"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 VIII…
Coffee shop near Felix's place…
Allison, Donnie, Paul, Felix, eyeing Sarah and considering her news carefully…
Though Allison still in the afterglow of not being a Borg, rather unnervingly even to Sarah, content…
"LA?" Paul, last to arrive and receive fill-in, stared…
"That's it." Sarah nodded.
"LA…" Felix, darkly. As in, I got Minnesota…And some of us get…That earthly version of paradise known as LA."
Not included in travel plans and therefore, miffed.
"And this group, your partner's friend…FBI?" Paul, troubled tone. "Do you really think that's wise, bringing the FBI in on this?"
"Apparently they were already in." Sarah, quietly. "This is a chance to share knowledge."
"Assuming they're not part of this conspiracy." Paul noted. "It has pretty deep roots, Sa…Beth…" he corrected at her stare.
"Art trusts him…I trust Art." She said, simply, hands folded. "They're already aware of a lot about us…And we've got to have help…"
"Fringe division…" Paul shook his head. "I'm not experienced with the FBI but I have a few friends…I can try to see what they know."
"Couldn't hurt." Sarah nodded. "But I think Agent Broyles is for real. Look, I'm going to keep all of you out of it except Cos who's agreed to come in…If things don't turn out well…"
"I trust your judgment here, Beth." Allison, firmly. Arm wrapped round Donnie. "If you think this man is being honest, that's enough for me. You do what you think is right. It would be good to have help of that sort."
"He's going to let Cosima see the clone?" Donnie asked… "I mean, the girl…" he corrected to Sarah's and Allison's hard stares… "The one who was killed?"
"He will. Along with his people."
"How did they manage to get hold of her?" Paul frowned. "And in this city?"
"They were on the case, they investigate this sort of thing…As to why she died here…Maybe Dyad intended it…Maybe she was being brought into wherever they examine us." Sarah sighed. "I'm still wondering how it was I wound up in the same city as Allison and…Sarah."
"And Helena…" Allison noted…
"She was tracking us…" Sarah replied. "But we three are a puzzle."
Felix a bit non-plussed… "You're not sayin' you have doubts about Mrs. S.?"
"No…" Sarah shook her head. "None. But she could have been maneuvered into coming here…If Leekie and co learned she had me. And that seems the only possible explanation for us three being here."
" 'The three of us'…" Allison corrected…Sarah eyeing her...Ally?
Beth…Allison mouthed the word silently. Hard stare.
Right enough…Slight nod. Was a slip…She caught Paul's look.
"What?"
"Nothing…" he lied. "Just, you're leaving now? What's the cover for you? Vacation?"
"No, I'm back on the force, restricted duty and on the case. And so Beth isn't going anywhere…" she eyed the group.
"Really?" Allison stared. "So…"
"You mean…Wait a minute…" Donnie, catching immediately…Rather to Sarah's surprise.
"What?" Allison looked at his worried face.
Oh…
Hmmn…She grinned at the thought…Slight roll of eyes…
Yeah…
Allison Hendrix, Police Woman…
"Are you serious?" Paul had caught on as well…Felix blinking as it dawned on him…
"It's only for a couple of days…Art will keep a close eye and she won't be expected to do anything but sit in the office and may ride in the car."
"I can do that." Allison, nodding rather eagerly.
Detective Officer Hendrix…She beamed. Bethie would be so proud of me…
You know when all this is over, I will have some very neat stories for the kids…
Assuming we're not all dead of course…
"Ally, you're not a cop and outside of Beth's training sessions you've never handled a gun." Donnie objected.
"No gun." Sarah shook her head. "Restricted duty, no firearm. Though, hey…My sister is pretty damned good with a gun. Taught me everything I know."
Allison, pleased beam…
"A cop? In a case involving Helena?" Paul noted. "How are your marital arts skills, Ally?"
"I took a karate course two years ago and self defense for moms."
"Ally? You sprained your wrist trying to chop that board. And threw your back out trying to throw me." Donnie eyed her.
"Beth will show me a few moves…" she shrugged.
"I'll have to leave that to our ex-soldier here and Art." Sarah shook her head. "But don't worry, Don…Art won't let her out of his sight. She's just there so Leekie and his buds will be clueless for once about something we're doing."
"And if they find out, you'll know I'm the mole…" Paul eyed her.
"If…" she nodded. Hard stare.
"I'm sure Paul's not a mole…" Allison, calmly…He staring…As did the others…
"You've put your life on the line…I'm satisfied." She shrugged.
"Thanks…" wan smile. "I see I'm still on probation with the others but I appreciate it, Allison."
Now if only the MRI had had as good an effect on Sarah…
"Just being careful, Paul. I don't think you'll let us down." Sarah replied. "But, it involves my sisters, my daughter, and my brothers." Sidelong smile to Allison who returned.
Thanks.
"Putting that aside…" Donnie cut in… "And I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, too…" nod to Paul… "I don't like this putting Ally in Helena's gun sight. What if she figures her out and decides to start shooting without an introduction, like with Katja?"
Hmmn…Did forget Katja…Allison noted to herself…
But Donnie didn't…She beamed.
