Title: Eye Of The Storm Author: Quinn Hegal & Cheyenne Reidel Email: qhegal@hotmail.com & honeydew842@go.com Feedback: We dig it. Archive: Goss, Yes. Eph, Yes. Spooky's, Course. All others ask (both of us, pls?). Rating: R Content Warning: Language Spoiler Warning: Mytharc eps Classification: XRA Keywords: Skipper, Character Death Disclaimer: Not ours, Never Will be, Sand Morris belongs to Quinn. Don't touch. Summary: "My Only Love Sprung From My Only Hate!" So cried Juliet to her Romeo. But as sad as that tale of forbidden love is, It is only a play..." "If Nothing stood in the way of true love, we would not be challanged..." Notes: Originally posted to the XF MB, Quinn & Cheyenne wrote this idea of Quinn's together. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Eye Of The Storm ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The women stepped off the transport system, and looked around. She smiled, and heard over to the man waiting for her. She had not seen him in years, but he had changed little. Dressed in dark black pants and a gray tee-shirt, along with a leather jacket, she approached him. The breeze slightly ruffled his brown hair, and she self consciously ran a hand through her own. "Alex." She said quietly, stopping in front of him. "It's started, Sand." He replied. She followed him to his car, adjusting her paten leather skirt. She slid into the drivers seat, as Krycek started the ignition. The drove in silence for a few minutes, before Sand Morris turned to him. "Do you have the commanders?" She asked. The commanders were to be the elite few chosen to work in companionship with the aliens, to control the rebelling forces. Krycek nodded. "But not the two that matter most." Morris shook her head. "Mulder and Scully?" She asked. "The ones and onlys." he replied. ~*~*~*~ CSM sat in the darkened room, a weary, lonely man, staring at the picture on his desk. The door creaked open... "Alex Krycek" CSM took out his faithful Morley's. "Haven't seen you in... years...expected you to pop out now that it's started" Krycek laughed bitterly. "You look sick" CSM remembered hearing that before, but shook his head of the memories. "Want a light?" Alex sneered. "You're pathetic. A pathetic fool. Following lies, creating your own...you really thought you were in charge, didn't you?" He reached back stealthily. The Morley practically fell from CSM's face. "What are you talking about? Now that it's started, I'll be the one to live...it's because of me you will too." Alex's eyes penetrated him. As CSM stared into them, he felt truly frightened for the first time. Without moving, Krycek whipped his gun into sight and held it dead-locked at CSM's face. Wrong...again. You made your biggest mistake. Trusting me." ~*~*~*~ From outside the building, kids ran down the sidewalk as their mothers called them home, and cars inched through traffic, occasionally beeping their horns. The city moved with an unheard rhythm, a pulsing force that drove everyday lives, lifting into the heavens, which moved steadily, with the same unwavering beat. No one would have detected the blip in the constellation's radar. No one noticed the single gunshot that pierced the calm summer air. No one could have known how their lives would change, how the greatest kept secret ever, would be revealed. In a car parked along the street, Morris lifted her champagne glass, clinking it on the edge of the open car window. ~*~*~*~ "To the new world." Morris whispered, two months later, raising her glass to Krycek. "To the new world." He smiled back, something rarely seen from him. ~*~*~*~ "DUCK!" Mulder screamed at his partner. Scully dove for a ditch, flattening herself as a laser beam whizzed inches above her body. A second later, She heard a thud, As Mulder landed next to her. They both held their breath, afraid to move. Hours passed, Until she cautiously sat up. "Clear." She whispered. Mulder sat up next to her. They climbed up, and slowly continued their walk down the road, towards the Haven. Both Fox Mulder and Dana Scully had aged many years before their time. In just two months, Life had gone from hell to worse. The word had come, The messenger sent, To tell of many things. Of debts, of famine, of body patches, Of Evil Kings & Queens. The smoking man was dead. This should have been good news. But only dead by Krycek's hand. For the first time in years, Mulder truly was afraid. He'd tried to kill the smoking man many times, but