THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX
By:  Traveler


Category:  Casefile, Angst, MSR
Rating:  PG13 for a few curse words and a little
hanky panky.
Summary: This is a sequel to a story I wrote for Virtual
Season 11 titled PHOENIX RISING.   Despite veiled
threats from outside sources and possible disciplinary
action from the FBI, Mulder and Scully find a way to
bring a truth to light. See author's notes for further
explanation.
Spoilers:  Lots from early seasons of the series.  Some
reference to Vickie Moseley's GREAT BALLS OF FIRE.
Disclaimer:  Mulder, Scully, Skinner and other
characters from the series are the property of FOX and
Ten Thirteen.  I just borrowed them for my story.  All
the other characters are figments of my imagination.
Authors Notes:  While this story follows events in the
VS universe it should not be considered a part of the VS
mytharc but rather this authors interpretation of events
several month after the conclusion of PHOENIX RISING.
Mulder and Scully are living together as this story
enfolds.  If you wish to pursue how that came to be I
suggest you read Vickie Moseley's GREAT BALLS OF FIRE.
Special thanks to my beta and ebuddy Chris for her
encouragement and tired eyes and for continuing to walk
the journey with me.
Archive:  Please email me for permission first.
Feedback:  iluvxf@hotmail.com




EXECUTIVE SUBCOMMITTEE CONFERENCE ROOM, WASHINGTON D.C.
4:32 PM


"We knew sooner or later that this would be exposed,"
Commander Henderson stated matter-of-factly as he
fidgeted before the committee.  "Agent Mulder has been a
thorn in our sides for years but we've always been able
to keep him in check with subdued threats."

"You speak as if you are an authority on this," stated
Harold S. Parker, the presidential advisor on the
committee.

Henderson looked annoyed.  "He and I crossed paths years
ago when I was in charge of cleaning up a fallen angel
out in Wisconsin.  Our current situation has nothing
however, to do with UFO cover-ups; this is something
entirely different."  Henderson was quickly loosing his
cool facade, his face becoming redder as he continued.
"We now have people coming out of the woodwork to
testify in this investigation.  Many of them are
claiming to have participated in these alleged cover-
ups.  Or their family members have been used as test
subjects, or you name it, they're adding credence to
Agent Mulder's claims and the public is getting restless
for answers we can't give!"

"Who do you think was behind this sudden aggressive
behavior of his?"  The question came from a
representative from the Surgeon General's office, a thin
man with dark hair and a pair of glasses that were way
too big for his lean face named Hershberg.

Henderson stood up to address the committee.  "Last
fall, Agent Mulder was involved in a case in Cleveland.
Sometime during that case he was approached by a man we
believe is a member of an underground group whose
purpose appears to be to expose our plans.  We think
this man recruited Mulder.  Whatever he told him gave
Mulder some kind of incentive to make the allegations he
made concerning corporate and governmental cover-ups.
The press loves stories like these and the pressure they
put on the executive branch regarding those allegations
is why we are here today."

"So this Agent Mulder has become their spokesperson?"

"Agent Mulder is not a part of the FBI mainstream, he
and his partner, Agent Dana Scully, are involved the
investigation of X-Files, a nickname of sorts given to
unsolved cases.  Their investigations have led them to
some very confidential information regarding what you
might call TOP SECRET research."  Henderson slid several
folders marked with a red "X", across the table for the
committee to view.

Hershberg grabbed the top folder and flipped though it.
"If they have this kind of information, what's prevented
them from going public with it before this?"  he
questioned, pushing his glasses back up his nose and
fixing his gaze on Henderson.

"To be honest, Sir, we don't know what they have.  We
know they gathered evidence several years ago that Pinck
Pharmaceuticals was involved in some sort of bio-toxin
development; that they believe that the government might
still be involved in bio-weapons technology...things
that the public believes are no longer being done.   You
all know as well as I do what goes on in our Advance
Weapons Research Facilities.  If the public gets wind of
this, it will open up a can of worms so huge no one will
be able to put the lid on it."

"It's our belief that what they have is bits and
pieces," Major Willhelm added, his Air Force uniform
emblazoned with colorful metals.  "Over the years our
operatives have been able to destroy some of the more
conclusive evidence they have gathered.  They still have
too many questions to be able to present a damning case
against us.  But by opening the door with his
accusations in a public venue, Agent Mulder has put the
seeds of doubt in the minds of too many people."

"So what do we do about this?"  Hershberg said as he
tossed the folder back on the table.

"We discredit Agent Mulder and in doing so, debunk his
accusations," replied Parker.

"No, we can't be that obvious.  We have to make it look
to the public like we are fully involved in an
investigation into these allegations.  We need to make
the public feel their fears are unfounded and that we
are still a government for the people.   These files
that the press has obtained, they are all unsolved
cases-cases Agent Mulder claims he and others in his
profession are unable to solve because of these cover-
ups.  It's apparently become his and his partner's job
now to explain why they are unsolved.  I think we should
let him do that.   We get him down there on that floor
with the cameras rolling and he will not only discredit
himself, he'll discredit everyone else we've heard
from."

The look of approval passed about the room.


DANA SCULLY'S APARTMENT
6:10AM


Scully rolled over to gaze into the sleeping face of her
partner.  "Partner" she thought. In the FBI, your
partner was your working associate.  Webster said a
partner was someone who shares an action or endeavor
with another; a player on the same side or team as
another, two people who dance together, that idea
brining a gentle smile to her face.  She and Mulder, she
thought to herself, had been sharing the same dance for
years.  A partner as Webster also put it was a husband,
wife or lover.  They had long since crossed the lover
line but it remained to be seen when they would cross
that final threshold.

She lay there in the early morning light studying him.
Mulder's face had not changed much in all the years
she'd know him.  Despite his early morning stubble and
the flecks of gray that now specked his temples, he
still had that boyish quality that went along with his
never-ending curiosity and eagerness for discovery.  A
boy trapped in a man's body she often thought except
this boy had lost his innocence long ago.  His lashes
stirred and she quickly closed her eyes pretending to
sleep lest she be caught indulging.

"You've been starring at me for an hour Scully, you're
not fooling me."  Mulder said, the early morning
huskiness of his voice making her stir elsewhere as
well.  She opened her eyes to find his starring right
back into hers.

"You counting my gray hairs when I'm not looking?"
Raising his arms to stretch, he ran his fingers though
his unruly morning hair.  "Maybe I should start using
whatever it is you use?"

Bemusedly, she didn't know whether to be insulted or
play along, she chose the latter.  "Red's not your
color, Mulder."

"Well, I didn't mean the same color.  There must be
something close to Mulder brown," he said rolling onto
his back.

"Gray on a man makes them look distinguished, on a
woman; it just makes us look-old.  Besides, who says I
have any gray?"

Mulder, deciding he wanted to live to see the sunrise,
let that comment go.  "So you think with a little gray,
people might start to take me seriously?"

"They are taking you seriously, Mulder."

He chuckled softly.  "You must be living in a different
universe than I am.  Since when?"

She rolled over to face him.  "I watched some clips from
that subcommittee hearing yesterday.  They had people
testifying on everything from DDT spraying to
medications used in the Gulf War; most of them claiming
that the public has been used as guinea pigs for all
kinds of unethical research.  You started that you
know."

He was quiet for a long time, making her think that he
had fallen back to sleep until she heard him swallow
hard.  "Scully?   Did you ever do something that
afterwards you realized might not have been a healthy
thing to do?"

"Frequently."

He turned to look at her wondering just what it was that
she was implying but seeing the gentle smirk on her face
he shook his head.  "For years, hell, getting to the
bottom of all this and exposing these bastards has been
my goal in life.  Something I think my father tried to
do and being his son, something I'm supposed to
continue.  Not just for him but for my sister, because
of what they did to you, what they've done to me and
probably millions of other unsuspecting souls.  But I
look at what those comments of mine started and I think
of the fear it will generate in the public eye and
something inside me says that maybe I just should have
kept my big mouth shut, that maybe it was better that
people didn't know the truth."

Realizing how serious he was, Scully closed the gap
between them on the bed, leaning on her elbow and
placing her hand on Mulder's bare chest.  "You did what
your heart told you to do Mulder, I believe that.  Yes,
it is frightening, and for that reason, it has to stop.
National security be damned, whatever the purpose of
these cover-ups, it's not worth the cost of human
lives."

Mulder sighed.  "You don't believe that the needs of the
many outweigh the needs of the few?"

"This isn't Star Trek, Mulder, its real life."

"I know that Scully, but what I did, I did for purely
selfish reasons. I can't help but feel now that what
I've put in motion could jeopardize the survival of the
human race."

Scully had been lazily drawing circles in on Mulder's
chest with the tips of her fingers.  She could feel him
tensing under her ministrations.  "You're serious,
aren't you?  Do you honestly believe now that whatever's
being done behind the public's back is for their
benefit?"

His breathing had quickened slightly, his breath puffy
as he spoke.  "I think in the big overall picture,
perhaps, yes."  He reached up to still her hand.  "Stop
that, we're due in Skinner's office at 8 and I refuse to
walk in there with a warm glow on my face again and have
him look at me with one of those shit-eating grins of
his."

As she withdrew her hand, he slid from under her and out
of bed; grabbing clean underwear from a dresser drawer,
he pulled the door too as he left the room.


OFFICE OF A.D. SKINNER


Mulder's uneasiness had continued most of the morning.
He had insisted they drive to work separately, stating
that he had some things to do later in the day.  She
knew that he was still not entirely comfortable with
their living arrangements.  Mulder, like anyone else,
needed his space and there just wasn't any extra space
in the apartment.  If this was to become permanent, they
were going to have to look for some place larger, a
subject she had yet to breach with him.

The two of them now sat in the appointed chairs opposite
the AD.  Neither of them had said a word past the normal
pleasantries upon their arrival in the office.  Skinner
thumbed through a file he had on his desk seemingly
contemplating whether or not to make its contents common
knowledge.  It was Scully who finally broke the silence.

"Sir?  We're here at your request-is there something you
needed to discuss?"

Skinner looked up, almost startled by her voice and
giving her a sensation of dread as to what this meeting
was about.  Out of the corner of her eye she saw Mulder
dry wash his face with his hand and realized he too was
a bit nervous.  They both knew that they had been living
on borrowed time. The events of last fall possibly the
only reason the X-Files had been kept open.  Finally
Skinner cleared his throat and spoke.

"Agents, what I have here has nothing to do with the X-
Files.   It won't take you long to figure out there is
nothing paranormal about this information what so ever."
Scully caught the quick glance from her partner.  "I'm
sure you're both aware of the executive subcommittee
hearings going on right now."  He handed the file to
Mulder who nodded acceptance in return.  "You're going
to be called to testify Agent Mulder."

Mulder looked up wide-eyed at that announcement and
glanced again at Scully verifying the fears he had
expressed in their bed that morning.

"Testify about what?" Scully asked nervously.

