:: Tales Of The Resistance ::Part Twelve "Renee! Please, don’t do this?" "Do what, Harm?" Renee took the small nylon bag she had scrounged and folded one of AJ Chegwidden’s sweatshirts and the last clean pair of underwear from Harm’s small carry-on. "Mr. Olsen said we could use his washing machine and dryer. We’re deciding whether or not to break into Mr. and Mrs. Rathborne’s house." Harm took her by the shoulders and forced her to look at him. "Damn it, Renee. Say something!" Renee looked into his eyes and saw the truth. He was ecstatic. At last, he was doing something - something to fight the aliens. This was no shopping expedition. This was real. "Say what, Harm? What do you want me to say? You want me to cry?" "No. Honey, I know you’re upset. But…" "But what, Harm?" She shook her head and turned back to the duffel. "Of course, I’m upset. You’re going to die. Oh, maybe not this trip or even next. But the famous Rabb luck can’t hold out forever. And then, what about me?" "Renee, what the hell do you want me to do? Sit here and sort out food and housing?" Shit! As soon as he said it, he knew it was wrong. "Baby, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean." Renee sighed. "Yeah, yeah you did, Harm. But that’s really all I can do, isn’t it? I mean, maybe we could find a movie camera and I could go with and film the whole thing for posterity. Oh wait. I can’t even do that, can I? I’m just a producer." He pulled her back to his chest. "Baby, don’t. What you’re doing is important. We’re going to get more and more people everyday. We have to put them somewhere. And, as for me dying? It is what it is, Renee. I could have been killed the next time I went up in Sarah. Damn, I wonder if I could get to her? We could use her for recon." "Arghhhhhhhhhhh!" Renee cried and tried to jerk away from him. "You’re always thinking about anything, but me and the baby." He kept her against his chest and nuzzled her neck. "No, I’m always thinking about you and little whoseits. It’s just that if we fail here, then little whoseits doesn’t have much to look forward to, does he?" "He?" Renee tried to grind out, but he always did this to her. Her knees felt weak as he kissed her neck. His hands trailed down her arms and caressed the slight rise of her belly. "Harm, don’t. You’re going to be late…" "Nah. We’ve got another hour. Come on, baby. You’re not going to send your man off to…" She jerked away and turned to face him. "Shut up, Harm or I’ll kick your ass out of this house so fast…" His kiss shut them both up. She embraced him and ran her hand down his back to grip his ass. She had always liked his ass. And truthfully, she loved him; loved his cocky, almost selfish attitude. She was in love with a 17-year old in the very fit body of a 38-year old. He was what she wanted. She groaned as he rucked up the tee shirt she had worn all day as she sorted the groceries that Jason Tiner unloaded from the truck. Tiner wasn’t likely to go on any of these death-defying missions, but then she didn’t love Tiner. She hadn’t waited for Tiner to grow out of his fascination for his partner, like she had waited for Harm. When she frantically tugged at his jeans he stood back and, bestowing his little-boy grin on her, quickly stripped. She took a shuddering breath at the sight of him. He really was everything she had ever wanted. She started to pull the tee shirt over her head but he stepped forward. "Let me." Slowly he divested her of each piece of clothing, kissing each exposed area of skin. "God, Renee, you are so beautiful." He gently pushed her back onto the small bed. He trailed kisses down her neck again until he reached her breasts, fuller now that she was expecting their child. "I love you, Renee." He groaned as he gently ran his tongue over each nipple. Kneeing between her thighs, he teased her curls and explored her sex, causing her to groan and arch to meet his touch. She was so wet for him, he thrust deep into her, moaning at the sensation. He never thought of Mac anymore while he made love to Renee. That he used to think of Mac still caused him guilt. He was in love with his wife, damn it. He WAS in love with her. He rocked into her and met her steady, passion-filled gaze. He owed her too much to ever let stray emotions interfere with his marriage. He took the vows and he would stay true to them. He gently rubbed her clit the way she liked it and grinned as she whimpered his name. He could always make her come. As she came down from her high, he began to move harder and faster until he, too, shuddered his release. He collapsed next to her and pulled her around to kiss her. She liked to cuddle and he didn’t really mind it, usually. But today, he had something important to do. "Miss, me?" She sighed. "Of course, Harm. You better get going." :: :: ::
Clayton Webb felt like a real jerk. It wasn’t Francesca’s fault that she was scarred by the experience. Hell, the shit he had seen in his life couldn’t have inured him to the horror of the ‘black oil zombies.’ As soon as it was decided that a team would have to go to the secret CDC facility to discover what research was being done there on the alien ‘virus’, he knew they would need his help. He was good at walking in the front door of places like that and getting past security. He knew the proper ‘buzz words’ and how to handle bureaucrats all over the world. The CDC should be a piece of cake. And, most importantly, he knew as soon as he believed that, he would be in trouble. So there was little doubt that even as tired as he was, he was needed. When she realized what he was planning, Francesca had objected – strongly - in front of everyone in the room. He knew she was exhausted and frightened, but he couldn’t deal with it. Not now. He had led her from the room. "Francesca. Stop it! I have to go." "No you don’t. You’ve been through too much already. Stay with me, Clayton. Please." She had pleaded. "I don’t want you to go." She was getting hysterical and he had to do something. He looked around and noticed that Sergeant Joseph Rossi was watching them. Watching Francesca, really. The young Ranger had been part of the first group that Fielding had called. Webb didn’t know a lot about Rossi, but if he was good enough for Fielding, then Webb was willing to trust the man. "Sergeant." "Yes, sir." "You on duty?" "Ever since we got the call, Mr. Webb. What do you need?" "Can you escort Miss Paretti back down the hill? Make sure that she gets to her room." Francesca gasped and clung to him. "No Clayton. Don’t make me go. I don’t want to be alone. Please Clayton. I can’t." He ran his fingers through her hair. "Francesca. This is only upsetting you. You know I have to go. They need me." "I need you." "I’m sorry, Francesca, but it’s best that you go with Sergeant Rossi." She had straightened then and pushed him away. She took a deep breath and turned on her heel. Neither of them spoke again. He had returned inside and immediately became enmeshed with the plans to keep the aliens from taking over the planet. Osgood was sure the information was there, Dr. Morris and her team were already trying to break into the computer system. But they would need to go in and get any test material and equipment. Of course he wasn’t the only one dealing with someone not able to go. He kept looking between Scully and Skinner and he could tell that something was going on between them. Skinner wanted to go, but both Scully and Toblin and finally, Fielding had vetoed the idea. Toblin had put it succinctly, "Skinner, this is your show. You better than anyone besides Agent Mulder, Dr. Scully and Mr. Smith know what’s going on. Dr. Scully needs to go, you need to stay here. I’m not sure anyone can stop Agent Mulder from going and frankly, he will be needed there, too. You’re just an extra body." The look of rage that flickered across Skinner’s face was terrifying; the effort he put forth to keep it under control was awe-inspiring. Webb didn’t know how he did it. The meeting had broken up with orders that everyone meet in two hours outside the general store. Five Rangers would be waiting with one of the Humvees and the transport truck that the latest batch of ‘deserters’ had brought with them. They had already taken both vehicles south to Allenberry and filled them up at the gas station Doggett had discovered. Two more soldiers stayed to guard the furthest outpost of ‘Fort Clews’ as Lieutenant Roberts had dubbed their little haven. Webb rode back down the hill. He wanted to change and one of the Rangers close to his size