Part 31
"Lone Gunmen!", Langly answers the phone.
"This is Assistant Director Walter Skinner.....Agents Mulder and Scully's supervisor. I need to know their whereabouts and I better warn you that if you refuse to answer you are subject to a federal prosecution for obstructing the truth", replies Skinner.
"I know my rights", says Langly turning to Byers and Frohike who are working on a surveillance prototype. "How did you get this number?"
"I work for the FBI.....get a clue", replies Skinner disgusted.
"And I'm supposed to trust you?", asks Langly.
"I wondered why you guys were best friends of Mulder's", says Skinner sarcastically.
"Hey did he really say that?", asks Langly. "Hey guys Mulder's boss just said that Mulder regards us as his best friends."
"I didn't think that Mulder had any friends. I wouldn't trust him", says Frohike getting off of a stool and walking over to the phone. He grabs the phone from Langly. "What do you want AD? You trying to shut down our paper again because we're too close to finding our the real facts that the government has been hiding for years?"
"What? I don't know what you're talking about", says Skinner. "Wheres Mulder?"
"As if we would tell you.....you starch collared G-Man", replies Frohike.
"What does he want to know?", asks Byers finally getting up and walking over to join his comrades.
"He wants to know where Mulder is", replies Langly.
"Give me the phone....he may be in trouble", says Byers grabbing the phone from Frohike.
"Mr. Skinner, this is John Byers. I apologize for Melvin and Ringo's attitudes, they're just a little suspicious of government employees." He turns to look at his friends and they glare at him.
"Why did you have to go and give him our full names? Now he is probably going to pull up everything on us", says Frohike.
"I'm glad to hear that at least one of you is partially sane", replies Skinner. "Let me at least explain to you why I need to find Mulder. I am looking into a big case that involves government security. I can't really go into the details, but I need to talk to Mulder ASAP. The problem is he apparently put in a sudden vacation request and I have no idea where he went", explains Skinner.
"Have you tried the airlines yet?", asks Byers.
"No, I really didn't want to have to go to that extreme yet. The information that I hold in my hands is highly classified. I don't know who is working against me yet and I don't want to raise any flags by putting in an official investigation to the whereabouts of Mulder. Any database searches of the airlines may lead to more danger for him. My hands are tied and I'm frustrated as hell. I was hoping he may have mentioned to you where he had gone."
"No, I'm sorry Sir he didn't. I would think your best bet would be Agent Scully. He doesn't always tell her where he is going, but if its really only a vacation he has gone on he may have told her where he is going. Besides, someone has to feed his fish", replies Byers.
"Thats just it. I shouldn't be leaking this out to an outsider but when Agent Mulder submitted his vacation request form he also submitted an identical one for Agent Scully. The only problem is that it wasn't legit. He forged her signature and although I don't think he forced her to go on one of his "missions" unwillingly I believe he may have falsely misled her on the nature of the case. There is a handful of locations that I think they may have gone to, but I can't do anything. I'm being watched....closely", replies Skinner. He sighs as he thinks of the visits that CSM and Krychek had made just that morning.
"So Agent Scully is missing too? Um, Sir you don't think that maybe they are really on vacation and they don't want to be found do you?", asks Byers.
"That hadn't really occurred to me", says Skinner. "No, I don't think so. We're talking about Mulder here."
"Dana did not go on vacation with Mulder", interrupts Frohike. "She promised to go to Aruba with me this winter!"
"Nice try Frohike", says Langly. "But no one believes you."
"And why wouldn't anyone believe that the magnificent Agent Scully wouldn't be interested in Melvin Frohike?", questions Frohike.
"Look in the mirror", replies Langly. The two continue to argue in the background while Byers continues to talk to Skinner.
"Truthfully Sir we don't have any idea where Mulder could be at the moment, however we are quite willing to work with you.....you alone on finding his and Scully's whereabouts. However, I must ask that you don't call this phone number again. We'll call you."
"Thats fine. Here is my private line 999-555-3434. I have it checked daily for bugs and if you're successful I can promise that you will somehow be rewarded for your service to the FBI", replies Skinner.
"Thats kind of you Sir, but we are only three men looking for the truth and we don't have any need for a reward", says Byers as he turns to look again at his friends who have immediately stopped arguing after hearing the word "reward" mentioned.
"Reward? What kind of reward?", asks Langly as the two of them rush Byers at the phone.
"If we find Mulder before you can...will you make us honorary agents?", asks Frohike pulling the phone from Byers.
"Ah, no", replies Skinner amusingly.
"Okay, what kind of reward? Money? Car? Travel voucher?", asks Frohike.
"Ah, I was thinking more along the lines of free headquarters tour tickets", replies Skinner.
"Free tour tickets? Thats it? We've already been inside numerous times", says Frohike. "Your employee gym is spectacular."
"Thats not on the tour", says Skinner confused.
"Never mind.......ah we'll take it", says Frohike. "We'll call you when we think we know where Mulder.....and Dana are." He hangs up the phone.
"It sounds like Mulder and Scully could be in some hot water", says Langly. "Where shall we start?"
"Where does Mulder do most of his research?", asks Byers.
"The Internet", replies Frohike.
"Well I guess thats where we start. Grab the computer kit and we're heading to Apartment #42", says Byers walking toward the door. He opens it and turns to wait for Frohike and Langly who gather computer tools and manuals together. Finally they're ready.
"Do you know his password", asks Langly.
"No", replies Byers.
"Its probably something easy like Samantha", says Frohike as they close the door.
Part 32
"Mulder the view is beautiful up here", says Scully as the agents finally reach the top of the volcano that they had been climbing for a couple of hours.
"It is Scully. You can see the entire parameter of the island from up here. Including the pond which we never found." He turns and looks in the opposite direction. "What the hell is that?!"