Skinner looked from Scully to her partner.  "Because of
information brought to light during these hearings, the
committee has requested several of your files to
examine.  You know what they're looking for-evidence you
may be holding that will be detrimental to building a
defense.  Several high profile personnel have been
called in for questioning regarding allegations by
dozens of investigative reporters.  I think it's pretty
obvious that if they put you on the block and you can't
produce evidence of any cover-ups you and the Bureau end
up looking like an ass.  What's in that file may very
well give you the evidence you need."

Mulder continued to flip though the reports in the file.
Exasperated he looked up.  "But these are just medical
reports about people afflicted with some yet undiagnosed
respiratory disease, some type of flu perhaps."

"Undiagnosed?"  Scully questioned.

Skinner met her eyes.  "Yes, if you read through those
reports the symptoms of the victims are identical, it
appears to be some form of virus yet doctors are unable
to determine the strain."

'What's the lead time on this?  How long have they been
working on isolating the virus?"  Skinner obviously had
Scully's attention.

"The symptoms started to appear about two weeks ago in
several locations..."

As Mulder got to the last page he noticed a Post-it note
attached to the inside of the back of the file.  'MEET
ME AT CASEY'S AT 7, WE NEED TO TALK'.  He looked up at
Skinner who did nothing but blink in acknowledgement.
Interrupting him he added.  "We'll get right on this
sir," and rose to leave.   Surprised at his sudden
departure, Scully could only follow him from the office.

Mulder walked briskly down the hall in front of her and
she watched him stab the button for the basement.  He
hesitated only briefly as she stepped in behind him and
then hit the button again to close the door leaving them
in complete privacy.

"You going to tell me what's in that file or am I going
to have to torture it out of you?"

A leer she hadn't seen in some time returned to his eyes
and he leaned down to her ear.  "Don't tempt me, woman.
I'll let you know when I find out myself."  He then
flipped to the back page of the file and showed her the
note from Skinner.  Her eyes met his with a suspicious
look.

"What I need you to do is some research on these
symptoms," handing her the file he continued.  "I need
to know if you've seen anything like this before.  We
need to know how these people were infected and then
treated, perhaps there's something common between all of
them we can use as a basis for our investigation."

"Mulder, I might need to get a hold of some medical
records here."

He dry washed his face again and turned to her gesturing
with his right hand.  "The guys will help you with that.
You know how they love hacking into hospital records."

As they stepped from the elevator, Scully grabbed
Mulder's sleeve.  "What are you going to do about this
investigative committee?"

"Not a damn thing-until they contact me," he said,
shrugging his sleeve from her grasp and heading towards
the office.

They spent the rest of the morning going through files.
It became all too clear after a short time that the X-
files cases the committee had requested from their files
were also the ones most likely to contain information
they could use now.  Many of which had been
painstakingly restored after the fire in the office
several years back.  From then on Mulder had copied the
guys on just about everything; building his own personal
library of cases for future reference.  That library was
about to come in handy.

Scully looked up from the stack of reports Skinner had
given them.  The symptoms of all the patients had been
the same.  She had divided them into groups from several
large metropolitan areas.  Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, St.
Louis, even right here in D.C.  It seemed odd to her
that these same acute symptoms would manifest themselves
in so many different places at the same time.  A virus
usually spread from area to area, it naturally wouldn't
afflict so many all at once.  She looked over at Mulder
and caught him rubbing his eyes.

"You hungry?"

He pulled his hand away from his face and blinked
owlishly at her.  "Hmm?"

"It's almost one; do you want to go get something to
eat?"

He turned back to his computer and hacked away, then
reached out to turn off the monitor.  "Yeah, the sun's
shinning," he said as he stood to grab his jacket.  "I
need to go to the library; I think I know a librarian I
can bribe with cheese steaks."  They were going to see
the Gunmen.


OFFICE OF THE LONE GUNMEN


Scully picked away at her chicken Caesar and watched
Mulder and his three librarians indulge in their greasy
concoctions.  Mulder's diet had been forced to make a
sudden change when the only refrigerator he could raid
was hers.  He seemed to take it in stride but
occasionally he'd come in with his own bag of groceries
that included Frosted Flakes, Stouffers French Bread
Pizza and beer...just in case he had to cook for himself
he'd said.  Man could not live on lettuce alone.

Frohike had the reports from Skinner spread across the
table as they ate.  "You say Skinner gave these to you?
I don't see a case here, why do you suppose he's passing
out medical reports?"

Mulder swallowed the last bite of his sandwich.  "He
said I'm gonna need this evidence when that
investigative committee calls me in to testify.  I go in
there and can't produce evidence of what I alluded to in
Cleveland and they come out smelling like a rose.  Case
closed"

"Shit."

"Deep shit," seconded Langly.

"I went through all these reports, Scully began.  What I
believe we have here is evidence of a man-made virus.
We have acute symptoms reported simultaneously in five
major cities in the eastern U.S.  That just doesn't
happen naturally."  She met Mulder's eyes across the
table. He had shed his jacket and loosened his tie.  She
slipped off her shoes.  This was going to be a long
afternoon.

"I think we're eventually going to find that this is a
mutated form of a very common virus."

"For the purpose of?"  Byers questioned.

"To create a vaccine against it," Mulder suggested.  "To
find a way to constantly be one step ahead of
something?"

Langly looked a little uneasy.  "We're not talking about
the flu here are we?"

"No," Mulder said with some regret.  "Well-yeah, maybe.
Every time we turn around the public is being warned
about some new strain of flu that's going around.
They're told to run out and get a flu shot.  Maybe these
viruses are being created so pharmaceutical companies
can research vaccines to prevent them.  Research in
preparation for something on a much larger scale."
Everyone, including Scully stared at him as he got up,
crushed up his sandwich wrapper and made a 3 point shot
into the trash can.  "Anyone got any Tums?"

Mulder's paranoia was alive and well.  Scully was the
first to speak, swinging into full scientific mode.
"Mutations happen in nature all the time.  I'm meeting
with one of the doctors here in D.C. who treated several
patients who came down with this infection.  He seemed
very eager to talk with someone because of the unusual
nature of the cases and when he called the CDC to report
his findings they didn't seem very interested.  You
know, Mulder, it's not unusual for something like
influenza to mutate into different strains.

"I know, but you just said that it IS unusual for a
virus such as this to strike several areas at exactly
the same time.  That's what makes me think we're dealing
with something else here.  We've seen this before,
testing on the unsuspecting-all the way from prison
inmates, to the elderly, to children, Scully."  He had
crossed the room to come to stand before her, his eyes
full of the memory, his voice softening as he mentioned
children.  Though the years had eased it some, the pain
of Emily would always be there for both of them.  She
broke his gaze and he reached to tuck her hair behind
her left ear.  "Us," was all he said.


OFFICE OF DR. NATHAN THOMAS
D.C. GENERAL

Scully had left Mulder with the Gunmen and taken the car
to her appointment.  His melancholy attitude at meeting
their boss later that evening had translated into the
fact that he might not be in any shape to drive it later
on.

As she waited for her meeting with the doctor, she
contemplated his attitude of late.  While he would never
again be the eager, somewhat naive man-child she had met
some 10 years ago, some of the cynicism he had developed
over the years had dissipated.  Since Cleveland, he
seemed to enjoy the work more, and a new easiness had
developed between them, in part due to their living
arrangements.  She knew that in some way he believed
that the hearings now going on would bring to light some
of the things they had battled over the years if in no
other context then to make people aware of what was
going on.  She feared however, the reasons he would be
called upon to appear before the committee.  If they
were to discredit him and their work before a national
audience it would change everything.

Dr. Thomas entered the office.  He was a tall man,
Mulder's height, with nicely graying hair and an easy
smile which he greeted her with before introductions.

"Agent Scully?" at her nod he continued.  "I'm Nathan
Thomas.  I can't tell you how glad I was to get your
call."  He reached over and shook her hand with a firm
professional grip.

"Yes, well my partner and I are investigating some
deaths attributed to this viral infection in several
other cities..."

"There have been other cases similar to this elsewhere?"
The doctor looked totally surprised by her comments as
he made his way behind his desk.  Taking a seat and
waiting for her answer.

Surprised as well, Scully took out her reports and
handed them across the desk to Thomas.  "Yes, there have
been what appear to be identical cases reported in
several eastern U.S. cities.  Atlanta, Boston, Chicago..."

"Wait a minute; you're saying this is localized in these
cities?  I can't tell you how unusual that is."

"Actually sir, I'm a medical doctor, a pathologist and
I'm well aware that this is highly unusual which is why
I'm here.  I was hoping to get authorization to do an
autopsy on the latest victim."

"Victim?  You make it sound like we're talking about
murders here Agent Scully."

"If my partner and I can prove that this is not a
natural outbreak, that these people have been
deliberately exposed to something without their
knowledge then they very well could be murders sir."

Thomas met her gaze with one of shock.  "I'm sorry, but
what you're talking about is not only illegal but
unethical. We're talking Saddam tactics here. You're not
suggesting something like that could happen in this
country are you?"

Scully could tell she was frightening this man.  "Dr.
Thomas, I'm sure you're aware of the hearings going on
on Capital Hill.  Allegations have been made by the
press that the government might indeed be involved in
unethical medical research and that they are also
involved in a cover-up of said research."

Thomas hesitated a moment as if contemplating to himself
whether what he was about to say would reveal his
opinion of the current establishment.  "Somewhat, I
haven't really been paying much attention to it
frankly."

Scully smiled to herself, Mulder's fears becoming
obvious with the doctor's comment, nobody was listening.
"My partner and I believe this case could provide
important evidence that would indeed implicate those
involved.  We just need a little information."

The doctor appearing much more relieved than moments
before shuffled through some of his own files.  "I don't
see where an autopsy would be any problem then, he was
one of my patients."  He handed Scully the file.

Glancing through it quickly she noted that the doctor
had started the patient on course of strong antivirals
and oxygen almost immediately due to the extreme
respiratory problems he was suffering.  White cell
counts were extremely high and the patient had and
extremely high fever; all evidence of some type of
massive infection.  Several hours later the patient had
experienced respiratory arrest and had been placed on a
respirator.  He died within 10 hours of admittance.  The
same thing had been true for the other victims.
Whatever this was, it progressed at an unnatural rate.
"Were you able to identify the cause of the patient's
symptoms?"

"It appeared to be viral, like a flu virus, but like
nothing I've or anyone else I contacted had ever seen
before," Thomas looked out of his league despite his
credentials.  He pushed his hair back and sighed.
"These other cases, they had the same symptoms?"

"Yes, exactly.  Do you think I could take a quick look
at Mr. Mack's body?"

Scully continued to look through the victims' file as
they made their way down to the hospital morgue.
Phillip Mack had been 47 at the time of his death and in
fairly good health.  He was employed at the Hall Drug
Warehouse and lived in Arlington with his wife and two
sons.  She made a mental note to find out if Hall Drug
was in any way connected to Pinck Pharmaceuticals. She
also desperately wanted to talk with Mrs. Mack.