failed. If the other man could kill him so easily... Two months had passed since then, and the colonization of the planet had begun. There was a small underground elite, Composed of four bases, In a increate power circle. Haven lead it, With Mulder, Scully, And Skinner at base, along with a few other people. Next was Poison Ivy, Or PI, The weaponry base. There you would find Langley, along with the 'dead' Agent Pendrell. He had never really died, It was all a master plan, preparing for this day. The best of the best 'died', in order to rebel. After PI, There was Missionary. They were runners, and directed by Frohike, the daring leader of the group, they transported messages when the electric system had to be crashed. Last was Safe Gate, The medical & Data canter. Byers ran the controls there, along with many medical professionalisms. Scully was often over here, when she was not out, or at Haven. "Damn him." He muttered as he walked beside Scully, both of them in tattered clothes, skin burned and dirty. "Damn him to hell." Scully sighed. "Mulder I know you're frustrated. I am too. Look, just don't give up hope now, at least we lived, and we'll find the other survivors." They continued cautiously, and dodged over to a metal panel in the side of a boulder. Quickly, they scanned their ID cards and rushed in before the heavy door could slam across them. "I know. I can't help thinking this would be so much easier if we didn't have infected Hybrids shooting at us." Mulder said, as they edged deeper and deeper down the winding staircase. "It would also help if this staircase were lighted" he muttered. He gasped as something hard crashed into him. "Sorry" Scully murmured, tripping her way down. They both sighed in relief as the light neared from the end of the tunnel. As they straggled into a brightly lit room, they could hear Langly's static-y voice. "Manage to salvage anything out in the 'ol battlefield?" "haha" Mulder said sarcastically, as he held up a couple aluminum pop cans. "C'mon Langly, let us down" "Sure thing" came the reply, as a door opened in the wall with a clank. Mulder and Scully stepped in wearily, and the doors clanked closed again. Within seconds, they we're speeding underground in the small metal elevator. *ding-dong* "Welcome to Base 1, Haven.." the female voice started the same old monologue as the doors open, hundreds of miles underground. Mulder and Scully stepped off, and the elevator sped away again. "We can't live like this." Mulder cried dejectedly, as he flung the cans on a metal counter. "They almost killed us this time, " He motioned to Scully, who held up her tattered sleeve. Skinner just looked at him. The man was a shadow of his former bronze self. The bags under his eyes and wrinkles gathering at the corners of his mouth made him look like he'd spent the last few years in a Nazi death camp. "I don't even know the difference between living and dying anymore". Skinner's eyes turned rock hard again, a glimmer of fighting spirit in his eyes. "Agen-I mean, Mulder, every little thing counts. We're all risking our lives here. " Scully put a hand on Mulder and said softly "I'm just grateful we weren't stung or..." Mulder winced. "Don't." He said brushing her hand off, "I know." They all remembered the first day, when everyone started dying, Doomsday. It had hit Mulder especially hard. "Look, for old time's sake 'agents', let's just keep working together. We can find them, we can save the hopeless ones even, if we just cooperate." Skinner said, and paused as the three former FBI agents reflected in their tattered and torn clothing. Skinner snapped out of it first. "We have work to do." He tossed a metallic gun towards Mulder. "They need us at Poison Ivy. Scully, hold the fort down until we get back. The Base Officers are all here. " Scully lifted her chin and nodded. Despite their shabby outerwear, they all glowed with the same fighting spirit. Skinner nodded, and turned to head the door. Scully thought, watching the two men leave. Mulder followed, but stopped, turning as if he heard something. He smiled a slight smile at Scully. "I will." He whispered, turning and leaving the room. She watched him leave, and wondered if she'd spoken out loud. ~*~*~*~ "Damn it!" Krycek yelled at the gray that was slinking out of his office. "Alex?" Morris asked, trotting down the hall to the Senate, Now *THE* place to be if you were commander. "Commander Krycek to you!" He