Scully turns and follows his gaze. She sees a large three story building out in the middle of the jungle. "Looks like this island is not as remote as we once thought", she says. "What could be going on out here?"
"I don't know, but I suddenly lost my interest in the volcano", says Mulder heading back to where they had just ascended.
"Mulder, I hate to keep being a damper on your parade but its already two o'clock and by the time we get down to the bottom and over to that building its going to be dark."
"But thats the best time to investigate it Scully. In the dark. Did you bring any black with you?"
"No I didn't. I didn't plan on being involved in "Mission Impossible" ", replies Scully sarcastically. "Mulder, there is more to this island than you're letting on isn't there?" Mulder looks away and scuffs the ground with his foot. "What is it that you're not telling me.....Mulder?"
Mulder deeply exhales and turns to look at her. "I wanted to come to this island strictly for the lost tribe myth Scully. Really." He gives her a pleading look. "I will have to admit that yes.....I knew that near this island there is another one called Kahoolawe that is uninhabited and only used supposedly for target practice for the US Navy and Air Force. No one is allowed on the island and I knew there wasn't really a way of getting there. No chartered flight would be willing to chance taking us there, but I never expected something like this." He motions toward the building. "I would *never* lie to you Scully. You have to believe me, because no one else will."
"Great...thats just great. Here we are on an island with a bunch of headhunter or cannibal tribesmen, no available communication with the mainland and I now find out that we've stumbled upon something that I can only assume involves your conspiracy theory?", says Scully shaking her head. "When is this going to end Mulder? I thought we were on a case that didn't involve any of this. Are you telling me that ....."
"There is a chance that this island has been used for research on extraterrestrials and the very crater of the volcano we are standing on may have been formed by their ship taking off Scully", replies Mulder.
Scully rolls her eyes. "Mulder, I can't accept that........"
"Scully, just think about what happened in Antarctica. What if what occurred wasn't the first time. That spaceship came up out of the ice and caused a huge crater. I saw it and you would have to if you had wanted to." He turns away in frustration.
"Mulder, I was practically unconscious and you're going to blame me because I didn't see something that you supposedly did? I know you saved me, but must you always try to make me feel moronic by saying that I didn't want to see it?", yells Scully.
"Are you telling me that you don't remember what happened after that bee stung you? That you don't remember being transported from Alexandria....my apartment building to Antarctica? Well I'll tell you what happened. You were stung in the hallway of my building as I was about to kiss you, but we'll forget that happened as we did for two years. You were then flown to Antarctica where you were stripped of your clothes and submerged into a tank of fluid of questionable origins. A feeding tube was then inserted into your mouth and you became the host of an extraterrestrial fetus. Yes....I said it. You were being fed off of by an alien Scully. I was given the miraculous opportunity of acquiring the antidote and I headed to Antarctica despite being shot in the head and followed by numerous men sent to stop me."
"Mulder, please stop......"
"No! I won't stop! Once at the appropriate coordinates I fell down a shaft and hit my head again and despite my convictions of what I was doing I crawled down a hole the size of a beach ball to find you, not knowing where I was going or if I was coming back. I fell again when I finally reached the depths of the ship and right after that thats when I found the container that you had been shipped in. Your clothes and your cross were there and thats when I knew that we were in real trouble."
"Mulder...I know what you did", continues Scully trying to interrupt him once more.
"There were thousands of victims Scully...all of them hosts to an alien race destined to be the army sent to take over our planet. As I walked down those aisles looking in each pod....my only thought was, 'My God what if I can't find her. What if I'm too late.' When I did find you it was a mixture of joy and absolute horror. I thought you were dead. Do you know how that made me feel?! I found an oxygen tank and slammed it until finally the containment unit that you were in broke and liquid flowed out. I administered the shot and the antidote flowed into the system contaminating the entire project. Even though it was only seconds it seemed years and you woke up. You said that you were 'cold..so cold' and I got you out of there. I wrapped your naked body in some of the clothes that I peeled off of myself and then together we got out of there. Don't forget that you stopped breathing and I had to stop to breathe life back into your body. Can you honestly say that when you awoke you didn't see all those aliens breaking out of the containment units?!"
"Mulder I only saw you when I awoke", says Scully gently as she takes his hand.
"Scully after I pushed you into that pipe to crawl to the surface....one grabbed me by the damn leg! I may not have made it out alive...how would you have explained that? Why do you think I wouldn't let you fall face down in the ice? The whole tundra was breaking apart because the damn spaceship was taking off and it came up out of the ice and flew over our heads. How can you be so blind to something that is so clear to me?"
Scully sadly bites her lip. "Because I'm afraid to believe Mulder. I'm afraid of what the future holds if what you say is true."
"Then help me prevent it from happening Scully. Thats all I ask. We've come this far and this is not just my quest anymore. Its ours and I meant it when I said I couldn't do this alone", says Mulder squeezing her hand.
Scully nods. "You're right. You're absolutely right. I didn't look because of my fear of what knowing the truth would do to me and all it did was distance myself from what we've been trying to find out for seven years. I'm sorry Mulder, I do believe there is something out there. How couldn't I? After seeing everything that I did in Africa I would be a hypocrite for denying what I have seen."
Mulder gives her a small smile and they start to descend the rocks. Twenty minutes later Scully grabs Mulder's arm and points to a large boulder. On it is some carvings that look eerily familiar. As Mulder looks on them he grabs his forehead and cringes in pain.
Part 33
"Oh no you don't. We're not having a repeat performance", says Scully pulling him down the side of the volcano as Mulder cries out in anguish.
"Sculleeee!", he screams.
"I'm right here Mulder. I'm not leaving you, but we've got to get away from those carvings. I think they are having the same effect on you as those rubbings from the craft in Africa", she puts her arm around his shoulders as he bends over.
