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CHAPTER 15
System #2
The Syndicate had been discussing the results of the most recent negotiations when an urgent knock banged on the heavy double-doors of the conference room.
"Who in the world could that be?" the Well-Manicured Man echoed all the others' thoughts. One of the men set to guard the door glanced nervously at the man sitting to the right of the Well-Manicured Man.
That was C.G.B. Spender, looking like a human chimney as he puffed at his cigarette. Of course, the men guarding the door only dared to joke about that when they were absolutely certain he wasn't within earshot.
"See who it is," Spender nodded.
The man opened the door, and in burst a breathless Alex Krycek.
"What kind of a game are you people playing with me?" he snarled.
"For heaven's sake, sit down!" the Well-Manicured Man urged Krycek as he drew up a chair. Krycek threw himself down into the chair.
The other members of the Syndicate eagerly craned their heads toward Krycek, as though by watching his face they might discern his message. Finally, Krycek managed to get a hold of himself enough to speak.
"He's not dead, he won't die! The man won't die! Why didn't you tell me the man won't die?!"
"Who?" demanded Struckart, sitting directly across from Krycek.
"Doggett! We killed him . . . He's back . . . What's going on?! Tell me, now!"
"Slow down," soothed the Well-Manicured Man. "I assure you, we're not trying to trick you. We've no idea what you're talking about."
"We sent you to kill Doggett," C.G.B. Spender said flatly. "Did you succeed or fail?"
"Neither, both, I don't know!" Krycek raged. "We shot to kill. We made his wife think it was an accident, and we'd just been trying to keep her safe. We had his body there, and then . . . then Sam stopped by . . . and he was there with her! Walking, talking, alive! We didn't understand, but we tried to kill them, anyway, and . . . Well, they both escaped," and with this, Krycek took a video out of an inside coatpocket and tossed the video on the table before them all, "but after that, we still had Doggett's dead body, right in the same place we'd left it! Same wound to the head, everything!"
A silence.
"So, you're saying there were *two*?" a man sitting at the left end of the table asked quietly.
"Yes!"
The man frowned. "That explains a few things."
"Alex," the Well-Manicured Man explained, "there was another breach in the gaps this evening. That may be why you saw two Doggetts."
"You mean . . . The Doggett that's alive crossed over from another system?" Krycek asked, horrified.
The Well-Manicured Man nodded.
"Now, Samantha Mulder has proof--living, breathing proof--to support her claims," Spender added. "If we cannot eliminate him, he will be the destruction of us all."
Krycek nodded grimly. "I know what to do."
Spender smirked as Krycek rose to leave.
Just before Krycek got to the door, Spender called, "Oh, and Alex?"
Krycek turned to Spender.
"Do whatever you must. Leave nobody unchecked--associates, friends, family- -whatever it takes to end this."
Krycek gave a sharp nod, then turned and left.
**************************************************************************** ************************************
Uh-oh! What's in store for Sam and Doggett now? Log-on next time to find out, and in the meantime, (yep, you guessed it!) please remember to review. Thank you! :)
CHAPTER 15
System #2
The Syndicate had been discussing the results of the most recent negotiations when an urgent knock banged on the heavy double-doors of the conference room.
"Who in the world could that be?" the Well-Manicured Man echoed all the others' thoughts. One of the men set to guard the door glanced nervously at the man sitting to the right of the Well-Manicured Man.
That was C.G.B. Spender, looking like a human chimney as he puffed at his cigarette. Of course, the men guarding the door only dared to joke about that when they were absolutely certain he wasn't within earshot.
"See who it is," Spender nodded.
The man opened the door, and in burst a breathless Alex Krycek.
"What kind of a game are you people playing with me?" he snarled.
"For heaven's sake, sit down!" the Well-Manicured Man urged Krycek as he drew up a chair. Krycek threw himself down into the chair.
The other members of the Syndicate eagerly craned their heads toward Krycek, as though by watching his face they might discern his message. Finally, Krycek managed to get a hold of himself enough to speak.
"He's not dead, he won't die! The man won't die! Why didn't you tell me the man won't die?!"
"Who?" demanded Struckart, sitting directly across from Krycek.
"Doggett! We killed him . . . He's back . . . What's going on?! Tell me, now!"
"Slow down," soothed the Well-Manicured Man. "I assure you, we're not trying to trick you. We've no idea what you're talking about."
"We sent you to kill Doggett," C.G.B. Spender said flatly. "Did you succeed or fail?"
"Neither, both, I don't know!" Krycek raged. "We shot to kill. We made his wife think it was an accident, and we'd just been trying to keep her safe. We had his body there, and then . . . then Sam stopped by . . . and he was there with her! Walking, talking, alive! We didn't understand, but we tried to kill them, anyway, and . . . Well, they both escaped," and with this, Krycek took a video out of an inside coatpocket and tossed the video on the table before them all, "but after that, we still had Doggett's dead body, right in the same place we'd left it! Same wound to the head, everything!"
A silence.
"So, you're saying there were *two*?" a man sitting at the left end of the table asked quietly.
"Yes!"
The man frowned. "That explains a few things."
"Alex," the Well-Manicured Man explained, "there was another breach in the gaps this evening. That may be why you saw two Doggetts."
"You mean . . . The Doggett that's alive crossed over from another system?" Krycek asked, horrified.
The Well-Manicured Man nodded.
"Now, Samantha Mulder has proof--living, breathing proof--to support her claims," Spender added. "If we cannot eliminate him, he will be the destruction of us all."
Krycek nodded grimly. "I know what to do."
Spender smirked as Krycek rose to leave.
Just before Krycek got to the door, Spender called, "Oh, and Alex?"
Krycek turned to Spender.
"Do whatever you must. Leave nobody unchecked--associates, friends, family- -whatever it takes to end this."
Krycek gave a sharp nod, then turned and left.
**************************************************************************** ************************************
Uh-oh! What's in store for Sam and Doggett now? Log-on next time to find out, and in the meantime, (yep, you guessed it!) please remember to review. Thank you! :)
