Disclaimer:
Roses are red
Smurfs are blue
I don't own 'em
So please don't sue!
Author's Note: Well, what to say? Um, well, after something like four months the fourth part is done. Sorry it took so long, but I had one heck of a case of writer's block, and everything I wrote sounded stupid, so it took me about four tries until I got it right. So thanks for being patient and a special thanks to all who've written and said they liked it. I'll share a few names with you: Niceole levy, Nash, Emily Siazon <I swear that I'll do your challenge yet!>, Nicolette, Sue and Shuyler for supporting me through out. I would have quit a long time ago if you hadn't said you liked it at the beginning. J Special thanks to Gables who has answered more than her share of Q's and told me when I royally screwed up! And to Archangel, Rey, and all the other's who've helped me out on the Pretendfic mailing list. All right, all right, I’ll get onto the story! Sheesh!
OH WAIT! One more thing…some people wrote me after the last installment and said they wanted a copy w/out swearing. If you are one of those people write and tell me and I'll send one out to you! K, now we'll get to the story!
Title - Feelings of Indignation Part Four
Author - Ashlee
E-mail address - zyp959@hotmail.com
Rating -
Category - Adventure/ Alternate Universe / Pretender/X-Files Crossover
Series/Sequel - Part Four of Feelings of Indignation
Spoilers - N/A
Summary - When a girl is kidnapped by The Centre, Jarod and Miss Parker discover
that they have a bond deeper than either ever imagined
"Feelings of
Indignation"
Part Four
By Ashlee
Scully's Room
Location Unknown
5:35 p.m.
Diana leaned in close, a malicious sneer on her lips and a deadly look in her eye.
"What are you willing to sacrifice in order to survive Agent Scully?" Diana silently prayed that Scully would just give in, it was the only way for her plan to work. She stared intently at her enemy, willing her to agree.
Scully was beyond confused. What was Fowley doing? She was absolutely sure that Diana wanted her dead, ever since they had met, she knew that Diana felt that she was standing in between her and Mulder. There was only one thing that that vicious woman had in mind when she made this offer and Scully was pretty sure she knew what it was, but she wasn't about to blurt it out, just in case that wasn't what she was thinking.
"Do you have any suggestions?" She asked cautiously.
Diana stood and shrugged her shoulders casually.
"I was thinking of a little exchange'" Scully raised an eyebrow. "The truth about you and your daughter if you leave Fox behind."
***
Mulder's Room
Location Unknown
5:40 p.m.
Mulder lay strapped to the table shirtless. He had looked and decided that he hadn't been shot, but realized, thanks to the haziness that still clouded his thoughts, that it must have been some kind of tranquilizer gun. He sighed as he lay back on the pillows and let his mind drift. His first thoughts were of Scully in some other room in this unfamiliar place, enduring the angry wrath of Diana Fowley. Mulder was sure that she was behind this whole thing. He didn't understand why Diana hated Scully so much, it wasn't like they were together, at least not in any romantic sense, not that he hadn't fantasized about it, but that wasn't the point.
His mind quickly went over all the possible scenarios, and most of them involved Diana hurting his best friend. She was, to say the least, a bit unstable at the moment. Now that he thought about it, she had always been a little off her rocker. If only he had seen it coming, he might have saved Scully…
As Mulder let his mind take him away a man entered holding a syringe filled with a black, vile looking liquid.
"What's that?" Mulder asked moving as far away as he could.
"It's time for your medicine, Agent Mulder." The man said in a tauntingly sweet voice, one that a crazed nurse might use.
The man grabbed Mulder's arm. He tried to pull away.
"What? NO! Scullllleeeeeeeeeeee!!!" Mulder yelled as the needle plunged into his vein and his world faded to black. His voice came out as a quite, subdued whisper. "Scully, help me…"
***
Jarod's House
Near Copper Harbor, Michigan
5:42 p.m.
Parker looked at him, his sorrowful eyes. The regret that he had believed them and let her down shone in them.
"Why didn't you tell me all this then?" She asked softly. 'Wait a second Parker.' She thought. 'Why are you giving in to him so easy. He feeds you a big sob story and he gives you those damned puppy eyes and all his forgiven? Forget that shit! No way, Parker, you are not, I repeat NOT falling for that again! You have been screwed over way to many times before for just giving in. Hold your ground!'
Before Jarod could speak the next words Parker jumped up and glared down at him. Jarod in turn jumped in his seat, startled by her sudden angry movements. He looked up into her eyes, but was greeted by a finger in the face.
"You know Jarod, it's all about you isn't it? Oh poor me, I fell for the Centre's evil tricks again! Well, you know what Jarod, you can kiss my white ass because I am not going to feel sorry for you! You knew not to trust them and you knew what you were getting yourself into when you escaped. What, did you really think they weren't going to come after you? Did you think they would just shrug their shoulders and go 'oh well, so he escaped?' Because if you did you're even dumber than I thought!" With that she walked calmly out the door and down to where she had put the baby down.
Jarod stayed seated in the chair, a look of shock plastered on his face.
"What the hell just happened?" He asked himself out loud.
***
Miss Parker's Office
The Centre
5:45 p.m.
Sam stood outside Miss Parker's office and looked around nervously, then looked back down at the typed note that he held in his hand. He opened the door and slid in, unnoticed. He walked over to his employer's desk and began to rummage through the drawers, just as the note instructed. His head jerked to the noise of the air vent's cover being removed. He spun around and grabbed for his gun, ready to shoot, if necessary. He let out the breath that he had been holding and smiled.
"Hey Angelo, you nearly got yourself shot there!" He stopped for a moment, and then smiled at the man before him confused. "But I could have sworn Dr. Greene checked you out for an on site sim."
The Angelo look alike smiled back and walked over to the desk.
"Michael, brother Angelo. Daughter…help. You." He opened the second drawer on the left and piled the papers neatly on top of the desk, as Sam looked on, too shocked by this new discovery to really question anything. He had learned a long time ago to roll with the punches, and this was one of the times. Questions weren't going to get him anywhere so he had to just go with the flow.
