It Starts
If there was one thing that Fox Mulder learned over the years it was that the shadow government, the consortium never gave up. Neither did he. They would steal people in the middle of the night, he would steal into darkened corners looking for the truth.
He had at one time three of the most paranoid, brilliant minds that he could call on for help, Melvin Frohicke, John Byers, and Ringo Langley. They could hack into the most complicated computer system, analyze a blood sample, and Frohicke had an undying love for Scully.
It was difficult enough that they were gone, but with everything they were currently going through, it was harder not having the guys to call on for assistance. For all their paranoia they were good men. Men who helped him and later Scully more times than he cared to count.
Dana had admitted that after they found out she was pregnant the Lone Gunmen had looked out for her in more ways than could be counted. Frohicke would leave meals heating in the oven, Byers would tag along on appointments, and stop in to make sure she was eating the meals Frohicke had prepared. Langley would put together mixed tapes for the twins. After he had hidden the evidence that Melissa was indeed in there.
Byers had set up numerous identities for him, and Scully and he really needed the guys right now. In a bad way, he needs some recon work right now. He doesn't want to run into FEMA while escaping. He knows they won't have a chance.
"Chill out Mulder." Langley calls from the back. Mulder looks in the rearview and the Lone Gunmen are sitting in the back, between the kids. "Just follow the GPS coordinates that Billy programed and you'll avoid them."
"Thanks guys." He whispers.
"No problem amigo," Frohicke responds. "So Mulder now that you have La Familia together, are you finally going to just chill and do the dad thing?" He asks.
"If I could I would, but things are getting serious here on the solid plain, the forces that I fought against for so long, tried so hard to expose well they're back and I have to fight them to be able to do the dad thing."
"I know this is a difficult time for you Mulder," Byers whispers. "Just always follow your instincts. If your gut tells you something isn't right then follow your gut. If your instinct is to take someone out for Dana, the baby's or the twins safety regardless of the pain it will cause you have to do it."
"What is that supposed to mean Byers?" He asks.
"You'll know when the time comes Mulder. Will and Melissa will be there and you need to avoid this one being on them."
"And Mulder, you'll know the time and place, when you need to remember a specific memory. But it's important that you remember and you follow that memory with action. That's all we're allowed to say on that and this situation for now." Frohicke tells him.
"So how long have you three been appearing to my children?" Mulder asks.
"Oh since they were babies, since you two," Langley nods in Scully's direction, "weren't able to be with them we wanted to make sure that everything was okay with them. That we would be able to get word to you if they were found before the time is right." Byers answers.
"They were happy Mulder, as happy as they could be knowing you and Dana wanted them with you but couldn't. They understood it at an early age, because of Will being able to remember his abduction. Of the terror that Dana felt when one of the cultist's tried to kill William. We're sorry we failed at keeping him safe, but he was needed there and there was nothing that could or would have prevented those events that happened from happening."
Frohicke tells him.
"And what were those events Frohicke?" Mulder asks.
"Unfortunately Mulder, we can't say. As certain things can only be revealed at certain times. All we can say is we're sorry we failed Dana that day." Langley answers.
"Melissa is a spit fire Mulder. She's a real good kid. She really does understand the things going on around her. You have to work to keep her grounded though. Sometimes she gets a little over whelmed by her emotions. When that happens you have to think fast and work faster to get her back. You also have to make sure there is a lot of space between her and Dana when Dana gives birth. At least a half a mile so she only feels as she has a stomach ache." Byers tells him.
Mulder looks sharply in the back. "Keep your eyes on the road G-Man. She feels everything her mother does. She's finely tuned to Dana, Mulder. Because of the heartache she felt when Dana handed her to you. Begging you to hurry before she could change her mind, Melissa bonded with her completely in that short amount of time." Frohicke tells him.
Mulder clears his throat processing the information. "What about Will?" He asks.
