CHAPTER 6

Dr. Werber's Office
Washington D.C.
8:22 P.M.

Scully put the car in park outside of Dr. Werber's office with a deep sigh. With a quick glance back at Cara, who had fallen asleep for the second time during the trip, she turned to Mulder, her eyes silently pleading with him for the details of his phone call with Doggett.

"William … had to be restrained today after demonstrating extreme violence," Mulder whispered.

"What caused it?" Scully asked softly.

"The Colonist who he didn't kill is getting into his head."

"How?"

"Through a photograph of Cara that was hand-delivered to his cell."

Scully paused. "Was the photo from William's apartment?"

Mulder nodded. "Probably."

Scully glanced back at Cara, who had balled up a blanket into a makeshift pillow under her head; she was still sleeping soundly. "She deserves to know."

"Not now," Mulder said quickly.

"Mulder-"

"Scully, if she goes in there knowing William is in extreme distress, she'll never be able to remember." His voice was rigid against the suggestion of telling Cara at that moment.

"Her well-being is more important than lying to her," Scully said firmly.

"It is," Mulder agreed, "and that's why we need to find out as much as we can about the people behind this Project."

Scully closed her eyes, turning her head slightly away from Mulder. "When will you tell her?"

"On the ride home."

She eyed him carefully, seeing he was genuine in his promise. She turned back to Cara, whose eyes opened, her head lifting off of the seat she rested it on. "Don't bother," Cara said softly, looking at Mulder, "I heard everything."

"Cara-"

"Why would you keep it from me?" Cara interrupted.

"You know this will cloud your mind," Mulder said softly.

"Why don't you let me be the judge of that?" she snapped, opening her door and quickly exiting the car.

Mulder sighed, feeling Scully's eyes back on his face. "I just want to protect her, like we promised our son we would," he said.

"I know," Scully whispered, taking his hand in hers.

Mulder's eyes shifted to Cara as she slipped inside the office, leaving him and Scully alone in the car. "She's like looking in a twenty-five-year-old mirror, Scully," he murmured, his eyes still on the door Cara disappeared behind.

"Believe me, I know."

He caught Scully's grin as he turned to look at her, letting one wash over his face momentarily. "Come on," he said. "Let's go muck through some brain sewage."

"You make it sound so attractive, Mulder," Scully said as she stepped out of the car, shutting the door behind her.

"I didn't know mucking through sewage was one of your fantasies, Scully," Mulder quipped as he shut his door, coming to her side as they walked into the office. "But I do agree that you'd look hot in nothing but a pair of galoshes."


"Agent Mulder, Agent Scully. Good to see you." Dr. Hertz Werber's gaze fell on Cara. "I've already met Cara. Please, come in."

Mulder allowed Scully to enter first, following behind her as Dr. Werber shut his office's door. They took the two empty seats on other side of Cara, who couldn't help but smooth the broken-in fabric of her jeans as she sat, nervous and distracted with thoughts of Will. Would his violent episode keep him locked away forever? Would she ever be able to see him again without chains or plexiglass separating them? Would they get to him before she could?

"Cara?"

She blinked a few times, her focus returning to Dr. Werber. "I'm sorry," Cara said, knowing she had been asked a question in her daze, but failed to fully hear it.

Dr. Werber smiled. "It's quite all right. I just wanted to see if you were ready to begin."

Cara nodded softly, feeling her palms growing clammier and her stomach tightening.

"Very good," Dr. Werber replied. "Agent Mulder has provided some information regarding your background. I would like to know what you feel is important to gain from this session."

"I want to learn about my childhood," Cara said softly, her eyes glancing over at Mulder to determine if she was suppose to go into any further details. When she saw his small nod of approval, she continued. "I … I was told I underwent testing as a child. A Project. And I would like to learn more about it."

"Very good," the doctor replied, his voice smooth and calming. "Past-life recall comes from long-term memory banks. The soul's history is stored in records, much like a filing system. You are able to retrieve them through your unconscious mind. In this session, you will have an opportunity to gain access to your records, particularly those in the section related to your childhood and the testing you were told of."

Cara froze as Scully reached toward her, holding her hand. She instantly wanted to be sick.