Michael then reached under the desk and hit a button hidden behind a little door. The bottom of the drawer popped open and Michael grabbed a list from inside. He smiled at Sam and handed him the list.
"What's this Angelo, err, Michael?" He said confused. Maybe Angelo was having an identity crisis. Shrugging his shoulders he looked closely at the list. It was full of phone numbers, but only one was circled in red. It was labeled 'The Lone Gunmen'. Attached to the list was a note. His mouth fell open when he saw that it was addressed to him. "What the…"
Michael's smile just grew wider.
"Daughter trust. Two hours, here." He smiled and hoisted himself into the air vent.
"Wait!" Sam called into the vent after him. "Who are you? Two hours till what?" When he received no answer he sighed in frustration and read through the letter again.
***
Plane Over Cleveland, Ohio
5:47 p.m.
Broots was tapping away at his laptop while Sydney looked over a couple of files. Debbie and Angelo were resting peacefully despite the noise and occasional turbulence.
Broots was looking over the files Sydney had given him on the J/P project when Sydney spoke to him for the first time in the last three hours.
"Can you run another check to see where Agents Mulder and Scully are?" Sydney asked, putting the papers back into the manila file folder they belonged in.
"Sure, Syd, no problem, just give me a second…" He clicked the mouse a couple of times and hit a few keys. "What the…" He hit a few more keys. "Oh, no, this is bad."
Sydney sat down the papers and looked over at the computer screen. Broots was typing franticly.
"What was the frequency again?" Sydney told him and Broots punched them in; the screen stayed blank. "Crap!" He exclaimed in frustration and worry. "Syd, they aren't transmitting anymore! What could've happened?"
Sydney looked at the screen, his eyebrows brought together in worry,
"I don't know Broots, but it can't be good."
Next to them Angelo smiled. He hadn't planned on leaving the Centre, it hadn't been in Miss Parker's agenda either, but he had confided in someone, a long forgotten Centre project. Someone that only Mr. Raines knew about, but it had been so long since anyone had seen his brother he doubted even Raines remembered him. There were no records of his brother. But, despite this change in plans, he knew everything was going to work out.
***
Mr. Parker's Office
The Centre
Blue Cove, Delaware
5:50 p.m.
Mr. Parker sat at his desk discussing the issue at hand with his cigarette smoking colleague.
"Agent Fowley is in charge of taking care of our Mulder and Scully problem. I have given her strict instructions on what to do upon their capture, our plan will continue forward as soon as Fowley can give your incompetent son instructions on how to regain custody of his science experiment. Your daughter and her lab rat boyfriend are expendable." The Cigarette Smoking Man explained calmly, puffing on his ever present Morley.
Mr. Parker shifted behind his desk uncomfortably. The underlying threat still stung with his every word, that he and the Centre would lay exposed to the public and that they were sure to become the governments scapegoat should they need it. He sighed, then spoke confidently.
"Lyle has the Jarod/Parker situation in control. I'm sure that he will have no problem recovering BOTH of the J/P projects and bring back my daughter and Jarod."
"I hope that that's true…for your sake." He took another puff. Just then CSM's cell phone rang. "Yes?"
The voice on the other line spoke.
"The required dosage has been administered. It should take effect in about an hour."
"How many more are required before the effect is permanent?"
"If it's not completely successful the first time one more dose will be administered."
"Has the deal been laid on the table?"
"Yes, but she has yet to accept, Fowley's still in with her."
"Tell her that for her plan to work Agent Scully must accept."
"I'll relay the message."
"Good. Tell me his state when Mulder regains consciousness."
"Right." The line was dead.
CSM hung up his phone and looked at the man who sat behind the desk in front of him.
"The first stages of the plan have been laid. The first dose of Solution Exoneration has been given."
***
The Air Duct System
Above Mr. Parker's Office
5:50 p.m.
Michael sat in the same spot his brother had sat on many occasions doing as he did now, recording the conversation and smiling. The worried look on his face was almost gone now that he knew he had a helper, someone that would be able to carry out the plan that Miss Parker had been laying out for months, the plan that Angelo had been explaining to them. They had a special way of communication; it was almost telepathic in a way. And now that Angelo had been taken it was his job to help with the agenda, to get everything together and have it delivered.
He knew that the baby was just an excuse to put the plan into motion. He looked down at the tape, and knew that this was not part of the plan either, but that this extra tidbit of information couldn't hurt. Not to mention he was getting a strange feeling about this, his friends were connected to this mysterious Agent Scully and the Lone Gunmen. He would let Sam deal with the stuff that concerned the outside world and he would keep a handle on things here, like he always did.
He watched the Smoking Man exit the door and he quickly disassembled the recorder. He crawled through the ventilation system until he came to familiar territory, the abandoned computer lab on SL-16. He decided that he was going to do some more digging on Mr. Parker's mysterious associate and this Solution Exoneration. It may come in handy. But first he needed to do what was required of the original agenda. He rummaged through a pile of papers, looking for some very important documents.
***
Centre Jet
Over Lower Michigan
5:55 p.m.
Lyle was sitting in the cabin along with a couple of his top sweepers looking over a map of Houghton. They were picking out some of the more likely places that they would find their prey. So far they had the mall, Shopko, Wal-Mart and the fast food places. According to this map that was about all there was in Houghton. It was a small college town, and a tourist dependant city. Not that it wasn't a nice town; with its rustic buildings, greenery and the canal for a setting it was actually quite beautiful. However, there wasn't much for the people of the town to engage in, besides local gossip.
Suddenly Greg, the head sweeper of Lyle's team, walked up to his boss. He cleared his throat.
"Excuse me, Mr. Lyle?"
Lyle didn't bother to look up.
"What?"
"There's a phone call for you, it's from your father."
Lyle looked up.
"What's it about?"
"I don't know."
"Fine, I'll take the call." Lyle stuck out his open palm and Greg placed the phone into it. Lyle waited for the men to exit before putting the phone to his ear. "Yes?"
"The first step has been taken, but it doesn't look like Agent Scully is going to take the deal. You must find them. Do you realize the consequences if you fail?"