"William's abilities aren't as strong as Melissa's because of the shot he got. He'll be fine as long as he isn't in close proximity or tuned into Melissa. Once you hit Arizona though you really should teach them both how to fire a gun. I know it's a sensitive issue, but really their safety is paramount." Frohicke tells him.
"I'll takeit under advisement. Anything else I should know about?" He asks.
"Yeah, once you're at the safe house in Arizona get Dana to go swimming every morning. Low impact exercise, it will help with the delivery." Langley tells him.
Before he can question them further they disappear as quickly as they had arrived. He meant to ask them if there was a specific alias they should use in Arizona, since they didn't bring it up he decided he'd leave it alone. He'd use the George and Katherine McHale and Melissa and William could keep their names. He couldn't expect the kids to constantly remember they were supposed to be other than who they were.
He looked down at the gas gauge and knew they'd have to pull off soon to fuel up. He decided now would be best. Before they had to worry about FEMA coming across the border. As he pulled off he wondered what to do if they got pulled over by Troopers. He didn't know who the Hummers belonged to or how to explain the massive amounts of firearms that all four carried. Hopefully Charlie and Walter were thinking about the same things.
Two cars back Bill had Tara going through the glove compartment. The hummer they drove was registered under McHale industries. Driver was listed as current employee. He worried about them getting pulled over, how could he explain the massive amounts of guns and ammo they all carried?
He was concerned about Hope and what if she had any family who wanted her back? He did have to admit though that he really liked the idea that Dana could make her legally theirs. He's still curious about why Ahab had come to him that night. Why had Melissa interjected the way she had. Even Emily letting him know she was there with them. He didn't understand any of it. He wanted too, but was still having a hard time wrapping his head around all of it.
Once they were settled in where ever it was they were headed he would get some serious answers from Dana and Mulder. He also knew that Mr. Skinner knew more than he was letting on. What he had the hardest time understanding was why Dana and why her children? Why were they chosen to be the saviors of the human race.
One car ahead Walter Skinner kept his eyes on the road while John Doggett sat in the back loading up magazines. Making sure that there were two guns per person fully loaded and ready to roll should they run into any trouble, he curses under his breath as Mulder pulls off the deserted highway.
They haven't seen another human being since the truck stop where Maggie got stung. He wonders why and looks at the gas gauge. They do need to fill up. He follows Mulder off the highway. They also need to change the position of the vehicles. He and John should be pulling up the rear. Not Charlie. After they've refueled he's going to make that recommendation. He's also going to have Kim take over the driving. Tara should be driving her and Bill as well. It's all logistics. The best shooter needs to be hands free. He knows between Dana and Mulder Dana is by far the best shot, and has kept upon her skills.
Pulling up the rear is Charlie and company. All his kids know how to use fire arms as does his wife. Being undercover they had too. Considering who he was investigating for the State Department, it would have been suspicious if he didn't train his kids in fire arm safety.
He knew he didn't anything to worry about with CJ and Michael in back. Katherine too. He didn't want to say anything to the boys but Katherine was a better shot than both her brothers. Janet just sat in the passenger's seat a handgun across her lap. Not saying a word, her eyes keeping watch for any surprises.
He watches as the line in front begins pulling off. "Gas Charlie." Janets murmurs, and he lets out a sigh of relief. They pull into the station, the tension visible in the adults as Mulder goes in and sets the pumps. As they fuel up Charlie, Walter, Mulder and Bill discuss the formation. Dana uses the time to stock up on snacks and juices.
Maggie uses the restroom, the kids stand sentry. "Daddy, Uncle Charlie, someone's watching us." Melissa tells them telepathically. Mulder and Charlie break from the group and head towards her. "To the left in the bushes by the garage doors." She tells them.
"Tell Uncle Walter to go round the back of the building, Melissa." Mulder tells her telepathically. Without a word Walter heads around the building knowing he won't be seen by the watcher. Dana exists on the opposite side of the gas station, gun drawn and she and Walter begin making their way behind the watcher.
"What are they thinking Sprite?" Charlie asks her.
