Act VIII – True Blue
The man claiming to be Fox Mulder was being flown to Washington D.C. and would be here in a few hours. Skinner dismissed the duo and they waited in their basement office for the arrival. Mulder was pacing.
"What am I doing here—how?"
"We don't know yet. He said he would only talk to us. When he gets here, we'll find out."
"I'm calling the guys. There has to be a reason he, *I*, came back to that location. Maybe they can spot something unusual."
They waited a tense two hours before they were summoned to one of the Hoover Bldg. interrogation rooms. Mulder, Scully and Skinner stared through the one-way glass at Mulder's doppelganger. Unlike the ones on the ghost ship, this Mulder resembled the original, but seemed much older and haggard, even his hair was turning grey. He was thinner, had a haunted look in his eye and didn't appear to have shaved for days.
"Has he said anything?" Mulder was still in disbelief.
Skinner shook his head. "No, but he was found with a backpack that contained a strange device. Our team is checking it out now."
"I guess I had better get in there and talk to him."
"I want to go with you." Scully was adamant and Mulder nodded.
Mulder walked in first and Mulder#2 looked up, but when Scully entered, he stood. "Scully! You're here. I'm not too late."
"Too late for what?" She asked.
"To save you." Mulder#2 turned to the original. "You have to protect her—and yourself. Someone is going to kill her."
"Who?" Mulder was getting a bad feeling about this.
"I don't know, we never found who did it. All I know is when and where. He might have been aiming at me, but he hit Scully dead on. The police told me that this is August 19th. It will happen in two days."
"Where?"
"Right outside of the Hoover Bldg. A white Ford drove up, a single shot was fired and the car sped off. Even the surveillance cameras from the building were of no use—the attacker's face was masked and the car, stolen."
"Prints? DNA?"
"None that was useable. The car was cleaned with a strong industrial cleanser."
Scully was shaken. "That's not much to go on."
Mulder#2 kept staring at her. "We have to catch who did it because even if that attempt doesn't succeed, I'm sure he will try again and I won't know about that one."
The original Mulder was skeptical. "How do we know you are who you say you are?"
"DNA test me."
"We know about the clones. Try again."
"Ask me something only you would know."
"What was my worst nightmare?"
"After or before Samantha was taken?"
"Before."
"Killer rabbits. I thought that the field rabbits were coming to invade the house and eat me alive."
Mulder put his hands through his hair and walked away. "That's right. I never told anyone."
Scully put a reassuring hand on her partner's arm then faced his doppelganger. "How did you get here?"
The other Mulder looked his twin in the eye. "I know this is strange and my presence disturbs you, but it was the only way to save her. The device that I had with me is a copy of the device that the scientist from the Queen Anne built back in 1943. In the original timeline, the attempt at cloaking and time travel was an abject failure because the man who could have made it work went missing in 1939. This one was used in this timeline's Philadelphia experiment and it worked. I'm actually you, 2 years in the future. I remember what happened on the Queen Anne and the changes that were made. It took me this long to track that item down and come here."
"Can you get back?"
#2 looked at the floor. "Probably not. One reason the device was never used it is only worked one way, but that is why I brought it with me, just in case…"
"What happened to your ship?"
"That's another reason it wasn't used. It was unpredictable and not everything passed through—correctly. My ship ended up with a massive fuel leak and I had to abandon it before it blew. The fishermen found me."
"Why didn't you just come here, to Washington? Why the Bermuda Triangle?"
"It doesn't seem to work any place else. No one has been able to figure out why. Look, we are wasting time on trivialities. We need to find out who wants to kill Scully."
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They let Mulder#2 sit for a while. He had agreed to a DNA test, but aside from that or getting the government to admit that time-travel device exists, there was no way to prove his story. However, Mulder, Scully and Skinner believed him. Why else would he be here?
Scully was upset. Learning you have two days to live is quite a blow. Also, the look in Mulder#2's eyes frightened her too. That Mulder had to live without her for 2 years and it aged him incredibly. If on one of these assignments, she loses her partner, lover and best friend, will she end up looking like that—haunted and desperate? They rushed the test results and it was a 100% match. This was Mulder.
Even if he was a dead ringer for a current FBI operative, the Bureau had no reason to hold him. Mulder offered to keep an eye on his twin and they went back to his apartment. Scully didn't understand how he could look himself in the eye—literally—and keep calm, but Mulder was trying. When she looked at Mary Buckley, she saw a different person, but this situation wasn't the same thing.
When they got there, #2 walked around. "I remember this place. I don't miss the dead fish."
Scully walked up to him, but stayed a respectable distance away. "Didn't you continue to live here?"
"No. I moved into your place—after. I…I missed you. I didn't wash the sheets for a long time because they still smelled like you." Mulder#2 just stared at her. "I need to hold you. May I, please?"
She nodded and the original Mulder came out of the bathroom to see his twin hugging his lover. Scully saw the look on her partner's face, but shook her head slowly so he just stomped into the kitchen. This Mulder has been through hell and risked his life to save her. The contact wasn't too much to ask.
