8:00 PM

Gaining access hadn't been easy. Even though they had the building plans, they had still needed to get by a barbwire-topped fence and fifty yards of open ground in order to reach the building's side access. If the information they had were correct, they wouldn't encounter any live security. The Syndicate had relied too much on electronic security.

So far the first of the codes had worked. They had gained building access and had gone through two electronic doors, and passed two or three labs. They were headed down the last hallway before reaching the main computer room when Mulder stopped in front of one of the doors.

The door was unmarked, but beside it was a security monitor with a keyboard mounted below it. There was something about it that set the hair on the back of Mulder's neck a tingling. "Hold on, Scully. There's something about this set up that just says, 'I have something to show you.'"

"Mulder, we don't know how much time we have. Unlike you, braking into government facilities is not a favorite pass time for me." Scully whispered impatiently.

"The high risk adrenaline rush turning you on, Scully?" he asked smiling. "This will only take a moment."

Mulder took the key card he had and swiped it through the slot above the keyboard. A second later the monitor kicked on with two options: Video Access and Room Access. Mulder selected Video Access and watched as a new window opened and an image appeared on the screen. There, lying strapped to a table, was the woman they had met the other day at what had been left of the Granger residence. The woman that he suspected to be the missing Mrs. Granger, despite appearances. Mulder selected Room Access, and heard the electronic click as the lock to the door disengaged.

She wasn't surprised to see Mulder and Scully. She had wanted to make sure that if she were unable to help them get the information, they would have the means in which to acquire it on their own. However, they were in the wrong room. They should be in the computer room.

"Agent Mulder, did you get the information?" she said anxiously.

"Not yet. Let me get you out of this first." Mulder started to work on the straps as Scully stepped up and began to look Vesper over.

"Are you all right?" Scully asked.

Ignoring her question, Vesper directed her gaze at Mulder. "Mulder, you don't have the time to waste helping me," she said weakly. "I don't have the strength to keep up with you, and you don't have the time to do what you have to do and carry me."

"Sure we do," Mulder replied. He was trying to figure out the metal clamps, and made the assumption that they had magnetic locks. "I think I can disengage these from the terminal by the door."

"Mulder, stop." It was an order. Vesper shook off Scully's hand from her forehead, and looked Mulder directly in the eye. "The locks are set to alert security if they are ever disengaged. We would have only five minutes before they would be on top of us. Get the information you came for and go," she pleaded. "If you don't this will have all been for nothing." Vesper stared at him for a moment and saw it in his eyes. "I know what you're thinking, Mulder. I am not the person you think I am. I did my research on you and I know of your sister. I swear to you, I am not her."

"Then who are you?" This time it was Scully who spoke.

"There is no time for me to explain."

"You're right, so you better talk fast."

"Fine. I am an abomination to the human race. I'm not natural, a hybrid of human and alien DNA. I am you, Fox Mulder."

Both Mulder and Scully were shocked into silence and disbelief. It seemed like an eternity before Mulder made his decision. He turned back to the door and disengaged the locks. He came back in, tossed Scully the key card, and moved towards Vesper.

"Well, lets go. We have 5 minutes and counting." Knowing the sacrifice he was making he put his arm around Vesper's waist and hoisted her up putting her arm around his neck. Just as quickly they were out the door and making their way out of the facility.

***

He was watching them on the security monitor. Everything was going according to plan. When they had recaptured Vesper, he knew that there was a possibility that she had already made contact with Mulder. Getting him the access codes that she must have pried from that inept agent that was sent to watch her. Yet, instead of changing the codes, he knew it would be better to allow Mulder and Scully to gain access into the building.

He wanted them to gain confidence that they were on the right track. To be on the verge of gaining some much needed answers. That was why Vesper was strategically placed where she was. He knew that the temptation would be too much for Mulder to pass up. And the talk that he'd had with Vesper a few hours earlier; he knew what conclusions she would draw. That is why he knew Mulder would not leave her behind. He would, on his own, choose to save his 'sister' instead of accessing the Syndicates' computer systems.

So close to the answers, yet so far from getting them. She didn't have a clue that he was again allowing her escape. Two birds with one stone, he thought. Being out in the real world had done much to increase her potential. He wanted to see just how much further she could develop, and he would always be able to find her through her implant whenever he chose to check her progress. He was actually quite surprised that, with her power increase, she had not already detected it. We'll certainly have to keep a close eye on her, he thought.