"Fringey…"
Summary: Sarah and her sisters see there's an even darker side to Dyad's little cloning-fest…
(Not sure about this one but while I await more details for "Nessun Dorma" I'll play round with this darker one and see how it goes.)
Disclaimer: No copywrite infringement intended.
Part V…
Dyad Institute…
A secured conference room on the lower level…
"I want to congratulate you on a job well done…" smooth voice.
"Ma'am." Nod. "I hope you understand when I say I took no pleasure in it."
"I'm rather pleased to hear it. You know how I feel about all my girls…"
"Dr. Leekie suspects nothing?"
"Thanks to you, no. How did you manage it?"
"I knew the place beforehand and had Louise take out the one camera before I entered, it was easy after that." Sigh. "But, as I say…Ma'am. I am surprised he didn't question her being killed in the same state two of our monitored girls have resided in, let alone poor Helena."
"You're wise to wonder with Aldous. Still, he can accept that a cigar may simply be a cigar and she was on her way home to us."
"Ma'am? May I ask?..." pause…
"You can always ask…Olivier…I can't always answer." Rather warm smile.
"You hold the balance of power here…Surely if you choose to terminate this aspect of the project…?"
"A very delicate balance, Mr. Duval. One I don't wish to disrupt by acting too openly…And Aldous is right, our backers do want to see progress in certain areas…However pointless and even disruptive we may consider them. But we've shown them quite enough and to proceed further is a threat to the whole project and rather something of an abomination…"
Duval stared…
Bit unnerving how like Helena she seems saying that…
"I know you have a personal grudge against my husband…" she noted quietly. " And I do concur in believing his action with your brother was unnecessary."
"My brother was a bit of a fool but not a threat to Dyad or the project. And given my family's sacrifice…" Duval, emotion surfacing…
"I agree, Olivier. You and your brothers made our project possible…The trial run that led to everything…" smile. "But Aldous is my husband and the responsibility for his decisions, however I may disagree with some of them, falls equally on me."
Duval, questioning look…
"I'm an old-fashioned girl at heart, Olli…Allison gets that from me, I'd say." Smile, then hard stare. "Aldous was rash but he did feel Olivier I had compromised the situation with Sarah and the others. If you're angry at him, you're angry at me…Are you angry at me, Olli?" stare.
Sigh… "My brother was the weaker, I know that. But I did love him, ma'am. I feel Dr. Leekie has wronged me. But as always, my loyalty, as with all my family, is to the project."
"Olivier's sacrifice won't go forgotten, Olli…And Aldous has damaged his standing here as a result. But more than that, I can't offer. If you're not content, say so now."
"This aspect of the project will be terminated? And Dr. Leekie will lose standing?"
"It's admirable you care that much about our girls, Olli…One day, perhaps, they'll learn that and be grateful."
"This project is a noble effort, ma'am…Two of my brothers have given their lives to it. I've benefitted from it. I'll do anything to protect it and the subjects from anything that threatens to cheapen it."
"I'm glad to have you for a friend, Olli…But, never forget…Leave Aldous to me."
"Yes, ma'am." Cool nod. "If he's left less able to do harm to the project, I'm content."
"Thanks, Olli…" slight groan…
"Can I help you, ma'am?"
"No, just the usual…Thanks." Sigh… "Olli? You mean that? Aldous still means a great deal to me, you know that."
"I understand. And yes, I mean it, ma'am. But…As to what we've done…Leaving Louise to be identified where Beth…" pause.
"I do that sometimes too…" wistful sigh. "She was a dear creature, Beth…My poor Beth…"
"I mourn her, sincerely…" Olivier nodded. "But…Sarah…Acting as Beth…If she knows what Louise was? And has Cosima' help?..."
"That was our intention, Olli…To give her something to set her off, assuming she can keep playing Beth successfully…Or at least obtain enough information from Beth's partner to try and track this down."
"But if Dr. Leekie learns she and the others are pursuing the matter…?"
"That's also my intention, Olli…Aldous needs to see the dangers of continuing this aspect of the project any further."
"He might choose to protect his interest…" Duval eyed the figure in chair before him as it twisted, unable to find a comfortable position. "Ma'am, shouldn't you…?"
"I'll have another injection in a few minutes…I can't up the pain meds too high, Olli…But thanks. As for Aldous, he won't act against the girls…All this was my fault, really." Sigh. "I never should have allowed them to be kept alive…He was for terminating initially, Olli…I was the one who hoped to learn from them…I suppose, over time, seeing so many of them…Infants, children, young women, die as they did…He…" her voice trailed. "It is my fault, Olli, not Aldous'…And, with your help, I'll put it right." Wan smile.
"Ma'am…" he paused. "I know I have no right to broach this subject…But my devotion to the project…My family's devotion to you and the project…"
"Olli?" hard stare…
"If you die…Dr. Leekie is sole director…"
"I won't die, Olli…At least not before the project is completed, I promise you that. I may be battered but hardly broken…" grin, followed by stern look. "And Aldous Leekie is my husband. A threat, implied or direct, to him, is one to me."
"I mean no threat, ma'am. Only my concern for the future of the project makes me speak out."
"Aldous will not destroy this project, Olli. Leave any concerns about him to me."
"Yes, ma'am." Nod.
"I'm a bit tired. I'd better use the thing…" annoyed tone. "Would you?" slight plea in tone.
"Certainly…" he stood up and went to a corner of the room…A mechanical whir and he returned, leading an electric wheelchair…
"God, do I hate that thing…" bitter sigh.
University of Minnesota Medical Center…
MRI research facility…Control and imaging booth…
"Well?" Sarah eyed Leroy, then Cosima, as they each glanced at a bank of monitors.
"This unit has positron-emission capability as well…Takes a little more time…" Leroy explained.
"Means we can get some metabolic info as well as structural…" Cosima noted.
"Terrif…But is Ally ok? That's all we want to know."
"I was…I'm sure…" Cosima paused…Eyeing instruments.
"What?" Sarah stared.
"She's unconscious, I think…Leroy?"
"Get her out of there!" Sarah yelled… "Now!" She pressed the intercom button. "Donnie?! We're gonna…"
"She's just sleeping…" Leroy noted, eyeing instruments.
Sound of Donnie singing, interrupted. "Sarah? Is anything wrong? She's…"
Loud snore from the MRI chamber…
"Huh?...Uh, no…Fine…" Sarah told the intercom. "What are you doin'?"
"Just a lullaby…She learned it for 'Sweeney Todd' last year…She likes to sing it to the kids." He noted.
"Ok…Fine…Carry on…"
"…demons are howling everywhere, nowadays…I'll send them howling, I don't care…I've got ways…"
Sarah, eyeing Cosima who grinned back.
Felix, carton of coffees in hand, entered…
"Jesus…" he sighed, listening.