had offered him a set of fatigues. "Fine, but if I’m going to pull this off, I’m going to need a suit." Rabb laughed. "Didn’t Wal-Mart sell suits, Webb?" The glare that both Webb and Galindez had given him wiped the grin off his face. Doggett spoke up, "Actually, there is a fairly nice mall between here and Mountain City. We can check it out." Webb followed Rabb into the small house they were sharing. He stared at the closed door to the bedroom where he had woken up staring into her eyes and sighed. He should check on her, but he couldn’t afford to linger. He entered the small bathroom and quickly changed, taking the time to shower away the fear that clung to his body. He surveyed himself and sighed. He hadn’t worn fatigues since Desert Storm. He had been older than Francesca was, even then. What was he thinking? Donning the boots, he left the bathroom and started to go outside, but he paused at the bedroom door. It had been nearly six hours since he had sent her away. She should be sound asleep. He would just peek in. Slowly, he opened the door and his heart froze. He met her gaze, closed his eyes and pulled the door shut. He almost made it to the front door before she caught up to him. She was wearing one of her father’s shirts; it reached her knees. "Clayton." She hissed as she gripped his arm. "Go back to bed, Francesca." He ground out. "Go back to Sergeant Rossi." "Don’t you dare?" She gasped out. "It should have been you. I needed you." "Well, you found someone else." He tried to jerk out of her grasp, but she held on tightly. "Clay, please. You don’t understand. I was so frightened. I couldn’t sleep without seeing them. You weren’t there, Joe was." He took a deep breath. "You’re right, Francesca." He remembered the self-control that Skinner had called upon. "It’s okay. Look, I've got to go now. They’re waiting for me." He didn’t look back as he walked down the little snow-covered path to the village’s center. He didn’t see the tears in her eyes or her fingers at her lips. He didn’t hear Rabb come up behind her and soothingly say, "Don’t worry, Franny, I’ll bring him back to you." "Yes, please, Harmon. Bring him back. I have to make him understand." :: :: ::
Melvin Frohike stood at the door to the command center. He had done some truly stupid things in his life, but none had been as stupid as sending Skinner’s picture to Fiona Morris. In the computer geek’s mind, Skinner had been better than Mulder. At least he was bald. Of course, Skinner in all his bald glory was still a damn sight better looking than Melvin Frohike. Hell of a lot taller, too. She had quietly read him the riot act. "How could you do that to me, Melvin? What did you think would happen? How little did you think of me? Did Skinner write me those poems? Did Skinner bring me to orgasm over the damn Internet? No, it was you." He had tried to explain. "When I saw the picture that you sent, I knew you could never be interested in me." She was having none of it. "You lied. You deceived me, Melvin. It is going to take a hell of a long time for me to forgive you." And that’s where it stood. He had stayed out of her way and only knew what the hell was going on if Byers or Langley filled him in. Langley was pissed off at him because he thought Melvin was shirking his duty. "We need you, man." "No, you don’t. I’m resetting the phone lines between the mountain and the village. Even if service goes down, we can still communicate between here and there. Besides, they’re going to be helpless without one of us on this trip." Langley had volunteered to go, but Skinner had vetoed it. "We need you here, Langley. If I have to stay, so do you." So the last truck down the hill was leaving in just twenty minutes and here he stood staring at her as she bent over the computer. She was so stately and dignified. Everything he wasn’t. He cleared his throat. No one looked up. "Uhm…Dr. Morris?" She tore her eyes away from the computer screen where she was working on trying to break into the CDC security systems. Bud Roberts was working from another end, searching Naval data bases for any information on the CDC. "Oh. Hi. What are you doing down here?" "I…uhm…I just wanted to say goodbye. I’m going with them." She looked down at the screen and whispered. "Yeah. I know. Good luck." He sighed and turned back up the passageway. Yeah, he had really fucked it up. He wondered what would have happened if he had just sent his own picture. When he had asked her, she had just shrugged. "We’ll never know, will we Melvin? Mulder was just coming out of his little cubicle. It was the neatest room he had ever lived in and he found it surprisingly comfortable. He witnessed the interchange between the two computer geeks and saw the pain in his friend’s eyes. Walking up to Morris, he asked softly. "Could I see you a minute?" She looked up again and he was surprised see her eyes were bright from unshed tears. "What is it, Mulder?" He led her to the corner of the room. "Why don’t you cut him some slack?" She sighed. "Why don’t you stay out of it?" "Because he’s my friend. And he’s a good man. Definitely a little weird, but I figured that wouldn’t bother you, seeing you’re kind of weird, too." She cocked an eyebrow at him and suddenly laughed. "Yeah, Mulder. But I don’t lie – ever. I can’t stand it. I deal in lies all day long, trying to sort through to the truth. I believe in the truth and I believed everything he told me. Besides, to be perfectly honest, Skinner is one fine looking man. A freaking caveman, but still really fine. Was I disappointed? Damn straight. Will I get over it? Probably." She grabbed the collar of his shirt. "Bring him back to me all in one piece, Mulder. Maybe we can work past the bullshit." :: :: ::
Walter Skinner had never felt so frustrated in his life. Not even when he and Scully had pulled their guns on each other when they thought Mulder was dead. Not since she disappeared and Mulder had found her in Antarctica. Of course, his love for her had been buried then. He could pretend that he only felt a supervisor’s responsibility for her. But it had been a lie even then. Now it was an almost physical pain. He left the living room and started to go outside, but the snow had started again. He cursed long and loud and everyone scattered out of his way. He stomped into his bedroom and slammed the door. He wanted to go with her. He wanted to be a part of it all, not this damn ‘head of the resistance’ bullshit. Hell, Toblin was the damn President. Let him be the head. Fielding had security covered. They didn’t really need Walter Skinner. He sat on his bed and sulked. The door opened and he didn’t even bother to look up. He didn’t care who it was, they would regret spoiling his pity-party. Of course, only one person dared to enter. She stood there staring at him. How long had she felt this way about him? She wasn’t sure where Monica Reyes fit in the mix, she knew she enjoyed the company of the other woman and lord, the way the three of them loved together was something incredible. But she finally admitted what this man meant to her. She approached him and she knew immediately when he realized who it was. He stiffened and she saw the mask cover his face. A mask she wasn’t ready to leave alone this time. "Walter?" "Yeah, Scully. I was just…" She knelt before him and looked up into his down turned face. "Walter, you know I have to go. I know what we’re looking for." "Do you, Dana?" He reached out and pushed a strand of hair behind her face, cupping her cheek in his large hand. "Or are you just chasing after your idiot partner as always?" In the past, she would have bristled at the description, but if anyone had earned the right to call Mulder names, it was Walter Skinner. She laughed. "I don’t know, Walter. I do know this. I need to know that you're here watching out for my son. I have to do this and you have to stay. I know that you will make sure everything is okay. I know that if anything happens…" His lips on hers cut off the rest of her comment. Hungry. Demanding. He pulled her against him, running his fingers through her hair. "I want you, Dana Scully. I want you in my bed. Just you." She stood up and took his head and held it to her breast. "I love you, Walter Skinner. I want you, too. Please make love to me." There was none of the frenzy of the first time. He took his time, pulling her clothes off and dropping them to the floor. When she stood before him naked, tears came to his eyes. "Dear God, Dana. Please…" "Ssssh, Walter. Please, let me make love to you." She