Lyle swallowed hard, pushing the lump in his throat out of the way.
"Yes."
"Good. I want to know the minute you uncover anything."
"Of course, you'll know the minute I find anything." The sly smirk on Lyle's face, however, told another story.
***
Scully's Room
6:10 p.m.
Scully sat alone in her room thinking about the options that Diana Fowley had left her to ponder. Give up Mulder for the truth about her and Emily? What truth? And even if there was a truth, which she doubted, there was no way that she could just leave Mulder in the hands of this vicious woman. 'You can't leave him period.' The voice in her head told her. 'No matter what, you could never leave him.' She sighed. She hated when her sub-concious was right.
She threw her head back on the pillow. 'What in the hell am I going to do?' She thought. 'More importantly, what is Special Agent I-want-Foxy-Mulder-all-to-myself FOWLey going to do if I don't comply?' She thought, the voice in her head sounding bitter and sarcastic.
"Arg!" she yelled in frustration as she pulled on her restraints.
Before Scully could yell again, Agent Fowley rejoined her in the room, this time she was accompanied by an older man in a white lab coat. 'Oh, shit,' was Scully's only thought before Diana began to speak.
"Agent Scully, have you made up your mind?" She sounded more caring and compassionate than before, which scared Scully more than her threatening tone.
Scully held up, however, and looked her enemy in the eye.
"I'm not going to give up Mulder with out some hint that you really know something about me or Emily."
Diana nodded her head, as if to agree that this was indeed a warranted request.
"I didn't think that you would. Let's see, about you," she paused and tapped her chin as she thought. "That doctor's report about your being infertile? Complete fabrication on our part." Diana shrugged her shoulders as if this news were of no importance.
Scully's mouth fell open.
"What?" She asked in a whisper.
"If you agree to leave Fox you can go snatch yourself some real hunk, buy a house and have as many little brats as your blackened heart desires."
Scully just looked at her blankly. The voices in her head began to yell out happily. 'You can have babies!'
'But what about Mulder?' She asked herself, the excited voices stopped.
'Oh, yeah.' The voice actually sounded disappointed. 'Well, you can't leave him. And Fowley isn't exactly trust-worthy.'
'I know.' She sighed and hung her head. Then spoke aloud in a barely audible voice.
"I can't leave Mulder."
"Tsk, tsk Agent Scully. I had really hoped that you would be smarter than that." Fowley shook her head in mock disappointment. "Are you sure about your decision?"
Scully again whispered her response, not quite knowing what was going to happen.
"Yes."
"Well, in that case, I guess introductions are due. Dana Scully, I would like you to meet Dr. Klaus. He worked on some experiments in the Jewish concentration camps. Hope you two have fun." Fowley smiled an evil smile and walked out the door.
***
Jarod's House
6:11 p.m.
Jarod had spent the last half-hour trying to decipher what the hell had taken place in the room as he searched for the sender of the e-mail. What was Parker so upset about? He had just explained why he had left, that's what she had wanted, right? He just didn't get it. One minute it looked as though she were about to forgive him and the next she was on a rampage.
He ran a hand through his hair and stared at the screen as he let his thought wonder where they would. He was startled out of reverie about the night of his escape by the chimes that indicated that the origin of the e-mail had been found. He clicked on the icon. The message was definitely from the Centre. He read further down and smiled. Angelo, he should have known. He was about to get up to go and tell Miss Parker when a voice rang from his computer.
"You Have Mail" He clicked on the mailbox and saw a note from Sydney.
From: SG@thecentre.com
To: thepretender@pretending.com
Subject: DANGER
Jarod,
I have discovered some information that I though that you should be made aware of pending Parker's kidnapping of the child. Attached is all that I could recover of the child's medical records. Please be careful and take care of Parker and the baby, they need you.
Jarod looked at the screen, momentarily confused by Sydney's words, that is, until he saw the attachment at the bottom of the screen. He clicked on it and slowly read it. Once, and then again to make sure that what he read was true.
***
The Baby's Room
Miss Parker sat in the rocking chair next to the crib where the baby slept peacefully. God she was pissed. Not just at Jarod, but how her whole crappy existence had turned out. Her life at the Centre…Wait! The word had jogged Miss Parker memory, and she looked at her watch. Time to call Agent Mulder to see if they were settled in. She pulled out her cell and pressed the button that would automatically dial his number. Her frown deepened as she let the phone ring. Fourteen, fifteen, suddenly the operator's voice came over the line.
"Damn it!" She yelled, but quieted herself before she woke the baby. "Damn it," she said again. She knew they were in trouble, she could feel it. She looked at her watch again. Surely by know Angelo had delivered her message to Sam and they had found the list in the drawer. She yanked open her cell phone and dialed Sam's cell phone number; some adjustments were needed.
SL – 14
The Centre
6:13 p.m.
Sam paced the empty room impatiently awaiting the arrival of his trustworthy friend. He stopped pacing only to take another look at the note that Angelo, 'No Michael,' he corrected himself, had found in Parker's desk. He spun as he heard the door open and looked at the man angrily. "Where the hell have you been Bart?"
Bart closed the door and took a minute to catch his breath. Then he stood straight, smiled and spoke.
"I had to meet with Raines. I woulda been here earlier but ever since that oxygen tank freak got re-programmed he's been preaching at me. Today he decided to give a sermon about the evils of sex before marriage." He shrugged his shoulders. "Apparently I'm goin' straight ta hell." His thick Brooklyn accent was unmistakable. His strong build and good Italian looks emphasized his street kid demeanor. He could easily be mistaken for a member of the Mafia. "So what's the big emergency?"
"Bart, something's really wrong. You know how Miss Parker kidnapped that baby and left?"
"Yeah, it's the talk of the Centre."
"Well, I went to her office after I got this mysterious note from someone who looked a lot like Angelo, but called himself Michael, to look for some papers. Well, then Angelo, or Michael or whatever…God this is confusing. Anyway he comes in and pops open this secret compartment and hands me these." Sam handed the papers to Bart, and continued as Bart read. "Then as he's about to leave he tells me to meet him in two hours, which is about 30 minutes."