"I think I'm going to black out", mumbles Mulder.
"No you're not if I have anything to say about it", says Scully helping to the next rock and the next. Finally after ten minutes the pain has subsided and he can walk normally again.
"Man, I never thought I was going to have to deal with that ever again", says Mulder running a hand through his hair and looking up towards the ledge that had caused such a havoc in his brain. He turns to see Scully staring at the ground. Shes biting her lip and what looks suspiciously like a tear falls from the corner of her eye."
"Scully...you're crying", says Mulder approaching her and wiping away her tear. She swats his hand away.
"No, I'm not. I just got some dust in my eye thats all", says Scully wiping her eyes off. She glances at Mulder who has an amused expression on his face.
"Okay, I am crying. Satisfied now?", says Scully cracking a smile.
"Step one....admitting you have a problem in saying that you do cry sometimes", says Mulder. "Next step is admitting why you were crying."
"I was crying because I don't know what I would have done if you had gone into that catatonic state that you were in when I saw you in the hospital. There was no hint of recognition and you just lay there like a vegetable. I didn't even know if you knew who I was or even if I was there", sniffs Scully.
"I knew you were there and as long as we stay away from any carvings I am going to be just fine. Oh, no I sound like you the more I hang around you", jokes Mulder.
"That'll be the day", replies Scully as she lowers herself over another boulder.
After another hour the agents have reached the base of the volcano and then head toward the direction of the building that they had seen. By the time they reach it its after five o'clock and it is getting dark. Using flashlights they cautiously approach the chain link fence surrounding the building. Scully turns to Mulder.
"It doesn't look like anyone is using it."
"It does look abandoned. I wonder if the project is over that was going on here....or for some reason was never completed", replies Mulder examining the lock on the nearby gate. He pulls out his pocket knife and starts picking it. After a few twists there is a popping sound. Mulder gives Scully a gratified look. "My sister's diary gave me good practice." Scully chuckles as he removes the lock and pushes the gate open. "You armed?", he asks.
"Need you ask?", replies Scully pulling out her gun.
"My kinda girl", says Mulder pulling out his own gun and leading them through the gate. There is no light illuminating from either the building or any other light source surrounding the building so the agents are forced to use the moonlight and their own sense of direction in finding their way. As they reach the building the agents become more and more cautious. Suddenly Mulder falls face first down a flight of concrete steps. He lands on his back with Scully sprawled on top of him.
"Ahhhh.....this isn't quite what happens in my dream", moans Mulder as he struggles to raise his head. He drops his head back on the ground as Scully scrambles to her knees.
"Mulder, are you all right?", she asks with concern.
"I think so. Give me a minute to catch my breath. I don't think anything is broken, my a** broke my fall." Scully smiles but brushes the hair off his forehead.
"Can you sit up?", asks Scully.
"Yeah, but not without pain", replies Mulder slowly rising to a sitting position. Scully reaches into the pocket of her jeans and pulls out her flashlight. She flips it on and scans the surroundings.
"Where the hell are we and where did my gun land?", asks Mulder.
"I think this is just a flight of stairs that leads down into the basement of the building and here is your gun", she says as she hands it to him.
"Thank God headquarters has an elevator, otherwise this would be happening more often", jokes Mulder slowly getting to his feet with Scully's assistance.
"Yeah then you'd be out on disability and that would make one too many people happy", says Scully leaning down and picking up her own gun. She approaches a door and turns the knob. She is not surprised to find it locked. "Hey Mulder, give me your pocket knife." He limps over to stand behind her and hands it to her. After a few twists the door pops open. "I guess practicing on that bottom drawer of your desk helped a lot", she says as she walks through that door.
"Whatever you found in that drawer is not mine", replies Mulder following her.
A musty smell meets them as they enter the building. It proves to be a modern facility bearing numerous offices with computer equipment. Further exploration reveals laboratories and autopsy bays. Whatever had been going on here had been put on hold. Desks and laboratory equipment are covered with plastic coverings. Despite the state of the facility emergency lighting glows eerily along the corridors.
"Leave it to the government to leave the lights on and expect us to pay the bill", says Mulder as they wander through a laboratory.
"This operation has definitely been put on hold for a while", says Scully tracing a finger through the thick dust on top of a tarp covering a microscope.
"Its like they just abandoned the project.....whatever it was", replies Mulder walking through another door and shining his flashlight around. "Hey Scully, look at this." Scully follows the sound of his voice and finds him standing next to the door of a deep freezer. "What could they be hiding in here?"
"Maybe it was just used for food storage Mulder, besides I'm sure its not even running with no working here", says Scully walking up beside him.
"Don't be so sure", says Mulder pulling on the handle. Immediately the door swoops open and a blast of cold air shoots out. Scully gives a doubtful look at Mulder as he holds the door open for her as she enters the freezer.
"What do you see?", he asks her as she flashes her flashlight inside.
She turns to him and gives him a wide eyed look. "I'm not sure what I'm looking at Mulder, but its definitely not fish sticks."
Part 34
"What is it?", asks Mulder walking in behind her and gazing around. The door shuts loudly behind him. Scully glances at the door and the agents look at each other before Scully continues.
"It looks like storage for a contagion and a highly toxic one at that", says Scully pointing to a large barrel-like containers with spouts. "The government is most likely storing biological waste......illegally."
"Or the virus", says Mulder approaching one of the containers and shining his light on it as he kneels down to read the wording on it.
"Mulder, they aren't storing anything viral here. Viruses cannot survive cold temperatures and don't say it......don't say it.......", warns Scully.
"There is a possibility it could be extraterrestrial", finishes Mulder.
"Why do I bother?", asks Scully to herself. "Mulder, don't turn that valve! What are you doing?"
"I wasn't going to turn it Scully. I was only tightening it", says Mulder. "What do I look like...stupid?" Scully turns and walks several feet shining the light at the ceiling.
