Subject: NEW: Odyssey 5/12
Sent: 31/01 11:16 AM
Received: 31/01 6:14 PM
From: Sharon Nuttycombe, avalon@terranet.ab.ca
To: dobbo@c031.aone.net.au
Odyssey part 5/12
Sharon Nuttycombe
avalon@terranet.ab.ca
August 21, 1996
************************************************************
This is a Scully and Skinner action/adventure story. It is not
related to my former story, Crossing the Line. (There will be a
sequel to Crossing the Line, but this is not it). It is not NC
-17 but is rated R for violence.
SUMMARY: When Mulder disappears in the Caribbean, Scully and
Skinner are drawn into a web of intrigue and danger.
I am a permanent resident of the State of Denial -- Avatar never
happened.
I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Alistair Maclean's "The Golden
Rendezvous". OK - I shamelessly stole his ideas, but I made
lots of changes. Honest. This is an homage... :)
Apologies for any medical inaccuracies!
I would appreciate any comments or criticism. Many thanks.
Acknowledgements: Thanks to Linda Campbell for racking up a
huge phone bill helping me plot this monster, and for refusing
to let me pack it in when the going got tough...
Disclaimer: Scully, Skinner, and Mulder belong to Chris
Carter. I don't own them, I'm only borrowing them for a while
(But do I have to return Skinner? Can I keep him, huh Chris?
Please...?)
************************************************************
Odyssey part 5/12
TUESDAY EVENING
THE ODYSSEY. SICKBAY.
The ship is forging through increasingly heavy waves as the sun
sets. In sickbay, Henderson and the Captain are still
unconscious. Scully is sitting on the edge of Skinner's bed,
checking his pulse. The door to sickbay opens and Josef and
another terrorist enter.
JOSEF: This is cosy.
SCULLY: (Wearily) What do you want?
JOSEF: What is Dietrich's condition?
SCULLY: He's still breathing. He's got a bullet in his chest.
It needs to come out. Right now, whether he lives or
dies depends on his constitution, and how soon he
receives proper medical care.
JOSEF: Can't you operate?
SCULLY: Only if you want him to die. If I cut him open now,
under these conditions, it will kill him. You might
as well just shoot him.
JOSEF: I need him alive.
SCULLY: Then I suggest you turn this ship around and head for
the nearest hospital as fast as you can.
JOSEF: I'm afraid that is not an option, Doctor.
SCULLY: (Pauses) You promised me some help.
JOSEF: It's on the way. (Looks at Skinner.) How's the leg,
Secret Agent Man?
SCULLY: The bullet fractured his left femur. It missed the
femoral artery but it tore through the rectus femoris
and vastus intermedius. He'll certainly never walk
again. Not without crutches.
JOSEF: (Without much interest) Too bad. (To Skinner) I
guess you won't be playing hero anymore. (Skinner says
nothing. Josef prods at him with his rifle.)
SCULLY: Leave him alone.
JOSEF: I want answers first.
Without warning, he brings his rifle down hard on Skinner's
injury. Scully grabs his arm.
SCULLY: Stop it!
JOSEF: Heinrich!
The other terrorist steps forward, pulls her away and twists one
arm behind her back. As Josef raises his gun again, Scully
struggles against Heinrich and reaches with her free hand for the
surgical scissors on a table nearby. She stabs him in the arm
and he releases her. Scully spins to launch herself at Josef
only to find herself looking into the barrel of his gun. She
freezes and swallows.
JOSEF: Drop it, Doctor. (She hesitates.) Need I remind you
again of the dangers of disobeying me?
Scully glances at Skinner who is clutching his leg. He meets her
eyes and nods slightly. Scully reluctantly drops the scissors.
Heinrich seizes her from behind, blood dripping down his arm.
Josef steps toward her and reaches out to cup her chin upward,
running one finger along her swollen and cut lip. She jerks her
head out of his grasp.
JOSEF: That was unwise, Doctor.
SCULLY: (Bravely) It seemed like a good idea at the time.
JOSEF: You were wrong. (Draws his handgun.)
SCULLY: You can't kill me. I'm the only doctor on board. You
need me.
JOSEF: But I don't need him.
He aims the gun at Skinner, who does not move. Josef's finger
tightens on the trigger.
SCULLY: (Quickly) Don't!
JOSEF: (Looks sideways toward her) Why not?
SCULLY: (Swallows) Because if you kill him, I won't help you.
JOSEF: You won't have a choice.
SCULLY: I'll let Dietrich die. I'll kill him myself if I have
to.
