FIC: Tetrahedron (1/4)
Jul. 3rd, 2009 03:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
splixTitle: Tetrahedron [part 1 of 4]
Crossover: The Island/Eastern Promises
Pairing: Merrick/Luzhin
Rating: NC-17 overall
Author: Alex
Warning: Dubious consent
Written for the![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
seans_50 July film challenge.
Beta: the most excellent![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kimberlite.
Disclaimer: Merrick and Luzhin are not my property. Written for love alone.
*
Dr. Merrick ushered his visitor to the chair opposite his desk, then seated himself. For a moment he regarded the man in silence. It was always useful to observe a client’s reactions before revealing crucial information. “I can’t tell you how pleased I am to meet another member of your esteemed organization, Mr. Luzhin,” he said smoothly, with a quick downward glance at his fact file.
Nikolai Luzhin removed his dark glasses and slipped them into a pocket, returning Merrick’s gaze. He extracted a pack of cigarettes. “It’s a pleasure to be here. May I smoke?” His accent was thick, but perfectly intelligible.
No hint of irritation or disapproval tinged Merrick’s pleasant reply. “By all means, if you wish.” Surreptitiously, he slid a hand along the edge of his desk and increased the air-filter flow. Smoke was bad for the agnates. “Your organization has been a most generous client for a number of years. I expect they’ve informed you as to the nature of your visit today.” He slid a glittering rock-crystal ashtray across the gleaming expanse of his desk.
“I’m afraid they haven’t.” Luzhin exhaled a tidy ribbon of smoke. “You have me at something of a disadvantage.”
Merrick sighed inwardly. As freehanded as Luzhin’s organization was with funding, it was remarkably reticent with information, especially with its own agents. Still, he’d given the little speech he was about to deliver half a hundred times before, and thus had had ample opportunity to perfect it. “You are a highly skilled individual, Mr. Luzhin, and your group values your contributions and expertise very much indeed. As you know better than I, there are times your job entails intense physical peril. In the event that some accident should befall you, our facility serves to provide a physical fail-safe to the benefit of yourself and your organization.”
“Is that so.” Luzhin’s expression was stony, his eyes veiled. It was a typical FSB reaction. “Go on.”
Carefully, Merrick explained the role of the agnate, emphasizing its conveniences, its complete cellular compatibility, its utter plasticity. Luzhin need never fear serious injury nor illness, as long as new agnate material could be developed and harvested. It was true that the cloning had been perfomed without Luzhin's permission, but surely he comprehended the need for discretion - and it was, after all, to his benefit. Not once did Luzhin interrupt with questions or comments. Merrick found himself suddenly and unaccountably discomfited beneath that steady and bizarrely familiar regard. “Have you any questions, Mr. Luzhin?” he asked gently.
Luzhin stubbed his cigarette out in the ashtray, where it smoldered with an acrid stench. “I think I have the information I require, Dr. Merrick. I’m pleased that my company finds my...services so valuable.”
“Oh, it does. And we understand your worth as well, Mr. Luzhin. Naturally, we’ll ask you to sign a non-disclosure waiver. I expect you’ve signed one for your group as well – obviously they disclose at their own discretion -- but we prefer that our individual clients keep all procedures in total confidence. You understand, I’m sure. If you like, we can tour sections of the facility. I’m certain you’ll find everything most satisfactory.” Merrick rose to his feet and placed his fingertips on the desk, happy that the interview had gone smoothly.
“A tour won’t be necessary.” Luzhin remained seated. “I would like to see the agnate, however.”
Merrick paused delicately. “We discourage our clients from any form of interaction with the agnate. That includes visual observation. There are a number of reasons why. I can enumerate them if you like, but I think that a man in your position realizes the potential hazards of –“
“Dr. Merrick.” Luzhin’s voice seemed to caress his name, but his chilly grey eyes remained impenetrable. “I have seen genuine horrors in the span of my career. So please don’t delude yourself into thinking the sight of a clone is going to unbalance me.” He stood with fluid grace. “I imagine you have some means of discreet observation, yes? I would like to see the agnate now.”