Bart shook the papers.
"These are just phone numbers and names. So what?"
"I know, that's the whole problem, I don't know what she wanted me to do with them. All that note that she left said was that she trusted me and that I was the only one that could help her."
"Well, what about this one here, circled in red? The Lone Gunmen? Why don't we give 'em a buzz?" Just as Bart was about to open Sam's phone it rang. He gave Sam a questioning look and handed him the phone.
He looked nervous, but answered smoothly.
"Sam."
A familiar female voice spoke to him.
"Sam, are you alone?"
Sam smiled in relief.
"Bart's here."
"Fine," Parker replied, she knew that Bart could be trusted. "Did you get my note?"
"Yeah, but I don't know what you want me to do, and who's Michael?"
"Michael? What are you talking about?" Miss Parker sounded confused.
"At first I thought it was Angelo, but Dr. Greene checked him out for an on site sim, and besides this guy calls himself Michael."
There was a pause on the other end of the line followed by an aggravated sigh.
"All right, I'll deal with that, in the mean time I want you to collect whatever this mystery man collects and be ready to leave on a moments notice. Get whatever you'll need to do that."
Sam nodded.
"Okay Miss Parker."
"Oh, and Sam?"
"Yes."
"Be careful." With that the line went dead.
***
Scully's Room
6:15 p.m.
The elderly doctor shone on her a false smile as he set up a tray that contained odd shaped tools that she was sure weren't used in standard medical practice. She gulped and knew that she was in for a world of hurt. A small voice in her head asked her if it was all worth it, was Mulder worth it? Yes, unfortunately for her, he was.
"So, Miss Scully," the doctor said in thick German accented, monotone voice that challenged Mulder at his best, a voice that was making a taunting attempt at making meaningless small talk. From the evil glint in his eye Scully was sure that he was really just trying to make her squirm. "Have you ever had a tooth drilled?" He asked as he played with what looked like a melted, oddly demented, miss proportioned drill.
Scully stared at the man refusing to answer, truth be known, she was too scared to answer. The doctor didn't seem to notice and continued to talk.
"Miss Scully, I am going to give you one more opportunity to agree to Frauline Fowley's generous offer."
Scully's eyes were wide with horror and it took every ounce of strength she had to shake her head no. The doctor gave her his false smile again.
"Fine, fine dear. It is your choice. In that case, I will begin the procedure." Doctor Klaus walked up to where Scully was strapped upright to a cross shaped structure made out of some strange metal, and pressed the eccentric drill to the skin of her midsection. The doctor looked straight into Scully's eyes and for the first time he smiled genuinely.
"I would tell you that this will only hurt for a second, but then I would be lying." With that said the elderly man pulled the trigger.
White-hot pain shot in all directions from Scully stomach. The pain was so overwhelming that she was paralyzed, unable to scream even though that was all that she wanted to do. Behind her eyelids a bright white light blinded her. She could feel the tears streaming down her face, her back spasm and arch, her limbs pulled against the restraints, cutting into her creamy flesh.
***
Inside the Baby's Room
6:16 p.m.
After hanging up with Sam, Miss Parker did what she had hoped she wouldn't have to, she dialed the number of a fellow member of her team. It was too soon, and she was sure that the Centre would be triangulating all calls that went into their phones. Damn Sydney for messing up her perfect plan, but she had to find out who this Angelo look alike was and to do that she needed to talk to Broots. There was no way that she was going to ask Jarod for help, to state it better, it would be a cold day in hell before she admitted to needing his help. Just then it hit her. Broots was carrying that phone for 'emergencies' involving the information Jarod gave them about secret Centre going ons, the one that the Centre didn't know about. She dialed the number.
***
Plane Over Lower Michigan
6:18 p.m.
Broots was sitting in his seat dozing slightly when his cell phone rang. He jumped up startled and pulled against his seat belt. He fumbled to find his extra cell phone, the one that Parker had given him. After three more rings he found it inside his laptop carrying case.
"Broots!" He said breathlessly.
"Broots, it's me." The familiar voice sent a wave of relief over him.
"Miss Parker! Are you all right? Where are you?"
Parker gave an exasperated sigh.
"Yes Broots, it's me. I'm fine and I'm in Copper Harbor, Michigan. Where are you?"
"On a plane headed for Upper Michigan. We were tracing two FBI Agents who were following you, a Fox Mulder and Dana Scully."
Miss Parker's voice took on a worried and excited edge.
"Do you know were they are?"
Broots hung his head.
"Sorry Miss Parker, but we lost them, they quit transmitting, and we don't know what happened."
Miss Parker sighed loudly and muttered.
"I knew something was wrong."
"What?"
"Nothing Broots. Look, I need you to do something for me. Look to see who Michael is on the Centre main frame. Sam said that he looks a lot like Angelo."
Broots was confused, but obliged.
"Sure."
"Thanks Broots." Broots shut the phone and started to type on his laptop.
"Was that Parker, Broots?" Sydney asked, concerned.
"Yeah, she's fine and in Copper Harbor, Michigan. She called to ask me to look up some information on an Angelo look alike, someone named Michael." They both looked over at Angelo who was grinning widely at them.
"I think that this whole fiasco has a lot more to it then we know." Sydney said as he sat back in his seat and closed his eyes.
***
Office of the Lone Gunmen
Location: Unknown
6: 19 p.m.
Langly rubbed his eyes and focused on the screen before him. He had been sitting in front of the laptop for almost three hours. He clicked the download button, shoved a disk in the A Drive and sat back.
"All right guys, I'm downloading the last of the info off a this one."
Byers looked up from the computer that he was working on.
"Same here." He popped out on disk and inserted another. "It should only take ten minutes. How 'bout you Frohike?"
Frohike looked up between the two laptops and smiled as he held up his last two disks.
"What's taking you guys so long? I'm done."
Byers stood and walked to the center of the room and addressed his two partners in crime.
"Well boys, I think that this was the information that Marissa was speaking of. "
They all exchanged looks. Then Langly spoke.
"I think that we should organize everything that we have found, so that we'll be ready when the plan is set into motion."
Frohike stood and punched a fist into his other palm.
