Part 4/9

*****

El Creyente Base


Mulder leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes briefly,
trying to ease the headache that was steadily getting worse.
It didn't seem to help. In fact, closing his eyes made the
faint buzzing in his head worse. He opened them again and
tried to concentrate on the two small children in front of
him.

The buzzing continued. It wasn't actually noise, really, but
more a feeling. He had first felt it in Virginia, when he
and Ken had gone to meet Scully. At the time, he thought it
was probably due to a combination of nerves and the fact
that he hadn't used his gift of telepathy for a while. The
irritant had disappeared when he had arrived back at the
base, but now it was back, and he couldn't blame it on any
lack of telepathic exercise. He had been 'speaking' to the
children for days now, carefully keeping his mind in check
for fear that Gibson would 'hear' him even at a distance.

Gibson had arrived back at the base yesterday and Mulder had
resumed his silence... but his job had already been done.
Now he just needed to sit back and see if what he had
started would work. He had entered the training room (Mulder
preferred to call it the play room, but not in front of the
Grays) bright and early this morning, before Gibson had
arrived, and the children had greeted him with grins full of
mischief. Gibson had arrived, surprised to see Mulder there,
and then his surprise turned to confusion and worry as he
looked at the children. Mulder knew he was 'talking' to
them. Or trying to. They obviously weren't talking back.

Giving Mulder a glare, the young man had stormed out of the
room, more upset than Mulder would have expected. A couple
of the youngest children had looked at Mulder with fear on
their faces and on their conscience, too young yet to really
communicate with words, either verbally or mentally. Mulder
sent reassuring thoughts to them, using his short experience
as a father to comfort them. Though still worried, their
fear subsided.

Then the buzzing in Mulder's head had begun.

It was afternoon now, and Mulder had spent the entire day
with one or more of the children. Gibson had not returned,
and while that was unusual, the children decided it was
better than having him come back angry. Nap time had arrived
for all but the oldest, and Mulder sat watching them play
with an intricate puzzle-like toy, trying to understand what
his mind was trying to tell him. 

*Mulder?*

Mulder pulled his thoughts back outward as he heard R.J.
'say' his name.

*Yeah?*

*When will your little boy be able to come live with us?*

Mulder narrowed his eyes. He had never, even in the
beginning, talked to these children about Will. *Why do you
ask?*

R.J. glanced at Wes, and the younger boy nodded. They were
talking to each other, Mulder knew, though he could not
'hear' them. Wes finally spoke, his demeanor like that of an
eight year old child, not a toddler. *He's the one that's
supposed to lead us, isn't he?*

Mulder felt a cold chill shoot up his spine. *Who told you
that?*

*Gibson,* the boys said simultaneously. 

Just then, Gibson himself walked in the door, looking
nervous and slightly upset. The two boys smiled, clearly
happy to see him, but then they looked at each other, their
grins turning wolfish, and they faced away from him. Gibson
seemed to turn paler than he already was.

"Boys, why don't you go check on the others?" Mulder said
out loud. 

"'k, Mulder," R.J. said. 

Wes just nodded and followed his younger friend out of the
room. Before he left, Mulder heard him in his head. *Don't
give away the surprise, Mulder!*

*I won't,* Mulder promised. He glanced at Gibson, clearly
expecting the boy to interrupt his thoughts, as he had done
in the past, but he didn't.

Mulder sat looking at the kid for a while. "What's wrong,
Gibson? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Gibson met his eyes. "I can't hear them," he whispered.
"They're blocking me."

Mulder couldn't help the smug smile that inched its way onto
his face. "I know."

"You told them to do that?" Gibson asked, anger building.

"Yep."

"Why?!" the boy demanded. "What did you tell them about
me?!"

"Certainly not the same lies you've been telling them about
me," Mulder said, his humor gone. "That I hate my wife and
son. That I'm here to find a way to destroy the Children of
Eden, including my own son. That I've been poisoning their
minds with lies about what could be." It had taken a lot of
patience and persistence, but Mulder had finally been able
to get Wes to talk to him about why they no longer trusted
him. Once the boy had opened up, the others followed. Mulder
had done his best to disprove the lies, but he knew the
children still didn't trust him completely.

