Wambli-Part 11/18 Summary and disclaimers in Part 1 ***** "How can an eight-year-old boy who can barely multiply be a threat to National Security? And people call me paranoid!" Episode 1x03-Conduit ***** Wambli was beginning to get very impatient. The witch woman had visited a few days ago to tell her all would be well, the wasicu and the Indian cop were working on a way for her to remain free and unaccosted. Wambli wanted desperately to believe this was true, and so she had waited. For nearly a week, she had waited. She was tired of waiting. Though she was kept as other captive birds of prey, tied outside on her leash with shade and water within reach, she was not as content as a normal eagle would have been. Most birds fly for only three reasons: for food, to migrate, and to find and win a mate. In captivity, the food situation is not a problem. Because of this, there is no need to migrate, either. And companionship is usually taken care of as well, even if it is in the form of humans. Most raptors settle in to captivity well, though by definition, the only captive raptors should be those raised in captivity or those with some handicap that prevents them from living in the wild. Simply put, if all their needs are met, they have no desire to fly. They have no fond memories of soaring above the clouds; or of diving at speeds unknown to man outside of a machine. But Wambli did. When Wasichu finally came back, he seemed very nervous, and Wambli was convinced he had failed and was afraid to tell her this. But what he ended up telling her was even more worrisome. He wanted her to go back to Maryland...with him. He would protect her, he said, and he would find a way to bring her home as soon as he could. His wife, the red-haired woman who had been with him on his last visit, had asked this of him, and though he wasn't sure on the details, he trusted her enough to do as she asked. Wambli didn't trust her. But she wanted to trust him. She considered her options. She could refuse to go and request to be released, risking capture by the men she was hiding from. She knew asking to be released in itself was risky, as there was no way to tell if Wasichu would let her go. If not, she would have to fight him, possibly causing injury to herself and all those who tried to stop her. The last option, the one she liked the least, was to agree to go with him. Though she hated the thought of giving up, knowing the men from Nihm wouldn't give up until she was captured or dead gave her no real choice. After a long time to contemplate her choices, Wambli decided to go with Wasichu, putting her future in his hands. ************************************************************ "I'll build the ark, you gather the animals." Episode 6x07-The Rain King ***** It wasn't easy getting an eagle shipped by air from South Dakota to Maryland, especially when you were trying not to attract too much attention. But with Remington, and now Chase, helping, they were able to get on a flight leaving Rapid around 5:30 in the morning. With a stop and plane hop in Minneapolis, the flight would land in Baltimore at about 2 in the afternoon. Mulder and Charlie would then rent a van and drive to DC. They would take Wambli to Byers and Langly's place, then find out the details of this 'plan'. Mulder would not just give Wambli to her former captors; he needed to know why first. Wambli was amazingly calm. She had barely seemed to fit into the large dog kennel, but she could turn around easily enough. Mulder had to remind himself that she was made up mostly of feathers. Charlie was worried that the eagle would break a tail feather or a primary wing feather, both of which might be harmful to Wambli; she needed every one of those important feathers if she was to fly again. Damaging just one would affect her coordination and speed during flight. Mulder told him that Wambli was most likely aware of this and would be careful. But now he began to worry as well. After all, the eagle had to ride in the cargo space of the plane, and they would have only limited contact with her in Minneapolis before getting her back in Baltimore. Other than the slightly bumpy ride just outside of Rapid, which was almost always in existence thanks to the unreliable air currents coming off the Black Hills, the flight to Minnesota went smoothly. The wait at the Minneapolis airport seemed to take forever. They were allowed to visit Wambli for a short time before being loaded onto their next flight. They were taking a risk letting her out of their sight, but they felt a bit more comfortable that, at Remington's suggestion, they had listed her as a young Bald Eagle instead of a Golden Eagle. Since Bald Eagles didn't get their white head until they were about four or five years old, nobody except the most diligent of bird lovers would be able to tell them apart. They finally made it to Baltimore. While Charlie retrieved the mini-van, which had already been reserved and paid for by Remington, Mulder retrieved Wambli. He looked in on the eagle, bending over to look through the metal screened door, and was greeted with a loud screech and a hiss. "She's been like that the whole way," said the attendant who helped