"Let's kick ass!"
***
Inside the Baby's Room
6:23 p.m.
After hanging up with Broots Miss Parker started to dial her next contact. She hadn't talked to them in a long time, and she was sure that they were worried about her by now, especially after getting the information she had been telling them about for the last two months. They would know the trouble she was in, how her life would be threatened if any of the Powers That Be found out who had leaked Centre information. That's why she had given them a false name. Look all they wanted they would never find her true identity, because outside of the Centre she didn't exist. Just then the phone was answered.
***
Office of the Lone Gunmen
6:24 p.m.
They were all sitting at the small card table that was now serving as their command headquarters. Langly was walking back with refreshments as they sorted out all that they had uncovered about the Centre and trying to make an outline of everyone and everything that had happened in the place. Langly had just set down the drinks when the phone rang. They exchanged looks and ran for their posts. Byers stood at the phone, Frohike by the tape recorder and Langly by the computer ready to triangulate the call. On the count of three they got to work.
"Lone Gunmen, what can we do for you?" Byers said into the receiver as he looked at Frohike to make sure that the call was being recorded.
"Hey boys, it’s me." Came a familiar female voice.
"Marissa!" Byers exclaimed. The other two occupants of the room had the same reaction to the voice. Thank God she was safe, but they weren't called paranoid without reason. This could very well be a good recording, or she could be being forced to speak to them. The code would tell the truth.
"So, Mary, tell us who assassinated JFK."
Miss Parker let out an exasperated sigh, but laughed a little at their paranoia.
"CGB Spender."
At hearing the correct reply Frohike turned off the recorder and turned on a signal scrambler while Langly stopped triangulating the call. This wasn't normal procedure, but Marissa wasn't a normal client. She was in serious trouble and they all knew the power of the company that Marissa worked for, they had witnessed it themselves. The big black cars trying to follow her, bugs in her phone and their interrogation techniques. Although they hadn't known before tonight whom she worked for, they had known the extent of their evil and took a vow to protect this woman no matter what, and that meant no recordings, no tracing calls and required that they scramble the calls from her.
"Marissa, are you all right? We haven't heard from you in days!" Byers asked worriedly.
"I'm fine. Right now I'm in Copper Harbor, Michigan. I found out some things, things that have effected the plan."
"What happened? Anything we can do to help?" Byers asked now anxious, none of this could be good.
Miss Parker sighed.
"It's a real long story, I'll tell you when you get here. Here's what we have to do. Because of the, um, alterations, in the plan some things have to be reworked. I have to check on something and when it's confirmed I'm going to need you to meet with a trusted friend, his name is Sam. He'll deliver some vital information to you. When you get it I want you to get up here, and bring Sam. And above all else, make sure you're not followed."
"All right, I've got it. You're going to call us with the meeting place?"
"Yeah. Oh, and Byers, there's something else. Mulder and Scully are in trouble. I'm not sure what's wrong, but I can't get a hold of them." Just then Parker heard someone at the door. "Byers, I gotta go. I'll call you later!" The dial tone greeted a pair of shocked ears.
Byers turned to look at his fellow gunmen.
"Houston, we have a problem."
***
Outside the Baby's Room
6:27 p.m.
Jarod stood outside the door contemplating the best course of action. He looked down at the papers in front of him and decided that there was no time to waste. Parker was going to freak out anyway, he might as well get it over with. He knocked gently and waited until the count of ten before entering.
Parker looked up and quickly pulled the cell phone away from her ear and closed it. She glared at the figure in the doorway.
"I'm surprised you have the balls to come in here." Jarod ignored the comment.
"Who were you calling?"
Miss Parker just gave him an icy stare that could freeze any normal man in his tracks.
"None of your damned business."
Jarod returned the glare, but realized that he wasn't going to get it out of her. Then he remembered what he had come to say, and his features softened.
"Miss Parker, I uh…" Jarod trailed off and looked at the floor.
Miss Parker stood and responded impatiently. She had enough to worry her and stress her out without this man beating around the bush.
"You what? Spit it out!"
"I, uh, we have to take the baby to the hospital. I have to run some tests."
Parker looked at him incredulously.
"Why?"
Jarod handed her a printed copy of the files Sydney had sent him. She read them slowly and threw them on the floor, trying to relieve some of the anger that had been building in her stomach. God, she needed some Vodka!
"Those stupid bastards! I swear to God…" She stopped herself. No, there was no way that she was going to tell Jarod, if he could play his games, then she sure the hell could play hers.
She walked over to the crib and picked up the baby. She quickly changed Catherine Mercedes' diaper and redressed her. She then packed up the baby's bag with the necessities and started to walk out the door.
"Well, what the hell are you waiting for?" She asked Jarod.
"Nothing. I'll just write Merideth and Chet a note telling them where we're going."
***
Copper Country Mall
Houghton, Michigan
6:30 p.m.
Chet and Merideth walked in the doors that lead into the small mall. Chet bowed slightly waiving a hand to indicate the small mall.
"The shops await you my dear." He said in a fake British accent and grinned at her.
Merideth smiled back and curtsied.
"Why thank you m'lord." She walked past him and stood in front of the quarter-a-ride children's rides. "So what store should we tackle first? Dunam's Sports, K-Mart, or perhaps Joan Fabrics?" She asked in mock excitement.
"Well, as Jeff Foxworthy would say, you know you're in a hick town when…Hey, why don't we go get some ice-cream down at Mom's? I'm craving Rainbow ice-cream." He said while looking at the small sign that told of all the shops.
"Alright, sounds good to me." Merideth agreed and together they headed down the near deserted hall. The only people present were the older Yoopers who were, as always, catching up on stories near the small hotdog stand.
They walked in silence half way down the empty corridor until Chet finally spoke.
"You know Mer, something about your capture has been bugging me." He said, his voice full of puzzlement.
"What's that?" She inquired distractedly as she looked into Brauns and Hallmark.
"Well, the whole time that you were there you weren't scared at all, right?" Merideth nodded her response. "Well, doesn't that strike you as odd? Most people would've lost control of their bodily functions right then and there, but you were calm. Why is that?"