"Mulder, I did not say you were stupid. I'm just not comfortable standing here in a room with those containers that could have potential leaks in them. Until we know what they are I think we should just leave them alone and make a note of them to include them in our report."
"So they can just disappear forever?", asks Mulder.
"Mulder, they're here in the middle of nowhere. They won't go anyplace over the next couple of days, I assure you", replies Scully.
"I think we should take one with us", replies Mulder. "We can bring it back to the bio lab at the office in Honolulu and see what is in this little baby", says Mulder tapping the top of one.
"I don't think that would be a good idea Mulder. We don't know what factor temperature makes on the state of this matter and besides like I said before we don't know if the container has a leak ready to sprout", replies Scully nervously watching Mulder tap his flashlight on the barrel.
"I don't think it should be a problem Scully if we're careful. It says on the container that it can be stored at extremely high and cold temperatures." He kneels again and tilts it to feel the weight. "Its not that heavy Scully. With the two of us we should be able to get it out of here. Actually maybe we could go back and get that cart you convinced me to buy. It would be a lot easier to carry."
"Mulder I am not touching that barrel. Do you understand me? As a medical doctor I'm warning you. You don't know what could be in that barrel. There could be any biological matter such as waste or weapons inside. There could be a plague virus or a......."
"Alien virus", supplies Mulder.
Scully sighs. "Okay perhaps an alien virus inside. We've both been infected by that virus before. Do we really want to risk catching it again?"
"Actually Scully I think we're both immune to it. I was exposed to it in Tunguska and you've been exposed to it twice. Once when you were abducted and once in Antarctica. Our DNA has been permanently altered by the exposure and the antidote given to you probably has created an immunity. Don't all of those factors lead to the assumption that we are immune to it?", rambles on Mulder.
"Mulder, we don't know what is in that barrel and I'm not touching it. Matter of fact if you touch it.....I'll never speak to you again", says Scully approaching the door and pulling the handle. It doesn't move. She turns around to face him with a wide eyed look.
"What?", asks Mulder still kneeling.
"We're locked in Mulder", replies Scully.
"Nice try Scully I'm not falling for that this time", says Mulder getting up and approaching the door.
"I'm not kidding Mulder.....not this time", replies Scully as Mulder takes hold of the handle and gives a tug. It doesn't budge.
"Damn it! We're locked in!", yells Mulder pounding the door with his fist and kicking it.
"How observant we are", replies Scully smugly.
Mulder kicks the door once again and suddenly there is a sound behind them. One of the barrels has fallen over. The two agents look at each other and then to the barrel again. From the spout leaks a steady stream of what looks like the black oil.
"Nice move Mulder", says Scully.
Part 35
"Did I do that?", asks Mulder staring at the black oil that has seeped from the barrel.
"No Elvis did....you missed it when you were busy kicking the door down", replies Scully backing away from the oil which has now separated and is actively moving across the floor towards them. "Now quit gaping at it Mulder and figure a way to get us out of here", yells Scully keeping the oil illuminated with her flashlight.
"There is no way we're going through this door Scully and I don't have any tools to take it off the hinges. What I would give for a blowtorch right now." He glances over his shoulder at the oil that is crawling towards them. He scans their surroundings. "I've got it. There is a vent up there, come on." He grabs Scully]s hand and pulls her away from the door and over next to some shelving. Using the shelves as steps he climbs up. Lying down he reaches down to Scully who grabs his hand. The black oil has creeped up and is just touching her shoe.
"Its on me Mulder", she says panicked.
"Lose the shoe Scully", yells Mulder.
She kicks off her sneaker and climbs up the shelves until she is sitting beside him. She tosses the other sneaker to the ground where the oil has engulfed the other one.
"We don't have much time", says Mulder glancing down and seeing the oil slowly climbing up the frame. He reaches up and pushes on the screen of the vent. "Damn it, its screwed in place!" He reaches in his pocket for his pocket knife which he then opens and starts to frantically unscrew each of the tiny six screws. "Whats happening down there Scully?", he asks her.
"They're about three shelves away Mulder', says Scully.
"Three more to go", says Mulder. "Try to keep that light on this so I can see. Two more....thats it. Damn!", says Mulder as he drops the pocket knife and the sound of metal hitting metal as the knife falls to the floor. He grabs the vent with both hands and yanks it. It snaps and he throws it to the ground.
"Its only one shelf away Mulder", says Scully. He reaches up into the vent and pulls himself up and then reaches down for Scully. She again grabs his hand and gets pulled up into the vent where he gives her a quick embrace before he reaches for her flashlight.
"Okay, now we've got to find our way out of here before that stuff starts to climb into the ceiling", says Mulder as he crawls through the ductwork. Scully follows along sneezing the entire way.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing? Maybe I should lead", says Scully.
"Have a little confidence in me Scully", says Mulder.
"I do, but I need air", coughs Scully. Mulder nods and then turns left and then right. Finally an outside vent appears. Mulder puts the flashlight in his mouth and kicks the vent with both feet. After a couple of tries the vent cover flies off and he drops to the ground. Scully sticks her feet out.
"Watch out below", says Scully as she jumps. Mulder catches her and then they turn and run away from the building. "Keep that flashlight on the path Mulder. I am not prepared to step on anything", says Scully.
Mulder turns to look at her. "You want me to carry you?"
"No I do not need to be carried Mulder", replies Scully firmly.
Half an hour later: "Mulder, how much farther", asks Scully biting her lip. She has already stepped on several rocks and what feels like a splinter has now reached the point of extreme pain.
"Not far, probably another half mile", replies Mulder stopping to look at her. His eyes gaze down at her sock clad feet.
"Mulder........", says Scully softly.
"I've got ya", says Mulder picking her up and carrying her back toward the cave.
