Photo created by Roseh20

PROLOGUE: The small urban town of Fresko was located 15 miles south of the California/Oregon Border. Fresko was the type of town where people always came home before 11:00 p.m, not because of it being a dangerous high-crime town but because the people were afraid of what their neighbors might think. Anything radical of nature or void of family values was looked down upon. Along with this attitude, divorce and a number of the relatively new 90's ideas were shunned upon. Each house has a wrap-a-round deco porch, most of them having rose gardens lining their houses as well. Basically, a small town with small town values. Some people would describe this town as trapped in the 1950's. Nothing eventful ever happened in this town, which is why you never see it on the regional and state maps. Nothing of Value. What your about to hear changed all that: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chapter One:

Simon Cressler couldn't believe his luck. Once he heard that Fran's Shop-O-Rama store was having a 1.99 Special on a lb of beef, he jumped in his four -wheel drive and hauled butt as fast as he can to get some of that bargain pricing.. Isnt everyday, you find deals like this. Fran always had a habit of not ordering enough goods for the small town, so when it came to grocery shopping, you had to ordeal through her heavy prices for food and drinks. Complaining didn't accomplish anything either, because Fran's excuse everytime was "I have to make my money somewhere, don't I?". Yea well, why couldn't she just order more stock and mark down the price some while she was at it? But Simon couldn't answer that because it already was widely known that Fran lost all her common sense when she started spouting that non-sense about all the U.F.O mumbo-jumbo. Ever since then, the town just basically kept their distance from the woman who has a few screws loose.

Simon chuckled to himself at that thought. It still didn't stop everybody from shopping at her store seeing how it was the only grocery goods store in Fresko, California.

When Simon got to the meat counter, he just couldn't believe his luck. Two lbs of beef left. He popped them into his cart with his other grocerys and made his way to the counter.

"Hey Fran, how are you today?" he asked just using common courtesy, but not really caring about her one way or the other. Today she looked like a wreck, in fact she looked like a full-blown disaster. Her hair was all frizled, she had sags under her eyes, and she had the saddest face Simon's seen in a long time. "What's wrong Fran? What happened to you?"

"I've been having problems sleeping lately, Simon" she said ringing up his grocerys "having terrible nightmares for the past two weeks. I really don't know whats the matter, I've tried medication and all and the nightmares continue to come."

"What kind of nightmares? If you don't mind me asking" he asked cautiously.

She looked straight into his eyes with the kind of stare that sent a shiver down his spine. A stare of pain, sorrow, hatred, and dread all mixed into one.

"Flashbacks," she continued taking his money for the grocerys, "terrible flashbacks of my night with THEM."

Simon didn't know what to say. He didn't believe in Extra-terrerestrials so he couldn't very well relate to what Fran was going through. Most likely Fran already knew his beliefs on the subject of Aliens. Gossip traveled fast in a town of this size. Everybody knew everything about everybody. That was basically the town motto of Fresko, California.

He received his change and looked back at Fran. He couldn't figure out anything comforting to say to her other then "I'm sorry"

"It's alright Simon, I'll be alright" she went on not too convincingly "you have a nice day."

"Sure, you too Fran" he said and made his exit quickly. He wanted out of there as fast as he could.

As he was reaching for his truck keys, he felt that something was terrible wrong but he didn't exactly know what that something was. He heard the two ladies walking their dogs gasp behind him and when he looked at them, he noticed they were staring up. When he looked up, his first reaction was to rub his eyes. When the glowing white light didn't disappear afterwards he knew something WAS terribly wrong. There, not forty feet above Fran's Shop-O-Rama was a glowing white ball of light hovering in one place. There was a constant hum originating from the source of light, and the beauty of the light he couldn't explain mesmerized Simon. The ladies walking their dogs had the same reaction, holding hands to their mouths in awe.

Amazingly, it was still hovering there 5 minutes later with a much larger crowd gathered around the small town's grocery store. There was at least 20 on-lookers now, gazing at the powerful sight of the glowing white ball. Simon looked down at his watch, confirming that it has indeed about 5 minutes.

"Look at that!" "What is it?" "It's so beautiful"

With a blur of motion that the human eye couldn't even see, the light was now above the crowd of on-lookers. Two kids from the crowd ran as fast as they could scared out of their mind. Simon couldn't blame them, he should be scared himself. As well as everybody else in this crowd, but the only thing they wanted to do was look up, stare at the white light. It was literally calling their names, beckoning them to come closer and join in the beauty. Simon decided it was time to leave himself. That's when all hell broke loose. There was brilliant flash of fluorescent colors, half of the colors the human eye couldn't register in a normal sense. After the flash, came this deep stab of pain straight into Simon's chest. It felt as if someone was reaching in and pulling out his ribs, one by one. The pain was intense and fast at the same time. It seemed as if time stood still for the briefest of moments, all motions blurred, and the last conscious action of the crowd was to scream out in agony and pain.