"Before we start the creative visualization for memory to be able to recall easily, it is important to have some deep, pleasant relaxation," Dr. Werber continued. "I'll guide you with some suggestions for enjoying the process of relaxing. Cara, you are in control at every step of the way - I'm just a guide. If I make a suggestion which you believe is not right for you, you may adjust it in any way that seems appropriate. Okay?"

"Okay," Cara said softly.

"Good. Now Cara, the process of relaxing and enjoying the bringing forward of another stage of the soul's journey is safe, smooth, and easy. All you have to do is to allow your imagination to do its best job to get you started. I'll be making some notes as we go along. As you may have observed, the whole session is being recorded on tape which you may take home with you. Do you have any questions?"

"No."

"Okay, good. Now … Ease your body into a comfortable position so you can relax easily. Take a long, deep breath. Exhale slowly. … That's good . . . and as you breathe normally, just become aware of the rhythm of your breathing."

Cara knew it was time to give everything she had for this session. Will's life depended on the secrets that might have been locked deep in her mind, and she needed them exposed in full. It was up to her to do all she could for him.

Dr. Werber's voice continued on in its melodic, soothing tone. "Cara, prepare to enter a level of relaxation which is right for you at this time. When you relax the physical body and have the electrical activity of the brain at an alpha level, the creative mind can be very alert. It is like the period between sleep and awakening, when dreams are quite vivid. It is a creative time. When you quiet the physical body and keep the mental body alert, you quiet the critical and analytical factors and allow the creative factor to function at its best."

Scully gently released Cara's hand; she felt hers and Mulder's eyes on her intently as she funneled her focus on Dr. Werber.

"Hold your hands in a comfortable position," Dr. Werber said. "Please sit comfortably. Adjust your body as necessary for your comfort. Keep your back as straight as possible to keep yourself aligned . . . and when you are ready, just close your eyes."

As the lids to Cara's eyes slowly lowered, she immediately saw Will in the darkness of her mind's eye. She felt her heart stop when she saw his smouldering look of passion in his beautifully intense brown eyes as he pressed her up against the motel wall with desire, his hands running over her face and in her hair.

"Take a deep breath; exhale slowly. That's good . . . and as you breathe normally, just become more aware of the rhythm of your breathing. Become aware of your hands as they touch your body. As you rest there, become aware that you are beginning to experience a sense of comfort, calmness, and inner peace.

Cara saw Will's eyes examine her carefully - she swore she even felt his lips make contact with her neck as his image in her mind slowly drifted away, slowly fading into nothingness as her fingertips touched the fabric of her jeans.

"Your eyes are closed and your eyelids are beginning to relax. Now, please take a long, deep breath and allow the muscles in the eyelids to relax deeper. … Good. Allow that feeling of relaxation to move to the whole facial area. … Now let it spread to the neck and throat, to the shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. Take a long, deep breath and, as you inhale and exhale, allow the chest-area to relax. Allow the relaxation to flow along the spine, relaxing all areas as it moves along. Let the relaxation spread to the hips, legs, and feet-all the way to the toes. That's great. Now, take another deep breath and realize that the whole body is becoming more and more relaxed."

She wasn't sure where she was, but she had drifted far away from Will and the motel room - everything became hazy and distant.

"As you flow with the rhythm of your breathing, you are becoming aware that, as you breathe, your body becomes more and more relaxed and seems to be lighter. You feel lighter and relaxed. … Lighter and relaxed. And you are becoming very comfortable, calm, and peaceful. You are entering a very pleasant state of relaxation. You might feel that your body is asleep but that your mind is alert. That's good. … Very good. The most important thing now is your own inner reality."

Cara's inner reality had now fully consumed her, and she entered a white space inside of her mind as empty as a blank canvas, waiting to be enriched with color and life.

"In a moment, I'll count rapidly from ten to one, and with each descending number, you will relax deeper and deeper and you will be more centered. At the count of one, you will reach a level of relaxation which is right for you at this time and for the present purpose. I'll begin by counting downward. ...10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1."

She was in a beautiful place, a meadow of vibrant green grass dotted with tiny white wildflowers that swayed in the gentle breeze from the picturesque skies above her. She knew she had seen this place before. She had been at peace here once before.