Gibson had started blushing as Mulder listed off the lies he
had told, and this surprised him. Gibson, embarrassed? Or
just really, really angry?

In a soft voice, Gibson asked, "What did you tell them?"

Mulder sighed. "I told them that your birthday was coming up
and that I was planning a surprise birthday party for you."
He cocked his head. "Which is true, by the way." Gibson
refused to look up. "I told them that because you were so
powerful, the best way to make sure the party stayed a
secret was to keep their minds closed off to you so you
wouldn't read them."

"You tricked them," Gibson said, finally looking up.

"No, I didn't. There's really going to be a party. You
better act surprised, or they'll feel real bad."

Gibson knew the story, and the party, had been set up to
insure Mulder had the children's complete attention for the
next few days. "Why?"

"You took them away from me, Gibson," Mulder said, his voice
dark. "They were mine, and you took them away."

"They didn't trust you!" the boy exclaimed, and Mulder knew
he meant the Grays, not the children. "They thought you may
be trying to brainwash them."

"Me? Brainwash them?" Mulder started laughing. "Damn,
Gibson. Don't you see what's really going on here? Don't you
care? Or are you so fond of them that they are your family
now?"

The boy looked at him, his jaw locked and his eyes bright.
Mulder wondered briefly if the kid was holding back tears.
"I'm not one of them," he finally ground out.

"Could have fooled me," Mulder said softly. "Slipping in and
out of my mind. Telling them everything you see."

"I haven't told them you plan on destroying the underground
chambers of the base," Gibson whispered. "Of how you plan to
use the children to mentally distract the Grays so you can
destroy the reproduction chambers. Kill the virus that
they're keeping there. I haven't told them any of that."
Gibson paused. "But I could."

Mulder had frozen in his seat, ice forming in his veins, as
he heard Gibson lay his plans on the floor in front of them.
Knowing the boy had gotten deeper into Mulder's mind than he
had first believed was no real surprise. The fact that the
boy had kept his secrets was. 

Suddenly, the buzzing in the back of his brain increased
tenfold, and Mulder suddenly realized what it meant.

"Scully," he whispered, ignoring Gibson's look of confusion.
"She's here."

*****  

TIA
Tucson, Arizona


John Doggett picked up his bag off the luggage carousel,
eyeing the people around him warily. Gripping the handle of
the suitcase tightly in his left hand, he hefted his
carry-on higher onto his right shoulder and headed for the
door. Byers and Langly, having already retrieved their bags,
were a few steps ahead of him, and he noticed with grim
humor that they looked as nervous as he felt. As if they
were all waiting for some uniformed guards to jump out of
the woodwork and arrest them. After all, all three of them
were carrying contraband.

Well, maybe he couldn't label it contraband. It wasn't
illegal. It wasn't even a substance that was known to 99.9%
of the human population. And even though security at
airports around the country had tightened significantly
since September 11, officials would have no reason to
suspect them of carrying anything dangerous.

If only they knew.

Tucked away in Doggett's carry-on were three thermoses full
of homemade apple juice. Before being allowed to board the
plane in D.C., one of the guards had opened one of these
small jugs and smelled the contents; he hadn't really been
too suspicious. After all, Doggett had already shown his
credentials, and the other guard was calling in for
permission to allow Doggett on the plane armed. The guards
had let him through, telling him that if he had any of the
juice left over after sharing with his sister back in Tucson
that they would like some. Doggett had to admit it smelled
delicious. However, he wouldn't dare take a sip. Not when he
knew that four vials of Dana's 'Snake oil' were taped to the
inside bottom of the thermos. 

The whole 'team' heading to Tucson had managed to store
vials of the stuff in similar containers. Doggett still
wasn't sure what they were planning to do with the faux
'alien blood,' but Dana and Frohike had been adamant about
taking as much as possible with them to Arizona.

