At Maladori's secret laboratory:
Carver: …
Professor Maladori (to Carver): Really? Patience Mr. Carver. No wonder your prior employer's plans so often went awry. The best laid plans take time to ferment.
At Poppy & Vincent's apartment; West Piedmont:
Marlena: Keep your fucking shirt on! (to Josette Wells) Hello? Can I help you?
Josette (to Marlena): I certainly hope so… I'm looking for the Potters.
Marlena (to Josette): Oh, um, that would be my aunt & uncle. They're out of the country at the moment. Wanna leave a message?
Josette (to Marlena): Oh! They're real!?! I mean, they really live here. Shit. I thought I was going insane… This might sound crazy but, I think they might know where my brother is.
Marlena (to Josette): … This is going to be some crazy bullshit, isn't it? C'mon in… I'll make some coffee. Or do you want a beer?
Josette (to Marlena): Oh… A beer would be fabulous. I've been on the road from New Orleans all night.
Marlena (to Josette): Heh. Beer it is. (to Amunet) Amunet, we've got company! So, stop walking around fucking naked.
Amunet (to Marlena): I AM not walking around naked! I'm wrapped in a towel… I needed to get something from the laundry.
Marlena (to Amunet): Heh… You were totally fucking snooping. (to Josette) Here you go. Now, tell me fucking everything.
Amunet (to Marlena & Josette): … I'm going to my room.
Josette (to Marlena): … I don't know if I should. It sounds ridiculous when I think about it.
Marlena (to Josette): Well, let's start off with introductions… I'm Marlena. You can call me Mars. The one lurking about is Amunet. I'm the Potter's niece. So, how exactly did you know about them and where to find them?
Josette (to Marlena): Nice to meet you. I'm Josie Wells, um, or Josette Baldwin, depending on where we are, I guess… And, I knew about your family because I was told about them by someone-- I can't quite remember. I'm sorry, this has all been really strange. I thought I was going insane. Hell, I was locked up until I did a search for your Aunt & Uncle and found their address. As soon as I knew they were real people, I came looking for them… I'm not dangerous or anything.
Marlena (to Josette): … You're going to have to start from the beginning.
A couple hours later:
Marlena: Well, shit… (to Victor, via communicator) Come in, Wicked Sister… Come on, pick up! This is fucking important!
Victor (to Marlena): We read you, Mars. What's wrong?
Marlena (to Victor): So, I have a young lady here that claims to be Felix's sister merged with her double on this side by a Dr. Franklin... Any idea what she's going on about? Amunet spiked her drink, apparently. So, she's sleeping soundly on our couch right now.
Victor (to Marlena): ...Wait. What?! You're going to have to run that by me one more time... I've got no ruddy idea what's going on.
Marlena (to Victor): Fuckin' hell… Apparently, this Franklin fucker bought some people from the colonies to experiment on a few years ago. One of them was Josette. He used them for some sort of teleportation experiment, but it didn't work. But, what it did do was merge both world's version into one being… She was merged into Josie Wells on this side, but she started having dreams over the last year about her other life. She thought she was going crazy so she committed herself. For some reason, your parent's name was in her head and she looked them up, discovered they were real and came here… God, that was a fuckin' mouthful. Is that what it's like to be Zoe?
Victor (to Marlena): Yeah... Heh. Or me or Nate. Even when you know why you know why you've got some other life crammed in your noggin, it's still confusing as ruddy hell. Bloody fucking Franklin. He's no better than Maladori. What's your impression of this mystery sister?
Marlena (to Victor): She's a bit fuckin' batty and confused but, I don't think she's malicious. But, I'm no an expert. Does Felix even have a fucking sister? I've never heard him talk about family.
Victor (to Marlena): Yeah. Four or five if I'm remembering what Zoe said. He doesn't talk about himself much, and his mum's a real bit of work... She sold him off to a factory in New York when he was a kid... Ruddy hell. I'm guessin he'll want to talk to her.
Marlena (to Victor): … So, should I expect a visit sometime soon? Or will you just be picking up?
Victor (to Marlena): I think a visit first would be best. If she's a bit unstable, depositing her on an airship while unconscious might not be the best course of action for her mental state, yeah?
Marlena (to Victor): Heh. Well, you would fuckin' know about mental states… We'll keep an eye on her until you arrive. I can probably get Amunet to wake her up.. If I ask her nicely.