When it was over, Mulder#1 emerged and glared at the other man, but #2 lifted his hands. "I know, but she was my lover as well. I needed that. Just remember that I'm here so that you…I…*we* can keep her. If we succeed—my timeline won't exist. At least I hope so."
Scully threw up her hands. "I'm never going to understand all of this."
Mulder#1 was trying not to be sour. "You don't need to. We just need to prevent it from happening and catch the guy. Ok, we have to operate under the assumption that this assassination will take place as stated, what's the plan?"
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After they formulated a strategy, Scully went to go talk to Skinner about it. Mulder babysat his twin.
"How about some Wing Yee's? I haven't eaten in a while."
Mulder picked up the phone and ordered two of the usual, Moo Shu Chicken with extra pancakes. He sat crossly in a chair and waited for the delivery man. He had questions, but right now all he could see was that…person touching Scully. Even if he was himself, it sat like a rock in his gut. If they save Scully, and Mulder#2 stays around, who gets custody of her? Both of them would have rights and Mulder didn't like the possibilities.
"She forgave us—y'know. For the tracking device. She said the flowers helped. That was a good move." Mulder #2 was trying to make conversation.
"I don't want to discuss Scully with you."
"I do. I want you to know that the last 2 years have been hell. To lose her so soon after coming together…I almost killed myself."
That got Mulder's attention. Since this whole thing started, he wondered how he, Mulder, lasted 2 years without her. He would have shot himself the very next day.
Mulder#2 expounded. "I was going to do it. I went to her apartment and sat on her couch with my service weapon. I couldn't shake the pain of knowing that *somehow*, I was responsible. Do you know what stopped me?" Mulder didn't look at him. "I put the gun in my mouth, but then realized that Scully's mother would see this and decided to do it in the bathroom. On the way there, I tripped over her overnight bag from the Bermuda trip. It was still there, almost in the middle of the floor. That's when I knew I had to try and save her. She saved me. I owed it to her to try. That hope kept me going for 2 years and a few minutes ago, I got to hold her again. *We* found Samantha and *I* found her. I'm not going to let her die again."
Mulder stared at the floor. He almost knocked himself out for loving her. This was so fucked up. The buzzer rang and the two men ate in silence until Mulder put on the TV. 'Dead Ringers' was playing on channel 50. They watched basketball.
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Mulder#2 slept in the underused bed and Mulder slept on the couch. The next day, Mulder woke to his twin getting ready to go out.
"I borrowed some of your clothes and I have a few things to do today. When should I come back?"
"That's not a good idea." Mulder was alarmed. "For all intents and purposes—you *are* me. I could be held responsible for anything you do. You could affect the future in ways we can't predict. Look what happened with the Queen Anne."
"I can't stay here all day and you don't want to see me. I'd rather spend my day with Scully, but you won't let me near her. Besides, I—we have unfinished business."
"Like what?"
"I have two years of experiences you don't have. Can't you trust yourself?"
"No. Not when I don't know what you are going to do."
"Consider it a gift. I'll be back at 6." Mulder#2 strode out the door.
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"You just let him leave?" Scully stared at her partner.
"Have you ever tried stopping *me* from doing something?" Mulder slouched in his chair. "He took my car. I didn't realize how difficult I can be."
Scully smiled at that statement. "Well…"
"I didn't ask for commentary. What did Skinner say?"
"He thinks it's a good plan. He isn't bringing anyone else in just yet, in case the Consortium is involved."
"If they are, they already know about the second Mulder. They will just call off the hit tomorrow."
"It doesn't feel like them. They wouldn't have allowed you to get ahold of the time-travel device in the first place and stop them. Something's not right. Have you heard from the Gunmen?"
"Not yet. But I can't stay around here and wait for someone to... Let's go see them."
Mulder drove across town and Scully was silent next to him. She wasn't sure what to do. However, he was finding this harder and harder to take. The stress of the impending assassination and then his twin wanting Scully too, it was starting to overwhelm him. However, that feeling was nothing like the shock he got when they walked through to door to the Lone Gunman's place to find himself sitting there. He should have known.
"It's true!" Langley said as they stood around facing each other. "Dude, this is so weird!"
Frohike glanced from one man to the other. "You didn't age very well."
Mulder#2 sniffed. "You didn't have to do the things I did to get ahold of that device. I've given you the schematics. Can you find out why it can only transport things to the past?"
"I'm not sure how you even got here." Byers was tapping at his keyboard. "Einstein's Theory of Relativity says it possible for a particle to go close to the speed of light and therefore forward in time, but all known science says that you cannot travel to the past. It would take more energy than is possible." Byers looked at Muder#2. "The fact that it works only in the Bermuda Triangle may be a clue, it sounds like it uses a natural wormhole, but we have little chance of figuring it out from a blueprint. We would need the actual object."
Mulder#2 nodded. "What happens to altered timelines?"