reached and pulled his sweatshirt over his head. As she did, he kneaded her ass and caressed her hips and thighs moving his fingers to her labia, exploring and teasing. "Oooh, yessssssss." She sighed before she sank back to her knees. "Lean back." She quickly undid his jeans. He arched up to allow her to pull them down along with his underwear. "Damn it." She muttered before untying his boots. He leaned back and waited for her to stand back up but instead, she leaned forward and began to rub her hands along his thighs. Gently, she caressed his already tight balls. "Dana, baby. We don’t have a lot of time." "Ssssh. Let me love you, Walter." She flicked out her tongue and grazed the tip of his penis. "Jesus, Dana," he groaned. As she engulfed the head, he reached out one hand and held her head, fingering the hair that had fascinated him for nearly eight years. "So long. Why did we wait so long?" She moved up and down on his shaft, flicking her tongue along the thick vein on the underside, caressing and rubbing his balls. She was just getting ready to swallow him, when he sat forward and placed his other hand on her head. "No. I want to be in you. I want you, now." She smiled and whispered. "Then you better take me now, Walter." She started to stand, but he reached for her and leaned back pulling her with him until she straddled him, her sex poised over him perfectly. He lowered her down until he completely filled her. One long moan filled the room and neither could say whose it was. "God, this feels so right." She sighed. "So very right." He pulled on her shoulders until he could torture her nipples, eliciting whimpers of approval. She slowly began to undulate on him moving back and forth, side to side and up and down and he knew he wouldn’t last long. He pushed her up and moved back so his feet could gain some purchase on the bed. He leaned her back to rest against his thighs so he could touch her breasts and belly and finally, her clit. He flicked it with his fingers, watching her face for signs of pleasure. The first time they had done this they were all so preoccupied with their own pleasures that he hadn’t paid attention to what made her feel good. She took his hand in hers and showed him how to move just right and it wasn’t long before she was bucking on him. She slammed up and down, chanting his name until she suddenly went rigid and he felt her vaginal walls contract around him. He thrust up and held her and he followed her into orgasm. As they came back down together, he lowered his legs and holding her tight, sat up. "Hold on, sweetheart. Better get you cleaned up." :: :: ::
Doggett thought they had a good team, though he wasn’t sure what Frohike was going to do when he wasn’t talking to the base camp. Galindez seemed like a good man. And while they weren’t Marines, he respected the rep of the Rangers. Mulder would do whatever it was that Mulder did and hopefully, either Scully or Frohike could keep him in line. He found himself wishing that Skinner was going. Rabb and Webb were unknown factors in the equation, but at least Rabb looked anxious to go. Webb looked like hell. Doggett sighed and checked the supplies in the back of the truck, once again. "Here, you might need this." A soft modulated voice said from behind him. He turned and found Samantha Fielding standing before him, a steel thermos in her outstretched hand. "It’s coffee. The thermos is ours, but you’ll need it more." He had noticed that she was watching him during the preliminary meeting. And he found that it pleased him that she seemed to be seeking him out. "Thanks." He never was very good at conversations with women. "You’re welcome." She studied her shoes for a moment before nailing him with her clear hazel eyes. "Are you afraid?" "Hell, yes." He admitted. He had run up against the bounty hunters before. He wasn’t sure he was ready for this new variation. "You gonna be okay?" She took a deep breath. "Do you think I should come with?" "Good God, no! Why would you want to come with?" "Well I am a nurse and I found out that DOCTOR Scully is really a pathologist. I thought maybe I could be of some help." "Samantha." "Sam." "What?" "Everybody calls me Sam. Dad always has." She kicked the packed snow and then looked up into the new stuff falling. "Well I like Samantha. You really don’t strike me as a Sam. I only know one Sam and he was big and ugly and a cracker. You don’t strike me as any of those things." She laughed softly. "Well certainly not a cracker." "Definitely not big or ugly either." He sighed. He had no idea what was happening. He was sure it had something to do with some profound return to primal tribal mores, but he found he didn’t care. "As for coming with, we’ll be fine. We all know what we’re doing. I don’t want to worry about you." "Well I’m going to worry about you…I mean all of you." She hastily added. "Uhm…look, I got to go, but promise me something." "Sure, Samantha." "Take care of yourself. I don’t want anything to happen to you." Before he could respond, she had turned and run back to the café. He turned to climb into the cab of the truck, but stopped short. Well, at least it wasn’t just him. Galindez was leaning against the truck, holding Susan Ling in a tight embrace. Neither of them even knew Doggett was standing there. Susan pulled back from the kiss. "You come back to me, Victor Galindez. I wish I were coming with. Hell, I should be coming with. If Scully and Webb…." He kissed her again. "Forget it, Susan. You’re not coming with. To tell you the truth, Webb shouldn’t be going." "To tell the truth, you shouldn’t be going either, you stubborn Jarhead." She leaned her forehead against his. "Take good care of Webb. He’s a mess. Francesca really messed up and it’s hurting both of them." "What happened?" "Something. I shouldn’t have seen it, but I did and I’m not going to talk about it. Just watch out for him, Victor. He’s a good man. Maybe not as good as you, but…" "Don’t worry about him or me. Just get some rest. Next time, we’ll need you with us." She laughed. "Good answer, Victor." She kissed him again quickly and turned in time to see the white Suburban pull down the mountain. She walked back to the café to where several others were drinking coffee and waiting to see what would happen after the team left. Skinner had insisted on driving with her down the mountain. "I want to check on some stuff." She hadn’t argued. She was glad he came. Mulder had already left with Frohike in the Gunmen’s monster truck; Byers had driven them. Now Byers waited in the café with the rest of the group that didn't go. Skinner started to walk her over to the Humvee when he noticed Reyes standing at the corner of the café. He stopped and Scully followed his gaze. "Excuse me a minute, Walter." She walked toward Reyes who turned and walked down the alley. When Dana caught up to Monica, she touched her arm. "Hey, where are you going?" "Nowhere. I just wanted to say goodbye in private." "Why? You ashamed of me." Reyes took Scully’s face in her hands and kissed her hard. "No. But it’s nobody’s business. You watch yourself, Dana. It will kill him if any thing happens to you. It won’t do me any good either." Dana touched Monica’s cheek. "I’ve been through worse." "You don’t know that." Dana sighed. "I know. But I can’t let it get to me. Besides, after flukeman, Toomes, Modell and Antarctica, the CDC seems kind of tame." It was her turn to pull the other woman to her. When they broke the kiss, she whispered. "Take care of him, Mon." With that, she turned and walked quickly back to the Humvee. She let Skinner open the door for her. Monica watched as her two lovers talked quietly and when she saw Skinner finally turn and search her out, she stepped out into the street to wait for him. The team pulled out and slowly made their way through the falling snow. Skinner took Monica’s arm and led her into the café. Olsen poured two cups of coffee and held them out. Skinner pointed to where Byers sat with Renee Rabb and Samantha Fielding. "Go sit over there." He grabbed up the cups and brought them over to the table. None of them spoke, but they all sat and drank their coffee. Skinner was just getting ready to go back up the mountain when Captain Antonelli hurried in. "Skinner!" "What?" Antonelli was in charge of the security detail tonight. Surely nothing could have happened in such a short period of time. "Outpost A at the gas station just called in. There’s trouble." Skinner paled. "With the team? Already?" "Not unless they found a snowplow."