They entered the morgue and were greeted by the
attendant who gave them the drawer number for Mr. Mack.
After snapping on latex gloves Dr. Thomas pulled open
the drawer, the empty drawer.

"Jason!"

The morgue attendant came running at the sound of his
name.  "Yes Doctor?"

Both Dr. Thomas and Scully turned to the young man.  "We
seem to have misplaced Mr. Mack."

"Geez, let me recheck my logs," Jason said with a
worried look and jogged back out to his desk.

After contacting the funeral home that was to pick up
the body and a rather morbid search through the morgue
the three of them determined that Mr. Mack had indeed
gone missing.

"What the hell is going on here?"  Thomas was angry and
confused.  He looked first at the bewildered morgue
attendant and then at Agent Scully for an explanation.

"Evidence sir, of what we were talking about earlier.
You said the CDC refused to talk with you about this?"

"I've talked to the CDC several times.  Nothing was
mentioned about cases appearing in other cities, they
won't even acknowledge to me there is any influenza
outbreak. It's highly unusual for this time of year.
And I sure haven't seen anything mentioned on the news
either."

"Well it's not necessarily an outbreak when they appear
to have it contained to several localized locations.  Do
you have any further blood work or other test results on
this patient?"

"I'm not sure if it's back from the lab yet, I can
check," flustered he went into the attendant's office to
phone the lab.  Returning only minutes later to confirm
what Scully had already suspected.  There was no lab
work for a Mr. Phillip Mack.



CASEY'S BAR 7:17PM


It was a warm evening and by the time Mulder had reached
the bar he had shed his jacket and tie and his sleeves
were rolled to his elbows.  Scully had contacted him
after her interview with Thomas to inform him she was
going back to the Gunmen's in hopes they could gain
access to medial records of some of the other patients.
If what she suspected was true she would have a lot to
tell him when he got home.

Through the smoky atmosphere he spotted Skinner sitting
in one of the back booths near the restrooms.  He was
nursing a beer and a similar one sat on the table across
from him.  Mulder tossed down his jacket and slid into
the seat across from the A.D.  "I'm not sure it's a good
sign when your boss buys you a beer."

"You're probably gonna need more than that one when you
hear what I have to tell you.  Did you and Scully go
over what I gave you this morning?"

Mulder took a slow drag of his beer and set the mug back
on the table, stroking the condensation off the glass
with his fingers.  He signed deeply.  "We think what
you've given us is evidence of some elaborate medical
research project.  Scully's over at the Gunmen's right
now trying to gain access to the medical records of some
of the victims."

"Victims?" Skinner questioned.

"What else would you call them?  These people have been
exposed to some kind of acute respiratory infection,
perhaps a form of influenza. I'll tell you what I think
but just so you know, Scully doesn't share my theory-
just yet.  To Mulder's surprise, Skinner downed the rest
of his beer and signaled for another round.

At Mulder's surprised look he explained. "I'm just
trying to prepare myself for your explanation."

Mulder faked a smile.  "I'll make it brief," he said,
picking up his beer and taking another drag of the cold
liquid.  The chill it gave him sliding down his throat
was not half as bad as the chill he was getting thinking
about what he was about to say.  "I think this has to do
with government funded research on some form of
biological toxin or weapon; or perhaps preventative
research for such."

Skinner looked around, as if making sure no one was
listening to their conversation. "You might not want to
say that too loud, Mulder.  Nothing fuels the media more
than corruption.  When you get home, Scully's going to
tell you she found that the bodies of those who have
died from this infection have disappeared."

"What?"  Mulder downed the rest of the beer and slid the
second one over in front of him.

"There have been 19 deaths attributed to this silent
outbreak.  Scully's going to find that there have been
no autopsies on any of them because there were no bodies
to autopsy.

"They all just disappeared from morgues?"  Mulder sat
across from Skinner, his mouth agape.

"Within hours of their deaths.  Someone doesn't want any
investigation into why these people died because
information revealed in those autopsies could very well
link the deaths to government funded projects.  There as
also been the release of an unpublicized preventative
vaccine in these same major cities. You need to find
that link, Mulder.  One that ties the manufactured
vaccine to whatever this project may be.  Scully needs
to isolate the virus and determine its origin.  It has
to be something that was intentionally released in all
these areas and you need proof as to who is
responsible."

Mulder wasn't exactly happy with his boss barking orders
on how he and Scully should proceed with their
investigation.  "Tall order for so late at night don't
you think?"

Skinner looked around again.  Mulder found it odd that
he seemed so nervous about their conversation.  "Listen,
you and Scully have investigated cases like this before,
pesticide spraying in Pennsylvania, Cumberland Prison,
the New Spartans. But you have no evidence that the
government was involved in any of them nor can you prove
that the government or the private sector was involved
in the cover-up of any wrongdoing.  You want to look at
an organization called Roush."

Skinner suddenly seemed to have too many answers for
Mulder's liking.  It reminded him very much of his
conversation on the bridge with Kritschgau or even years
ago as he and the same man had strolled undetected
though the halls of the DOD.  Suddenly everyone seemed
to have all the answers but they weren't talking to the
right people.

"How is it that you now know where I'm supposed to look
for answers?  You're a part of this aren't you?  Why the
hell haven't you pointed any fingers at anyone all these
years?"  The angry inflection evident in his voice
rising as he spoke.  "You let them maim Scully and pick
apart my brain and when I've got nothing left to loose
but her, you and your buddies coheres me into becoming a
part of your rebellion or what ever the hell you choose
to call it!"  Mulder's voice had risen with his tirade.
Several patrons in the bar were now looking towards
their table.

In one swift move, Skinner reached across the table and
grabbed Mulder's left wrist.  As Mulder tried to twist
it away, he squeezed harder, the watchband on Mulder's
wrist biting into his flesh from the pressure.  "Look
you ass," Skinner seethed.  "We brought you into this
because we didn't want to see either of you hurt any
further."

"Bullshit," Mulder seethed back.  Still trying to
wriggle free of Skinner's hold on him he soon realizing
that it wouldn't take much at this point to snap the
bones of his wrist and relented.  Skinner let go.

As Mulder started to bolt from the booth, Skinner pushed
him back down in his seat with a crushing hand on his
shoulder.  "Sit down!" Mulder glared at Skinner, rubbing
his chafed wrist.

"You know damn well you've been used in the past; you
know what's been done to me.  It's got to stop!"

"Don't you think I've been trying to stop it?  You think
I-that Scully and I want to live the rest of our lives
having to constantly look over our shoulders for
whomever is about to stab us in the back.  I can't do
that anymore!"

"Then just listen to me for a minute," Skinner was
almost pleading with him.  Mulder said nothing so
Skinner took that as an acceptance to continue.  "You
chose to bring this all to light Mulder. No one told you
to make the comments you made in Cleveland but because
you were the one who set this ball rolling, you and
Scully have become key figures in this executive
investigation.  Should anything happen to you now, it
wouldn't take long for all those media friends you've
made to put two and two together and an investigation
could turn up evidence that points directly to the
people involved in these cover-ups.  I can't help you if
I'm in the middle of this.  I told you this once before
and I think you understood.  You don't want to forget
who your friends are, who you can trust.  You may not
think of me or even Kritschgau as a friend now, but by
making you aware of what's being done it was a way to
buy you both some insurance, Mulder.  You sleeping with
your partner is no longer much of a secret you know.
Fraternization is not exactly against Bureau policy
unless we're talking on a supervisory level.  And your
status as a supervisor is being rather conveniently
overlooked by the powers that be.  And quite frankly I
don't understand why.  It might, however, not look good
to others outside the loop.  These people believe you
have nothing to support what you claim and when they get
you in there and start picking you apart, that's going
to become very evident to the public.  You're going to
be right back where you started from."

Mulder met Skinner's eyes but still didn't say anything.

"Can I ask you something?" Skinner said, his voice soft,
trying to maintain the fragile calm that had settled on
the table.  Mulder only nodded.  "Does Scully know the
identity of the man you met in Cleveland?"

"Yeah," he answered hesitantly.   "We're both guilty of
withholding information."

Skinner took a last sip of his now slightly warm beer
and stood to leave.  "Go home, Mulder," Skinner said,
throwing a twenty on the table as he walked towards the
front of the bar and out the door.  The irony of
Mulder's home being Scully's apartment was not lost on
him.


DANA SCULLY'S APARTMENT


Scully had just finished filling the kettle to make tea
when she heard the key in the lock and Mulder came
through the door.  He had told her just the other day
that he still felt like he should knock before he came
in sometimes.  Throwing his jacket in a heap on the
chair he made his way into the kitchen.  She could smell
him before he even got close.  The dark circles under
his eyes and heavy 5 o'clock shadow only emphasized how
tired he looked.  She knew however, that it was more
mental fatigue than anything physical.  "Better make
that coffee," he said, kissing her lightly when as she
made a face at his beer breath and smoky clothes.  "That
bad huh?"

She gave him a disgusted look.  "If you're gonna sit in
my kitchen you need a shower and a change of clothes."
We have a lot to talk about."

"Yeah we do," he sighed rubbing his aching wrist.

She noticed his actions and the bruising that was
already evident.  "What happened to your wrist?"

"I had to arm wrestle Skinner for the tab?"

The disbelieving look he got made him wince. "You're
both right handed, Mulder.  Go get cleaned up and I'll
get you some ice."

He just gave her a half-hearted smile, nodded and headed
off towards the bathroom, her comment about 'my kitchen'
ambling around in his brain.  Some things had yet to
become 'theirs'.

"Don't suppose you want to come wash my back?"

Scully smiled and a few minutes later, followed him into
the bathroom.  As she pushed open the door, the steam
from the shower was already starting to build in the
room.  Mulder had dropped his smoke-ridden clothes in a
heap on the floor.  She shed her pajama's and as
silently as possible popped the shower door open. Mulder
was standing under the hot spray facing the wall, his
palms and forehead pressed against the tile.  He didn't
acknowledge her presence.  She stepped up behind him and
grabbed the soap and shower sponge from the shelf.
Squeezing on an ample supply of soap she began rubbing
the sponge in circles across his tense shoulders.  She
could feel him relaxing under her ministrations.  She
then heard him whisper a thank you into the tile.
Something had happened tonight that had brought the
weariness back to his voice.  Stopping her impromptu
message she placed her cheek against his back and
wrapped her arms around his middle.  He turned then in
her arms and she looked up into his face.  His eyes were
closed and the water from the shower ran down his
forehead and dripped off his long lashes.  He said
nothing but placed his fingers against her cheeks and
raised her face to his, their lips meeting in a deep
hungry kiss.



WATERGATE APARTMENTS 11:47PM


"Do you have any idea what he and Skinner were talking
about?"  Former U.S. Attorney John Leamus, his ear to
the phone, stubbed out his cigarette. The pack on his
desk was now empty and he began rifling through his
drawers looking for another.  "No, I think we can assume
that Mulder's AD friend is a part of this.  He has been
for years."

