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The Y-Files

Case File #1Y5 - 2723: The Sky Is Falling

Part II

From: SamanthaJ3

 

"Come on in," I heard Sara say to someone at the door to my room. "We moved the meeting into Sam's room. Somehow her room looks bigger than mine, don't you think?"

"The rooms all look the same to me," Fayme replied. "Oh, this is Agent Lemming."

 

I turned to look at the tall agent whom Fayme had just introduced.

 

"That's SAC Sara Zeuty," Fayme was making the introductions for us, "SAC Samantha Jaythree, and that's --" pointing at Mortis who was just emerging from the miniscule bathroom in the motel room, "Agent Mortis."

 

"Okay, people," Sara immediately took charge. "We have few facts, and the facts we do have seem to keep disappearing. Any clues on who kidnapped Agent Mortis?"

 

"Negative," I shook my head. "Other than the fact that our rental car was stolen, our rooms are being taped, and our witnesses keep disappearing, no direct evidence from the crime scene."

 

"However," Mortis picked up the thread, "Michael Straub was trying to tell us something. He kept mentioning the word Morley. Do you think he means the cigarette? Do you think it's important?"

 

Sara and I exchanged a glance. Agent Fayme nodded her head as well.

 

"Morley? It's a popular brand," the lone male voice spoke up. Agent Lemming was obviously not well versed in the work of either the X Files or the Y Files. Then again, he was probably hoping for a position on the fast track to advancement within the Bureau.

 

"The gun which was left at the nursing station provided us with fingerprints, but those prints are not on record in any local or national database," I continued. "I gave a description of the woman who posed as an agent to the Boulder police, and they're supposed to see what they can do to locate this woman."

 

"What about the gun itself?" Sara shot back at me.

 

"Serial number had been filed away. We can't trace it, either."

 

"And Leah Straub is still missing," Mortis added.

 

"So basically," Agent Lemming leaned back in his chair beside the small table. "We have no suspects, no evidence, and no leads." He shrugged. "Doesn't sound like we have anything to go on at all."

 

::knock, knock::

 

Sara looked at me. "Are you expecting anyone?"

 

"Who do I know in Boulder?" I replied and went to the door. Even with a room full of agents, I checked before opening the door. "It's Byers."

 

Opening the door, I looked at his serious face which seemed even more serious than usual. "What happened?"

 

"You'll never believe me if you don't see this for yourself," he grabbed my arm and hauled me back into the room. Langly was right behind him.

 

While Lanlgy closed the door and locked it, Byers released my arm and went to the television set. Flipping it on, he switched to a local station which was covering breaking news on the other side of Boulder.

 

 

From: SamanthaJ3

 

The brown-haired anchorwoman on the TV cleared her throat,

"From the CNN News Desk in Atlanta:

 

"This news just in from our affiliate station in Boulder, Colorado. What appears to be a large meteorite or other unknown substance has just fallen literally from the sky and landed two miles south of the downtown Boulder district. A Wal-Mart store was hit, collapsing the roof of the structure, and trapping victims inside.

 

"The FAA has neither confirmed or denied that there was any airplane activity in the area at the time of the crash. Investigators are en route to the site even as emergency crews are staging search and rescue operations.

 

"We'll keep you posted with more news as it becomes available--"

 

Byers flipped off the TV set. "Well? You can see the conspiracy involved here?"

 

I looked at Sara and the others. "No," I shook my head. "What conspiracy?"

 

"The government is testing a new smart bomb tracking system," Byers seemed serious enough.

 

"And they're testing it by launching fake meteorites from the Space Shuttle in orbit, and plotting the trajectories so that the missile-meteorites will land in certain locations," Langly continued.

 

"For what purpose?" I asked in disbelief.

 

"The ultimate first strike system," Byers responded. "No government but ours has the shuttle. And no other government is going to risk firing its missiles at every bit of space junk orbiting the planet."

 

"You guys watch too much TV," Sara shook her head. Turning to me, she added, "We can't help at a disaster scene, but we can track down any data from satellites just prior to the crash."

 

"Fine, but I want a guard stationed outside Michael Straub's room. Mortis, take first shift, and someone will relieve you in a few hours. Fayme and Lemming, go to the crash site. Stay out of the way, but see if there are any eyewitnesses to whatever crashed. Sara, you and I will see if anyone tracked that thing as it was coming in.

 

"Let's do it," I replied, and we dispersed to handle our various assignments.

From: Sam Mcgee

 

When I got back to my room at the Hyatt, I dropped my shoes into a garbage sack (heels! what was I thinking!). The brown wig and glasses were next. I dropped onto the bed and turned the TV on. The day had been an interesting one. I was surprised that Agent J3 had fallen for the old swinging door trick. She ran straight out into the parking garage without even bothering to check under the stairs...

Losing my Glock had been unfortunate, but in a way it may turn out to be useful. The gun itself could never be traced, but slugs from the gun could be matched with those taken from Hinkson and the dead waitress. And if Straub tells them Morley Cigs was behind his kidnapping, the two murders and the plane crash could also be connected to him. That should keep The Man busy.

 

I called room service for a nice bloody steak and turned on the shower. But something on CNN caught my eye. A meteorite had just taken out a Wal-Mart. Poetic justice or ...?

 

I looked through my closet. What does one wear to a Wal-Mart disaster?

 

 

From: Deep R. Throat

 

As the bandages were peeled from my face, a small glimmer of light began to seep through into my left eye socket.  My good right eye looked up in an attempt to see the man who was performing the un-bandaging act upon me, but could only make out a blurry shape. My ears could hear the sound of sharpened metal upon metal as the wrappings on my head were snipped away and discarded. My mind struggled to comprehend the situation - where was I? What was going on?

A voice from the darkness -"Don't worry sir, we're almost finished here." Could they read my mind? Could they feel my fear, my hatred, my craving for a drink?

 

A sharp pain in my right arm, a blinding flash of light. I rubbed my good eye with a gloved hand cautiously avoiding my left eye socket where only an empty hole remained. Too gross to touch. "Where am I?' I said out loud.

 

"You're home sir," came a voice from behind me. I turned slowly and beheld a man who, if not for my horrible disfigurements, would have looked like my twin.

 

"Nine Thousand-One?" I asked. The man nodded, a smirk on his lips. I sighed and looked around. Tanks of green liquid, tubes and wires and hoses akimbo, flasks and beakers. I stood and walked across the lab towards the far wall where a full length mirror hung.

 

I looked myself over for a long time. My clothes were ripped and covered with filth. The gloves which were supposed to be covering my grotesque hands were missing several fingers, which reminded me of...who? Someone I had seen recently? The thought disappeared as quickly as it came. I looked at my face, or lack thereof. My left eye was gone, this much I had known, but my ears -my god, my ears- were burnt and black like bat wings. My once handsome head of hair was now a fried green tomato of a scalp. Bubbly and pus-filled.  A lone tear began to form in my cavernous left eye.

 

How had I even gotten back to my lab? What the hell had happened to my clothes? I heard a low cough, turned around and saw myself (it's not myself, it's Ninethousand-One) holding a scalpel. It caught the light and sent out sparks of starlight.

 

I nodded my head in consent as he smiled at me. I grinned back at him with coal black teeth like diamonds at midnight, took the scalpel from his hands, and began to cut my face from his skull. As blood splashed over my face, silent green tears dripping from my brow, I began to laugh.

 

Oh, how I laughed.

 

 

From: Morley Cigs

 

"Sir?" A young lieutenant asked.

 

"Yes. What is it?" Was it more bad news? By the look on his face, I already knew the answer.

 

"We've received a report for one of our operatives working for the FBI It appears that Michael Straub is talking." He seemed hesitant to go on.

 

I knew it was going to be bad news. "What's he saying?"

 

He seemed even more hesitant. "Ummmm. He' seems to be talking about you, sir."

 

"He what! He doesn't even know me. How the hell could this have happened?"

 

"I don't know, sir."

 

It was time to calm down. This wasn't my week. I've had a mole in my ranks, a gun to my head, a missing\dead operative, and now someone is trying to set me up. I needed a smoke, and I needed one badly. I lit one up. All right, time to get down to business. "Give me all of the information we have to date."

 

Ms. Black took this one. "What we know is that someone had entered Mr. Straub's room before a group of FBI agents arrived. The agents gave the individual a brief chase, but they were unable to catch her. Before this person 'visited' Mr. Straub, he had said nothing about you, but after that incident he began talking."

 

"You said 'she'? We know it was a woman?"

 

"Yes we do. The agent that chased her and the nurse identified this person as a woman. The name she gave was Agent LeBarge, but I'm sure it's bogus."

 

A woman? This was interesting. "What two operatives do we have in the field?"

 

"We have Martini Drinking Man and Sam Mcgee. Are you suggesting...?"

 

"That at least one of the operatives is trying to back stab me? Yes I am. I want you to go to Colorado, Ms. Black. Discover who is doing this. I will inform both Sam Mcgee and MDM to expect you. Understood?"

 

"Yes sir, but what are we going to about what Mr. Straub is saying?"

 

I gave a small chuckle. "What is he saying that is of any harm to me? He is talking about a person named Morley Cigs. That's not even my real name, and besides he seems quite mad. No one will believe him, but I want to know who gave him my name."

 

"Yes sir." She turned to leave.

 

"Ms. Black." I called for her. "Yes?" She answered.

 

"Find this person..." I took a long drag on my smoke. "...and kill them."

 

"Yes sir!"

 

 

From: Fiona Black

 

I arrived in Boulder with no problems. My rental car was ready and waiting, and I drove to the Comity. Apparently there were some Special Agents staying there.

I chuckled to myself. When would they learn that when it came down to it, we worked for the government? By all rights we were, in fact, the government. Nothing went down without our go ahead. Or should I say, "their" go-ahead, I was still pretty new in the business. We're the ones who gave the FBI special rates whenever their agents stayed at the Comity. We *owned* the Comity. All of them.

 

And to think they'd discovered our cameras only just now. The funny thing is they had no idea what a massive network of them we had.

 

I laughed again, shaking my head as I checked into my room. Number 117 was always vacant, in case one of us needed it. Of course there were cameras there, too, but that was just for security purposes. I grinned up at the ceiling, winking at the syndicate's ever watchful eye, as I unpacked some things and changed. Maybe if I was lucky, Morley would let me take out a couple of these FBI agents. They were really...irritating.

 

I sighed. Not likely, it would attract too much attention. And besides, Morley liked his mind games too much.

 

First order of business was to find Sam McGee. If it was up to me, I'd just shoot them all and let someone else sort it out later. It seemed so much more efficient than playing games. But I wanted to do well on this one. I had to make sure I killed the right person. A description of the woman who spoke to Straub, first. Maybe the FBI people had one. Then I wanted to account for all of my... co-worker's whereabouts. Morley had given me a week. I gave myself two days. Three, tops.

 

 

From: Sara Kathryn Zeuty

 

"Okay. You're going to hate me for this, but I think we need to talk to the boys on this one. They've helped us with satellite pictures before."

Samantha sighed.

 

"Oh come on. You know you love 'em."

 

She sighed again. I grinned, and we tracked down Byers, Frohike, and Langly.

 

I don't know how they do it, but they do it quickly. In fact I didn't want to know how they did it. Neither did Sam, she kept her eyes averted.

 

"Here it is." said Byers. "Looks like your typical, run of the mill meteorite. We caught it for a couple seconds. Now, if you take into consideration the range and depth of the view, the object is between one and two feet in diameter."

 

I nodded, as they stared up at me. "What?" I said.

 

"Well, Agent Zeuty, that's pretty small. It should have burned up before it hit anything."

 

"Unless it was manmade, specifically *not* to burn up." Langly said.

 

"Great. Can you tell me anything about the speed?"

 

"Not very fast. Not very fast at all, considering the typical speed of a meteorite in space."

 

"What does that mean?" I asked.