:: Part 13 ::Taking Care of Business Skinner ran out to Morris’ Suburban, Antonelli, Ling and Reyes barely keeping up with him. "Captain, who’s on duty?" he yelled as he jerked open the door. "I got three men stationed at the old schoolhouse near the end of the road. We’ll take them with us and call Fielding to send more men. "Tell him to go on full alert. I don’t know what the hell is going to happen, but I’m not leaving them there and if we have to make a run for it, NO OUTSIDER leaves this town!" Ling and Reyes had already climbed into the cab as Skinner leaned his head out the window to continue even as he started the engine. "Meet us there, every second is going to count." He couldn’t believe it - of all the rotten luck. He even thought about calling the team members back, but by now they were already past the little town. Too far away from the Mobil station that Doggett had secured with a small group of Marines early yesterday. He didn’t want to allow himself to hope, but from what Antonelli had said, Corporal Jennings was sure he had heard the State Troopers correctly. They had followed the snowplow off the highway, and they said the woman looked like the Iranian terrorist who had ‘killed’ President Toblin. That could only be Sarah MacKenzie. Langley had managed to pull in the national feed of the newscasts to one of the computers. The film clearly showed MacKenzie firing her rifle. Doggett explained that the film had obviously been edited to make it appear that she was firing on the President and not on his supposed bodyguards. Of course, he couldn’t believe Chegwidden had gone past the exit. The snow was getting heavier and piling up on the road. He half expected to get stuck in a ditch, but he made it out to the highway and turned south toward Allenberry. He wasn’t really sure why the town existed at all, but before three days ago, according to Olsen, it had been a thriving metropolis compared to Clews Haven with a population of twenty. The little town had nothing much to offer except the service station by the highway. "But hale, we like it that way. Don’t nobody come bother us or nothin’. The Allenberry boys would come here in the mornin’ fer coffee and we’d all go thare fer gas and such like. Don’ know’d what happened to them, meebee theys jess stayin’ home. Ole Cletus were always purty lazy." Now, he prayed that Chegwidden was the guy with the ‘Iranian’. Jennings had mentioned another man, but that really didn’t surprise Skinner. As he made the left off the highway at the Allenberry exit ramp he was relieved to see headlights following him. As he crossed over the highway, he saw the flashing lights of three police cars. "Hang on!" He gunned the engine and spun the armor-plated car into the first cruiser sending it and two cops flying across the road. :: :: ::
AJ stood with his hands in the air, while one of the troopers came toward them. "Just keep your hands where we can see them." The man, perhaps in his late twenties, appeared nervous and uncertain. Not a good combination for a man pointing a rifle at your midsection. "What seems to be the problem, officer?" AJ tried to ask the time-honored question calmly. Andy was shaking so bad that he could see the motion even through the snow. Mac just stood there beside the boy, her hands raised also. "Don’t g-g-give me that shit, mister. W-w-we heard about the call from Doc Kelly. He said that his boy had fallen in with the bastards who killed P-president Toblin. Said he recognized the woman." He turned the gun on Mac. AJ tried to see if he could get an advantage but another trooper, even younger than the first, stepped forward to cover him. "Hoowee, damn. It’s her all right. I recognize her from the news my ownself. Honey, just you be real careful like and let's see them hands raised even higher. Mac defiantly stepped forward. She had nothing to lose and fully expected to be dead within the next five minutes. "Colonel Sarah MacKenzie, United States Marine Corps. Who the hell are you?" Her attitude took him back a little. "Colonel? My ass!" "That’s right, Officer." AJ took a step closer. "She’s my chief of staff." "You’re wha?" He was clearly confused now and AJ tried to press the advantage. "My chief of staff. My name is Admiral AJ Chegwidden. I’m the Naval JAG. I have no idea what Dr. Kelly was ranting about. We stopped at his house to let his son off, but he’d been drinking and went a little nuts." "What’s the Naval JAG?" Good, they had no idea who he was. He wondered for a moment from whom they were getting their orders. "I’m the top lawyer in the Navy, son. Now, why don’t you put that gun down and tell me what the hell is going on." It could have worked. Should have worked. But just then one of the squad doors opened and a broad-faced man pulled himself out of the car. "Corporal Rogers, come away from there now." AJ studied the man and tried to remember what it was that Doggett had told him back on the mall. Watch the face carefully. It would shimmer in the effort to maintain the illusion. But the snow was falling so hard that it was difficult to see. "Who are you?" AJ asked calmly. "Don’t make no never mind. I ain’t no fool-brained trooper, Admiral. I know who and what you are. We’re takin’ you back to D.C. with us. I got the order from President Winslow. He said that if you gave us any problems we were to shoot you and be done with it. Frankly, with the way it’s snowing, it’s too much trouble to take a couple of traitors and a useless little faggot back." He unsnapped the strap over his pistol. Rogers looked really confused and a little upset. AJ decided to go down fighting. "Rogers, listen to me. I’m not sure what you saw and what you heard, but Winslow is lying. President Toblin isn’t dead. I saw those pictures, Rogers. I WAS there. Colonel MacKenzie and I were trying to…" "You just shut up." The man had his gun aimed right at AJ’s head. "Lieutenant Lee?" Corporal Rogers turned to the man. "I seen them pictures…" "Lee?" AJ snorted. "Would you be related to that traitor’s chief political officer, Lieutenant?" The Lieutenant didn’t even bother to answer but before he could fire, a rifle blast shattered the night and the man went flying backwards, bright red blood the only color staining the snow. Before anyone could figure out where the shot came from, they heard the roar of an engine. AJ looked back in time to see a white apparition plow through the snow and broadside the cruiser Lee and two other troopers had left. AJ didn’t even stop to wonder who was behind the wheel of the Suburban but launched himself at the trooper who had been covering him. Fortunately, the man’s attention was drawn to the crash and AJ was able to take him out with one well-placed upper cut. He turned to take out Rogers, but Mac was already on it and had the man penned against the other cruiser. Andy Kelly sat huddled in the snow, his head buried in his knees. "Nobody move!" A firm young voice called out and AJ spun around to see two camouflage-clad men step out from the station, automatic rifles trained on the group. As they approached, AJ could make out the Ranger patches on their shoulders. They waited, neither saying anything, while the troopers helped each other up out of the snow. "About damn time you got your sorry ass here. Of course, you passed the exit. What did you do, goof up the coordinates, squid?" A familiar voice cut through the snow. AJ took a deep sigh. "You’re never going to let me live this down, are you Skinner." :: :: ::
Mulder looked through the falling snow and ground out. "Are we ever going to get out of this mess?" Webb sighed from the back seat. "Wait for it. I can’t explain it, you just have to wait, but when it happens, you’re going to long for the snow." Doggett was driving. Mulder was in front. Webb and Scully sat in back. Galindez was driving the transport truck with Smith riding shotgun and Dr. Osgood and Frohike in back with the five Rangers. "You say the snow just stops. Like in a straight line?" Mulder asked skeptically. Webb sighed and looked out the window, not bothering to answer. God, what a mess. He knew he needed to get some sleep. The secret facility was over 250 miles away in northern Georgia. Any other time when he felt safe enough he could sleep anywhere, but he knew if he did sleep he would either see the black-eyed terror or the black-haired beauty. At this point, he wasn’t sure which would be worse. She had looked so beautiful laying there, Rossi’s arm thrown carelessly across her waist, holding her the way she needed to be held. But, he had seen the look in her eyes. The look of shame and self-loathing at what she had done. It made him feel even worse. He woke with a start and looked over at Scully who had gently shaken him awake. He was shocked that he couldn’t remember dreaming at all. "Hey, we’re almost at that outlet mall that Doggett knows about." He looked at his watch and was shocked to see that he had slept for nearly four hours. Blearily, he looked out the window and groaned at the sight of the dry ground around him. "Hey, you’re awake!" Mulder grinned back at him. "You weren’t lying. It did just stop. One second there was snow and the next, dry pavement." "How long before that, did the snow stop falling?" Mulder thought before answering. "Oh, it stopped about a hundred miles south of Clews Haven." "I wonder what the hell it all means?" "Well, I suspect that it’s a ploy on the aliens part to get people to move out of the snow and down here. Give them more ‘hosts.’ You agree?" "How the hell would I know, Mulder? Up until four days ago my concern was how to work a plan to corrupt Israeli nuclear launch codes in time to stop the Middle East from going up in a mushroom cloud." "Well, this ought to be a little different." Mulder grinned back at him. "Oh, I don’t know. I was the one who was going to go into the main security building and switch out the computer discs." Webb spotted the darkened mall to their left and an uncontrollable fear took hold of him. Scully must have sensed something because she touched him gently on the arm. "It will be a little different this time, Webb. We’ve got you covered." "Yeah, Webb." Doggett looked back through the rearview mirror. "The store is smaller and we’ve got five Rangers with nothing better to do than keep store security away from you." "Security is the least of my worries." Webb sighed He and Frohike easily bypassed the alarm system to break into the back door of the upscale clothing outlet store. He forced himself to calmly walk down the aisles to the center of the store. Mulder had come with him, fingering the material. "Hey, what the hell are you going to do about the cuffs?" "Already thought of that. I want to see what they have back in alterations." He came to the swinging doors and visions of the Wal-Mart crowded at him. Mulder stepped around him and pushed it open. "Been there, done that. A dead guy told me that they would leave me alone once I had been infected and survived." He walked back into the little room and called out. "You’ve got a choice at least." The navy blue suit fit fine. A little snug in the waist, the coat was a little tight across the shoulders, but the cuffs were finished and he looked better than he had in days. He looked like himself again. Pulling a maroon silk tie off the rack, he barked, "Let's go." They were almost out the door when Mulder muttered. "So as the trip shouldn’t be a total loss." He turned to two of the Rangers and whispered. "Go back and grab a couple of bags and fill them with underwear and jeans and stuff. We’re going to need them and we won’t have time to stop on the way back. Webb walked into the parking lot, relieved to see two other Rangers standing guard at the trucks. Rabb was sitting in the back of the truck no longer in jeans and his leather jacket, but camouflage. "What have you gone and done?" Webb snarled. "Switched clothes with Ortega here. We’re about the same size and you're going to need two backups when you go in the front door. You know me, Webb. I’m no good with computers or figuring out how to break into things. I’ll go in the front with you." Webb sighed. "Fine. Whatever. Maybe the famous Rabb luck will hold out one more time. We ready to go?" "Scully and Galindez went with the last Ranger and Frohike into the Eddie Bauer store." Webb stood there, his hands on his hips and yelled. "Tell me you’re kidding. What the hell is this a God damned…?" "Easy Webb." Mulder said from behind him. "She’s concerned about some of the newcomers. It’s getting really cold and some of the people, like Agent Edwards’ family, don’t have the proper clothes. It was right next door." "Jesus H. Christ! You people have no clue!" Webb shuddered. "Well, actually I do, so just chill." Mulder finally lost some of his cool. "Scully, shake it will you, G-Woman." He snarled into the walkie-talkie. Three Rangers took over the Humvee and the other two climbed into the cab of the truck. Everyone else climbed in back of the truck and huddled in a circle going over the plans again. Frohike double-checked with Fiona back at base. She reported angrily. "We still can’t figure it out. It looks like someone has really fucked with the interface. Bud can’t get any info from his Navy sources, in fact it looks like a virus is racing through most of the Navy’s system." Frohike was just about ready to sign-off when she sputtered. "Hey, hold on. You got any of the Navy folks with you?" "Yeah, all of them. Why?" "Hold on. Someone needs to talk to them." Webb, Rabb and Galindez exchanged looks until they heard the low, gruff, growl come over the small speaker. "Commander Rabb?" "Holy Cow!" Rabb grabbed the ham. "Admiral Chegwidden! Sir! Are you okay? What about Mac?" "We’re fine, Rabb. I hear you and Galindez and Webb are on this insane mission." "Yes, sir." "How’s Webb doing?" Rabb held the radio out to Webb who looked at like it was a snake for a moment, then sighed and took it. "I’m fine AJ. Evidently, Mr. Smith has an advanced degree. So you made it back in one piece? You…ah…you’ve seen Francesca?" "Yeah. She told me what happened, Webb." Even through the mic, AJ sounded concerned and something else. Webb paled and eyed the radio. "About the black oil?" "Yeah, that too. You guys watch yourselves, you hear me?" Webb shrugged and handed the radio to a startled Galindez who quickly recovered. "Aye-Aye, Admiral." They signed off and returned to the plan. Webb recovered quickly and snarled at Frohike. "So without Morris’ input, are we still good to go?" Troy Osgood spoke up. "I know where the security panels are. I don’t have a clue on what to do with them, but Melvin says if I can get him there, then he can get us in." Webb leaned back and studied the gangly scientist. "Tell me something, Osgood. Why are you doing this? We are definitely the underdogs here. You’d have a better chance turning us in once we got there. Why should we trust you?" Osgood sputtered and then looked at Rabb and Mulder who had pulled his ass out of the medical warehouse and brought him back to Clews Haven. "What the hell!" When neither Rabb nor Mulder came to his defense he huffed and sat back. "Hell of a time to be asking, isn’t it?" Webb just continued to eye him. Osgood stood and swayed in the pitching truck. "Why wouldn’t I help you? It’s my damn country too. You think all scientists just want to work on the project? You know, I’ve been aware of the shit that’s been going on down there in Mountain City, wasn’t really sure what it all meant though. Dr. Alexander shouldn’t have put me in charge of backing up the computer system when the ISD guy suddenly got sick – and never recovered." Osgood ran long, thin fingers through pale fine hair. "I get bored easily. It started in the quarantine lab. There are three computers that have to be manually backed up. While one was being backed up I would play on the other two. That’s where I found the first indications of what the hell was really going on. I’m little more than a glorified research assistant. It’s a feather in your resume cap to be able to list the Center for Disease Control, but you have to work there a really long time before you get to do anything interesting. Most of the time they just chew you up and spit you out and go on to the next graduate. But viral biology is the field I’m interested in and what they were working on in Complex C is nothing like anything I have ever even read about. It’s fucking frightening, man." Webb suddenly saw the surfer dude locked behind the studious look, obviously cultivated for the CDC. He couldn’t be a plant, but Webb still wasn’t comfortable with the kid, not yet. Thankfully, he could see he wasn’t the only one. Mulder and Doggett might be willing to trust Osgood to get them in, but they would keep an eye on the scientist the whole time he was doing it. "How far?" He managed a nonchalant air even though he could feel the acid churn in his stomach. Osgood looked out the flap between the cab and the back of the truck. "About twenty minutes." Turning back, he studied the now nattily dressed spy. "You know what to say to get inside?" "Kid, I’ve been doing this since you were in little league. Yeah. Thanks for the code words." "Well just remember, I’ve been gone for five days. They may have changed." "Terrific." Webb leaned his head back against the canvas of the truck and closed his eyes. He forced himself to think about the job to come and not about Francesca Paretti’s brown eyes staring into his. Harmon Rabb spared a moment to try and figure out what had happened between Webb and Chegwidden’s daughter. He had always realized how needy Francesca was. Not in a bad way, just that she wasn’t someone who would quietly wait in the wings for her man to come home. He had been surprised to find her next to Webb that first morning, even more surprised to see her volunteer to go with Webb on the ill-fated shopping expedition. Oh well, he was suddenly glad that he had Renee waiting for him. He had a feeling that alliances would be made and broken easily over the coming years. He made a silent vow not to take Renee for granted when they got back. Dana Scully wondered what the hell she was doing here. The need to follow Mulder had diminished greatly ever since he had returned from his little sojourn to the alien spacecraft. It had practically died out when William was born. But they were in the fight that they had all been anticipating for the last three years or so and she couldn’t just sit on the sidelines. She hoped that Skinner understood. She hoped that Monica Reyes would be there for him. She considered the ménage a trios that she had found herself in and wondered how long it could last. She didn’t know if she could stand everyone knowing. She took a deep breath and thought, ‘take each day at a time, Dana my dear, one day at a time.’ "Hey G-Woman." Mulder cupped her hand in his. "You doing okay?" She smiled at him and whispered. "I’m fine, Mulder." They switched vehicles again a mile from the back of the research facility. Nested in the hills of Northern Georgia, there wasn’t much around the heavy fenced reserve. Red, white and blue ‘no trespassing’ signs dotted the fence every 50 yards or so. Webb, Rabb and Galindez took the Humvee to the front gate. Sergeant Foster dropped Mulder, Doggett, Frohike and Osgood at a spot that Osgood had indicated. Then, he drove Scully, Smith and the rest of the Rangers to a spot about a mile from the back gate. If Frohike and Osgood broke the code, the gate would open automatically and they would drive through and be met at the back loading dock by them along with Webb and Alexander. "What are their chances, Jeremiah?" Scully asked softly. "Exactly what they thought they would be." "That bad, huh?" Clayton Webb did not straighten his tie as they walked through the door. He had straightened it when he climbed into the Humvee, as he sat in the Humvee when Galindez handed the guard at the gate his identification and when he got out of the Humvee. Now was not the time. He approached the guard desk, keeping eye contact with the man behind it. He saw no black cloud swimming in the clear blue eyes. He spared a thought for the few times he ever flashed his official CIA documents anywhere but at Langley and the Pentagon. "Clayton Webb to see Dr. Alexander." "Yes, Mr. Webb. The guard shack advised us that you were here. You weren’t expected though and Dr. Alexander has to come from his house on the grounds. Would you care to have a seat?" "No, I would like to see the paperwork that the President sent me down to inspect. Dr. Alexander can meet me there." He stepped forward and suddenly three men aimed automatic pistols at him. "Sorry, Mr. Webb. No disrespect, sir, but you must stand behind the yellow line until you are cleared." Webb sighed and took out the cell phone that hadn’t worked since he got cut off from Tim Fawkes on the Beltway five days ago. "What’s your name and the name of the men standing there, please?" The man gulped but stood his ground. "Stephens, sir. The men are Owens, Filmore and Adams. But you still can’t enter until you are cleared." "Fine, Stephens. I’m just calling Mr. Lee to find out what the hell I have to say to get cleared. I assume that the password, Omega Falcon, isn’t enough." Stephens coughed. "Oh no, sir. That’s the password. Why didn’t you say so?" He looked back at one of the men. "Adams, please show Mr. Webb to Dr. Alexander’s office. Bring him what ever he wants." He stood up and held out his hand. "I’ll have your men wait in the lounge." Webb just looked at the hand and then at Stephens. "My men come with me, Stephens." He turned on his heel and snapped. "Lead the way, Adams. Come on, Ortega, Galindez." He prayed that Rabb had thought to take the Master Sergeant’s dog tags as well as the uniform. Adams led them to a rather austere office on the ground floor. From what they heard from Osgood, there were three floors below ground. The third or lowest level was where the research was being done and possible test subjects were being held. Adams stood at attention with his back to the door. All the passwords in the world wouldn’t get them free access to the head guy’s office. Webb sat and waited. Rabb and Galindez stood at attention, each taking in every aspect of the office. Webb immediately spotted what Osgood had told him to look for. "Turn that on, please." He pointed to the monitor set in the wall." "We don’t get very good television reception, sir." The guard advised. "Adams, isn’t it?" "Yes, sir." "If I wanted to watch TV, I would have checked into a hotel. Kindly turn on the security camera and tune it to the research area." Webb leaned back in the chair and waited as if he had just asked for a cup of coffee. "Sir, I don’t think…" "That’s right Adams, you don’t think. You do. You do as you are told and I am telling you to turn on the damn monitor." "Sir, begging your pardon, but Dr. Alexander has the only key for the monitor. He’ll be here any minute." Webb stood up and stalked to the screen. He found the button and flicked it on." Instantly, the screen lit and he was staring at a long row of cages. Each cage contained a human being in the throws of pain. He forced himself to glance away and snarl, "Not a great idea to lie to the CIA, Adams." Pointing to the phone, he ground out, "Call the kid at the desk and tell him to send someone not quite so stupid. Now!" The look of hatred didn’t concern Webb at all. At least there was no black oil swimming in Adams’ eyes either. The man spoke sharply into the phone and went to stand back at the door. "As soon as some one comes up – sir – I’ll leave." Webb didn’t push it. He needed the time to get used to what he was seeing. The security camera was one of the best and he could see reason on the face of the woman nearest the camera. The black oil not only clouded her eyes, but also pulsed at her neck and chest. He vowed to kill Alexander before he left here.
:: Part 14 A ::The Best Laid Plans They got through the fence easily. "Are you getting a decent feed from Rabb?" Doggett hissed at Frohike. The Rangers, when they left their home base had brought supplies, including a complete communication setup. The sensitive mic was attached to Rabb’s collar. "Yeah, he just turned it on. Sounds like Webb is chewing out some guy for lying to him. I hope to hell he doesn’t overdo it." "You just make sure as soon as he gives you the go ahead, we’re ready to back him up. Osgood, where’s those boxes?" "Against that outbuilding over there." Doggett could hear the fear and tension in Osgood’s voice. John Doggett would have preferred to leave Osgood back at Clews Haven, but they would never have found the building without him. The complex was nestled in the hills and Osgood had led them down three little paths straight to where they needed to be. Doggett wondered if Osgood realized that a gun had been pointed at his back ever since they breached the fence. Melvin Frohike knelt in front of the control panel and pulled the small, heavy, hand-held computer from his backpack. Even Clayton Webb had been impressed with Fiona Morris’ collection of computer equipment. ‘Damn, I could have used that in Columbia last year.’ The spy had breathed in awe. Frohike made the connections and the small screen sprang to life. "Damn, this is an impressive setup. Good thing you guys brought me." "Just get on with it, Melvin." Doggett ground out. Leaving Mulder to watch over the little troll, Doggett pulled Osgood away and back toward the path. "Now, Doctor, give me the layout again." Osgood sighed, but pointed. "See the lighted path up ahead?" "Yeah." "You go right, that takes you up to the main complex. Left takes you down to the living quarters. My cabin is just off the path, if you want to wait there." "Nah, we’re fine. Where’s the path to where Scully is waiting?" "We go right and there’s a service access road just to the right again. Twenty yards tops. As soon as Frohike works his mojo, we can go get them." "That’s the plan, Osgood." Doggett stiffened and pulled the scientist back into the shrubs. "Quiet." "What the fuck is he doing here at this God damn hour?." a strident voice shouted. Doggett could feel Osgood shudder. Putting his lips next to the frightened man’s ear he whispered, "Alexander?" He felt the terrified nod. Pushing the scientist further toward the control box, he slinked forward until he could see the cross path. "Doctor Alexander, I'm trying to get through to Washington, but the phones are iffy at best." The answering voice was silky and calm. It made the hairs on the back of Doggett’s neck stand on end. He’d heard that voice before. Who the hell was she? "Well, I’ll be damned." Mulder lips were close to his ear. "Marita, honey. My, how you get around." Doggett didn’t reply, but watched as two apparitions