"Lone Gunmen!", Langly answers the phone.
"This is Assistant Director Walter Skinner.....Agents Mulder and Scully's supervisor. I need to know their whereabouts and I better warn you that if you refuse to answer you are subject to a federal prosecution for obstructing the truth", replies Skinner.
"I know my rights", says Langly turning to Byers and Frohike who are working on a surveillance prototype. "How did you get this number?"
"I work for the FBI.....get a clue", replies Skinner disgusted.
"And I'm supposed to trust you?", asks Langly.
"I wondered why you guys were best friends of Mulder's", says Skinner sarcastically.
"Hey did he really say that?", asks Langly. "Hey guys Mulder's boss just said that Mulder regards us as his best friends."
"I didn't think that Mulder had any friends. I wouldn't trust him", says Frohike getting off of a stool and walking over to the phone. He grabs the phone from Langly. "What do you want AD? You trying to shut down our paper again because we're too close to finding our the real facts that the government has been hiding for years?"
"What? I don't know what you're talking about", says Skinner. "Wheres Mulder?"
"As if we would tell you.....you starch collared G-Man", replies Frohike.
"What does he want to know?", asks Byers finally getting up and walking over to join his comrades.
"He wants to know where Mulder is", replies Langly.
"Give me the phone....he may be in trouble", says Byers grabbing the phone from Frohike.
"Mr. Skinner, this is John Byers. I apologize for Melvin and Ringo's attitudes, they're just a little suspicious of government employees." He turns to look at his friends and they glare at him.
"Why did you have to go and give him our full names? Now he is probably going to pull up everything on us", says Frohike.
"I'm glad to hear that at least one of you is partially sane", replies Skinner. "Let me at least explain to you why I need to find Mulder. I am looking into a big case that involves government security. I can't really go into the details, but I need to talk to Mulder ASAP. The problem is he apparently put in a sudden vacation request and I have no idea where he went", explains Skinner.
"Have you tried the airlines yet?", asks Byers.
"No, I really didn't want to have to go to that extreme yet. The information that I hold in my hands is highly classified. I don't know who is working against me yet and I don't want to raise any flags by putting in an official investigation to the whereabouts of Mulder. Any database searches of the airlines may lead to more danger for him. My hands are tied and I'm frustrated as hell. I was hoping he may have mentioned to you where he had gone."
"No, I'm sorry Sir he didn't. I would think your best bet would be Agent Scully. He doesn't always tell her where he is going, but if its really only a vacation he has gone on he may have told her where he is going. Besides, someone has to feed his fish", replies Byers.
"Thats just it. I shouldn't be leaking this out to an outsider but when Agent Mulder submitted his vacation request form he also submitted an identical one for Agent Scully. The only problem is that it wasn't legit. He forged her signature and although I don't think he forced her to go on one of his "missions" unwillingly I believe he may have falsely misled her on the nature of the case. There is a handful of locations that I think they may have gone to, but I can't do anything. I'm being watched....closely", replies Skinner. He sighs as he thinks of the visits that CSM and Krychek had made just that morning.
"So Agent Scully is missing too? Um, Sir you don't think that maybe they are really on vacation and they don't want to be found do you?", asks Byers.
"That hadn't really occurred to me", says Skinner. "No, I don't think so. We're talking about Mulder here."
"Dana did not go on vacation with Mulder", interrupts Frohike. "She promised to go to Aruba with me this winter!"
"Nice try Frohike", says Langly. "But no one believes you."
"And why wouldn't anyone believe that the magnificent Agent Scully wouldn't be interested in Melvin Frohike?", questions Frohike.
"Look in the mirror", replies Langly. The two continue to argue in the background while Byers continues to talk to Skinner.
"Truthfully Sir we don't have any idea where Mulder could be at the moment, however we are quite willing to work with you.....you alone on finding his and Scully's whereabouts. However, I must ask that you don't call this phone number again. We'll call you."
"Thats fine. Here is my private line 999-555-3434. I have it checked daily for bugs and if you're successful I can promise that you will somehow be rewarded for your service to the FBI", replies Skinner.
"Thats kind of you Sir, but we are only three men looking for the truth and we don't have any need for a reward", says Byers as he turns to look again at his friends who have immediately stopped arguing after hearing the word "reward" mentioned.
"Reward? What kind of reward?", asks Langly as the two of them rush Byers at the phone.
"If we find Mulder before you can...will you make us honorary agents?", asks Frohike pulling the phone from Byers.
"Ah, no", replies Skinner amusingly.
"Okay, what kind of reward? Money? Car? Travel voucher?", asks Frohike.
"Ah, I was thinking more along the lines of free headquarters tour tickets", replies Skinner.
"Free tour tickets? Thats it? We've already been inside numerous times", says Frohike. "Your employee gym is spectacular."
"Thats not on the tour", says Skinner confused.
"Never mind.......ah we'll take it", says Frohike. "We'll call you when we think we know where Mulder.....and Dana are." He hangs up the phone.
"It sounds like Mulder and Scully could be in some hot water", says Langly. "Where shall we start?"
"Where does Mulder do most of his research?", asks Byers.
"The Internet", replies Frohike.
"Well I guess thats where we start. Grab the computer kit and we're heading to Apartment #42", says Byers walking toward the door. He opens it and turns to wait for Frohike and Langly who gather computer tools and manuals together. Finally they're ready.
"Do you know his password", asks Langly.
"No", replies Byers.
"Its probably something easy like Samantha", says Frohike as they close the door.
Part 32
"Mulder the view is beautiful up here", says Scully as the agents finally reach the top of the volcano that they had been climbing for a couple of hours.
"It is Scully. You can see the entire parameter of the island from up here. Including the pond which we never found." He turns and looks in the opposite direction. "What the hell is that?!"
