Samantha stood there, glowering at Krycek, who stood behind his desk, watching her, slightly amused at her mood. "What's so different between her and me anyway? I'M supposed to be the best, the conspirators' brain child, the pride and joy of the Project. And what do they do? They take it away and give it to HER!" She kicked the wastebasket across the room.

She stalked across the room and stood next to Alex's desk , looking at him as though she was expecting him to solve her problems. "We all have our bad days Sam. Look at me, I was once at the top of the heap too, and look at me now. I'm the low man on the totem pole. Spender has everyone watching every move that I make."

"I should've been able to beat her though Alex." Samantha sighed and leaned against his desk.

Walking around the corner of the desk he wrapped his arms around her. "It'll all work out Sam, you'll see. Besides who better than us to bring down the dream team of Mulder and Scully?"

"There is no one."

Alex smiled, "Exactly. Now don't worry my love, no matter how strong she ends up being you'll beat her."

Mulder was leaning against the cold wall of his cell. His attempts to contact Scully were proving to be futile, causing his frustration to grow by the minute. Suddenly the door opened, admitting a figure, and a lot of bright light.

"Who's in here?"

Mulder recognized the voice, "Ana it's me, Mulder."

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same thing of you."

Ana rushed over, helping Mulder to his feet. "I have to at least look as though I'm still loyal to these people. They can't know my loyalties lie with Dana, you and everyone else like her."

"Speaking of Scully, have you heard from her recently?"

"No. Haven't you've been able to contact her using the crystal?"

"No. I'm growing worried, Samantha hit them both pretty hard."

"Them both?"

"Scully and Sapphire."

"Sapphire is alive? But how can that be?"

"What do you mean?"

"You see Mulder, Sapphire and Dana's friendship goes back to when this area of the Project began in it's current phase. There are what They call prototypes from before Dana and Sapphire's time here, but They don't count them as successes."

"Why not?"

"These people are to the modern world what Frankenstein's monster was to his. They don't fit in, they look as though they've been mutated. Extra eyes, animal body parts, it was almost as if They were trying to see what could improve the human body, by adding whatever was thought of."

"So what does this have to do with what happened to Sapphire?"

"Oh yes. You see Mulder, Dana knew she was to become a doctor and assist you on the X-files when she was about sixteen. That day I've never seen her so upset. Samantha 'flipped out', I believe that was how Dana put it when we calmed her down enough to tell us some of what took place. Samantha attacked Sapphire while myself and her father was discussing her new 'assignment' with Dana. I'm not sure what happened after that, she never did tell me, only that she was crying her eyes out when we found her huddled in a corner almost an hour later."

"You thought Sapphire died."

"Of course. When it comes to these children, now adults, Samantha was supposed to be the strongest."

A shadow moved out in the corridor, Ana looked up in alarm. "I'll be back later tonight, and get you out of here. In the meantime I have to play loyal subject to these bimbos."

Mulder smiled at her. "How did you get in here anyway?"

"I have almost top level clearance. That's why everyone left us alone for so long." Ana walked toward the door. "I suggest you rest as much as possible, we may have a long night ahead." She paused in the doorway, "And Mulder, Dana vowed never to spy on you, and to help you search for your sister."

Mulder watched her leave, sliding to the floor again. Even young my Scully was loyal, innocent, and pure. Closing his eyes he fell asleep leaning against his wall.