Percy (to Mouse): No, not at all, honey. They're analyzing the data from the tests they ran. It'll be fine. I promise. In the meantime, how about a little distraction? We seem to have a visitor sculking around the grounds. Let's go say hello.
Mouse (to Percy): Oh, okay...
Percy (to Carver): See anything of interest, honey?
Carver (to Percy): We're always looking for something of interest, sir, ma'am.
Mouse (to Carver): Were you following us?
Percy (to Carver): You're an awfully long way from home, Carver. What are you doing here?
Carver (to Percy & Mouse): We think Ms Mouse has already figured it out, sir. We were following you. Ms Starling and Other Carver were curious, sir.
Percy (to Carver): Curious about what exactly, honey?
Carver (to Percy): Well, sir, we were wondering what Ms Mouse was doing here and whether or not it had something to do with our Mistress, sir.
Mouse (to Carver): Well, to be honest, that's what we're trying to find out...
Percy (to Mouse): Honey, please don't engage the little psycho. (to Carver) Have you been experiencing any losses of time, Mister Carver?
Mouse (to Percy): Oh, sorry.
Carver (to Percy): We're not sure what you mean, sir.
Percy (to Carver): Have you discovered that you have done something, but don't remember doing it?
Starling (to Carver): Shhhh... Don't listen to them, Mister Carver. They're just trying to trick you.
Carver (to Percy): We have, sir, but that's not unusual. Sometimes Other Carver or Ms Starling gets a little restless, sir. (to Mouse) We can't help but wonder at how much you look like our Mistress, ma'am.
Percy (to Carver): Oh well, that wasn't the answer I was expecting... But, I really shouldn't be surprised.
Mouse (to Carver): Gee thanks... You're not going to try and stab me, are you?
Carver (to Percy): As you say, sir. (to Mouse) Not right now, ma'am. Other Carver is awfully curious, but we've been forbidden to do any exploring for a while by our employer.
Mouse (to Carver): Oh well, thank goodness for small favors, little bro... I mean, Mister Carver.
Percy (to Mouse): Honey, are you okay?
Mouse (to Percy): Yes, I'm fine.
Carver (to Percy & Mouse): Very interesting.
Vincent (to Percy): Percy? Are you out here? The eggheads are locked up in their hidey hole, and one of the assistants said... (to Mouse) What on earth are you doing here, hun?
Mouse (to Vincent): I needed to talk to Klaude & Tesla, little brother.
Carver (to Vincent): Hello, Captain Potter, sir. It's nice to see you again, sir.
Vincent (to Mouse & Percy): I'm hoping if I don't acknowledge it, it will loose interest and go away.
Percy (to Carver): Honey, have you ever seen the inside of a genius' laboratory?
Carver (to Percy): Just Professor Maladori, sir. And we haven't been able to locate her in quite some time.
Percy (to Carver): Well then this should be fun & highly educational for you. Let's give the Potters some privacy. (to Vincent) I'll get Carver out of your hair, honey… (to Mouse) I'll let you know as soon as the smarties come out of the lab.
Vincent (to Percy): Thanks, hun.
Mouse (to Percy): Thank you, Percy.
Starling (to Carver): Make them put me into a body, Mister Carver... please?
Carver (to Starling): This may be a good time for us to learn something, Ms Starling. We know you're better with technology than we are, miss.
Starling (to Carver): Oh, you say the nicest things, Mister Carver. Tell the robot boy to lead the way.
Carver (to Percy): As you say, sir. Please lead the way, sir. (to Vincent) We doubt very much that we'll loose interest with you, sir. Please pay our regards to Ms O'Malley when you see her, sir. (to Mouse) Good bye, ma'am.
Vincent (to Carver): I'm sure Miranda is suppressing a shudder as we speak. Later, crazy cakes.
Mouse (to Carver): Goodbye, Carver. (to Vincent) Now that we don't have a big audience, give me a hug, little brother.
Vincent (to Mouse): As if you have to ask, sweetie. What's going on?
Mouse (to Vincent): I'm not really sure, but I've apparently be losing time & the night before last I rearranged the kitchen in my sleep and destroyed the coffee grinder. I'm hoping it's nothing, but I just wanted to be sure so I came here.