 

"Well it could mean a lot of things. But given the nature of what's been going on here, I would say that it's not really a meteor. And given the direction it came from, I can only speculate that our original theory was correct, that it was launched from somewhere."

 

"Of course you would." I said. I looked up at Sam. "Regardless, I want to get a look at the thing. Let's hope it didn't vaporize just before impact."

 

Just then my cell phone rang. It was Agent Fayme.

 

"Hi," I said, "We're going to meet you down there. Find anything out yet?"

 

"You might not want to come down here." she said, "Everyone's getting sick. We can't even get close enough to see what's going on. Apparently everyone's going into quarantine. The survivors, anyway."

 

"Wonderful." I said, "Stay put. Sam and I are on our way. I don't know if this is a cover up attempt, but I don't want you risking catching something terrible, so do NOT try to get any closer." I hung up, explained to Sam, and we were out the door and in the car.

 

 

From: SamanthaJ3

 

Sara had insisted on driving, and TLG had insisted on following us to the crash site. We were an odd looking little convoy with our Ford rental being closely tailed by an ancient VW van.

"Sara," I sighed as I averted my eyes from the passenger side mirror and the reflection of Byers and Langly in the front of the van. "What the boys are suggesting would require some form of government involvement or at the very least, government cooperation."

 

"I know," she nodded, eyes fixed on the road.

 

"No, no, no," she wasn't following me or she would have been more upset. "I mean, with all of the complex tracking systems which connect air traffic control centers around the country, and the military's own radar tracking systems, it would be *impossible* for a manmade object to appear over Boulder and take out houses and department stores without the government already having some clue about it!"

 

"I know," she calmly replied again.

 

"Sara, do you realize what we're saying here?"

 

She nodded again. "We're saying that there is the chance that our own government knew about these so-called 'meteorites' and could have stopped this from happening. Unless they are the ones responsible for what's happening."

 

It was my turn to sit quietly for a moment. She did understand what I was saying. "Sara," I continued after a moment. "What sort of illness do you think is being spread here? Some sort of unintentional byproduct? Or are they right?" I tilted my head back towards the van which still closely followed us. "Are we living in the worst nightmares of Byers, Langly, and Frohike? Is this a test for the deliberate spread of some contagion?"

 

"We'll find out," Sara replied as we found ourselves being forced to slow and stop the car. A solid wall of camouflaged vehicles was barring our way, and a man in a green uniform was holding up his hands, redirecting traffic.

 

"That's pretty quick for the military to mobilize this many people, don't you think?" I was already pulling out my ID.

 

"Unless they already knew what time to show up," Sara replied grimly as she fished out her own ID. We waited in the line of cars, inching forward towards the roadblock before being forced to turn to the left. I could tell from Sara's expression, that we might be going another way instead.

 

 

From: Morley Cigs

 

INCOMING MESSAGE

For: Sam Mcgee and MDM

From: Morley Cigs

encrypted 79817729722

Ms. Black is arriving to assist both of you in the operation. Await for her arrival and give her your full cooperation. I have placed her in direct command. You now answer to her.

 

end message 79817729722

 

 

From: Sam Mcgee

 

A pair of sweats, well-padded with hotel towels gave me that perfect Wal-Mart look. I topped it off with a short, salt and pepper wig, rhinestone bifocals and a lot of really bad make up. I packed my belongings and left the Hyatt. It wouldn't be long before Morley found out about Straub and things were going to get very interesting. I checked my email before I left. Very interesting, indeed.

I drove out to the Wal-Mart. The entire area had been sealed off by the military. This was not good. A contingent of HazMat vehicles surrounded the store. I slowed my car to take a closer look. HazMat my ass-- I knew some of those guys. Those boys were from Fort Detrick. What was a Level 4 USAMRIID Biocontainment Unit doing here? How could they have gotten here so fast from Maryland? There was only one answer to that.

 

"Hey you! Move it along!" A soldier, heavily armed and decked out in bio-gear was shouting at me.

 

I nodded and waved and keep moving. Traffic was heavy around the store, and even the soldiers were having a difficult time keeping the rubberneckers at bay. I heard crash up ahead--one of the gawkers had rear-ended another car. I rolled down my window.

 

"Officer!" I called to the soldier, "Officer! What's happening here?"

 

The soldier was brusque. "Ma'am just stay in your vehicle and roll up your window."

 

I leaned out my window. "I heard there was an outbreak of anthrax here," I shouted. "Is that true?"

 

The soldier pushed me back into my car. "Stay in your vehicle and roll up your window!"

 

The driver of the car in front of me had overheard me. "Anthrax!"

 

It took all of eight seconds before panic spread throughout the crowd. People abandoned their vehicles and started running down the street. It was just the diversion I needed. With the soldiers now busy with crowd control, I slipped out of my car and jogged over near the communication van. I saw a familiar face. A very familiar face.

 

The Colonel. And Jack was with him. This was definitely not good.

 

I ran back to my car and maneuvered through the snarl as quickly as I could. In my rearview mirror I saw the soldier I had spoken to gesturing towards my car. Not good...

 

 

From: Sam Mcgee

 

I drove to the Ramada near the airport, where I already had a room. I didn't see anyone following me, but I knew Jack only too well. It was just a matter of time before he found me, and I didn't have much to spare. As it turned out, I didn't have any at all.

I was barely in my room before my door was kicked open. I spun around. A tall, heavily-built man with black hair grabbed me by the neck and pushed me against the wall. His eyes were as black as his soul. He squeezed.

 

"Hey Jack," I rasped.

 

"Hey Suzanne," he said. "Love your outfit." He finally released me and I slid down the wall, coughing.

 

He stood over me, his lips twisted in a cold, mirthless smile. "You've gotten careless since you left the agency."

 

I rubbed my throat. "Does anyone ever really leave?" I asked hoarsely.

 

"No, I suppose not," he said. "You should've stayed in South Dakota."

 

"Tell me about it," I said. I stood warily, pulling off the wig. "What's the Company's interest in all this? Smart weapons? Bio-weapons? What? I thought Congress cut your funding for all this black-ops crap."

 

"Lets just say we got some *outside* funding," Jack said. "As much as I'd like to just chat, I'm afraid I don't have the time. I'm in a position to help you if you help me."

 

"Why would I need or want your help?" I asked him.

 

Jack laughed. "You need to tell your "boss" to get a better encryption program. Haven't you guys heard of ECHELON ? All this running around, playing tag with the FBI, crashing airplanes--you don't even know when you're being manipulated. Anyway, the way I see it you're about twelve hours away from permanent retirement. I can prevent that--just tell me where Leah Straub is."

 

It was my turn to laugh. "Yeah, right. I think I'd rather take my chances with Morley."

 

I jerked my head back--Jack's fist caught me on the jaw rather than square in the face, but it was still enough to knock me back to the floor. The room went gray for a moment, but when my vision cleared, it became very clear indeed.

 

"You hacked the Network," I said, tasting copper. "You've been jerking us around all along. You ordered the plane crash, not Morley--you told Hinkson to give me the wrong information." I almost smiled at the irony of it all, but it was too painful.

 

"I always knew you were a weasel," I said.

 

A muscle twitched in Jacks cheek as he clenched his teeth. "You are trying my patience, Suzanne. Where's Leah Straub?"

 

I spat blood onto the carpet. This guy was starting to piss me off. "Last I heard she and her hubby were abducted by aliens or something. What do you want with her anyway?"

 

"The "device" we've been testing isn't operating as it should--there seems to be a problem with the guidance system--look what happened in Utah."

 

"And your point is?"

 

"Leah Straub designed the guidance system. We want her back-alive and functional."

 

"Sorry, Jack," I said, "'fraid I can't help you there--I don't know where she is."

 

"But your friend does. You know, the crispy guy in the Ray Milland get-up?"

 

I leaned back against the side of the bed. "He's not my friend--besides, he's got to be dead by now. You obviously saw what he looked like. No one could live long in that condition."

 

"Oh, he's alive--and you're going to tell me where he is."

 

I grasped the edge of the mattress. It could be a long night...

 

 

From: SamanthaJ3

 

The military man in charge was not the slightest bit impressed by the FBI credentials which Sara and I presented to him. "I'm sorry, ma'am," he nodded to Sara. "But I don't have any orders about allowing non-military personnel into this site."

I leaned across the center console so that I could see the young officer. "Excuse me, ah...Captain, but do you know General Mays?"

 

"No, ma'am, I don't. Now if you'll move your vehicle, your obstructing the flow of traffic, and we're having enough problems with crowd control as it is."

 

"Soldier," I tried to adopt a no-nonsense tone. "We are here under the direct orders of General Mays to act as Federal liaison agents between the Bureau and your command unit."

 

"Ma'am, I have to insist that you move this car before I --"

 

"Sam," Sara turned to me. "Get on the phone and call the General. Tell him that some jackass of a captain is preventing us from carrying out his instructions."

 

"I'm on it," I pulled out my cell phone and started dialing.

 

"What's your name, Captain?" Sara leaned out of her window just a little. "I want to make sure that we spell it correctly for the General."

 

"Begging your pardon, ma'am, but even if the White --- " He broke off as the sounds of excited voices reached our ears. "Damn! Stay right there!" He suddenly yelled and unslung his weapon. He took off at a dead run.

 

Sara and I turned in our seats, and behind us we could see TLG doing the same. Panic seemed to have set in for many of the motorists who were abandoning their cars and running every direction possible.

 

"Now's our chance," Sara had undone her seat belt and was opening the car door.

 

I followed her lead, and we met up with Byers who handed gas masks to us. "You can't me serious," I looked at him and then Langly and Frohike who all had gas masks around their necks.

 

"This isn't 100% foolproof," he shrugged, "but it's better than nothing. Do you know how to twist the end here and activate it?"

 

 

From: Sara Kathryn Zeuty

 

"Ugh." I said in disgust. I turned to Samantha. "Remind me again why I took this job?"

Samantha grimaced. "I was starting to wonder the same thing."

 

I turned back to Byers, Frohike and Langly. "I need you guys to stay put. I don't know what we're going to find in there, but I can't risk exposing you to anything."

 

The three of them looked at each other. "We're not afraid." said Langly. Byers looked more than a little nervous.

 

"I don't care. You are to stay put. Got it? Come on, Sam. Let's go see what sort of trouble we can get ourselves into."

 

Samantha sighed, and followed me through the stream of people fleeing the scene. One woman grabbed me, raving about anthrax, trying to pull me in the other direction. "Let. Go. Of. Me." I told her, pulling off my mask. Her fingernails were digging into my arms. Finally I shoved her off of me, and she responded by screaming obscenities at me.

 

"So how many more people do you think are going to die just from getting trampled by an hysterical mob?" Sam asked. I gritted my teeth and kept going. "Let's go through the bay doors, if we can. There won't be as many people there." I said. We ran to the back of the building, which was amazingly intact for having just been hit by a meteorite. The walls were crumbling from the top, and I didn't think there was much of a roof left, but other than that it was still standing on its foundation. I was suddenly glad I was wearing Docs instead of sensible, professional shoes. I imagined there would be quite a bit of rubble.

 

In the back, there was a turned over truck, which had apparently been unloading when the meteorite, or whatever it was, hit. Samantha and I piled up some debris to climb up into the bay door.

 

Inside, we met up with complete disaster.

 

 

From: Fiona Black

 

MESSAGE TO: Sam Mcgee

FROM: Fiona Black

CC: MDM

RE: Meeting

 

I trust Morley has been in contact with both of you. I need to arrange a meeting. Be at Al's Diner promptly at 2:00PM tomorrow afternoon. We will proceed from there. Please bring all sensitive materials with you, but leave them in the trunks of your cars.

 

I look forward to seeing you both tomorrow. Failure to respond will result in dire consequences, as this meeting is of top priority.

