From: JackeeC <74363.2566@CompuServe.COM> Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: XJEDI VOL FOUR!!!! 19/24 Date: 23 Jan 1996 04:02:31 GMT Disclaimer: Umm...these folks belong to CC, LucasArts...ah...10/13 and Fox or a curious mixture thereof. There, consider yourself disclaimed. XJEDI part 19 Volume 4 (sorry, I know I promised 2, and then 3, well...I got a little carried away.) Alpha Point Base The large round disk of the Ka'dim ship settled into atmosphere at Alpha Point Station, gleaming white lights flashed in all directions. Aside from the ship's lights, the rest of Alpha Point was shrouded in deep shadow, Dark, like its inhabitants. One stood within the central light, beneath the bottom center of the ship, and communed with the ship's Supreme Commander. The Ka'dim had visited Earth many times and were familiar with the Son of Palpatine. They too had once made a deal with him. Now, the ship's Supreme Commander felt it necessary to make a deal with the ones they referred to as 'Exiles'. The Son of Palpatine had made one too many enemies of late. When One signaled that the loading should begin, the ship glided silently away from One toward a large group of humans who gazed with unnatural calm at the vessel. Suddenly a deep vibration rumbled through the surface of Alpha point and a soft whine began. The brilliant lights beneath the vessel began to widen as the rumble grew ever deeper. Then, it was gone. And so were the majority of the humans. The Ka'dim had chosen. Several thin-limbed Ka'dim stood alongside the remaining humans. One nodded his head in agreement. The Ka'dim had chosen the stronger of the Jedi trainees as the first to leave this station. In exchange, a few of the Ka'dim would remain and One and a few other 'Exiles' would leave on the first run. They had wanted *her*; the young woman that gathered the children. But, she was not here and neither were the children. Another would have to be chosen for future gatherings. One's hand-picked group gathered around him, in expectation of the journey. One reached out through the force and communed again with the Supreme Commander to inform them that he and his group were ready. But, to his surprise, the Ka'dim Commander did not comply with his wishes. Instead the lights chose several other 'Exiles', Omak among them. One looked in stunned surprise toward Omak, the baleful grin stirred great anger within him. Anger that he could not afford to release at this time. Politely, he bowed his head in acquiescence. There would be time later, he would make sure of it. One plotted his revenge even as the Ka'dim vessel made its way back toward the channel that lead to the Earth galaxy. East Coast, United States "Yes?" a man's voice spoke softly into the telephone. A still smoking cigarette was held lightly between the fingers of one hand. "Are you certain?" the voice requested, suddenly 100 degrees chillier. "Began the retrieval process, I have something of my own to check into." The man returned the phone to its cradle and looked at the gray haired man seated across the desk from him. "I'd like to finish this conversation later, if I may. I have something I need to attend to." The gray haired man nodded and left the room without a word. The man stubbed out the cigarette and picked up his phone. Charlotte, North Carolina While Walter Skinner stood in the woods pondering, the skies had darkened, night was falling. He looked up and gazed through the trees before turning to his companion, "There isn't much more we can do out here in the dark. Let's go get some sleep." The bearded man nodded in agreement. "You're probably right," he said. A soft chirp made itself heard as they turned to leave. They both moved to check their cell phones before they found that it was Skinner's. Millennium Falcon Han Solo stood against the entry door of his and Leia's private quarters and watched his wife braid her hair. He liked to watch the way her fingers deftly intertwined the rich brown strands. This was far more interesting than watching the droids do it. "Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't get it cut," Leia said as she paused to rest her arms. *She* much preferred having the droids do it. "I thought long hair was traditional for Alderaanians?" Han replied noncommittally. He liked her hair the way it was. But if she wanted to get it cut, it was her decision. But, he didn't have to like it. "What do you think if I got it cut to about here?" She indicated a point just below her shoulder. Han shrugged and suddenly became very busy with the rooms temperature controls. Leia gave him a sly look from the corner of her eye as she finished the last of the braid and tucked it under. "You know," she said, "I think I'll get it cut like Luke's. I mean we *are* twins, after all." Han spun to face her. "Over my d--" His words were cut off when he saw that she was laughing at him. His scowl turned to a grin as he pulled her into his arms. * * * * * * Luke sat in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon gazing into hyperspace. The small band was still three hours out from the co-ordinates, but a growing sense of uneasiness was beginning to creep over him. He hadn't pin-pointed the reason, but he knew he wanted to talk to CEstallia. There were some things he needed to clear up before he felt ready to possibly go into battle with her. As if he'd issued a summons, he heard her footsteps as she stepped into the cockpit behind him. She sat wordlessly in the rear auxiliary seat, to the left and slightly behind Luke. she thought. Luke nodded. CEstallia sighed heavily, Luke was becoming amazed at CEstallia's ability to say so much, yet so little. With Yoda, it had been quite the opposite. Luke asked. He remembered that terrible screeching and then something knocking into him and then nothing, absolutely nothing at all. CEstallia nodded this time. Okay, that was almost an answer. CEstallia smiled, amused. Where had he heard that before? <*Time* itself?> Luke was incredulous. CEstallia met his slightly disbelieving eyes with a steady gaze. Luke gave CEstallia a wry smile. "Is there anything else I should know?" he asked, aloud. Not that he had any better idea of what to expect than he had before. But there was a quietness, a tenseness, to her that hadn't been there when they'd left the CEstallian system. A frown crossed CEstallia's face. It was Luke's turn to frown. He had no idea what she was talking about. CEstallia gave him a soft smile, one of the half mysterious smiles that had made him loose his train of thought before. It didn't work this time. she said, Luke looked thoughtfully at the woman who sat before him. She was right, he did see her differently. She looked like someone's favorite grandmother. And when he thought of someone whom he might have formed a bond with, only one person came to mind... he asked as he refocused his attention. Then, before CEstallia could respond he spoke up, aloud. "Wait, let me guess, I'll know when the time comes, right?" "You're a fast learner, young Skywalker," CEstallia said, grinning. Charlotte North Carolina Walter Skinner retrieved his cell phone from his pocket and clicked it on. "Yes," he spoke tersely into the receiver. His stance immediately stiffened as he recognized the voice at the other end of the connection. SPLIT TO HALF SCREEN OF SMOKEY OFFICE AND HALF SKINNER "Good evening, Assistant Director," The General said as he lit another cigarette. "Sir," Skinner acknowledged. He didn't look at the bearded man but turned and walked off a few paces. Scattered fallen leaves crunched beneath his feet. "I trust our mutual acquaintance is staying out of trouble?" the man asked. He drew deeply on his cigarette as he awaited a response. "I don't know who you mean, sir," Skinner responded. He hated with a passion being treated like a spy for this man. But, then on the other hand, when this man came snooping around, Skinner knew something big was going on. "Don't play coy with me, Assistant Director," the man spat. Then more sedately, "I have an assignment that falls in their area of expertise. You'll find all you need to know in the usual location." Skinner heard the soft click of the disconnect before he could reply. CUT BACK TO ONLY SKINNER'S LOCATION Skinner shut down the phone and placed it back into his pocket more calmly than he felt. Without a glance at his bearded companion, he headed toward the car. He got in on the driver's side and waited. He didn't have the key. * * * * * * Mandy glanced back at her passenger. He was out, sleeping the slumber of the drugged. She was sure no normal creature would be able to sleep in such an uncomfortably cramped position without the assistance of something artificial. Mandy was glad that he was sleeping, because, now, she wasn't quite sure how she'd handle him. She couldn't just keep him forever like some pet. And she couldn't just dump him in the woods. Although, she figured that there was where he'd be the most comfortable. For now she'd decided to just take him to her father's beach house. It should be pretty deserted this time of the year. The sign along the side of the highway said I-64 Interchange ahead. It wouldn't be long, now. The hyperspace clocked ticked away the minutes until the Falcon