All except one. Simon Cressler.

Simon woke up, his back and neck hurting severely from the hard surface of the parking lot, a little after midnight. However, he couldn't see what time it was in fact because his watch for some reason stopped at 7:24 p.m. He couldn't explain that, seeing how he just bought new batteries for his watch. Then again, he couldn't explain any of the events of the past 5 hours. He was trying to explain to himself about waking up in the parking lot of Shop-O-Rama and his watch's sudden death when he looked around for the first time. Taking in the scene around him, his eyes going wide in shock. The only thing he could bring himself to do was scream like he never screamed before. He couldn't believe the carnage around him, a sight Simon Cressler will remember until the day he dies, a sight no sane person would ever forget.

Lying around Simon was the mutilated bodies of the 20 or so on-lookers from earlier that night. That wasn't the most horrifying part of it though. That in itself was of course terrifying to wake up to but there was something even more dreadful, even more terrible. All of the mutilated corpses were missing eyes….

This first part was written by Jarrod S.

It was much too early in the morning for this, Mulder thought, scooping the brown manila folder off of his desk. No familiar X marking. Just a plain VCS folder. Sighing in resignation, he slouched into his chair and opened the file. Skimming the plain black and white text with his deep hazel eyes, he sat up a little bit straighter. He turned the page, and sat up even more. Tracing one long finger over the type, he blinked, then batted at a lock of chestnut hair that had drifted over his forehead. Minutes later, the door slowly swung open, and Scully entered. Her soft, auburn hair was impeccable, as usual, and she was wearing her lavender suit. He barely spared her a glance as he held up a hand in greeting. "Good Morning, Mulder," she called as she slid into a chair. Spotting the file he was so engrossed in, she slid her chair closer. "How many cows were exsanguinated this time?" Mulder remained deadpan. "Five bucktoothed sherriffs and a pair of flukemen." "He didn't have buck teeth." "Uh huh..." "No, really Mulder." She held out a hand. Mulder flipped back a few pages, to a black and white photograph, and handed her the file. "Those aren't cows, Scully."

This part was written by Jennifer Coffin

"Cult activities perhaps?" Scully asked back after looking at the photos,"the missing eyes are sure sign of it."

"Perhaps Scully," he said back, then handing her a photo of a middle aged man, medium built, and whitening hair,"there's just one catch, this man."

"Ok, what happened."

Mulder walked her through Simon's account of the incident step-by-step,then walked over to his cabinet and grabbed another case file. "By the way Scully, Simon used to be a darkhaired fellow..turned white over night."

"Trauma will do that to a man" she answered back, glancing down at the file in his hand and wondering what exactly was in it...

"Scully, I dont remember telling you this before, but, while doing some research after our brief trip down in Mexico.."he paused, seeing if indeed she did remember the incident at the Mayan Temple and their search for the lost exacavation team, "I was skimming, looking for further connections between the ancient race and aliens. I came across this..." Mulder handed her the file.

"Apparently, their "gods" did more then just use their temples as home and demand sacrifices in their honor... I found one other strange thing listed.." he went on cautiously.

Scully was already giving him of those "Your not actually saying...." looks and Mulder knew better then to push his luck.

"Mulder..."

"It seems," he continued, cutting off his partner's disbelief, " that Quieztamlana, one of their *gods* also did something else on a routine basis."

"Mulder, your not actually saying that these aliens are back and their demanding new sacrifices, are you?" she asked back incrediusly.

"Why not Scully?" he asked back with a hint of innocence, "how else do you explain Simon's accounts of the events involved? If you look closely, you'll find that both those case files have similiar, if not the same exact patterns regarding the victims. Mutilated bodys, laccerations on their arms and legs, and of course, missing eyes."

"Ok, Mulder, why didnt Simon get the same treatment?"

"Thats what were going to find out." he responded with a smile. Reaching in his desk, he pulled out two plane tickets."Here's our tickets, we fly out tomorrow morning. Skinner's already approved it."

Scully sighed to herself in resignation. So much for alittle peace and quiet, which is what she was secretly hoping for today. Nope, cant have that...not when there's alien chasing to be done.