Merideth just looked at him quizzically, and crinkled her nose as she tried to describe the feeling that she had had while in custody.
"I felt this strange connection to the place, to the people there. Especially Miss Parker and her father."
Chet stepped in front of her and started walking backwards as he talked. He waggled his fingers in the air mysteriously.
"Ooooooo, another X-File!" said Chet, steering the conversation in a more appealing direction. "You know I still can't believe that all that stuff those two guys on that show said they hacked out of the FBI mainframe is true! I mean, a Jersey Devil or Mothmen, it's a nice fantasy, but it can't possibly be true!" He returned to his place next to her.
As they walked into Mom's Merideth smiled.
"It would appear that I have a doubting Thomas on my hands."
"Well, I mean, if it were true wouldn't the government put a stop to it?"
"Think about it Chet, if they stopped it wouldn't that in itself be suspicious? Besides, maybe they figure that this stuff is so outlandish that no one will believe it anyway, and that way when it happens to them in real life they'll just pass it off as a TV induced hallucination."
"You know what I wish? I wish that they would just tell us who the two agents who work on the X-Files are!"
"I heard that they're saving that until their finally episode. Remember they said that they gave that tape to a trustworthy friend of theirs and it is only to be released after their disappearance, or whenever they feel that the show is coming to an end?"
Their conversation was interrupted as they approached the counter.
"What can I getchya?" Asked the attractive dark haired, dark eyed, slender, six-foot local high school boy from behind the counter. He let his eyes linger on Merideth.
Chet stepped territorially close to Mer and pulled out his wallet. He gave the boy a stern look that warned the young man not to make a move, that she was his. He looked at the boy's nametag.
"I'll have a medium regular cone with Rainbow ice-cream, Jeff, and what do you want Mer?"
Merideth finished examining the flavors and made up her mind.
"I'd like a small Mackinac Island Fudge, please." She smiled at Jeff who grinned back widely. "No problem." Jeff made a show of scooping out the ice cream while Chet stared bullets into his back. When he had finally finished Jeff handed Merideth both cones, taking the opportunity to touch her hands. Then he turned back to Chet with a satisfied look. "That'll be two fifty please."
Chet smiled back harshly and placed the money in his hand making sure to squeeze it until the guy winced in pain, and then whispered,
"Hands off buddy, she's mine."
Jeff pulled back his hand.
"Gotchya."
"Good." With that Chet walked over to the center part of the mall were Merideth was sitting next to the fake plants.
***
Houghton County Airport
Houghton, Michigan
6:55 p.m.
Mr. Lyle and his team walked off of the plane almost 45 minutes ahead of schedule. They made quite a sight as they walked into the abandoned, one room airport terminal. Lyle looked around disgusted and walked up to the car rental desk.
"Hi. How can I help you?" Asked the short, petite, blond behind the counter.
"Well, let's see. I'd like a burger and fries." He said sarcastically and than raised his voice. "I want a car, you moron!"
The woman glared at him, then it hit her and a sly grin came over her face.
"Of course sir, how silly of me. Just sign here." She said slipping the papers over the counter. She waited patiently, all smiles, while he signed the papers.
"Here!" he said as he shoved them back at her.
"Your car is in the fourth spot third row to the left." She said as she handed him the keys and watched him and his followers walk out the door. When she was sure that they were all out she shouted over to her friend Kora. "Come on, we gotta be gone in case they come back!"
"You gave them that rusted old van, didn't you!" Kora said, smiling. That creep deserved it.
"Yup. Now come on, we gotta hurry!" She said as she ran over to her friend's side.
"Well, that was the last flight, waddya say we lock up and get the hell outta here?"
Sara, the short blond, grinned.
"Good idea."
***
Houghton County Airport
Parking Lot
Lyle walked over to the third row and looked at the fourth spot.
"What the…?! Oh, no, there is no way!" Lyle turned to walk back into the airport and give that short bitch a piece of his mind when he saw the lights go out. "Ah hell. Fine. Everyone get in. We'll find another rental agency!"
***
Mulder's Room
6:58 p.m.
Fowley was looking at the still body of her beloved Fox.
"How much longer will he be out?"
The strange man, who was also the man who had given Mulder his 'medicine' answered.
"About another ten minutes."
"And when he awakes he'll think i'’s August 12,1990, the day before we found the X-Files right?" Fowley asked changing her gaze to rest on the man in front of her.
"That's correct, and if not, we'll administer another dose and he'll be all yours."
Fowley smiled wickedly.
"Wonderful." She paused for a moment. "Did you do the suggestive hypnosis that I asked you to?"
"Yeah, just before he went out. When he awakes, he should have an unnatural hatred towards Miss Dana Katherine Scully."
***
Miss Parker's Office
The Centre
7:05 p.m.
Sam walked up to her door and looked around cautiously before opening it and entering. He walked into the room and shut the door. He was in the process of looking for the light switch when an all too familiar squeaking noise startled him. He spun around to confront the intruder and was greeted by a pale face with two tubes, one exiting from each nostril.
"What are you doing in here, Sam?" Asked the raspy voice.
'Damn, Mr. Raines, what the hell am I going to do?' Sam thought frantically, although his face stayed neutral.
"Hello, Mr. Raines. I was just here to help in the investigation into Miss Parker's disappearance. I figured that since I was her most trusted employee I might be able to shed some light on the situation." His voice was the stone cold, emotionless voice of a sweeper.
Raines smiled at him.
"Very good. The Centre is lucky to have honorable men like you working for them. You will go far in this establishment with that attitude. Well, I'll leave you to your work. Good luck and God bless." With those inspiring words Raines left, towing his oxygen tank behind.
Sam wiped the sweat from his forehead at the close call and turned to go about his business. He knew that there was nothing that he could do until Michael decided to show his face and produce those papers that he promised. He sat down on the couch and waited.
***
Mulder's Room
7:07 p.m.
Agent Fowley turned when she heard Fox moan and rushed to his side. She gently pushed his hair out of his face and looked down at him.
"Fox, are you all right?"
