"Modell, I thought you said it was winner takes all."
"Yes. That hasn't changed."
"Well, what's the game? Arm wrestling? Shoot some hoops, Checkers?
"Don't be an ass Mulder. That's for the Neanderthalic masses. Brute strength, or a little luck, or some basic math skills? Bla. How beneath us that would be."
"Here's your chance to challenge the most evolved mind on the planet."
"Insanity is an evolutionary advantage? Since when? Chemical enhancements do not an evolution make."
Byers locked in on the voices. There was still a chance. Just need to get close enough, before Pusher could stop him.
Pusher was sounding very cranked up. Byers allowed himself a grin, good, Mulder was trying to get him tired.
"How foolish of me " Pusher realized how much the last few minutes of arguing had drained him. " to think you could keep up with my mind."
"Come here both of you join me in a drink before we continue."
They couldn't refuse, as their bodies walked toward the table the bottle and cups sat on. They both fought the movement, trying to drain him further.
"Kneel" Pusher barked, he placed a cup in front of each of them and proceeds to pour the dark amber liquid from the bottle.
"Come now, its not that bad. This is a favorite drink of mine."
Mulder and Scully sat less than four feet apart across from each other. Trying to tune Modell out. But he was there right in their brains. At level 10 plus.
" I know a toast. A toast to a new world with new beginnings." Modell had walk round the table to kneel next to Scully.
He reached out the back of his hand and gently caressed her cheek. " New friendships" He smiled. Her eyes were ablaze, that same hate was there.
" I haven't seen that look since the hospital. I think I kind of missed it."
Snapping a look to Mulder "I think she might have a few other interesting expressions I'd love to see, I think you know."
"Modell... I will kill you with my bare hands. "Mulder fought with all his will to stand.
"Don't think so.... A toast. A toast of I win you lose. Drink up!"
It was now or never. Byers was as close as he could get. He had to make sure he was close enough. He burst from his hiding place in a dead run echoing footfalls as he was shorting the gap between him and the agents.
Pusher let him advance. Stepping away from the table and closer to the approaching figure.
With two swift moves of his right arm Modell released two shrukras that landed center mass and stopped Byers in his tracks.
Looking down at his chest, the two metal pieces were imbedded and the blood was seeping across his midsection.
It hurt, it hurt bad, and things were starting to spin. Fighting the blackness that wanted to engulf him back, he delivered what he had come to do.
He yelled "Rosebud."