Memorial Day, May 27, 2019
"On this Memorial Day, we honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice not only for their country, but for their world. These women and men are the heroes of our time and will always remain in our hearts, they will never be forgotten."
"Because of them, we claim the right to inhabit this planet called earth. Their lives have taught us that our differences may define us, but they will never separate us for there can be no better goal then the preservation of life and the guarantee of a future. Our common ground is our humanity, we are one world with survival of our species as the mutual thread that has brought us together."
"Let us pray for the safety of our women and men deployed at home and around the world. They stand guard at the gate of free will and through them we can continue to strive for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
The President of the United States of America
The lives of young couples across the planet have been changed permanently since the alien replicants attempted to colonize earth, but for these two, even more so. With increased security hovering about them, Gibson and Miya have quietly returned to their D.C. condominium. From the 31st floor high-rise, the city twinkles below and like a string of holiday lights, the beltway snakes it way into the distance.
"Gib, I never interfere with your work, but this time I may be able to help." Miya passes his crutches over and he uses them as leverage as he pulls himself out of his wheelchair. They have a strange way of communicating, replying with words to each other's thoughts. Not many know how similar and different they are.
"I am not stubborn, just careful. Besides, I don't know what you can accomplish..." Gibson heads toward the kitchen opens a cupboard and gets down a box of frosted flakes.
"Arrogant? I resent that." Miya says responding to his state of mind.
"He's a murderer."
"Attempted murderer, don't you think it's strange that he's failed?"
Gibson can't deny it. He's always known that the human mind is unpredictable, his work at the FBI has reconfirmed this and he instinctively knows there are other forces at work here.
"I agree. We're already involved, we have to discover a motive. Will you…"
"Yes, I like Marita and can keep her company, and you can keep an eye on Walter." She grins at him.
"Miya, if you're right, this could have serious repercussions that will come back on us. Are you prepared for that?" Gibson looks at her sternly.
She looks at him knowingly. "Yes, I understand and someday the rest of the world will too."
Alexi scrolls through the images on his control panel. There's one of John Doggett and Monica Reyes leaving the Boulder Medical Center. He's read the file his benefactor had on them and he considers the work they've done since stopping the assassination attempt on the President in 2007. It's impressive how dedicated they are, not only to the job, but also to each other.
The next image is of Walter Skinner and Marita Covarrubius, taken as they climbed into the FBI chopper after he ambushed their car. He knows that Skinner shot The Original in cold blood, and with good reason it seems. He looks at Marita and wonders what it would have been like to make love to her. Neither of these are his memories, but the facts are documented and read like a pulp fiction novel. These two have had a difficult past with The Original, the more he learns, the more he understands to what degree they were manipulated by him.
The third image is of Gibson and Miya Praise. It's an older image, archived from almost two years ago. They are standing together, he in a suit and tie, she wearing a pink dress and holding a bouquet of flowers. It's curious that his benefactor has extensive background on him, but little information on her. Alexi studies the image carefully and he sees something in them, something familiar.
The fourth image is of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. They are at the Denver Airport outside the car rental kiosk. The files on them are extensive, much more complicated than the other agents. Having read only a third of the material, he's tried to understand what the motives were behind their actions but the dynamics of their relationship is confusing to him. Mulder's relationship with The Original was contentious but they had a rapport that is intriguing.
The last image is of a teenage girl and boy. The girl has a quality about her that speaks of resilience. She has a determined expression on her face. The boy is just beginning to bulk up but still has some growing to do. There is loneliness in the young man's eyes and he recognizes it as the same emotion he sees when he looks in the mirror. An uncomfortable feeling bubbles up to the surface, when he remembers his benefactor telling him to eliminate them as well.
John Doggett stands outside of the vehicle rental office and flips his cell phone closed. He wouldn't normally make a call like this but Monica asked him and he couldn't refuse. He knows his contact at the Secret Service is the best person to secure a safe place for Dana and Mulder to meet Will. After all these years, reestablishing their relationship with Will might be the best thing that could ever happen to them. An image of Luke flashes before him and he realizes the hole it's left in his heart will never heal. Maybe it can be different for Dana and Mulder.