was due to come out of hyperspace. Han had repaired the Falcon's automatic circuits and calibrated the ship's clock to that of the other two ships to insure that all three would drop into normal space simultaneously. There were 30 minutes and 17 seconds left in hyperspace. "I expect everyone has made final preparations," Leia was speaking as she prepared to close the inter-ship link. "Groups A and B will regroup behind the moon after their missions are complete. Are there any more questions?" When there were no more questions forthcoming, Leia signed off, "Okay then, you have your assignments. Take care, and may the force be with you." She nodded to Han, who terminated the link. All that was left now was to wait. Luke wanted to meditate a little more before this all began. So, he headed toward one of the spare sleeping quarters for privacy. After his talk with CEstallia he had felt more comfortable about this mission, but there was still anxiety. He needed to exorcise those feelings so that he could function efficiently as a Jedi. Threepio was standing in a corner of the room, silent for a change. When he saw Luke leaving the main cargo bay, he followed. "Master Luke," he called after the Jedi Knight. "Might I have a word with you?" Luke turned and waited for the golden droid to catch up to him. "Sure, Threepio, what is it?" he asked. Their voices faded as the door slid shut behind them. Han and Leia were left to look a little curiously after Threepio. He had been uncharacteristically silent since he'd came out of the auto optimization mode. "What's gotten into him?" Han asked Artoo, who replied with a unique droid sound that no one could mistake for anything but 'Beats me'. Han shrugged it off and headed out the doorway. "Well, I'm gonna go triple-check some systems, make sure this old girl isn't planning any surprises for us." Leia and Artoo followed him, leaving CEstallia, Mulder, Scully and Rae to stare at one another. The sound of Becter's equipment seemed louder than usual in the ensuing silence. CEstallia moved to stand near one of the larger of Becter's monitoring stations. "I'll bet you are all anxious to get home," she said. "I know I am," Rae answered first. "Although I'm not sure why, since I'm a wanted woman, now," she added, forlornly. "You guys, what am I going to do? I don't want to go to jail." Scully walked over to Rae and put a hand on her arm. "There has to be some one who can provide you with an alibi," she said. "Did you talk to anyone on the phone? or see anyone at the corner that you knew? Even something small might be helpful." Rae gave her a small smile of thanks for trying to reassure her. "I want to thank both of you for helping me, but I'm just afraid I'll get the two of you into trouble if you're found with me." "Are you kidding? Trouble is his middle name," Scully gestured at Mulder. She was rewarded with a small smile from Rae, while Mulder cleared his throat loudly. "Try to think back," Mulder said. "What was the first thing you did when you got home?" Rae closed her eyes and thought about it. It seemed like such a long time ago. "Yes," she said after a few seconds, "I remember. I was in a really bad mood, so I got on-line. Surfing the net calms my nerves." "Okay, that's good," Mulder said, throwing Scully an amused glance. "I don't know if anyone's ever used the fact that they were on-line as an alibi, but it could be helpful. Did you keep a chat log or send any mail?" "Actually, I did," Rae said, brightening. "And there's something else," she said. "I have an even better alibi than I thought. I got a traffic ticket that night!" she announced happily. "A reason to live," Mulder said dryly. "I hope it wasn't for reckless driving." "Actually it was because my lights weren't on. And then once he did that, he found that my inspection sticker was expired and gave me a ticket for that, too. It took quite a while because, well, I started to...laugh and so he thought I was high and made me do the walk test AND the breath-a-lyzer test. He called in another police car and they didn't find anything else so the one gave me a ticket and let me go. I'm sure they'll remember me." Scully bit her lip to fight the urge to laugh herself. Rae was obviously embarrassed by the whole situation. But the imagery was about to send Scully into giggles herself. She pitied any officer who'd pulled Rae over. "You wouldn't happen to know what time the ticket was issued, would you?" Mulder asked. Rae shook her head, "No, not exactly. But I do know that it was about 12:30 when they let me go, because I looked at the clock once I started the car." "The newspaper said that the time of the fire was about 12:10," Mulder mused. He'd begun pacing around the bay. "Do you know how long they kept you there and how long it took you to get home and on-line after they released you?" Rae tracked his movements with wide eyes, following his logic. "Yes, I was nearly home when they stopped me. They kept me at least 30 minutes, probably longer. When I left, I was home and on-line in say ten minutes." Mulder immediately stopped his pacing and looked toward where CEstallia had been standing. She was gone. "Where'd CEstallia go?" he asked. * * * * * * Luke turned cool blue eyes on Threepio once the door slid shut behind them. "What is it, Threepio," he asked. "Master Luke," Threepio began. "While everyone was in their resting phase I did a memory sweep. As you know, sir, all of this traveling around in hyperspace causes memory fragmentation and--" Luke put up a hand, "I understand all of that Threepio." If he didn't stop the golden droid now, he'd never get a chance to meditate before they reached the co-ordinates. "Just give me the basics." "Very well, sir," Threepio answered. "I found an interesting coincidence during my memory optimization." He paused to be sure Luke was satisfied with his current method of telling the story. "Yes," Luke urged when Threepio hadn't continued in a few seconds. "The language that the three humans from Earth speak is the same one I programmed into the lapel-links for the children." "What?" Luke asked, clearly amazed. "The language that the three humans from Earth speak is the same one I programmed into the lapel-links for the children." Threepio repeated what he'd said verbatim. But Luke wasn't listening any longer, he'd sank to the cot and began thinking very quickly. There was something here and he was missing it. "Master Luke," Threepio's voice insinuated itself into his thoughts. "What is it, Threepio?" Luke asked, only half listening to the droid. "Would you like me to have Artoo perform a diagnostic of my memory functions to make certain that I am not suffering a malfunction. I've checked the Falcon's system and it had no former record of the language it's been translating. In my opinion, sir--" "Threepio," Luke cut in again. "Yes. Please have Artoo run a diagnostic on your memory functions." "Very well, sir." * * * * * * Gien Becter scratched his scraggly orange head, musing it beyond its normal disarray. The equipment around him beeped and hummed as it monitored and recorded the subtle changes in space and space-time all around them. The readings gathered within hyperspace were of no interest to Becter beyond that of testing the link-up between his small science vessel and the Falcon. Presently, the machines were in real-time auto-tracking mode, and the remote data had been assimilating well into the main control unit, which was situated to the left of the flight controls. But, when the last update had displayed on the control unit, the remote data was absent. Becter glanced at the chronometer and began to feel a slight panic. The little group of ships would be pulling out of hyperspace in less than ten minutes. * * * * * * Han shut the panel on the Falcon's main breaker box. Everything seemed to be in working order. But all things were debatable when it came to the Falcon. "Mr. Solo? Please come in," a tinny voice spoke from the comlink he'd attached to his collar. "Yeah, what is it?" Han inquired gruffly after he'd removed it and pressed the activation button. Becter was the last person he wanted to speak to right now. "Mr. Solo, would you be so kind as to go and check on my machinery for me?" Becter asked. "It appears that I'm no longer receiving the remote feed." Han's 'no' was so conversational that Becter nearly missed its meaning. "Pardon me?" the orange-haired scientist asked. "I'm a little busy right now to deal with your...scientific equipment," Han said, disconnecting the link. He didn't care if Becter knew 'scientific equipment' wasn't the phrase he'd been thinking of. Becter, thankfully, let it drop. He chalked Han's touchiness up to the tension of the upcoming mission. He was partially right. While Han had been talking to Becter one of the indicator lights on the outside of the breaker panel that glowed green when all was well, suddenly turned a cautionary amber. Han glanced at the chronometer as its countdown decreased. Two minutes to the co-ordinates. He made a dash for the supply box to replace the decaying breaker. Even though it was the breaker for the light in the john, when one system failed on the Falcon, there tended to be a cascade effect. * * * * * * Luke was sitting on the bunk mulling