons ; creating a whole new race of human beings; an ideology not far away from the Nazi one, basically playing God, it was madness. I was disgusted and alarmed just like this poor soldier who saw everything happening right in front of him. He wanted to quit but I convinced him to stay and be my informant; he was already there; there was no better way to keep tabs on them than from the inside. And that's how Mr. Davydov became my first partner against these people who call themselves Neolutionists."
"Wait" Sarah interjects "Davydov… as in Shay Davydov?"
"Mr Davydov is Shay's father"
"Bloody hell" Sarah runs a hand across her face, thinking about Cosima and how this news will affect her sister. Either way she wanted to learn more about it so she asked Marion to continue; which she did gladly.
"Luckily we weren't the only ones who wanted to stop Neolution. Little by little Mr Davydov recruited more soldiers who were willing to work with us. But the more we learned about Neolution, the more powerful they got. It was like a plague we couldn't stop. That gave me no choice; I had to create an organization. With the years more powerful allies joined us and well, it is what you see now"
Sarah shakes her head "but this is a military base, why involve them?"
"Well Sarah as I mentioned, Neolution is not only about technology, they also have connections with the military; that is actually how this whole thing started. The idea was to create the perfect human, the perfect soldier; but from there it started to diverge into their crazy idea of complete manipulation of the human race. Technology and military; I had to face my enemy with equality. It has been a twenty-year secret battle, and we are close to ending it."
"This is insane Marion…" Sarah stands up pacing the office. "So fucked up"
...
Delphine was giving Cosima a summary similar to the one Marion was giving Sarah - except Shay's background- only hers was accompanied with science material they were both checking out.
"This is so fucked up dude" Cosima shakes her head still eyeing a paper with some Neolution experiment.
"I know, and there is more about this shit that is almost unreadable"
Cosima glances at her surprised; she's not used to hearing Delphine curse in English. Now that she thinks about it there are lots of mannerisms and words that are coming out of her mouth that are not at all like her. Apparently this thing about being Elise is more serious than she originally thought… and is very, very disturbing.
"Cosima?"
"Huh?" Cosima's consideration is interrupted by a curious Delphine.
"How is it going with the original geno?" Delphine gulps "the cure… did you find it?"
It is comforting to Cosima to see some familiar worried expression on the woman before her; that gives her the confidence to respond "well, yeah but not exactly. It's still on trial; but I haven't presented any symptoms since I started the treatment. I think we are very close, although… another brain in the task force wouldn't hurt" she comments with a playful shrug.
The blonde smiles sweetly "I'll be glad to help. Just… keep me up to speed"
"Oh of course"
As Cosima explains her study with eagerness; Delphine finds herself again analyzing the little details that make Cosima so… Cosima. The excitement she exudes while talking about science, her swirling hands, how she tilts her head to the side or the cute way the finger pushes up her glasses. Delphine had been so absorbed with becoming Elise that those particular quirks had momentarily hid in the deepest corner of her mind; to the point of finding them fascinating now. She doesn't want to get her hopes up; its' still too early and there are lots of things to clarify and talk about, but she vows to herself to fulfill her promise and not to waste this opportunity of life that Elise gave her. Delphine will rebuild her relationship with Cosima in time.
...
"… but we have to be very careful about how to proceed with this operation Sarah. I have been putting it together for many years for a reason." Marion warns "Pollux is our last resource; we must succeed, that is our only choice."
"Yeah I… I think I got it" Sarah admits with some hesitation "but what are we supposed to do from here?"
"Well, that depends on what Shay has to tell us; that's the only part left in this equation" Marion picks up her phone and calls someone "yes, ask Miss Davydov to join me in the white room please" She presses the end call button and stands up "c'mon, she will be ready in a few minutes"
...
Cosima and Delphine's exchange was suddenly interrupted by a vibration.
Delphine takes her cellphone, reading in silence the incoming message "we have to go" she informs her companion.
"Where?"
Already standing up, Delphine replies, "To the white room, Shay and Marion are going to talk"
The news is not taken well by Cosima whose face contorts with anger "I don't want to see her!"
"Cosima, it's imperative for you to be there, we all need to listen to what she has to say to complement what we already know"
"I don't care!" Cosima snaps "she's a fucking murderer! You may be here right now but as far as she's concerned she killed you, she didn't know it wasn't you" she looks at the blonde "I don't understand how you can be so calm. She killed Elise! ... She killed you!"
"She was just following orders Cosima, like me and many others" Delphine tries to reason.
"Bullshit!"
Knowing Cosima won't change her mind set, Delphine tries something else. "OK, OK" she embraces the brunette "then do it for me. I really want you to hear the information she's bringing; Sarah is gonna be there too. Please"
"I don't want to" comes the muffled voice of Cosima.
"I know, but remember I told you to be strong?" When she feels Cosima nod she continues "well, this is one of those moments"
With a deep exhale Cosima detaches from her body "OK" but then she warns "but if at any moment I can't stand watching her I wanna be able to leave"
"Sounds fair"
When Cosima is about to walk away Delphine grabs her by the arm "Hey," she waits for Cosima's eyes to fix on her "remember, I'm Elise out there; OK?"
"Yeah I… I know" Cosima replies reluctantly.
Either way, Delphine takes it as a positive sign and moves on "Good, let's go"
...
Shay takes a seat on the couch while glancing around the white room. There was a big mirror hanging on one of the walls; she avoids looking directly at it. It was obvious who was behind it. She concentrates on waiting for Marion and on getting this situation over with.
On the other side, Sarah turns to the door as Cosima and Elise make their appearance.
"Cos," she is by her sister's side in a second "are you OK?" she puts one arm protectively around Cosima, chancing a glance at Elise.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine I just…" Cosima notices Shay on the other side of the glass and then Marion, who was next to Sarah "I don't wanna be here"
"I know, but it's important for us to hear this. I'll be here with you" Sarah leads Cosima to the chairs fixed right in front of the glass.
Marion walks toward the door as she announces "since we are all here, I'll start the discussion with Shay, Elise?" She gestures with her head for the blonde to follow her.
When they are in the hallway Marion asks in a low voice "How did she take it?"
"She's still in shock; I don't think she has processed it yet. I'll have to verify next time we see each other" Delphine goes all technical.
"hmm" Marion eyes her seeing past the analytic cover "and how are you?"
Delphine lets out a long sigh "I'm fine… or I think I'll be"
Marion holds her gaze before adding "I still think it was not the right time to tell her"
"I disagree" Delphine assures "Cosima is not a good liar; in any other situation she would freak out and find it very difficult to keep this a secret from her sisters, but with everything that's going on nobody will suspect if she starts acting weird or if she mixes the names. They will attribute it to emotional distress or denial. I actually consider this was the perfect time"
"That's a very valid argument" Marion concedes "But I want you to be careful with her; we both know how unpredictable and stubborn these girls can be"
"Oh yeah" Delphine chuckles "we know"
They remain silent for a few seconds in contemplation.
"It's time" Marion finally utters.
"It is" Delphine's eyes light up with determination and excitement. "We are almost there"
Marion smiles, extending her hand giving Delphine's arm a squish as a self-encouragement "Go with them" after those words she enters the white room ready to face Shay.