Though getting back to the practical…
"I don't think Helena would shoot me." Sarah, carefully… "And it'll be too short a time for her to figure Allison out."
"Helena's a resourceful girl." Paul noted. "And if Dyad is actually running her with a faked religious nut group…Or if the group is real and has its own resources."
"We need a Beth…I'm it." Allison, firmly.
"I'll be fine. I'm a cop." She mimicked Beth's voice.
"You're an amateur actress/entrepreneur/soccer mom…" Donnie sighed.
"Donnie…" she smiled. "That was sweet to put the others first."
" 'Entrepreneur'?" Felix asked.
"I do a little massage, plus baked goods and crafts thing a few months a year." Allison explained.
"Of course." Nod. Roll of eyes to Sarah, who frowned. Not helpin', Fee.
"It'll be fine." Allison insisted. "And it's only a couple of days…"
"What about 'where's Allison?'…" Donnie noted. "They monitor you too…"
"Off on our retreat, for real, this time." Allison, smiling…
Nailed it…
"We leave…I get off somewhere as Beth…Arthur…"
"Art." Sarah corrected firmly.
Right.
"Art." Beth tone… "…picks me up. We just have to keep an eye out to be certain we're not seen at the rendezvous."
"Actually…That was Art's plan, too, more or less…Nice, Allison." Sarah nodded.
"It's the way we cops think, kid." Allison, clipped tone.
Donnie, hand to his head for a second, but quickly giving her as confident a smile as he could muster.
Well, at least half her brain wasn't missing with a portable computer installed…Gotta count the blessings in this insane affair.
"I'm a cop." She said, with swagger, brushing back hair with harsh stroke, sultry look his way… "You're married to…A cop."
Uh-huh…He nodded…Maintaining smile.
Eyeing Allison's beaming expression…
Yeah…Allison Hendrix is…Beth Childs, Detective. Shot of her leaping from Starsky and Hutch car, rolling over top as guns blaze at her and her gun likewise…Blazes.
Uh, boy…
Shot of her leaping from Starsky and Hutch car, falling in road…Villains happily blazing away at her bullet-riddled corpse.
"About that training…?" he began. "I gotta make one demand. Paul gives me lessons too."
"Sounds good to me…" Sarah nodded. Sly glance to the somewhat stunned Paul…Picturing Donnie and Allison attempting martial arts under his tutelage.
Uh, boy…Hand to head.
Felix eyeing Sarah. You are rotten really, you are…
"But that'll have to be later. You guys work it out. For now, Art's plan calls for us to trade before the airport…Time to hit the ladies room, Detective." She eyed Allison who blinked.
"You and Donnie are flying to your retreat…Or whatever place you like for seeing a relative or whatever…Paul and I are seeing you off…"
Hmmn…Donnie nodded…Not a bad plan…Sarah and I fly to the place, she presumably then goes on to LA…
Sarah is flying with Donnie…Anywhere? Allison, suddenly brought down to Earth, thought, frowning…
"Come on, Officer…" Sarah hissed.
"Yeah, sure…" she rose.
"Cream?" smile as cup was handed.
"Please…"
Careful pour to cup extended. "Enough?"
"Just fine, sweetheart."
"Great…" smile. "Sugar?"
"Just one…" nod.
Turn to sugar bowl on table…Spoon…Slight shake…
"Careful…"
"Sorry…" smile…Spoon to cup, poured…
"That's fine. Thanks." Sip.
"Is it ok?"
"Just fine, Olive. Thank you." Aldous Leekie grinned. "And Simon? I think just a bit more fine tuning on the fine motor skills but definite improvement in facial reactivity."
"Right, Dr. Leekie…" Olive, sheepish look, taking seat next to him on the sofa on which he sat.
"Tremendous…Nice progress in response time. I think we're almost ready to begin…But I would like to see it with a woman running the show again."
"It would likely be an improvement." Duval, from a chair near the sofa on which Leekie was calmly sipping his coffee with Olive, now lying back, to appearances, asleep. "Unfortunately the ideal operator isn't willing…"
"No…But as to the operation itself…She'll come round eventually when presented with the fait accompli…" Leekie smiled.
"She hates the whole idea of the operation…As well as this entire aspect of the project…"
"Can you blame her, Olli? Would you want a more or less brain-dead Duval being used like a suit of clothes?" grin. "But we need to make full use of our resources and by the sad facts of experimental nature, Olive and poor Louise are incredibly valuable resources." Pause… "Are you sure the Dr. Mrs. trusts you? I am counting on you to keep her from interfering with this operation, you know."
"She believes I hold a grudge over Olivier I…" shrug. "And that I share her views on this aspect of the project."
Thoughtful nod…Smile. "Do you hold a grudge, Olli? I wouldn't blame you. He was your actual triplet."
"You did what had to be done, sir. In a way, he was the weakest of us three. It's unfortunate but he knew the importance of the project in all its aspects and he knew the consequences of allowing anything to compromise it." Duval, calmly.
"As for Olive and Louise, the results were statistically unavoidable if regrettable…But, however Dr. Leekie's judgment may be clouded by her personal involvement, their sacrifice was for the greater good and they've still managed to make a major contribution."
"I'm glad you can see the big picture, Olli." Leekie smiled.