them load the crate in the back of the van, which Charlie had driven around to the loading zone. "Mean bitch. It is a girl, isn't it?" "Yeah," Mulder answered. "She's just tired. Needs to get out and stretch her wings." Due to traffic, they didn't arrive at the Gunmen's until around 4. Wambli didn't make a sound the whole way. Mulder called ahead, talking to Byers, who told them they would be ready. Frohike and Langly were waiting at the curb when they pulled up. Excitement pouring through him, Mulder directed the men as they carried their live cargo to the elevator, and then to the apartment. A tall red-head was waiting just inside door, which was being held open by Byers. Carefully, the crate was set on the floor. Mulder let his eyes scan the room as Wambli began, for the first time, to beat against the side of the crate. He opened his mouth to ask the inevitable question, but Charlie spoke first. "Get her outta there before she breaks something!" Spurred on by his words, Mulder grabbed the eagle glove that had been strapped to the top of the crate, and pulled it on his left arm. The four layers of leather covered his whole arm almost up to the elbow. He had received a crash course in eagle handling by Billy Moran, and had even read through a book about falconry on the flight. And though he knew this eagle could be reasoned with like a human, he was still nervous. Carefully, he leaned down in front of the crate, opened the door, and held his arm out with his forearm horizontal from the ground and parallel to his body. Wambli strode out of the crate, raised her hackles, then hopped out onto the glove in front of her. Mulder stood... and nearly fell back down on his knees. Charlie laughed. The Gunmen and the woman, whom Mulder assumed was Katie, stood staring, their mouths hanging open. Mulder had known the bird weighed a good 15 pounds, but he hadn't realized that 15 pounds on only one arm could be so heavy. It didn't help that Wambli was gripping him arm through the glove, showing him her displeasure by squeezing him with her powerful talons. "All right, all right, all right!" Mulder gasped. "I get the picture. You didn't like it in there!" The squeezing stopped, and the bird readjusted her stance on the glove, widening her feet so that her right foot sat close to Mulder's elbow and her left on his fist. This evened out her weight a bit more, and she didn't seem as heavy. Then she spread her wings, causing both Charlie and Byers to step back out of their range. Starting slowly, then speeding up, she began to flap them, stretching them, getting the blood pumping through them once again. Her grip on his arm tightened again, and he realized it was so her body didn't lift off her perch. As it was, Mulder felt his arm lifted slightly, her weight almost disappearing as she 'flew'. Papers and other loose, light objects went flying as the wind kicked up by her pumping wings got stronger. Mulder felt a huge grin spread across his face, and he heard Katie laugh in enjoyment. Finally, the eagle stopped her exercise and folded in her wings once again. Mulder brought his elbow in toward his body, leaning it, and therefore Wambli's weight, on his hip. Then he looked at Byers' smiling face. "Where's Scully?" Byers' smile immediately disappeared. ************************************************************ "You can't ask the truth from a man who deals in lies." Episode 4x15-Memento Mori ***** Former Special Agents Dana Scully and Diana Fowley sat side by side, nervously watching the tall man they had been brought to pace the floor in front of them. He hadn't said a word since they had been escorted into the tiny office on the top floor of an old, antiquated building off Sherman Street over ten minutes before. But they could tell he was angry. Cigarette smoke filled the air, and Scully had to repress the urge to cough. As much as she tried to tell herself she wasn't afraid of this man, the truth of the matter was, she was terrified. She had always been frightened of him, but had managed to keep that fact to herself for years. It didn't matter that she hadn't seen him in over five years. Nor did it matter that he looked far older than five years of aging would normally allow. He still had power. Terrible power. Only today, the man known as C.G.B. Spender seemed scared. He glanced at his guests from time to time, glowering at them from under heavy, grey brows. Finally, he stopped and turned to face them. Scully felt herself tense, and knew that the woman next to her had also stiffened in anticipation. He stared at them for a long while, then shook his head sadly. Taking another puff of the cigarette in his hand, he turned and left the office. Scully felt her mouth open in confusion as she watched him leave. After the door closed behind Cancer Man, she turned to Diana. "What the hell was that all about?" Diana looked at her for a moment, the shrugged and stood. Scully watched as she walked over to a small window on the far side of the room. Scully sighed, then said, more to herself than to the other woman, "Why do I have the feeling he was more scared than angry? And that it is himself he's scared for, not us?" "You're probably right," Diana