 

 

From: Fiona Black

 

I had nearly a full day to do some digging before the meeting tomorrow. There was much to do. Flipping through my files, I pulled out photos of both MDM and McGee. I would need to stop at the hospital later, see Straub, and talk to the nurse who was on duty. If either could ID McGee, this would be an easy job. If McGee wasn't the person I was looking for, things would proceed much more slowly. I also needed to get my hands on that gun. A set of fingerprints would leave me with all the proof I needed. So long as MDM wasn't the responsible party. Who knew how many little chickees he could have gotten to help him out.

It had to be one of them. Or both. But from experience, I knew that people in our line of work never worked very well with others. Betrayal was second nature, I'd seen it all to often. Those as dedicated to the cause as I were few and far between. Either way, they were the only two we had in Boulder. And only one other in our organization was unaccounted for. Though we never found a body, I was fairly certain Reef had perished in the wreckage in Hawaii. And even if he hadn't, he could have made it all this way in the condition he must have been in.

 

I drummed my fingernails on the small table, staring out the window. It was time to get to work.

 

 

From: Deep R. Throat

 

Surgery complete.

New face in place.

 

Meet the new me, same as the old me.

 

Nine Thousand-One sat next to the operating table, slumped over in a pool of his own blood, faceless. He would have lived if I had gotten him into one of these tanks in time, but having used up the last of my energy sewing a new face onto my skull, I just didn't feel like it.

 

 

 

I walked through a door and into the living quarters where I flipped on the television. It was 4:30 PM, and my favorite show was on.

 

The alarm on my computer caught my attention. I flipped it open and read the stolen email. A meeting between thieves. McGee must've been doing her job if Morley would try such an obvious mole hunt. Especially if he was willing to send a traitor to the FBI into the middle of an FBI investigation to do it.

 

A light bulb went off. I picked up my phone and dialed Agent Zeuty's phone. I knew that she had returned to Boulder after her Hawaiian adventure.

 

Voice mail.

 

"Agent Zeuty", I spoke. I didn't have to disguise my voice as the burnt flesh did a good enough job of deepening my throat. "I am the man who returned Michael Straub to you. I am willing to return the woman Straub as well. Meet me at Al's diner tomorrow at 2:15."

 

I hung up and began to chuckle. I poured myself a drink and debated with myself as to whether I would actually attend this meeting.

 

 

From: Fayme

 

"Agent Lemming, ah Can I call you Lemming? I asked

"ah Call me Richard I feel like the Lemming game when people say Lemming" "Oh yeah the little dude's with the green hair and purple clothes" I said

"Yeah that's them" he said.

"So what are we going to do Richard?"

"People are running over the place I can't contact my SAC's. They were supposed to get her ah well they probably are but we can't find them in a thousand years in this big crowd. It's a mad house down here." I said.

"Yeah I know what you mean." Richard said while we were trying to make our way to the car.

"Maybe one of these soldiers can tell us what's going on" He said.

"Don't put your money on it" I murmured

"What????" he yelled at me because he was a few feet ahead of me.

"Nothing" I yelled back.

 

When we were finally at the car I got in the passenger seat.

"Could you try and talk to a soldier because I really need to watch the road so I don't run over some people" agent Lemming said

"Course" I sighed

"Sir, sir could you explain what's going on here?" I called out to one of the soldiers.

"Sorry little miss you and your brother just please keep on driving."

 

"Great they calling me little miss again and now the guy is also my brother what the hell, I'm Latino skinned and he is Caucasian now that should be a Y file. What does it take for these people to take me serious do I need to grab my gun and start shooting people. No no, Fayme calm down. Just ask him again" I said to myself. So I grinned my teeth and asked the soldier again but now also flashed my badge.

 

"Agent's Rach and Lemming sir could you please explain what's going on."

"Sorry ma'am that's classified." the soldier said.

"Okay thanks for your time sir." I said

 

"Richard lets just go maybe my SAC's have more luck but I want to get out of this place we could also get sick because it isn't safe here. Just drop me off at the motel so I can type out my autopsy report and other stuff that's been pyling up because of all the field work and you can also go home." I sighed

 

"Yeah your probably right. Lets go"

 

  

From: SamanthaJ3

 

Having climbed inside the back of the Wal-Mart building, Sara turned to me and said, "That wasn't so hard, now was it?"

Her voice was muffled by the mask she was wearing, and as I started to make a reply I saw a dark shadow looming behind us. "Sara!" I whispered in warning.

 

Large shapes wearing self-contained decontamination suits appeared from amidst the shambles of boxes, crates, and oversized posters bearing happy, yellow smiley faces. Sara spun around to see what had alarmed me, and while doing so, she tripped over a case of spilled Furbys. Stepping on one, it made an alarming sound all its own, and completely eliminated our chances of remaining concealed.

 

"Move!" she spun back around, completing her 360 degree turn. "Back the way we came!"

 

I would have thought that two small women could outmaneuver men wearing HazMat suits with air tanks strapped onto their backs, but apparently these guys trained for just such occasions as this. Our method of retreat was blocked by more large men who were also wearing decon suits.

 

"This way," Sara grabbed my arm and pulled me towards another part of the storage area. I followed on her heels, the men who were pursuing us only seconds behind us.

 

 

From: Sam Mcgee

 

A young corporal knocked on the door of the communications van and entered. He saluted the corpulent bald man seated in the corner.

"Excuse me Colonel --I've just been informed that we have intruders in the building."

 

The bald man glared at the corporal. "I thought the perimiter had been secured," he barked.

 

The corporal swallowed, nervously. "Yes sir, it was. There was some sort of commotion on the street--"

 

"Never mind," the Colonel growled. "Bring them here, I want them alive!"

 

 

From: Y

 

I watched the wall mart from a distance. Just standing there in my long trenchcoat with the wind blowing through my hair jus looking at the big mess Morley made. I saw a standert FBI car leave the site I grabbed my spy glasses to see wich agents were in the car.

HMMMMM Sa Fayme Rach with the Y files. A really young but good agent. But the other agent I didn't know. Probably a local field agent. But he was not important.

I followed them in my car to the Motel, those foolish agents didn't even notice I was there.

I saw agent Fayme leave the car and she went into the motel alone. The other agent left in the car. He just checked if she made it safe into the motel.

I dailed from my cell phone Agent Fayme's numbre.

"Fayme" She answered

 

"Agent Fayme I have some very intersting information for you." I said

 

"You have huh?" she said annoyed "Whom am I speaking to I don't like these games."

 

"No games. My name isn't important the information is."

 

"So spill it out" she said.

 

"No not over the phone meet me down at the parking lot of the motel in five minutes."

 

"ah okay" she hesitated

 

But probably because i'm a woman she decided to come"

 

I stood outside my car waiting for her to come down.

 

"Soooo???" she asked.

 

"Not here get in the car."

 

"What?" she said. "You don't think...."

 

"Just get in the car I'm here to help you. Not to hurt you. Just co-operate and no one gets hurt." I cut her of.

 

She sighed and got in the passenger seat of the car.

 

I also got in the car and we went for a drive.

 

So agent Fayme you are working on this case and not getting anywhere right?? I asked

 

"Well you tel me you seem to have information I need. well that's what you told me" she said

 

"Watch your back agent a lot of unwanted people are working on this case. one of them is Morley. You do know Morley right??

 

"Which Y file agent doesn't know Morley" she said.

 

"Yes your right but some if Morley's men are working against him so this case is a really big mess. there is some silent war going on between the syndicate men. Morley isn't in control anymore he think he is, but he isn't."

 

"So why are you telling me this." she asked

 

"Because I care and don't like the woman I have become. What started as a dream is going to end in a nightmare"

 

"But you still smell great." She murmered

 

"Don't mock me Agent." I said angry.

 

"sorry" she said

"well was that all you had to tell me because I need to get back incase my SAC's try to contact me" She said.

 

"For now" I said "I'll contact you when you are ready for more. if you want to contact me just paste a Y with tape on your motel window and I'll find you. And you can only tell your Sac Sam about our meeting. no one else understood"

 

Yes understood"

 

In the mean time we had reached the motel again.

 

Now Go and BTW don't try and find out stuff about me because you wont find any." I told her

 

So I was off in my rentall car again.

 

 

From: Sam Mcgee

 

I grabbed the edge of the night table, as if to pull myself up. I 'stumbled' and sent the table lamp crashing to the floor while I darted my right hand under the mattress for my gun. It was a low-percantage move at best, but my last chance to get out of that room. I managed to fire one round, but the shot went wide. Before I could squeeze the trigger a second time, I was stunned by a paralyzing jolt of electricty. A dagger of ice pierced my shoulder, sending waves of searing numbness throughout my body. The gun dropped out of my useless hand. Though I was dimly aware of what was happening, I was totally immobilized.

Jack put the tazer back in his pocket. He patted me on the cheek.

 

"Doncha just love these little gizmos?" he asked. He sounded almost cheerful. "Lets go see the Colonel."

 

He jerked me to my feet and slung me over his shoulder. I finally found my voice as he was ready to dump me in the trunk of his car.

 

"What's that, dear?" he asked, "I didn't hear you."

 

My voice sounded very far away. "Not Ray Milland, you idiot," I muttered. "Claude Raines was the Invisible Man..."

 

I flopped into the musty trunk and Jack slammed the lid closed. I closed my eyes and drifted off, hearing some song I vaguely remembered...<uh-oh-o-o, at the late night, science fiction, picture show, in the back row...uh-oh-o-o...>

 

 

From: Fiona Black

 

Ms. McGee had still not replied to me about our scheduled meeting. I decided to go pay her a visit in person. I changed into something professional-looking, and gathered some credentials.

 

After knocking at her door at the Hyatt for quite awhile, I flashed my credentials and got the manager to let me in. The room was empty, completely cleaned out.

 

"Did she check out?" I asked, turning to the manager.

 

He looked confused. "No... not according to our records."

 

I dismissed him, and went through the room inch by inch, hoping to find something that had been left behind. There was nothing. I stood in the middle of the room for a few moments, when I heard a knock at the door. The maid. I sent her away, then changed my mind and called her back.

 

"Have you seen this woman?" I asked, showing her a photo of McGee.

 

The maid nodded. "Yes, she was staying here. I saw her come and go several times. There was another lady staying her, too, but I only saw her once."

 

"What other lady?" I asked. "And when did you see her?"

 

"Earlier. I saw her leave, just as I was about to clean the room. She was older, plump, with gray hair. Strange glasses. And she was wearing sweatpants, which is odd, most of the guests here... well, they seem a little classier. Anyway, I knocked on the door, because I thought I had seen the woman in your photo go in earlier. But she must have left when I was next door, because the room was empty when I let myself in."

 

I nodded, and headed downstairs. I was sure the two ladies she spoke of were one in the same.

 

I described the sweatpants wearing woman to a bellhop, who told me he had seen her earlier. She had asked him for directions to another hotel. He had reccomended the Ramada.

 

I smiled to myself. Sometimes this was too easy.

 

At the Ramada, I flashed my credentials to the man working the desk, who looked rather frightened and gave me the room number for my gray haired friend immediately. I had to be let into that one, as well, as there was no answer at this door either.

 

This room was quite a different sight. It was trashed. Completely trashed. Clothes were thrown about, the mattress was on the floor, and in the corner was a smashed laptop. I took it, assuming it was McGee's.

 

At least it explained why she hadn't returned my email. But what had happened? Had she discovered the mole? I lookd aroudn at the room again. Doubtful, she would have been killed. A body would have surfaced by now. Maybe MDM knew something. If not, there was someone else entirely working against us, and this certainly didn't look like the FBI's style.

 

I called Morely immediately to update him on the situation.

 

 

From: Plot Device (KARCAGNE)

 

Leah Straub lay on her cot, her body curled tightly in a fetal position. She stared blankly into the darkness of her room, wondering what day it was. Was it daytime? Night? All she knew anymore was the humming blackness of her cell and the blinding glare of the testing room. She had only seen Michael once, in that bright room, since they had been taken from the hospital. Was he still alive? She had given up asking.

