by Avalon (avalon99@telusplanet.net)
http://members.dencity.com/avalon_online
Skinner, Scully, R, 9/12
ODYSSEY IX
WEDNESDAY LATE EVENING
THE ODYSSEY. MAIN DECK.
Scully steps out onto the main deck, fighting for her balance on the swaying ship and protecting her broken wrist. The ship is running without lights and the combined force of the wind and rain almost causes her to lose her footing as she makes her way toward the radio room. A movement in the darkness makes her pause and she draws back in time to see Skinner being taken toward the bridge under heavily-armed guard. She brings her gun up, thinks better of it, then withdraws further into the shadows. The terrorists and the Assistant Director pass without comment and disappear into the bridge. One terrorist remains on guard outside the radio room.
Scully hesitates, looking first toward the bridge then the radio room. Suddenly, a hand seizes her arm. She reacts instantly, lashing backward with one foot and pulling herself loose. She whirls and brings the gun up then pauses as a flash of lightning illuminates her attacker -- Henderson.
SCULLY:
(Breathlessly) Sam?
Henderson nods and clutches the rail, trying to keep his balance on one leg. Scully does not lower the gun.
SCULLY:
What are you doing here?
HENDERSON:
Helping you. When you didn't come back,
I thought...
Scully hesitates then holsters her weapon, and reaches out with her good hand to help him keep his balance.
SCULLY:
You shouldn't have come. Not on that leg.
HENDERSON:
I had to. There's something I didn't tell you.
SCULLY:
(Pauses) What?
HENDERSON:
There's a bomb on board.
SCULLY:
I...excuse me?
HENDERSON:
You heard. And unless Washington receives a coded
signal by oh-seven-hundred tomorrow, it's going to
go off.
The ship lurches again, and Henderson almost falls. Scully drags him into a corner and shoves him against a bulkhead.
SCULLY:
Explain.
HENDERSON:
(Sighs) It was a contingency developed by Senator
Caine.
Scully starts and releases him, but does not say anything. Henderson continues.
HENDERSON:
The Senator spearheaded the funding for this
project. It was his idea to have a failsafe in
case the ship was ever taken over.
SCULLY:
(Grimly) What failsafe?
HENDERSON:
There's a self-destruct built into the Odyssey.
It can be triggered manually, or remotely.
SCULLY:
Remotely?
HENDERSON:
From Washington, if necessary.
SCULLY:
(Swallows) How?
HENDERSON:
Via satellite uplink. Unless Washington receives
an encoded message from the Odyssey every 12
hours, the ship will be destroyed. And they'll do
whatever it takes to keep the cargo safe.
SCULLY:
Including sacrificing the crew and passengers?
(Henderson nods). When did the last message go
out?
HENDERSON:
It was supposed to be sent last night at 19:00
hours. The Captain never sent it.
SCULLY:
Then why aren't we dead already?
HENDERSON:
Because there's a 12 hour safety margin. We have
until the next scheduled transmission before the
relay signal is sent. (Pauses) In less than six
hours, we'll all be vaporized.
SCULLY:
Why didn't you tell us this before?
HENDERSON:
I had my orders.
SCULLY:
Your ord-- (She takes a deep breath) Okay.
Where is this device, and how do we defuse it?
HENDERSON:
On the bridge, but it can't be done. There's too
many failsafes. Once the relay signal is sent, we
have five minutes. And then...boom. Sayonara Odyssey.
SCULLY:
(Brushing her windswept hair out of her eyes)
Then we need to inform Washington -- try to buy us
some time and get some help...
They both glance toward the radio room, where the shadow of an armed guard moving can be seen at intervals.
HENDERSON:
We'd never make it. He's in too good a position.
Besides, maybe Skinner got a message out.
SCULLY:
Maybe. But we can't be certain.. He was just taken up to
the bridge under armed guard.
HENDERSON:
(Slowly) I think I might know where the crew is
being held...