over what Threepio had said when his comlink went off. "Mr. Skywalker, this is Becter. Would it be too much for me to ask you to check on my equipment for me? I seem to be missing the remote feed." "Sure, it's no problem," Luke said. His opportunity was gone, anyway. "What would you like me to do to it, exactly?" "Just make sure it's on-line," Becter said and signed off. Luke rounded the corner in time to hear Mulder ask "Where'd CEstallia go?" Luke found himself looking around for her like everyone else. "She was right there a second ago," Rae said, pointing toward the largest of Becter's scanning units. It had been flashing a steady green light. Now, it was dark, not a single light blinked. Luke stepped over to the machinery in one quick step. To onlookers he seemed to just disappear from the doorway and reappear near the machine. He took in the smashed controls, damaged beyond any quick repair and immediately knew who to seek out. "CEstallia," Luke breathed before he vanished out the doorway again. He found her in the corridor near the main lavatory. Luke asked her, trying to hide the disappointment. He knew she was holding back, but he hadn't expected her to go this far. CEstallia stared back at him, there was a bit of panic in her eyes. Then her focus changed and she looked beyond Luke. A moment later, a deep whine began somewhere in the bowels of the ship. In his mind Luke felt something disconnecting and then reattaching. And then it was gone. Luke turned a confused gaze on CEstallia. "What was that?" he asked. CEstallia said, "Luke, get up here!" Han's voiced burst over Luke's comlink. Luke threw CEstallia one last look of confusion, before he sprinted off toward the cockpit. * * * * * * When Luke reached the cockpit Han was pacing as much as the confined space would allow. Leia sat mutely in the co-pilots seat watching her husband. Han caught Leia's movement as her brother entered the cockpit. He turned toward the younger man. "Look out there, Kid. Tell me what you see," Han said, pointing toward the front view screen. Luke obediently looked out of the view screen. All there was to see was a starfield and some very distant planetary bodies. He shrugged and turned back to his brother-in-law. What was Han getting at? "Here's a hint," Han put in, "This is the aft view." It suddenly made sense to Luke. He closed his eyes and took a very deep breath. "The other ships, they aren't there are they?" he asked. "'Fraid not," Han replied nastily. "I think it's time we have a little talk with our diplomatic 'friend' from CEstallia," he added as he headed for the corridor beyond the cockpit. "Han, wait," Luke began, trying to stop his brother-in-law. "I think you should let me talk to her." He could see that Han was about to argue but Leia must have said something to him over Luke's shoulder because he seemed to actually settle down a little. "Alright," Han said. "But, I want an answer within the next ten minutes." He reluctantly stepped around Luke and dropped into the pilot's seat, where he sat glaring out of the view screen until Luke left to again find CEstallia. end part nineteen. =========================================================================== From: JackeeC <74363.2566@CompuServe.COM> Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: XJEDI VOL FOUR 20/24 Date: 23 Jan 1996 04:04:26 GMT Disclaimer: I don't think I have another one left in me. I think we all know the drill. But, just in case: Check out the last chapter or the one before or the one before or ... you get the picture. XJEDI part 20 volume 4. Millennium Falcon Fox Mulder had a vague feeling that something was wrong. After Luke had left in such a hurry, there had been that whine that had occurred once before, during his cellular call with the AD. Mulder, always a man of action, couldn't wait any longer for someone to come and tell them what was going on. "I'll be back in a minute," he told Scully and Rae. "Where are you going?" Scully asked from her perch near Becter's smashed machine. After Luke had left, they'd all gone to examine it. None of them could say just when it had been done, but the three of them were sure that CEstallia must have been the culprit. Before Mulder could get out of the room, Luke entered, followed by a somewhat subdued CEstallia. Mulder took a step back. He had been heading for the cockpit, but whatever was developing here was undoubtedly something not to be missed. Luke looked around the room and back to CEstallia. No one broke the silence until Han and Leia entered the room. The droids were nowhere in sight. "All right," Han said, "This better be good." CEstallia didn't even bother to try to force a smile in Han's direction. She simply glared. After a few seconds of silent confrontation with Han she turned to Luke and began to speak. "All the secrecy I have given the Gate is necessary. Whatever it is that I have to do to prevent knowledge of it falling into the hands of the general populace, I am honor bound to do." She spoke calmly and coolly to her one-time ally. "Let's just take a short cut around the political excuses," Han cut in. "I just want to know what happened to those other two ships." CEstallia turned away from Luke, who remained unaffected by her words. "I can't tell you," she told Han. "All I can say is that they are safe and that no one will be harmed. It's a matter for CEstallian internal security." "Are you saying that the other two ships, that were following us, are gone?" Scully spoke up incredulously from her position on the cot, where she, Mulder and Rae had settled (ring side seats?) when everyone had arrived in the room. She was thinking of what Mulder had told her hours earlier in that closet, when she'd been berating him about giving out Earth's secrets. "Told ya," Mulder whispered at her, unnecessarily. "Yes, that's exactly what we're saying." Han supplied. Luke had caught Mulder's whispered words to Scully, even though the translators had been calibrated so as not to pick up whispers. "Is there something you're not telling us, Mulder?" Luke asked, eyes narrowing. After what Threepio had told him and CEstallia's behavior, his circle of friends was understandably limited. Mulder looked up, unsurprised by Luke's keen hearing. He was ready to tell all, anyway. It just wasn't Mulder to keep things quiet for long. He knew his eyes gleamed as they did when he was on to something. But, that was okay. He was absolutely sure of what he was about to say. However, he didn't know how CEstallia was going to take it and at the moment, it didn't matter. Fox Mulder cleared his throat and stood. His eyes briefly fell on his partner. Then, he turned and deliberately reached into the overhead compartment and retrieved the suit he'd been wearing that first night. After digging around in his pockets, he pulled his hand out, satisfied. All eyes watched as Mulder stepped toward Han. "Do you have one of these anywhere on your ship?" he asked. In his hand was the small metal cylinder he and Rae had found in the basement of Acme. Han looked at the object curiously for a second and slowly shook his head, "No, I don't think--." Luke stepped around Mulder to get a closer look at the object. "Yes, you do," he stated matter of factly, cutting Han off. "There's one of these in that box we found in the War room, back at the palace. Right now it's in one of the auxiliary panels." Where Mulder was heading was quickly dawning on Luke. While Scully may have noticed the tenseness that had come over her partner, no one else, save CEstallia even had a clue. "Where did you get that?" CEstallia demanded, focusing furious pupil-less gray eyes on Mulder. "Several places actually," Mulder replied. "In the nostrils of the exhumed and badly malformed body of a teenage boy, a few individuals who claimed to have been abducted from Earth by extraterrestrial, a warehouse..." he allowed his voice to trail off. "Why don't you tell me if my guess is right. These are used for more than mind control and tracking aren't they? They also serve as a 'key' to your GATE," he spat the last word. "You knew the other ships couldn't pass through because they didn't have the 'key'." Not waiting for CEstallia's answer, Fox Mulder stepped into her personal space. Since she was short, smaller than Dana even, he towered over her. "Now, I want you to tell me where my sister is!" he demanded, his voice a fierce whisper. Six pairs of shocked eyes fell on Mulder in the ensuing silence. The rage nearly poured from his body. He was face to face with someone who, in his mind, conceivably, had the answers to all he sought. And for a change, he had her cornered. Or so he thought. "Fox Mulder," CEstallia spoke up, plastering a small smile across her otherwise stiff expression. "I know the pain you feel and I know the one you seek. But, what you do now endangers her more than you can possibly imagine. There are powerful forces at work. More powerful than you or I or time itself! My mission, my DESTINY must be carried out or you will never, ever find your sister. If I do not fulfill this mission she will be lost to you for all eternity." Mulder stared down at the little woman, breathing heavily, unable to let go of the pain and the anger of not knowing. "I am sick of all the self-righteous excuses for keeping my sister away from me. They. Mean. Nothing. I *need* an answer. *Is* she here?" Suddenly, CEstallia softened. "Yes, she is close. But this knowledge will only hurt you." "So I trade one for the other," Mulder replied softly. Then louder, "Where?" CEstallia shook her head. "No," she said simply. Luke looked up suddenly, turning surprised eyes on his sister. "The woman," he said. "The woman with the children. She said her name was Fox. It was probably the only name she could remember!" "Where?" Mulder's eyes darted toward Luke. Had he been so close all along? "She was with the children we found on the Hinderer, the ship that was stolen from the security bay by Benjamin Adams. Threepio was right! Do you know of a place called Massachusetts? That's where she said she was from." "That's where we grew up," Mulder responded, numbly now. Was he really going to see his sister? He went back and sat on the cot, a private smile on his face. "When can I see her?" he asked softly. Luke's smile faded. "She was kidnapped with the children from the CEstallian system, presumably by Benjamin Adams." Luke saw the dejection in the set of Mulder's shoulders. To be taken so high, only made the landing all the more painful. There had to be some hope he could offer. He turned his mind toward CEstallia <*Do* you know where the children are?