Now they had finally arrived, the last of the team to do so.
He left the air conditioned terminal and entered the
supposed 'dry heat' of the desert. He knew right away that
he preferred the humidity of D.C. and New York. This
atmosphere was too similar to that of Mexico, and Mexico had
a few too many bad memories.

He trudged along behind the two Gunmen as they headed for
the car rental area, wondering once again why he was
following this bunch of lunatics, risking his career and
maybe even his life in the process.

'Because you're thinking that maybe they aren't crazy,' he
answered himself. The things he'd seen since joining the
X-Files more than two years ago had been astounding, and he
had even come to believe in some of the more bazaar theories
and ideas that both Agents Mulder and Reyes had come up
with. However, the idea of aliens from outer space taking up
residence on earth, disguising themselves as human, and
planning to invade and take over the planet... he just
couldn't believe it. Not yet. Not without a little more
proof.

He did know that whoever Mulder was now working for was
dangerous. And thanks to Mulder's son, he was beginning to
believe that telepathy wasn't something only characters from
Star Trek could do. The fact that Mulder's employers were
somehow connected to William only made Doggett that much
more determined to keep the boy safe. Even if that meant
secretly transporting a deadly substance across the country
in his carry-on.

God, it was nuts! Freakin' nuts!

He stood idly by as Byers acquired their car, noticing with
some appreciation that the sun was setting quite
spectacularly in the west. When Byers was done, Doggett
silently followed them to their car. He realized the bearded
man was talking to someone on his cell phone. Monica, he
figured as he listened in. Byers slid into the drivers seat
and Langly took the passenger seat. Not saying anything,
Doggett tossed his suitcase in the open trunk, closed it,
then slid into the back seat behind Byers. They knew he
hadn't wanted to come, and he supposed they were wishing
they could dump him off somewhere and be away with his
scowling face, but the fact that he was carrying twelve
vials of 'snake oil' told him they wouldn't dare leave him
behind.

Byers turned off his phone and started the engine.

"Everyone else make it okay?" Doggett asked softly.

"Yeah," Byers told him with forced cheer. "We're supposed to
meet Skinner, Reyes and Will at the motel and get things
ready."

"What things?" Doggett growled. He hated that he had been
left out of most of the planning. He may not believe in the
alien crap, but he knew he needed to be prepared for what
came next.

"Uh..." Byers started to say. "I'm not sure, exactly." He
looked nervously at Langly, who returned his glance with an
anxious one of his own.

Doggett felt a glimmer of triumph as he realized these two
had been kept out of the loop, too.

"Apparently, Agent Reyes is supposed to update us when we
get there," Byers continued.

"Oh," Doggett said softly. "Of course." It shouldn't
surprise him that Dana had confided her plan to Monica; the
two had become close friends and confidants ever since
Monica midwifed William's birth. He couldn't help but feel a
tad bit jealous, however, at being left out.

Well, he was here now, and about to discover what Ms. Mulder
had planned. Speaking of...

"What about Dana and Frohike?"

Byers paused again before answering. "They called in to let
Skinner know they had made it okay, then they headed out
into the desert."

"They what!?"

"Scully went to find Mulder."

Doggett didn't even comment on Byers use of the name Scully,
something Dana had put a stop to after her marriage to
Mulder. "You have got to be kidding me?!"

Doggett didn't expect a response, and he didn't get one.
With an exasperated sigh, he sat back heavily. "Damnit," he
whispered, knowing all he could do was wait until he knew
more.

And hope Dana's plan was working.

****  

El Creyente Base


"De-ja vu, man."

Scully's lips turned up at a corner in a wry smile at
Frohike's words, knowing exactly what he meant. Here they
were at El Creyente, and their journey here had been very
similar to the dream Mulder had instigated several months
ago. They had not been picked up by men in black armor on
dark horses, but the black Jeeps and desert fatigues had
been close enough. The base wasn't a big, misshapen rock
fort with hidden doorways and a central courtyard. Instead,
it was a large official looking building made of some kind
of material that matched the desert landscape surrounding
it. Though only three stories in height, Scully suspected
there was much more beneath the surface. 