The calendar on his computer panel pings, he checks the entry and heads over to his rental car. With Gibson, Miya, Skinner and Marita arriving, there will be eight of them in close proximity to each other. How easy and convenient for Krycek or whomever this maniac is to take them all out at once. He knows the others will see his reasoning and they'll understand, they have to disperse making it harder for the perpetrator to find them. He takes a moment to record a message saying as much and hits the send button to all.
He's meeting with SAC Paulson from the Denver Field office. She's promised her agents will give their full cooperation. Doggett could hear it in her voice, she's looking forward to meeting Gibson, his tenure with the Bureau has been short but his reputation as a profiler has become bigger than life, and Mulder and Scully, their names and cases are now legendary in the FBI.
He walks toward the standard American made rental car. His own car was destroyed in the missile attack and this one will have to do for now. He swings himself into the driver's seat and turns the ignition. As he pulls out onto the street heading toward SAC Paulson's office, he has no idea that he'll never get there.
Petie's eyes are puffy and red rimmed from crying. Will's been avoiding her, when she last saw him he turned away. She feels guilty for making him so unhappy and wonders if she's made a mistake. Maybe she should make up with him, but the feeling of guilt is replaced with dread when she thinks about his needs and not her own.
Ms. Reyes had asked for her help in finding him. She said it was important that some people from Washington, DC had come to meet with him. Petie was a little alarmed at the way she acted, like it was a big deal, so she agreed.
She thought he'd be at the shed, but when she got there it was open and empty except for the lock and key in the corner of the room. She's not sure where else to look, but knowing Will, he wouldn't have gone far. As she walks back toward her dorm something catches her eye, it's Will's ball cap with the NY Yankees logo. Petie picks it up and her heart begins to race, she instantly knows something is wrong. He would never have thrown it away, it meant too much to him.
Worried about Will, she starts to walk faster along the path. She suddenly feels like someone is watching her and her skin starts to crawl. She looks over her shoulder and the shrubs rustle and move, a panicky feeling comes over her and she breaks into a run, as she hears footsteps behind her.
"Scully, I know I've broken promises before, but this isn't going to be one of them. You can call the shots. I can live with or without this." The diner seems to have become their conference room as they talk over coffee. The FBI agents sent to protect them are sitting at the counter scanning the news on their computer panels.
"If you're changing your ways Mulder, than maybe we can talk about a few other things." Scully gives a half hearted smirk.
"Like I told you, Monica and John are setting this up. They'll find us a safe place to meet and Monica will bring him over. They're using my affiliation with World Health as the pretense for the visit."
Scully's eyes light up, "He wants to go to Purdue and study chemical engineering. I haven't the right to be proud of him, but I am."
Mulder nods his head affirmatively. "I wanted this for you but now I want it for myself too. Besides, giving birth this time around will be easier for you, and I'll actually get to be there. I guess it's too late to cut the cord."
They smile through their grim expressions and reach over the table to take each others hand.
The Towne car rolls down highway E470 towards Boulder. The FBI agent sent to pick up Marita and Miya at the Denver airport was cordial and professional but has said little to them.
Miya breaks the silence first. "I asked Gibson to reconsider, but he insisted this was for the best. John's message made an impression on him, he has a good point, don't you agree?"
"Yes, caution is important but it's also important we share information, I dislike being kept in the dark." Marita adds, she and Skinner had quarreled about the arrangement, but in the end he would not back down. They are being taken to a secure location where they'll eventually meet the others.
"Excuse me, Agent Nelson, how much further is it?" Miya asks timidly.
The FBI Agent looks over his shoulder at them. "We should arrive in another twenty minutes." He turns back abruptly.
Marita is surprised to see her friend's face turn deathly pale. Her eyes are filled with distress and she knows something is wrong.
"Agent Nelson, Mrs. Praise isn't feeling well, please pull over!"
The car turns off onto the shoulder of the highway and Miya turns to Marita whispering "Just do what he says, he doesn't want to harm us."
"Who are you talking about, what do you mean?" Marita answers in a hushed tone. The words are barely out of her mouth when Agent Nelson turns around with his weapon pointed at them. He reaches with his free hand under the collar of his dress shirt and grabs at his flesh. As he pulls at his neck a synthetic mask comes up and bits of artificial skin sprinkle onto his dark colored suit.
"She's right Ms. Covarrubius, I don't want to harm either of you." Alexi looks back at them with a knowing smile.