by Avalon (avalon99@telusplanet.net)
http://members.dencity.com/avalon_online
Skinner, Scully, R, 6/12
ODYSSEY VI
WEDNESDAY MORNING
CROOKED ISLAND
Mulder is lying in a hospital bed. Slowly his eyes open. A nurse quickly arrives.
NURSE:
How are you feeling?
MULDER:
Where am I?
NURSE:
You're in hospital. You've got a concussion. Do you
remember what happened?
MULDER:
Two men...attacked me. Must've hit my head.
NURSE:
That's what the police thought.
MULDER:
Police?
NURSE:
Yes. They assumed you'd been mugged. We couldn't
find your wallet, you see, or any ID. Do you know your
name?
MULDER:
Mulder. Fox Mulder.
NURSE:
And the year?
MULDER:
1996. Bill Clinton's the President. The Atlanta
Braves won the World Series last year. And no, I don't
remember what I had for breakfast.
NURSE:
(Smiles) That's quite all right, Mr. Mulder. You
don't seem to be suffering from any memory loss. I'll
inform the doctors you're awake.
MULDER:
What day is it?
NURSE:
Wednesday. You were brought in yesterday morning.
MULDER:
(Trying to sit up) I need to make a phone call.
NURSE:
That can be arranged. Right now, just relax. The
doctor will be with you in a moment.
* * *
WEDNESDAY MORNING.
THE ODYSSEY. SICKBAY.
It is near dawn. Outside the wind has increased in force and the ship is rolling even more heavily. Henderson and Scully are awake while Skinner and the Captain are still unconscious. There is no sign of Victoria. Dietrich stirs slightly, mumbling something under his breath, then falls quiet again. Scully crosses to him, reeling a little with the tossing of the ship. She takes his vitals while pushing her tangled hair out of her eyes. Then, stiffly she walks across to Henderson.
SCULLY:
How are you feeling, Mr. Henderson?
HENDERSON:
Call me Sam.
SCULLY:
All right, Sam. How's the leg?
HENDERSON:
Mostly numb. Like me.
SCULLY:
Well, I did give you some fairly strong
painkillers.
HENDERSON:
It's not that. I was just thinking about the
future.
SCULLY:
What about it?
HENDERSON:
I don't have one anymore.
SCULLY:
Nonsense. You'll have to make some changes,
but...
HENDERSON:
You don't understand. The sea is my life. If I
can't have this (waves his hand around, indicating
the ship), I don't want anything.
SCULLY:
There's more to life than the sea.
HENDERSON:
Not for me there's not.
SCULLY:
Don't you have anyone...to care for?
HENDERSON:
My wife left me three years ago. I have no
children, no family. Nothing but this ship. You
should have just let me die.
SCULLY:
Do you want that man to win?
HENDERSON:
What man?
SCULLY:
The terrorist who shot you. Because if you die,
then he wins.
HENDERSON:
(Turns away) I don't care.
SCULLY:
You were in the military, weren't you?
HENDERSON:
(Looks at her in surprise) How did you know?
SCULLY:
My father was a Navy Captain. I recognize
the look.
HENDERSON:
Well, yes ma'am. I was a Sergeant in the Marines.
SCULLY:
I'd always heard Marines were tough. Guess I was
wrong. I guess all the real men joined the Navy.
HENDERSON:
Begging your pardon, ma'am, but the Marines
kick the Navy's ass. Pardon my language.
SCULLY:
I don't know. No seaman I ever met would just
lay there and talk about dying while terrorists
took over an unarmed ship full of civilians.
HENDERSON:
(Angrily) No Marine would either.
SCULLY:
(Smiles) Good. Then can I assume this
conversation is over?
HENDERSON:
(Realizing what she has done, slowly smiles) Yes
ma'am. I guess it is. (Scully starts to walk
away.) Doctor. (She stops.) Thank you.
SCULLY:
Semper fi, Mr Henderson.
Scully walks past Skinner's bed, on her way to the galley.
SKINNER:
Nicely done, Doctor. (He is awake but still looks a
little groggy.) But what was that about the
Marines?
SCULLY:
(Smiles) Nothing, Sir. How are you feeling?
SKINNER:
Better. About last night...
SCULLY:
(Her smile disappears) I'm not going to apologize.
SKINNER:
I'm not asking you to. You were right. I wouldn't
have gotten ten feet.
SCULLY:
Does that mean I'm not fired?
SKINNER:
I'll let you know. It probably depends on whether
you're going to drug me again.
SCULLY:
No. I never sedate my boss twice in a row. At
least, not in the same day.