Vincent (to Mouse): And you didn't tell Mr. Mouse that you were headed over, I take it, which is what I'm guessing the hangdog look is all about?
Mouse (to Vincent): I left him a note... I was hoping to be back before he noticed I was gone. I have the transporter set to go back last night but I left the note just in case I didn't calibrate it correctly. I don't want him to worry until I know there's something to actually worry about... What's the look for?
Vincent (to Mouse): Oh. Did I have a look? Heh. For all your admonishments of me and my secrets, you and I are exactly alike, sweet sister. Your beau is already worried, by the by. He called me last night half asleep and asked me to come talk to Tesla and Klaude.
Mouse (to Vincent): Oh... Well, damn. Now I feel like a heel. Honestly, I wasn't trying to keep secrets from him.
Vincent (to Mouse): I know you weren't, hun. You were just trying to edit the truth a bit, so that he didn't worry. Hee hee hee. Believe me, I know how that goes. :-P
Mouse (to Vincent): I bet you do... So, do you think I should be concerned? I mean, I keep feeling like there's more in my head than there should be, but it doesn't feel like last time.
Vincent (to Mouse): I can't pretend to understand how Hiiri got in your head in the first place, or how they got her out, hun. But if you feel like anything might even be slightly out of whack, you should get it checked out.
Mouse (to Vincent): That's why I'm here, little brother... Thank you for coming to check up on me, even if you didn't know I was here. :-P
Vincent (to Mouse): I'm always here for my favoritest big sister. And next time you feel like something might be wrong, you can call me, you know.
Mouse (to Vincent): I know I can... Uh oh... Percy looks a bit grim.
Percy (to Mouse & Vincent): Vincent honey, can you come with me for just a second? There's something we need to ask you.
Vincent (to Mouse): Give me a hug, hun. I'll be right back.
Mouse (to Vincent): Of course, little brother. I'll be right here.
Vincent (to Mouse): I'll be back before you can miss me. (to Percy) What's going on, hun?
Percy (to Vincent): Honey, we've been running some tests on your sister... and well, there's been some very strange inconsistencies. Can we take a blood sample from you?
Vincent (to Percy): Oh. Of course, hun. Why do you need my blood? What kind of inconsistencies did you find?
Percy (to Vincent): Well, honey... I don't want to jump to conclusions, but the information & samples from Mouse that I gathered from the other side don't seem to be matching with the Mouse we have here, for one... and well, it's very strange that her DNA appears to make her an actual relative of yours, but that's impossible. Thus, the blood sample & inconsistencies. It's very odd. So, there are two possibilities. Either that's not Mouse or Mouse is actually related to you.
Vincent (to Percy): Wait. What? WHAT? Oh... I... Good heavens.
Percy (to Vincent): I'm sorry, honey... I'll keep my fingers crossed that it's just an error or that there's some other explanation.
Vincent (to Percy): But... If that's not Mouse, who on earth could it be? And a relative? Of MINE? What... Nevermind. It doesn't matter. I'm getting ahead of myself. It's probably a mistake. Of course, you can have a blood sample, hun.
Percy (to Vincent): Thank you, honey. This will only hurt a little. What do you know about Mouse's life before she met you?
Vincent (to Percy): Her parents died when she was little and she was raised by her grandmother. Ouch! Careful, hun. That's attached.
Percy (to Vincent): Sorry. So, she didn't really know her parents? Was it her maternal or paternal grandmother that raised her, honey?
Vincent (to Percy): She knew them a bit, hun. She was 10 when they died. And it was her paternal grandmother, I believe.
Percy (to Vincent): Hmmm... Alright, I'm all done with the sample. Give me a few minutes to analyze & compare. Honey, did you ever meet your grandparents?
Vincent (to Percy): Ooch. I think you nicked a vein, you butcher! Good heavens. I'm getting blood all over myself. Poppy's going to kill me for ruining another shirt, you know. And no. I met my father's parents a few times as a kid. But my mom didn't have any contact with her family. From the little I know, it didn't sound like a pleasant childhood.
Percy (to Vincent): Oh my! Here let me bandage that for you. I'm so sorry. And, I apologize for the weird line of questioning, honey, but I just wanted to see if there might be clues.