When it became evident he wouldn't find what he was
looking for; he slammed the drawer suddenly chuckling at
what his comrade was saying on the other end of the
line.  "Yeah, that would be the easiest thing to do but
it would be too much fuel for the media at this point.
Mr. Mulder needs to understand what's at stake here,
what the information he might release would do in the
long run.  He's not a stupid man, I think he's already
figured out this is part of a much bigger plan."  Leamus
sat back and rubbed his eyes.  "No, leave her out of
this, that card's been played too many times already by
other parties.  I'll take care of this."


X-FILES OFFICE NEXT DAY


They had stayed up half the night going over what Scully
and the Gunmen had uncovered.  Skinner had been right;
all the bodies of the nineteen victims from this
infection had disappeared.  According to local law
enforcement, they had all disappeared within several
hours of succumbing to their illness.  A phone interview
with Mrs. Mack had revealed that her husband and twenty-
nine other employees and families of the Hall Drug
Warehouse had voluntarily received flu shots a week
prior to her husband's death.  Two of them were now also
dead.  Calls to relatives of several of the other
victims had revealed they too had also recently received
flu vaccinations.

Scully had also contacted the CDC.  Whatever this bug
was, their reports indicated no outbreak of any kind.
Several cities, Boston, Atlanta, and Chicago were being
watched and vaccines were being administered in these
areas as a preventive precaution.  Someone had already
started to cover their asses.  All the two of them had
at the moment were medical reports of a very selective
viral infection, 19 deaths caused by this infection, but
no bodies to autopsy and only the possibility of it
being chemically induced as a form of transmission.
They had set the guys on the trail of Roush Technologies
in the wee hours of the morning but so far all they had
come up with were some web sites they could search
regarding Roush's current projects.  What they needed
was information that would connect the dots.

Mulder hadn't said much about his encounter with Skinner
the previous evening but she knew that the marks on his
wrist were not from any arm wrestling match he had had
with their boss.    It had taken a while but he had
finally confessed to her to what had happened on the
bridge in Cleveland.  The man he had wrestled into the
river that night had been Michael Kritschgau and in
their brief conversation he had told Mulder of a covert
group working to expose an elaborate governmental
conspiracy against the American people.  Skinner, Mulder
believed was in one form or another, also a member of
this group and together they had decided it was time to
recruit him too.   Mulder's allegiance Scully knew had
not come without a price.  She had realized a long time
ago, that he did everything for her, and this was no
exception.  He'd exchanged his independence for their
security.

After spending most of the day searching the internet
for information on Roush and other government funded
research projects, Mulder now paced the office like an
expectant father.  The request for his appearance before
the executive investigative committee had been hand
delivered early in the morning.  He was due in their
chambers at 9AM sharp Monday morning.

"Maybe you should cut back on the coffee, Mulder."  Her
vain attempt at breaking the ice chilling the office
went flat.  "Or maybe I could prescribe some valium."

"Yeah, that'll help.  Drug me into a stupor and I won't
feel the knife between my shoulder blades."

He came to stand next to the desk where she now had
taken up his abandoned search and squatted down to her
eye level, his knees popping.  They caught each other's
eyes at the sound and smiled.

"Don't say it," he mugged.  "I'm the lamb being led to
the slaughter here, Scully, we have to find something."

"Mulder, I don't think that case in Phoenix back in 1998
has anything to do with this.  Just because that man
worked for Roush doesn't mean whatever happened to him
was connected to his work.  I know you believed that
some type of entity was responsible for his death and
that of his co-worker but what does that have to do with
what we're dealing with now?"

Breaking eye contact and looking down Mulder sighed.
His ever-skeptical partner never gave up questioning
him.  He looked back up and placed his left hand over
hers to still it. His fingers felt like ice. "Roush is a
lobbying group.  They are constantly looking for tax
dollars to fund projects and get an absurd amount of it
from what I've seen.  Kritschgau was on their payroll
when we first met him."

"I thought he worked for the DOD?"

"So he moonlighted a little."

"He told me a long time ago how the government has been
doing research on anything from agricultural chemicals,
to weapons, to aids vaccines and using and unknowing
public to test them on.  It goes all the way back to the
1940's.  I always believed that the people had a right
to know about this."

"But now you don't?"

"I don't know what I think."  He stroked the back of her
hand with his thumb and Scully found it somewhat
disturbing here in the office.  "The 1940's Scully,
Roswell was the 40's.  I think we both agree that the
government has some knowledge of what we believe is a
coming apocalypse.  What if the alien virus we've both
seen has a way of mutating itself to insure its
survival?  And-and, all this research that I've believed
has been geared towards turning us all into human drones
is really a way of fighting back or stopping it?"

Scully turned her hand over and took hold of his still
chilly fingers trying to warm them.  "So you're saying
that you think Roush appropriates funds for research on
the alien virus?  Mulder, I don't see anything here that
would substantiate that.  All these projects are
legitimate."

"But what if they are using these other projects as a
smoke screen-creating these other bugs, mutating man-
made viruses so they can come up with a way to stop an
alien virus?  Wouldn't that be a good thing?"

Mulder never ceased to exasperate her at times.  "But
we're not talking about an alien virus here Mulder; this
appears to be some sort of influenza."

"I know that, but the principle is the same isn't it?
All viruses can mutate.  What if by researching and
creating vaccines for something as common as the flu in
actuality they're trying to come up with a vaccine for
an alien virus that itself keeps mutating?"

God, what he was suggesting was incomprehensible but
frighteningly possible.  She put her right hand over
their clasped hands.  "I suppose in those terms it would
but it's not a good thing if they are using the public
to test their progress."

Mulder slid his hand out from between hers and put his
right hand on the back of the chair making an effort to
stand.  "Scully?"

Alarmed at his tone she looked up.

"Help me up," he begged as he pushed himself slowly back
to his feet.

His legs had fallen asleep below the knees from
squatting so long and he now bent over rubbing them to
get the circulation going again.  Scully watched with
some amusement.  Finally he stood and took a few steps
towards the file cabinets at the back of the office,
turning again to face her with his hands on his hips.

"You know I've read a lot of theory," at Scully's eye
roll he smirked.  "That's also confirmed in some
scientific research journals by the way, that there is a
very real possibility that the earth may undergo a
catastrophic natural disaster some time this century.
An event not unlike others that have occurred before in
the history of the planet, like whatever caused the
extinction of the dinosaurs or the ice age.  Most people
have no idea what a fragile existence we have here on
this planet and I don't mean just environmentally."  He
took a few steps and came to stand near the desk. "The
earth is part of the whole solar system, Scully.  The
sun, the planets are all connected to each other.  A
catastrophic event on one will affect all the others.
There are huge gravitational and magnetic fields
involved here.  If something were to happen within our
solar system that would disrupt the magnetic field of
the earth it would cause a disaster of biblical
proportions.  Do you know that the story of Noah and the
great flood exists in some form or another in just about
every culture on this planet?  A lot of evidence points
to the fact that it really did happen."

Mulder had gone into story mode.  Most of the time she
loved his antidotes, that mind of his contained an
amazing amount of knowledge from the sublime to the
mundane.  Other times, like now, she wondered where he
was going with this seemingly off topic.  "Just about
every culture has a Jesus figure too, Mulder.  A savior
figure who's return has been prophesized."

He could see her disinterest and became more animated
using his hands to convey the information.  "You know
the story of Atlantis...

"It's a myth Mulder.

"Yes, but many a myth has its basis in fact, Scully.
The story goes back as far as Plato and recent findings
theorize that the continent of Antarctica could very
possibly be the lost continent of Atlantis."

"I thought Atlantis was in the Atlantic?"

"You've heard of continental drift?"

"Mulder, where are you going with this?  What does it
have to do with this case?"

She suddenly saw some of the man-child return.  His eyes
sparkled with the knowledge he was about to convey to
her and whether it meant anything to the case suddenly
became irrelevant.

"Scully, lets just say that Atlantis DID exist.  What
catastrophic event could have caused the disappearance
of an entire continent?  An entire civilization?
Suppose these people knew they were doomed.  It's
believed that the Atlanteans were great astronomers and
seaman; it was a highly sophisticated society.  At the
time Atlantis was supposed to have existed the rest of
the world was in chaos and then suddenly you had these
tremendous civilizations popping up around the globe,
the Mayans, the Egyptians.  What if these people were
refugees from Atlantis?  There's a modern day theory
that's generated a lot of controversy among
archeologists that many of the sacred sites from early
history like Stonehenge, the Great Pyramid, Machu Picchu
are a hidden global pattern of measuring devices created
by this incredibly advanced civilization long before
history is even supposed to have existed; devices that
were used to predict a disaster."

Scully tilted her head back, the easy smile she used
when she refused to argue his theories spread across her
face.  Mulder watched it happen and she saw his
shoulders sag.  He blew out a huff.

"You're not buying any of this shit are you?"

"Mulder, there are always theories, especially about
these sites because no conclusive evidence has been
established as to what their real purpose is.  So what
if they are warning signs, no one can figure them out."

"Maybe they have figured them out, maybe that's what
this is all about; preventive measures.  If-if some
catastrophic event happened in the solar system or here
on earth that caused some form of continental
displacement it could change the whole magnetic field of
the earth, even cause it to reverse. Outside of the fact
that such an event would cause horrific weather related
problems, if something caused the earth's magnetic field
to reverse nothing would work. Your car wouldn't run, or
your appliances, anything with a magnetic motor in it
would be useless.  There would be no electricity because
the huge turbines used to produce it wouldn't run.
Anything stored on magnetic tape or similar devices
would be useless.  We live in a digital age; CD's DVD's
all data stored that way would still be accessible
should this happen. Solar energy, cell phones, liquid
crystal display, perhaps all these wonderful new gadgets
are just another subtle way of preparing the public for
the future without their direct knowledge.  They just
all think it's really cool."

"It's progress," Mulder.

"Is it?"

"So what you're saying here is that now you think we're
better off living in the lie?"

"I just don't think I have the right to suggest it's all
a lie."

"To live the lie, you have to believe it.  Like these
men who deceive the public.  You told me that Mulder and
I know you, you don't believe it. So regardless of
whether we're looking at a natural or man-made disaster
if the public is being duped by being left in the dark
about preparations to survive any such catastrophe they
have a right to know.  You know how I feel when you try
to protect me from something.  I should have the right
to control my own fate.    No one, especially a
government of elected officials should have the power to
take that away from me."

Mulder spread his arms in an act of supplication.  "So
what do I do about it?"

"Once again, you're saying I a lot.  What do WE do about
it," she corrected.

"I'm the one who has to go in front of that committed
Monday, Scully, and right now I have no idea what I'm
going to tell them."