Another sigh escaped Merrick’s lips. “Very well. You aren’t the first FSB agent to demand this, and I can’t think you’ll be the last. Still, you must prepare yourself for a shock. This way, please.” He led Luzhin to a sofa opposite a huge monitor and indicated that he should sit, but Luzhin shook his head in refusal. Merrick shrugged and keyed in his access codes, then a video-feed request.
An image formed on the monitor – several individuals at a long table, injecting a pale-blue liquid into closed vials. The image tightened on an individual with the same sharp features as Nikolai Luzhin. This Nikolai Luzhin, though, was young, perhaps twenty years Luzhin’s junior. His face was smooth, his eyes grey-blue and guileless. His hair was longer than Luzhin’s, just brushing the nape of his neck. He wore a fitted white tracksuit that clung lovingly to his shoulders and torso. Someone at the table spoke to him, and he grinned, his eyes crinkling in a pleasant and familiar fashion.
Merrick watched intently. He knew this agnate quite well.
“What is his name?”
“Pardon me?” Slightly startled, Merrick turned.
Luzhin took out another cigarette and lit it, keeping his eyes downcast. He puffed once, then pulled his dark glasses from his pocket and put them on. “His name, Dr. Merrick. Does he have a name?”
“We call him Luzhin Three-Alpha.”
“Luzhin Three-Alpha.” Luzhin spoke in a near whisper. “You could not, perhaps, call him Luzhin Nikolayevich? He is my child, in a way.”
Merrick frowned. “The naming system is such that –“
“Never mind, Dr. Merrick. Joke.” One corner of Luzhin’s mouth curled up. He extended a hand. “Thank you for your courtesy. And your discretion.”
“Not at all. It was a pleasure to meet you at last. Please convey my warmest regards to your directors.” He escorted Luzhin to the door, then returned to his desk and sat heavily. His heart pounded in his chest and a thin wire of pain burned behind his eyes. He removed his glasses, rubbed hard, and sighed. Then he called the lab station.
“Send Luzhin Three-Alpha to me, please.”
to be continued.
Crossover: The Island/Eastern Promises
Pairing: Merrick/Luzhin
Rating: NC-17 overall
Author: Alex
Warning: Dubious consent
Written for the
seans_50 July film challenge.Beta: the most excellent
kimberlite.Disclaimer: Merrick and Luzhin are not my property. Written for love alone.
*
Dr. Merrick ushered his visitor to the chair opposite his desk, then seated himself. For a moment he regarded the man in silence. It was always useful to observe a client’s reactions before revealing crucial information. “I can’t tell you how pleased I am to meet another member of your esteemed organization, Mr. Luzhin,” he said smoothly, with a quick downward glance at his fact file.
Nikolai Luzhin removed his dark glasses and slipped them into a pocket, returning Merrick’s gaze. He extracted a pack of cigarettes. “It’s a pleasure to be here. May I smoke?” His accent was thick, but perfectly intelligible.
No hint of irritation or disapproval tinged Merrick’s pleasant reply. “By all means, if you wish.” Surreptitiously, he slid a hand along the edge of his desk and increased the air-filter flow. Smoke was bad for the agnates. “Your organization has been a most generous client for a number of years. I expect they’ve informed you as to the nature of your visit today.” He slid a glittering rock-crystal ashtray across the gleaming expanse of his desk.
“I’m afraid they haven’t.” Luzhin exhaled a tidy ribbon of smoke. “You have me at something of a disadvantage.”
Merrick sighed inwardly. As freehanded as Luzhin’s organization was with funding, it was remarkably reticent with information, especially with its own agents. Still, he’d given the little speech he was about to deliver half a hundred times before, and thus had had ample opportunity to perfect it. “You are a highly skilled individual, Mr. Luzhin, and your group values your contributions and expertise very much indeed. As you know better than I, there are times your job entails intense physical peril. In the event that some accident should befall you, our facility serves to provide a physical fail-safe to the benefit of yourself and your organization.”