Vincent (to Percy): I assumed that's what you were doing, hun, but as far as I know, my family has been deeply ensconced in Kentucky for years. And the Potter clan hails from New England. Thanks for the bandage job. I'll let you get to your tests.
Percy (to Vincent): Hmmm, well that just makes this even weirder, honey. Before you go... Tesla & Klaude wants to know if they should help Carver with his little friend?
Vincent (to Percy): Oh good heavens! Why are they even dithering about with asking? Of course not! Do you want a little piece of Hiiri that's been cooking inside of Carver running around? With a knife?
Percy (to Vincent): Oh. They're going to be disappointed. Well, we've got him asleep in the lab, I'll just have him put on my ship & return him to New London when we're done here.
Vincent (to Percy): I swear, sometimes those two don't think further ahead than whatever interesting experiment happens to be on their table.
Percy (to Vincent): Well, they are scientists, honey, that seems to be par for the course. Go on back to your sister. I should be done shortly.
A short time later:
Vincent (to Mouse): Hey, sweetie. I'm sorry to keep you waiting.
Mouse (to Vincent): It's okay... Is everything alright?
Vincent (to Mouse): They're running more tests. You know how scientists are. Did you know they were actually considering giving Carver's little Hiiri-based hitchhiker her own body?
Mouse (to Vincent): Oh? Why would they want to do that?
Vincent (to Mouse): Hee hee. That's what I said. Honestly, I have no idea how Poppy ever endured keeping that man on a leash for as long as she did.
Mouse (to Vincent): Heehee, I guess she probably just likes having men on a leash. :-P
An hour or so later:
Percy (to Vincent & Mouse): Hey there, you two. I'm really sorry to have to do this, but Mouse would you please accompany the guards? Don't make this ugly. Vincent, put your gun down, please.
Mouse (to Percy & Vincent): Wait. Why? What's going on?
Vincent (to Percy): I'll be happy to, hun, as soon as those two stop pointing guns at us. Let's not get twitchy here, folks.
Percy (to Vincent): I'm sorry but they can't do that, honey. That's not your sister. I don't think your sister has been here for quite sometime, honey.
Mouse (to Percy & Vincent): Are you insane, Percy? Of course, I'm his sister.
Vincent (to Percy): Percy, what the fuck is going on?
Percy (to Mouse): No, honey, you're not. (to Vincent) According to the tests, she's not old enough to be your sister. And, the reason why she has some of your DNA is because someone spliced her with it. Probably trying to give her the ability to control the portals.
Mouse (to Percy): You ARE insane. (to Vincent) Tell him this is insane.
Vincent (to Mouse): Calm down, sweetie. We're going to figure this out, right? (to Percy) Right?
Percy (to Vincent & Mouse): I wish I was wrong, really I do. But this explains how Hiiri could get into her brain because she was there from the start. And why she didn't struggle or try to escape. Honey, the only thing to figure out is what happened to your real sister, because this isn't her.
Mouse (to Vincent & Percy): I'm going to be sick… I don't understand... You're saying that I'm not me? How is that possible? There's got to be a mistake.
Vincent (to Percy): Percy, this is... This is a lot to process. What did you mean that Mouse isn't old enough to be my sister?
Percy (to Vincent): According to the tests we ran, she's only eight months old.
Vincent (to Percy): Oh God. I think I'm going to be sick as well. Fat Christ...
Percy (to Mouse): I'm sorry, honey. We each ran the test multiple times. It's no mistake. (to Vincent) Honey, I know this is a lot to take in, but I need you to shake it off. We've got to find your sister. Can you do this? Or should I handle this on my own?
Vincent (to Percy): Percy, did you ever give my sis... Mouse my file from the ISS?
Percy (to Vincent): What!?! Of course not, honey. How would she even know I was involved with the ISS? I never told her I was.
Vincent (to Mouse): Sweetie, there are only 3 people who know about my involvement with the Reliant. One of them is my wife, one of them is dead, And the other one was Hiiri.
Mouse (to Vincent & Percy): Oh... I guess I should go with the guards then.
Vincent (to Percy): Wait. Wait! Percy, they don't need those guns, do they?
Percy (to Vincent): I've seen Mouse take down men twice her size, honey. I think they might need them.
Mouse (to Vincent): It's okay, little... Vincent.