> he asked her. CEstallia responded. She still felt her failure keenly. True CEstallia had not told her all these things when she'd first given her this mission. CEstallia found that it was difficult to deal with people without her position as Matriarch; her word was not law here. And she wasn't altogether sure how to deal with that fact. She found that she couldn't even draw on the experiences of previous Matriarch's, because out here, without True CEstallia beneath her feet, those memories were as distant as home. said Luke, sensing a bit of CEstallia's confusion. CEstallia contemplated what Luke said for a few moments and then looked up at him and smiled. she asked. Her eyes wandered to the man sitting on the cot next to his partner. And for a change, she saw him as more than a player in the mission True CEstallia had given her. She saw him as a lonely little boy who desperately missed his sister. Then aloud, she added, "Fox Mulder, you will see your sister again. I know this." "When? When will I see her?" Mulder asked, rising from the cot. "Difficult to tell," CEstallia sighed. "The future is always in motion." Va. Beach Virginia Mandy finally reached the Blvd., as Virginia Beach Boulevard was called by the locals, just after dark. She'd decided that no one would think to look for her here at her father's beach house. He rarely used it and in her opinion only had it for bragging rights, like most of his 'toys'. Sometimes she wondered if that was what she was to him, a possession. The house wasn't really situated on the beach, but sat at the end of a long, tree shrouded lane. But the ocean front was only a mile away. Mandy slowed the van and was about to pull into the lane, when she noticed her gas gauge. In a rare moment, she decided to go ahead and fill up. She wasn't sure what types of unexpected events could occur by morning. As Mandy pulled by the lane, she noticed a shadowy figure smoking against a tree. For one, heart stopping second, she thought her father was here. There was no way in life she could bring Big Foot here if her father were present. He hated the 'bleeding hearts' as he called them. Then in a flash of insight, she remembered THE man, the one who always smoked in Brunswick's office. Could they possibly know where she was? In retrospect, she realized that she hadn't been very careful. Surely, they wouldn't kill her or anything, would they? "Stop it this minute!" Mandy told herself out loud. "There is no one here, it's all in your head." Having half convinced herself, she pulled the van into the Starvin' Marvin at the corner of 17th and Oceanside. Some cautionary bone urged her to pay in cash. Before leaving the van, Mandy took a look at Big Foot. He was still out. She wondered again just how much Cordicorinal they'd given him, if it were even that at all? She'd never known Cordicorinal to last so long. Inside the store, she picked up a big bag of Vinegar and Salt potato chips and a large lemonade soda. Then as a second thought she added a couple of banana nut muffins and a Gatorade for Big Foot. The Starvin Marvin wasn't the place to go for fresh veggies, and she couldn't risk leaving her sleeping Goliath alone for much longer, so the muffin and drink would have to do for now. "Hello," greeted the man behind the counter when she approached. "Hi," she returned, placing her items on the counter. There wasn't much business on this, a chilly autumn night. "You work at Lynnhaven?" the man asked as he rung up her items. He'd noticed her nurses shoes and the white of her skirt sticking out beneath her big sweater. Mandy looked up at the man curiously. He was sandy haired with a weathered face that reminded her vaguely of Ray from Dallas. Oddly enough his name tag read 'Ahmed'. "Uhh...," she stumbled as this information filtered through her brain, "how's Kenosha?" The man tilted his head to the side, giving her an odd look. "Pardon me?" he said, smiling charmingly. Mandy saw that he had the deep cut dimples that drove her mother wild. "Kenosha," she replied, vowing her voice not to shake. "She runs the place..." Mandy let her voice trail off as she gestured around the store. "Or at least she did last week." "Oh," the male laughed a self deprecating laugh as if it were all a mistake. "She took the night off." Mandy smiled back at him. "Yeah, well she needed to. A real work- a-holic if I ever saw one." With that Mandy picked up her items and had to force herself to walk calmly out the door. "Hey!" the man called her back all of a sudden. Mandy froze to the spot, half out the door. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before turning around. "Yes?" she said as innocently as she could. "Didn't you get gas?" the man asked. Mandy sighed with relief. "Yes, I'm so sorry. Leave it to me to do something like that." She walked shakily back to the counter and placed the money for the gas on the counter. "You look a little beat. My advice to you would be to go in and get yourself some rest. It's dangerous on the road by yourself when you're tired. You never can be too careful." The man smiled again. Under normal circumstances Mandy might have found this man warm and charming. But, never in her life had she ever known a Kenosha. And she didn't have a clue who ran the Starvin Marvin. "Right," she said to the man. "I will." And then she beat a hasty retreat. Mandy watched carefully through the rearview mirror as the man watched her leave the small parking lot. She headed in the direction of her father's house. But at the corner she turned the block. There was no way she would be going to her father's house, now. For the first time that day, Mandy began to wonder is she might just be in over her head. The man behind the counter of the Starvin Marvin waited for the young woman to exit the parking lot before he pulled out his cellular phone. "She's here," he said to the person who answered. Millennium Falcon "...the dynamics behind them are a little complicated. But, I can tell you that this is the prototype Gate. It was grown thousands of years ago by my ancestors. True CEstallia feels that there is a great evil being carried out here. I felt it best that Becter not scan too deeply while the Gate was in operation because I didn't know what kind of affect such a scan would have on technology that is millennia old. It could have altered the balance in such a way that we might never have found our way to Earth or back home." "You could have told us these things, CEstallia," Leia said. "You should have trusted us." "Yes," CEstallia smiled, "so Luke tells me. But for now, the important thing is to rescue your friend because after this Gate is closed there won't be a second chance." "I have a question," Scully said. "Just how do you propose to find your friend? He could be anywhere by now." Han pointed a thumb in the direction of Luke and Leia. "The wonder twins," he said. "They find him and I get to do the dirty work," Han finished with a grin. Though the 'dirty work' was rescuing his friend and Han was looking forward to it, he didn't care for all this talk, he was ready to *do* something. Scully was about to ask more, but Luke and Leia had settled on one of the cots. And there was an unmistakable air of ceremony about the way they sat. Luke took one of Leia's hands and looked at her as if he were speaking to her, giving her some sort of mental guidance. Then, both their eyes slid shut as they reached out into the Force, toward Earth, in search of their friend. "What are they doing?" Mulder whispered to Han, who'd wandered off to insure that their position remained behind the moon. Scully and Rae gravitated over as well, when after a few seconds Luke and Leia hadn't moved or even began to hum as Rae had secretly expected. CEstallia stood off a distance, since she didn't know Chewie, she couldn't get a feel for him. "Oh, it's that Force of theirs," Han said dismissively as he punched up