Victor (to Marlena): Heh. Yeah. I would. I'd expect Zoe and Felix relatively shortly.
Marlena (to Victor): Okay… I'll turn off the inhibitor field. (to Amunet) You hear all that?
Amunet (to Marlena): Yes. I'm already brewing the antidote. Don't look at me like that… You are far too trusting.
Marlena (to Amunet): Heh. Only when I know I can take 'em in a fight. C'mon, let's get ready for our visitors.
A short time later, onboard the Wicked Sister:
Victor (to Felix & Zoe): <knock knock> Hullo. I hate to interrupt... I REALLY hate to interrupt, but I need to speak to Felix.
Zoe (to Victor & Felix): Heehee. We weren't doing anything filthy, big brother. Just doing a little rearranging of furniture.
Felix (to Zoe & Victor): Heh. By which she means I've been shoving things about while she dictates.
Zoe (to Felix): What? You were just complaining about not having anything to do while we were docked. :-P
Felix (to Zoe & Victor): Was I? I don't recall that...
Victor (to Felix & Zoe): ... Felix, I don't suppose you have a sister named Josette, do you?
Felix (to Victor): ... I do. What's going on, Captain?
Victor (to Felix & Zoe): I was afraid you were going to say that...
Zoe (to Victor & Felix): Um, what's going on, big brother? You have that look on your face that means we're in trouble.
Victor (to Felix & Zoe): I don't know quite how to tell you this... A girl claiming to be your sister is at Mars's house. She said Franklin, uh, bought her in the states. He merged her with her double on the other side in some failed experiment.
Zoe (to Victor & Felix): … Shit.
Victor (to Felix & Zoe): Yeah. My thoughts exactly. I told Mars you two would be by to talk to her.
Felix: ...
Zoe (to Felix & Victor): Um, I think we're going to need a minute or so, big brother.
Victor (to Felix & Zoe): Yeah. Course. Take all the time you need... Bullocks, this is as bad as dealing with Maladori. Thank God the two of them never... Oh. Oh! Bloody hell! Of course. I can't believe we're so ruddy stupid!
Zoe (to Victor): Huh? What are you thinking?
Felix (to Victor): Captain. If you suspect something...
Victor (to Zoe & Victor): ... Never mind. It can keep. You two do what you need to do. Let me know if you need anything.
Zoe (to Victor): Don't you dare fucking do that! You think what's going on with Charles & now, this mystery sister is related, don't you? Shit… And, George is here too… I have a very bad feeling about all of this.
Victor (to Zoe & Felix): I was just thinking that when Maladori killed Hiiri, she took over Vernian Industries, didn't she? Which means she inherited all the research Franklin was doing for Greymalkin, right?
Zoe (to Victor & Felix): Yeah… And, we're not quite sure what became of Franklin. He went off the grid after Hiiri took over.
Victor (to Zoe & Felix): And Nate said Franklin was very keen to get his hands on our cousin. Especially after she let it slip that he was from another timeline. Add that to the ISS's files on everyone in Nate and Aiden's house, and I think we've got enough to get Maladori's eyes on our family. I think we can assume Maladori has Franklin. Or at least his research if she decided not to keep him around.
Zoe (to Victor & Felix): … Um, do you think we should be concerned about Charles?
Victor (to Zoe & Felix): Probably. But, we should probably concentrate on one issue at a time. You two go deal with the wayward sister. And I'll talk to Tesla and the twins, alright?
Felix (to Victor): ...You're sure this girl said her name was Josette Baldwin?
Victor (to Felix): I am... I'm sorry, Felix.
Zoe (to Victor): Go on, big brother. We've got it covered. (to Felix) Let me fix you a drink, sexy.
Felix (to Zoe): Thanks... I suppose I should be shocked my mother sold one of my sisters to a madman, shouldn't I? ... Do you think my other sisters are alright?
Zoe (to Felix): … Well, she might not have been the one who di-- I can't even finish that sentence. I'm sorry, sexy. After our last visit, I'd like to say that they are but she may have been lying and that's why she was so nervous… Plus, she was laying on the happy family a bit too thick.
Felix (to Zoe): Hell... Right. Let's go see what's to be done with Josette.
Zoe (to Felix): Okay… Take my hand.
Felix (to Zoe): All right. Before we do, come here for a moment ... Heh. Thanks. Ready to go when you are.