Vincent (to Mouse): Mouse. Wait, I... (to Percy) Percy! PERCY! Let go of me!
Percy (to Vincent): I'm sorry, honey. We need to take her to the dungeon.
Mouse (to Vincent): I'm really sorry, Vincent, if I had known... Oh my god, Eep! Someone's got to tell him. And, you've got to find your sister.
Vincent (to Mouse): I'll take care of him, sweetie. I...I don't know what to say.
Percy (to Vincent): Can I offer you a hug, honey?
Vincent (to Percy): What? Oh. Of course, hun. How long do you think Mouse has been missing?
Percy (to Vincent): I'm not sure, honey. But, if the age of our current guest is any indication, it could be quite some time. How are you holding up? Should I holler at your wife to come and retrieve you?
Vincent (to Percy): I don't know, hun. I honestly don't know... It doesn't matter. I'll freak out later. Right now, we need to concentrate on finding my sister. Oh God... And figuring out a way to explain this to Eep.
Percy (to Vincent): I certainly don't envy you about that. Oh. Wait. If Hiiri set this whole thing up then we may have someone on hand that can help us find your sister.
Vincent (to Percy): Who? CARVER?
Percy (to Vincent): Yes, honey. We never did find out her hiding place & that's more than likely where she put your sister. He might not know what her plan is but he probably knows the various locations where she hid.
Vincent (to Percy): OK, hun. See what you can find out from the creepy little bastard. I'm going to go let Poppy know what's going on. And we'll get Eep.
Percy (to Vincent): Alright, honey. Good luck!
A short time later:
Percy (to Carver): Wakey, wakey Mister Carver.
Carver (to Percy): Were we asleep, sir? That's unusual. Did you drug us, sir?
Percy (to Carver): Honestly, no I didn't but yes, you were drugged. That's neither here nor there, Carver. I need you to answer my questions. I'd threaten you, but I know that won't work. So, let's just say that if you help me, I'll help your little friend. Okay?
Carver (to Percy): We would be agreeable to that, sir.
Percy (to Carver): Excellent. What can you tell me about Hiiri's plan for revenge against Vincent? Do you know where she hid Mouse?
Carver (to Percy): We can't tell you much, sir. Our mistress didn't give us details, about her plans. We mostly used our knives for her, sir. Nothing else seemed very interesting to us, sir.
Percy (to Carver): Well, that's a start. Thank you. Would you like to come with me, Carver? I have a feeling this might be your kind of fun.
Carver (to Percy): We know our Mistress had two houses in the Seven Sisters neighborhood that she never took us to, sir. But she may have others we don't know about, sir.
Percy (to Carver): Come along then Carver. And when we get back, I should have a present for you & your friend.
Carver (to Percy): We'll be happy to help if it's fun, sir. We're not due back to school quite yet, sir.
A couple hours later:
Vincent (to Poppy): Hey, hun.
Poppy (to Vincent): Hi... What's wrong, honey? Are you hurt? Who hurt you? I'll kill them.
Vincent (to Poppy): What? Oh! Oh, the blood. No, I'm not hurt, hun. Percy took a blood sample and got a little overzealous.
Poppy (to Vincent): Why on earth did he need a blood sample, honey? What's happened? You look upset.
Vincent (to Poppy): My sister is missing. We don't know how long she's been gone. Hiiri replaced her with some kind of gene-spliced double.
Poppy (to Vincent): Honey, what have I told you about drinking the Admiral's rum? That's not funny at all.
Vincent (to Poppy): Sweetie, do I look like I'm kidding? Because, I really wish I was.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh dear, I'm so sorry. What do you need me to do?
Vincent (to Poppy): Percy's talking to Carver to see if he can get any information from the littlest psycho. Can you check with your contacts? We don't know how long Mouse has been missing, so we need to find her ASAP. Someone must have noticed Hiiri.
Poppy (to Vincent): Of course, honey... I'll do my best. (to Victor) Come on, little man, we're going to go see some spies. You'll like this. (to Vincent) It'll be okay, honey, we'll find her.
Vincent (to Poppy): I know we will, hun.
Poppy (to Vincent): So, you're really not sure how long she's been missing? Does Eep know about this?