JOSEF: And what about your Hippocratic Oath, Doctor Kimble?
SCULLY: To hell with Hippocrates and to hell with you!
(Heinrich's hands tighten about her, and she struggles
briefly against him.)
JOSEF: (Holsters the handgun. To Scully) I don't have to
kill you to make you wish you'd obeyed me. (He takes a
step forward).
SKINNER: That's enough. Let her go. (Josef turns back to
Skinner).
JOSEF: You are no longer in a position to give orders,
Assistant Director Skinner. I am in command of this
ship now.
SKINNER: For how long? One of your men has been shot, the
ship's doctor is dead, and it's only thanks to blind
luck that there's another person with medical training
on board. Hell, I've got file clerks that are better
at organizing than you.
Josef tenses and reaches for his gun once more. Scully
interrupts.
SCULLY: Somebody get this Neanderthal off of me. I've got
patients to see to.
JOSEF: Certainly Doctor. And your first one will be Heinrich.
I'm sure you won't mind repairing the damage you did,
will you?
Josef gestures to Heinrich whose arms tighten around her before
reluctantly letting her go. Scully instantly steps away, stares
at Josef for a moment then stalks silently across the sickbay to
the supply room. She returns a moment later and stitches
Heinrich up, ignoring his intense gaze. After she finishes he
rolls down his sleeve and brushes purposely by her as he rejoins
Josef. Scully suppresses a shudder and looks away. Josef gives
Scully a measuring look. At that moment, his radio crackles and
he speaks into it in German, then returns it to his belt. He
gives Heinrich a quick order and they both turn to leave. Josef
pauses at the door.
JOSEF: (To Scully) Remember this. If Dietrich dies you die.
You all die. Do you understand me?
Scully nods silently.
JOSEF: Heinrich will be outside the door. You will inform him
as soon as Dietrich is awake.
It is not a question. Josef stares intently at Skinner and
Scully for a long moment then spins on his heel and exits with
Heinrich.
SKINNER: Lovely bedside manner you've got, Doctor.
Scully shivers, then returns to the Captain's side.
* * *
TUESDAY EVENING
THE ODYSSEY. SICKBAY.
The cabin slowly grows darker, and Scully turns on some lights,
staring briefly out the window at the ocean. The ship has
altered course and is beginning to roll more heavily in the
swells. It has also increased its speed, and the low rumble of
its engines can be heard. She turns back to Skinner, rubbing the
back of her neck.
SCULLY: There's a storm coming.
SKINNER: I know. (Scully crosses to his side.)
SCULLY: How are you feeling?
SKINNER: I've been better.
SCULLY: You're lucky only a couple of stitches were torn open.
SKINNER: I don't feel lucky.
SCULLY: Are the painkillers wearing off?
SKINNER: Did you give me painkillers? (Pauses.) I'm fine. But
we need to talk. We've got to find out what these
people want.
SCULLY: And how they got on board? We still don't know
anything about this ship...
SKINNER: Or where Agent Mulder's disappearance fits into all
this...
SCULLY: Too many questions and not enough answers.
SKINNER: Well, maybe it's time we started finding some of those
answers. (Throws the covers back, preparing to get
up.)
SCULLY: What are you doing?
SKINNER: You said it wasn't serious.
SCULLY: (Pressing on his shoulder) I also said you've lost a
lot of blood. Your system's in shock, your heart rate
is elevated, and you're running a slight fever. For
heaven's sake, get back in bed.
Skinner ignores her, removing her hands, and struggles to his
feet (in his boxer shorts). Once there, his vision greys out and
he sways.
SCULLY: (Taking his arm) Sit down before you fall down.
SKINNER: I'll be fine in a minute.
SCULLY: No you won't. And if you fall on your face, I won't be
able to pick you up again.
Skinner takes a cautious pace forward, hopping on his right leg,
and almost crashes to the ground. Scully tries desperately to
support him. Finally he gives in and lowers himself back onto
the bed.
SKINNER: (weakly) Aren't you going to say it?
SCULLY: (covering him up and taking his pulse) Say what?
SKINNER: I told you so.
SCULLY: Only if it will make you feel better. Just precisely
what did you think you were doing?
SKINNER: One of us has to try to get some help. If I can reach
the radio room, and your gun...
SCULLY: Sir, with all due respect, I think the drugs I gave you
are clouding your mind. You wouldn't make it five
steps down the corridor, even if you did manage to get
past the guard outside. You need time to heal.
SKINNER: Time is something we don't have much of. Just give me
some more painkillers and I'll be fine.
SCULLY: I'm not going to help you kill yourself.
