by Avalon (avalon99@telusplanet.net)
http://members.dencity.com/avalon_online
Skinner, Scully, R, 10/12
ODYSSEY X
THURSDAY, EARLY MORNING
THE ODYSSEY. MAIN DECK.
Scully prepares to move forward from the shadows toward the bridge. As she does, the door at the top of the stairs opens, and a figure emerges. Silently she steps back into the shadows. A lone terrorist descends, his gun casually slung over his shoulder. He passes Scully without a moment's pause and heads toward the lifeboat where the unconscious Victoria is hidden. As he passes, Scully makes an instant decision, launching herself from her hiding place, and pressing her gun to the back of the terrorist's neck.
SCULLY:
I don't know if you speak English, but if you move
anything, you're going to lose it.
Perhaps reading the menace in her tone, he freezes. Scully continues.
SCULLY:
Drop the gun. Now.
Slowly he begins to comply. At that moment the ship gives a tremendous lurch, reeling heavily to starboard, and both the Agent and the terrorist grab for the rails. Scully's injured wrist impedes her and she almost loses the gun. The terrorist, seeing this, flings himself toward her, ignoring the danger as the ship continues to list to an impossible degree. Half-blinded by the rain, Scully does not pause, but lifts her weapon and pulls the trigger. A shot rings out over the storm and the terrorist is flung backward. As the ship painfully begins to claw it's way back to an even keel, the terrorist topples over the rail, vanishing into the sea.
Scully is left shaken and for a long moment, does not move. Then, realizing that the gunshot may have been heard, and that she too is in danger of being swept over the side, she thrusts her gun under her jacket and picks up the terrorist's weapon which, by some miracle did not go overboard. Once more she determinedly moves toward the bridge.
* * *
THURSDAY, EARLY MORNING
THE ODYSSEY. BRIDGE
Josef, Skinner, and three terrorists are alone on the bridge. The glow from the instruments dimly lights the room, and through the main window, the effects of the storm can be seen. Rain lashes at the glass and the wind can be heard howling fiercely. Suddenly, a faint crack is heard, and Josef looks up sharply.
JOSEF:
What was that? (No-one answers him and he
gestures quickly to one of the guards) Check it
out.
Silently the guard leaves. Josef turns his attention to the ship's radio, speaking urgently into it in German. There is a faint response, but Skinner cannot make out any of the words. Josef does not seem happy -- he glances at his watch then speaks rapidly into the radio again. Finally he signs off and sets it down with a bang, waves of anger rolling off him.
SKINNER:
Troubles?
Josef ignores him and moves toward several maps strewn across a table. He begins to make some hasty calculations then speaks rapidly to the man beside him, who nods, turns, and leaves. Josef rubs his hand over his eyes and for a moment, looks very tired.
SKINNER:
Not going well, is it?
JOSEF:
Shut up.
SKINNER:
(Conversationally) You know, this has got to be
one of the most inept operations I have ever...
JOSEF:
Enough! (He draws his gun and walks across the
room) I've been wanting to do this for a long time...
His finger tightens on the trigger. A voice comes from the entrance.
SCULLY:
Get used to disappointment. Drop the gun!
Everyone spins around to see Scully, windblown and dishevelled, holding her gun in her right hand, aiming it at Josef's heart. For a frozen moment, no one moves.
SCULLY:
Do as I said. Drop the gun. Now!
Slowly Josef and the other terrorist begin to comply. Josef's eyes flicker over her shoulder and she tenses, then abruptly spins. Another terrorist emerges from the entranceway and seizes her by her gun arm. For a desperate moment she struggles against him, while Skinner shouts and launches himself forward. The terrorist closest to him tackles him. Josef spins and shoots but misses the Assistant Director. Skinner is wrestled to the ground, the terrorist's gun against his ear. The other terrorist seizes Scully's gun and shoves her into the room. She sprawls forward. Once more silence descends.
JOSEF:
This is a surprise, Doctor. Get up. (To the
terrorist) Search her, Franz. (To the terrorist holding
Skinner down.) And let him up...
Scully and Skinner climb to their feet, all guns in the room trained on them. They give each other a quick glance, but say nothing. Franz searches her, but stops when he finds her badge. Josef meanwhile, steps forward, his gun aimed at Skinner.