She stared at the wall she knew was there but couldn't see--it was three paces away from the edge of her cot. There was a cold, metal door with no handle set flush into the wall near the foot of her bed. She had felt her way around the edges of the door several times early on, but now she ignored it. She didn't care if that door ever opened again.

 

In the beginning she had been terrified. She had fought against her captors--she screamed for help that never came. She had lain in the dark cursing herself for getting involved with the Colonel--she never wanted to be part of his Armageddon. She tried to do the right thing. When she found out how the Colonel planned to use the device, she tinkered with the guidance controls to make it malfunction--but the others got it working again. She collected all the documentation and was going to hand it over to an agent from the Justice Department but the Colonel must have found out. He used the device against her.

 

Her fear had gradually dulled into resignation. But one question still niggled in a deep corner of her mind. Why didn't they ask about the files? Have they found them? If so, why were they keeping her alive?

 

It didn't matter. The Colonel had killed her and sent her to hell.

 

 

From: Sara Kathryn Zeuty

 

"Step aside!" I shouted, "FBI!" I flashed my badge. Evidently it had lost it's power, as the men came ever closer.

 

One of them spoke. "I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to come with us. You've entered a contaminated area, and must be quarantined."

 

I swore under my breath. I couldn't be sure if these guys were for real, but I didn't want to risk pulling out my gun and blowing the case. They had bigger guns, anyway. And more of them. I exchanged glances with Sam, and we allowed ourselves to be led away. We were taken outside, and led into a military truck.

 

"Wait a minute..." I said, "Just what kind of quarantine is this supposed to be?" I questioned, just before my mouth was covered in duct tape. I proceeded to kick and flail my arms, as did Samantha, but we were outnumbered and overpowered. They took our weapons, and tied our wrists and ankles. Then they left us in darkness.

 

Samantha wiggled and squirmed, trying to get free. I just sat, staring at nothing in particular.

 

And I'd thought Hawaii had been bad.

 

I started to daydream about bringing these people up on charges. Then I trashed that dream, and started daydreaming about quitting the FBI, leaving the country, and living out the rest of my life on some tropical island.

 

Or Europe, I thought. Europe would be nice. Maybe Paris... London..

 

My thoughts were broken by Samantha screaming at me. Actually it was more like "MMMM MMMM MMMM MMMMMMMM!!"

 

I looked over at her. She had been tied to something in the truck, which she had managed to break off. Now it was wedged between her wrists. She started flopping over to me, and I began giggling. Tears of laughter were streaming down my face.

 

I think I was finally having a nervous breakdown.

 

Evidently, however, Jadzia had taught her the "glare of death," and I received one, which shut me up rather quickly.

 

 

From: Fayme

 

SO I was back at the Motel. Jeez wat a rush. Alone in the car with that Y woman. But the adreneline left my body way to soon and was now filled with fear. where the hell was everybody.

Both my SAC's where gone, No agent Mortis. I had sent Lemming home. "Nice move Fayme" I thought to myself.

Well let me try the three stoges even though I'm not very found of them I could give it a try.

So I called Frohike.

"Who's this and how did you get this number"the guy at the other sude of the line said.

 

It's me agent Fayme" I said.

"Oh it's you" the man said

"Yeah it's me Frohike have you heard of SAC SAM and SARA

I can't contact them."

"Well we followed them to the Wall Mart but we coudn't get in of the cevillian thing"

"So they are still there Hmmm can you track their PDA's to see if they are together and of they are at the wall mart."

"Sure just give me a sec"

"K"

 

 

"Yep they still there"

Okay thank you very much that was a lot off help" and I hung up the phone.

Okay how am I going to do this. No car No partner. Just me a 16 year old with a gun and a badge. Okay let me try and call SAC Jadzia maybe she will know.

HMMMM no answer figures!

Great now that I wanted to be a kid I couldn't.

Great just great.

So I tried my SAC's phones again. Nope still no answer.

Oh how am I going to do this.

CRAP! I yelled out loud.

Then it hit me the Y woman.

What did she say again. Oh yeah a Y on my window.

So that's what I did and went to grab some food down stairs.

But when I got up in my room again Y was there.......

 

 

 From: SamanthaJ3

 

It took some time, sweat, and a little blood, but eventually, Sara and I managed to free ourselves from our bonds. Whoever had put us in here had been sloppy not to post a guard inside the truck with two Federal agents. Then again, maybe they thought that two women couldn't extricate themselves from such confinement.

 

Foolish them.

 

Sara and I eased over to the truck's rear opening. The truck was still moving, and we both hesitated to look outside. The noise from the wheels changed from a steady humming sound to a hum punctuated by a distinct thump! every few seconds -- a steady rhythm which indicated that we were either driving over a bridge or the truck had a flat.

 

"We have the edge of surprise," Sara whispered as the truck seemed to slow.

 

"Surprise, and this," I replied, my hands wrapped around a long metal pipe. It was marked with words and something that looked like symbols, but I couldn't quite make them out in the darkness of the truck. The soldiers had taken our flashlights, too.

 

Sara had found a smaller metal piece, and her hands were gripped around her own makeshift weapon.

 

"Sara," I whispered as felt the truck shift gears. It was coming to a stop.

 

"Yes?" she looked at me, expecting an idea, probably, or a suggestion for our method of attack and escape.

 

"If you ever laugh at me while I'm tied up and trying to move across the back of a truck, I hope you choke on your own saliva."

 

Her eyes grew wide for a moment, and then her face turned thoughtful. "Actually, what would happen, if you examine this from a medical perspective --"

 

"Oh, shut up," I returned and grinned.

 

"Not until you do," Sara grinned in reply.

 

The truck had nearly stopped, and we nodded at each other. Pushing aside the green fabric which covered the back of the military truck, we both leaped from the back of the truck and hit the ground rolling.

 

 

From: Sam Mcgee

 

I was jarred back to reality by a pothole. All highway maintenence personel should be forced to ride around in the trunk of a car to fully appreciate the condition of the roads. The trunk was cramped but I was able to move around a bit. I felt my way around the trunk searching for anything I could use as a weapon. The cupboard was bare. If Elmore Leonard were writing this I would at least have a hunky escaped bank robber to keep me company, but no luck in that department either. I did discover that my left arm wasn't working very well. I could move it, but it was still numb and the fingers on my left hand would not close.

It smelled like an older car, probably a government motorpool vehicle. With all the money these guys were siphoning off for their little "projects" you'd think they could invest some of it in better quality wheels. Another pothole bounced me against the back seat.

 

The seat moved.

 

Oh, say it is so, Joe, I thought. I wriggled around to face the seat back. Some seat backs are secured with clips or latches. Some, especially on no frills-lowest bid cars, are simply hung on cleats and held in place by the seat bottom. I pushed upwards at the corner and the seat back lifted slightly, but I couldn't quite get the leverage I needed. I pulled the "padding" out of my sweatpants to give myself a little more room. The string from my pants came out along with the towels. I considered the string for a moment and smiled.

 

I spent the next several minutes working the seat back off it's cleats. I pushed against the seat with my back. Again, I couldn't get the leverage I needed to pop it loose. I manuvered around so my feet were against the seat. I tied a loop at both ends of the string and pulled one loop over my left hand. I took several deep breaths--this had better work--and kicked.

 

 

From: SamanthaJ3

 

I didn't stop for anything except to make sure that Sara was right beside me. We scrambled to our feet and ran. I was sure that I could have held a new Olympic speed record at this point. Sara -- despite her cigarette habit -- was no slouch in the speed department at this point, either.

We seemed to be in the middle of an industrial park, and while the lighting was poor around us, it was enough for us to see where we were going without falling all over ourselves.

 

I kept my makeshift weapon in my hand, swinging it like a relay runner's baton as I pumped my arms.

 

If the drivers of the truck had seen our escape, they were not pursuing us. I was almost certain that they would chase us, so they must still be unaware of our escape. How long that small advantage would last, though...who knew?

 

Sara and I ran until we reached the edge of the complex. We saw cars, there, and people. They didn't look military, but we couldn't take the chance that they might be connected to whatever conspiracy we had tumbled across.

 

Inching our way around buildings, behind trash dumpsters, and even under two pickup trucks, we made it past the populated area. Then we picked up ou speed and ran again until we reached what looked like a main road.

 

"We can't walk on the road," Sara commented. It was the first thing either of us had said since our escape. "They might be coming after us."

 

I nodded. "Maybe if we walk in the shadows, alongside the road. If we can find a gas station or a convienience mart, there will be a pay phone. We can call the others or --" and here I sighed heavily "worst comes to worst, we can call Byers, Langly, and Frohike to come and get us."

 

Sara's face lighted up at the mention of Frohike. "Now aren't you glad those guys came along?" she beamed at me.

 

 

From: Sam Mcgee

 

The seat back popped loose after the one kick. It must have startled Jack because hit the brakes--hard. An object in motion tends to want to stay in motion--the car slowed but I did not. I was thrown forward into the passenger compartment. I wrapped the string around Jack's neck and pulled with all my strength.

Jack let go of the steering wheel to grab at the makeshift garrote. His car side-swiped the car beside us and veered off into the oncoming traffic. He jerked the wheel to the right and hit another car. He managed to get his right hand under the string which was just what I was waiting for. I pulled the other loop of the string over my left hand and prayed I could hold it long enough.

 

I leaned over the seat and reached for his coat pocket. He knew what I was after. He managed to get his hand free, but too late. A pop, a sizzle and the smell of burnt cloth--Jack's body went rigid and his foot hit the gas pedal. The car ahead of us had stopped for a red light. I got my hand out of the string and curled up behind the driver's seat. We ploughed into the car and both vehicles skidded into the intersection. I heard brakes screeching--we were hit in the right rear and spun violently around.

 

 

From: Sam Mcgee

 

"...is there a full moon tonight or what?"

 

"Yeah--first that mess at Wal-Mart now drunks playing bumper cars--you should lock these people up..."

 

The voices faded. I heard a siren--loud and irritatingly close. I tried to move but could not. Was I going to jail? Why was I going to jail? I tried to concentrate. Not jail, but hospital. I opened my eyes. I was in an ambulance. Trussed, taped and tied to a backboard, strapped onto the bench seat. A tube ran from my hand to a plastic bag of fluid swinging from a hook in the ceiling above my head. I was able to turn my head slightly. A man was lying in the stretcher on the floor--Jack. He was a mess, but he was still alive.

 

Damn.

 

"Hey, don't move." A paramedic, middle-aged and bleary-eyed, put his hand on my forehead. He shined a light in my eyes. His was the voice talking about bumper cars. The full moon voice belonged to a young patrolman who leaned over me.

 

"What's your name?" he asked me.

 

"Marge LeBarge."

 

"Uh-huh," he said skeptically. "Can you tell me what happened?"

 

"No."

 

"Who's the driver? What's he doing with a gun and a tazer?"

 

"I don't know anything about that." I closed my eyes.

 

"You can question them later at the hospital," the paramedic said.

 

 

From: Sam Mcgee

 

After being poked, prodded, x-rayed, and stitched, I was finally left alone in a curtained-off cubicle in the emergency room. Apparently I didn't have any life-threatening injuries. Somewhere between the x-rays and the stitches, the patrolman from the ambulance had returned with more questions, but the ER nurse had shooed him away. But he would be back. It was time to leave.

I swung my legs over the side of the gurney and took a few steps--wobbly, but passable. Now I just had to find some clothes--I wouldn't get far in a hospital gown. I hooked the IV bag onto a wheeled stand and shuffled past the nurses' station. No one payed me the slightest attention--the ER was a busy place at that time of night.

 

I passed a treatment room with an open door. Jack was in there, along with several uniformed police officers. He was handcuffed to his bed. I kept on ashufflin'. I eventually found what I was looking for--a locker room.

 

***********

 

The clothes and shoes didn't fit very well but it was better than nothing--I also scored a small amount of cash. I made my way out to the parking lot and found a suitable car. I waved at the security guard as I drove out of the lot.