suddenly passed by the dim path lightening. "Who is this Clayton Webb, Central Intelligence Agency? You know him, Marita?" "No, but then I didn’t know too many people in Lee’s Syndicate. Only Spender knew all the players." The blond sounded tired to Mulder. Frankly, he was surprised the bitch was still alive. "Well, you see where that information got him?" Alexander spat out as they heard a door being yanked open. Any further conversation was lost as they entered the building. Stepping back to the panel, Mulder slapped Frohike on the shoulder. "You done yet?" "Jesus, you think this is easy? You want to do this?" Frohike whined. "I didn’t know she was still here!" The unconcealed fear in Osgood’s voice caused Mulder and Doggett to exchange glances. "Why didn’t you tell us about Marita, Osgood?" Mulder purred. "She left the day before I did. I thought she was going to D.C." Doggett could almost smell the urge to bolt. He placed a heavy hand on Osgood’s shoulder. "Doesn’t matter, Osgood. The only thing that matters is the plan. Got it?" "Look, I got you to the control box, I don’t think I can do this." The scientist’s breathing was becoming ragged. Doggett took out his gun and placed it next to Osgood’s head. "Yes, you can, Doctor. We need you to get us through the corridors. Just calm down, Mulder and I will make sure that nothing happens to you." "Yeah, well who’s going to make sure nothing happens to you two." Osgood’s voice was now a reedy squeak. "Got it!" Frohike whispered. "Good, show us." Mulder leaned over Frohike’s shoulder. "See, there’s the corridor. Hey. Isn’t that the lovely Marita Covarrubias?" They watched the pair walk toward a door with two guards just outside of it. "Can you find me Alexander’s office?" Frohike didn’t even bother to answer, just scrolled up till they saw a door opening on Webb, Rabb and Galindez. "Damn, I’m glad John and I didn’t decide to go with him. That would have been interesting." :: :: ::
Harmon Rabb tried hard to keep his eyes straight ahead, but they kept straying to the monitor showing the ‘test subjects.’ Webb looked cool, calm and collected – to someone who didn’t know him, to the guard at the door, or perhaps, even Victor Galindez. But Rabb and Webb had been on too many missions together and Rabb could see the signs. Could see the slight tightening of the jaw, the minute flaring of the nostrils. Webb was as affected and disgusted as Rabb. The door opened and a tall handsome man walked in, followed by a tired looking blond who, at one time had been pretty, now she just looked old and used up. "How dare you come down here at this time of night?" The man spoke, opening the conversation. Webb was unimpressed, his voice cool and professional. "I dare because I was sent. Dr. Alexander, I presume?" "Mr. Webb, I have no knowledge of you. Mr. Lee has never mentioned you." Alexander pushed past Webb to sit behind his glass-topped desk. Leaning back in the black leather chair, he never once looked at the monitor. "Yeah, well until two days ago I never heard of you or this project either, Doctor. But I go where I’m sent and Lee and Winslow want a full report on the progress you’re making. Seems that the aliens aren’t keeping their word." Alexander snorted. "Like intelligent people believed them." "Are you saying that Mr. Lee isn’t intelligent, Doctor?" Webb asked with benign contempt. Alexander paled slightly and Webb spared a second to consider the blond who had leaned against the wall of the windowless office. While everyone in the room had studiously ignored the monitor ever since Alexander had walked into the room, she couldn’t seem to keep her eyes off of it. Alexander asked harshly, "Marita. Do you wish to leave the room?" Covarrubias didn’t even bother to answer, but finally tore her eyes away from the women, obviously screaming in unimaginable pain. Webb thanked God that there was no sound. Locking her eyes on Webb, she whispered. "What do the President and Mr. Lee want to know, Mr. Webb?" "He wants copies of all the research that’s been done to this point." "Bullshit!" Alexander growled. "I just talked to him three days ago and he never mentioned a word…." "That was before the snow started, wasn’t Doctor? Before everything went to hell. Before Toblin was so providentially taken out of the picture. Phone communication has been terrible." Webb prayed that Frohike and Mulder had discovered the phone cutoffs. As if reading his mind, Alexander reached for the phone. "We’ll just see about that." Three people held their breaths and all inwardly breathed a sigh of relief when Alexander slammed the phone back down. Stabbing a button on the phone, he barked, "Stephens!" "Yes, sir?" "Call maintenance and have them check the security panel." Rabb fought the urge to touch the mic at his collar. ‘Get out of there.’ He did allow his hand to rest on the butt of his gun for just a moment before returning to the parade rest stance. He looked up in time to see Marita eying him. Sweat stained the armpits of his uniform, but he maintained his outward calm appearance. Webb snapped, "Yes. Have them check out everything, but while they are doing that. I would like to see the facility so I can report back." Alexander looked like he was going to balk, but Marita heaved a sigh. "Oh, show them the facility, Doctor. He’ll take back his report and maybe we can get some more help down here." "We don’t need any more help." Alexander stood up though, and made his way to the door. "Very well, gentlemen. I hope you have the stomach for it." :: :: ::
Mulder picked the lock to the door that Osgood had indicated was the least used. Even though he trusted Frohike with all things computer driven, he was still somewhat surprised when flashing lights and yelling soldiers didn’t meet them on the other side. Quickly, they made their way down the corridor. "Are you sure they won’t be able to tell you tampered with anything?" he hissed at Frohike. "Yeah, yeah! Just move it will ya." Melvin sighed back. Doggett and the Ranger they had brought with them made their way to the gate where Scully, Smith and the other Rangers waited. Deftly, he picked the lock and pushed it open. Foster drove the truck down the path and to the loading dock that Osgood had directed them to use. Damn, this wasn’t good. It was going too easy. Frohike had experienced no difficulty with the alarm system or the security camera. They had seen no guards at all. Something bad was going to happen and soon, the odds demanded it. And, John Doggett believed in the odds. He helped Scully down from the truck and followed her up the stairs. He whispered into his microphone. "Melvin?" "We’re almost there." the whisper came back. The loading dock door creaked open and Melvin, Mulder and Osgood appeared. Mulder jumped down to the dock floor and ran forward. "Get it backed up. Come on, let’s go find them." They made their way down the long, dimly lit hallway. Mulder in front, Scully just behind him. Doggett brought up the rear, keeping a steady eye on Osgood. Only Foster accompanied them; they had thought it best to leave the other four soldiers with the truck. Osgood squeaked. "There’s the freight elevator. Melvin can you get it open?" It took a little while and he suddenly jerked up. "They're on the move. We better get busy here." Making one last adjustment, he finally grinned, as they heard the whirring of the gears. The wide doors swung up and the five of them got on board. Foster found a room just across from the elevator where he could cover them. If anyone approached the elevator, he would take him out and hide the body in the room. As they passed the second level, Osgood got even more nervous than he had been. "You know, I’ve never been down here before. They kept me up on the first or second levels. There aren’t any computers down here that needed backup, supposedly." "We know, Osgood. Just stay with us, here." Mulder wished he had left the man with the Ranger. He really wouldn’t be any good now. They entered the third level and immediately, sensed the change. "What the hell is that noise?" Osgood whispered. "Muffled screams of pain." Scully shot back. She looked back at Smith who seemed suddenly very pale. She couldn’t remember the alien ever blushing or paling or really changing expression at all, but now he looked positively sick. "What wrong?" "Do you think that I am unaffected by this, Miss Scully? I can feel their pain." he whispered. Before Scully could respond, they heard the ping and grinding of an elevator door opening. "Come this way, Mr. Webb. We’ll show you the labs first." An almost carefree voice floated down the corridor. Doggett barely heard Mulder’s muttered, "Show time." Footsteps faded away and they began to advance. Osgood stood rigid and couldn’t move. He started to whimper. Scully turned to him, but before she could reach him, Smith reached out and touched the man’s forehead and caught him as he crumpled. Laying him on the floor by the elevator, he met Scully’s eye. "He’ll be fine. He could not have stood the pressure of continuing." "All right," was all Scully said before she turned to catch up to Doggett and Mulder. Webb forced himself to step out of the elevator. He was glad he had insisted that Rabb and Galindez accompany them. "You’ll forgive me, Doctor. Where I go, my men go." The brief smile that kissed Marita’s lips bothered him as much as anything had today. "Please, Mr. Webb, bring your security." ‘Welcome to my web said the spider to the spy.’ Rabb thought. The urge to giggle at his silent pun was almost overwhelming. The plan was working and he was almost giddy. Just as they turned down the hallway marked, ‘Lab. Security Clearance Needed,’ Rabb glanced back and caught a glimpse of Mulder’s face. ‘Yep, everything is coming together.’ The sterile room looked like any other lab in any other facility. Alexander walked to a panel and pushed a button. A keypad appeared and he quickly punched in a combination. The entire left hand wall disappeared into the floor. Before them were three women, naked, and strapped to tables. "These three test subjects were infected with the virus three days ago. As you can see the subjects are in a great deal of pain. We would anesthetize them, but we find we cannot track the virus’ growth as well. We have prepared the latest batch of inoculations and will begin injections tomorrow." "What has your success rate been, doctor?" Webb choked out. "Why zero, Mr. Webb. Come. Here are the reports you wanted." Alexander went to another panel, punched in another code and a small file cabinet appeared. He pulled out a blue bound report and handed it to Webb. "As you can see, no test subject has lived past the first course of treatment. We re-harvest the virus which appears to be unaffected by the antitoxin. That way, we can infect new test subjects when we have made further strides in our research." "What about those people we saw on the monitor in your office?" Webb really wasn’t sure where he was finding the strength to continue the charade. "Oh, we decided to allow some of the test subjects to go to gestation as it were. We will need to know what the end result of the infection is, now won’t we?" Webb licked his lips. "How many?" "Twenty-nine have gone to term. We have them in a holding area below this level. Marita and I have plan." "Plan?" Warning bells suddenly wiped all concern for the ‘test subjects’ from Webb’s immediate attention. "Lee mentioned no plan to me." He was going out on a limb, but every instinct that had preserved his life so far told him that the madman before him was operating on a completely different agenda than even the Quislings in Washington were aware of." Alexander smiled and walked back to the file drawer. "Did you honestly think that I wouldn’t figure out that Lee planned on turning over this facility to the aliens? That I wasn’t expendable? Marita made sure I knew the history of the Consortium. Loyalty gets you dead. I’ve made my own plans and have begun to make contact with the aliens." Webb gasped and reached for his gun. Rabb and Galindez already had theirs drawn and pointed, but Alexander threw back his head and laughed. "You idiots. Why did you think we let you waltz in here? We needed more hosts!" He tossed the vial he was clutching to the floor at Webb’s feet. "Webb!" Rabb cried, shoving the spy out of the way, sending him into Marita’s startled embrace. Webb quickly recovered, pushing Marita at Alexander who was fumbling for a gun at his waist. Galindez tried desperately to pull Rabb back, but the lawyer had tripped when he pushed Webb and he fell within inches of the black oil. Rabb tried to roll away, but the oil quickly entered his body at his wrist. The scream of agony echoing off the walls was drowned slightly by the blast from Galindez’s gun. Webb’s anguished "No!" hung in the air as all other sound faded away. Dogget and Mulder burst into the room to find blood everywhere, Rabb in spasms on the floor and Galindez trying hard to keep Webb from going to their friend. Marita unsteadily moved away from the blood soaked corpse of Dr. Alexander, away from the blood dripping down the glass wall. She ran, unseeing past Galindez and Webb smack into the backhanded swipe of Mulder’s gun that sent her crashing to the floor. Mulder swallowed and went to kneel next to Rabb. "Sir!" Galindez cried. "Don’t worry, Galindez. Remember what that dead man told me. Whatever it is they gave me, the alien life form hates. Gently, he held the thrashing Rabb to the floor. "Doggett get…" "I’m here, Mr. Mulder." Jerimiah Smith stood over them. Webb broke free from Galindez and started to kneel next to the pair, but he found he couldn’t get past Smith’s personal force field. "Do something! Heal him, like you healed me! Damn you, do something." Webb cried. "Heal him, Mr. Webb? Of what? I cannot call the life from him." Smith sighed. "Oh my God." Scully stumbled into the room and stared at the tableau. "Oh shit. What can we do?" Mulder looked at Smith. "If we give him the antidote that they are working on, can you cure the aftereffects of that?" Galindez cried. "It doesn’t work! He said it doesn’t work. It just kills the human and they harvest the black oil to re-infect someone else." Smith sighed. "I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do." Webb leveled his gun at the alien. "Then you and I are going to take a walk, Smith. Your kind did this." "No!" Smith roared. "No! Your kind did this." His voice dropped. "No. Both of ours did this. But killing me won’t solve anything." Scully was pacing back and forth, ignoring the male posturing before her. She looked at the tables beyond the blood stained glass. Walking over to the still dazed Marita, she reached down and hauled the blond to her feet. "Marita, wake up." She slapped her several times before Marita jerked back. "Good. Now you are going to answer some questions and maybe, you can live long enough to escape and find someone else to corrupt. If not, I’m quite sure one of these nice men will put a bullet in your head. Finally, with a viable target for his frustration, Webb stepped up and placed the revolver at the base of her neck but looked to Scully for instructions. "See, Marita. Just you and a room full of enemies. Now, tell me. What are all those wires and tubes leading from those women?" Marita turned her attention to the three women. Taking a deep breath, she began. "They are on continuous IV drips feeding them. The other tubes draw blood for samples." "So, if the facility’s antidote doesn’t work, how did you convince Alexander that he would be safe?" Marita got a crafty look in her eyes. "I brought a vial of the Consortium’s antidote with me. I gave it to him." "Oh dear, wrong answer." Scully looked at Webb. "Kill her." And walked over to Smith. Webb gulped, but pulled back the trigger. "No! Damn you, Scully. When did you turn into such a cold hearted bitch?" Marita spat out. "Do you really want me to answer that?" Scully turned and waited. Webb kept glancing at Rabb who was growing calmer and calmer. He could see the effort that Mulder and now, Smith had to exert on the former flyer to keep him prone. "Fine! I gave him a transfusion of my blood. Actually, I distilled the necessary components out." Marita tried to step away, but Webb grabbed her long blond hair in one hand and pushed the gun even further into her neck. She cried out but the spy was unmoved. Scully came and stood in front of them. "Did you save any?" "No, it took too much. Why do you think we didn’t start with my blood? It takes too much and we can’t seem to synthesize it." "Well then, I guess we have to do the process all over again, won’t we?" Webb growled. Marita licked her lips and then looked over at Rabb. "You don’t have time. In two hours, the infection will be irreversible." "Then, why the hell are you waiting so long for those poor souls in there?" Webb yanked her hair. "Alexander was working on a different plan entirely. The antidote was never meant to cure, only enhance the human components." "Jesus Christ, he was working on the human/alien hybrid with adult subjects?" Mulder breathed. "And you encouraged him, didn’t you?" Marita spat at him. "Yeah. Yes,I was. After your girlfriend, Diana Fowley died, Spender and Krycek sent me down here to help. Now I’ve got nobody, so you can just go ahead and kill me." "Shut up." Dana sighed and began to pace some more. "You want out of here?" She finally asked. Marita nodded. "Okay. Answer me this and if I even think you’re lying, then I’ll kill you myself. Why did you distill the essence? Why didn’t you just give him blood transfusions?" There was no fight left in her. Marita met Scully’s gaze. "Because our blood types didn’t match." Just then Frohike ran into the room waving the hand-held computer in his hand. "We’ve got major bad shit going down!" Home :: cross-overs Index :: e-mail |