Part 43.
Monica woke groggily to the sounds of heavy boots stomping through bushes and crunching over pine cones. Where…where was she?
And she was being carried…by whom? Glancing up, Monica shuddered in disbelief.
Why the hell was Agent Ryan carrying her? The Red Gun was holding her with an arm under her shoulders and the other arm under the back of her knees. Her head was resting against his shoulder.
The last thing she remembered was…the snap in her chest and the ground rushing up at her. A manipulation...because she had been about to run. And John! She had seen John….and Mulder. Hadn't she? Was she making it up? Had she prayed so hard for them to come that her eyes had been playing tricks on her?
Her head ached to the point that she was seeing stars and she couldn't keep a small moan from escaping. Agent Ryan looked down at her. "Ah, so she awakes."
"Put me down."
"No. You'll just slow us down."
"Put me down. I mean it."
"Don't give me orders. You will do as I say."
Monica glared at him and decided to think while she still had the chance. The sun was rising slowly in the East. Soon the Red Guns wouldn't have the cover of the darkness for their little 'death march.' Were they worried? Looking around, she could see only trees.
They seemed to close over the trail, shielding them from the rest of the world. And the forest itself seemed much denser then the ones she remembered running through.
Okay. Think. She was a rational FBI Agent who had gotten herself out of much worse situations. Well, were they worse? Never before had she gone from wanting to find a way out to just wanting to die. It seemed as if she was either determined to ignore the obstacles that lie ahead …or she would let herself be beaten. It kept going both ways.
She had never endured so much pain before. She was trying her best to ignore it and to keep going but how did one know when it was enough? Did she have the mental strength to manipulate herself physically to keep going?
Well, there was only one way to find out. But first, she had to escape Agent Ryan's tight grasp on her.
Looking up, she stared at the set look in his eyes. He may appear human, but those eyes…definitely not human. They were so blank and so cold…
"You must feel tired."
Agent Ryan didn't look at her when he responded. "No, I don't. We must keep moving."
Monica tried another tactic.
"You're moving slower by having to carry me. Look at the rest of the Red Guns. All of them are ahead of you. They just need to lead their prisoners whereas you have to carry one. So in a way, I'm slowing you down already. What's the point in carrying me?"
"You'll faint again."
"What do you care?"
Agent Ryan shrugged.
"I'm just slowing you down. Why don't you put me down? That way you can catch up with the head of the march and resume your position as leader."
Agent Ryan stopped walking and looked down at her. "This is a trick. You'll escape."
"Right. Like I can really out run you now. You said so yourself that I can barely walk."
Agent Ryan set her down roughly and grabbed her by the upper arm and hauled her down the trail. Monica winced at his grasp and the movement that her body was trying to refuse.
Ignore. She just had to ignore the pain. Monica could feel tears build up in her eyes as she fought the pain. Clenching her teeth, she wiped at the tears angrily. She would be tough!
When they had reached the front of the march, Agent Ryan slowed down considerably and Monica took in a deep breathe to calm herself.
Monica looked to her right and saw the fear trapped on the faces of the two women next to her. Both looked middle aged and seemed to be aging by the minute. They stumbled with the rest of the prisoners and kept their mouths pressed together tightly. Maybe they were trying not to throw up.
One woman glanced over and, with only one look at Monica's torn body, sympathy flooded her eyes.
Monica shook her head slightly at her. She didn't want this woman to worry about her. They were both being led to the same death vault.
Suddenly Agent Ryan stopped walking and so did everyone else. He turned around and shoved Monica to the nearest Red Gun. Stalking back to Terrance, Monica could see them having heated words. What was going on?
Suddenly, a thought came to her. A plan. Hope flooded through her as she glanced at Agent Ryan. It could work…
The Red Guns were then being ordered to bring the prisoners into the forest. What the..?
Monica looked around worriedly. She hated not knowing what was about to happen.
The woman Monica had been walking next to suddenly turned to her wide-eyed.
"They're going to kill us now. I just know it"
Monica shook her head. "They can't…" Gulping, Monica twisted around in the Red Gun's arms. He held on tighter and Monica felt the worst terror of her life. Now was it. She had to do something!
Agent Ryan walked over and pulled Monica toward him.
Monica whipped around in his arms. "Now? Why kill us now? What happened to Arizona?"
"It won't work. We need to do this now to have any impact."
"Was this your plan or Terrance's? Or maybe Knowle's?"
Agent Ryan looked down at her sharply. "Mine. Why wouldn't it be?"
It would work. It had to work. "Well, Knowle told me from the beginning that he was the leader."
"No he didn't." Doubt appeared on his face but he shook his head. "I see what you're trying to do. It won't work. Everyone knows I am in charge and that's that. Knowle and Terrance work for me. They follow my command."
