By Pattie
trish59@444.net
 

Rated: PG
Category: X-File, MA. SA.
Spoilers/Timeframe: Early Season 7, pre-Closure.
Summary: Mulder and Scully follow a lead to
Roush Laboratories, and find more than they
bargained for, leaving with less.
Feedback: trish59@444.net
Archive: Gossamer, any other nice home.  As long as
you ask.
Disclaimers: Mulder and Scully belong together, Kersh
belongs in the bad books, but since Chris Carter, Ten
Thirteen and Fox own them, I borrowed them for
shameless action and drama.  No money exchanged hands,
and I didn't intentionally break copyright laws.
Author's Note:  A special thank you to the quick
thinking people who showed me how Roush was spelled
and even pronounced.
 
 

FBI HEADQUARTERS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
OFFICE OF ASSISTANT DIRECTOR KERSH
10:00 A.M.

Mulder had suffered considerably on his most recent non-
mainstream case.  His search for an extraordinary serial
killer had put him in serious jeopardy, and he had been
hospitalized for four days before the doctors were sure
he had suffered no permanent damage.  It was another
week before he was back at work.
 

"With all due respect Sir, while there seemed to be a
schism in Mulder's mind between the rational and
irrational, I'd say he's recovered quite nicely."

"Then you're sure he's fit to resume his normal duties?
Because if Agent Mulder isn't a hundred per cent, then I
don't want him taking any chances with your lives or
those of the public."  Yes, Kersh could be quite strict.
Always strict. "Are we clear on that?"

Mulder was quick to respond.  "Yes, Sir.  Now if you'll
excuse us, we wouldn't want you thinking we love sitting
in this office all day enjoying your company," he muttered,
in his most sarcastic tone.  "C'mon, Scully."

"Well, I see you are back to normal, Agent."  Kersh still
sat there, hands folded.  He knew his emotionless stare
disturbed Mulder to no end.

Scully stood.  "That's enough.  Let's go, Mulder.  Thank
you, Sir."

When they were out of Kersh's earshot, Scully grabbed
Mulder's arm and frowned at him.  "Was that really
necessary, Mulder?  We're not in a position to get him
irritated.  You know that, right?"

Mulder grabbed her by the shoulders.  "Look, if he's not
with us, he's against us.  And I think his loyalties lie
very far from us."

Scully rolled her eyes and sighed her annoyance. "Must
you always be so paranoid, Mulder?  He's just doing his
job, and we have to do ours!"

Mulder pulled her down the corridor and whispered, "I
know that. You know that. But for who?"

"What are you getting at?" Scully angrily whispered.

"I can't say as of yet.  Let's just say I have my
suspicions.Let's get the rest of the day over with, so we
can go home tonight knowing we're going to be doing the
same thing all over again tomorrow.  Background checks.
Service with a smile.  Stale coffee."

Scully smiled.  "Okay, so what are we really doing
tomorrow?"

"That's my Scully!  We're off to M.I.T."  The previously
sullen Mulder was all aglow with boyish enthusiasm. "I got
a heads up from a scientist's analysis of one of those
chips.  The kind that were placed in all those women."

"No, Mulder."  Scully could see the wheels turning, and
while a part of her dreaded the consequences of leaving
without Kersh's go ahead, part of her was overjoyed that
her partner was back to his own self after all the torture
he'd endured under a sadistic serial killer from his past.
Still, there was a part of her that could not bear the
reminder that she had had a malicious device placed in her
body, against her will.
 

MINNESOTA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
OFFICE OF PEDRO GARCIA-MELENDEZ, PHD.
NEXT DAY

Professor Garcia-Melendez's office was small, and cluttered
with physics books, charts of the atomic elements, pictures
and instruments. "You've finally come, as I had hoped you
would, Agent Mulder.  And this is?"

Scully extended her hand.  "Special Agent Dana Scully.
I've heard a lot about you, Sir.  This is truly an
honor."

"Thank you.  Please, sit down. Please excuse the mess.
It's been a busy term, and with my other research going on...
well, publish or perish. However, since someone managed to
recover this chip from its diseased host, a small number
of interested parties have been examining it closely.
Don't panic, Dr. Scully. We are not in league with its
manufacturers."

"Dr. Garcia-Melendez, I've told Scully about the latest
information on that chip.  Can you give us any more
information?"