said, turning to face her. "He and Creswell risked their lives by helping you and Mulder five years ago." "Creswell?" Scully was pretty sure who Fowley meant, but asked anyway. "The Englishman who helped fake your deaths. He died over a year ago, but his presence is still felt within the Consortium." Scully felt a moments regret at the death of the man Mulder had called the Well-Manicured Man. Though not a friend, he had always seemed to be on Mulder and Scully's side on many occasions. He, Spender and Alex Krycek had all been involved in the car bombing ploys that had helped disguise her and Mulder's escape. Scully had never known who else was involved, but she had known that the three man had been helping them against the orders of the rest of the Syndicate, who had wanted them dead. "I can understand why he's nervous that the Syndicate has discovered Mulder and I are still alive, but why are you here?" Scully asked the other woman. Diana looked out the window. "I assume he discovered that I had known Mulder was here and didn't tell him. He's probably just pissed at me." She looked over at Scully again. "The Syndicate discovered I was still alive two years ago. Spender talked them into letting me live, but he was threatened and demoralized by the experience. I suppose he's afraid the same thing will happen now that you and Mulder have been found out. Only it will be worse this time; you and Mulder are more of a danger to them than I ever was." She looked back out the window. "Both of you are still marked for death...and now, Spender will be, too." Scully felt a laugh rise from her throat. "Spender won't die. He can't. You can't kill the devil." "You still call him that, even after everything he did for you?" Diana walked toward her. "He gave you the last five years of your life, Dana." Scully didn't comment. Diana's last statement was true, and Scully hated that fact. She also hated hearing her first name come from Diana's lips. She felt herself stand and walk past the taller woman to the same little window, looking out curiously; it was a wonderful view of the building next door...and nothing else. "How did you get involved in this anyway, Agent Scully?" Diana asked from behind her. "Was a quiet, peaceful life too boring for you?" Scully turned toward her, her eyes flashing. "I didn't want to be involved in this," she said. "If that CIA man hadn't been following O'Neil and Justin and found me, I never would have left my children or my home." Scully couldn't help but see the surprise in Diana's eyes. "Children? You have children?" Folding her arms across her chest, Scully stepped closer. "You didn't know?" Diana shook her head. "Spender told me you and Mulder had been 'saved' like me," she stated. "But, he told me nothing about where you went or what you were doing. I wasn't even sure if you were together, but I guessed by the ring that Mulder was wearing that you were." She gave Scully a wry smile. "As much as I hated to admit it, I could tell he loved you from the moment I first saw you together." Her smile faded. "I didn't know you had children. I thought you were..." She didn't continue. "Barren?" Diana looked at the floor. "Yes." Scully was silent for a while. Did she really want to discuss her personal life with this woman? Finally, she said, "Miracles happen." Diana looked up. "Fox found your ova?" "Some, yes." The brunette sat heavily on one of the office chairs. "How many?" When Scully's brow furrowed, Diana elaborated. "How many kids?" "Two. A boy and a girl." Diana nodded. "I understand that the longer the ova are frozen, the less viable they become. You must have been lucky to get pregnant twice." Scully felt her eyes drop to the floor. "Three times, actually. I miscarried our second child at four months." She remembered the day as if it was yesterday rather than three years ago. Because the ova Mulder had 'rescued' did indeed loose their viability as they aged, they had decided to try for child number two less that a year after Fox had been born, shortly after having settled in Lincoln. There had been no determined cause for the natural abortion, and Scully had physically healed just fine. But she had been too scared to try it again; she didn't want to suffer more heartbreak. Finally, after many late night discussions with her husband, they had tried again. "It took three attempts before Marisa was conceived," she said softly, not knowing why she was telling Diana this. "Marisa?" Diana smiled slightly. "And the boy?" Scully walked over to the desk and leaned back against it. "Fox." Diana laughed. "I'll bet you had a hard time getting him to name his son that!" "It took a bit of coaxing, but I managed," Scully said with a smile. "Good," Diana said with a nod. "It's a good name. One that little boy should be proud of." Scully felt her smile fade. "Yes," she said softly. "What's going to happen to us, Diana?" The other woman's smile also disappeared. "I don't know, Dana. I really don't know." They looked at each other for a while, both feeling slightly shocked that they had actually spent the past few minutes in pleasant conversation. Then Diana stood. "What I do know, is that when Fox finds out you're missing, he's