Scully turns and follows his gaze. She sees a large three story building out in the middle of the jungle. "Looks like this island is not as remote as we once thought", she says. "What could be going on out here?"
"I don't know, but I suddenly lost my interest in the volcano", says Mulder heading back to where they had just ascended.
"Mulder, I hate to keep being a damper on your parade but its already two o'clock and by the time we get down to the bottom and over to that building its going to be dark."
"But thats the best time to investigate it Scully. In the dark. Did you bring any black with you?"
"No I didn't. I didn't plan on being involved in "Mission Impossible" ", replies Scully sarcastically. "Mulder, there is more to this island than you're letting on isn't there?" Mulder looks away and scuffs the ground with his foot. "What is it that you're not telling me.....Mulder?"
Mulder deeply exhales and turns to look at her. "I wanted to come to this island strictly for the lost tribe myth Scully. Really." He gives her a pleading look. "I will have to admit that yes.....I knew that near this island there is another one called Kahoolawe that is uninhabited and only used supposedly for target practice for the US Navy and Air Force. No one is allowed on the island and I knew there wasn't really a way of getting there. No chartered flight would be willing to chance taking us there, but I never expected something like this." He motions toward the building. "I would *never* lie to you Scully. You have to believe me, because no one else will."
"Great...thats just great. Here we are on an island with a bunch of headhunter or cannibal tribesmen, no available communication with the mainland and I now find out that we've stumbled upon something that I can only assume involves your conspiracy theory?", says Scully shaking her head. "When is this going to end Mulder? I thought we were on a case that didn't involve any of this. Are you telling me that ....."
"There is a chance that this island has been used for research on extraterrestrials and the very crater of the volcano we are standing on may have been formed by their ship taking off Scully", replies Mulder.
Scully rolls her eyes. "Mulder, I can't accept that........"
"Scully, just think about what happened in Antarctica. What if what occurred wasn't the first time. That spaceship came up out of the ice and caused a huge crater. I saw it and you would have to if you had wanted to." He turns away in frustration.
"Mulder, I was practically unconscious and you're going to blame me because I didn't see something that you supposedly did? I know you saved me, but must you always try to make me feel moronic by saying that I didn't want to see it?", yells Scully.
"Are you telling me that you don't remember what happened after that bee stung you? That you don't remember being transported from Alexandria....my apartment building to Antarctica? Well I'll tell you what happened. You were stung in the hallway of my building as I was about to kiss you, but we'll forget that happened as we did for two years. You were then flown to Antarctica where you were stripped of your clothes and submerged into a tank of fluid of questionable origins. A feeding tube was then inserted into your mouth and you became the host of an extraterrestrial fetus. Yes....I said it. You were being fed off of by an alien Scully. I was given the miraculous opportunity of acquiring the antidote and I headed to Antarctica despite being shot in the head and followed by numerous men sent to stop me."
"Mulder, please stop......"
"No! I won't stop! Once at the appropriate coordinates I fell down a shaft and hit my head again and despite my convictions of what I was doing I crawled down a hole the size of a beach ball to find you, not knowing where I was going or if I was coming back. I fell again when I finally reached the depths of the ship and right after that thats when I found the container that you had been shipped in. Your clothes and your cross were there and thats when I knew that we were in real trouble."
"Mulder...I know what you did", continues Scully trying to interrupt him once more.
"There were thousands of victims Scully...all of them hosts to an alien race destined to be the army sent to take over our planet. As I walked down those aisles looking in each pod....my only thought was, 'My God what if I can't find her. What if I'm too late.' When I did find you it was a mixture of joy and absolute horror. I thought you were dead. Do you know how that made me feel?! I found an oxygen tank and slammed it until finally the containment unit that you were in broke and liquid flowed out. I administered the shot and the antidote flowed into the system contaminating the entire project. Even though it was only seconds it seemed years and you woke up. You said that you were 'cold..so cold' and I got you out of there. I wrapped your naked body in some of the clothes that I peeled off of myself and then together we got out of there. Don't forget that you stopped breathing and I had to stop to breathe life back into your body. Can you honestly say that when you awoke you didn't see all those aliens breaking out of the containment units?!"
"Mulder I only saw you when I awoke", says Scully gently as she takes his hand.
"Scully after I pushed you into that pipe to crawl to the surface....one grabbed me by the damn leg! I may not have made it out alive...how would you have explained that? Why do you think I wouldn't let you fall face down in the ice? The whole tundra was breaking apart because the damn spaceship was taking off and it came up out of the ice and flew over our heads. How can you be so blind to something that is so clear to me?"
Scully sadly bites her lip. "Because I'm afraid to believe Mulder. I'm afraid of what the future holds if what you say is true."
"Then help me prevent it from happening Scully. Thats all I ask. We've come this far and this is not just my quest anymore. Its ours and I meant it when I said I couldn't do this alone", says Mulder squeezing her hand.
Scully nods. "You're right. You're absolutely right. I didn't look because of my fear of what knowing the truth would do to me and all it did was distance myself from what we've been trying to find out for seven years. I'm sorry Mulder, I do believe there is something out there. How couldn't I? After seeing everything that I did in Africa I would be a hypocrite for denying what I have seen."
Mulder gives her a small smile and they start to descend the rocks. Twenty minutes later Scully grabs Mulder's arm and points to a large boulder. On it is some carvings that look eerily familiar. As Mulder looks on them he grabs his forehead and cringes in pain.
Part 33
"Oh no you don't. We're not having a repeat performance", says Scully pulling him down the side of the volcano as Mulder cries out in anguish.
"Sculleeee!", he screams.
"I'm right here Mulder. I'm not leaving you, but we've got to get away from those carvings. I think they are having the same effect on you as those rubbings from the craft in Africa", she puts her arm around his shoulders as he bends over.
"I think I'm going to black out", mumbles Mulder.