Zoe (to Felix): Uh huh… After a kiss like that I'll go wherever you want… Here we go!
A moment later, at Poppy & Vincent's apartment; West Piedmont:
Zoe (to Felix): Oof… (to Marlena & Amunet) Hello ladies… Hey! Put down the swords. It's just me & Felix.
Amunet (to Zoe, Felix & Marlena): You can never be too careful.
Felix (to Amunet): ...Then you should pick up your guard on the right, miss.
Amunet (to Felix): So, I see. Thank you for pointing it out. I'll do better next time.
Marlena (to Amunet): Stop trying to be fucking scary, Amunet. They're family. (to Felix & Zoe) Our guest is in the guest bedroom.
Felix (to Amunet, Marlena & Zoe): Heh. Thank you. I appreciate your vigilance. Is my sister awake?
Marlena (to Felix): She should be.
Zoe (to Marlena & Amunet): Thanks. (to Felix) Do you want me to come with you?
Felix (to Zoe): ... Give me a few moments alone first, pretty lady.
Zoe (to Felix): Yes, of course. (to Marlena & Amunet) Got another one of those beers?
Marlena (to Zoe): Yep.
A few minutes later:
Felix (to Josette): <knock, knock> Um, hello? Josette?
Josette (to Felix): … Yes? Is that you, Felix?
Felix (to Josette): It is... Do you remember me?
Josette (to Felix): I think so… You were a little boy when I last saw you.
Felix (to Josette): Heh. Well it has been a while... What's the last thing you remember?
Josette (to Felix): … As myself or this other person? I'm sorry… Can you be more specific?
Felix (to Josette): Well, I suppose I only know you from the one timeline. How old was I when you last saw me?
Josette (to Felix): … Nine, I believe. It was your birthday the last time I saw you. I gave you a vest that I made out of old skirt scraps. Mama told me that I shouldn't dote on you so much. But, you were the only boy & you were such a sweet child. We were sold off shortly thereafter, if I remember correctly.
Felix (to Josette): Heh. I'm a bit older than 9 these days... I kept that vest 'til I grew out of it, you know.
Josette (to Felix): I'll have to make you a new one. I'm so happy to see you.
Felix (to Josette): Yeah... I am too. Things are a bit, eh, complicated right now. Will you come back with me and my girl?
Josette (to Felix): Yeah, I think I'd like that… My life here isn't so good at the moment… I, sort of, left an asylum without permission. I don't believe the doctors take kindly to that sort of thing… Wait. Did you say your girl? Oh, Felix, did you get hitched? I'm so happy for you.
Felix (to Josette): Heh heh... Believe it or not, you wouldn't be the first person I knew to say that. Come on. I'll introduce you to my lady. And we're not hitched.. Not yet, anyway.
Josette (to Felix): Oh... Well, I'm sure she's lovely.
Felix (to Josette): Heh. You'll see, I'm sure...
A moment later:
Felix (to Zoe): Zoe? This is my, well, older sister Josette.
Zoe (to Josette & Felix): Hi there. Nice to meet you.
Josette (to Zoe): Nice to meet you, too... I'm sorry if I look shocked, you are not at all what I was expecting.
Zoe (to Josette & Felix): Heehee. You'd be surprised how many times I hear that sort of thing... Or maybe, you wouldn't.
Felix (to Josette): Dare I ask what you were expecting? :-p
Josette (to Zoe & Felix): ... No. I don't think I should say. I'll sound like an idiot for making that kind of assumption. Besides, on this side, all types of people are able to date. And, I like that just fine.
Zoe (to Josette & Felix): Heehee. Well, you're certainly much more agreeable than Mrs. Baldwin... I'm giving you a hug.
Josette (to Zoe & Felix): I don't mind saying that our mother is not a likable person & no one should use her as a role model.
Felix (to Josette & Zoe): Heh. That's for damn sure. We should head out. We still need to make arrangements for you, Josette.
Josette (to Felix & Zoe): Oh. Yes, of course... (to Marlena & Amunet) Thank you very much for the hospitality, ladies.
Zoe (to Felix & Josette): ... Yes. Arrangements. Um, we'll have to take a taxi to the old hotel. Unless... (to Marlena) Care to drive us?
Marlena (to Zoe, Felix & Josette): ... Fine. My car's out front.
Felix (to Zoe): ... Right. (to Marlena) Thank you, Ms Mars.
