Special Agent Fox Mulder’s eyes jerked open. Dazed, and slightly confused, he looked around groggily to find the familiar sights of his office staring back at him.
"Oh," he mumbled to himself, rubbing his eyes, "I must have dozed off reading that file on our new case." Sure enough, a quick survey of his desk showed the file in question lying open there. Glancing at his watch, Mulder was shocked to see that its green, digital numbers read 10:13 a.m..
"Oh, no," he groaned, jumping up from his chair, "I was supposed to be at the airport 13 minutes ago! I hope Scully doesn’t mind if I’m late." He hurriedly grabbed his coat and briefcase, ran out the door of his basement office and up the stairs to hail a taxi.
11:00 a.m.
Mulder raced through Gate 51 past several flustered stewardesses who were just about to close the door on him. He burst into the plane expecting his partner Special Agent Dana Scully to be waiting there, wearing an annoyed, perhaps slightly worried expression. When he couldn’t spot her anywhere on the plane he stopped in his tracks, almost running over another passenger. Puzzled, he checked his seat number and walked down the aisle to seat 7C. Seat 7B, where Scully should have been sitting, was occupied by another, totally unexpected person.
"Krycek?" he exclaimed, "Is that you?"
"Yeah partner, who did you think it was?"
"Where’s Scully?"
"Wow, you really must have had one too many screwdrivers last night. She’s in Hong Kong, of course, where’re we’re heading right now."
"What? Why is she in Hong Kong?"
"Talk about a case of amnesia. Since you seem to be suffering from a severe hangover, I’ll take it easy on you. We didn’t know where she was until yesterday. Everyone thought she was dead after the car she was in exploded. She has the digital tape of the Defense Department’s files, containing everything they know on UFO’s. If we can find her in Hong Kong, we can get the tape and finally get the secrets we’ve been looking for! And you don’t remember anything about this?"
"Sort of, but not in the way you described it. In the version I know it was you- oh, never mind," Mulder said, rubbing his temples.
"Don’t worry about it," Krycek said, grinning knowingly, "Just get some rest. It does wonders for a hangover. It’s going to be a long flight to Hong Kong anyway."
5:00 p.m. the next day
After checking into their hotel, Mulder and Krycek spread out a map of Hong Kong, then hunched over it, trying to figure out where to start looking for Scully.
"I have an informant who likes to hang out at this restaurant," Krycek said, gesturing to a spot on the map, "She knows about all the recent comings and goings of every foreigner around here. We could ask her if she knows anything about Scully’s whereabouts."
"Sounds like a good place to start, but I still can’t believe Scully’s the one with the tape," Mulder said, "Oh, well, might as well give it a shot. Anyway, I’m pretty hungry. Airplane food isn’t exactly my cup of iced tea. Maybe we could get something to eat while we’re there."
"Okay, let’s go," Krycek agreed. Mulder grabbed his coat and they headed for the restaurant.
5:45 p.m.
"I’ll have your special, please," Mulder requested, thankful that the waiter spoke English, "And a glass of iced tea." Mulder and Krycek were seated across from each other in a dim corner in one of the booths of the nearly deserted restaurant.
"Very good, sir," the waiter replied, "And for you?"
"Nothing, thanks," Krycek said, "Just a glass of water."
"Very good. Your order will be ready in a few minutes." With that, the waiter retreated.
"When’s your informant going to get here? I thought you said she’d be here by now. I’m kind of anxious to find that disk," Mulder said, anxiously looking at his watch, "Not to mention being anxious to clear Scully’s name. She can’t be the one with the tape," Mulder added under his breath.
"What’s that? Don’t worry, she’ll be here. I want the disk too, you know." Krycek looked over Mulder’s shoulder at the door of the restaurant. "She’s here." Krycek stood up and waved to her to come sit with them. Mulder turned around and found himself face to face with a short Chinese woman, whose tired, worried expression made her look older than her years.
"Hi, I’m Wong Sue. Do you mind if I smoke?" she said, fumbling in her pocket for a cigarette as she sat in the booth next to Krycek.
"I’m not a big fan of smokers, but go ahead. I’m Fox Mulder, Agent Krycek’s, um, partner. He said you might know the whereabouts of a woman we’re looking for. She’s supposedly in Hong Kong. Her name’s Dana Scully. Here’s what she looks like," he said, handing Wong Sue a picture which he had taken from his coat pocket.