"You are now at your own level of relaxation. From this level, you are able to function as you choose. You are in control at every step of the way. You feel safe and protected. The experience is something that you want, here and now. At this time, you will be able to gain access to the record of the soul's journey. By looking deeply into your unconscious mind, you can see, hear, feel, or sense- perceive in some way-scenes from the past. Now, you are going to begin a process of recalling some memories. Whatever you recall will be just what you need at this time.

"You may begin by moving yourself to a time when you were in your teens. You will find that it is very easy to do. Choose a memory of that time. Choose a scene or an event that you would like to relate from your teenage years. Now Cara, bring the saliva to your mouth and let your lips become moist so that you may speak easily … and now, you are in your teens. Describe what you are experiencing."

The meadow was gone.

"I'm angry," Cara said softly.

"Why are you angry?" Dr. Werber asked.

"Because of the tests."

"What kind of tests?"

"Resistance tests."

"Cara, what do you see?"

Her eyes still closed, Cara swallowed as she took in her surroundings. "I see a white building in the distance. It has many different rooms, and rooms with cots in them."

"Do you know where you are?"

"I'm near where I live."

"Where do you live?"

"In the white building near the trees I'm sitting under."

"What kind of trees are they?"

"Evergreen."

"Describe the trees."

"There are many of them … in long rows. Hundreds of them."

"What else is near the trees?"

"There a body of water in the distance."

"What does the water look like?"

"It is still, like a sheet of glass."

"What else can you see?"

"A wall … it's all around the building."

"What is the wall made out of?"

"Dark stone."

Scully glanced over at Mulder, her eyebrow arched as she knew Mulder had also picked up on the magnetite reference.

"Do you go outside of the walls?" Dr. Werber asked.

"We're not suppose to," Cara replied.

"Do you?"

"Yes. I'm outside of them now."

"Is anyone with you when you go outside of the walls?"

"Yes."

"Who goes with you?"

"The boys."

"What are their names?"

"They never say."

Mulder took a quick glance at Scully, wondering if she thought one might be William.

"Why do you go outside of the walls?" Dr. Werber asked.

"Because we want to be free," Cara answered.

"Are you prisoners?"

"No."

"Are you mistreated?"

"Only with the tests. The tests ... they are painful at times. They make some of us sick. Others have died."

"Who administers the tests?"

"My father."

"Does he test you?"

"He did, but not now."

"Why not?"

"Because he doesn't need to. He tests the others."

"Who else is tested?"

"The other children who live there."

"Are the boys tested?"

"Yes. One has different tests."

Mulder and Scully glanced at each other while continuing to listen.

"Where do you go for tests?" Dr. Werber questioned.

"To the chamber," Cara answered.

"Describe the chamber."

"It's round and cold, and you lay inside and look up at the doctors through the glass."

"What do they do during the tests?"

"They look inside our minds."

"What are they looking for?"

"They look for the Shield."

"How do they see the Shield?"

"They inject a virus into our bodies to measure our resistance."

"What kind of virus?"

"They call it Purity."

"And are you resistant?"

"Yes. I can control it as well. It is submissive to me in this form."

"Are there others who are resistant?"

"Yes, but they are weaker."

Mulder glanced over at Scully, who was mesmerized as she watched Cara.

"Are the boys tested?" Dr. Werber continued.

"One of them is tested in the chamber. The other is tested somewhere else," Cara replied.

"Why?"

"Because he's not like the others."

"What is different about him?"

"He is sick."

"Why is he sick?"

"He's dying. They gave him too much."

"Too much of what?"

"The development serum."

"Why did they give him the development serum?"

"Because they need to test it before William takes it."

"Who is William?"

"The Savior."

As Mulder listened carefully, dutifully scribbling his notes on his pad, he felt remorse for the boy who had most likely died from being used as a guinea pig for an experimental serum.

"Okay, now Cara, I would like you to move into a time when you were about ten, eleven or twelve years old. Again, choose an experience and focus on the memory . . . You are now ten, eleven or twelve years old. What's happening?"

She found herself outside again - only it wasn't near the evergreens, but a comforting place all the same.

"Where are you?" Dr. Werber asked.

"A playground," Cara said softly.

"Are you alone?"

"No."

"Who else is there?"