She got up from the chair and walked over to where he
now leaned on his elbow against the file cabinets.
Reaching down and taking his left hand in hers again she
begged him to look her in the eyes.  "You have the
strength of your beliefs, Mulder."  The memory of her
words came back in a rush and he squeezed her fingers
with his and then he did something he wasn't supposed to
do in the office, he kissed her.


OFFICE OF THE LONE GUNMEN


By the time Saturday evening rolled around they still
had little to go on.  Holed up with the Gunmen most of
the day they had found that Pinck Pharmaceuticals was
indeed the manufacturer of the vaccine being used to
prevent the spread of the virus.  In each city affected
the first person to be diagnosed had been an employee of
a local drug warehouse.  Roush Technologies was
responsible for getting funding for Pinck's drug
research on infectious diseases.  The evidence was
circumstantial at best.  By 7PM everyone's stomach was
growling.

"You want I should rustle us up some grub?"  Frohike
suggested.

Mulder mimed a gagging expression.  "Please no, take out
is fine by me." Scully was quick to insist.

"Okay, so what do we want?"  Langly was like a hungry
puppy.  "Pizza, cheese steaks, Mexican, Chinese,
McDonalds?

They settled on Chinese and Scully called in the order
to their favorite Chinese take-out.

"We gonna draw straws to see who picks it up?"  Langly
again, he'd probably eat his on the way back.

"No, I'll go," Mulder said somewhat half-heartedly.  "I
need some air."

"You need money, man?"

Mulder just waved them off as he headed for the door.
He'd had an uneasy feeling since they had left the
office yesterday and it had continued through much of
the evening.  He hadn't been very good company.  As
Scully had prepared dinner he'd sat at her desk,
pretending to work on the computer all the while keeping
his eye on a dark SUV that had taken up residence in a
parking place across from the apartment.  They were
being watched he was sure of it.  This was all supposed
to have ended with his joining the force so to speak but
clearly it had not.  They were still pawns in the game.
He'd picked though his dinner and suffered though some
movie he couldn't remember with Scully.  Refusing to
discuss anything further about what they were working
on.  If they were being watched someone might be
listening too.  Though he'd tried to pretend it was just
their usual Friday evening off, Scully had been acutely
aware of his silence.  As he exited the Gunmen's he'd
made a quick visual search of the area, not seeing the
SUV or any other suspicious vehicles he got in the car
and headed for the restaurant.

The restaurant was back in Georgetown so it took him
about twenty minutes to get there.  He didn't notice the
black Ford Explorer that had followed him into the lot.
He pulled in against the wall of the building and
stepped out of the car slamming the door and startling
with the screech of tires and the bright lights of the
Explorer as they hit him straight on.  Momentarily
shaken, the vehicle bore down on him before he could
leap from its path and he suddenly found himself almost
pinned between the car's bumper and the brick wall.
Slamming his palms on its hood, as if he could stop its
momentum, it stopped inches from crushing him against
the wall.  After several minutes the passenger door
opened and Mulder found himself staring into the face of
former U.S. Attorney John Leamus.

"I'd like several minutes of your time, Agent Mulder."

Shaking and breathless, Mulder starred the man down.
"You could have just called me, I'm sure you know my
number."

"I'd like you to take a ride with us, if you don't
mind."

As usual, Mulder used a little humor to cover his fear.
"That's gonna be a little difficult from where I'm
standing."

Leamus waved at the driver who backed the vehicle up
just inches enough for Mulder to slip out from his
captive position.  Extending his hand, Leamus directed
him to the back door and opened it, motioning him
inside.  As he was about to climb inside Leamus stopped
him with a hand on his arm.  "Your weapon please, Mr.
Mulder," he said, again extending his hand.  Mulder
slowly removed his service revolver from his hip and
handed it to Leamus grip first and slid into the back
seat.  Leamus shut the door and climbed back into the
front seat, the driver popped the car into reverse and
they sped out of the parking lot.


OFFICE OF THE LONE GUNMEN


Byers hung up the phone, it had been almost an hour
since Mulder had left and the restaurant was calling to
find out if someone was going to pick up their order.
Scully just stared at the three of them.  Frohike jumped
on the police scanner but found no reports of accidents
on any routes Mulder would have taken.  His
disappearance so close to the date he was to appear
before the committed gave them all cause for alarm.

"Someone give me some keys," she demanded.

"Whoa, where do you think you're going to go?"  Frohike
was loaded with precaution.

"To look for him, maybe his car broke down or something.
I'm sure I know what route he would have taken."

"Doesn't he have his cell with him-it's usually glued to
his ear," Langly was trying to keep the concern out of
his voice.

"He would have called, Dana."  Byers, trying to be
placating only gave her more cause to worry.  "We'll all
go, okay?  We don't want you out there alone."

She nodded reluctantly, gratified by their concern but
still a little annoyed by their over-protectiveness.
"Someone has to stay here," she looked back and forth
between the men.  "In case he comes back-or calls."

"We'll leave Langly on guard duty, come on, let's go."


STREETS OF WASHINGTON, D.C.


"Can I ask where we're going because I really should
call my answering service if I'm gonna be out for the
evening."  Mulder hoped the sarcasm was hiding the fear
he was still harboring.

"You're walking a very dangerous line, Agent Mulder.  I
just want to have a little chat-make sure you understand
what path you're on."

Mulder looked out the window as they turned onto
Pennsylvania Avenue and were about to pass the White
House.  He guessed their route had been preplanned-and
effort to emphasize the importance of the journey.

"Well, why don't we get on with that CHAT then."

Leamus turned so he could look the agent in the eye.
"We've had this conversation before, Agent Mulder.
These infatuations you have with the truth, of blowing
the whistle on the federal government for what you
believe are injustices against the American people."

Mulder became agitated with the smugness Leamus
exhibited.  "Because there are injustices.  They go on
all the time.  That little skirmish with the New
Spartans didn't even begin to uncover it all!  You were
just hoping I'd become a victim and then you wouldn't
have to worry about me anymore."

"Mr. Mulder, if we were worried about you stirring up
the kettle we would have taken care of you long before
this-and don't think this executive investigation is
protecting you or Agent Scully in any way."

Mulder glared right back at the man.  "I'm not that
na‹ve.  And besides, that has nothing to do with me, I
didn't make any allegations.  The media has brought all
this to light."

Leamus glanced and caught the eye of his driver who
brought the car to a stop in front of the Jefferson
Memorial.  Opening his door and returning his gaze to
Mulder he said.  "Come with me."


OUTSIDE THE LOTUS GARDEN RESTAURANT 8:43PM


They had called the police when they discovered Mulder's
car parked in the parking lot outside the restaurant.
His keys had been found tossed against the base of the
brick wall. Skid marks were found next to the car and at
the edge of the driveway.  It was too dark in the lot to
see any sign of blood.  Mulder had either gone with or
was forced to go with who ever had met him here in this
lot.  Scully circled the lot in nervous despair waiting
for Skinner.

When his car pulled into the lot and he stepped out, the
Gunmen watched as she approached the man her hands
clenched at her sides.  "You set him up didn't you!"
Grabbing Skinner's arm she spun him around before he
could say anything to the police detective who had also
approached.  Surprise by her vehemence, he placed his
hands on her biceps.

"Scully-Dana, take it easy.  What are you talking
about?"

"The other night, when you met him, what did you tell
him?  Something's been going on since then that he won't
discuss with me.  Someone doesn't want him in that
hearing room Monday!"

Skinner had never seen her quite this distraught.
Something else was going on here indeed.


JEFFERSON MEMORIAL, WASHINGTON, D.C.


Mulder followed Leamus up the steps of the monument.  He
circled around the colonnade and stopped where he had a
magnificent view of the tidal basin.  Mulder stopped in
front of Jefferson's statue for a moment.  Jefferson was
one of the greatest figures in the nation's history.  He
was a dreamer and a great visionary of the future,
dedicated to the rights of the people.  It is his words
that this country is based on  "We hold these truths to
be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain
inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness."  How ironic they should come
here.

"There are some things you need to understand, Mr.
Mulder," Leamus' voice brought him back to the present.
"Things which I think will make you change your mind
about what you're going to say to the investigative
committee."

"Well, I don't exactly know what I'm going to say
because I don't exactly know why they asked me to
appear."  Mulder was still taking the sarcastic
approach.

"They want to know what you know, or more specifically
what you don't know about the issues that have been
brought to light during these hearings."  Leamus tucked
his hands into his coat pockets and looked out across
the basin.

Mulder could feel the anger growing in him.  "Why is it
so important what I know, what I feel about this?"

"Because your comments were influential in starting this
entire investigation, Mr. Mulder, certainly you realize
that? Alone, you and your partner were just an
annoyance.  But now it appears you've thrown in with
this organization that believes the public must know the
truth about everything.  What you've put in motion could
very well undermine the integrity of the government of
this country."

"Because, what's being done isn't right!"

Leamus turned away from Mulder walking back towards the
parkway.  "Who are you to decide what's right, Mr.
Mulder?"  Mulder heard the unmistakable snick of a gun,
his gun he realized as his eyes came up to see Leamus
standing in front of him pointing his own weapon
directly at him.  "Is it better for the unsuspecting
public to believe they are receiving vaccinations for
something as ordinary as a flu virus or should they be
told their government is attempting to prevent them from
being infected with some sort of biological..."

"Or alien..."

Leamus' lips curved into a smile of recognition.
"...plague?"

Ignoring the weapon pointed at him Mulder began to put
the pieces together.  "You're trying to develop a mass
delivery system, something that will vaccinate as many
as possible in the shortest period of time."

"We're trying to prevent mass hysteria, Agent Mulder.  I
don't personally condone the methods, but it's all about
protecting the public."

"From itself."

Leamus met Mulder's eyes for the first time.
"Unfortunately, yes."

"I think you underestimate the intelligence of the
general public, sir."

"If only that were true, Agent Mulder, then we wouldn't
need subterfuge."

"Or bees."

"See, I knew you were a smart man."  Leamus lowered the
weapon, clicking the safety back on and began to walk
back to the stairs that had led them to the monument.
His car had returned to where it had dropped them off.
"I hope you won't mind walking home to Georgetown from
here," he said as he handed the weapon back to Mulder
and descended the steps to the waiting car leaving
Mulder standing with Thomas Jefferson fully aware he had
once again been threatened.


LOTUS GARDEN RESTAURANT 8:45 P.M.

Scully's phone rang in her pocket. She didn't know
whether to answer it or slug AD Skinner.  While she dug
it out of her pocket Skinner walked off to talk to the
detective.

"Scully," she spat in to the phone.

Mulder winced on the other end of the line.  "Hey
Scully, it's me."

"Mulder! My God, where are you?"  Relief and fear now
edging her voice.

"I'm-I'm in some dumpy coffee shop at 12th and D Street."

"How did you get there?  Are you okay?"  You're not
hurt?"

After hearing her exclaim Mulder's name, the Gunmen and
Skinner had now crowded around her.  She could feel
herself shaking with adrenaline.