"No you're not if I have anything to say about it", says Scully helping to the next rock and the next. Finally after ten minutes the pain has subsided and he can walk normally again.
"Man, I never thought I was going to have to deal with that ever again", says Mulder running a hand through his hair and looking up towards the ledge that had caused such a havoc in his brain. He turns to see Scully staring at the ground. Shes biting her lip and what looks suspiciously like a tear falls from the corner of her eye."
"Scully...you're crying", says Mulder approaching her and wiping away her tear. She swats his hand away.
"No, I'm not. I just got some dust in my eye thats all", says Scully wiping her eyes off. She glances at Mulder who has an amused expression on his face.
"Okay, I am crying. Satisfied now?", says Scully cracking a smile.
"Step one....admitting you have a problem in saying that you do cry sometimes", says Mulder. "Next step is admitting why you were crying."
"I was crying because I don't know what I would have done if you had gone into that catatonic state that you were in when I saw you in the hospital. There was no hint of recognition and you just lay there like a vegetable. I didn't even know if you knew who I was or even if I was there", sniffs Scully.
"I knew you were there and as long as we stay away from any carvings I am going to be just fine. Oh, no I sound like you the more I hang around you", jokes Mulder.
"That'll be the day", replies Scully as she lowers herself over another boulder.
After another hour the agents have reached the base of the volcano and then head toward the direction of the building that they had seen. By the time they reach it its after five o'clock and it is getting dark. Using flashlights they cautiously approach the chain link fence surrounding the building. Scully turns to Mulder.
"It doesn't look like anyone is using it."
"It does look abandoned. I wonder if the project is over that was going on here....or for some reason was never completed", replies Mulder examining the lock on the nearby gate. He pulls out his pocket knife and starts picking it. After a few twists there is a popping sound. Mulder gives Scully a gratified look. "My sister's diary gave me good practice." Scully chuckles as he removes the lock and pushes the gate open. "You armed?", he asks.
"Need you ask?", replies Scully pulling out her gun.
"My kinda girl", says Mulder pulling out his own gun and leading them through the gate. There is no light illuminating from either the building or any other light source surrounding the building so the agents are forced to use the moonlight and their own sense of direction in finding their way. As they reach the building the agents become more and more cautious. Suddenly Mulder falls face first down a flight of concrete steps. He lands on his back with Scully sprawled on top of him.
"Ahhhh.....this isn't quite what happens in my dream", moans Mulder as he struggles to raise his head. He drops his head back on the ground as Scully scrambles to her knees.
"Mulder, are you all right?", she asks with concern.
"I think so. Give me a minute to catch my breath. I don't think anything is broken, my a** broke my fall." Scully smiles but brushes the hair off his forehead.
"Can you sit up?", asks Scully.
"Yeah, but not without pain", replies Mulder slowly rising to a sitting position. Scully reaches into the pocket of her jeans and pulls out her flashlight. She flips it on and scans the surroundings.
"Where the hell are we and where did my gun land?", asks Mulder.
"I think this is just a flight of stairs that leads down into the basement of the building and here is your gun", she says as she hands it to him.
"Thank God headquarters has an elevator, otherwise this would be happening more often", jokes Mulder slowly getting to his feet with Scully's assistance.
"Yeah then you'd be out on disability and that would make one too many people happy", says Scully leaning down and picking up her own gun. She approaches a door and turns the knob. She is not surprised to find it locked. "Hey Mulder, give me your pocket knife." He limps over to stand behind her and hands it to her. After a few twists the door pops open. "I guess practicing on that bottom drawer of your desk helped a lot", she says as she walks through that door.
"Whatever you found in that drawer is not mine", replies Mulder following her.
A musty smell meets them as they enter the building. It proves to be a modern facility bearing numerous offices with computer equipment. Further exploration reveals laboratories and autopsy bays. Whatever had been going on here had been put on hold. Desks and laboratory equipment are covered with plastic coverings. Despite the state of the facility emergency lighting glows eerily along the corridors.
"Leave it to the government to leave the lights on and expect us to pay the bill", says Mulder as they wander through a laboratory.
"This operation has definitely been put on hold for a while", says Scully tracing a finger through the thick dust on top of a tarp covering a microscope.
"Its like they just abandoned the project.....whatever it was", replies Mulder walking through another door and shining his flashlight around. "Hey Scully, look at this." Scully follows the sound of his voice and finds him standing next to the door of a deep freezer. "What could they be hiding in here?"
"Maybe it was just used for food storage Mulder, besides I'm sure its not even running with no working here", says Scully walking up beside him.
"Don't be so sure", says Mulder pulling on the handle. Immediately the door swoops open and a blast of cold air shoots out. Scully gives a doubtful look at Mulder as he holds the door open for her as she enters the freezer.
"What do you see?", he asks her as she flashes her flashlight inside.
She turns to him and gives him a wide eyed look. "I'm not sure what I'm looking at Mulder, but its definitely not fish sticks."
Part 34
"What is it?", asks Mulder walking in behind her and gazing around. The door shuts loudly behind him. Scully glances at the door and the agents look at each other before Scully continues.
"It looks like storage for a contagion and a highly toxic one at that", says Scully pointing to a large barrel-like containers with spouts. "The government is most likely storing biological waste......illegally."
"Or the virus", says Mulder approaching one of the containers and shining his light on it as he kneels down to read the wording on it.
"Mulder, they aren't storing anything viral here. Viruses cannot survive cold temperatures and don't say it......don't say it.......", warns Scully.
"There is a possibility it could be extraterrestrial", finishes Mulder.
"Why do I bother?", asks Scully to herself. "Mulder, don't turn that valve! What are you doing?"
"I wasn't going to turn it Scully. I was only tightening it", says Mulder. "What do I look like...stupid?" Scully turns and walks several feet shining the light at the ceiling.