SKINNER:
Wise career move. Where's Ms. Mason?
SCULLY:
(Gestures toward the bathroom) In there. She's been
throwing up since 3:00 am.
SKINNER:
Seasick?
SCULLY:
Very.
SKINNER:
Shouldn't you check on her?
SCULLY:
(In the same tones she used when she met Mulder's ex-
girlfriend, Phoebe) Sure. (Goes to the bathroom and
knocks on the door) Ms. Mason? Are you all right?"
VICTORIA:
(Muffled) Go away. I'm dying.
SCULLY:
Can I help?
VICTORIA:
No. Go away.
Scully returns to Skinner.
SCULLY:
She's still alive. (Skinner gives her a look.
Scully changes the subject) The storm is getting
worse.
SKINNER:
That could be to our advantage. If any of Josef's
men are prone to seasickness, they'll be in the
same boat as Ms. Mason. No pun intended.
HENDERSON:
Don't you think it's time you both told me who you
are?
SKINNER:
What do you mean?
HENDERSON:
You're not passengers. And she calls you Sir.
Scully and Skinner glance at each other.
SKINNER:
Tell him. (She glances at Skinner.) I
doubt they'd shoot one of their own men just to
plant a spy in here with us.
SCULLY:
(To Henderson) We're with the FBI. I'm Special
Agent Dana Scully, and this is Assistant Director
Walter Skinner.
HENDERSON:
Assistant Director? Don't you usually sit in an
office or something?
SKINNER:
Usually. If it makes you feel any better, I used
to be a Marine as well.
HENDERSON:
Does she give you a hard time too?
SKINNER:
Constantly.
SCULLY:
You don't seem very surprised that the FBI is
investigating this ship.
HENDERSON:
(Pauses) Of course I am.
SCULLY:
No you're not. It doesn't surprise you at all.
Why?
HENDERSON:
I don't know what you mean.
SKINNER:
Look. Why don't we put all our cards on the
table. We'll tell you what we know, and you
explain what's been happening onboard this ship.
HENDERSON:
(Looks away) There's nothing to tell.
SCULLY:
Uh huh. Terrorists just happen to take over a
ship that's linked to a secret operation, that may
also be linked to the death of a United States
Senator, and it's all just a really big
coincidence, right?
HENDERSON:
(Looks away) If you _are_ with the FBI, then you
know all about security and obeying orders.
SKINNER:
In case you hadn't noticed, sailor, this ship's
security has been shot to hell. Foreign nationals
have taken control, the Captain's in a coma, and
the rest of the crew could be dead for all we
know. Face it, Henderson, we're all you've got.
SCULLY:
(Gently) We can't help if we don't know what's
going on.
HENDERSON:
(Pauses for a very long time) I suppose this does
qualify as extenuating circumstances...
SCULLY:
I don't think they get any more extenuating than
this.
HENDERSON:
(Sighs) I'm probably throwing away what's left of
my career...but I'll tell you what I can.
SKINNER:
For starters...why have terrorists taken over the
Odyssey?
HENDERSON:
They probably want the special cargo.
SCULLY:
What special cargo?
HENDERSON:
(Hesitates) A shipment of ore.
SCULLY:
What kind of ore?
HENDERSON:
I don't know. I'm no chemist. But I do know it's
important. And valuable. We pick up special
shipments in Nassau and take them to Puerto Rico.
SKINNER:
What happens then?
HENDERSON:
I don't know. I imagine they're shipped
elsewhere. We're only the middle men.
SCULLY:
So the terrorists are after the cargo. How did
they find out about it?
HENDERSON:
How did you? This is supposed to be a closely
guarded secret. The crew is hand-picked. The
chances of a security leak are virtually non-
existent.
SKINNER:
Nevertheless, there's definitely been a leak
somewhere. Does the name Senator Caine mean
anything to you?
Henderson gives him a startled look. At that moment, Victoria emerges from the bathroom, looking green and unsteady.
VICTORIA:
What's going on...?
The ship gives another violent lurch. She turns and bolts back into the washroom.
SKINNER:
Can't you give her a Gravol or something?
SCULLY:
(Ignores him). What about Senator Caine?
HENDERSON:
The name means nothing to me.
SCULLY:
You're lying.
HENDERSON:
I've never heard of Senator Caine.
SKINNER:
Maybe we should get back to the matter at hand...
SCULLY:
(interrupts) Who do you answer to, Henderson?
HENDERSON:
(Pauses for a long moment) The United States
Government, ma'am.
TO BE CONTINUED