This part was written by Jarrod S.

They arrived at a small airport, with a two-hour drive to Fresko ahead of them. Scully drove, as Mulder flipped through the case file. It was about 2:00 in the afternoon.

Mulder: " I called the local sheriff, he has a guard on Simon Cressler. He said he didn't want Simon losing any body parts and having his eyes sucked out. At least we don't have to track the guy down and maybe he can give us some insight on what happened."

Scully had both hands on the wheel, looking strait ahead, making sure she didn't pass the exit. She glanced at Mulder and began with,

Scully: "Mulder, what do you hope to find? What if Simon is a cult leader and has made up this extraordinary story that's so vivid that he went as far as to dye his hair and make it seem like something unexplainable happened.

Mulder: "Then either he should go into the movie business, I hear special effects artists are in demand, or he's the type that pulled the legs off of insects and probably moved to animals and now wants to see what it would be like using people. But I don't think so Scully, I don't think this town is like the rest of the world. Things like this never happen to this town."

Mulder looked over to Scully and gave her his all to familiar "I'm very excited and I love this job." smile. Scully looked ahead.

They reached the small town of Fresko. The first building they saw was the Shop-O-Rama. Scully parked the car. Mulder stepped out and headed in.

Mulder: " I'll be right back Scully."

Scully looked around the eerie town. It was quiet, two older women were walking their dogs, but they looked robotic. They were stiff, almost frightened. She looked down and saw a white stain in the middle of the

parking lot, Similar to oil stains but this one was in a perfect circle and seemed more like a burn mark. It was 15 feet in diameter.

Mulder cautiously pushed the door and walked in. A tired looking woman was fighting with her cash register, trying to close it.

Fran: "Dang blasted register!"

Mulder waited until he could get a word in.

Mulder: " Where are the sunflower seeds?"

Fran: " Fourth row behind the cookies."

She looked at him with distrusting eyes. She watched his every move. Mulder looked frantically for the seeds but couldn't find any. He moved things all around looking for them.

Fran: " You're not from around here are ya? I know all the folks round here. What business do you have here?

Mulder walked back to the counter where she was, pulled out his badge and put it front of her face.

Mulder: "I'm Agent Mulder with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Where did you say the seeds were?

Fran: "FBI? What business does the FBI have here?

Mulder: "My partner and I are here because of the mysterious mutilations of 20 people and we're here to speak with Simon Cressler. Where you around when the murders took place? If I'm not mistaken the incident happened right outside."

Fran spoke with a lower tone of voice.

Fran: "mmmm...I... I was home with a bit of a cold."

Mulder looked down at her name-tag

Mulder: " You must be Fran the owner of this store? The report I have indicated you spoke with the Sheriff.... "

Fran now nervously sweating, cut off Mulder and said,

Fran: "I...I had to come back to the store because I forgot my expense book. When I arrived the sheriff was already here, I didn't see a thing."

Mulder: " Do you know Simon Cressler?

Fran: " I saw him every now and again. But I never really chatted with him. Sides, the sheriffs got him in custody on the count that he's the only one that survived that horrible ordeal."

Mulder: "Where were those seeds again?

Fran walked past Mulder with her head down and went to get the seeds. Mulder looked across the counter and saw some pictures of Fran and another woman. It looked like it was taken on a ranch. In the distant background there was a light source, it looked like a strong light. Fran walked back slowly to the counter.

Fran: " I'm sorry looks like we're out."

Mulder: " You look like you had a good time." Pointing to the picture.

Fran:" Yeah, that's my sister on her ranch."

Mulder: " Where's the light source coming from?"

Fran again spoke with a quiet nervous voice. She lightly covered her mouth with a small smile behind her hand.

Fran: "It's the film, my mother never could take a decent picture."

Fran was nervous, she had that picture up in memory of her sister, and as the first time she saw the light thing. But she concealed the fact that she knew it wasn't a film problem. She didn't want to be blamed in any way for the events that took place. Everyone knew she spoke of strange phenomenon. She desperately wished for Mulder to leave. Mulder thanked her and walked out to see Scully examining the white stain on the ground. Mulder walked over to Scully now bent down looking closer.

Mulder: " This was where the murders took place, I spoke to the owner of the store and she said she wasn't around. What do you think did that?"

Scully placed her hand on the markings. She looked up at Mulder.

Scully: "Mulder I can't tell you what did this. I mean there is nothing that indicates that it may have been a chemical spill or anything. Its almost like, a very strong heat source burned the ground."