SKINNER: (Darkly) Don't make me make it an order, Agent Scully.
Suddenly the door opens. Heinrich enters, carrying his rifle
over one shoulder, holding a young woman by the arm. She is tall
and slender, with long wavy brown hair, and is expensively
dressed. Heinrich shoves the woman forward and turns to leave.
He stares silently at Scully over his shoulder. She meets his
gaze. After a long moment, he exits. Scully suppresses a
shudder and does not meet Skinner's eyes. They both look at the
new arrival.
SCULLY: Who are you?
WOMAN: Victoria. Victoria Mason.
SCULLY: I'm Dana...Kimble and this is Walter Skinner.
VICTORIA: He...he said I was supposed to help you.
SCULLY: Who said?
VICTORIA: That man. Josef.
SCULLY: Are you part of the medical staff?
VICTORIA: I'm a passenger. I...the nurse was delayed joining the
ship and was supposed to catch up with us on Long
Island. He asked for anyone with medical experience.
SCULLY: What kind of experience?
VICTORIA: I took a Red Cross course once.
Scully and Skinner exchange glances, then Scully waves Victoria
to a seat. The woman sits down, nervously fiddling with her
Rolex.
SKINNER: What's been happening out there?
VICTORIA: After you went they took us all into the lounge.
SCULLY: Passengers and crew?
VICTORIA: Yes.
SKINNER: Did they say what they want?
VICTORIA: No. They just said that if we obeyed them, we wouldn't
get hurt. And that this would all be over by Thursday.
SCULLY: Thursday?
VICTORIA: Yes. That's what they said.
Skinner and Scully exchange a glance, realizing how little time
they have.
SCULLY: I wonder what happens on Thursday?
SKINNER: We'll find out, one way or another.
SCULLY: (To Victoria) How are the passengers?
VICTORIA: Scared. But no one else has been hurt. (Stands up.)
Look, I'm supposed to be helping you. Tell me what I
can do.
SCULLY: Well, we could use some coffee.
VICTORIA: (Incredulously) You want me to make coffee?
SCULLY: (With steel in her voice) Yes, please. There should
be some in there.
She indicates the small galley connected to sickbay. Victoria
stares at her for a moment then turns on her heel.
VICTORIA: Coffee. Sure.
She stalks from the room. Skinner raises an eyebrow and looks up
at Scully.
SKINNER: What's the matter?
SCULLY: (Evasively) I'm thirsty.
SKINNER: Have you seen her before?
SCULLY: Yes. She boarded at Nassau. We never spoke, but I saw
her around. She went to a lot of aerobics classes.
SKINNER: Which explains why Mrs. Dalton hid her husband's
binoculars.
SCULLY: (Shoots him a look) Aerobics or not, I think we should
watch what we say around her.
SKINNER: Agreed. Now, about those painkillers...
SCULLY: Fine.
SKINNER: (suspiciously) What? No arguments?
SCULLY: (meets his gaze) As you reminded me, you're the
Assistant Director. No arguments...Sir.
Scully gives him an injection.
SKINNER: How long?
SCULLY: About five minutes.
Victoria emerges from the galley with three mugs of coffee on a
tray. She puts the tray on a table and sits down beside Skinner.
VICTORIA: I didn't know how you liked it, Walter.
SKINNER: Black. No sugar.
VICTORIA: Good. I guessed right.
SCULLY: Ahem.
Scully coughs, and picks up the tray, one eyebrow raised.
Victoria shoots her a look then gets up, takes the tray from
Scully and carries it back to the galley.
SCULLY: She didn't ask how I like my coffee.
SKINNER: Must've slipped her mind. (His eyelids are growing
heavy.) I've gotta get going.
SCULLY: You're not going anywhere tonight. I just gave you a
sedative. In another minute or two you're going to be
unconscious.
SKINNER: ...thought I gave you a direct order...
SCULLY: You did. I guess you'll just have to fire me.
SKINNER: ...you're fired Dana... (Leans back wearily against the
pillow and closes his eyes.) ...Effective tomorrow...
SCULLY: (smiles to herself) Yes, sir.
* * *
END OF PART 5
Sharon Nuttycombe
avalon@terranet.ab.ca
celtic@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca
"Knowing's easy. Everyone does that ad nauseum.
I just sort of hope." -- Doctor Who
Sharon Nuttycombe
avalon@terranet.ab.ca
--"I have as much respect for the chain of command as the next guy.
--Only if you're standing next to Fletcher Christian." -- Adderly
(
geocities.com/hollywood)