In her jumpy condition, she had difficulty winding down, but eventually fatigue had taken its toll and she fell into a fitful slumber. Maternal feelings are a rarity for her but a protective cloud envelops Marita as she watches the young women sleep. Petie is like a flower bud, poised to flourish into a beautiful blossom, her intelligence and courage are traits to be admired and they mark her as a survivor.
They had talked for hours, sharing their past and analyzing what fortune had brought them together here, against their will. Marita had tried to explain the relationship she had with Monica and John, her marriage to their former superior, and their relationship with Mulder and Scully. It was difficult to put in plain words without betraying a confidence she felt was necessary to keep. Petie had listened as if it were a bedtime story, accepting the circumstances and believing the tale she heard was true. She was impressed to learn how much Marita knew about the attempted Alien Colonization and how her husband and friends were involved. She pressed her on what the relationship Dana Scully and Fox Mulder had with Will and seemed satisfied when Marita said they knew him when he was very young and Monica found him by chance when she recognized his name.
"So that's why you're here? Is it because your friends wanted to see Will?"
"No, not exactly, we were actually concerned for Monica and John and the missile that almost destroyed her cottage. Walter wanted to make sure they were all right." She's purposely omitted their own close encounter from the explanation.
"Yeah that was really scary, it was super loud and we felt the ground shake. We had just left to go back to the dorms. I don't know how it could have happened, it's not like the military just shoots missiles up by mistake." Many were skeptical of the DoD misfiring a missile, even Petie.
"What about your friend, the woman that was kidnapped with you… is she going to be all right? Why would he want to talk to her alone?"
"I'm not sure." Marita says truthfully. "Her husband is a very gifted FBI profiler and maybe that has something to do with it."
"Marita, I really want to go home." Petie can't hide the emotion in her voice. "What will that man do to us, why won't he let us go?"
Marita puts her arm around Petie's shoulder. "It will be okay. My guess is he's working under someone elses orders and if he meant to harm us, he had his chance. I think we need to get some rest. Everything is better when you're not exhausted. You should try to sleep."
"I'm really glad you're here." She whispers before falling asleep.
His parents were never fully able to grasp what their son was made of and what to do with his gift. They never really understood what it meant. They seemed reluctant to turn him over to the government, but when they realized the danger, they surrendered him and found solace in knowing he would be protected.
Over the years he's had to accept what he is. A genetic freak. There was a time when he was extremely cynical about his future, but Gibson was never very good at rebelling against authority, he learned that outsmarting them was much more gratifying.
He lived a lonely existence amongst many and grew to resent those who would try to exploit him as well as those who pitied him. He eventually left the clutches of his government guardianship and quietly entered George Washington University where he finished his bachelor's and master's degree in four years. As he worked on his PhD, he was once again recruited to submit to a battery of tests, using newly developed and sophisticated micro computer chips.
Having no good reason to refuse, the human lab rat submitted to another round of experiments. Gibson lacked enthusiasm but cooperated as they wired and monitored his brain. He passed the time by allowing himself to get into the heads of his researchers. The majority were straight arrows with little time for frivolous thoughts and he found their dedication to be commendable if not boring. It took him completely by surprise, when a small Japanese woman entered his room and introduced herself without the benefit of verbal words. He had never encountered someone with his same ability and it changed his life.
To others, Miya was shy and reserved, but to Gibson she was filled with life and had a wicked sense of humor. They kept their unusual way of communicating to themselves, fearing what others might do with the information, and an impenetrable bond grew between them.
Even after the testing was completed they became inseperable. When she eventually shared her secret with him, it made no difference, for he had already fallen in love with her. They both knew that being different was an asset and a burden, but the hardships they faced and where they came from was lessened as they supported each other and eventually married.
Gibson knows that Miya and the others are alive, he can sense this and he is certain they are unharmed. She tells him they will be all right, not to let the others force their captor into a situation where he has no recourse. At the moment, in his car driving down I-36, he can feel her soothing heartbeat and it reassures him, but his state of mind is suddenly interrupted by another set of intentions, these coming from a completely different set of people in a place he has to go to.
"So you've worked with the President? That's pretty awesome. My parents thought he was a Socialist and was going to ruin the country. It's funny how things turn out." Will says with a hint of bitterness.