 

A few blocks from the hospital, I stopped at a 7-Eleven and bought a pack of Morleys...

 

 

From: SamanthaJ3

 

As Sara and I walked along, easing our way through the cover of the shadows, we were feeling a bit more secure about our escape. If the bad guys -- whoever they really were -- had been chasing us, they would surely have caught the two of us on foot by now. For the moment, we felt almost safe and free from immediate danger.

 

We had made several panicked detours as we walked along. Whenever Sara spotted a black sedan of any model or make she would grab my arm and pull us into the first dark recessed spot or down a side street. I was completely lost, having never been to Boulder before, and certainly not to this part of town.

 

We saw a hospital sign pointing to the left, and I pointed in the same direction. "Sara, c'mon, we've been walking for what feels like hours, and we haven't seen a pay phone or a police cruiser yet. You know they have phones at a hospital."

 

So we turned in that direction. Apparently, this section of Boulder was not heavily trafficked at night. There were cars, sure, but after our recent experience, Sara and I didn't feel like flagging down complete strangers.

 

We were still headed in the direction of the hospital when we saw -- at last -- a 7-Eleven. "Oh, thank goodness," Sara exclaimed out loud. It didn't appear busy at all, only two cars were parked outside. "I need coffee. I need a cigarette. I need --" she was patting her pockets wildly. "They took my ID. They took my wallet. I don't have any money."

 

Clutching me by the shoulders, Sara looked at me desperately. "How are we going to call for help if we don't have any money?"

 

"Sara," I removed her hands, gently but firmly, "calm yourself. You know, I'm not a doctor, but I really think this anxiety you sometimes display could be a result of too much caffeine and an addiction to nicotine."

 

Reaching into my left hand pocket, I pulled out some loose change. "I always stash at least one quarter on me before I leave home," I smiled, and then I felt along the edge of my jacket. While our abductors had also removed my badge, gun, and flashlight, they hadn't searched me that well. Silly men.

 

"And my mother always told me to make sure I had enough money on my person to get home," I pulled along the edge of my coat and extracted a $20 bill. "Emergency money."

 

Sara's mouth was slightly open. "So do all your clothes have money hidden in them?"

 

"No," I shook my head. "And if I find that anyone has been searching my wardrobe for cash, I'll know who was the source of information."

 

We entered the market, and I nodded towards the pay phone. "Call the guys, and I'm going to get some coffee for us, and maybe something to eat." Sara took my change and headed for the phone. "And don't use the Georgia quarter," I called after her. "I wanted to save that one."

 

I saw a woman paying the cashier for a pack of cigarettes. My eyes instantly fell to the brand. Morleys. I was momentarily stunned, but I reminded myself of the words of Agent Lemming...Morley was a popular brand.

 

Nevertheless, as the woman adjusted her shirt which didn't seem as if it fit her very well, I found myself staring at her. Which was fair enough. She was staring at me and the long silver pipe which I still held in my hand.

 

I found myself looking down at it as well. It bore several international symbols, but most impressive were the imprints identifying it as military property and declaring that it was biohazardous.

 

 

From: Plot Device (KARCAGNE)

 

***************************************************************

THE SLUDGE REPORT

***************************************************************

BREAKING NEWS---EXCLUSIVE!!!!!

***************************************************************

 

WATCH OUT FOR FALLING ICES!!!

 

Another meteorite has hit Boulder, Colorado, this one taking out a local Wal-Mart. Witnesses say they saw a "streak in the sky" followed by an explosion when the meteorite hit the store. According to one source, there may be as many as 80 casualties.

 

This is the second meteorite to hit the Boulder area. The first, described as an "ice ball" crashed into the home of Michael and Leah Straub earlier this month.

 

***************************************************************

 

INSURANCE FRAUD OR ALIEN ABDUCTION????

 

The Straubs mysteriously disappeared after the FBI was called in to investigate the incident, which they claim was a possible case of insurance fraud. Michael Straub reappeared two days ago, naked and incoherrent in a suburban Boulder neighborhood. Lena Tjeerdsma, 78, found Straub digging through her garbage cans. According to her, Straub kept babbling about "tests" and "experiments". Straub was taken into FBI custody and is currently being held in an undisclosed location. Leah Straub is still missing.

 

The FBI has refused to comment on this case.

 

***************************************************************

 

ANTHRAX SCARE!!!!

 

Rioting broke out on the streets surrounding the Wal-Mart store after word got out that there was a possible outbreak of deadly anthrax in the area. Residents fears were intensified after Army HazMat units were called to the scene to evacuate the wounded. Dozens of bystanders were taken to area hospitals after the Army used tear gas to break up the crowd. A spokesman from the Army denies the report, calling it "absolute crap".

 

The Army has refused any further comment.

 

***************************************************************

 

MYSTERY DEEPENS SURROUNDING PLANE CRASH !!!

 

The NTSB has denied earlier reports that the crash may have been deliberately caused. They are now saying that the crash was caused by an "undetermined engine failure". A source close to the investigation reports that one of the bodies recovered from the crash scene has been identified as Martin Kirby, 34, an investigator with the Department of Justice. The NTSB, FAA and Justice Department have refused to comment on this latest information.

 

The FBI is involved in this investigation as well. None of the agents could be reached for comment.

 

 

From: Sam Mcgee

 

I had to wait for the clerk to finish making a pizza, so I picked up a copy of a local tabloid. I had to smile as I read their description of the melee at the Wal-Mart. It was certainly creative if not wholly accurate. But I stopped smiling when I read the small piece at the bottom of the page.

That's why Jack wanted that plane brought down. But how was the DOJ connected to Leah Straub? Were they investigating her? Or had she contacted them? Did they really want her back because she was the only one who could debug the device or were they after her because she was about to squeal to the feds? I rubbed my aching head--I had been up too long to be thinking so hard.

 

The clerk finally returned and took my money for the cigarettes. I was still pondering when the door opened. I glanced at the two disheveled women who entered the store and did a doubletake. One of the women was Agent J3 and she was staring at me as if she almost recognized me. With my natural hair and my newly aquired bruises I probably didn't look too much like 'Agent LeBarge', but J3 was a crafty wench and I didn't doubt she would put it together before long.

 

Then I saw the pipe in her hand--what the hell was it? It was silver with a vaguely military look and covered with strange symbols, the most prominent being a biohazard decal. So, they had also decided to go shopping.

 

I got some matches from the clerk and lit up a Morley.

 

"Well, well," I said, "attention Wal-Mart shoppers..."

 

 

From: Y

 

"Had a nice dinner agent Fayme" I asked her.

 

"Ah yes as a matter of fact I did" she said

 

"so why did you need me and so soon"

 

"as you can see I'm the only agent around. Both my SAC's are missing and I thought because you seem to know so much you would know where I could find them" The girl said

 

"They are safe now"

 

"Thank god"the girl sighed "but where are they."

 

They were kidnapped by those miletairy man but they escaped. and now they are at a cafe trying to get back here"

 

"how do you know all this stuff" the girl askd me.

 

"I just do"

 

"ah okay" "But how can I contact them?"

 

You can't, they will probably try to contact you or those 3 little foolish men."

 

Then her cellphone rang and as she gave me the look of don't go anywhere and then she took the call.

But I had to leave So I was off again before she hung up the phone.

 

 

From: SamanthaJ3

 

The woman with the Morleys opened the pack, stuck a match, and lit her cigarette. "Well, well," she said, "attention Wal-Mart shoppers..."

 

It took a moment, before I realized that she was addressing me. I looked straight at the woman then. The clerk paid us no attention, wandering off towards a back room of the store. I glanced towards Sara, but she was momentarily out of sight at the pay phone at the rear of the store.

 

Then I looked at the woman again. Really looked this time. Her face...the hair was different, and the clothes were radically changed, but I had seen that face...somewhere...recently...and this woman didn't seem phased in the slightest by what appeared to be a canister containing biohazardous materials. Smoking a Morley.

 

Suddenly, I recognized that face - in the hospital - different hair, nice suit - leading me on a chase through the stairwells. Watching the thin stream of smoke as she exhaled, I realized that this was either the most carefully planned capture of escaped agents on record, or the most wildly fortuitous coincindence in the history of the FBI. Well, my heart sank, it *would* have been a wonderful opportunity if I had my badge, my gun, or any other symbol of my job.

 

"Why, *Agent* LeBarge," I smiled and hoped Sara wouldn't take forever on the phone. "What a suprise to see you. Here. I didn't have the chance to say goodbye to you at the hospital."

 

I wanted to know where Sara was and what she was doing, but I didn't dare take my eyes off this woman...whoever she was.

 

"Wal-Mart was having a going-out-of-business sale," I added. "It was amazing to see how many people came from all over the country for it."

 

She regarded me impassively, so I took a step forward. I thought I detected a note of anxiety for the briefest of moments, but the flash in her eyes vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

 

"Why don't we end this charade. You're coming with us."

 

It was a bluff. I didn't have my weapon, but there was no way this woman could know that.

 

 

From: Sam Mcgee

 

I spent a lot of time playing cards, back in the day, and I knew when I was being bluffed. If she were armed she would have drawn down on me already.

"Show me some ID," I said.

 

Agent Jaythree hesitated for a moment. "You know who I am," she said. "You're under arrest."

 

"Right," I said sarcastically. "What are you going to do, wave your little magic wand and drop a forcefield over me? Gimme a break." I dropped my cig onto the floor and ground it out with my toe. The other agent was still in the back of the store looking for something.

 

I started towards the door and Agent Jaythree blocked my way. She looked determined.

 

"Look," she said, irritated, "I've had a bad day and I'm not in the mood to play games..."

 

I laughed dryly. "*You've* had a bad day??? You have no idea..." I handed her the copy of the tabloid I still held in my hand. "Read this--I admit it isn't very flattering to you people, but you may find the bottom paragraph interesting--especially if you talk to the spook in the Emergency Room down the street."

 

"What 'spook'," she asked suspiciously.

 

"That little clean up operation at the Wal-Mart is being run by a delightful character named Colonel Abrams --pity you didn't get to meet him. Although if he finds out you have that," I said pointing to the cannister, "I'm sure you'll get your chance. Anyway, his number one 'arranger', the guy who ordered that plane crash, is hand-cuffed to a stretcher in the ER--at least he was when I left."

 

I lit up another Morley. "After all this, do you really think the Straubs' house was hit by accident?"

 

I pushed past her and opened the door. "I'd hurry if I were you, before the Colonel sends his cleaners to the hospital."

 

 

From: Plot Device

 

The young corporal took a deep breath before knocking on the door. He entered and cleared his throat nervously.

The Colonel raised his hand before the corporal could speak.

 

"Where are they?" he asked quietly.

 

The corporal handed a bag to the Colonel. "Sir, they--they got away."

 

Abrams dumped the contents of the bag on the table. Two guns, two cellphones, two flashlights, two wallets and two FBI badges. He studied the identification cards.

 

"They got away," he repeated ominously. "Two women..." He glared at the corporal. "Why do I get the feeling there's more bad news?"

 

"The FBI agents were being transparted in a truck," the corporal told him. "When they escaped they may have taken a cannister with them. There's one missing."

 

The Colonel was silent for a moment. It was clear he was trying very hard to control his temper.

 

"Where's Jack Fletcher?"

 

"He hasn't returned yet, Sir. There was a car accident--the description of one of the victims matches Mr. Fletcher."

 

Another woman, Abrams thought acidly. Can't live with them, can't shoot 'em, he thought. The hell you can't...

 

"Bring my car aound," he ordered.

 

 

From: SamanthaJ3

 

"Ms. LeBarge," I called as she started to leave. She was right. I had no way to detain her, short of jumping on top of her and threatening to beat her head with my canister. My possibly toxic and biohazardous canister full of...whatever it held.