going to get very angry." She paused. "And an angry Fox Mulder is not a good thing." ************************************************************ "I've got my own set of problems now, thank you." Episode 3x08-Oubliette ***** Ft. Marlene, Maryland Mulder was not really surprised when he was allowed past the Ft. Marlene security without question, even if he had been kicked out of the place a few days earlier; he had a feeling he was expected. But when a lovely woman of middle age strode down the hallway to meet him, her brown hair held tightly back in a bun, a white lab coat covering a flower print sun-dress, her face full of concern, he was surprised. "Fox Mulder?" the woman asked him as she drew near. "Yes," Mulder responded, stopping to let the woman come to him. "Dr. Northam, I presume?" Megan Northam stopped in front of him, her green eyes wide. She nodded, then with a soft curse, turned away. "Please follow me." She began walking up the hall without looking back. With a grimace, Mulder followed. She lead him up to the same floor he and Charlie had found the lab on, but took him to an office instead of the actual laboratory. There, she turned to face him again. "Do you have Dawn?" Dawn? She must mean Wambli. He folded his arms across his chest. "First things first, Doctor. Where's my wife?" Northam lowered her eyes. With a sigh, she said, "I don't know." Mulder let his arms drop as he leaned menacingly toward her. "What do you mean, you don't know? She came here earlier today for some kind of tour, given by you. Isn't that so?" Northam looked up again, nodding her head. "Yes. Diana and I showed her the facilities this morning." "Diana? Great!" he said under his breath as he leaned back. "And?" "And I was called away to answer some questions in Operations. Questions that seemed very trite. When I got back to the lab, they were both gone. No one will tell me anything, but I'm almost sure they didn't leave on their own." Mulder felt himself walk over to Northam's desk, casually glancing down at it. "Why was it so important for me to get the eagle here?" "Is she?" Mulder looked at her, a grin on his face. But there was no humor in his eyes. "You first." Northam sighed. "Dawn is the last of the original test subjects. All the others died. I had assumed she had died as well, though her file was still open. I wasn't here back then, so I never worked with her directly." "How did the others die?" The doctor bit her lip, then answered. "As I told your wife, the DNA they used back then contained the alien virus. It was the only way. We couldn't isolate it." "So all the subjects were infected with the virus?" "Yes," Northam whispered. "I understand you know what the virus does?" Mulder nodded. "How did Wam--, the eagle survive?" Northam shrugged. "All we know is that they all lived for quite a while as carriers. They didn't become infected until later. I assume Dawn never did become infected. But she is most likely still a carrier." "Meaning...?" "Meaning that her blood and saliva could carry the virus. She hasn't bitten you, has she?" Mulder felt blood begin to rush in his ears. "No. Of course not." Wambli could have passed on the virus? It was a frightening thought. Though he was immune, 99.9% of the population wasn't. "Even as a carrier, would the vaccine help her?" Northam shook her head. "Our vaccine can only kill the virus within the first few days of infection." "The first few days *after* infection," Mulder clarified. "But she isn't infected. She is a carrier." Northam bit her lip again, and Mulder realized how distracting it was. She reminded him of a teenage girl who had stayed out past curfew and was now bracing for a lecture from her parents. "I don't know," she finally said. "Our vaccine is very unpredictable. We haven't had need to use it in years." "What about Hendrickson's vaccine?" Her eyes widened. "I didn't think that existed. I thought it was a myth." Mulder smiled. "It's no myth," he told her. He had gotten hold of the vaccine created by Dr. David Hendrickson five years ago, and it had been the final straw for the Syndicate; they had wanted him dead, and the vaccine in their hands. Instead, he and Scully had secreted it away and, with the help of Dr. Chloe Wood, had the vaccine successfully replicated and hidden away. Only five people knew where the several hidden stashes were. He and his wife, Dr. Wood, and the current agents in charge of the X-Files. "If I could get a hold of some of Hendrickson's vaccine, could we try it on Wambli?" "Wambli?" Northam tilted her head. "Dawn. It's what she has since named herself." The doctor raised her chin. "I suppose it's worth a try. If she wasn't carrying the virus anymore, it's possible my superiors will leave her alone." She looked at Mulder intently. "And that's what you want, isn't it?" Mulder nodded. "I promised her I'd help her. And she doesn't want to come back here." Northam looked sad for a moment, and Mulder wondered if she was thinking about all the other animals under her care. "Okay," she said finally. "I think we should try it." "All right," Mulder nodded again. "I'll get you the vaccine...on one condition." "What?" "You help me find my wife." ***** End 11/18