"There are many of us."

"What do they look like?"

"They are children like me. They are all wearing white jumpsuits."

"Why do they wear white jumpsuits?"

"Because it's the rules."

"Who makes the rules?"

"A man."

"What does he look like?"

"His face is wrinkled, and he wears a suit."

"Does he have a name?"

"We call him Cancer Man."

"Why do you call him that?"

"Because he always smokes cigarettes."

Scully's jaw dropped. "CGB Spender," Mulder mouthed to her, watching Cara closely.

"Does he speak to you?" Dr. Werber asked.

"He never speaks to us. Just them," Cara replied.

"Who?"

"The scientists."

"Are the boys there?"

"Yes. They are in the glass room."

"Why are they in the glass room?"

"I don't know."

"Can you talk to them?"

"No."

"What do they look like?"

"They look the same as each other."

"Describe them."

"They are thin. They have blue eyes and knotted hair."

"How do you feel when you look at them?"

"Sad."

"Do the scientists perform tests on you?"

"Yes."

"What do they do?"

"They give me new blood."

"Why do they give you new blood?"

"So I will be safe."

The laughing on the playground began to diminish rapidly, melting from her mind as she began to panic. "Wait! It's leaving!" Cara said quickly, her eyes still shut.

"Cara," Dr. Werber said, leaning toward her, "what do you see?"

"Nothing, it's all going!"

"Cara, at the count of one, you will return to your safe haven, your safe place in your mind. I'll begin by counting downward. ...10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1."

The meadow enveloped her once again, and she breathed deeply, the scent of the air around her filling her nostrils. "Are you in your safe haven?" Dr. Werber asked.

"Yes, but there is someone here," Cara said, which surprised all three watching her. Mulder and Scully glanced nervously to Dr. Werber, who shook his head, just as confused as they were.

"Who is there with you?" the doctor asked.

"He won't say his name."

"What does he look like?"

"He has brown skin and long white hair. He looks wise."

"Albert Hosteen," Mulder mouthed to Scully with excitement.

"What is he doing?" Dr. Werber continued.

"He's sitting next to me," Cara said softly.

"Do you feel safe with him?"

"Yes. He's touching my head."

"Why is he touching your head?"

"I don't know."

"Is he speaking to you?"

"Yes."

"What does he say?"

"Besdaago Łigaii ayani …"

"Does he say anything else?"

"No."

Mulder furiously scribbled a note to Scully on his pad:

Ayani means buffalo

They glanced at each other after she silently read the note, perplexed. Scully felt her heart racing as she watched Cara, and she knew Mulder's mind must have been spinning out of control with possibilities.

"Okay Cara, that was good," Dr. Werber said gently. "Now you are ready for the journey back to what is called the present time. You may bring back with you anything that is helpful and beneficial. If you choose, you may release some feelings, memories, and impressions and retain in your conscious mind only that which is positive and helpful. The choice is yours.

"Now, slowly, you are returning, traveling through a comfortable and safe place, through the levels of your mind. You may bring back the information you have chosen. Slowly, come back through the years into what we call the present life, the present day, February fourteenth, two-thousand and twelve, and the present location of Washington D.C.."

Cara's eyes fluttered open, and she licked her lips absentmindedly as she focused on Dr. Werber's face in front of her. "Cara?" she heard him ask softly.

"Yes?" she whispered.

"Do you know where you are?"

"In your office."

"Who am I?"

"Dr. Werber," she said, her mind still a bit foggy.

With a satisfied nod, he gestured to Mulder and Scully. "Do you know these people?"

"Yes."

"Who are they?"

"Sonny and Cher."

The room went dead silent; Cara's voice was firm and sure as she looked from Mulder to Scully. She cracked a slow smile after catching the panicked looks they exchanged in reaction to her prank. "Just kidding," she said softly. "Just some hypnosis humor."

Mulder smiled wide as he chuckled, and Scully shut her eyes in relief. Cara bit her bottom lip as she laughed softly. She heard Dr. Werber's deep sigh and glanced over at him. "Sorry," she mumbled.

"It's quite alright," the doctor said with a smile.

"So …" Cara inhaled deeply, afraid to hear the worst. "How did I do?"