"Why are you telling me this?" I walked over to stand beside her. Where *was* Sara? Was she telling Frohike the whole story over the telephone? "Who are you? How are you involved?"

 

 

From: Sara Kathryn Zeuty

 

"I don't know, we're at a 7-11. No, it was kind of hard to see from inside the truck. I don't know, fifteen minutes, maybe? You followed them? Then how did you not see us jump out? Oh. Wait, you're where? Hold on."

 

I looked out the window, and got back on the phone with Frohike. "Yes, I can see that from here. Jesus. Get over here. Okay, we'll meet you out front."

 

I finally hung up with Frohike, and started back to the front of the store. There stood Samantha, talking to another woman. It didn't look like an especially pleasant conversation. I ducked behind a shelf, and listened. From what I gathered, this was the woman who had been masquerading as an FBI agent. I reached for my gun and badge, then realized I didn't have either.

 

"Shit." I said, under my breath. I debated with myself about what to do for awhile, hoping Sam would be able to stall as long as possible. I looked down and considered throwing cans of spam at her, maybe knock her down for a few counts. I knew Sam wouldn't jump on her, not without any sort of ID. I shouldn't either. Of course, it *was* our own government that had just tied up two FBI agents in the back of a truck.

 

"Oh hell." I said, as the woman turned to walk out the door. What's another lecture from Skinner.

 

I hurried out a back door that had been propped open, and made my way around to the front of the building. The woman had just walked out the door, and I made a mad dash for her. She ran, and I chased after her. Finally she had to come to a stop to avoid getting hit by a white VW van. The van stopped, she turned, and I lunged. I had her on the ground, and shouted for Langly and Frohike to help me get her into the van. A stunned Samantha came yelling after me.

 

"Sara! What are you doing! You can't just.... I mean, that's... you can't!"

 

"Get in Sam. I want to know what's going on in this town, and I have a feeling this woman can tell us. Frankly, I'm sick of it here. I'm sick of Boulder and I'm sick of this case. I *promise* I'll let her go after she tells us what she knows, or until I can have her arrested."

 

Samantha climbed into the van after me, a worried expression on her face.

 

"Don't worry, I'll take the heat for this one. If there is any. I have this funny feeling that you," I looked at the woman being restrained by Langly, who wore an expression of half boredom, half anger, "are going to turn out not to officially exist anyway."

 

 

From: Deep R. Throat

 

I watched as McGee was thrown into the back of the van. She didn't seem to be putting up much of a struggle, and it almost looked like she was drunk. Dammit, I thought. My plans have just gone to hell.

Agent Zeuty was also there. She had obviously not gotten my message from her voice mail. From the looks of her, she had not only lost her phone, but her sanity as well. I didn't recognixe the other agent with her but I most certainly recognized the dirty trio that they were joining. if McGee was allowing herself to be captured, she sure couldn't have chosen a less repectable group to be captured by.

 

I scratched at my face, now covered by fresh bandages. The slow burning itch of healing and waned, allowing me to regain some semblence of my sanity. Of course, my good friend Jack Daniels had a part in that as well. With a belly full of alchoholic courage I decided that now was the time to put an end to all of this madness. Zeuty was not going to make that meeting tommorw (if she even knew about it) nor was McGee. Morely would not be smoked out into the open, and I would not be able to kill him quite yet. I could however, continue to piss him off.

 

The van doors closed and I made my move. I pulled up fast in front of the van, brakes squeeling, black rubber smoke flowing past my car like black ink in water. I stepped out of the car with my hands outstretched in a sign of peace, of good will. By threchcoat bilowed out behind me like helicopter blades crashing in a swamp.

 

 

From: Deep R. Throat

 

The agent spoured out of the van coming for me. The short squat gunamn stepped out from the drivers door brandishing a baseball bat. "Just what the hell do you think you're doing, you mummified freak?"

I put up my hands in mock fear. "Whoa there Peaknuckle, I come in peace." I turned towards the two agents - agent Zeuty had a strange look upon her face. I could tell that she was trying to place my voice. "You want the Straub woman. I want your prisoner back. We make a trade."

 

Zeuty looked at me for a long time. The other agent spoke first. "Listen buster. I'm getting sick and tired of this b.s. Secret government officails stonewalling our every move. Atempts on our lives every half hour. Getting kidnapped at least once a week. Just who the hell do you think you are that you can just dictate orders to us and expect us to follow them?!"

 

The agent, now red in the face, stopped to take a breath. I sighed in resignation as I began to unwrap my bandages. "Why don't you ask Agent Zeuty?' I asked. "She'll tell you all you need to know about me."

 

 

From: The A&B Man (reef666)

 

As I peeled the bandages from my face, tiny droplets of green blood welled in my fresh scars.

 

 

From: Fayme

 

I got off the phone with Frohike who told me they were going to pick up SAC Sam and Sara. But when I turned to talk to misses Y she was already gone.

"Crap she left again" I said

"Well don't all the nuts roll down to Boulder" I said anoyed to myself

"Hmm I will just have to wait for the others to come back here and they will tell me the whole story.

But what to do in the mean time. Hmm I still have to type my reports. neh those can wait.

Okay some Tv I flipped through the channels. boring, boring, boring, hey, nope boring. So I flipped the Tv off again.

Well let me go and start on those reports then. So I flipped my lap top open and got started.

 

 

From: SamanthaJ3

 

Okay, Sara wasn't the only agent with a trigger-ready temper, but too many near death experiences had forced me to suppress my own, for the good of my team and myself.

This was the last straw, though.

 

My mind raced furiously. The dude in front of us wanted our 'Agent LeBarge' very badly. We wanted Leah Straub. Hell, for all I knew, there could be lots of people looking for both persons right this minute. I knew when we were faced with a conspiracy greater than the FBI itself.

 

And I was furious.

 

I walked towards the man who was unwrapping his facial bandages. "I don't care if you're the reincarnation of Elvis! YOU!" I pointed my silver canister at him as if it were a nightstick. "Stand right there."

 

"YOU!" I yelled back at the guys. "Guard the prisoner."

 

I walked over to Sara. "You know this man?" My voice had dropped to a guttural whisper. "You know something about this case and you didn't tell me?" I shook my head and without waiting for a reply, I went back to the Bandaged Mystery Man.

 

"Okay, I want this whole charade to end. Don't give me any of this --" I heard myself using language which I hadn't heard since busting drug dealers with the DEA. "You are going with us to whatever location, and if you try anything, so help me, I'll kill you," I spoke with a steely edged determination. "Now get in the van with us. We have one little stop to make before we pick up anyone."

 

I mentally gave the man three seconds to move towards the van before I used this cylinder as a battering ram against his head. I just wanted to go to the motel, see if Fayme and Mortis were there to provide back-up, and retrieve my spare gun from my room.

 

One...I counted...

 

 

From: The A&B Man (reef666)

 

"No." I said, steely eyed and without emotion. "I'm going to get back into my car, you're getting into your van, and you're going to follow me to get Leah Straub."

The agent looked at me with increduality (is that a word?) and motioned like she was going to hit me with some sort of canister. I recognized it insantly and made no attempt to avoid the blow. Instead I spoke with a steady flow of irritability. "Look at my face Agent. It is sewn onto my skull. Recently, I was blown up in a giant ball of diesel flame and I am still alive. Ask your partner about my blood and then ask yourself whether you really think that a radioactive blunt instrument would really do any good against me."

 

The agent looked stunned. She turned to agent Zeuty who merely shrugged her shoulders and threw up her hands in slight resignation. "He's got green blood." she said. Agent Samantha looked at back at me, more perturbed than before and grumbled expletives under her breath like Yosemite Sam.

 

"Okay," I said. "I'm gonna go now and pick up Ms. Straub. You can follow if you'd like. To tell you the truth, I don't even really care all that much about that woman you've got tied up in your van. I'm after the same man you are." I turned and began to walk back towards my car.

 

"C'mon." I called back. "It's not far at all."

 

 

From: SamanthaJ3

 

"Fine," I snarled at this unknown man. "And if you try anything funny, your green blood will be all over the pavement."

I motioned to everyone to get back into the van.

 

"Follow that car," Byers quipped and started to laugh softly until I glared at him. He shrugged apologetically. "I always wanted to say that."

 

As I started to climb into the driver's seat, Frohike moved in to take the spot. "She doesn't drive well with anyone except me, Langly, and Byers."

 

"Trust a man to form an intimate relationship with an inantimate object," Sara muttered as we secured our unknown woman in the back of the van.

 

"I don't care who drives," I replied. The man could have easily killed all of us if he wanted this woman badly enough, so we would have to proceed on blind faith with a bandaged man who claimed to have green blood. "Just do it, okay?"

 

"Yes, ma'am, SAC Jaythree," Frohike grinned and turned the wheel to follow the other car.

 

"Now see?" Sara nudged me again as we looked at Langly restraining 'Ms. LeBarge' in the back. "Aren't you glad the guys came along on this one?"

 

I rolled my eyes and didn't say what I was really thinking.

 

 

From: Sam Mcgee

 

All I wanted was a pack of cigarettes...

Then I get tackled by a psychotic feeb with a spam fetish and end up in the back of a van...

 

I should have stayed in the hospital...jail would've been better than this.

 

But, than again, the skinny blond guy restraining me was kinda cute...

 

"Hey,you, Blondie," I said, "Do you like watching Mystery Science Theater while drinking shots of Quervo?"

 

His eyes widened behind the geeky glasses. Then he smiled.

 

 

From: SamanthaJ3

 

I turned my head, and then I turned back to Sara. "She's coming on to Langly. I don't believe it."

Sara yelled back over her shoulder without even turning to stare. "Langly, if you let that woman go, you'll live long enough to regret it."

 

"Ah...ah...yes, ma'am," Langly sounded somewhat disappointed, I thought.

 

Wouldn't have surprised me a bit, though, if he asked her for a phone number.

 

 

From: The A&B Man (reef666)

 

Though I drove fast, the van had no trouble keeping pace. I looked in the rearview and could see Peaknuckle driving. Not bad for an out of shape computer nerd, I thought. I wondered how McGee was doing with that motley crew, whether she was going insane or if she even knew that I was rescuing her. The thought flittered away as quickly as it came and I turned my mind to much more important matters...

(ooc yet still keeping with the narrative- Like whether or not I knew where I was going. I doubted my complete knowledge of this adventure and wasn't sure if someone had already laid out a definite location where Leah Straub was being held. Was I about to defy all logic and condradict previous posts. And just what the hell *is* really going on anyway? I wish I had paid more attention to this case while my character was in hawaii. And just how exactly DID I survive? And why did I sew a face over my burnt face when it could have been cooler to continue walking around like Darkman?)

 

meanwhile, back in character..

 

How was this plan of action really going to benefit me? The return of Leah Straub would a) piss Morley and associates off, b) rescue a potential ally and c) gain trust with the feds just long enough for me to stick a knife in their backs. How could it be harmful to me? Straub could indentify me, but then, so could everyone trailing me in that van. Morely could figure out that I was still alive, but he's probably figured that out on his own anyway. I could lose my pension from the syndicate, but then, I'm already rich...

 

As we approached the base, I knew that we'd never ake it past the front gate. Though I had proper credentials, I looked like hell and my traveling companions looked like The Mystery Machine on demerol. I pulled off into a side road, loose dirt and stones being thrown about creating a thick brown smoke trail behind my car. The cloud enveloped the VW following me as it pulled onto the dirt road behind me.

 

We traveled a full mile down the road in this fashion when I finally pulled off and got out of the car. The VW pulled up right behind me. Agent Samantha got out first and began to dust off her clothes. She began to berate Peaknuckle for leving his windows rolled down. I chuckled to myself.

 

I pulled a small electronic device out of my pocket and pointed it owards a small grouping of trees and bushes. A click and a flash of light later a doorway opened in the thicket. I turned to my traveling companions who had completed their disembarkment of the VW. "The Straub woman is located below, about a mile down this corridor." I said.