barked, angry. "Alex, Stop this shit!" She ordered. "Sorry, Sand." He replied. "They lost em. Almost shot her, but LOST them!" He banged the desk, frustrated. "How can two Rebels, Ex FBI Agents, ELUDE us? Commanders - Both Hybrid, Human AND Alien!" She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Calm down. We'll find them. One day, we will." She smiled evilly. "Then, I can burn him... At the stake." ~*~*~*~ Scully sat in the deserted room at Haven, occasionally hearing the Base Officers marching down the halls. She tapped her pen on the metal counter and sighed. What was taking them so long? The most awful part of being shut underground was waiting. And finding out the people you were waiting for were never coming back. A scream down the hallway alarmed Scully back into reality. "What's going on?" She shouted as she ran towards the door. As she looked into the hallway, she saw something that made her freeze. Two officers lay in the hallway, their eyes glazed, and thick oil gathering around them. She tried to scream, but no sound came out. Suddenly an officer appeared at the end of the hallway, gazing at her as if in delirium. She started backing away... "Wait, we've got the situation secured, the bee has been contained, " he said in an emotionless voice as he came towards her. She kept backing away, hesitant. "Don't come any closer " she hissed. "How can I know if you're telling the truth?" He kept walking towards her, quickening. "There is no cause for alarm..." As he neared she saw his eyes, wide and bloodshot, then noticed a small black film crossing through the white... She screamed, and ran into the room, slamming the door. But the officer caught it before it closed and tried to push it open from the other side. "There is no cause for alarm..." he repeated. Scully pushed her entire weight onto the door, trying to force it closed. "Let... go..." She rammed the door as hard as she could, and quickly bolted it. She sank to the floor, shaking. The Haven was supposed to be completely secure, bee-proof. She put her hand to her head and whispered "Mulder, please stay at PI..." ~*~*~*~ "Come one, Mulder." Skinner barked, feeling his way through the thick tree line. "Almost there." Mulder panted, hurrying to catch up with the buff older man. They arrived at the front, And scanned their ID. Mulder stepped in, followed by Skinner. "Voice identification." The computerized voice droned. "Fox Mulder." "Walter Skinner" "Identification for F. Mulder and W. Skinner complete. Preparing for Retinal scans." Skinner and Mulder stood still, as the beam scanned over them. It beeped, accepting the results. The elevator moved down, and the stepped out, twisting down the dark corridors. "Let us in, Byers." Skinner ordered. The doors slid open, and they entered, seeing many people scurrying around. Mulder felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, as he felt his way to a chair. "Mulder, You okay?" Pendrell asked, concerned. "Yeah... Just need to... rest..." He managed to spit out before collapsing across the floor. He wondered, watching the scene unfold in front of his eyes. All in black and white, he watched as Scully bolted a door shut, leaning against it. She called. He looked around, trying to help her. He was frozen in place, as two voices called for him at once. "MULDER!" "Mulder?" He opened his eyes, to see Byers, Pendrell, and Skinner leaning over him. He sat up, and pushed himself up, suddenly growing dizzy from the fast movement. "Scully..." He mumbled, before passing out again. ~*~*~*~ "FUCK" Byers screamed, running over to Skinner. "What is it?" He demanded. "There's a security breech at Haven." Pendrell interjected grimly. "No one is responding to our pages, and there's a definite break in." "Someone's gotta tell Mulder." Byers mumbled. "Too late." A scientist interjected. "He's gone." ~*~*~*~ Scully stumbled to the metal counter, cold with fear. She could still hear the officer banging on the door, repeating "There is no cause for alarm". "Pick up" She hissed into the BaseCom phone. Instead, she got a message saying communication was down. "Damn." She hissed. She paused. Was that a humming? As she looked at the ceiling, she spotted a bee walking along it. Her eyes widened, and her mouth was gaped open in terror. she thought. Suddenly, the spot where the bee was came crashing down. Scully screamed and leaped against the wall, as a man tumbled through the ceiling, to land on his feet. "Oh