The professor leaned back in his chair, folding his hands.
"I have explained to you that the chip is made of elements
which form another element we have as yet not been able to
name. We have no idea how someone managed to combine these
particular elements. The mechanism of this device is to
alter certain genes in humans. We've tried experiments with
mice, rats, even monkeys, with no effects.  However, we
remembered your bout with cancer, and that of Betsy Hagopian
and her friends, so we do know it can switch certain cancer
genes on or off, as well as influencing bodily systems."

Scully could feel her stomach churning with anxiety as
unpleasant  memories of her cancer treatment reared their
ugly head. "Professor, do you know how this chip activates
these genes?"

"That, Agent Scully, is a mystery.  Frankly, we're stumped.
I know one thing:  Someone engineered it, and someone must
have those answers.  At this time, I know of no one in my
scientific circle who would know.  I'm sorry."

Scully was crestfallen, and Mulder wasn't willing to give
up.  "Do you know of any other *scientific circles* wherein
some key biologists frequent?"

"Frankly, Agent Mulder, I think you know the answer to that.
Does the name Roush sound familiar?"

"Very, Professor.  Thanks a lot.  Scully, I think we should
pay a visit to our friends at Roush.  Thank you for your
time, Professor."

Scully and Mulder rose to leave.

"Be very careful", Garcia-Melendez cautioned them.  "I've
been told of several cases of yours in which Roush was
involved."

"We will," Mulder assured him.  "Scully, I think we need
another company tour." As Mulder followed Scully out of the
office, he feared what lay ahead, and what Scully might
endure again.  *No,* he told himself. *They wouldn't try
now, with what we know*.  He wasn't sure he believed his
own inner pep talk.

                               ***

ROUSH LABORATORIES
18 HOURS LATER
1:14 A.M.

Mulder stopped the rental car in front of the Roush building.
"Well, this is the source of a lot of scientific
breakthroughs, Scully."  He got out of the car and opened
Scully's door.

"So, why are we here in the middle of the night, anyway?"

"I doubt they'd roll out the red carpet for us, and I'm just
dying to know what's in there."

"You don't have a search warrant... Mulder."  She knew her
partner was not above creative investigations.  "All right.
But if there's the slightest hint of trouble... "

"Don't worry, Scully.  You're my look-out."

"Your what?  Mulder, you're crazy."

"Are you with me or not?  Because if you're not, then you can
bow out anytime and get on a plane to Washington.  I think
you want to nail them just as much as I do."

"Fifteen minutes, Mulder.  Then we're out of here?"

Mulder jimmied the lock on a door at the side of the building.
"All right. Let's see what we can find."  He led Scully down a
series of hallways, most of them with locked labs, and the odd
check point for employees.  "I think we've found something,
Scully."  There was a computer in an office that had not been
locked for some reason.  "Let's see what's on file."

"If all the other doors were locked, why is this room open,
Mulder?  This could be a trap."  Scully stood at the door,
scoping out the hallway.  She saw a security guard making his
rounds.  "Get your flashlight out, Mulder.  I'm canning the
lights.  The night watchman's doing his rounds."

"I hear ya.  Scully, look at this."

"Microchip 951B6A9 Subjects injected. CODE 59432R7 documented.
There must be thousands of names here," she whispered.
"Mulder, Samantha A., Murphy, James T., Murphy, Alison K,
Nakano, Sarah,... " Scully scrolled down the list.  She had to
know for sure.  "Scully, Dana K... Me?"  She scrolled to the
bottom of the screen.

"Date for administration:  December 15, 2007. CODE 671B."
Mulder didn't quite know what to tell Scully.  "I don't know
what this means, but I think... " Mulder inserted a floppy
into one of the computer ports.  "Good.  I think we're outta
here in about a minute."

Scully scanned the hallway.  "Coast is clear. We'd better
go out the same way we came."

With the file copied, Mulder removed the disk and made his
way out along with Scully.

                                 ***

DAILY MOTEL,
2:12 A.M.

After they had successfully left Roush without detection, and
Mulder was suspicious of that, as well, they talked in Mulder's
motel room.

"All right, Mulder.  You've kept your mouth shut all the way
back here.  Now, tell me why my name is on that list, and what
they're planning."

"I have no idea, Scully.  But I plan to find out.  These codes
mean nothing to you?"  He opened his laptop.