SCULLY:
Can you get to them with that leg?
HENDERSON:
I've made it this far.
SCULLY:
Good. Then get going.
HENDERSON:
What about you?
SCULLY:
I'm going to try to get to the bridge.
HENDERSON:
Are you crazy?
SCULLY:
Probably.. But we don't have a choice.
We have to stop the terrorists and radio
Washington while there's still time..
HENDERSON:
We're an army of four against god knows how many
armed terrorists...We don't stand a chance.
SCULLY:
An army of three. I think Victoria's working with
them.
HENDERSON:
And you want us to take on Josef and the
rest? By ourselves?
SCULLY:
We won't be by ourselves if you manage to free
the crew.
HENDERSON:
(There is a long pause) Fine.
SCULLY:
(Grins) Semper fi, marine.
Henderson shakes his head then turns awkwardly to go.
SCULLY:
Sam. (He pauses) I fully expect to see the
cavalry coming over the hill when I need it.
Understand?
HENDERSON:
(Smiles back) Semper fi, Ma'am.
With that he limps heavily away, vanishing into the night. Scully
brushes her hair out her eyes yet again, swallows hard,
and checks her gun once more before preparing to move to the bridge.
* * *
WEDNESDAY LATE EVENING
WASHINGTON D.C.
Mulder is speaking to a receptionist in a warm, wood-filled room.
MULDER:
Look, I know it's the middle of the night, but
I've got to speak to General Williams. It's
important. I know he's here.
RECEPTIONIST:
And I already told you -- the General sees no one
without an appointment, especially at this time
of the night...
MULDER:
Just tell him it's Fox Mulder. He'll see me, I
guarantee it.
RECEPTIONIST:
Sir...
MULDER:
Tell him.
The receptionist opens her mouth to speak, sighs, then stabs the intercom button fiercely.
RECEPTIONIST:
General? I'm sorry to bother you, but there's a
Fox Mulder here who insists on seeing you. Shall
I...(pause) Yes. Yes, sir. (She
gives Mulder a
cold-eyed stare). You can go in.
MULDER:
Thank you.
He goes past her into the inner room, closing the oak door behind him. Inside, an older man with greying hair looks up tiredly from some papers.
WILLIAMS:
(Without preamble) Do you have any idea what time
it is, Mr. Mulder?
MULDER:
(Sitting down) Do you? Why are you and half your
staff still here at 1:15 am?
WILLIAMS:
(Coldly) You don't need to know.
MULDER:
I think I do. Actually, I think I can guess. (He
reaches inside his jacket, pulls out an envelope,
and throws it down on the desk) This late-night
emergency has something to do with this, doesn't
it?
The General eyes the envelope but does not open it.
WILLIAMS:
What is that?
MULDER:
As much information as I could dig up about a
certain missing cruise ship.
WILLIAMS:
I don't know what you're talking about.
And I think you're presuming too much
on my friendship with your father.
MULDER:
I never presume, General.
Their eyes clash for a long moment, then Williams reluctantly reaches for the envelope. Several minutes go by as he carefully reads the contents. Finally, he lets them drop on his desk again and looks up to meet Mulder's gaze.
WILLIAMS:
Where did you get this?
MULDER:
From a reliable source. Does it matter?
Williams does not answer, but eyes him coldly. Mulder continues.
MULDER:
Look, I've got some information, and you've got
some information. Maybe if we pool our talents we
can find the Odyssey and not so incidentally, my
partner.
WILLIAMS:
You have nothing.
MULDER:
Care to place a wager on that? Besides, can you
really afford to risk me going public with what I
know?
WILLIAMS:
With what you think you know.
MULDER:
(Amiably) With what I think I know. A
little knowledge can be a dangerous thing,
General. I've got a little knowledge...
Williams pauses for a long moment, as if considering, then...
WILLIAMS:
Sit down, Mr Mulder. We need to talk...
TO BE CONTINUED