my god..." she whispered. "I get that reaction a lot." The man in black who stood in front of smirking was none other than Krycek. He reached towards her, grabbing her arm roughly. "Let's get out of here" ~*~*~*~ "Good job, Monsieur." Morris whispered, twitching with excitement as She watched Krycek slowly slip into the base. "Now it's my turn." She finished, turning, and heading North East. She pushed her way through the fields, stumbling out onto the edge. She grinned as she saw the sight across the field of corn, so far away, almost three hours a walk, slowly, so slowly, approaching her. Mulder. He would be hers soon. So very soon. ~*~*~*~ "MULDER!" Skinner screamed, rushing at the man, his muscles rippling as he hurried to stop his friend. "MULDER! STOP RIGHT NOW!" He yelled again, stumbling over a rock. Mulder turned slightly, and slowed as Skinner ran up. "What the fuck do you think you're doing, Mulder?" He demanded. "Going out without back up? Going when there's NO COMMUNICATION? And I betcha didn't know - THERE A FUCKING SECURITY BREECH!" Skinner finished, his voice raising as he went on. "Scully's in danger." Mulder said simply, dazedly turning back around, and heading through the corn fields, to the place where death lay waiting for him, in the form of a leggy blonde. ~*~*~*~ Scully grabbed the edge of the table. "No!" "Let's go!" Krycek said roughly, dragging her towards the door. Scully kicked and punched and fought, but ended up sliding across the linoleum anyways. "Dammit!" Krycek pounded his fist against the door, as he saw infected base officers through the window. He and Scully were trapped. ~*~*~*~ Skinner, in his dirt swiped tank top, bared his teeth at the determined agent. "Mulder, you're being irrational. Scully's a tough woman, she can take care of herself! " Mulder ignored him and kept walking through the corn. "I saw her. She needs me. " He replied distantly. Skinner turned and swore. There was nothing he could do for Mulder. He was physically stronger, but dragging Mulder back would be fruitless. He would just run back out again. Mulder kept wandering through the corn, wary of any shrapnel or sharpshooters that might be hiding. All of the sudden, he heard a rustle in the leaves. As he walked into a clearing, he couldn't believe what met his eyes... A gorgeous, leggy blond sat upon a rock, her tan legs ending in an indecently cut pair of shorts and a tank top. Ignoring all warning instincts, Mulder gazed dazedly at her, and slowly approached her, as thought sleep-walking. Morris grinned at him. This would be like shooting fish in a barrel. ~*~*~*~ Scully glared at Krycek, from her corded position across the room. As she struggled, she furiously hissed death threats at him under her breath. Krycek paced the room angrily. There was no way out. Stupid! Should've planned ahead. As he looked at Scully, glaring and struggling ferociously like a wildcat, a strange feeling over came him, making him stop pacing. Krycek looked at Scully, now tied up to a chair. Not that she'd have anywhere to go, but precautions were critical. He leaned in close, placing his lips right next to her ear, as she struggled with the tight bonds. "What's the matter, Pretty Lady? Don't like the ropes?" He grinned evilly, eyeing her face. Roughly, He grabbed her face, and pressed his lips to hers. He kissed her, letting his tongue run over the edge of her lips. She struggled, but was helpless beneath him, as the ropes dug painfully into her skin. ~*~*~*~ "Who are you?" Mulder asked, shaking the daze of long enough for his guard to return. Morris walked up to him, the slight breeze ruffling her hair. She put a hand on his shoulder, and he smiled goofily, lost to her electric touch. "I'm your worst nightmare." She whispered, snapping on handcuffs, and thrusting a gun to his back as she led him back to the base. ~*~*~*~ Krycek fumbled with Scully's ropes, and finally sliced them with a stray piece of glass. He pushed her up against a wall, not breaking their lip contact once. She groaned against his lips, wrapping an arm around his back. Scully pulled back, gasping for air, as she looked Krycek square in the eye, his own green ones clouded over with passion. He leaned back in towards her. "GET THE HELL AWAY FROM HER!" Mulder screamed, as Morris shoved him into the room. Krycek jumped back, grabbing his gun. "Tie him up, Sand." He barked. Krycek grabbed Scully, as they tied them down. Morris left, looking