"Yeah, I'm fine.  I'll just grab a cab..."

"No!  Just-just stay there, I'll come get you."

"Where are you, you sound like you're outside?"  Mulder
suddenly felt worried.

"I'm in Lotus Garden's parking lot along with half the
D.C. police force, the guys and Skinner.

"Shit."


12TH AND D STREET


Against her wishes, Skinner had driven her to pick up
Mulder.  She knew there was some antagonism between them
ever since they had met the other night. She was certain
the marks on Mulder's wrist had been from Skinner. They
had obviously had a disagreement of some kind that
night.

As they approached the coffee shop she could see Mulder
standing outside.  He was leaning against the front
window of the shop with a cup of something, probably
coffee in his hand.  Before Skinner could stop the car
completely she had jumped out and was dashing across the
sidewalk to meet him.  Mulder looked like a deer caught
in headlights as she slammed into him, throwing her arms
around his neck.  Skinner watched as Mulder tried
desperately to return the embrace and not spill the hot
liquid he was holding, the cup fell from his hand onto
the pavement as he met Scully's frantic kiss.  Pulling
away he starred into her frightened eyes.

"Geez, Scully, I'm okay."  Actually he wasn't, not now
that he saw how upset this latest governmental espionage
tactic had made her.

She swiped at tears that had escaped her eyes.  "I'm
sorry, I-I just didn't know what could have happened to
you."

"No, Scully, I'm sorry for getting us involved in this-
for everything."

She put her palm to his chest.  "I understand what you
were trying to do.  Let's just go home, Mulder."

He wrapped his arm around her and drew her close,
turning to make his way to Skinner's car.  "Did you have
to bring the cavalry?"

"He wouldn't let me drive."

Mulder slid into the backseat of the car as Scully
opened the passenger door and got back into the front
seat.

"Everything okay?"  Skinner asked reluctantly.

"Oh, yeah, just damn peachy.  I haven't been abducted
for a while; it was just like old times."

"What happened?"

"An old friend of yours, Leamus, wanted to make sure I
understood whose throat I was about to cut.  Turns out,
it will probably be my own."  Mulder looked out the
window of the car, watching the streets of D.C. pass him
by and wondering how he had ever gotten himself into
this mess in the first place.


DANA SCULLY'S APARTMENT COMPLEX 9:23P.M.


Mulder wasted no time getting out of Skinner's car and
heading for the apartment.  Scully turned to their boss.
"I guess I should thank you."

"I'm afraid he would beg to differ with you.  What time
is he supposed to appear Monday?"

"9 AM."

"You okay?"

"I'm not sure."

Mulder had stopped at the door to wait for her but he
said nothing as they walked down the hall taking out his
keys and jamming them into the lock to open the door.
He pushed the door open for her and then followed her
in, flipping off his jacket and tossing it recklessly on
the chair.  Scully watched as he stalked around the
apartment with barely contained anger.

"Mulder..." He did nothing but glare at her.  "Are you
hungry?"

"NO!"

He saw her flinch with his vehemence.  "I'm-I just, he
suddenly pushed past her, heading for the bathroom and
slamming the door shut behind him.  It was quiet for
only a few moments and then she heard a crash and him
yelling through the door.  "I'm so sick of the crap!"

After several minutes of frightening silence she went to
the door and tapped lightly on it.  "Mulder?"  No
answer.  "Mulder?  Can I come in please?"  She tested
the door, it wasn't locked and she gently turned the
knob and pushed it open.  He was standing with his palms
on the sink, head down.  A broken cologne bottle, his,
was shattered against the tile.  She approached him
slowly but he didn't acknowledge her presence until she
placed her hands on his biceps.  "Feel better?"

"Not much," he said without looking up.

"Come on, Mulder, go to bed, you're exhausted."

He turned to her, running his hand through his hair and
motioned at the mess on the floor.  "I gotta clean that
up."

"I'll take care of it," she said with a sad smile.

She was actually surprised that he'd done as she
suggested when she found him in bed a short time later.
When she slid into bed next to him he made no attempt to
draw her close, the tension still evident.  Moving over
and placing her head on his shoulder she began tracing
lazy circles on his chest.  He could feel her bare skin
against his.  Her leg slid up his thigh.  There was no
question what her intentions were.

"Is this comfort sex?"

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No, not at all because right now I need a lot of
comforting," he said softly pulling her towards him,
suddenly deeply grateful of her understanding.  She
wasted no time in placing gentle kisses along his
hairline, across his jaw and ending at his lips which
met hers with a sudden frenzy that surprised her.  "I
can't do this anymore, Scully," he whispered to her when
he finally broke the kiss.

Hesitating for a moment she realized that he was
referring to the constant war he fought with himself and
not the activity they were currently engaged in.
"Mulder, please, just let it go for tonight.  Just
forget about what's going on outside this room and be
with me."

He said nothing but rolled them both over so he was on
top of her, taking up where he had left off only moments
before.

She awoke sometime later to find herself alone in a cold
bed.  Glancing at the clock it was a little after 3 AM.
Grabbing her robe and slipping into it she opened the
door into the hallway.  When she got to the living room
she could see Mulder sitting in the chair in the dark.
She knew he was awake by the movement of his right hand
as it drew imaginary designs on the arm of the chair.
"Mulder?"

He turned to her in the dark "Yeah?"

She crossed the room and sat herself down on the arm of
the chair; Mulder reached around her and drew her into
him again.  She rested her head on his T-shirt clad
shoulder.

"What are you doing out here in the dark?"

He sighed.  "I'm not sure I know.  I couldn't sleep."

She signed.  How did this man live with so little sleep?
She started to call him on it but he interrupted her.

" Look-I'm sorry about earlier.  I walked in here and I
just needed to explode-and I didn't know how to go about
it, not here..."

"It's okay" she said, gently rubbing his arm.  "Everyone
needs to blow off some steam now and then."

He chucked softly, clenching her arm with his hand.
"You wouldn't be saying that if you knew how close I
came to picking up a piece of your crystal and heaving
it across the room."

"It would have sacrificed itself to a good cause."

"No, it wouldn't.  These are your things, Scully.  It
wouldn't be right."

Mulder hadn't said it in so many words but she was
getting the distinct impression that he still felt like
a guest in her home.  "You know, I'm beginning to
realize now how little room there is for you in this
apartment.  Maybe we should look for another place."

He turned to look at her then.  "This is your home,
Scully.  You don't have to leave it because of me."

"It's our home now, Mulder, but I know you don't always
see it that way.  Maybe I don't either."

He shook his head gently.  "I guess I didn't realize how
hard it would be to start over.  I never really thought
I had anything to loose until I lost it all in that
fire; a lot of memories."

"Then we need to start making some new ones," she said,
kissing the top of his head and weaving her fingers
through his hair.  "You didn't answer my question-what
are you doing out here?"

Laughing softly he replied, "thinkin..."  Scully could
only sigh.  Didn't that mind of his ever stop?  How many
times over the years had she wished for something to
ease his mind?  To stop those thought processes for just
a few minutes and bring him peace?  Would he be the same
man if she did?

"Thinkin' about what?"

She could see him smile gently in the dark.  "About
something you tried to tell me a long time ago, when I
thought I could make the perfect wish and save the
world; that it's not something one man has the right to
try and do."  He sighed against her.  "Why us, Scully?"

It sounded almost like defeat in his voice and that
frightened her.  "What do you mean?"

"Why us, why can't we be like the 5 billion or so other
people on this earth who live in peaceful naivete.  Just
going on about their normal lives-living the lie."

"Because we know it's a lie, Mulder.  And besides, I
thought you told me this was a normal life," she kidded,
attempting to bring him out of his funk by using his own
comments back at him.  "Maybe it's what you told me
once, maybe it's about fate and choices we make in life.
Every time you make a choice you change your fate."

"Well I have a choice to make come Monday that might
just change the fate of everyone."  He slid his arm out
from behind her and leaned forward in the chair,
dropping his head into his hands.

"I just want it all to end, Scully.  I just want to know
that there are other people in this world beside
ourselves who give a damn about the future of this
planet-we've sacrificed so much, our families have
sacrificed so much.  Some part of me needs to redeem the
Mulder name but I don't know from what.  I just don't
see how we can ever win, Scully."

She could see the tension in his shoulders.  No one man
should carry the weight of the world like that. She
began to rub his back, increasing the pressure between
his shoulder blades and the base of his neck.

"You comforting me again?"

"Always."  She clenched his shoulder hard to get his
attention.  "You know, Mulder.  I think that choice has
already been made.  There wouldn't be all those
individuals volunteering to testify in these hearings if
they didn't want the truth to be known."

"The truth can be dangerous, Scully"

"Life is dangerous, Mulder."  He turned to look at her
suddenly, remember Skinner using those exact words years
ago.  "We live it every day not knowing what the next
one will bring but it doesn't stop us from getting up
each morning."

Turning slightly in the chair he turned to face her.
"Did you ever see Star Trek two, The Wrath of Kahn?"
Without waiting for her reply he continued.  "Kirk's ex
girlfriend is this scientist, they had a son together
and he followed in his mother's footsteps, joining her
research on something called "the Genesis Project", a
way to create life from nothing.  Kahn shows up, he was
this ruthless leader of some space convicts that Kirk
had a run in with once before, he's out for revenge.  He
gets a hold of this genesis thing and this huge space
battle ensues.  Both ships are left powerless but Kahn
engages the genesis machine threatening to destroy the
Enterprise and her crew when it explodes.  Kinda like
the theory of the big bang.  Anyway, the Enterprise
can't get away nor can they destroy Kahn's ship because
it will cause the destruction of the Enterprise.  It's a
no-win situation, the Kobayashi Maru."

"Kobayashi Maru?"

"Yeah, it was a test at the Space Academy.  A simulated
no-win situation that trainees had to go through.  Kirk
beat it by reprogramming the computer, and changing the
outcome but Spock chooses the situation at hand for his
own solution.  He enters the engine compartment of the
Enterprise, subjects himself to lethal radiation and
saves the ship and her crew but gives up his own life in
the process."

"Star Trek again, Mulder?"

"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."

"Or the one."

"Gene Roddenberry was a genius, Scully, he said looking
at her with a sad smile.  "This is my Kobayashi Maru;
it's a no-win situation.  I can go in there Monday and
admit to the fact that I have nothing the back up the
suggestions I made in Cleveland.  I can tell them that
what I said was just the result of my own frustrations
at not being able to solve the case and my own arrogance
got the better of me.  They'll decide that this whole
investigation is a waste of taxpayer's money.  They'll
charge me with treason or something else just as
horrendous and I'll end up in prison the rest of my life
thus proving that I am the ass Skinner claims I am. But
the public will continue to be the victim because these
things will continue to go on behind their backs.  Or I
can pull all the information we have on everything we
investigated in the past 10 years as inconclusive as it
is and go in there with a truckload of files on
everything from the Litchfield experiments to today and
tell the public that their government had been
sanctioning this type of research since the Second World
War. And the public still looses because now they have
one more reason to doubt their government, fear their
doctor and suspect their neighbor.  I don't know what
the answer is."