Monica glanced away and hoped she looked amused. "I see."
They pushed farther into the forest. She was running out of time.
Think Monica! Anything! She had to do something NOW!
Just then Terrance yelled for everyone to stop.
Monica looked at Agent Ryan. "Is this your order for all of us to be killed?"
Frowning at her, he dragged her with him as he approached Knowle. "What are you doing?" Agent Ryan barely hissed out in anger.
"What do you mean what am I doing? I'm doing what I've been told to do."
"No, I never said stop. We keep going."
"That is not wise."
Agent Ryan pushed Monica to the ground and Monica lay there. Her head had hit a rock and she could feel the fresh blood oozing down her face and covering up the old blood that still stained her skin.
Through the red haze she could see Agent Ryan stab Knowle in the neck and Knowle crumpled to dust.
Her eyes wanted to close so badly but she wouldn't let them. Through them she watched as Terrance turned to dust and…she just couldn't do it anymore…she…
Strong arms wrapped around her withering body and swept her up. Monica didn't have to open her eyes to know whose they were. Burying her stinging face into John's neck, she held on for dear life as he ran.
As John ran, he kept a careful eye out for loose Red Guns. But it was hard to concentrate because all he could think about was getting Monica away, far away, from this hell hole.
He felt Monica stir in his arms. Glancing down, he held on tighter but never broke his speed.
John reached Mulder and Scully, who were standing behind some berry bushes. He quickly crouched down and laid Monica on the ground. Monica clung to his neck, not wanted to lose his warm touch.
John rubbed the pad of his thumb lightly over her swollen right cheek and she slowly let go of him and rested her head on John's discarded jacket.
Scully looked her over as John anxiously watched. When Mulder called over to him John grunted and reluctantly stood up.
Mulder was standing a foot away and peering through the bushes at the chaos that was still occurring about a half a mile away.
John glanced back at Monica, and then peeked through the bushes as well. The prisoners stood frozen in place as they watched the Red Guns destroy each other.
John shook his head, not understanding it at all. "Why kill each other? I mean, if these really are Super Soldiers…then they can't die. They can only disappear. Right?"
"Right. But I don't think these are our old pals. They may be aliens, but maybe they can really be destroyed. I think the needle is still our best choice here"
"Well Mulder…" John turned to face him. "What the hell do you suggest we do? They may be destroying each other, but some could get away. We can't chance that they'll make another grab for Monica. And we have to get to the remaining prisoners before the Red Guns decide to take them down with them."
Mulder thought about it for moment. Then he reached into his pocket and caught John's eye as he snapped open the needle. The silver sharp point sparkled in the morning sunlight.
Without a word, John nodded his head at Mulder's silent question.
John then went back to Monica and Scully.
Taking Monica's hand, he rubbed it softly and stared into her eyes. He could see the pain, but he could also see her courage.
"John…"
"Shhh...don't talk yet. Save your strength."
Monica chuckled and whispered, "Careful John. Your testosterone is reaching some dangerous territory."
John grinned at her and, still rubbing Monica's hand, asked Scully what the diagnosis was.
"Well, without the proper equipment, it's too hard to tell. Her right wrist is broken and she has a twisted ankle. Various bruises and lacerations of all sizes. Her feet will definitely need some cleaning up. Possible concussion…We really need to get her to a hospital."
"Those poor people…we have to help them." Monica struggled with the words.
John looked back into Monica's eyes. She seemed to be fading into unconsciousness, which made John feel a bit relieved. The longer she was passed out, the less she had to feel.
Scully glanced up as Mulder walked back over to them.
"How is she?"
"She should be okay. Mulder, what are you going to do?" Scully recognized that look in Mulder's eyes. She found herself loving that look, and also despising it.
"Scully, I need you to trust me on this. John and I are going to try and get the prisoners away. I need you to stay here with Monica. I need you to also get in contact with Skinner. We're going to need his help."
Scully coolly stared at him and nodded. She hated to be left behind but knew it was the best option for Monica.
Recognizing the lethal look in her eyes, Mulder kissed her passionately and quickly walked out of the bushes with John right behind him.
Scully sighed and dug out her cell phone. She got through to Skinner quickly and explained the situation as best as she could.
After the call, Scully took Monica's pulse again. Satisfied that Monica was stable, Scully got to her feet and walked up to the 'make-shift' window. She watched as Mulder and John fought off the Red Guns and could see John stab a Red Gun and toss the needle to Mulder.
"They left you behind huh?"
Part 44.
Scully whipped around at the sound of Monica's voice.
"Monica? What..? How can you…? Monica?"
Scully walked up and watched as her arm passed through Monica.
"This can't be real. I mean, it's…it's just scientifically impossible!"