for the appropriate chains to chain her new toy up with, as Krycek called the Senate for more Commanders. "What the fuck was going on, Scully?" He asked. She couldn't see his face, but his words were sharp, filled with hurt. "A trick, Mulder. To lower his guard. It was just a trick." She breathed, hoping she sounded more convincing to him than she did to herself. ~*~*~*~ Mulder and Scully struggled together on the chair, back to back. Sand picked up a syringe and tossed a gun to Krycek. "Let's disinfect and clean up" She said. Krycek nodded and they walked out the door, slamming it behind them. "A trick, eh?" Mulder said curtly. "Look, can we drop this?" Scully replied through clenched teeth. "No we can not drop this! I came to save you and find you getting hot with our, my worst enemy!" "So? What were you doing with that-that blond, Morris? I'm sure you didn't mind getting captured by her! " Scully shot back, grimacing against the rope. "Scully, that, that man you were kissing KILLED my father!" "Don't you think I know that!" Scully cried. "He killed my sister! I don't know what I was doing alright! It's my life Mulder!" Mulder felt as if he had been punched in the stomach. He had heard those words before. "It may be your life, but you're making the wrong choices." His voice was tense and cold. Suddenly the door opened again. Krycek and Sand were back, hybrids disposed of. Krycek untied Scully and started dragging her out of the room. Mulder struggled harder, but they were gone. He swore angrily. Sand just grinned wickedly. "Looks like I have caught myself a 'Fox' to play with!" ~*~*~*~ Mulder glared at Morris, struggling with the chains now holding him to the wall. She picked up a small, silver tool, and slowly paced towards him. "Let's play a game, Fox." She grinned evilly. "I take this blade, and cut you. Then I ask you a question. You answer, it starts over." "That doesn't sound like a win/lose proposition to me." He shot back. "Who said it was?" She hissed. "And If I don't answer?" Mulder demanded, trying to buy time, to figure out a way to save Scully. Morris flicked a piece of her sandy blond hair out of her eyes. "I pour the acid on." ~*~*~*~ Krycek dragged Scully down the hall, to the room that had previously been occupied by Mulder. He roughly threw her on the bed, chaining her down, with cuffs located at her wrists and ankles. "What do you want, Krycek?" Scully cried, silently praying that Skinner and the guys would bring help soon. "You know what I want, *Commander* Scully." He stressed, knowing she'd fully understand what he was planning on doing. "What?" She shrieked, glaring at him. "That's right. You willingly join us, Or..." He pulled a long, cylinder shaped object out of his pocket. "We mindwipe you, and you become a drone." Scully felt the anger building up inside her. No way was she joining them. She opened her mouth, and screamed a blood curdling scream that echoed through the halls. Krycek leaned down, and kissed her roughly to shut her up, as any lasting thought of rebellion, savoir, or condemnation flew out of her head. ~*~*~*~ Sand grinned evilly. Torture was her favorite part! She cackled as she took out her bottle of acid. "Alright Foxy woxy, let's see if you pass the test! heheeeeheee...question 1, what is you security password for Haven? " she asked as she cut a little hole on his arm, and shook her bottle of acid. "Owwwwwww! Why should I tell you, you witchy- Aieeeeeeee!!!" Mulder shrieked as Sand let a few drops fall on the bleeding hole in his arm. "Ok, Ok, it's PollenControl! Just stop pouring the damn acid!" Sand thought tipping the bottle upright. Hehe, sometimes she got carried away...."Question 2, " she slashed his stomach, "You don't want to get this wrong.." ~*~*~*~ Skinner and the Lone Gunmen worked furiously at PI, trying to get communication up, and get an update at the situation at Haven. Suddenly, Frohike managed to break through. "By George, I've got it!" Everyone rushed over to the radio. Skinner picked up the walkie talkie, and shouted "Mulder! Mulder, are you there? " Everyone waited in tense silence, until they heard Mulder's painful screams, and pleas to stop "pouring the acid!". Skinner pounded his fist on the table. "I knew he'd get in trouble! We've got to get over there! " ~*~*~*~ "What do you think of this, Fox?" Sand grinned, flipping through the different containers of acid. She yanked out the one labeled "Hydrochloric" and smiled. She