 

"Now, please release my associate."

 

 

From: SamanthaJ3

 

"The Straub woman is located below, about a mile down this corridor," our mystery man said. "Now, please release my associate."

 

"Oh, no," I pulled out my canister, but I didn't point it at him. I didn't trust him at all, but for the moment, he was my temporary ally...well, maybe not an ally, but a resource at the very least. "You're not sending us down there alone while you and little Miss 'I'm-a-Federal-agent' go off to wherever. You don't leave until we all do."

 

I walked over to him and looked up at this strange man. "You're getting a good deal here. You and your girlfriend get to leave, but I don't want to get stuck down there." I waved my hand towards the opening. "You go first."

 

I told Byers, Langly, and Frohike to stay with the woman. Surely the three of them could handle one, unarmed woman. Sara and I would go into this hole in the ground with mystery man, and hopefully, we would return with Leah Straub.

 

 

From: The A&B Man (reef666)

 

"Suit yourself." I said with an air of indifferance.

 

I tuned and walked through the door and into the mildewy cobwbbed corridor. Agents Samantha and Zeuty followed behind. When we were fiftenn feet in, the door slammed shut behind us with a startleing crash. The two agents jumped - I could tell that they were just about at their wits' ends. Good. That meant that the syndicate was serving its purpose.

 

I could hear agent Zeuty complaining. "Great. Now we're stuck in this disgusting hell pit with a crazy drunken green-blooded immortal face lifting psychopath." Samantha gave her a sideways glance which could have shot ice daggers through someone who was paying attantion, which agent Zeuty was not.

 

We continued our trek into darkness. "Relax," I said. "For the time being, I'm your friend. I want what you want: the fall of the man known as Morley Cigs. He's behind all of this, and I think once Leah Straub is in your possesion, you'll be able to prove it."

 

Agent Samantha stopped me short. "You think? What do you mean, you think? Don't yuo know what's going on?"

 

I turned around to face her. I could feel my face begin to itch. "Listen lady, in reality I'm not much more than a hired gun. I like my plausible deniability, so I don't ask too many questions. I do know that Leah Straub is still alive, and at the end of this hallway."

 

"And just how the hell do you know that?' she retorted.

 

I laughed. A wide grin came over my face exposing my teeth, still black as death from the fire. "Who do you think kidnapped them from the hospital?" I asked. I turned back around and continued walking, laughing almost uncontrolably.

 

Seven minutes later, we reached the door to the Straub woman's cell. There was no guard posted, but there was the matter of the hidden security camera. I pulled my trenchcoat up over the sides of my face as I reached for the door handle. It opened with ease.

 

Inside the room, huddled in the corner, trembling like a hairless baby hampster about to devoured by a crocodile, was Leah Straub.

 

"Hey sweetie," I said. "It's time to go."

 

 

From: Sam Mcgee

 

I toyed with the idea of escaping and stealing Reef's car...

Naw--The van had a really good stereo system and a CD of "The Ramones Greatest Hits". I could hang out here for awhile.

 

 

From: SamanthaJ3

 

"That IS Leah Straub," I heard Sara exclaim just as I heard what sounded like a noise. It wasn't an identifiable noise like the clang of a metal door, or the bark of a dog, or a weapon's hammer being pulled, but still...it was a noise. I was already on edge.

"Mrs. Straub, can you walk?" I raced over beside her, Sara beside me, and between us we hauled the poor woman to her feet. She was stumbling beside us, barely coherent, and it took a lot of effort for us to keep her up and moving. "We're getting you out of here, now come on."

 

"Who are you?" Leah whispered.

 

"We're here to get you out of this place," Sara soothed.

 

"Well, c'mon," I snapped at Mystery Man. "You're still leading, and you're going to have to get that damn door open."

 

Whatever sarcastic replies he might have made, I wasn't paying attention. I was listening for more unexpected noises. A place like this had to have security. Good security.

 

We made it to the door, and Mystery Man opened it once again. Puffing and panting, Sara and I were now nearly carrying the hysterical Leah Straub out of her captivity. She didn't seem to appreciative, but I put it down to shock and who knows what else that she might have experienced while she was being held prisoner.

 

Once outside, we finally made it to the back of the van. I noted the license plate on Mystery Man's car, but I knew it wouldn't lead anywhere. Still, it was force of habit to notice these things.

 

Frohike had the engine running, and we pushed Leah into the back of the van, Byers having jumped out to help us. At least one man in this group of strange men was acting like a gentleman.

 

"Let her go," I nodded to Langly whose mouth gaped at my direction, but he proceeded to release her. 'Ms. LeBarge' climbed from the van and the rest of us piled in, leaving her outside with MM.

 

Frohike was driving before we even had the doors to the VW closed, and we sped off into the darkness towards downtown Boulder.

 

 

From: Sara Kathryn Zeuty

 

"We need to get her to a hospital." I said, nodding at teh still hysterical Leah Straub. "I don't know if this is all psychological, or if she's been drugged, but I want to make sure she's alright."

Frohike pulled up to the ER shortly afterwards. I wished I'd had my badge, I'm sure it would have gotten us immediate attention.

 

A nurse sedated Mrs. Straub, then took her away.

 

Then we sat, and waited.

 

Hours went by. I was about to send Sam and the boys back to the hotel, but then I realized we only had one vehicle. I thought about this for awhile, and eventually instructed them to go back to the hotel, and send one person back for me and Straub.

 

Samantha looked very relieved. "Are you sure there isn't something else I can do?" she asked.

 

I shook my head. "No, just get some rest. Maybe make a call, get us some new IDs and weapons, ASAP."

 

Samantha nodded, and they left.

 

Another hour went by. Finally, Frohike returned. I smiled to myself, I couldn't help it.

 

Eventually, Leah Straub was led out by a doctor. She nodded to him, giving him the go-ahead to fill me in.

 

"Mrs. Straub seems to be suffering from severe distress. We found no evidence of any drugs causing this, however, we did come across an unusual compound in her blood."

 

"What was it?" I asked.

 

The doctor shrugged. "I don't know, I've never seen it before. But she claims it is an antidote of some sort."

I frowned, glancing over at Leah, who seemed to be quite normal now.

 

"Can I get a sample of that?" I asked the doctor. Then, turning to Leah, "You don't mind, do you?"

 

She shook her head. "Of course not. I'll be happy to provide any evidence I can."

 

I followed her into another room, where a nurse took a sample of her blood and gave it to me.

 

Then it was back to the Comity. Leah didn't say a word on the way over, and I asked her no questions.

From: Sara Kathryn Zeuty

 

When we arrived back at the Comity, I rented a room for Leah Straub. I would stay with her that night, but I wanted to make sure we were in a room where the cameras had been disabled. As I slid the key in the door, a tall woman walked past, barely concealing what I guessed was her surprise at our appearances. We did look like hell, I thought, looking at myself in the mirror as we walked into the room.

No sooner had I shut the door did Samantha walk in. She held up an FBI Badge as I looked through the peephole asking who was there.

 

"How did you get that so fast?" I asked in amazement.

 

Samantha just grinned.

 

I nodded. She sat down on the bed, next to Leah.

 

"Are you feeling okay?" she asked. Leah nodded. "Would you like to tell us what's going on here? Why first your house, then the Wal-Mart, have been destroyed?"

 

Leah nodded again, then took a deep breath. "I'll tell you what I know, but understand, they keep us in the dark so much... no one ever knows the whole story..."

 

"Just tell us what you know." Sam said, gently.

 

"We, my husband and I... Oh god... is he okay? Has he been found?"

 

Samantha and I glanced at each other. "He's alive." she said, "but I don't know what they've done to him. He is completely incoherent. Please, go on, maybe we can get to the bottom of this."

 

"We were working on a sort of targeting system, we have been, for years. We thought we were working through NASA... but they were being used just like we were. What this would do, is bring down satellites to a specific location. We would be able to bring down spy satellites from other nations, and our own should we need to remove them. They'd come down to exactly the correct coordinate. I'm not talking within miles, I mean exactly, and instantaneously.

 

"That's what we thought, anyway. We were working for the good of our nation. Then I came across some files. They were using our creation, this technology, as offensive weapons. Biological weapons."

 

"Who is?" I asked.

 

"I'm not sure. We were working for the military, but I found these papers, the funding wasn't coming from the government. It was somewhere else, someone using it to their own ends."

 

"And what ends would those be?" I asked. I felt excited, I felt we were getting close.

 

"I don't know, not for sure." she replied.

 

I sighed. "Do you know what sort of weapons these were?" I asked.

 

Leah nodded slowly. "I can't be positive, but it looked like they were spreading a virus. But they were also producing massive quantities of antidote. Think about it, what better way to win a war than to infect all the people, and offer up the antidote for surrender? They infected me. They wanted to stop me, and they needed my files. I told them I would die first, and they offered up a cure. They needed me, so they kept me alive. Barely."

 

"So there is a cure?" I said.

 

Leah nodded. "Yes, but once cured, one cannot be reinfected. They have been trying to change this, they want complete control over everything. They've experimented on me.. and I don't know how many others."

 

Leah dissolved into tears. "They turned our own creation against us." She sobbed. "What have I been responsible for?"

 

Samantha and I tried to comfort her, but she would have none of it. Eventually she calmed herself.

 

"You say you have evidence? Proof?" I asked.

 

She nodded. "Proof enough that once exposed, the public would demand explanation. Why their own people were used, why their own government allowed itself to be used. But it is the only thing now that keeps me alive. This man, this man who wants it... he won't kill me until he knows where it is."

 

"I wouldn't be sure of that." I said. "Once they know you're out..."

 

She shook her head insistently. She obviously wanted to believe she was safe now. I had a grim feeling she was going to wind up dead no matter what.

 

"We can protect you," I said, "if you give us this evidence."

 

Leah shook her head vehemently. "No. It's all I have. Once it's out, I'm dead."

 

I sighed again. "And if they kill you anyway? You think they won't find it?"

 

She considered this for a moment. Then, "I want to sleep. I'm tired. Please, can we speak of this in the morning?"

 

I nodded, getting up. "Sure. Whatever you want."

 

"By the way, Sam," I said, as we walked down the hall, her to her room, and me to mind to get some things. "Send in that big biohazardous canister too, will you? I want to know what's in that."

 

 

From:  Fiona Black

 

  ***Earlier that day***

I had no idea what had happened to McGee, but I didn't think she'd be making that meeting.

 

My next stop was to St. Vincent's, to pay Mr. Straub a visit. He was incoherent as ever, and kept repeating Morley over and over. I sighed, gave him an injection, which would serve to further wipe his memory. There would be nothing left of the man by the time this whole ordeal was over. I then talked to the nurse who was on duty the day Straub had received his visitor, and learned that the real FBI Agents had taken the gun of what I suspected was our mole.

 

Then it was back to the comity. I received a call that two agents had been apprehended at one of our project sites, and smiled to myself. A perfect opportunity to check their rooms, though I figured the gun had already been sent off to one of their labs.

I easily gained access to the agent's rooms, and searched all of them. In the last room I came across a bagged gun. I shook my head, this was too easy.

 

Taking it back to my own room, I lifted some prints, and fed them into the computer.

 

McGee. So it was her after all. Now I had to find her.

 

I got up, checked my own gun, then was about to leave when I got word that the Agents had escaped. Not only that, they had escaped with evidence. Wonderful. I growled to myself, and sat down to think. I needed to get my bases covered. I wasn't sure what exactly was going on in Boulder, as I never get all the details. I knew what I needed to know, and that was find by me. But now, I needed to know what it was I didn't know.

 

I placed a call to Morely.

 

"I need the location of Leah Straub." I said. "It has to be where they're going next. Mr. Straub has already been taken from us, I can only assume Leah is next."

 

There was a long pause on the other end, and the sound of a cigarette being lit. "Fine then. But you do nothing without my prior approval."