The two have spent the better part of three hours talking over past events in their lives. One of them is barely a man and the other has lived enough for several men. Doggett stifles a few pangs of envy as he realizes what a great kid Dana and Mulder have. This conversation with Will is one he would have loved to have had with his own son.
"Only a very few knew of the conspiracy that was taking place. Fox Mulder was one of the first. He and Dana Scully uncovered evidence that was way out there. No one believed them, let me re-phrase that… no one wanted to believe them. Hell, even I didn't believe it. For years I thought Super Soldiers were a government program. There's nothing like the takeover of the planet by aliens to clear up any misunderstanding." Doggett says drinking water out of a paper cup.
Will laughs at his sarcasm. "I heard that this was going on for years, the alien replicant's plan to colonize earth. It seems to me that all they had to do was connect the dots."
"That's not too far off, but there's a lot of back story in there. Anyway, I gotta tell you, Mulder and Scully are the true heroes, saving the world may seem like an overstatement, but it's not. They made a lot of sacrifices along the way."
"Mr. Doggett? What aren't you telling me?"
"Doggett is fine. John if you'd like. Look Will, I know I've skirted some of your questions, but that's only because I don't know the real answers. Sometimes things aren't what they seem… ya know? It wouldn't be right of me to make certain statements or assumptions, your life, my life, it keeps changing and what you knew, may not necessary be what you'll live by in the future."
Will looks at Doggett sideways out of the corner of his eye. "Yeah? Well talking in circles isn't going to get us out of here."
Doggett knows he can't be humored with big words and smoke and mirrors and nods at him affirmatively. "Look kid, I'll get my goose cooked if you get hurt, but you're right, we got to come up with a plan if we're going to get out of here. You think we can find something to get us into this wall panel?"
Will's face lights up. "All right! Now you're talking."
Daylight had faded into dusk by the time Agent Nelson left the parking garage of her condo and turned out on the street. He knows his own motives and that he is being watched.
"You think he wanted some reassurance from his superior and showed up at her place to discuss our meeting?" Monica asks in a suspicious tone as she changes lanes in Skinner's car to keep Nelson in view.
"Maybe, but he is hiding something and we need to find out what that is." Skinner answers.
"Do you think SAC Paulson has something to do with this?"
"I wouldn't discount anyone at this point. It looks like he's headed for Highway 36 going south. My navigation system has locked in on him, but keep him in sight, it's still possible to loose him."
Monica keeps a steady pace down the highway. The traffic is starting to pick up as they continue driving away from Boulder. "Sir, I don't mean to bring up… I mean I don't want to consider the worst or what may…"
"I am as concerned for them as you are." Skinner says grimly. "Just remember, John Doggett can handle himself and I know Marita is resilient. I have to take Gibson at this word when he says they are unharmed. You know as well as I do he wouldn't play games with his wife involved. Besides, there was a time when we faced this kind of danger and these unknown situations on a daily basis. We may have become complacent in the last year, but none of us is about to go down with out a fight." Skinner's tone is stanch and his expression determined.
"He's by passing Denver and headed north on the Northwest Highway, do you think he's headed for the airport?"
"Maybe… it's doubtful he would go back there. Paulson was unhappy with my interference when I asked Gibson to send over agents to go over the crime scene with a fine toothed comb. If there was something left behind, they would have found it."
"He's going east, he's turned on Carbon Road. What's out here? It's really undeveloped."
"Look-- that sign… Rock Creek Farm. It's a little late to go on a picnic wouldn't you say? Monica, he's turned down the perimeter of the park. The sign says he's headed for the Planetarium."
"I've got a funny feeling about this. Are you armed?" Monica sounds pensive. "Something's not right."
Skinner checks the clip in his weapon and cradles it in his hand. He squints into the shaft of light cast from their vehicle. The lack of oncoming traffic makes the deserted road appear sinister. As they continue to follow the FBI agent, the navigation equipment slows their vehicle down.
"Why are we stopping?" Skinner asks in a hushed tone. "What do you see?"
"It's more like what I don't see. He must have pulled over."
"Oh my God! What the hell is this?" Monica utters gripping the steering wheel as a figure appears in the beam of their headlights and stares back at them.