flashed him the label. "I hope you know what lying costs you, Mulder." Sand taunted. "Why do you think I lied?" He replied. "I may look stupid, but I'm not. I happen to know that your 'bases' are run on scans and voice id, not passwords. Therefore, you lied." he thought "Do you know what the punishment is for lying, Good Monsieur?" She asked. "Can't be worse than the punishment for ANSWERING" He spat back. "Oh, But I think it is." Morris replied, fingering the label on the acid. She swiped her finger along the blood dripping down his chest. Pulling it back, she examined it, then offered her finger to Mulder. He spat at her, and she shrugged, placing the finger in her own mouth, licking off the blood. "Your partner." Morris said simply. "What?" He demanded. "What about Scully?" "You lie - She gets Five Star Sand Treatment." Mulder glared at her, confused. "Mulder..." She whispered, laughing at his stupidity, as she dripped the acid along his cut. "You're getting Three Star." ~*~*~*~ "Exactly. We're getting out there ASAP." Frohike cried. "Hold it, Guys." Byers interjected. "We came all the way out here from our command bases, and we are NOT rushing in there like a couple of Madmen, Whooping and hollering like Hercules to save them." Langley finished. "I'll see if I can pull up the security tapes." Pendrell called, flipping on a nearby terminal. The four crowded around him, as he clicked away. "Got it!" He cried triumphantly, clicking 'start'. He fast forewarded the tape through, six little windows appearing. The five watched in a combination of horror, terror, and fascination as one bee wreaked Havoc, and Krycek came tumbling in. "Freeze it!" Skinner yelled. "Zoom in on frame five." All at once, the room erupted in anger. "Oh my god." "What the HELL?" "Is that SCULLY?" "It is!" "With KRYCEK?" "Enjoying herself with the enemy, I'd say." "Okay, Guys, Calm down. She's not that stupid." Frohike regained himself. "It's GOT to be a plan or something." The others nodded in agreement, as they went through the rest of that tape. By the time they were done, they were sickened by what they saw. "Pendrell, Locate Scully and Mulder. I want a split frame, live footage on them around the clock. NOW!" Skinner demanded. Pendrell nodded, and got to work. ~*~*~*~ "Mmph." Scully mumbled against Krycek's lips, as his own worked roughly over hers. He moved his face, kissing her cheek, soon reaching her neck. He unlocked the chains around her wrists, with the click of a button. Scully wrapped her arms around his back, running her fingers through his hair. She groaned against his head, as he pushed her back onto the bed, and he undid her ankle restraints. ~*~*~*~ "You fucking - AIEEEEEEEEEEEEE - stop that!! You better not touch Scully! Owww-" Mulder's girly scream could be heard echoing through the halls. "Or what?" Sand smiled devilishly, drizzling the hydrochloric acid across his belly. "Look, Foxy," Sand's face grew hard as she threatened Mulder through clenched teeth, "Where are Skinner and the Lone doofuses?" "I'm not telling!" came the shaking, yet defiant, reply. She tipped the bottle once more... ~*~*~*~ Frohike and Langley stared in awe at the screen in front of them, where groaning and moaning could be heard. Langly whistled, even the screen seemed steamy. "She really is hot in the sack.." Frohike could only stare dumbstruck. "If this is how she treats her enemies, I'd like to see how she treats her friends..." Byers looked away, embarrassed. Skinner pretended he wasn't watching, but stole quick glances from behind. ~*~*~*~ "Oh Foxy, I didn't think the question was too difficult." Sand pouted. Acid trickled down Mulder's belly, and seemingly going lower by the minute... "Where are they?" She hissed. "Don't play games Fox, that's my job." "Don't I get a lifeline?" Mulder moaned. "No." Morris said flatly, tipping the acid upright. "Now, One more time." Morris took the sharpened blade, dragging it in small slashes down his left arm. Tears stung at Mulder's eyes from the sheer, stinging, burning sensation crawling up his arm. "Where is Walter Skinner?" She hissed, leaning in close to his ear. "I want you... To tell me." She whispered menacingly, sending shivers down his spine. Mulder shook his head no. Morris tipped over the tube dripping the acid into a few of the slashes. "Tell me where he is, Fox." She repeated, scratching her long nails down the cuts in his arm. He yelped, but still refused to answer. "This