Mulder: "Maybe these people still use old fashioned cameras that need the bursting flame for the flash."

Scully: " What ever did this Mulder it was...."

Scully was quickly interrupted by a man' s voice. It was the sheriff. A tall man with jet black hair, a healthy tan complexion and chocolate eyes. His muscular body size was complemented by his deep voice. It

startled Scully into standing up.

Sheriff: " You the FBI agents?"

Mulder and Scully both pulled out their badges and Mulder began with, "I'm Agent Mulder and this is Agent Scully. You must be the towns sheriff."

Sheriff: " That's right, name's Sheriff D. Odomes, but everyone round hear calls me Sheriff Dod.

This part was written by DOD

Mulder: "We were wondering if we could ask Mr. Cressler a few questions."

Sheriff: "Hmph! Good luck. That man's wrapped tighter than my aunt Judy's purse."

Scully: "Sheriff, maybe you could help explain what this circular mark is."

The sheriff took his hat off, stroked his hair back and put it back on nice and snug on his head.

Sheriff: "That there ma'am is a bigger mystery than the surprise in my wife's meat loaf surprise. My deputies haven't seen anything like it before. I even consulted the town Doc to see if he'd ever seen anything like it."

Scully lowered her brow and asked, Scully: "How would the town doctor know anything about such markings?"

Sheriff: "He's a bit of a renaissance man if you will. He's traveled around and seen just about everything. He's claimed to have seen a man walk through walls, to have seen the raising of the dead and to seeing UFOs in Mexico. He's kinda new round here. This town don't believe to much in that nonsense."

Mulder looked down at Scully and smiled, because of his Quieztamlana theory. Scully just looked up and returned the gesture, in a sarcastic manner.

Mulder: "Is this doctor around by any chance?"

Sheriff: "Ol Doc Bernstein? Yeah, matter a fact he's performing further tests on the mutilated bodies as we speak. I could take you there."

Mulder looked down at Scully. Mulder: "Why don't you figure out what you can at Dr. Berstein's office while I question Cressler?"

Sheriff Dod heard his radio blaring in his patrol car, he quickly ran to his car. Mulder put one arm around Scully and walked her towards their car.

Mulder: "UFO's in Mexico. Hmm don't you love it when I hit them out of the park?"

Scully: "Six years Mulder and you've been right all along.... my legs are too short, maybe you should drive next time."

The sheriff quickly came back, short of breath, Sheriff: "Cressler's going nuts holding one of my men hostage. I better get back there before Big Hank gets carried away."

Mulder stepped towards the sheriff and gestured for them to go. Scully was unsure of what to do, she got in the car and thought of following them. Mulder turned and yelled out,

Mulder: "Go to Dr. Berstein's."

Scully rolled her window down and yelled back, Scully: "Where is his office?"

Mulder pointed in the direction just west of the Shop-O-Rama, Scully turned around and lowered her shoulders. She looked back to Mulder as to confirm. She turned the car off and stepped out.

Scully: "Small town. (letting out a deep breath) Just a nice quiet day, is that so hard to ask?"

Mulder and the Sheriff shoved off for the station. Sheriff: "This isn't the first time he's done this. Ever since we've had him he's been throwing fits like a wild mustang."

Mulder: "Has he given any explanation as to why?"

Sheriff: " Nope. All he does is bang himself against the walls in his cell, but it seems that this time he's got a hold of one of my deputies through the bars."

Mulder: "You mentioned Big Hank, who's Big Hank?"

Sheriff: "He's a new deputy. Came on about the time Simon had his run in with the "thing" (sarcastic tone.) They've been at each other since. Hank was highly recommended by the boys in your neck of the woods. Cant' figure why someone from a city like Washington would wanna come down here. Unless he had some disciplinary troubles. With this mess on my hands the town's people are in an uproar. I need the experience he has from the city."

They arrived at the station and jumped out of the car. As soon as they entered they heard the angry voices of the impatient deputies trying not to use excessive force with Simon. The deputy being held by Simon was beginning to pass out. Simon had him in a mean choke hold and had a tazer to his throat. Simon was screaming unlike any man would. Almost with a woman quality. It made the deputies think twice before trying to subdue the mad man. One deputy had his gun drawn and edged closer to Simon's head. Simon yelled out at such a high pitch it made the deputy clench his ears and drop his gun. Mulder had never heard anything like that before. He summed up his skills and gathered as much information as he could within the five seconds of the first impression. His advanced profiler skills always came in handy at times like these. The sheriff drew his gun and began to direct his deputies back so he and Mulder could try to take control. Mulder walked towards Simon never leaving his eyes. Simon almost began with another banshee scream, but hesitated. In the eeriest spine tingling voice imaginable he asked,

Simon: "What are you lookin at!?"