codes on the control panel. "I can't tell you how it works, I just know it does." "So, Leia's a Jedi, too?" Mulder asked. "Nah," Han shook his head. "Not really. Luke keeps trying to train her, but there's never enough time. Have either of you seen the droids?" Han asked, cutting the conversation short. It wasn't like them to remain out from underfoot so long. Besides, he wanted Artoo to check out the Falcon's precision station keeping. It seemed that it wasn't so precise anymore. "Well, what do you think, Scully?" Mulder asked his skeptical partner when Han left in search of the droids. She was wearing that look, the one Mulder knew so well. "I think I'm in the twilight zone, Mulder," Scully replied. "You know what they say, 'one man's heaven...'," Mulder replied. Alpha Point Base The Hinderer slipped quietly into the Gate's vortex, but unlike the Falcon, it didn't continue on to Earth. The Hinderer came to a full stop within the heart of the Gate. Its passengers were overwhelmed by the joy of the living rock, of which the ship was made, as it was reunited with it's brother the Gate. Domar looked on with pleasure as the ship settled into the field. The cargo on this vessel was precious. The children and the young woman were the seed stock of the force they were building. They were kept in the isolated environment of the Hinderer to enhance the abilities of these ones. The Ka'dim had taken all of the strong adults as well as Omak. It was doubtful that they would return. Domar already had the exchanged Ka'dim in 'protective' custody. The Hinderer's airlock slid open to reveal the small group of exiles, lead by Sarn. "One," he announced with a gleam in his eyes, "I have much to tell you." Millennium Falcon "Well?" Han questioned when he stepped back into the bay, followed by the droids. "I'm sorry, Han," Luke said. "We couldn't sense him. But it could be that he's drugged or maybe something's interfering. I think we should go down and see if we can get a better feel on the ground. Mulder has a plan that I think might work." "Okay, let's hear it." * * * * * * "When you hear the ring, just push this button and put it to your...uh...ear, like this," Mulder explained to Threepio. "Then we can communicate. Everyone and their brother has a cell phone so there's less chance that they'll catch the transmission." "Would I be able to contact you as well with this...cell phone?" Threepio asked as he took the proferred instrument from Mulder's hand. "It's probably not a good idea for you to do that," Mulder said. "All the boosting you're gonna be doing to pick up our signal might cause any call you make to Earth to bleed over into some other channels and end up broadcasting our conversation all over the planet. In fact we're gonna keep ours turned off til we need to contact you." "Got that goldenrod?" Han said. "Don't call us, we'll call you." Han Solo didn't think much of the idea of leaving the ship in the care of the droids. But, Leia and Luke needed to be on the ground and as much he hated to admit it, CEstallia would probably be helpful, too. And, ofcourse there was no way he, short of being tied down would wait on the ship with Threepio." "I quite understood, sir." "All right, then. Artoo, are you ready?" Luke called over the comm link to the little round droid. Artoo's beeps and whistles could be heard as he responded in the affirmative. The Millenium Falcon began it's descent to the Earth just within the limits of the artificial gravity. The ship hovered on it's repulser lifts slightly above the ground in the woods where the Falcon had first landed two days earlier. When its human passenger's had departed, the Falcon again shot into the sky at top speed. Since there were no humans on board, the ability of the artificial gravity to compensate for the G forces exerted on the ship did not matter. "Okay, we move fast," said Mulder. "We don't know if anyone picked that up or not. Anybody remember where we parked?" * * * * * * "What does it mean 'towed away'?" CEstallia asked as she stared through the darkness at her new friends from Earth. "It means," said Scully with a heavy sigh, "that our vehicle is gone." "So, what next?" Rae asked. "Well, it doesn't appear that anyone picked up the Falcon, why don't we call them back down and have them take us to Washington?" Mulder asked. "Mulder are you seriously suggesting we have a space ship land in Washington D.C.?" "Well, yeah," Mulder nodded. "Have a better idea?" "Unfortunately, no. But where could we land without being spotted?" "What about National Zoo?" asked Rae. "I remember going there when I was a kid." Scully and Mulder looked at one another and shrugged. "Great." Silver Springs, Maryland Walter Skinner finally arrived home from a meeting with the General. How he loathed that man. But there was still the matter of the assignment that he'd ordered given to the still missing Agents. The assignment required Scully and Mulder to use their unusual resources in finding a fugitive who thought he was an ape man. And not just any run of the mill fugitive who thought he was an ape man, but one who stood over seven feet tall and *looked* like an ape man. It sounded too much like the Sasquatch Geoff Reenes had spoken of to Skinner. But even in light of that fact, there was no way Skinner was going to believe that his agents were no longer on the planet. Right now, though, Walter Skinner had a headache that made thinking a painful task. Perhaps half a bottle of aspirin and eight hours down the road he would figure out the puzzle that one young woman's cry for help had become. Before he could go to bed, though, Skinner had to try once more to reach his agents. It was irrational, but he couldn't allow himself to sleep if he didn't. National Zoo Seven pairs of eyes watched as the Falcon raced into the sky above National Zoo. Its lights were extinguished, but nothing could be done about the pale glow of the rear engine panel. A soft growl drew everyone's attention to a shadowy form near a large boulder formation. "I've got a bad feeling about this," Rae said as she fished carefully around in her pocket. "Yeah, you took the words right out of my mouth," Han said and muttered something uncomplimentary about Threepio's piloting skills. Rae withdrew her multitool, which also had a pen light appendage. She flashed the light around the shadowy outcropping the they'd put down in. "Uh oh," she breathed as the narrow beam cut across a tan, heavily muscled torso. "We need to move," she whispered. "Don't tell me," Mulder said, shaking his head. "*Inside* the lion's den." The group as a whole began to back away from the general direction of the lion. "Any idea which way is out?" Rae asked as they all backed away from the lioness who was now siding gracefully in their direction. "Excuse me," Scully whispered, "but wasn't this your idea?" "Yeah, but you guys live here," Rae replied lamely. "I thought you'd take care of that part." "Wait." Luke spoke so suddenly and so calmly that everyone started. "Everyone stop," he added. The group paused, reluctantly waiting for the explanation. The lion continued to press forward. "Kid, I sure hope you got a plan," Han said. "Cause I don't think I like the looks of his." Luke turned to CEstallia. he asked her. Mental communication was so much quicker than verbal. was Cestallia's immediate reply. She already knew what Luke wanted. Luke then turned his mind to his sister's. He allowed her to see the fence in her mind as he saw it. "Everybody, come with me," Leia said. "I know the way out." Rae and Mulder followed without argument. Scully, however, seeing that Luke and CEstallia had remained, paused. "Wait," Dana said, "what about--" Her words were cut off when Leia grabbed her arm, pulling her along. "You don't want to break his concentration," Leia replied by way of explanation as she dragged the reluctant woman along. Dana continued to look over her shoulder at the two figures standing in the field as the lions approached. "He'll be fine," Leia assured her in a rough whisper. "Now get ready to jump!" She paused only slightly before she released Dana's arm and leapt across the canal of water. Dana's attention was caught by the steep incline on the opposite side. Mulder, Rae and Han were already on the opposite side, climbing a service ladder toward the fence at the top of the incline. Leia was well on her way to the ladder, unfortunately, she hadn't quite cleared the water. And neither did Dana. When the small group were on the opposite side of the fence, Leia called out to her brother and CEstallia that they were ready. Everyone watched silently as Luke and CEstallia backed slowly away from the animals. The lioness' for their part didn't attack the interlopers in their world. But it was clear that they were not welcome. Luke was amazed at the intensity within the beasts when he'd touched their minds. They saw he and CEstallia as a direct threat to their domain. With the Force they'd been able to project the idea that the lioness' didn't want to strike just yet. But who knew what any sudden move might do. They were near the moat and Luke could picture just what was necessary. A split second before he and CEstallia jumped they released their hold on the animals. Both Jedi summersalted