18.
10.25am
Scully answered her ringing office telephone, hoping that it was Mulder with good news. It wasn't.
"You're needed in the Main Staff Lounge." Carolyn said softly "Something about that Australian Ambassador demanding a visit this afternoon."
"Thanks. I'll head down there now."
Scully hung up. She hated impromptu visits from dignitaries. They always managed to throw her no matter what the questioning. She knew she had to impress any visitor just in case they were a) wealthy and b) going to send their child to the University.
'Money, money, money' she thought 'you could throw a little more my way.'
It would never happen but she lived in hope of a pay rise.
At least she had worn the black skirt suit and white blouse. She was, for once, presentable. Sometimes she would dress in jeans and a top. It wasn't as if she had to dress in the suits. She had been so accustomed to it during her FBI career that she had carried it through to now.
Her heels clicked along the abandoned corridors as she made her way to the Lounge. 'Smile' she thought 'even though you don't want to.'
Opening the door she couldn't believe that most of the staff were held in the room. It was big but it was ridiculous to cram so many people in there. It was a fire hazard at the very least and claustrophobic at the worst. Scully looked around for someone she could talk to in meaningless chatter. She saw her department Dean heading her way and groaned inwards. Dean Danielle Copeland was a cross between the old British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher and a pit bull terrier only Margaret Thatcher had a nicer bite!
She was blonde, 5'6 and wouldn't let go if she had her teeth into something and right now Scully had the strange feeling that Dean Copeland had her teeth sunk deeply in her!
"Dana, Dana, Can I have a word?" Scully's face drained of colour she knew that she was not going to like this one bit!
"Dean Copeland." Scully said turning and smiling her 'I'm grinning and bearing it' smile
"As you are very much aware the Australian Ambassador is visiting later today. He wants to view the Forensic and Biology Labs, would you be so kind as to show him around? Unfortunately there are exam boards that I must attend and well… the other faculty members are all teaching this afternoon."
"If you are sure?"
"Would I ask, if I was not 100% sure?"
"I guess not. What time?"
"1.30pm. He'll be arriving at the front office. Meet him there and be prompt, he is a stickler for punctuality, by all accounts."
"Yes. Certainly." Scully was shocked at the suggestion she may be late. The university had yet to see her not be punctual for any class or meeting. One thing you had to learn in the FBI was to be on time, even if Mulder hadn't quite grasped that concept. Dean Copeland turned and gave a thumbs-up above her head. Scully soon found out exactly what it had meant.
The Dean of the University addressed the meeting and explained how the fiery redhead, Dana Scully, would be escorting the Ambassador around the University because he had expressed a keen desire in the Forensic and Biology departments. Scully felt the warmth of a blush flush across her cheeks and from the stares she was receiving her face had turned the colour of a beetroot.
The meeting closed after a short while with many of Scully's peers offering their consolations and words of advice. Most were glad not to have the job of escorting the dignitary around the University and be under the pressure to perform. Scully, however felt that she needed the challenge.
1.20pm
Smoothing her skirt over her hips Scully wondered if she really looked right for showing around the Ambassador. This was not the time to have nerves. Mulder had not called nor had he met her for lunch and right now she needed him to tell her she would be fine. She had eventually telephoned him only to find out that he and Skinner were still discussing his trial details. Lunch was not on the menu, today, at least. Scully had settled for a sandwich with Carolyn but dreamt of having dessert with Mulder later. Scully sped walked to the main entrance to arrive just as the Ambassador's Limousine pulled up outside. Scully sighed with relief… She was never late!
#1 was settled into the back of his Limousine driving along the road leading to the University. He didn't let it be shown but he was nervous of meeting Ms Scully later that day. She was THE ONE who could save or destroy his family and he hoped she would choose the former. She really didn't have a choice. The plan was perfect. Nothing could make it fail, absolutely nothing. Drawing up outside of the stone building he took a deep breath. 'Let the games begin' he thought as the driver opened his door. His mouth almost hit the floor as he saw whom the University had sent to show him around. It couldn't have been more perfect had this been a part of his plan.
Had Scully paid more attention, to the situation rather than her nerves, she would have noticed that every guard, the driver and even the girl on the Ambassador's arm had a distortion to their neck bone. It was the obvious sign of being an Alien hybrid or Alien in form. Scully's nerves had surfaced as soon as the car stopped in front of the University steps. She had graciously walked down to greet him and shake his hand. She wasn't sure whose were more clammy, hers or his.
As they walked around the various buildings, Scully couldn't help but find the Ambassador interesting. He had developed a keen interest in biology since hearing about the potential for cloning organs to save patients with organ failure. Scully knew very little about the process and had honestly admitted this to him. She didn't want to lie to him just in case he asked her a question that she would not be able to answer. He had set her at ease letting slip that all he knew was what had been downloaded from various Internet websites. They had both laughed at this, an uneasy laugh. Scully felt that something was not quite right. She couldn't place why. This man was not all he seemed but she did feel that she could trust him.
#1 couldn't believe how easy it was. Scully had opened up to him. She had confessed her lack of knowledge about cloning. He didn't believe that, he had evidence to the contrary, later he would question her. For now he kept it light and friendly bluffing his interests here and there. #3791 had provided the perfect touch, a woman upon his arm made everything relaxed. #3791 was acting as the potential student. She was trying to be the niece of the Ambassador when in reality they were brother and sister but with a twenty-year age gap. She could act fascinated with the equipment because she genuinely was… she would soon be training to use the tools she saw in the laboratories.