Jesus, where had all that come from?  No wonder he
couldn't sleep when his mind was in such turmoil.
Skinner had called him an ass?  Valium wasn't the answer
here but perhaps reasoning was.  "Mulder," she said,
reaching out to draw him reluctantly closer to her.
"This is part of something so much bigger then us.  It's
a fight I've learned we can't win, not you and I alone.
I don't know how to make you see that loosing doesn't
make you a failure.  All I expect from you is to do what
YOU think is right."

He sighed heavily against her again.  "I don't know
what's right anymore, Scully."

"Yes, you do.  You always have.  I believe that and more
importantly I believe in you.  I don't know why you feel
you have to redeem your name; you're a good man, Mulder
and whether you believe it or not, this is not a no-win
situation, you've already won.  That this hearing is
being conducted in a public venue is proof of that.
Even if no charges are filed as a result there are a lot
of good people who realize that the good in this world
is worth fighting for and they will not let this rest.
If you speak from your heart, no matter how absurd it
sounds, people will listen. Now, please come back to
bed.  Tomorrow is Sunday and for once we're going to
spend it like normal people."

Mulder kissed her cheek, clutching Scully tighter.  She
was right; his morals would not allow him to deceive the
public.  "You go ahead; I'll be there in a minute."


U.S. CAPITAL BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D.C.
MONDAY 8:47AM


Mulder hadn't gone back to bed; he'd sat there in the
dark alone wanting desperately to find a solution that
was right.  He'd finally kicked on the TV and muted the
sound to the point where it was barely audible; an old
movie "The Flight of the Phoenix" with Jimmy Stewart was
all he could find to keep his attention.  A group of men
aboard a plane had crashed in the desert.  One man, an
aeronautics engineer keeps their hopes alive by
convincing them to build a new plane from the wreckage
of the old.  What he fails to tell them is that he is a
designer of model planes not real ones, a slight
exaggeration of the truth.  The men upon realizing
they'd been duped continue to build the plane anyway and
in the end save themselves by flying the plane out of
the desert.  Scully found him in the morning, asleep in
the chair.

As they both exited the cab in front of the Capital
building they were surprised to see a gathering of
individuals milling about the lawn.  Several carried
signs proclaiming names of various civil rights groups.
Some appeared to be family members asking for justice.
MUFON and NICAP signs were also visible.

"Who ARE these people?"  Mulder said pausing to survey
his surroundings.

"Believe it or not, there has been a lot of public
interest in the hearings that have been going on here,
Mulder."

He looked down to meet her eyes.  "I didn't think anyone
other than the press was paying any attention.  You mean
people actually watch those cable news channels?"

She smiled at him.  "Someone's always paying attention,
Mulder."

He had been absurdly quiet this morning.  Having nothing
more than a cup of coffee for breakfast stating that he
didn't want anything coming back to haunt him as he sat
in front of the investigative committee.  He had brought
nothing with him.  Scully had taken up a seat in the
front row of the gallery behind him as he sat down at
the table facing the committee.

"Could you state your name please sir," the secretary of
the committee requested.

"Fox William Mulder."

"And you are employed by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation?

"That's correct."

"May I ask in what capacity you work for the FBI Mr.
Mulder?"  Commander Henderson asked.

"I'm assigned to the X-Files division, sir."

"And just what exactly is the X-Files division?"

Mulder glanced across the panel of committee members.
Henderson, an Air Force Major, two representatives from
the CDC, a research scientist from the DOD named
Klineman, U.S. Attorney Mathew Mason, Morris Hershberg
from the Surgeon General's office and Parker, the
presidential advisor.  He cleared his throat.  "I don't
see what that has to do with why I'm here, sir."

"I'll get right to the point.  It's our understanding
that these so called X-Files are a collection of
unsolved cases, dead ends and yet you and your partner
have been working on them for what over 10 years now?"

Mulder shifted uneasily in his seat.  "Then you should
also know that our solve rate on these cases is one of
the highest in the Bureau."

"And yet you claim that you are unable to do your job
because of the intervention of others in your work."

Now Mulder was truly puzzled at the direction the
questioning was going. "I'm not sure I follow you, sir."

"Perhaps this will refresh your memory," The U.S.
Attorney stated as he turned towards a monitor that was
set up in the chamber.  On it, Mulder saw a clip of the
news conference in Cleveland last fall.  As his own
words came back to him, he winced at the memory.



        "Are you saying the Bureau doesn't want this case
        solved?"

        "I'm SUGGESTING that there are forces at work
        within the government and the private sector for
        that matter, of which the public is totally
        unaware.  These groups make it their job to hamper
        an investigation such as this one and therefore
        make it impossible for me and others in my
        position to find the truth."

        A man in the back of the room spoke again.

        "Alien forces Agent Mulder?"

        He could see himself bristle with the comment.

        "No, not alien forces, and you've obviously done
        some investigating on your own.  But if you
        continue to joke about this, you're only acting
        against me and all these other fine law
        enforcement personnel.  Look, when you - you
        assume a position where you swear to uphold the
        law and protect the public you expect to be
        allowed to do your job to the best of your
        ability."

        "And you're saying the Bureau doesn't allow you to
        do that?"

        "Not the Bureau per-se, but certain factions that
        perhaps have other agendas in mind."

        The same voice asked another question.

        "How far up are we talking about?"

        "I'm not sure, the Justice Department, perhaps all
        the way to the Attorney General."

        "You're accusing the Attorney General of the United
        States of complacency in a crime?"

        "NO! I'm not ACCUSING anyone of anything.  What I'm
        trying to get you to understand is you need to take
        that investigative imagination of yours and look
        beyond the people in my position.  We're just pawns
        in this game."



"That's a pretty strong statement to make isn't it, Mr.
Mulder."

"Only in so much as it is true.  I took an oath when I
joined the FBI to uphold the laws of this country.  But
it's really hard for me and others in my profession to
do that when someone else is continually working against
us."

"And you say that the government is working against
you?"

Mulder twirled the pen he'd picked up from the table and
met the man's eyes.  "If you'll notice, I didn't accuse
the government or anyone else of anything in that
statement.  I only suggested that instead of pointing
the finger at law enforcement for not doing their job,
someone should investigate why we can't do our job.
Isn't that why we're here?"

"We've looked over some of these cases you and your
partner investigate.  You seem to come up with some
rather off-the-wall explanations in solving them.  They
would be quite entertaining if you were writing for the
Twilight Zone Agent Mulder, you base a lot of your
solutions to the existence of human mutations, fluke
men, moth men, even little green men.  There's even an
instance of your supervising agent placing you in
Calumet Mercy Hospital in five-point restraints after
claiming the employees of a...,"  he hesitated a moment to
make sure he had the right information.  "Vinyl Right
plant in Oak Brook, Illinois were being turned into
zombies, as you called them, by a giant bug," Parker
added with a smirk.

"Actually they're gray."

"Excuse me?"

"The little green men sir, they're gray," Mulder added
sarcastically.

Scully who was sitting behind Mulder, froze.  What the
hell was he doing?

"We're supposed to believe that the Bureau accepted
these explanations?"  Mason, the U.S. Attorney again
picked up the questioning.

"Well, when you can't come up with a plausible
explanation for some of these phenomena, the only answer
you can come up with is one of a paranormal nature."

"One which can't be proven, is that correct Mr. Mulder?"

Mulder ignored the question hesitating only slightly
before continuing.  "Besides, I believe that you'll find
that my partner with her deep science background was
able to substantiate much of our work over the years.
As for accepting these explanations as solutions to the
cases, I have no control over that sir," Mulder began to
feel the irritation rise inside him.  "You'll have to
take that up with my superiors."

Henderson saw his opening and took it.  "Your superiors
seem to be extremely lenient with you, Agent Mulder.
Your record with the Bureau is filled with violations of
protocol and procedures as well as several military
arrest reports,   I remember placing you under arrest
myself some years ago when you couldn't keep your nose
out of places it shouldn't be.  In fact some of these
instances could be construed as insubordination.  I
guess my biggest question is why you're still employed
by the F.B.I."

Ignoring these comments, Mulder straightened in his
chair, addressing his next statement back at Mason. "I
believe there's been a misunderstanding on the
committees' part regarding the X-Files, Sir."

"And that would be?"

"That these are not unsolved cases but rather cases that
have been DESIGNATED unsolved."

"I don't see that there's a difference."

"An unsolved case is one in which no explanation can be
given due to a current lack of evidence. I doesn't mean
that further investigation will be denied.  However,
when a case is designated unsolved it is closed and no
further resources will be used to pursue it.  However,
it's my impression that a case is only designated
unsolved when someone doesn't want it solved. These
files I discovered back in the eighties were hidden in
the basement, out of reach of most of the bureau's
personnel.  There were hundreds of them."

Mason looked to the gentlemen seated to his right and
then back to Mulder.  "And whose responsibility is it to
DESIGNATE a case unsolved?"

"The Director, Sir."

The U.S. Attorney looked Mulder right in the eye.  "Let
me see if I understand your statement correctly.  You're
saying that the Director of the F.B.I. designates a case
unsolved and files it away in some hidden drawer because
for some reason he doesn't want to use further Bureau
resources to pursue it, he doesn't want it solved?"

Mulder glanced back at Scully for some affirmation that
he was doing the right thing, her gaze meeting his
emphatically.

"I'm sure the Director gets his orders from somewhere
also, Sir."

"Orders from where Mr. Mulder-some mysterious government
agency?"

"I can't say, Sir.  Only further investigation will
determine that."

Mulder sat back a little pleased with himself but
somewhat annoyed by the direction the conversation had
taken. It was perfectly obvious to him now why he'd been
called down here.  These men weren't interested in the
work or what he had to say.   Skinner had been right.
All they wanted to do was discredit him in the public
eye, make the Bureau a scapegoat for harboring a lunatic
in their ranks and close these hearings on the grounds
that not enough evidence had been found to prompt
further investigation.  For a moment the face of a woman
in a confinement chamber in Dinwiddle Community Hospital
came to him and her words "You knew about this and you
didn't do anything." No he hadn't. Not at the time.
He'd accused Spender of protecting the public by lying
to them only to be told that it was done every day. He
knew that all too well now and he also knew that Spender
had been right then, he had been a party to it. Well,
not any more, regardless of the outcome of this, Scully
was right.  If you speak from the heart, people will
believe.  It was time for the phoenix to take flight.

"Excuse me, Sir," Mulder addressed the U.S. Attorney
again.  I'd like to ask a question of the committee."

Mason was obviously annoyed.  "Proceed," he stated with
some disgust.

"I was under the impression when you called me down here
that you wanted information, evidence we have on
abduction cases, unsanctioned medical experiments,
chemical weapons testing by the government.  Information
that would corroborate the accusations brought to light
by many of these other people who have previously
testified.  You have our files.  Why aren't any of our
questions directed at the information you found in
them?"