gracefully in the air and directed their landing to a point just behind the small group of humans. end part twenty =========================================================================== From: JackeeC <74363.2566@CompuServe.COM> Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: XJEDI VOL FOUR 21/24 Date: 23 Jan 1996 04:06:01 GMT disclaimer: Hmmm, let me see. These folks aren't mine. They belong to those persons and entities aforementioned and who forthwith, I hope, have no intention of sueing the aftermentioned(?) author of said work. As said author of said work is receiving no monetary compensation, unless sleep deprivation counts, and intends no copyright infringement, and has no money in the first place, the aforementioned entities would be wasting said time. Was that disclaimer suitably baffling for you? Well, see almost any previous chapter for a better one. Go on...I dare ya. XJEDI 21 Va. Beach Va. "Rudy, are you sure she'll come back here?" Dr. Brunswick asked from the leather wing back near the fire place. "Of course I'm sure. Normandy is over-imaginative, yes. But she doesn't think things through, just like her mother." Rudolf Newman stood at the window gazing out at the autumn night sky. A cloud had floated in and obscured the waning moon. "I've no doubt that she'll come here. We already have word that she's in town. It's only a matter of time, now." Newman turned to face his guest. "How are you going to explain this to the general if you get caught?" Brunswick looked over the edge of a glass of dark swirling liquid and shrugged. "The general's been a bit distracted of late. I don't believe his decision's are to be trusted in this matter. Besides, I've examined the creature. He has an absolutely astounding metabolism. I think it might prove useful..." Silver Springs, Maryland Asst. Director Walter Skinner sat up on the edge of his bed and dialed the familiar number of Agent Scully's cellular phone. After a number of rings the now, beyond familiar message, that Skinner could quote in his sleep began. "...party has either turned off the unit or is out of range. Recording C-12." Skinner clicked the phone off and back on to try Agent Mulder's number. He was prepared to count the rings until the message began. It was almost like a countdown until the time when he could get some sleep. But to his amazement, someone answered. "Hello?" came the oddly accented voice. Immediately Skinner's mind flashed to Mrs. Edwards, an English woman who'd once been a neighbor of his. "I'm sorry, wrong number," Skinner replied and hung up. On a yawn, he dialed Mulder's number again. The same voice answered the phone. "Who am I speaking to?" Skinner demanded. He was sure he hadn't dialed the same wrong number twice. "I am See Threepio? How may I be of assistance?" "Could I speak with Agent Mulder or Scully, please." Skinner requested, assuming Threepio was perhaps one of Mulder's school friends from England. "I'm terribly sorry, sir. But if by Agent you refer to Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, they are not here at the moment." "Do you mind telling me precisely where Agents Scully and Mulder are and what you are doing with their cell phone?" "Precisely, sir?" Threepio asked. "I can perhaps narrow it down to a few yards, but the precise co-ordinates would be difficult. If you wouldn't mind waiting, I'm sure my counterpart would be able to provide estimated co-ordinates with an acceptable degree of accuracy." "What?!" Skinner asked, dragging his legs into his pants. There would be no sleep tonight. "Just tell me where they are Mr. Threepio." "I believe it was called National Zoo." Threepio answered. "And as for why I have this cell phone, it all began..." ALPHA POINT STATION Domar smiled at the new information that he'd just received. Finally, he had a way to return to his home galaxy. His brothers had returned with the bracelets that were the key and also with something else of near equal value; Benjamin Adams, the grandson of Palpatine was now under his control. He now possessed the strongest of the trainees. The woman He'd have to be very careful in how he used him, though. The Ka'dim were very curious as to what was going on. Domar had told them that it was a routine mission that was returning. But still they were watching him carefully. EARTH , Washington, D.C. Seven strangely dressed individuals on the train in Washington D.C. near midnight wasn't much of an odd event. No one even gave more than a second look, dismissing them as foreigners. So, the small group made it safely through two transfers to their stop near Scully's apartment. There had been some discussion on whose apartment they would be going to. But, Dana had been the victor when she'd pointed out that her apartment was clean, she had food, and there was less of a chance that dark government types on one of their quarterly sweeps of Mulder's apartment would show up. Dana wasn't sure which argument did the trick. "Did you pick anything up?" Han asked Luke as they exited the train station. "No," Luke said disappointed. "I could feel that I was close, but it seems that his mind is being smothered, probably drugs." "I'm sure that's probably standard operating procedure for these guys," Dana said. She was sure they must have used some sort of drug on her during her own abduction and Mulder's, too, during his time in captivity at Ellens Air Base. "How difficult do you think it'll be getting him back?" CEstallia asked. "Are we talking days, here?" Mulder shrugged, "I have a few sources I'd like to check out. Maybe we can narrow that down a bit." "Okay, we're here," Dana announced as they approached the front of her apartment building. * * * * * * As Dana Scully unlocked her apartment door, she heard the persistent ringing of the phone. She shoved down the nervous feeling that began in the pit of her stomach and made a dash for the phone. Her answering machine had just begun its message as she picked it up. She pushed the button to shut off the message. "Scully," she answered breathlessly, pushing a strand of hair behind an ear. Her hand froze in mid motion as she realized who she was speaking to. Mulder could hear the unhappy voice of the AD from across the room. "Uh, yes sir, that's approximately true...AWOL sir?...no sir. Illegal aliens...no sir...yes, s--..., uh, we'll be here, sir." She put the phone down with a heavy sigh before turning to her partner. "Skinner's on the way," she said unnecessarily. "Who's Skinner?" Han asked. "You don't want to know," both Scully and Mulder said simultaneously. "Well, what do you want on your tombstone?" Mulder asked his partner, who stared back at him in complete confusion. Mulder laughed, "I'm going to Jolene's for pizza. What do you want?" Scully gasped in only half feigned shock. "You don't seriously mean to order pizza. Not everyone has the truly frightening metabolism you've developed over the years, Mulder." "It would be a crime to NOT serve Jolene's pizza," Mulder replied. Scully made a doubtful sound. "Well, I'm going to make some *real* food for those who don't wish to poison their systems," she announced. * * * * * * Twenty minutes later, Dana Scully stood in her kitchen looking nervously down at the plate of muffins. Mulder, Han, Leia and CEstallia had just left to pick up the pizza after Mulder had ordered it and checked his email. Dana had been amazed at the way CEstallia had made herself look more or less normal, those pupil-less gray eyes of hers weren't noticeable it seemed when she didn't want them to be. Now Dana was about to place the muffins on the table with the eggs and sausage she'd prepared. She didn't know why she was so nervous about cooking for Luke and Rae. Deep down, she knew it wasn't Rae she was worried about. After a few more seconds of silent debate, she called the two into the kitchen. "It's ready. Sorry the muffins look like an experiment, they really *are* edible." Just then a knock came at the door. "Help yourselves," Dana added as she went to answer the door. An exhausted looking Walter Skinner was visible through her peep hole. She let him in, barely remembering to deactivate her translator in time. "Good evening, sir," she said, standing back to allow him to pass. She wished Mulder and the others had waited a little longer, facing Skinner alone wasn't a pleasant thought. "Good evening, Agent Scully," Skinner spoke formally, without a hint of warmth to his voice. It would be out of character for him to show how relieved he was that she and Mulder and Rae were safe. Instead he tried to summon enough energy to read her the riot act, at least the part he hadn't read over the phone. Instead, the smell of banana nut muffins, sausage and eggs caught his attention. He didn't remember the last time he eaten "real" food. The riot act could wait. "Are those banana nut muffins I smell, Agent Scully?" Skinner asked, much to Dana's surprised, who was already preparing her argument. "Uhh...yes, sir. Would you like something to eat?" Dana asked, muddling her way through Skinner's swift change of stance. Skinner accepted Dana's offer and wandered into her kitchen. She then introduced him to Rae as Walter Skinner, her boss. Out of his sight, she signaled for Rae to turn off her translator. "I'm