Vincent (to Poppy): No. The clone, or whatever she is, is about 8 months old. And no, Eep doesn't know yet. I have to tell him.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh... He's going to freak.
Vincent (to Poppy): I know. I should probably do this in person.
Poppy (to Vincent): Do you want Victor & I to go with you, honey? I think you're both going to need some moral support.
Vincent (to Poppy): I... I was going to say no, hun, but I would actually really appreciate that.
Poppy (to Vincent): Alright, honey. I'll send a message to my contacts & then we can go talk to Eep.
Vincent (to Poppy): Alright, hun. Let me know when you're ready to go.
A few minutes later:
Poppy (to Vincent): Ok, honey, I'm done. Let's get going. Wait. C'mere first... That's for luck.
Vincent (to Poppy): Thanks, lover. I think we're going to need all the luck we can get. Let's get going.
Two hours later:
Poppy (to Eep): Knock, knock. Are you home, honey?
Eep (to Poppy): Poppy? Hey! What's going on? Mouse left me some note, and I've been trying to get a hold of you guys all day. What the fuck is going on?(to Vincent) What? What's that look?
Poppy (to Eep): Here, honey, you're going to want to drink this.
Vincent (to Eep): It's Mouse. She's missing.
Eep (to Vincent): What? What the fuck do you mean "missing?" How the fuck can she be missing? What the fuck are you talking about?
Poppy (to Eep): Honey, it simply means we need to find your wife. Percy is looking for her as we speak. I'm so sorry.
Vincent (to Eep): Poppy's right, Slim. I need you to sit down and remain calm. Please.
Eep (to Vincent): No! No, FUCK sitting down, Vincent! Tell me what the fuck is going on right now! What do you mean missing?
Vincent (to Eep): Alright. Alright. Apparently, the Mouse who has been living with you, who's been here for a while, isn't really our Mouse.
Eep (to Vincent): Did you get hit on the fucking head or have you finally gone insane? What the fuck are you talking about?
Vincent (to Eep): When Mouse went to the Monastery they did blood work, and it came back, um, differently than the prior sample on file. Some of her DNA had been spliced with mine, and the tests showed her cells were 8 months old at the most. Sit down, hun. You look ready to fall over.
Eep (to Vincent): I'm not doing jack shit until someone explains what the fuck is going on, and makes some goddamn sense! What the fuck does that even mean? (to Poppy) What does that mean?! Make him make sense!
Poppy (to Eep): We don't know how long Mouse has been gone, her doppelganger seems to have no knowledge of being a copy.
Eep (to Poppy & Vincent): I... I don't...
Poppy (to Eep): You may not want to drink all of that so fast, honey-- Oh, nevermind.
Eep (to Poppy): If ever there was a time that was appropriate, I think this is it… (to Vincent & Poppy) I don't get it. Why put a dopple-whatever in Mouse's place that didn't know she's a copy? Doesn't make sense. Doesn't make fucking sense.
Vincent (to Eep): We don't know yet, but we will. First, things first, though. We need to find Mouse.
Eep (to Vincent & Poppy): Right. What do we need to do?
Poppy (to Vincent & Eep): We need to get in touch with Percy & see what he's found out.
Vincent (to Poppy): The Gloomies have a communicator here. I'll see if I can get a hold of Percy. Keep an eye on Eep, will you, lover? He's not doing well.
Poppy (to Vincent): I will, honey. (to Eep) Are you okay? I know this is a lot to absorb. Do you need anything?
Eep (to Poppy): I... I don't know. I don't even know what to think about all this. If it hasn't been Mouse here all this time... Where the fuck is she? I mean... Do you...um... do you think...I mean, do you think she's alive? And don't give me that "it's all gonna be OK" bullshit. It's Hiiri. It's already not fucking OK.
Poppy (to Eep): Honey, do you want my honest opinion or do you want me to lie to you?
Eep (to Poppy): If I wanted someone to lie to me, I wouldn't have asked you.
Poppy (to Eep): Fair enough, honey. I think Mouse is alive, because Hiiri wants you & Vincent to suffer.
Eep (to Poppy): Yeah. That fucking sounds like her. Fat Christ...
Vincent (to Percy): Hello? Percy? Are you reading me, hun?