"Mulder, I did not say you were stupid. I'm just not comfortable standing here in a room with those containers that could have potential leaks in them. Until we know what they are I think we should just leave them alone and make a note of them to include them in our report."
"So they can just disappear forever?", asks Mulder.
"Mulder, they're here in the middle of nowhere. They won't go anyplace over the next couple of days, I assure you", replies Scully.
"I think we should take one with us", replies Mulder. "We can bring it back to the bio lab at the office in Honolulu and see what is in this little baby", says Mulder tapping the top of one.
"I don't think that would be a good idea Mulder. We don't know what factor temperature makes on the state of this matter and besides like I said before we don't know if the container has a leak ready to sprout", replies Scully nervously watching Mulder tap his flashlight on the barrel.
"I don't think it should be a problem Scully if we're careful. It says on the container that it can be stored at extremely high and cold temperatures." He kneels again and tilts it to feel the weight. "Its not that heavy Scully. With the two of us we should be able to get it out of here. Actually maybe we could go back and get that cart you convinced me to buy. It would be a lot easier to carry."
"Mulder I am not touching that barrel. Do you understand me? As a medical doctor I'm warning you. You don't know what could be in that barrel. There could be any biological matter such as waste or weapons inside. There could be a plague virus or a......."
"Alien virus", supplies Mulder.
Scully sighs. "Okay perhaps an alien virus inside. We've both been infected by that virus before. Do we really want to risk catching it again?"
"Actually Scully I think we're both immune to it. I was exposed to it in Tunguska and you've been exposed to it twice. Once when you were abducted and once in Antarctica. Our DNA has been permanently altered by the exposure and the antidote given to you probably has created an immunity. Don't all of those factors lead to the assumption that we are immune to it?", rambles on Mulder.
"Mulder, we don't know what is in that barrel and I'm not touching it. Matter of fact if you touch it.....I'll never speak to you again", says Scully approaching the door and pulling the handle. It doesn't move. She turns around to face him with a wide eyed look.
"What?", asks Mulder still kneeling.
"We're locked in Mulder", replies Scully.
"Nice try Scully I'm not falling for that this time", says Mulder getting up and approaching the door.
"I'm not kidding Mulder.....not this time", replies Scully as Mulder takes hold of the handle and gives a tug. It doesn't budge.
"Damn it! We're locked in!", yells Mulder pounding the door with his fist and kicking it.
"How observant we are", replies Scully smugly.
Mulder kicks the door once again and suddenly there is a sound behind them. One of the barrels has fallen over. The two agents look at each other and then to the barrel again. From the spout leaks a steady stream of what looks like the black oil.
"Nice move Mulder", says Scully.
Part 35
"Did I do that?", asks Mulder staring at the black oil that has seeped from the barrel.
"No Elvis did....you missed it when you were busy kicking the door down", replies Scully backing away from the oil which has now separated and is actively moving across the floor towards them. "Now quit gaping at it Mulder and figure a way to get us out of here", yells Scully keeping the oil illuminated with her flashlight.
"There is no way we're going through this door Scully and I don't have any tools to take it off the hinges. What I would give for a blowtorch right now." He glances over his shoulder at the oil that is crawling towards them. He scans their surroundings. "I've got it. There is a vent up there, come on." He grabs Scully]s hand and pulls her away from the door and over next to some shelving. Using the shelves as steps he climbs up. Lying down he reaches down to Scully who grabs his hand. The black oil has creeped up and is just touching her shoe.
"Its on me Mulder", she says panicked.
"Lose the shoe Scully", yells Mulder.
She kicks off her sneaker and climbs up the shelves until she is sitting beside him. She tosses the other sneaker to the ground where the oil has engulfed the other one.
"We don't have much time", says Mulder glancing down and seeing the oil slowly climbing up the frame. He reaches up and pushes on the screen of the vent. "Damn it, its screwed in place!" He reaches in his pocket for his pocket knife which he then opens and starts to frantically unscrew each of the tiny six screws. "Whats happening down there Scully?", he asks her.
"They're about three shelves away Mulder', says Scully.
"Three more to go", says Mulder. "Try to keep that light on this so I can see. Two more....thats it. Damn!", says Mulder as he drops the pocket knife and the sound of metal hitting metal as the knife falls to the floor. He grabs the vent with both hands and yanks it. It snaps and he throws it to the ground.
"Its only one shelf away Mulder", says Scully. He reaches up into the vent and pulls himself up and then reaches down for Scully. She again grabs his hand and gets pulled up into the vent where he gives her a quick embrace before he reaches for her flashlight.
"Okay, now we've got to find our way out of here before that stuff starts to climb into the ceiling", says Mulder as he crawls through the ductwork. Scully follows along sneezing the entire way.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing? Maybe I should lead", says Scully.
"Have a little confidence in me Scully", says Mulder.
"I do, but I need air", coughs Scully. Mulder nods and then turns left and then right. Finally an outside vent appears. Mulder puts the flashlight in his mouth and kicks the vent with both feet. After a couple of tries the vent cover flies off and he drops to the ground. Scully sticks her feet out.
"Watch out below", says Scully as she jumps. Mulder catches her and then they turn and run away from the building. "Keep that flashlight on the path Mulder. I am not prepared to step on anything", says Scully.
Mulder turns to look at her. "You want me to carry you?"
"No I do not need to be carried Mulder", replies Scully firmly.
Half an hour later: "Mulder, how much farther", asks Scully biting her lip. She has already stepped on several rocks and what feels like a splinter has now reached the point of extreme pain.
"Not far, probably another half mile", replies Mulder stopping to look at her. His eyes gaze down at her sock clad feet.
"Mulder........", says Scully softly.
"I've got ya", says Mulder picking her up and carrying her back toward the cave.