"I didn't recognize anything except some of the names, and
I want to know why your sister's name is there, as well as
my own."

"Oh, I want to know more than anything, Scully.  The date on
this record, it means they have future plans for all these
people, including you and Samantha.  2007?  Just how confident
are they?"
Mulder saw the worry in Scully's eyes.  "I'm sorry."

"I'm okay, Mulder.  It's a bit overwhelming thinking of the
possibilities... but we'll deal with things when the time
comes."

"Hopefully before then.  Look, I'm going to the internet cafe I
saw when we got here.  If I can send it to the guys, maybe they
can decipher the information."

"The Three Stooges," Scully whispered. "Mulder, I think this
requires a more expert opinion.  Why not Doctor
Garcia-Melendez?"

Mulder typed a note into his laptop.  "I doubt it.  He's on
the outside, I'm pretty sure of that.  No, I think this calls
forsome sneaking around."

"And why not?" Scully asked, with strong sarcasm.  "We can do
some jail time, and that will keep us safe from the nasty
implants."

"That, I doubt."  He closed the laptop.  "Look.  I'll be gone
about half an hour.  They can call me when they've found
something.  Order in, and I'll pay."

Before Scully could say "Mulder, wait..." her partner was
gone. She ran to the door to finish her protest.

As Mulder reached for the car door, there was gunfire.  He
took cover.  Scully ran out to investigate.  "Scully, stay
put.  Lock the door."  He grabbed his gun and peered around
the back of the car.  A black van sped out of the parking
lot.

"I'm going with you," Scully shouted.  "No arguments!  Get
in the car, Mulder."

Mulder stood and took the driver's seat.  "You're right.
I'll need your help.  Apparently, someone is on to us." As
they pulled out of the parking lot, onto the main drive,
Mulder wondered just how far Roush and their cohorts were
willing to go to hide the information he wanted so
desperately to have.

HEIDI'S INTERNET CAFE
2:35 A.M.

Scully looked on as Mulder inserted the disk into the port
and clicked send.  "So, just what do you expect them to
find, Mulder?"

"Anything and everything, hopefully.  Okay 100% uploaded."

"Got it," Byers typed. "Is this an X-File?"

"Careful what you tupe," Mulder replied.  "Sorry to get you
guys up at such a late hour."

"Frohike was playing Doom again, anyway.  Okay, give us a few
minutes.  Langly just popped it into our drive."

As he sat back in the steel framed chair, Mulder glanced at
Scully.  "I'm sorry.  I know it's late.  But chances are, we
wouldn't have made it here if we hadn't left when we did."

"As long as we know what we're doing, which is something I'm
not sure of.  I did bring my gun. Take a look.  Frohike's
typing something... "

Mulder's jaw dropped when he read the analysis of the disk.
"Nothing, Scully.  They looked for encryption, hidden files,
nothing.  Nada, niente, rien."

Scully turned her back to look at the parking lot.

"Are you sure?" Mulder typed.

"Blank, Pal.  Sorry."

Scully spun around at the sound of Mulder banging the table
with his fist.  "Damn!" he shouted.  "Nothing!?"

"Mulder, how can that be?  I saw you copy the information."

"Oh, I don't know how.  It can be, though, Scully. Roush is
really shrewd."  He calmed himself enough to type to the
Gunmen, "Sorry for all this.  Thanks.  Keep looking for other
ways to find out.  I'm signing out for the night.  Call in
the morning."

"What now, Mulder?  We can't stay out here forever, hunting
the invisible."

"Why not?  We've been doing it for years... Well, we pick up
a pizza, and call it a night.  My treat."  He retrieved the
seemingly worthless disk, and held the door open for Scully.

"Why were you shot at if you got a whole lot of nothing?"
Scully asked, outside the car.  "Maybe there's more than
meets the eye."

"Maybe.  Maybe I was set up.  C'mon.  If the Gunmen find
anything new, they can type to me at the motel.  You're
tired, I'm tired."

                                    ***

DAILY MOTEL
MULDER'S ROOM
9:30 A.M.