 

I got the location, then hung up. I arrived in time to see a white van leaving the premises, and none other than McGee, with another man. I looked closely through night vision goggles, magnifying the image.

 

Reef. So he was alive, after all. We had suspected as much... I could kill him easily, I had the right weapon and the know-how. But I also knew he was important. I watched him leave, McGee stood, watching, alone. I drew my gun.

 

She heard me approaching, and put up her hands before even turning around. Then she shook her head, a half smile on her face.

 

"Not again. Really, I've been held hostage enough today. You can tell Morley it's not me he wants."

 

I held the gun levelly. "Oh really. Why did you talk to Straub?"

 

"Because at that time I didn't know the full story. You know how it is."

 

"And why were you with him?" I nodded in the direction Reef had just left in.

 

"Because I was just taken hostage by two FBI agents and their gang of geeks. Well, one of them was kind of cute." She took a cigarette out of her pocket, and lit it. "What can I say, he just happened to be there. He's the one who negotiated a trade, he gave them Leah Straub. Though she seemed a bit of a raving lunatic."

 

"I don't believe you." I said.

 

McGee smiled at me. "Oh trust me." she said, "You don't want me dead. And neither does Morley. I have information for him."

 

I narrowed my eyes, and took one hand off my gun to dial my cell phone. It took quite some time to finally get Morley on the phone. More difficult than calling the president. One of these days I would get him to give me his private number...

 

"I've got your moles." I said, as soon as he answered.

 

"Do you? Plural?"

 

"Reef's still alive. McGee was the one who talked to Straub. They've just given Leah Straub to the FBI."

 

"So he is alive." Morley didn't sound surprised. But then he rarely did.

 

"What do you want me to do?" I asked. "McGee is standing in front of me swearing up and down you don't want her dead. Has some sort of information for you."

 

"Leave Reef. We can't afford to kill him. We'll just need to get him under control. Send McGee to me. If she's lying, I'll kill her myself." There was a pause. "Of course, I could always use a mole to my advantage. Send her to me."

 

"Send her, or bring her? You really think she'll show, all on her own?"

 

"If she doesn't, we have ways to find her. If she does, it may help prove her loyalty."

 

I snorted. Fat chance. "Fine." I said, "Anything else?"

 

"Yes. Kill Leah Straub. She is of no use to me if she's talking to the FBI. Standard procedure, make it clean."

 

I smiled. "You got it, babe." I said. There was silence on the other end of the line.  I cleared my throat.  "Sir." I finished. Then he hung up.

 

 

From: Fiona Black

 

As I put my phone away, someone pressed a gun into the back of my head.

"Drop it." A man's voice.

 

I didn't drop it, but lowered my arm. "Morley wants to see you." I said to McGee, who turned and walked away.

 

I turned, to face the man. It was MDM.

 

"What are you doing?" I asked, irritated.

 

"Someone," he said, a smile on his face, "has been trying to take me out. And I think it's been you." The gun was now pressed into my forehead.

 

"It's not been me." I said.

 

"Then why were you pointing a gun at your colleague? And why do I get the feeling that you came here to kill us?"

 

"Because our 'colleague' has been ratting us out. And I did come here to kill you, had you been the one I was looking for."

 

MDM lowered his gun. "You had just better stay the hell out of my way."

 

"I'm really not interested in your position, if that's what you mean." I said. I smiled up at him. He was really rather attractive, tall, strong... "Though I'd be happy to discuss any position *with* you."

 

 

From: SamanthaJ3

 

We took turns guarding Leah Straub's room. This time we weren't taking any chances. Mortis was in one room, stationed in the corner of a darkened window. Fayme was in another room, another window. They were to alert us if anyone -- anyone at all -- appeared in the parking lot, the walkways, the breezeways, or the roof.

 

TLG were providing their own form of covert surveillance. Their van had now become a miniature station for tracking nearly every known radio frequency. Their theory was that if a Black Ops team came for Mrs. Straub, they would be using their radios within a one mile radius of the target zone. Or something like that...Byers and Langly had been so excited talking about it, that my head had felt as if it were snapping back and forth at a high velocity tennis match as they seemed to take turns completing their story.

 

Sara and I were stationed inside Mrs. Straub's room. She wanted to see her husband, and we told her we'd try to arrange it. We still had Leah's blood sample, wrapped in a towel. We needed to drop that by a lab ASAP, and we had that canister of mysterious biohazardous material. I showed it to Leah who nearly screamed in fright. "Do you know what you're holding?" she shrieked, and shoved her hands against her mouth.

 

"Obviously we don't, or we wouldn't be asking," Sara replied.

 

"That could wipe out half of Boulder," Leah replied.

 

"Now she tells me," I sighed and gingerly placed the canister on the table.

 

We stayed that way through the night. Every time the cell phones rang, we jumped and pulled out our guns. It was a long and tense night for all of us, but finally it was nearly dawn.

 

Leah rolled over on her bed. "I'm still alive," she whispered defiantly.

 

"And we're going to do everything we can to keep you that way," Sara said, "but please, Leah, we're on your side. Think about what has happened in Boulder. Think about those poor innocent people shopping for falling prices at Wal-Mart, and then they were hit by more than just an oversized happy face on steroids."

 

I stood silently beside the door, but I could see Leah wavering.

 

"I'll tell you this," she spoke up finally. "If anything happens to me..." the words caught in her throat, but she finally continued. "If anything happens to me, you must -- " She stopped again.

 

Sara and I said nothing, we just waited. "You'll find the key to what you want to know inside my body."

 

I looked at Leah, and I wondered if Sara's expression mirrored mine.

 

"You mean your blood work?" I prompted gently.

 

"No," Leah's voice was barely above a whisper, and I left the doorway in order to hear her. "If anything happens to me, you must be present for my autopsy. There must be an autopsy, and you have to be there. Then you'll understand everything."

 

Leah would say no more.

 

 

From: SamanthaJ3

 

We had made arrangements to have Michael Straub transported to a secure area of the hospital, and we made arrangements to allow Leah to see her husband. We pulled in extra agents, including Agent Lemming, from the local field office.

The security was foolproof, the regional SAC told us. No problems. Not to worry.

 

Sara and I were worried.

 

Although I was still against involving civilians in Bureau matters, I had grudgingly admitted that these guys had been extremely useful on this case. As a result, we still had TLG monitoring radio frequencies, this time in the hospital parking lot.

 

We sent the blood sample with Agents Fayme and Mortis. We put them on a morning flight to D.C., to hand the sample over to the FBI crime lab as soon as they got there. We called SAC FoxPhile and told her to meet them at the airport.

 

I still had the biohazardous canister in my room at the motel. It wasn't foolproof, but I was afraid to put it in a car in case there were an accident and the thing accidentally leaked and contaminated half of the city. The regional SAC had arranged for a HazMat team to pick up the canister, but they couldn't do it until later in the day.

 

We had escorted Mrs. Straub through an employee entrance at the hospital. Tight security all the way. She saw her husband, whose physical condition seemed to be deteriorating, and he was still babbling endlessly about Morleys.

 

After the visit, we were escorting Mrs. Straub out of the building when she said she needed to find a restroom. Sara and I shared an exasperated glance, but a duty nurse showed us a private restroom. I went inside and checked it, and then Sara went inside and checked it as well, although there wasn't much to check. It was a private staff restroom, so we waved for Leah to go inside, and we would wait outside.

 

Agent Lemming looked at his watch after one minute. I rolled my eyes, and Sara did nearly the same.

 

Then we heard the sound of a single gunshot coming from the other side of the door.

 

"Leah!" Sara called, as she tried the door. Locked.

 

"Stand back," Lemming threw a well-placed shoulder against the door, and he went flying through the door and onto the floor.

 

He landed on the ground, right beside Leah Straub's inert body.

 

There was a noise, and Sara and I saw the mirror above the sink moving slightly.

 

"It can't be," she rasped as she pulled the mirror aside to show another room directly on the other side. The bathroom must have been part of an addition or a renovation and led directly to a small office. "Call security!" she yelled as she climbed through the opening to pursue the suspect.

 

"On it!" Lemming yelled as he pulled out his radio.

 

I knelt beside Leah Straub. She had received a single gunshot wound to the middle of her forehead. I felt her neck, even as I heard nurses and orderlies approaching at a run.

 

I couldn't find a pulse.

 

I did find a handgun, lying right beside Leah's head.

 

An hour later, an exhausted surgeon came out of the OR and expressed his regrets. He was sorry, Leah was dead.

 

We were all sorry. Sorry that the suspect had managed to elude Sara. Sorry that Michael Straub died of an apparent MI nearly thirty minutes after his wife was shot. Sorry to hear that our rooms at the motel had been broken into.

 

They scheduled the autopsy for later that same day at the special request of the FBI.

 

"Are you sure you want to go in for the autopsy?" Sara looked at me.

 

"Sure, I'm sure," I nodded. It was the least I could do for the Straubs.

 

 

From: Fiona Black

 

I was tired. I was ready to get out of Boulder. It was somewhat boring here.

 

I had been up all night, waiting for the Bureau to leave Leah Straub alone for just half a minute, so I could finish my business here and go home.

 

They didn't. They were being especially careful this time around. And they had those three dweebs out there helping them, as well. The only advantage I had was that I was already staying in the same hotel. I had seen them come back from the hospital with Leah Straub. None of them knew who I was yet. I also had the advantage of knowing what their plans would be already. Walking by the room a couple times, I overheard them talking about taking Leah to see her husband. I decided to go check out the hospital again, and get the layout of the place. The only place Leah would be likely to be alone was with her husband, but there was no way I could get in and out of that room unnoticed. I went to the bathroom, wondering if I would have to find a less conventional way to plot her demise.

 

As I checked my make-up in the mirror, I realized that I might have a chance if she went to the bathroom. That would in fact, be my only chance here. I decided it was a good enough plan B, and set about coming up with a plan A. If worse came to worst, I would have to shoot her in plain sight. I would be arrested, charged and convicted, but at least the project would go on unhindered. I gritted my teeth, and returned to the Comity.

 

The next morning, I watched as they strolled down hallways, instructing their other agents. I drove to the hospital well before they got there, as I was sure they'd be looking out for someone following.

 

Once there, I waited. I had found a small, unused office next to the only bathroom between the entrance and Michael Straub's room, and had cut a hole through the drywall, right behind a mirror.

 

I couldn't believe it when Leah Straub walked in. Too perfect. I breathed a sigh of relief that I would not have to give up my own life for this after all. I slipped on some leather gloves, and pulled the trigger as she walked toward the mirror. Then I dropped the unregistered gun next to her lifeless body, and made my escape. Everyone was too busy gawking over Leah's body to even notice me.

 

With my remaining time, I went back to the hotel, and took the canister and anything else that looked as though it could potentially incriminate my employer. I prayed that whatever secret Leah Straub knew had died with her.

 

I began packing my things, and left a message for Morley: "I'm done here, unless you need anything else. I'll be returning shortly."

 

 

From: Sara Kathryn Zeuty

 

Samantha and I both sat through the autopsy as the coroner, Dr. Mesloh performed it. I looked over at her several times, but she didn't seem to be any more bothered by it than I was. That, or she was hiding it very well. At least I had gotten out of doing the autopsy. I could have, but it wasn't my area of expertise, and I didn't want to miss anything. Besides that, my last autopsy hadn't gone so well. It had been conclusive, but disastrous.

Finally it was finished. "Well," Mesloh said, "Cause of death was a single gunshot to the head, close range."

 

I sighed, exasperated. "Yes, we sort of figured that. But did you find anything unusual?"

 

Dr. Mesloh held up something with a pair of forceps. "Well, it would seem as if her breakfast consisted of an English muffin, strawberry jam, coffee, and one small metal key."

 

Samantha and I stared at each other. "Boy," I said, "When she said the key was in her body, she meant it."

 

Samantha half-smiled, then looked sad. "You know what this means, don't you?" she asked. I nodded. Leah Straub had known she would die that day.

 

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