Despite the differences, the inside of the Base held the
same feeling of dark intent as the dream fort had. 

Knowle Roahr led them through cool, sterile hallways, his
frown apparently a permanent expression. They entered a room
with several desks set about, and the people sitting at
those desks raised their eyes in curiosity upon their
arrival. Scully looked at their faces, searching for someone
familiar, but the men and women were all strangers to her.
And they were all human, of that she was certain. Military
personnel. Probably unaware of the real purpose of this
base.

How had the Grays managed to establish a legitimate, though
classified, base here in the U.S.? 'Easy, if you have enough
of your own "people" in the upper levels of the U.S.
government,' she thought, answering her own question. She
wondered just how many replicants were working directly for
the President.

A door off to her right opened, and two familiar faces
walked through it. Tall and coolly beautiful, Marita
Covarrubias stepped toward them, her blue eyes intent and
wary. Billy Miles followed closely behind her.

"Agent Scully," the blonde said in a controlled voice.

"Mulder," Scully automatically corrected.

Marita frowned in confusion for a moment, then her face
relaxed. "Of course. I'm sorry, Agent Mulder." She took a
deep breath and folded her hands behind her back. "I guess I
don't have to ask what you're doing here." She smiled
slightly. "I am wondering how you found us."

"I was told my husband was at a base somewhere south of
Tucson." Stick to the story. "Frohike and I took a chance
that you would find us if we got close enough."

"And who gave you this information?"

Scully only hesitated a second. "Gibson."

"I did not!"

Scully swung around to find Gibson himself standing in the
doorway behind her. His eyes were wide behind his glasses,
and his face was red with anger.

Behind him, his face expressionless, stood Mulder.

"Mulder!" Frohike's joy at seeing his friend in person once
more was obvious.

Mulder moved into the room. Like Marita, he carried his
hands folded behind his back, and he walked with an almost
military bearing. Scully noticed immediately how the
enlisted men and women seemed to sit straighter at their
desks as he came forward. 

"Welcome to El Creyente."

His voice was deep, dark, and firm. It sent a chill up
Scully's spine, and she wasn't sure if it was brought about
by fear or desire. Probably both. She remembered Frohike's
concerns about Mulder's mental state, and she thought back
to Mulder's own worries, which he had expressed to her
privately in their shared dream. The man in front of her was
far different from the man she married. Was it an act, this
darkness? Or had he truly sacrificed himself to insure the
safety of the children, and thereby protecting the earth
itself?

He stopped next to Marita and gave the woman a fond look.
"I'll take care of this."

With an expression that had gone amazingly soft, Marita
nodded her head and stepped back. Suddenly, a brand new fear
swept through Scully, one she had never even contemplated
before. Shortly after their wedding, Mulder had left for
Arizona with Marita, causing more than a little talk among
those who watched them leave. Of course, the mumbling had
stopped after their supposed death only minutes later, but
it hadn't been forgotten. Scully had, of course, known the
truth and had never felt jealous or fearful of Mulder's
feelings for her. But at the time, she had been in almost
constant mental contact with him. It had given her comfort.
It had supported her faith.

She didn't have that now. What if...?

"Come with me." Mulder's quiet demand jerked her back to the
present. He had turned toward the doorway Marita and Billy
had appeared from, obviously expecting her and Frohike to
follow. She glanced at her companion. Frohike looked as
worried as she felt. Taking a deep breath, she followed the
man she had once known better than herself into the hallway
beyond the door, Frohike close at her heels.

Mulder's stiff back never relaxed as he led them down the
corridor to an office. An office with his name on the door.
He stopped at the door and waited as they stepped through,
then closed it behind them. He moved past them and walked
toward his desk, and Scully literally felt the nervous
energy radiating off of him. He appeared calm, but she knew
better.

He stopped in front of his desk and turned to face them. For
the first time, his eyes met hers. She couldn't read him. He
wouldn't let her.