“Is that so.” Luzhin’s expression was stony, his eyes veiled. It was a typical FSB reaction. “Go on.”
Carefully, Merrick explained the role of the agnate, emphasizing its conveniences, its complete cellular compatibility, its utter plasticity. Luzhin need never fear serious injury nor illness, as long as new agnate material could be developed and harvested. It was true that the cloning had been perfomed without Luzhin's permission, but surely he comprehended the need for discretion - and it was, after all, to his benefit. Not once did Luzhin interrupt with questions or comments. Merrick found himself suddenly and unaccountably discomfited beneath that steady and bizarrely familiar regard. “Have you any questions, Mr. Luzhin?” he asked gently.
Luzhin stubbed his cigarette out in the ashtray, where it smoldered with an acrid stench. “I think I have the information I require, Dr. Merrick. I’m pleased that my company finds my...services so valuable.”
“Oh, it does. And we understand your worth as well, Mr. Luzhin. Naturally, we’ll ask you to sign a non-disclosure waiver. I expect you’ve signed one for your group as well – obviously they disclose at their own discretion -- but we prefer that our individual clients keep all procedures in total confidence. You understand, I’m sure. If you like, we can tour sections of the facility. I’m certain you’ll find everything most satisfactory.” Merrick rose to his feet and placed his fingertips on the desk, happy that the interview had gone smoothly.
“A tour won’t be necessary.” Luzhin remained seated. “I would like to see the agnate, however.”
Merrick paused delicately. “We discourage our clients from any form of interaction with the agnate. That includes visual observation. There are a number of reasons why. I can enumerate them if you like, but I think that a man in your position realizes the potential hazards of –“
“Dr. Merrick.” Luzhin’s voice seemed to caress his name, but his chilly grey eyes remained impenetrable. “I have seen genuine horrors in the span of my career. So please don’t delude yourself into thinking the sight of a clone is going to unbalance me.” He stood with fluid grace. “I imagine you have some means of discreet observation, yes? I would like to see the agnate now.”
Another sigh escaped Merrick’s lips. “Very well. You aren’t the first FSB agent to demand this, and I can’t think you’ll be the last. Still, you must prepare yourself for a shock. This way, please.” He led Luzhin to a sofa opposite a huge monitor and indicated that he should sit, but Luzhin shook his head in refusal. Merrick shrugged and keyed in his access codes, then a video-feed request.
An image formed on the monitor – several individuals at a long table, injecting a pale-blue liquid into closed vials. The image tightened on an individual with the same sharp features as Nikolai Luzhin. This Nikolai Luzhin, though, was young, perhaps twenty years Luzhin’s junior. His face was smooth, his eyes grey-blue and guileless. His hair was longer than Luzhin’s, just brushing the nape of his neck. He wore a fitted white tracksuit that clung lovingly to his shoulders and torso. Someone at the table spoke to him, and he grinned, his eyes crinkling in a pleasant and familiar fashion.
Merrick watched intently. He knew this agnate quite well.
“What is his name?”
“Pardon me?” Slightly startled, Merrick turned.
Luzhin took out another cigarette and lit it, keeping his eyes downcast. He puffed once, then pulled his dark glasses from his pocket and put them on. “His name, Dr. Merrick. Does he have a name?”
“We call him Luzhin Three-Alpha.”
“Luzhin Three-Alpha.” Luzhin spoke in a near whisper. “You could not, perhaps, call him Luzhin Nikolayevich? He is my child, in a way.”
Merrick frowned. “The naming system is such that –“
“Never mind, Dr. Merrick. Joke.” One corner of Luzhin’s mouth curled up. He extended a hand. “Thank you for your courtesy. And your discretion.”
“Not at all. It was a pleasure to meet you at last. Please convey my warmest regards to your directors.” He escorted Luzhin to the door, then returned to his desk and sat heavily. His heart pounded in his chest and a thin wire of pain burned behind his eyes. He removed his glasses, rubbed hard, and sighed. Then he called the lab station.
“Send Luzhin Three-Alpha to me, please.”
to be continued.