Neither Mulder nor Scully had slept well that night.  It was
4:00 when Scully bade Mulder 'good night', but she was haunted
by the image of her name on the computer screen at Roush. She
couldn't bear the idea of the cancer coming back any time some
chip, either arbitrarily or by some other means, sctivated
and instigated the whole process again.  How many women had the
cancer killed?  Too many.  Even one was too many, from her
perspective.  How many bodily systems did this microchip have
possible command of?  Her mind raced through Gray's Anatomy and
although she had fallen asleep eventually, there was no rest
with the nightmares that danced in and out of her brain.

Mulder fared poorly as well.  He kept remembering Samantha's
name was on the same list as Scully's, and those of countless
other men, women and children.  The codes that made no sense to
Scully and him.  What the hell was this technology?  Was the
purpose to control an entire population?  Who was behind it?
How many agencies?  With an hour or so of sleep he certainly
did not feel refreshed.  However, he called Scully at 8:30 in
the hopes that she had had a good rest.

As he unlocked the door for Food Services, Scully arrived and
walked in. "Mulder. I guess you had a rough night, by the looks
of it."

"Yeah, I did. Looks like we're in the same boat.  I ordered
breakfast anyway, even though I'm not that hungry.  My sister's
name, your name, almost everyone's name is in that file.  Why?
And remember, we've run into brick walls before.  What's the
purpose of the tests, the chips, the illnesses, the deaths?
World domination by some rogue shadow government?" Mulder
stood at the window of his room as if he were addressing
Congress, while Scully took a chair at the small table.

"I'm sorry, Mulder.  I know how devastating it must have
been seeing your sister's name and my name there.  Mulder,
there's an answer for everything, and you of all people should
know we'll find it. You're determined and intelligent, Mulder,
and I'm on your side.  Any news from the Gunmen?"

"Not yet.  If it was blank, it was blank.  That was a brand
new disk."

"Maybe it was a dud."

Mulder joined her at the table.  "What are the odds of that?
Scully, maybe... maybe they knew I was coming.  Maybe we were
had."

Food Services arrived with breakfast and when they left, Mulder
locked the door.  As he poured Scully's coffee, his cell phone
rang.  "Mulder."

It was Byers.  "Get out the laptop.  We think there's something
you should see."

"All right, hold on.  It's Byers."  As he activated his laptop,
Scully looked hopefully at the monitor.  "Okay.  Send me what
ya got."

"You see the data?"

"Yeah.  Why didn't it turn up before?"

Frohike spoke next.  "At normal speed, you can't read anything
on the disk.  But slow it down, and that's another story. This is
what we..."  There were sounds of a door being broken down, and
then a dial tone.

"Looks like somebody followed the internet highway all the way
to the Gunmen's place, Scully.  But, I think we can save the data
here, no matter what they take from the Gunmen."

"Looks like not, Mulder.  The screen's blank, and it's gone."

Mulder snapped the cellphone shut.  "See, Scully? Another
brick wall!" He was rather loud, but Scully had become used
to that. "Every damn time we get even close to the truth,
someone gets hurt, evidence goes missing!" He was seething
with rage, and kicked the bedframe.

"Hold on, Mulder.  Not so fast.  Nothing ever disappears
without leaving something behind. Look."  She held a paper
napkin up for Mulder to read.  He looked at her with the
most apologetic look on his face.  "I copied a few of the
code numbers I recognized from last night's view.  When I
saw them again, I thought I'd better get it on paper.
Besides, we still have this."  She held up the disk.  "We
appear to throw it into the wastebasket,  only it's a blank,
and keep this one, which looks like... dust.  I don't know how,
Mulder, but it came out of your laptop in a dozen pieces. But
we do have some code numbers."

"Scully, I've underestimated you."

"Well, I didn't copy in school, but I'm learning now.
Looks like in this job sometimes you just need to break
the rules.  Like you did at Roush."

Mulder took a long drink of coffee. "Yeah, Scully.  But
what good are a few codes without the disk readable?"

Scully smiled.  "You never know, Mulder.  Each time we
think we're defeated, we go back home with a little more
information. Maybe some day, it'll all lead straight to
the answers we're looking for. So, what now?"

"Eat breakfast, then we call Kersh and tell him we're
heading home."

Scully looked at the napkin and the codes she had written.
"And what will we report?  Mulder, he's going to want
something."

"We tell him we had a tip and that we came up with nothing.
It may not be what he WANTS to hear, but it's what I want
him to hear. As for what we have, it's like you said:  Each
time, a little more."

 
                                 END