Scully was nervous and had inhaled too much cigarette smoke for a day. Babysitting another agent wasn't going to be fun, but being an FBI agent shouldn't have such a conception. And an agent with a reputation, lovingly called "Spooky Mulder". This was going to be a long day.
The office looked like it hadn't been cleaned for a long time, possibly for the sole reason that janitors didn't even know this place existed. It also didn't have any windows, so not having a desk wasn't that much of a bummer. The files, on the other hand, could be. They were all paranormal stuff, and Mulder seemed really okay about this.
"And why are they called Y-Files?" asked Scully.
"Exactly! Because we don't know why these things are happening. Also, the Y cabinet didn't have a lot of files, so."
"I would assume the X cabinet would have fewer files."
"For some inexplicable reason we have a lot of incidents involving xylophones. Maybe that should be a Y-File," said Mulder giddily.
There were a few files on Mulder's desk, Scully gave a quick glance. They seemed to be incident reports, and surprisingly a few academic papers about quantum physics. This was going to be interesting.
"Those papers seem familiar? Are they related to our next assignment?" asked Scully.
"Could be. Ever heard of Schrodinger's cat?" Mulder seemed really serious.
"I know of the thought experiment. Does it have a bearing on the case?"
"So they put a cat and a quantum mechanism in a box, and the cat is both alive and dead at the same time, until you open the box. The case is about a man who was declared dead 3 different times by separate doctors."
"But Schrodinger's point with the thought experiment was to demonstrate how absurd would it be if that were the case! Are you seriously considering that this man has anything to do with quantum physics?"
"Then you must've also heard of many-worlds interpretation," Mulder grabbed a paper from the desk. "It says that separate universes are created when there is a choice, and when we make them we're collapsing into that reality. Maybe this man, unlike us, can move freely between universes."
"Many worlds interpretation is not a good explanation of… whatever this is. If every choice creates universes, think of how many choices we are presented with each day. And if each choice creates more choices, think of the combinatorial explosion of universes. Even if it's true, the sheer number of possibilities makes each universe practically meaningless." said Scully, nearly out of breath.
"But not every choice we are presented with has the same weight, does it? It's not about pure, theoretical science. It's about human nature. Don't you even think how a choice you made, or someone made for you years ago, affects the current you? Wouldn't you want to know what would happen if another choice was made?" There was a glint in Mulder's eyes and got Scully interested.
"That certainly would be interesting, but since there's no way of knowing, it would be an irresponsible waste of Bureau's time."
"I must agree with you on that," Mulder threw the paper back on the desk, "That's why we should investigate this case."
⁂
It was the night and Scully was really tired. But it would be best to write the report while things are still fresh.
"In conclusion, this case can be explained through the lens of breakthrough science." typed Scully, not believing a word. But they didn't have any evidence, so what else was there to write?
It would be a good idea to sleep on it.
⁂
It's been a year and they solved a cabinet-full of unexplained, logic-defying cases. They also got to know about each other, a little bit more with each case.
"I can't believe it's been a year," exclaimed Scully while opening a beer "I can remember the day I came down to Y-Files like yesterday."
"You must also remember our first case," said Mulder, a bit more serious.
"Yes, Schrodinger's man we called it. What about it?" Scully picked up Mulder's tone.
"Have you given it any thought? I mean, how different would it be if we could change something in our past."
"Not really, but obviously you had. Is it about the abduction, Mulder?"
"I think about it every day. I remember it like it happened yesterday. I can't help but wonder how it would be if I was the one abducted."
"I'm not sure, Mulder, but we'll definitely find something, someday. I believe it," Scully held Mulder's hand. They shared a moment of silence.
Mulder downed the rest of the drink, looking a bit more confident, "I believe we'll find something, someday."
"I just wonder if Fox is looking for me in another universe."