glad to finally meet you, sir," Rae said, nonchalantly removing the translator from her collar. She added the sir automatically; Skinner just commanded such a response. "And I'm glad you made it here safely. I assume Dana and Fox were capable aides in your rescue?" Skinner added with a gleam in his eye. "You have no idea," Rae said. "You're just like my f--" Skinner cut Rae off before she could finish her statement. "Pardon me, but I think I do have an idea, I just don't want to know about it. It's safer for my sanity that way." Dana stood against the doorway in utter shock. She couldn't believe Skinner was actually standing in her kitchen joking with Rae. Skinner didn't joke. When Skinner turned to Luke, Dana introduced him and Skinner as well. "Sir, this is Luke Skywalker, a...friend of mine. He doesn't speak very much English." Then, turning to Luke, "This is Walter Skinner." Luke surprised Dana by speaking right up, "Hello, Walter Skinner. It's good to meet you." Although his words were spoken slowly, the intonation was correct as well as the pronunciation. Luke smiled and winked at her. Dana Scully, for the third time in less than twenty-four hours, blushed. And Skinner didn't miss a thing. "I'll fix you a plate, sir," she said as she made her escape from his scrutiny. Five minutes later, Dana came to the conclusion that Skinner must have been starved and Mulder must have been lost. Skinner had wolfed down everything Dana had set before him and declared it delicious and Mulder and crew had yet to return. Dana couldn't find her appetite and so simply sipped on juice. "Well, A--Dana, thank you for the food, but I think it's time that Theraesa and I be going," Skinner said after glancing at his watch. "I'll take care of paper work and follow up on the alibi you all were able to establish." Skinner rose from his chair and gathered his overcoat. "One more thing before I go," he added. "Could I have a word with you in private?" Scully pushed herself up from her chair and led Asst. Director Skinner into a back room. "Agent Scully, I really don't began to understand what is going on here nor do I wish to encourage you in this little charade. But, for now, you have a temporary stay until I handle Ms. Manning's situation. Do not, I repeat, do not mistake my present...," Skinner thought for a moment, "temperament as impetus to engage in mutual denial or creative expression of the facts. I'll expect a full accounting in my office at *my* earliest convenience. Is that understood?" Dana swallowed, "yes, sir." Perhaps leaving the galaxy forever wasn't such a bad idea. Because, if Dana told it straight, her report was going to sound more 'out there' than any report Mulder had ever given to date. Mulder's report she didn't even want to contemplate. Skinner allowed the subject to drop with her response. "Your next assignment comes from the top," he began, reaching into his overcoat for the sheaf of papers in a rolled manila envelope. "This assignment is on a need to know basis only. It was felt that with Agent Mulder's special talents he could find this individual. Everything you need is in the folder. Take care Agent Scully." With that Skinner handed Dana the envelope and left the room. Dana made a detour to her bedroom and stuffed the envelope under her pillow. When she stepped back into the living room, Rae was waiting to say good-bye. "Thanks, for everything," Rae said. "This was a weekend I'll never, ever forget. Tell Mulder for me, will you?" Dana nodded, "Of course, I will." The two women embraced and then Rae was gone. Dana watched her go and wondered what type of future she would have. Would her life simply return to normal after all of this? * * * * * * Walter Skinner and Theraesa Manning exited the apartment building and got into Skinner's car before either of them spoke again. "Did you know my father very well?" Rae asked him. "Yes," Skinner said thoughtfully. "I used to know him quite well." He turned the key in the ignition and felt a slight prick in his hand, and dismissed it. But, a second later, when he heard a soft sigh escape Rae, a frightening thought came to him, but then it was gone because the darkness came. The bearded man opened the driver's side door and shut off the ignition. Then, he placed the small remotely operated projectile throwers in his pocket and put his daughter in the back seat. After which he pushed Skinner over to the passenger side and drove off. He was satisfied to see that Agent Mulder didn't even notice him when he passed at the corner. * * * * * * Scully was still standing, staring at the door when Luke approached with the translator that she'd left on the counter. Dana stood very still as Luke attached it to her lapel. She looked at him expectantly when he was done, he obviously wanted to talk. "I didn't mean to shock you in the kitchen," Luke said. "I just picked those words up from before." "It was a bit of a surprise," Dana admitted. "I didn't think anyone could pick up a language so quickly," she added, distracted. "Mulder said that you...helped me, that night. I didn't get the chance to thank you." "It was no problem," Luke shrugged. "I only sped up your body's own natural processes." "How did you do that?" Scully asked, truly curious. "Did you use some type of drug or hormonal response?" She was hoping for a purely scientific answer to what was meant to be a scientific question. "I used the force," Luke answered simply. As soon as the translator was done with his words he felt her withdrawal. Always the skeptic, she could not accept that answer. Dana had been faced with some pretty outlandish things during her partnership with Mulder. But this force thing was a bit much for her to swallow. "I'm sorry, Luke, I really see no evidence that there is a 'force' that's everywhere that allows certain people strange powers." Luke remembered Han's skepticism concerning the Jedi. But, Dana even after seeing what he and CEstallia had done at the zoo and what he'd done for her, was still disbelieving. He didn't understand how that could be. He decided to try another tact, because he really wanted to understand this woman. "Dana," he started, "what are you afraid of?" "Afraid of...?" Dana asked, startled. "What do you mean?" "I mean," said Luke, "Why are you so afraid to believe? You allow yourself so little reign, but I can tell that deep down you want to let go, free your spirit. Why won't you, after all that you've seen, allow yourself to believe?" Dana froze. Those words echoed through her mind. Someone else had asked her a similar question. What *was* she afraid of? Dana startled visibly when the front door opened. "Pizza!" Mulder called as he and CEstallia spilled in, followed by Han and Leia. No one seemed to notice the tension in the air, or if they did they ignored it. "Where's Rae?" Mulder asked as he sat the pizza on Dana's coffee table, ignoring the look of disapproval he received. The smell of melted cheese and sausage mixed with the smells of banana nut muffins when Mulder lifted the lid and grabbed out a slice. "Skinner was here, you missed it." Dana said accusingly as she retrieved the pizza from the coffee table and placed a newspaper beneath it. "It took a little longer than I expected," Mulder responded with an innocent grin before he headed to Scully's spare room to see if he'd gotten a response to his email. "Ummm hmmm," Scully said to his back. "I'll be back with some plates and drinks," she said to the rest of the group. When everyone was settled and eating Scully went back to see if Mulder had gotten anywhere with his sources. She made a stop by her bedroom first, to retrieve the case file Skinner had left. "Have anything?" she asked as she entered the room. "Maybe," Mulder said as he clicked the mouse on his final piece of mail. "Strange lights in the sky, disappearances, the usual, really." Scully nodded as she settled down to read the case file. There wasn't very much to it, but what was there was enough to make her sit up straighter. "Mulder, you are not going to believe this," she said. "What's that?" Mulder asked, shutting off her computer and moving to stand behind her chair. "It's a new assignment from Skinner," she said. "And it sounds like we just got an assignment to *find* Chewie because of *your* special talents." "This is bogus," Mulder said after reading the first paragraph. "Bogus!?" Scully exclaimed. "You only read, *maybe*, the first paragraph." Mulder grinned indulgently down at her, "Okay, for you, I'll read the rest." With that, he headed to the living room for more pizza. "But, I'm still going to think it's bogus!" he called. Scully left Leia and CEstallia in the kitchen chatting over herbal tea to see what Mulder had come up with. She'd busied herself placing the dishes in the dishwasher while she'd given him time to read the file through. When she stepped in the living room, she found that Mulder had introduced Han to the art of channel surfing; he sat, head thrown back against the sofa, fast asleep with the remote control in hand. Luke was looking through a newspaper. Mulder was still reading the file as he munched on yet another slice of pizza. "Well?" Scully asked, raising a critical eyebrow. "Research, Scully," Mulder said around a mouthful of pizza. "Don't