JOSEF:
Now, where was I? Oh yes...goodbye,
Mr Skinner.
Franz says something in German, and holds out her badge. Josef looks at it, then at Skinner, then curses and takes the badge. He flips it open, keeping his gun trained on Skinner. He glances at it, then looks more closely at the photo then at Scully. Rage flits across his face and he turns away from Skinner, moving toward her. Scully braces herself, but does not move.
JOSEF:
(Incredulously) You're an FBI agent? (He pauses
for a moment. When he speaks again his voice is
deceptively mild.) Well, Doctor Kimble...or should I
say Agent Scully? -- I don't appreciate being made a
fool of.
SCULLY:
Funny. You should be used to it by now.
Without pausing, Josef seizes her by the broken wrist and pulls her closer. She bites back a scream.
JOSEF:
You're going to regret that.
His grip tightens on her wrist. Surprising everyone, Skinner suddenly erupts into motion. He turns on the terrorist beside him and slams him hard against the wall, knocking him out. With no hesitation he dives across the room toward Josef.
Franz brings up his weapon. Seeing this, Scully reaches for her second gun with her free hand and shoots Franz at point blank range. Momentarily stunned, Josef does not react as she wrenches herself from his grasp. She flings herself backward, landing on her broken wrist. As her vision blurs she does not see Skinner tackle Josef.
As Skinner and Josef hit the ground, Josef loses his grip on his gun and it skitters across the floor.
Josef regains his feet and tries to defend himself against the enraged Assistant Director, but he is beaten back under a flurry of blows. In desperation he draws his knife, slashing at Skinner's eyes. Skinner jerks back, blood from a gash above his eyebrow obscuring his vision while Josef kicks at his injured leg.
The ship lurches violently and Skinner's injured leg finally gives out. He falls to his knees. Josef drives the knife down toward him. Skinner throws himself aside, grunting under the impact as the knife sinks into his left shoulder. Skinner seizes Josef's wrist. As his grip tightens, their eyes meet. In one swift move the Assistant Director yanks the knife from his shoulder, reverses the blade, and stabs Josef in the throat. For a long moment, the terrorist does not move. Then, without a word, he falls lifelessly to the floor. Skinner climbs heavily to his feet.
SKINNER:
(Coldly) You should have shot me when you
had the chance.
* * *
THURSDAY EARLY MORNING
WASHINGTON D.C.
Mulder and Williams enter a brightly-lit, crowded room. Several high-ranking military officers and a number of unidentified men in suits are seated around a large table. Williams sits down at an empty chair, indicating Mulder take the chair opposite.
MAN IN SUIT:
What's he doing here? This is a breach in
security.
WILLIAMS:
I take full responsibility for him, Tremayne.
TREMAYNE:
I hope you know what you're doing.
WILLIAMS:
I think he can help.
MULDER:
Will you people stop talking about me as if I
weren't here?
AN ADMIRAL:
Let's get on with this. We just received this
message from the Odyssey.
MULDER:
Let me see that!
The admiral glances at Williams, who nods. Reluctantly he hands the paper over. Mulder reads it quickly.
MULDER:
Terrorists?
Williams reaches for the paper. Everyone waits silently while he reads it. Finally he looks up.
WILLIAMS:
Has this been confirmed?
TREMAYNE:
Yes. I presume Operation Cerberus is now
in effect?
MULDER:
What's Operation Cerberus?
WILLIAMS:
(Ignoring Mulder) Yes. We have no choice.
MULDER:
(Insistently) What's Operation Cerberus?
WILLIAMS:
(Pauses) It's our failsafe.
Williams tells Mulder about the bomb on board the Odyssey.
MULDER:
You can't. My partner's on that ship.
WILLIAMS:
We have to.
TREMAYNE:
(Breaks in) Time is running out, General. We
need to send the signal now.
MULDER:
You'll lose your cargo.
MAN IN SUIT:
It's already lost
MULDER:
I can't let you do this.
He reaches inside his coat for his gun, but freezes as several of the military personnnel draw their own weapons and train them on him. Carefully he eases his hand away from his coat.
WILLIAMS:
(Coldly) I told you not to presume too much, Mr.
Mulder. (To the Admiral) Send the signal.
MULDER:
No!
TO BE CONTINUED