Mulder raised his hands and kept getting closer,

Mulder: "I just want for the deputy to be safe"

Simon: "NNNNO! I... I won't! Not until I...I ggget what I want!"

Mulder: "What do want Simon?"

Simon: "I waant to go HOME!"

Mulder: "OK, If you let go of the deputy I'll personally see to it that you go home."

Simon: "Don't mess with me! Don't you mess with me!"

Mulder: "I'll take you home Simon, just let him go."

Mulder got right up to him and motioned for the tazer. He successfully took it out of his hands. Mulder: "Now let him go Simon, I'll take you home, just let him go."

Simon loosened his grip on the deputy, slowly he let go and stared into Mulder's face. Mulder grabbed the deputy, all the deputies ran to his aid and carried him away. Sheriff Dod holstered his gun and stepped towards Mulder. Simon got as close to Mulder as possible and stared into his eyes with such coldness. He whispered in a murderous voice,

Simon: "I know you...."

Mulder jumped when Sheriff Dod placed his hand on his shoulder and thanked him for saving the life of his deputy. What did Simon mean? Everything was calm now. Simon slumped over and headed for his bed. He just lay there with his eyes directed at the ceiling, never blinking. Mulder turned towards the sheriff,

Mulder: "Is it always like this?"

Sheriff: "Yes, since he's been here. With a guy like that you know for sure he killed all those people."

Mulder: "I would like to talk to him in private if possible."

Sheriff: "Have you been using your cell phone too much? You know that fries your brains? You've seen what just happened. I don't wanna be responsible for the death of you."

Mulder: "Chain him down and set him up in the interrogation room."

Sheriff: "Your funeral. We'll wait till he eats, he's usually manageable afterwards."

Dr. Berstein's Office.

Scully makes her way into the doctor's office. A bell rang as the door opened, it reminded Scully of a drug store and not a doctor's office. A middle-aged woman was at her desk typing away when she looked up and greeted Scully,

Secretary: "Well hello, how can I help you?"

Pulling out her badge,

Scully: "I'm Agent Scully and I'm here to see Dr. Bernstein."

Secretary: "Oh sure let me see if he's available."

Scully waited while the secretary entered another room. Scully began looking around the office. There were countless recognition's for excellence from George Washington University, decorating the wall. That impressed Scully. She walked about looking at the photos and memorabilia. She saw pictures of what seemed to be Mayan ruins in the middle of mountains and jungles. She walked further along and saw a lot of familiar photos, UFOs mostly. In a sarcastic tone she whispered,

Scully: "A member of Mulder's fan club."

She was startled when she almost tripped over a dog,

Scully: "Hello puppy, what's your name?"

She immediately heard a voice, it was the doctor,

Dr. Bernstein: "His name was sparky. He's stuffed."

Scully: "Oh, it seems so life like."

Dr. Bernstein: " Yes, Jack did a great job. That was his favorite spot so I put him there. Margaret tells me you are with the FBI?"

Scully pulls out her badge again,

Scully: "Yes, Agent Scully, I'm here investigating the mysterious deaths."

Doctor: "Ah so you think it was the work of a UFO do ya?"

Scully: "Sir?"

Doctor: "Well why else would the FBI be here if it wasn't something like that?"

Scully: " I'm a medical doctor. I'm here to take a look at the bodies and try to understand how they died."

(with a sarcastic tone) Dr.: "Sure, follow me."

Scully followed the heavy man to the back where five of the twenty bodies were on tables. They looked like puzzles. Pieced together.

Doctor: "Ah, look at that. I leave for five seconds and they fall apart on me."

Scully just looked at his face, wrinkled up from a big smiled,

Doctor: "A little small town doctor humor."

Scully edged closer and examined the severed legs of one of the victims. She poked the edges of the limbs where they were severed and looked up,

Scully: "Have you found out what severed these people's limbs?"

Doctor: " No ma'am. Nearest I can tell is that an extremely high heat source did this. It's conclusive with Simon Cressler's statement."

Scully: "But how can you account for the clean cuts, no heat source would leave such fine edges. Not even the laser of today. There would still be burning around the edges."

Doctor: "Yeah, I kinda thought the same thing. Until I noticed this."

DOD has decided to write the rest of this story, this part and future parts were all written by him