"Excellent," the doctor said quickly, knowing Mulder was curious about the breach in her safe haven toward the end of her session. "I think you'll find the information you've retained very valuable."

Cara nodded slowly. She had remembered about the trees, the walls, the chamber, the tests and Cancer Man. She hadn't retained anything else. With sudden force, she felt her head begin to spin. "May I use the ladies' room?" she asked.

"Of course," Dr. Werber replied. "It's just down the hall on your right."

"Thanks."

Mulder watched as Cara stood, her balance off as she nearly fell. "Whoa!" Mulder said, jumping up to catch her. "You okay?"

Steadying herself, Cara nodded. "Yeah … I'm okay."

"Why don't I go with you?" Scully said, placing her hand on the small of Cara's back as she walked toward the office door together.

When Mulder saw the door shut behind them, he quickly turned to Dr. Werber. "That's not suppose to happen," he said quietly, referring to the breach of Cara's safe haven.

"No, it's not," Dr. Werber replied, puzzled. "Do you know the man she described?"

Mulder nodded. "His name is Albert Hosteen. He's been dead for quite some time."

"Well," Dr. Werber said with a sigh as he stood, "I can't say I know how or why that happened."

"It's alright," Mulder said, standing with him. He stuck his right hand out, grasping Dr. Werber's in a firm handshake. "Thank you for waiting for us tonight."

"My pleasure," the doctor replied.


The remainder of the three-hour-long drive home was fairly silent after Mulder spent the first hour rehashing the highlights of her session with Cara, who, for the most part, responded minimally to Mulder's excitement and questions. She apologized after a while, telling him and Scully she was tired, and closed her eyes, trying to use sleep as a barrier between her and her fears for Will that crept back into her mind as soon as she got into the car.

This time, Mulder drove, knowing Scully was in need of a nap herself. About halfway home, Mulder saw both women were peacefully sleeping, and he thought it was perhaps the most serene thing he had witnessed in a long time. Only having William with them would have made it perfect.

Cara was the first to wake as she felt the car come to a halt an hour and a half later, Mulder applying the brakes as he looked for a place to park on the dark street outside of Cara's complex. "It's okay," she said, unbuckling her seat belt, "I'll just walk from here."

"No, we'll walk you up," Mulder insisted, recalling how uneasy on her feet she had seemed after her session.

"Really, I'm fine."

Scully stirred, sitting up as she felt the car jerk to another halt. "Sorry," Mulder mumbled. "I feel like I keep seeing open spots."

"It gets crowded at night," Cara explained. "Really, I'm okay to walk up myself."

"Mulder," Scully said, "just let us off. You can park the car around the block."

"Alright," Mulder agreed, pulling over for Scully and Cara to exit. He watched them enter the well-lit complex easily, then began to drive around the block to find parking.

It was about seven minutes later when Mulder had parked the car, his long legs walking with purpose toward Cara's apartment complex. He wanted to make sure Cara was alright - she seemed overwhelmed with what happened earlier in D.C., and he wanted to be available to talk her through anything she might be feeling.

He rode the elevator up to the fifth floor, where Cara lived, and proceeded down the hall to Apartment 914. With a quick knock, Mulder waited outside of the door for Cara or Scully to answer. "It's Mulder," he said, loud enough for them to hear but softly enough not to disturb the other residents of the complex.

He smiled as Cara opened the door. "Hey," he said.

Cara opened the door for Mulder slowly, her eyes falling on his chest as her body blocked the doorway. Mulder's eyes narrowed down at her as he caught the slight quiver of her bottom lip. "What's wrong?" he asked gently, putting his hand over her shoulder.

Her eyes were glassy as she met his, and he became even more concerned. "Cara?" he said softly, trying to step inside, but she barely gave him room to. The way she looked at him troubled him deeply, her eyes pleading with him to understand something he couldn't. Gently guiding her backward, Mulder opened the door fully, and his gaze immediately flicked upward to what was across from him and Cara.

Mulder's eyes widened as he saw Brody Wesson with a gun pressed against Scully's head. Mulder instinctively pushed Cara behind him, his arms reaching backward to protect her.

"Agent Mulder, glad you could make it," Wesson said with a smile as Mulder watched in horror at him pushing the gun closer against Scully's temple.