"Diana? Is that you? Where am I?" Mulder asked, his thoughts were awfully fuzzy and he was having a hard time putting everything into perspective.
"Yes, it's me Fox. Do you know what year it is?"
"Yeah, 1990." He tried to sit up and noticed the look of relief that came over Diana's features, but figured that she was just relieved that he was okay. "Why am I strapped down to this bed, and where's my shirt?"
Fowley thought for a moment.
"You were in an accident Fox. When we got here the doctor had to take off your shirt to examine you and then you started to convulse so we had to strap you down."
Mulder winced as he lifted his head, but smiled.
"Well, I'm okay now so how about unstrapping me." He smiled at her in a 'pretty please' manner.
She smiled at the look that he had only given her, it wasn't that fake look he gave that red-haired bitch, nope it was the one he used to give her. She smiled.
"Sure." She undid the straps and helped him sit up. "Do you want anything?"
"Some aspirin would be nice. I have a killer headache, but shouldn't you call in the doc? I'm sure he'll want to check on me." He said trying to make everything stay in focus. His head was really hurting.
Diana paused, damn, she was hoping he wouldn't think of that.
"No, the doctor knows that you're fine. It was just a small bump and he thinks the convulsing was do to those meds you're on."
Mulder tried to think of what medications he was on.
"I was allergic to the darvocet I was taking for my back?"
"That's what it looks like." She sighed. "Fox, do you trust in me, believe in me?"
"Sure Diana." He said, giving her a confused look. What was wrong with her? She was acting really weird. 'Maybe she's just concerned about your accident Mulder. God, your getting as paranoid as those three, what did they call themselves? Oh yeah, the Lone Gunmen.'
"Look, I met someone who can help you get the answers you want, about your sister, but you have to join him and his covert group. We have to help them. Is that a problem, are you willing to deal?"
"What's the group?" He asked curiously. Diana was getting nervous.
She sighed, all these questions were really starting to wear on her nerves.
"It's the Syndicate. Look Fox, we can't question them. We just do simple tasks for them and they tell us what we want to know, alright?"
Mulder was intrigued by the offer. All of his answers for doing some simple tasks? But what if those tasks were horrible things like killing people or … He trailed off as he looked into Diana's eyes. They were pleading with him to agree.
"All right. I guess. What do we have to do?" Those eyes had always gotten to him.
Diana smiled broadly. She knew that he would give in, she had had that power over him and it appeared that she had regained that power.
"Someone has stolen some secrets that could hurt the public if they were released. We have to find out where she has hidden them, and if she has told anyone else." She paused for a minute, her eyes going cold. "By any means possible."
"And if she doesn’t tell us?"
"We have to get rid of her."
***
Mr. Parker's Office
7:09 p.m.
Mr. Raines was standing in front of Mr. Parker's desk explaining the situation at hand.
"We need a tail on Miss Parker's sweeper Sam, he's up to something. He is in on what ever is happening with your daughter, and I have a feeling that if we watch him long enough he'll lead us right to them."
Mr. Parker looked at the man before him, then bent his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. This was getting to be too much. That cigarette smoking man was all over his ass about Jarod and Parker and having Mr. Happy-Go-Lucky, a born-again Christian, in front of him wasn't helping. It was no wonder that his daughter enjoyed a good bottle of Vodka after a day at work.
"Fine, put a tail on him, install tracking devices, but I want an hourly update."
"Of course."
***
Scully's Room
7:10 p.m.
Scully awoke once again from yet another bout of unconsciousness. The story had been the same for the last hour. The good doctor would torture her with some odd instrument that induced unbearable pain, she would pass out and when she woke up the doctor would tell her that he was going to give her some time to think about the offer. Then he would leave her alone to think about her choices. No more than five minutes later he would come back, she would refuse the offer and the process would start all over again.
She looked up at the doctor who had just re-entered the room and was smiling at the look of pain on her face. He spoke to her in his thick German accent.
"You are a very good patient. Most scream, you, you were very quiet. I find that interesting. I must record this." He walked over and wrote on a clipboard. "Agent Fowley has said that I must let you rest." He bowed slightly. "Until we meet again." And then he was gone.
Scully stared after him and then hung her head and closed her eyes. Amazingly enough the pain was slowly fading; either that or she had become so used to it that it she was now immune to it. Either way she was relieved.
Scully's thoughts turned to Mulder, somewhere else in this building probably enduring the same torture as her. She hoped not. She was sticking this out to save them. She just hoped that he held out until she could do so. She knew that the best way to save him would have been to take Diana up on her offer, but Scully had thought there was something amiss about the whole thing. Like, why would Diana even offer that opportunity to her? That just made Scully realize that if she left Fowley would get what she wanted, and there was no way Scully was going to play into her hand. She sighed again, wondering if Mulder was all right. Unfortunately, there was no way for her to know.
While Scully was analyzing her situation the door opened. She heard two sets of footsteps, so she looked up and had to suppress a smile of relief. For there before her stood Mulder. Scully let the smile spread across her face as she sent up a little thank you to the Big Guy.
"Mulder, thank God you're all right!" She said in a raspy voice.
Mulder looked at her curiously and then at Fowley.
"Do I know her?"
"No, Fox. She knows your name because I told her it earlier." Fowley gave the man next to an award-winning smile.
"That's a lie! Mulder, it's me, don't you recognize me? What's wrong with you?! What did they do to you?!" She turned to Fowley. "I'm going to KILL you Fowley!" Scully yelled, as she weakly strained against the straps that bound her to the cross.
Mulder continued to look at her curiously as Diana approached Scully and faced her nose to nose.
"I like to see you try Agent Scully." Fowley glared at her, but her tone had a mocking quality hidden in it.
Mulder stared at the two women before him. He didn’t understand these feelings that were invading his mind. As he stared at the red haired woman strapped to the cross several things crossed his mind in rapid succession. The first was a feeling of pure hatred, something he didn't understand. The feeling just didn't fit; it seemed as though some outside influence had put the foreign thought in his head.
