The Next Files

Part 1

************ Contact in Roswell ***********

When he first saw the man...the fellow was walking slowly with his hands linked behind his back. Also, he seemed just to be taking only a casual interest as to what was on display on the waist-high benches to either side of him (and he did convey the idea somewhat...that he was out of place).

The man was viewing the wares of the venders splayed out across the surfaces of their display tables. It was the 70thAnniversary of the "Roswell Incident" and the town seemed to be saturated with tourist and vacationers.

The older man began to squint, his eyes focusing on the fellow in front of him. The man was casting glances at the artifacts along the vender tables. The observer noticed too that the fellow seemed interested, but at the same time uninterested, as if that made any sense? Still, the venders didn't seem to care much about trying to sell him anything, maybe it was his lackluster demeanor that turned them off?

Anyway, standing several feet away, he didn't seem to have an idea that was being watched...why should he? It wasn't as if he stood out as being much different from any of the other individuals that were walking along the event's thoroughfare? He was here, on vacation (his off-time), and his state of dress certainty spoke of nothing out of the ordinary. Dark sweat pants, a black t-shirt, and dark tennis shoes rounded out his attire, he fit right in. Still, there was something that the observer recognized about the man, something familiar, he couldn't quiet put it in place.

The on-looker was much older than the fellow he was watching, at least by thirty years. He also noticed that the fellow was a handsome guy, and there was a touch of gray in the hairline at the sides of his temples.

Then, at that moment the watcher's eyes opened wide, wide in recognition.

"Mulder," he mumbled to himself, "Fox Mulder." Yes, he understood where he knew this fellow from now, and then his slightly wrinkled mouth stretched to accommodate a crafty little smile...

****** Little Green Men or Little Old-Man ******

Fox Mulder stood walking along the pathway between the rows and rows of merchants trying to sell their goods at this Historic event. Ironically he had come here to get away from it all. However, Mulder could never stray too far away from the path he had chosen all those years ago, the path to truth.

"Roswell's-70th Anniversary Incident Event"

When his boss had first heard that he was coming out here he had laughed.

"That figures," he had told Fox. "It's just like you to use your off-time to go to a place like Roswell. Other agents take their vacation trips to the Bahamas or Cancun, but not Spooky Mulder. He runs off to Roswell. Well, enjoy your time away. However, if you run into any little green men, please leave them there...will you?"

And then Mulder's supervisor returned his attention to the load of paperwork heaped atop his desk. The FBI Agent-ID 2219-526 never let words, nor the attitude of others sway his opinions or get under his skin.

Anyway, here he was, and he'd flown out here more out of curiosity rather than the idea of it being a pilgrimage or quest (unlike many of his constituents). Still, there were lots of things to see and much to experience. It also seemed as though the town had swollen to twice its size.

"Good morning friend," Mulder heard someone in front of him say. He looked forward and identified an older gentleman standing before him...the man continued.

"Looks as if you and I might have a bit of something in common," he said. "We're not necessarily looking just for materials as such, we're also searching for answers."

Mulder cracked a little smile.

"You could say that I have an invested interest in the subject," he spoke.

The observer looked at him.

"Oh by the way, I'm Jack, Jack Booth, local resident of this town. Actually I don't reside in Roswell, but close by."

He stuck his hand out. Mulder extended his own hand for a congenial handshake.

"George, George Hale, nice meeting you Mr. Booth."

"Same here..."

They both looked at the nearest vender's table. There were little alien dolls (your standard greys), standing in rows and rows, a price tag wrapped around a foot on each. And too, there were small saucer type spacecraft-with little holes around the edges, obvious pencil holders. And, there were other novelties as well, all for one's cosmic pleasure at the transfer of a bit of US currency.

Closer to the edge of the table there bits of twisted debris. Above these was a sign which read, "Alien Wreckage Artifacts". Booth walked over and picked up one of these chunks of metal. He looked at it, turning it this way and that, and then presented it to Mulder.

The material was a quarter inch thick, all bent and curled. It seemed a bit dirty too. However, it was also light weight and somewhat shiny. It too looked as if at one time it had belonged to something that was much bigger.

"Your assessment...?"

Mulder grinned.

"Aluminum...likely from a piece of someone's farm equipment."

The owner of the booth may have been a little perturbed with the agent's appraisal, had he been more attentive to their conversation. However, the proprietor appeared to be more involved with a couple of young girls looking at the "alien dolls" displayed at the other end of the sales bench.

Eventually the man did notice Fox and Jack, and he walked over to the sign which hung above the twisted metal. He removed a stocking cap which had conveniently been draped over one edge of the sign. It revealed a "?"

Now the sign read as follows "Alien Wreckage Artifacts?"

Jack returned the piece of metal to its place on the table and the two walked on.

Mulder and Booth spent the rest of the day rummaging through the artifacts, exhibits and other sights. The federal agent did enjoy the older man's company, and he seemed to know a lot about aliens, spacecraft, and the cosmic world. However, Mr. Booth revealed nothing that Mulder wasn't aware of already (though his level of knowledge did make for interesting conversation and a few laughs here and there).

At the end of it all the two parted ways and were happy with the new acquaintance each had made. That was to be the last interaction that Agent Mulder would ever have with Mr. Jack Booth, or was it?

End Chapter 1