Percy (to Vincent): Hi honey. You have good timing, I have news for you... I think we found where Hiiri has Mouse stored.
Vincent (to Percy): Good heavens! You have? That was fast work, hun. Where is she? We can be there in a shake.
Percy (to Vincent): We're in the Seven Sisters district, honey. I'll send you the address.
Vincent (to Percy): I've got it, hun. We'll be there shortly. Thank you, Percy.
Percy (to Vincent): See you soon, honey.
Vincent (to Eep & Poppy): Percy has a lead on Mouse. He thinks she might be in the Seven Sisters. (to Eep) Do you still have that one-way portal generator and a cache of weapons that the Davenports gave you don't you?
Eep (to Vincent): Yeah. Lemme go get it.
Poppy (to Vincent): Honey, I'm gonna bring Victor over to Wanda & Robert. I don't want to worry about him.
Vincent (to Poppy): Sweetie, you're a genius. I'll grab you some gear.
Poppy (to Robert): Hey there, sweetie. Can you do me a bit of a favor?
Robert (to Poppy): Hey, Poppy. What can I do for you?
Poppy (to Robert): Will you watch Victor for a couple hours? We've got a teeny crisis to deal with & I don't want him in harm's way.
Robert (to Poppy): Of course. What do you mean "in harm's way?" Are you two OK?
Poppy (to Robert): Yes, we're fine, honey. I promise I'll tell you all about it when I get back.
Robert (to Poppy): Understood. Take care of yourselves, and don't worry about me and Junior. We'll be fine. Hand me his diaper bag, and a key if to your apartment if we need anything.
Poppy (to Robert): Here you go, honey. Thank you. We'll be back as quick as we can. (to Victor) Goodbye, little man. Be good for your Uncle Robert.
Robert (to Ripper): It looks like we're on babysitting duty tonight.
Ripper (to Robert): Oh well, I'll set up a little bed for him... How did the gay couple end up with the baby? :-P
Robert (to Ripper): Heh. Probably because we're the only ones who can be trusted to know what to do when he starts stinking.
Ripper (to Robert): Heh. Lucky us.
Robert (to Ripper): Here. Hold the baby for a minute. I'm going to go mix him some formula. Don't wince! He won't bite. I don't think he's teething.
Ripper (to Robert): Ow! Why on earth did you say that? You clearly cursed me.
Robert (to Ripper): Heh heh. Oh, man up. How much could it have hurt? You are SO the youngest child. Ha ha ha! He got you good, didn't he? I'll bet he nearly gummed you to death. (to Victor) Didn't you, Victor?
A couple hours later:
Percy (to Vincent): I just heard from Klaude, honey. Our guest at the monastery isn't doing too well. Probably some sort of self-destruct was triggered when we started poking around. I'm not sure you want to tell Eep, but I'll leave it to your discretion.
Vincent (to Percy): Oh Jesus... Thank you for letting me know, Percy. I'll talk to him. (to Eep) Eep? I need to talk to you. The construct Mouse, the one that's at the Monastery right now, she's not doing well.
Eep (to Vincent): What do you mean not well? Did they lock her in a cell? Jesus, Vincent! She's got all the same memories as Mouse...
Vincent (to Eep): No, hun. I mean the examinations Klaude and Tesla did triggered some sort of self-destruct mechanism.
Eep (to Vincent): ¡Collons de Déu! What the fuck do we... I mean, I know it's not Mouse, but she's alone, and probably terrified... FUCK! I know it's not her! I just kinda fucking hate the idea of her facing that alone. But the real Mouse, I mean ours... She's out there somewhere. I'm not leaving her out there a second longer than we have to, Vincent! I CAN'T.
Vincent (to Eep): I know. I know. Calm down. It's OK. Find my sister. You'll have Poppy and Percy with you, so you'll have plenty of fire power. Follow up their leads, and I'll go sit with the other Mouse if she wants company. I'll meet up with you guys in the morning.
Eep (to Vincent): But, can you handle that? Um, I mean, it's your sister. Kinda.
Vincent (to Eep): I'll manage, hun. It's not the poor copy's fault. She didn't know who or what she was. She shouldn't be alone. I'll see you guys soon, kay?
Eep (to Vincent): Yeah. OK. Right. Um... Thank you, Vincent.