be so uptight." "Uptight!" Scully gasped, "I'll show you uptight!" In a very uncharacteristic move, Dana grabbed up one of her accent pillows and threw it in the general direction of Mulder's head. The throw was off and would have missed had it not made a rather odd detour in mid-air, angling around to hit Mulder squarely in the back of the head. "Hey!" Mulder yelped, while Dana stood frozen in amazement. Luke laughed out loud and winked at Dana, who, unable to help herself, dissolved into giggles. "No fair helping!" Mulder exclaimed in Luke's direction and threw a pillow back at his partner. Luke made sure it bounced harmlessly away from her. Mulder quickly caught on and tossed a couple pillows at Luke who was laughing too hard to block anything by then. The pillow fight was officially on. Scully squealed when she was dragged to the floor by a pair of male arms. Whose she wasn't sure of because she'd taken to beating both Mulder and Luke with pillows. The pillow she had been wielding flew across the room and belted Han, who'd only just jerked awake at her scream, in the head. "Wha..?" he demanded groggily jumping to his feet, grabbing the pillow like a mortal enemy. The three individuals on the floor froze realizing how silly they must look. When CEstallia and Leia rushed into the room seconds later to see what was wrong, all three were red-faced with embarrassment and at a loss to explain why they were on the floor. They were saved from explanation however, when the phone rang. "I got it!" Scully exclaimed, more enthusiastically than the situation warranted. A second later, though, she hung up confused. "Who was it?" Mulder asked, now up from the floor and replacing her pillows. "The voice was oddly familiar, but the words were strange," she said, helping he and Luke with the pillows. "Well, what did he say?" Mulder asked with an undertone of excitement in his stance. Dana shrugged. "Make contact." Office of the Lone Gunmen "We're being watched," Luke said as Mulder pulled Scully's car into the parking garage near where the Office of the Lone Gunmen was located. Mulder nodded. The hair on the back of his neck had prickled before Luke had made his announcement, and it had nothing to do with the fact that they'd just squeeze six adults into Scully's car. "Looks like someone is getting curious," Mulder murmured. "Can you tell where he is, Kid?" Han asked from the front seat with Mulder. "No," Luke said, "but wherever they are, they feel safe. Like there's no way we're going to find them." "So, what now?" Leia asked. "Do we go on in or are we going to try and get this information through some other means?" "We go in," Mulder said. * * * * * * "Who is it?" a voice asked as Mulder stood before the camara on the outside of the office of the Lone Gunmen. "Mulder and friends," was Mulder's solemn reply as he glanced around him. No one had followed them into the building, nor had the mysterious watchers, according to Luke, changed their position. "I thought we were your only friends, Mulder," was Frohike's laughing reply. Mulder chuckled in spite of himself. "Don't worry, Frohike, you're still in the will." There was a clang as the lock was released and the door opened and the group was allowed to move into the room beyond. Va. Beach, Virginia Mandy Newman didn't know what to think anymore and she didn't know where she could go either. If someone was indeed on to her, it wouldn't be long they figured out she wasn't going to her father's. She had to make a decision now. Ahead, a Wendy's sign shown in the night, "Driv-thru open twenty fours hours" it boasted. Mandy was struck with a sudden burst of inspiration. "Wave!" she exclaimed out loud. When he turn came at the drive thru window, she asked if Waverly were working that night. A few moments later she was greeted by her old friend from her days working at the Franchise. "Mandy! Where've you been, girl?" he asked, happy to see her. "Park and come on in, I want to talk to you," he added reaching for the building's keys, that hung on his belt. Mandy parked the van with a grin and after a quick glance at her still sleeping Big Foot, she hopped out of the van to ask a very big favor of her friend. Minutes later, Mandy thanked Wave as she walked off with his keys. He'd be working for the rest of the night and was allowing her to use his place to crash until he got home. Washington D.C. "I hope I didn't wake you," Mulder said as he entered. "Are you kidding," Frohike returned. "This is our alt.conspiracy night. Who are your new friends?" he added, taking in the group that followed Mulder into the dim office. Mulder introduced each person in turn to Frohike before he reactivated his translator. "They don't speak English," he explained. "This device translates English into their language." Frohike's brows went up a fraction as he heard a replication of Mulder's voice speaking in a language he couldn't place. "Interesting device," Byers said as he and Langley entered from a door in the back of the room. "The participants were unoriginal and the discussion was ordinary," he told Frohike. "So we left." "Left where?" Dana asked, glancing toward the door they'd come through. She'd thought it was a closet. "Alt.conspiracy relay chat. We were the guests of honor," Frohike grinned at Dana with a slight bow, removing his hat to cover his heart. Dana simply rolled her eyes. "Scully, do you mind?" Mulder asked, gesturing toward the translator that was still on her lapel where Luke had placed it. Dana remembered suddenly that the translator would not translate the words of the Gunmen since they weren't speaking Basic and weren't wearing translators of their own. She self consciously snapped it off and handed it to her partner. Mulder gave her a small smile as he took it. "For me?" Frohike asked amazed when Mulder snapped it to his sweater. Mulder ignored him. "Now," said Mulder when the translator was attached. "Tell me what you have." Frohike immediately got to business. He told the group of the young woman with the sig 'spy chic without bounds'. "We met a while back at one of the alt.conspiracy meetings. Some of her posts were... shall we say, enlightened. She and Langley hit it off, then, yesterday she sent him a piece of email that you might find interesting." Frohike showed them a hard copy of the email that Langley had received. He read it aloud for the benefit of the non English reading members of the audience. "We think she's in trouble," Frohike said when he was done reading "She never E 'd us back like she said she'd do if everything turned out all right." Mulder read over the mail twice. "There's something missing, here," he murmured to Frohike. "Yeah, well, she needed a little help with her plan. We thought it best not to keep incriminating information. But the references to Big Foot seemed similar to your...ah, Friend." "Do you have anything else?" Mulder asked. So far the information suggested that someone had seen a tall hairy 'man' and was going to attempt to 'save' him. But, the file Frohike held was minus the sender's address. "We did some checking," Frohike continued. "Her member profile said that her 'real' name is Normandy Newman and that she lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, it also said that her occupation is 'medical technician'." Mulder snapped to at the new information. "Did she say where she was going to take 'Big Foot' once she saved him?" Mulder asked. "The beach," Langley spoke up from one side of the room. "The beach?" Scully asked. "What beach?" "She just said that she was going to the beach, where her dad has a house that's empty right now." "Normandy is an unusual name," Mulder said. "Think you guys can find anything on her. We seemed to have picked up company on the way here and I don't want to take any chances going to the Hoover building." "Can do, my friend," Frohike said before turning toward one of the still running computers in the room. He cracked his knuckles before he began to type at the keyboard. "We'll check other sources," Byers said as he and Langley moved to other computers in the room. Scully looked at three men busily typing away at their computers and stepped closer to her partner. "Alright, Mulder, while America's most paranoid is doing our job, maybe you could tell me why you think the case file is bogus." "Just ask yourself a question," Mulder started. "If you kidnapped an extraterrestrial and were stashing him away wouldn't you want to hide him as quickly as possible?" "Yes," Scully agreed. Thus far she followed his logic. "Well, the file says that he was last seen in rural Montana," Mulder said, his eyes held Scully's willing her to understand. "Yes, but Mulder, it's been two days, they've had plenty of time to get him to Montana and then lose him," Scully argued. "Okay, but why call us in?" Mulder asked her. "Your special talents like it said," Scully replied. "No. They want to get us as far away from him as possible, so far off the beaten path that we wouldn't know which way was up. They wrote this file with me specifically in mind, Scully. They're baiting us. There's no 'wild man' in Montana, at least, not any that they put there." end part twenty one ===========================================================================