"From what we've gathered from your files, Agent Mulder,
you don't have any physical proof of what you claim in
most of these cases," Major Willhelm, the Air Force
representative interjected.

Here we go, Mulder thought to himself.  "No I don't, and
you want to know why that is?"

"I don't think that's relevant."

"Not relevant? Isn't that what these hearings are all
about?  Establishing evidence that corporate America or
the military or even the government is prohibiting the
law enforcement agencies in this country from brining
certain crimes against the people to justice?  That one
or all of them are involved in an elaborate scheme to
cover up evidence?  This crap has been going on for
years!   And I'm not talking about the X-Files I
discovered back in 1989, I'm talking about what my
partner and I have been working on for the past 10
years.  Most of these cases have nothing to do with
mutants and the supernatural.  My partner and I have
investigated dozens of cases where we were able to
obtain evidence of possible government and corporate
cover-ups.  But guess what?"

"I hope you're not going to make this into a guessing
game, Mr. Mulder."

"No I'm not; I'm going to tell you.  We can't produce
any of this evidence today because it's all conveniently
disappeared.  Stolen, destroyed or beaten into
submission by those who wish to prevent the public from
knowing the truth!

Scully could see the veins bulging in Mulder's forehead.
These people were going to egg him on until he blew a
gasket.

"We're not here to discuss little green men, Agent
Mulder," came the snide comment from the Air Force
Major.

"I'm not talking about little gray men!  I'm talking
about experiments on prison inmates by pharmaceutical
companies, neurological experiments on service men by
government doctors, chemical and weapons testing on
civilians, fertility tests on women.  My partner,"
Mulder began, turning around to point towards Scully.
"Agent Dana Scully along with many other women who are
now all dead, was abducted-and subjected to medical
tests without her consent that have left her unable to
conceive a child.  What the hell is going on in this
country that the people don't have a right to know
about?"  Mulder finished, slamming his fist on the table
in front of him.

"Mr. Mulder," the docile voice of the U.S. Attorney
calmed him momentarily.  "The Freedom of Information Act
was passed some time ago.  Any information that might
exist pertaining to what you're ranting about can be
examined by anyone."

"Yeah, I've seen some of those files.  They contain a
lot of heavy black marker." Mulder remarked
sarcastically.

"Mr. Mulder, unless you have something further to add
you may be excused.  We assure you that the comments you
have made will be properly documented and should any
charges be filed based on what you have brought to light
today you will be informed."

Mulder could see the dust being brushed under the rug.
"I do have something further to add, if you will please,
sir."  Begrudgingly, the US Attorney nodded his consent.
"Agent Scully and I have been investigating reports of
an undiagnosed respiratory infection that has afflicted
a great many people in several metropolitan areas."

"And this concerns you because?"  Klineman spoke for the
first time.

"There have been nineteen deaths attributed to this
virus and yet the CDC is reluctant to acknowledge its
existence.  Medical reports on all of the victims have
revealed identical symptoms however no autopsies have
been able to be performed because all of the bodies have
mysteriously disappeared."

"What do you mean-disappeared?  Bodies just don't
disappear from morgues Mr. Mulder."

"No, they do not, Sir.  And yet every one of them has
somehow been removed from hospital morgues evidently
without anyone's knowledge and cannot be located.  We
have confirmed reports of a vaccine being administered
by physicians to their patients in the areas affected as
a precautionary measure to prevent the possible spread
of the infection yet there is no public knowledge of
this even on a local level."

"Dear God," Major Hunter had heard enough. "And again
you're suggesting that his is some governmental plot?"

"Look, I understand that this all sounds like the
ranting of some paranoid schizophrenic.  But you've
listened to testimony by dozens of other people since
these hearings began.  I know what I've seen, what my
partner has experienced and what I've experienced
personally. I know that these issues exist as clearly as
I know I exist.   None of us are making any of this up
and if you think that I or any of these other people are
going to continue to let intimidation prevent us from
bringing this information to the attention of the public
you are sadly mistaken."

"Mr. Mulder."

"I think the powers that be underestimate the
intelligence and strength and resourcefulness of the
general public.  I have no doubt that the government
feels it's acting in the best interests of the people
but the people have a right to know that their future,
hell, the future of the human race may be in jeopardy."

Mr. Mulder!"

Mulder stood up from the table, wanting to use the
height advantage to get his point across.  "No
organization-no government..."

"Mr. Mulder!  That will be enough!"  The U.S. Attorney
was perspiring, shouting at him, fearful that he might
reveal too much in his statement.  This was being
broadcast live; there would be no editing of his
statement once it hit the airwaves.

"... of this country or for that matter, that of any other
one-has a right to let human sacrifice become a part of
its constitution."

"Many people are honored to die for their country, Mr.
Mulder.  Commander Henderson stated flatly.

Out of the corner of his eye, Mulder could see several
security personnel heading in his direction.  "I'm well
aware of that sir, but they know what they are
sacrificing their lives for.  If we're going to fight
for our future, we all have a right to determine how to
go about it." Mulder decided he has said enough.

By the time they left the building the crowd of public
supporters had grown outside on the lawn.  Mulder
stopped on the steps beside Scully as several reporters
approached them.  "Shit."

A man, Mulder recognized him as the reporter who had
interrogated him back in Cleveland stepped up ahead of
several others, pushing his mike into Mulder's face.
"Agent Mulder!  You've gathered quite a crowd of
supporters here; looks like you've made quite a future
for yourself.  How do you feel about that?"  As several
mikes appeared in front of him he glanced down at
Scully.  "It's not my future that's of concern here,
it's theirs," he stated pointing to the several hundred
persons standing below them.  "Perhaps you should be
asking them how they feel about it."  Glancing down
again he took Scully's hand and pushed his way past the
reporters to a bureau car that was waiting at the bottom
of the steps.  Skinner had once again
come to their rescue.


X-FILES OFFICE, TUESDAY MORNING


Their little scene on the steps the previous day had
made the national news.  What the eventual outcome of
the hearings would be was unclear.  Clearly the parties
involved would do their utmost to continue the
subterfuge that had existed all these years.  In a sense
Mulder knew it was a necessity of sorts, keeping some of
the more horrendous facts from the public eye but things
had come to light over the previous weeks because of
people like himself who could no longer sit in the
shadows and let the lies continue.  It was now quite
possible that the Supreme Court would establish a
national inquiry based on the evidence presented during
the hearings.

Mulder had insisted they drive to work together today,
perhaps his way of stating it was time they came out of
the closet as well.  If you were going to continue to
seek the truth, you had to live it as well.  As Mulder
slipped the key into the office lock and slowly opened
the door, Scully bent down to retrieve a brown envelope
that had been placed beneath the door.  There was no
salutation on the outside of the envelope, the clasp had
been fastened but it hadn't been sealed.

"What's that?"  Mulder asked as he notice her puzzled
look.

"More subterfuge perhaps," she said handing the envelope
to Mulder.

He unfastened the clasp and dumped the contents out onto
the desk.  Paging through them he began to notice
letters on Roush stationary addressed to congressmen
requesting their support on litigation for drug
research; several copies of grants to pharmaceutical
companies for viral research.  Orders from the DOD for
testing said research.  Pay check stubs from Hall Drug
with 'a division of Pinck Pharmaceuticals' clearly
printed beneath the name of the company.  Documentation
to support Senate Resolution 819 which was on the
surface made to look like medical aide to third world
countries but was in reality just another attempt to
take the research projects outside of the U.S.
Preliminary autopsy reports that had been missing from
the files of several of the recent victims were also
included.  Glancing briefly though them, preliminary
cause of death in each case had been pulmonary edema
leading to respiratory arrest.  Mulder could feel his
heart rate quickening.  Also amongst the documents were
copies of Pentagon orders for the clean up of Hansen's
Research Facility, orders for National Guard assistance
at Cumberland Prison, and research documents on medical
experiments conducted on military personnel including
sleep depravation experiments conducted during the
Vietnam War.  Scully watched, as Mulder's face grew
pale.

"Mulder, what's wrong?"  She took a concerned step
toward her partner.

He looked up to acknowledge her and sat down in the
chair.  "The rosette stone, Scully."

"Excuse me?"

"Names, authorization codes, perhaps the key to all the
answers we're looking for," he handed her the stack as
he spoke.

Flipping through the documents she understood both his
relief and fear.

"Mulder," she said with a shaky breath.  "Where did
these come from?"

"I have no idea, Scully," he said softly and yet he did.
Skinner, several days ago, reminding him not to forget
who his friends were. But also making sure he understood
that he couldn't continue to help them if he was made a
part of this.  Mulder decided to keep the thought to
himself.  "But we better make sure no one knows we have
them."

She looked at him, again puzzled by his attitude.  "What
do you mean? This is damning evidence Mulder, why not
present it?"

The face of the young reporter from Cleveland and all
the others who had approached them yesterday on the
steps came to mind.  This evidence needed to be
authenticated, proven to be irrefutable and obtained
legally or it was useless.  Even now with the public
awareness of their work somewhat to their advantage, the
events of the past few days had proven that he and
Scully could not rely on his association with Kritschgau
as any type of insurance.  Someone however, had given
them something more valuable with which to write their
own policy.

"And how did we obtain it?" he said, taking the
documents back from her and sliding them back into the
envelope. "This is insurance, Scully".

"Don't play games with me, Mulder," she said, crossing
her arms across her chest in defiance.

"I'm not playing them with you, Scully.  You remember
what Skinner said back in my apartment?  How the only
way we can win is to play their game?"

"You're playing games with human lives Mulder."

"I know that Scully, probably our own.  But the secret
to winning that game is knowing when to make the right
move."


The End


AUTHOR'S NOTES:  Unlike the first story, this one has
its roots in pure fiction.  "The Flight of the Phoenix"
staring Jimmy Stewart, Peter Finch, Ernest Borgnine and
a cast of other greats from that era is a wonderful
movie about guts and courage and the will to survive.
Rent it.   Mulder's Atlantis theories come from a book
titled THE ATLANTIS BLUEPRINT by Colin Wilson and Rand
Flem-Ath; an intriguing book that questions whether the
answers to our survival might not lie in the future but
in the mysteries of our past. According to my map of
D.C. there is an intersection of 12th and D Street, but
as to whether or not there's a coffee shop there or a
restaurant named The Lotus Garden in Georgetown I cannot
say.  Life is about making choices and whether you make
the right ones or the wrong ones along the way, you have
to live with the outcome.  As Mulder said once, "Free
will, with every choice, you change your fate."   I've
always looked at Mulder and Scully as metaphors of the
human race and my experiences with them tells me that
neither of them will ever let anyone control their fate.
Gene Roddenberry was a genius at taking the social
events of the time and weaving them into stories about
the future.  His vision of the future was much like the
one that Mulder and Scully have given us, hope.   Live
long and prosper.