"They're in a lot of pain. They got stung." She tells them. Mulder tells her to get all the kids back in the vehicles. He's seen these things birthed and it's not pretty.
Scully walks up behind the individual. She doesn't think twice and fires three successive shots into the base of the neck. As the body falls over she hears the tearing of flesh. Walter sends her back to the trucks as a newly born Biological Alien Entity births itself from its dead host. He fires three rounds into the top of its scull and walks away.
The others come around the side of the building. Bill is horrified by what he sees. "Wh-wh –what is that?" He asks pointing to the dead alien.
"That is the product of what we are fighting. That is your alien Bill." Dana tells him. She checks the safety, flips it on and heads to the hummer.
"There really are aliens invading the planet." He whispers to no one in particular. Mulder looks over at him and smirks. Shaking his head he follows Scully.
"We need to get back on the road. We don't know how many are ready to birth, how many were missed by Billy and his people." He calls back over his shoulder. Slowly one by one they make their way back to the vehicles and back on the road.
"Daddy, we need to find the safe house really soon." Melissa tells him.
"We're almost there Sprite. What's up?" He asks.
"There are some real bad people coming our way. They'll see us if we don't get to the safe house soon." She whispers, fear making her voice tremble.
"How much time do we have Melissa?" He asks.
"About forty-five minutes. They're really loud dad. Really loud. They're celebrating, they're really happy about the bees being released." She tells him.
"We're almost there now Sprite. Fifteen minutes and we'll be at the safe house." He tells her. "Nothing bad is going to happen I promise." He tells her. Once again he pulls off the highway. Following the directions on the GPS, he drives a mile down the road and is surprised to see Billy Miles and approximately three hundred replicants fanning across the road. He gently comes to a stop.
He glances at Scully wondering what's next when Billy comes and taps on the window. Mulder roles down the window. "We are here to protect them and you Mulder." Billy tells him nodding towards the twins and Scully. "Those that are coming know what we are and will believe us when we say no-one from that state left it alive."
"We just left that state Billy." He answers.
"True, but you are not from that state are you Mulder? You came from somewhere else, you passed through it on your way to somewhere else."
Scully's breath catches as she recognizes the game warden from the night she gave birth. "Do not be frightened Dana, every soul here will die to protect you and yours. You are who is, William and Melissa they are Monster Slayer and Born of Water. Our freedom depends on all of you. Our very existence needs you to succeed and win this war that has now engaged." He tells her.
"Up ahead is a barn Mulder. You can hide the trucks there. There are three houses on the property as well. No need to stretch tensions in your group. All of you will need to stay here for a week maybe a little longer. No more than two weeks though. That's how long it will take for them to clear this area. By us being here they will not bother to search the houses. They will believe them cleared."
"Why Billy? Why help us?" Dana asked.
"They stole from Dana. They stole who I was, and the life I should have had. I am no longer human and no longer do I have the desires I had as a human. I remember them though. I remember what it is to make love to a woman, to want a child, to feel hunger and pain. I can no longer die unless I go to an area filled with magnetite. Or bathe in the sacred spring waters. What I have is an existence, not a life. Even though I can never be who I was, I can do everything I can to stop them from doing this to others."
Scully nods understanding, "what about the twins Billy, why them. Why my children?" She asks.
"Because they were born under a star. They are more human than you and he who is. Both you and Mulder underwent many physiological changes Dana. Most importantly you were healed by the very ship that brought the sentient life to this planet. The ship that brought Adam and Eve. It knew you to be their descendent. It recognized Mulder as he who is, it recognized you as she who is."
"And who are we Billy?" Scully asks.
"You are they who are and always will be." He answered. "I have food cooking in the main house. Hurry, and park the trucks. We need to keep you safe." He tells her as the mass before them separates. Mulder puts the truck in drive and drives through. Trying to puzzle out the meaning behind Billy's words.
Scully remains quiet lost in her own thoughts. Maggie sits quietly as well. Wondering if any of this has to do with when her daughter almost died in Japan.