"Surprised to see us?" Scully's voice was rough.

"To say the least," Mulder commented darkly. "I thought I
told you to wait."

"I waited." She would not take her eyes off his, and her
steady gaze finally seemed to affect him; he swallowed hard.
"I'm ready. Are you?"

He glanced at Frohike. "I don't know if I'll ever be ready,"
he said quietly, and Scully breathed a sigh of relief as she
heard the human emotion in his statement. Even if it did
sound like defeat.

"It's now or never, buddy," Frohike said.

Mulder nodded. "The tests," he started. He folded his arms
in front of him and leaned back against the desk behind him.
Clearing his throat, he began again. "The tests will be
getting bigger. Come Christmas, the virus will be released
everywhere. Invasion will follow immediately."

Scully's heart started racing. Christmas? That was less than
four months away. "How do you know this?" she whispered. She
knew he was an important man at this base, but to know the
exact date of the invasion...

"Ken."

"Who?" Frohike asked.

"His human name was Seth Gordon. He was one of my fellow
abductees." Mulder smiled without humor. "Marita and I
played with him a bit. Reprogrammed him, if you will." Real
humor glinted in his eyes. "I called Marita 'Barbie' one
day, hence he became Ken."

At mention of Marita, Scully felt that sudden surge of
jealousy again. It scared her. "Is he the one I met in
Richmond?"

Mulder nodded. He brought his hand up to his forehead and
began to rub his temples as if he had a headache.
Instinctively, Scully stepped forward. "Are you okay?"

Mulder jerked upright, his body language clearly saying,
'don't touch me.' Scully stopped. "Yeah. I'm fine." He
glared at Scully, and she stepped back in surprise. "You
have to leave. You're distracting me."

"Mulder?" The hurt and confusion that swept through her was
powerful. She blinked and bit her lower lip. "We're ready to
go." This was wrong. She shouldn't have come. Why did she
think he was ready? She should have waited.

He nodded. "Then I will be, too." But he seemed distracted.
Worried.

"You want us to stay in Tucson, then?" She wanted to say
more, but she had no idea if the room was bugged or not. She
supposed it wasn't, or he wouldn't have told them about Ken,
his own, personal spy.

Mulder nodded, a grimace of pain on his face. 

"Mulder?" Scully felt fear course through her.

"I'm all right, Scully." It was the first time he had used
her name. "But you have to leave." He met her eyes with his
own, and she recognized fear. "I block them. But somehow,
your presence makes it harder. I don't know why or how.
They're trying to read us right now. They want proof that I
don't care about you anymore."

Pain stabbed through her heart. "Proof?"

"They think I left you because I wanted to. That I married
you to give Will my name." He winced again. "They think
Marita is my lover. And Susan." He smirked through the
apparent pain. "I'm a popular guy."

He looked at Frohike, who seemed to be trying to decide
whether he should be afraid, angry, or worried. "Get
whatever plan you've got ready," he told his friend, not
doubting that there was a plan. "Wait for a signal from me.
I'll find a way to let you know when I need you."

"Okay," Frohike mumbled.

"Guard!"

The door behind them opened, and two soldiers stepped into
the room. 

"Please escort these two off base." His expression became
stern once again. "They won't be back."

Scully looked at Mulder, trying desperately to read his
expression. But other than the lingering pain in his eyes,
she could make out nothing. She turned to follow Frohike out
the door, her heart screaming in pain, when a soft voice
sounded in her head.

*I love you, Scully. So much.*

Scully swung around to face her husband. His face was still
expressionless, but his eyes now held the jumble of emotions
she had seen in them at Wonderland. Pain overshadowed them
all, and she knew how much it had cost him to send her that
little bit of reassurance without letting anyone, or
anything, else read him.

Knowing she could not answer back either mentally or
verbally, Scully put as much emotion as she could into her
expression. His ever so slight nod told her he understood.

Fighting tears, Scully turned away and followed Frohike out
of the Base and away from the man she loved.

***** 

End of Part 4/9

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