Sanctuary
Athens, Greece
02:23 PM

Dana Scully propped her chin on one hand, exhaustion creeping in. Mulder had been talking nonstop about every conceivable – and inconceivable – conspiracy they'd ever encountered. The most astonishing part? These people wereactuallylistening.

"Could you elaborate on the abduction, Agent Mulder?"Saga's interest was genuine.

"Just Mulder is fine, Saga."Mulder leaned forward, energized."Right, the abduction… Scully was missing for months…"

And there he went, detailing her abduction and the horrific experiments as if recounting an episode ofThe Twilight Zone. Scully's irritation flared – she'd become the unwilling subject of the story – until Camus intervened, sparing her further embarrassment.

"But Agent Mulder,"Camus interjected, curiosity lacing his tone,"given all you've shared, why continue pursuing this? And more importantly, how did you end up in Antarctica inside an alleged alien spacecraft?"His discreet glance at Scully made it clear: he wanted the focus back on theship.

"We…"Mulder glanced at Scully, who looked away."I couldn't stop. They took Scully away. I was given both evidence and something that could end all this madness. And we were soclose… After all we've seen, how could we turn away? It's my journey."He searched Scully's face for approval but found none."I'm just lucky to have a partner like Agent Scully beside me."

An uncomfortable silence settled over the table. Mulder had overexposed her – again – and everyone noticed. Scully still refused to meet his eyes, and Mulder deflated, his earlier enthusiasm gone. Sensing the tension, Shaka steered the conversation back.

"The ship radiated living Cosmo energy. You were inside it?"Mulder nodded."Did you see a core? A casing? Anything resembling an energy source?"

"No source, but the entire interior was connected by vein-like structures. And liquid-filled capsules… with creatures ."Shaka's clinical question worked; Mulder relaxed."I found Scully in one of those capsules. Had to break the seal, remove a tube from her throat… and inject a vaccine first."

"A vaccine?"Aiolia perked up."Did you bring a sample?"

"No, I must've dropped the syringe in the ship. After injecting Scully, everything started shaking – like the ship wasrejectingthe substance."

"Revolting against it?"Aiolia pressed.

"That must've been when I felt the Cosmo surge,"Saori mused.

"Mulder."Scully finally turned to him."You said the ship reacted violently to the vaccine. Do you even knowwhatit was?"

"No. Only that it counteracted the alien virus in your system."Mulder's voice was subdued.

"But there's a way to isolate the substance,"Aiolia cut in."It hasn't even been 24 hours, right?"

"You're right."Scully eyed Aiolia, intrigued by his technical focus."Aiolia, was it?"He nodded, smiling."Many compounds can be isolated from blood within 72 hours. If I was inoculated less than a day ago, it's possible. But we'd need a lab–"

"The Graad Foundation has advanced laboratories,"Saori offered."Aiolia can discreetly collect and deliver samples. Secrecy is paramount even within my foundation."

Mulder stared at the girl-goddess, stunned by her poise. In fact,allof them defied expectations – more professional than half his FBI colleagues.

Mu noticed Scully's exhaustion worsening. Hypothermia had hit her harder – she was smaller, obviously frailer than Mulder. Post-meal drowsiness didn't help. Time to get them settled.

"Then it's settled,"Mu said."Aiolia will escort Agent Scully to the infirmary for the blood draw."Aiolia stood, offering his arm. Scully took it without hesitation."Shura and I will show Mulder the guesthouse. Youbothneed rest."

Mulder hated letting Scully go alone but knew she needed space. He'd apologize later.

"Fine by me."He rose."Scully, you good?"

"I'll be sleep."She still wouldn't look at him.

"Let's go."Shura clapped Mulder's back."Mu, teleport Aiolia and Scully, the infirmary's a bit far and she can't walk that much."

"Right."Mu touched their shoulders, and they vanished.

Mulder 't something you got used to. Shura nudged him.

"¡Vamos,hombre! You're dead on your feet!" He waved to the others."See you at the arena for free training. Ididn'tforget."

"Glad you remember. We've got thatlast issueto settle, Capricorn."Saga's smirk made Milo, Camus, and even Shaka laugh at the inside joke.

"Lunch was lovely, but I've got work."Saori stood, sighing.

"I'll accompany you, Saori."Camus followed her out.

Their footsteps faded before Milo mocked,"'I'llaccompanyyou, Saori'…"He rolled his eyes."Such a suck-up."

"Milo."Shaka chided."Camus assists with her administrative duties. Not everyone lives for training. Someone has to handle the paperwork too."

"Isn't Saga enough for that? He's older, more suited for all that red tape..."

"Which remindsmeto get back to work. But Milo, if you knew how much we have to do, you'd come help instead of sulking with your silly jealousy." Saga chuckled.

Mulder observed the whole exchange, fascinated and confused, of course. Shura noticed and decided it was time to get him out of there before his head exploded.

"Alright, time to move, this midday sun is brutal, and this American desperately needs a nap." Shura nudged Mulder toward the exit. "See you all later!"

As Shaka and Saga headed to the 13th temple for the rest of the workday, one word lingered in their minds:

Alien.

They were going to have a lot of research ahead of them.

TO BE CONTINUED…