Monica smiled. "Some things …just can't be explained." Monica glanced through an opening in the bush and lost her smile. "We need to help John and Mulder."
"I know." Scully glanced through the bush and watched as John stabbed a Red Gun and the Red Gun blew to pieces and disappeared.
Scully turned away and glanced at Monica's body. "But first, your…body. We need to hide it. Before the Red Guns get any smart ideas"
Monica glanced back too. Scrunching up her nose, Monica walked over to her body.
"This is just…to look from the outside at myself is just…"
"Unreal?" Scully offered.
"Yeah." Monica chuckled as she examined the area. "Ummm…Dana? Since I can't actually…could you?"
"Sure." Scully grabbed Monica's arms and tugged her lifeless body toward the protection of trees that were clumped together. Picking up some leaves, she covered Monica's body except her face. Staring at the body she said, "If this was a different situation, it would be so fascinating to study how your body functions…without your soul."
Monica chuckled again. "Interesting wouldn't be my choice of words. More like…nauseating."
Suddenly they heard Mulder shout for John to take cover. Both women raced out of the bushes in time to see John dive for cover as a small bomb was thrown in his direction.
"Apparently these Red Guns are not going down without a fight." Scully began jogging toward them and Monica kept in pace with her.
"Where are the prisoners?"
"They scattered as soon as the Red Guns began to turn their attention to Mulder and John."
When they had almost reached Mulder, Monica stopped and pulled Scully to cover behind a tree. " I have an idea." Monica scanned the area and nodded to herself as she worked it out in her mind. "Go over to Mulder and distract the Red Guns for a few seconds."
Scully didn't question as she agreed and took off running toward Mulder. When she reached Mulder, he was struggling with one of the Red Guns. The Red Gun had his hands around Mulder's neck and was trying to suffocate him.
Scully ran up behind the Red Gun and, with the butt of her gun, hit the Red Gun across his temple.
The Red Gun stumbled back but quickly regained composure. But before he could turn on her, Scully grabbed the needle from the slightly blue-faced Mulder and sank it deep into the Red Gun's neck.
"Thanks Scully." Wincing, Mulder rubbed his neck and shook his head from side to side, trying to get rid of the blasted stars that insisted on twinkling in front of his eyes.
"How many are left? And where's John?"
"I think there's about ten more, as far as I can tell. Shit, I don't know. I think he…what the hell? Monica? Why the hell does she look like that? Wait a minute…"
"No time to explain Mulder. Come on!" Scully began to run, with Mulder at her side, toward Monica.
John was struggling with two Red Guns when Monica approached him. Leaning toward his left, he punched one Red Gun and then ducked when the other Red Gun lunged for him.
"Hey guys." All three men turned towards her and John gaped.
"Monica? What the hell are you…why do you…are you okay?
Leave it to John to wonder how she was when he's in the middle of trying to save his own neck, Monica thought. She focused on the two Red Guns. They both stared at her and were grinning. She could also see four more jogging toward them out of the corner of her eye.
"You know you can still win. So what if there are only ten of you left? More power for you right? I mean, if you were intelligent about this, you should just take me and start running for Arizona. You might still have a chance."
"Monica, what are-" John ducked as one of the Red Guns shot his arm out and tried to punch John in the nose.
The other red Gun smiled. "She's got a point." The four Red Guns approached exactly as the first two went for Monica.
"NOOOO!" John made a move when Mulder and Scully, who had been watching the exchange from a distance, ran up and held him back.
"You son of a bitch!" John whipped around, ready to punch Mulder. "Let me go!"
Scully slapped the struggling John and pointed. "Look!"
John turned and saw all six Red Guns lying on the ground, destroying each other.
Monica stood off to the side and watched with amazement as they all disappeared.
Mulder looked on with fascination and shook his head and chuckled. "Monica, you have got to be the best manipulator out there. With words...and errr...your body." Mulder clamped his hand on the shoulder of a still stunned John. "I'd be careful with her, if I was you."
John caught Monica's eye and they smiled at each other.
"It's a little too soon for celebration guys. Looks like we got the last four coming our way." Scully pointed to the four men emerging from some brush. Scully and Mulder pulled the still very worried John aside and watched Monica approach them. The four Red Agents stared at her incredulously and, within a minute, were on the ground killing each other."
When the last of the Red Guns disappeared, John jogged toward Monica. But just as he reached her, she disappeared into thin air.
"What the…" John looked around panic. "What the hell happened to her?"
Scully and Mulder glanced at each other.
Suddenly they heard tree branches snapping and turned to see Monica limping out from behind the bushes. She was covered in dry blood and holding her broken wrist to her chest and…sporting a huge grin on her face.
She called out as they ran to her, "We did it guys."