Byers continued. "Keeping in line with particle theory, all timelines (or possibilities) exist at once. There really is no such thing as an 'altered' one. I'm not sure what happens to human beings however. Some say the presence of a soul changes the dynamic the way observation changes particle behavior. It's your standard quantum mechanics."
"In short, you don't know," Mulder#2 said. Byers shrugged. "Or you won't tell me." Byers shrugged again.
Mulder watched the guys interact with himself so naturally as if a time traveler appears every other day. Scully put another hand on his arm. He wanted to hold her so bad right then and then it dawned on him that this…person could simply take his place and that frightened him. If his future self perceived him as a threat, he might take him out and move into his life…and Scully. This timeline wasn't big enough for the both of them.
Scully leaned over and whispered. "He's trying to get back to his own time, Mulder." He could tell she sensed his agitation.
Mulder knew that Mulder#2 wasn't trying to get back. He would end up in a timeline without a Scully in it and he knew himself better than that. He had an idea what Mulder#2 was trying for. He didn't like it much.
Frohike came over to them. "You guys want to sit? I've got some new alien autopsy tapes you can watch."
"Melvin," Frohike frowned at Mulder's use of his real first name, "don't you find this odd?"
"Of course I do, but you're here, *both* of you and a problem needs to be solved. You have to get back somehow." Frohike lowered his voice. "Why *did* you come here?"
"He didn't tell you?"
"No. Did the aliens finally invade?"
"Nothing like that. It's 'hush hush'."
"Ah," the little troll smiled. "I get it. Let me know what you can, when you can. We'll put it in the newsletter."
"You can't write about this, Frohike." Mulder stared hard at him.
"Why not?"
"It will create—problems and a lot of questions about our trip to Bermuda."
"Well, it's too late for Bermuda. We already started a 6-part series on the Queen Anne. The readers love it! I changed all the names, of course."
Both agents groaned.
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That evening, the trio had dinner at Scully's apartment. Mulder was in a bad mood because he was going to have to leave and take his Frankenstein home instead of staying and snuggling with her. The way #2 kept looking at Scully, irritated him. He was the only one allowed to moon after her like that. Of course, it was him doing it. Ugh.
"So, what did you do after you left the Gunmen?" Scully was trying to make conversation. The atmosphere was tense and quiet.
"I just ran some errands. By the way, here's the key to your car." His twin handed him the keychain.
Mulder tried not to snatch it. "You aren't going to tell us what future altering landmines you have placed for us?"
Mulder#2 stared hard at him. "I'm aware that I can alter the future. That's why I came back. The original timeline was changed the minute we got on that ghost ship so frankly, I don't care anymore. As long as Scully is in our lives now and going forward, that is all that matters."
"Why don't you tell me the winning lottery numbers next week."
"We don't gamble and we don't need the money. There are much more important things in life than that." #2 looked at Scully fondly. "Why don't you ask me something useful, like did they ever catch JB Spender or if the aliens invaded? Maybe who will be the next president? Aren't you curious about the future?"
"I am." Scully piped up. "What happened to my family?"
"That's not a pleasant subject. Your mother took your death very hard and eventually moved to San Diego to be with her daughters-in-law. Bill Scully and I got into a fight at your funeral and he broke my arm. I finally met Charlie and although he was upset, he didn't try to kill me. I lost touch with them after that. Even your mother wouldn't talk to me."
"What happened to the X-files?" Mulder finally was curious.
"I took a leave of absence and went searching for the device. When I couldn't take any more time, I came back and did a few cases with Mark Walker, just to keep my FBI credentials. Skinner tried to cover for me, but it wasn't going to be long before I was fired. I was on disciplinary action for a while when I hit both Kersh and Jeffery Spender. It's a good thing I found the object when I did. I might have been jailed soon. Walker hopefully carried on without me. He was a pretty good agent and had a taste for the paranormal."
It was silent for a while. Mulder's voice almost startled them. "Who *is* going to be president?"
"George W. Bush."
"Really?" #2 just shrugged.
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It was getting late and Scully was giving them signs to leave. She didn't like the awkwardness any more than the men. Mulder stayed away from her all night so Mulder#2 didn't feel a need to compete. The twin did ask for another hug when they were leaving and kissed her—at length. That was tough, but he tried to be adult about it.
Back at the apartment, the men went their separate ways. Mulder typed on his laptop and #2 went into the bedroom. What was even more awkward was an hour later when Mulder heard strange sounds coming from there and he went to investigate. Finding no one in the bedroom, he opened the bathroom door to hear the shower running and a grunting sound he knew well.
"Oh, Scully! Uughh!" #2 was masturbating in the shower.
Mulder quickly (but quietly) closed the door and returned a little red-faced to the living room. He wouldn't mind doing that himself especially after the events two nights ago, but this Mulder would have those memories too. God, how he wanted her right now. Once the guy was caught and Scully was safe, Mulder#1 and Mulder#2 were going to have a very frank conversation.