Then came a feeling of recognition, then of pure love. This time, however the feelings felt as though they belonged, like it was as a part of him as the skin that his body was enclosed in. He shook his head in confusion and looked at the woman on the cross. A picture flooded his mind: a gold cross on a thin gold chain. The image sent forth a feeling of hope, that everything was going to be all right. He once again cast his gaze on the woman strapped before him and caught sight of the necklace that he had just saw in his mind's eye. A sudden wave of dizziness caused him to sway and grab his head.
***
Miss Parker's Office
The Centre
7:15 p.m.
Sam was sitting on the couch in the dark when the vent in the ceiling popped off and a bag fell through followed by Michael, who was wearing a mischievous grin. He gestured to the bag.
"Information for daughter."
Sam nodded and grabbed the bag. He turned to set it on the couch and turned back to speak to his mysterious cohort, but he was already gone.
"Oh well." Sam said and snuck back out the door to go meet Bart.
***
Portage Health Systems
Hancock, Michigan
7:17 p.m.
Jarod and Miss Parker walked into the emergency room as though they belonged there. A frantic ER nurse walked up to them.
"What can I do for you?" She asked.
"Hi, I'm Dr. Jarod Kurtzweil. My wife and I are here on a vacation and our baby seems to have come down with something. I was wondering if I might be able to run a few tests to see if it's anything serious?"
"I can get Doctor Sarizan down here right away…" said the petite, dark haired woman in green scrubs.
"No, no, that's alright. You see our daughter has a very rare disease that I have come to know quite well, it would save us all a lot of time and money if I could just run a few tests."
"Um, all right. We just have to pass it by Dr. Sarizan, the ER doctor. I'll go get him."
Miss Parker stood to the side rocking her baby as she watched what was happening, a scowl darkening her features. So help her God, she was going to take down the Centre if it was the last thing she did.
***
Copper Country Mall Parking
Lot
7:20 p.m.
After finding a rental agency in Hancock and acquiring their usual black town cars, Mr. Lyle and his sweepers drove to the Copper Country Mall, their first stop on the list. They exited the cars outside the middle entrance to the mall that led to Joan Fabrics. Another team was entering the entrance that led to K-mart and the third team, the one that lead to JC Penny.
Lyle was heading up the team that was entering the center of the mall. He was going to catch those little brats if it was the last thing he did.
Inside the Mall
A Few Minutes Earlier
Chet and Merideth had just finished their ice cream and were now discussing what they were going to need if they were stay up in that house. So far they had come up with swimsuits, CD's, some movies, books, and maybe some new clothes.
"Okay, so I say we go for the necessities first. CD's." Chet said smiling.
"Agreed. There's a music store right over…" the ringing of Chet's cell phone interrupted her.
Chet looked around embarrassed as the ringing echoed through the hallways. He answered sheepishly.
"Hello?"
"Chet honey, it's your mother."
"Oh, hey mom! Are you in Paris already?" Chet looked over at Merideth smiling apologetically.
"No dear, we still have about another two hours. How has your trip been? Is Merideth feeling better?" His mom's voice was truly concerned. She loved Merideth like her own daughter.
"Yeah, mom. She's feeling much better. It must be all of this fresh air and shopping."
Merideth slowly tuned out their conversation as she looked around. The guy that had served them their ice cream was staring at her, so she quickly looked away. Her eyes wondered about looking at all of the stores. She was used to going to the big malls, were the stores were about as big as this mall. Her attention was refocused when she heard the clicking of many pairs of dress shoes against the tiled floor. She turned to look at the door and spotted a man she had hoped she would never see again.
"Oh shit. Chet, Chet hang up the phone." Merideth whispered as she nudged her best friend, not once taking her eyes off of the object she was staring at.
"What's wrong Mer?" Chet asked but his response was cut short.
Mr. Lyle entered the mall ahead of his sweepers and looked around. The mall was a small, poorly decorated place. Fake plants decorated the center part of the mall, were two figures sat hidden in the shadows the leaves cast. He started to walk closer, his men trailing behind, when he heard a young male voice ask 'What's wrong Mer?' He jumped into action.
"There!" he yelled as he pointed to the two figures sitting on the bench.
"Shit!" He heard the familiar voice of Merideth yell as she flew off the bench dragging her companion behind her.
***
Scully's Room
7:25 p.m.
Fowley looked at Mulder worried. She walked over and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Fox, are you all right?"
Mulder stood holding his head, not quite sure what to say. Something was very wrong here, and he had a feeling that Diana was behind it.
"Nothing, I just don't think that I'm up to this yet. Do you mind if I go back and lay down for a minute? Can you handle everything here?"
"Sure Fox, you go lie down and I'll take care of everything. Do you want me to call someone to help you back to your room?" Fowley asked concern written all over her face.
"No, No, I'm fine. I just need to lie down."
"Alright." Diana agreed. Mulder cast one last glance at the woman who was strapped helplessly to the contraption, shook his head and left.
Diana turned back to Dana.
"He doesn't remember you."
"I know." Scully said sadly, a stray tear streaming down her face. There was only one way to save them both now. "Fowley, I'll take the deal."
To be continued….
Okay, that's all folks, at least for now. I want to add a few notes here explaining some things. First I'd like to say that all the places I mention (i.e. Copper Country Mall, Houghton County Airport, Shopko, Wall-Mart ect.) are real. Portage Health Systems is the real Hospital and Dr. Sarizan is a real doctor there, although I'm not sure I spelt his name right <g> So please don't sue me! I ain't got nuthin! Sadly, though, Moms' the ice cream store (who might I add had the BEST Mackinac Island Fudge) has gone out of business L
Now, onto terminology. Yoopers are people who live in Upper Michigan (you should visit, it's really great up here!) They have a really spiffy accent, if I do say so myself, and I do. It's somewhere between Canadian and Finnish. And they do gather around the hotdog stand in the middle of the mall to talk, and yes the mall is THAT small! Mackinac Island Fudge is a type of ice cream made from fudge produced on Mackinac Island, Michigan. It's big ol' chunks of fudge in vanilla ice cream <nummy!> Anyway, I'm done boring you.
Like it, loved it, thought it sucked? Let me know at zyp959@hotmail.com