"Yeah, I’ve seen her around, in fact-" she stopped abruptly as the waiter arrived with their food and drinks. After he had gone, she glanced around nervously before continuing, "In fact, I’ve seen her in this very restaurant only yesterday." By now, Wong Sue’s voice was barely above a whisper. "I’d watch my back if I were you."
"I’ll take that in mind," Mulder said, for once sceptical, "But first, my stomach is growling and this food smells wonderful." Mulder began eating his food, and Krycek sipped on his water.
"I have to go," Wong Sue said hurriedly, "I think we’re being watched. I can’t take that chance." She got up from the table and quickly walked out the front door.
"Is she very reliable?" asked Mulder as he ate a piece of bok choy.
"Yeah, she just has a nervous disposition," Krycek replied, drinking a mouthful of water, "I’ve always gotten good information from her."
"I think the jet lag is getting to me," Mulder said, yawning.
"Me, too. I’m really tired all of a sudden. I can’t keep my eyes open." But Mulder never heard what Krycek said. The room had already begun to spin and he had blacked out.
Later that night
With much effort Mulder opened his eyes, which at that moment felt as if little lead weights were tied to them. He attempted to stand up but found both his hands and feet bound by a strong, tight rope. Peering through the darkness around him, he managed to make out another figure sitting just beside him on the floor.
"Krycek," Mulder mumbled, "So, they got you with the water." Krycek had obviously been drugged, just as Mulder had been through the food that he had eaten. He lay slumped against the wall and his head hung lifelessly, but Mulder could tell from the rising and falling of his chest that he was still breathing.
"She must really know her way around that restaurant. I wonder if we’re still there, or if she took us someplace else." Mulder didn’t have long to think about this question, because just then the door to the room open and light flooded in, blinding him. After a moment, his eyes adjusted to the light and he looked up to see a short, red headed woman silhouetted against the door frame.
"Scully? Is that you? Do you have the tape?" Mulder asked, shocked to see it was really her. He never really believed Krycek when he told him Scully was the one who had stolen the digital tape. After all, she had been his partner up until today, or so he thought. What was happening?
"I’m afraid that question will remain a mystery to you, Mulder. Your search for the truth is ending today, right now." She took out her gun and pointed it at Mulder’s head. He remembered what a good shot she was. Too good. There was no escape... He heard her cock the hammer - and fire.
Mulder’s eyes shot open. In front of him stood Scully, no longer pointing a gun at him. Instead, she was smiling down on him, gently trying to wake him up. They were in his office. Mulder looked at his desk. On it was an open file folder. He looked at his watch. It read 10:13 a.m.
"Where’s Krycek?" he demanded. Scully frowned. "I think he was rumoured to be in Hong Kong. Why?"
"So you’re my partner still?"
"Yes, and I have been for four years. What’s this all about?" She noticed he was rubbing his head. "Oh, I see. Too many screwdrivers last night."
"No, I didn’t have anything to drink last night. And this is a shooting pain, right in the middle of my forehead," Mulder replied, by now totally perplexed.
"Don’t worry about it. It’ll go away. Here, have some aspirin," Scully handed Mulder two tablets which he swallowed without water.
"You know, you really shouldn’t do that, it could give you an ulcer," Scully said worriedly. Mulder smiled. "Thank you Dr. Scully."
"You’re welcome," she replied, smiling back, "But shouldn’t we be getting started on our case now?"
"You’re right. Let’s go." They headed for the FBI garage, but Scully hesitated at the door. "Whose car do you want to take?" she asked.
"Yours," Mulder insisted, "I have too much of a headache to drive." They walked over to Scully’s car and started through Washington. Mulder decided he would feel better after he slept for a while. He closed his eyes and slowly nodded off.
"We’re here," Scully said, nudging Mulder in the side to try to wake him up.
"Oh, we are. Good. Maybe things will get back to normal now." Mulder glanced out his window. They had passed through a large gate, after a guard waved them through. Mulder noticed a sign on the chain link fence which enclosed the large military base they were entering. It read Restricted Area, No Trespassing Beyond This Point, Photography is Prohibited Realizing the significance of that sign, he turned to Scully, alarmed.
"Welcome to Area 51," she said, pulling to a stop in front of a large airplane hanger. She stepped out of the car, and on cue, scores of armed military commandos raced out of the hanger and surrounded the vehicle. Every one of their rifles was pointed at Mulder.