is getting tired, Fox." Her blue eyes flashed. "We need a new Sand Treatment..." She waggled her fingers, and left the room, in search of Krycek. ~*~*~*~ "Krycek..." Scully muttered, shoving him away. "What is it, *Agent* Scully?" He asked, waggling his eyebrows at her. "Get off of me... Mulder..." She mumbled, trying to remember where Mulder went. "He's in good hands, Agent Scully." Krycek replied. Just then, the door flew open. Krycek jumped up, yanking on a pair of jeans, as Scully wrapped the blanket protectively around herself. "ALEX!" Morris yelled, trying not to laugh. "You're not supposed to SCREW the prisoners, you know." She held out her hand. "Matches." Krycek glared at her, and she glared back. Scully yanked on her top and jeans. "Where's Mulder?" She demanded. Morris just took the matches, and slammed the door behind her. Scully turned to Krycek. "What was that about?" "If Sand's 'toys' don't answer her... After awhile, she just burns them at the stake." He replied. Scully's eyes grew wide in horror. "You mean-" Krycek grinned evilly, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Mulder's a Firebird." He whispered into her ear. ~*~*~*~ "Guys! Get over here NOW! Last call.... " Skinner shouted, his voice practically booming in their ears. Frohike and Langley managed to tear their eyes away from the screen long enough to huddle up with Pendrell, Byers, and Skinner. "What's the plan, Chief?" Langley asked. Skinner took a deep breath. "Okaaaaaaay, we need to get Mulder and Scully out of there pronto. Since Mulder seems to have more of a,ahem, dire need of rescuing than Scully, get to him first. Then we'll get to the communications room to save Scully." "Not that it looks like she needs saving." Frohike grumbled, but silenced under Skinner's glare. "It's go time fellas." ~*~*~*~ Scully pushed the passion-inflamed Krycek aside. Krycek, between nibbling at her neck, managed to ask "What's... wrong..." "I'm not letting Sand kill Mulder." "Sand just gets a little impatient with her toys. There's nothing anyone can do for Mulder now...well, I guess there is, but it'd never happen, forget it, and forget him." Krycek continued to feed hungrily on her, but she pushed him aside again, angrily. "What do you mean it'd never happen? If there's a possibility that I can save Mulder, you've got to tell me." She replied defiantly. Krycek grinned wickedly, and took her hand. "Join me. I can convince Sand to lose her toy, if you side with the commanders." Scully opened her mouth to refuse, but faltered. "Alex, I can't... ". She leaned up and kissed him hungrily, unable to resist him any longer. ~*~*~*~ "Are you crazy?!" Mulder yelped, as Sand pulled a pack of matches out of her pockets. "I gave you three strikes." She laughed gleefully. "Now you're out!" With that, Sand struck the match, and flames leaped up instantly, hungry to feed on the helpless prisoner at the stake. Mulder shrieked at the sight of the flame, and struggled to back away, remembering his phobia of fire. How ironic... Hesitating, Sand twisted her mouth into a girly pout. "You were a most delicious pet, it's really quite a shame..." "Quite a shame..." Morris muttered, the flame dancing as she held the match in front of Mulder's face. She slowly moved it back and forth, her cold glare unwavering. Mulder stared into her eyes, seeing the reflection of the match in the deep depth of the blue. She licked her lips slowly, pulling the match back away from Mulder. She took the flaming end, and put it in her mouth, as a fizzing noise was heard. Sticking her tongue out, the flame was gone, herself unburned. "We could've had so much fun together, Fox." Morris whispered, leaning in close. She kissed him roughly on the lips, before striking another match. "Too bad you wouldn't cooperate." Sand flicked the match onto the wood and papers surrounding Mulder's feet. It landed on the black and white photograph of a Dana Scully. The flames licked the edges of the picture, the paper curling from the heat. The flames slowly crept upwards, licking, lapping at Mulder's feet. His face twisted in a mixture of fear and pain as Sand stepped back, mesmerized by the flames. A single scream emitted from his mouth, echoing through the hall ways of the base, all the way outside, sliding into the homes of commanders and hybrids alike, into the camps, all the way up, up, up to the stars. "SCHULEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" ~*~*~*~ "Dana..." Krycek gasped, pressing his body against hers, once again driving her up against the wall. He grinned. "Never knew... You were so... Frisky" "There's a lot of things you don't know about me, Alex." She purred, tracing her tongue down the side of his face until she once again found his lips, swollen and red from kissing her. She kissed him slowly, lapping over his mouth with her own. "God, Dana!" He breathed, jelly at her fingertips. She wrapped her arms around him, slowly reaching for the plam on the table behind him. her fingers grazed it, and she grabbed it, shoving him away, aiming it at his neck as she whirled him around. "Alex." She snarled, "If you're to be my heart, Mulder is my soul. I'm not ripping one out for the other. Either you both make it." Her eyes flashed as Krycek comprehended this. "Or I don't." ~*~*~*~ "Lets move, Men." Skinner growled, as Pendrell snapped on the last of the Kevlar. "I want us to keep radio contact at all times. You know the plan. Head out." He finished, dashing towards the base door of PI. "Bring it on!" Frohike shouted, whooping as he dashed out the door. ~*~*~*~ "I'll take you to him." Krycek said calmly. He gently pushed her arm down. "Good. Thank you." She replied softly, following him out of the room. He led her down the halls, as a scream echoed to their ears. It was a piercing wail, Mulder tortured voice, crying out for her over, and over, and over. Scully broke into a run, following closely behind her lover. Krycek pounded on the door, as it flew open. Scully screamed, lunging at Morris, who had been watching in delight as the flames devoured Mulder's lower half. She wielded the stiletto, as she wrestled with Morris. Sand threw her across the lab table, bottles spilling, acid jars clashing to the ground, covering the room. Sand grabbed Scully's arm, twisting it back, and yanking the plam from her hands. Mulder's screams stopped. Panicked, Scully looked over to him. His head lolled to the side, the flames creeping higher, as Krycek searched for a bucket, or water, ANYTHING to put out the deadly flames that torched his love's soul. Sand took advantage of her prey's unfocused attention to flip her, placing the plam at her neck. "What the FUCK are you doing, Alex?" She screamed. He stopped moving, seeing Sand's control over Scully. "Where the HELL do your loyalties lie? So help me god, I *will* kill her. Don't you fuck with me!" Her voice raised in anger. "Save him." Scully mouthed. "Save him for me." "One way." He muttered. "Dana" He looked at her. "There's one way for all of us to walk out of here alive. Only one way." ~*~*~*~ Scully looked at him imploringly. "Yes," she said hoarsely. "Anything!" She looked at Mulder, crying out in the midst of flames. Krycek seeing the helplessness in her eyes, grabbed Sand and roughly pulled her away. She shrieked and kicked against him. "Don't touch me! Let me at the bitch!" Scully leaped up and without hesitation ran into the flames and furiously tried tearing at the ropes. "Scully!" Krycek panicked and yanked her away from the flames by the back of the shirt. Then, he noticed a bucket in the corner, and doused the flame, which rapidly extinguished. Scully sat on the floor, crying, where Krycek had thrown her. As Mulder fell limply to the floor, she rushed to him, pulling his head onto her lap. "Please.." she gasped hurriedly. "Don't die...don't die..." He groaned weakly, covered in scarlet wounds and burns spreading across his legs. Scully's lip trembled as she looked up at Krycek, her deep blue eyes bright with tears. Krycek was mentally kicking himself for letting Sand play with Mulder as he felt Scully's eyes pierce him. He angrily turned and pushed Sand over, knocking her to the ground. "What the hell was that for??!" he shouted, enraged, feeling a guilty hole burn inside him as he heard Scully's shaky breathing. Sand smiled in a sickening, twisted, way. She hissed, "Since when do you care about him? Or is it *her* you're thinking of? Admit it, Alex, you're using her! Like you used me! She's just another game!" Krycek felt the hole widen and begin to tear at his heart. ~*~*~*~ "Look out!" Skinner bellowed at Frohike, as he ducked just in time to miss the laser beam. Sweat poured down Pendrell's face. "Jesus, they're everywhere!" Hybrids swarmed among the crops, shooting amidst them, as drone officers hid silently, waiting for their targets. Byers had his whole body positioned levelly at the ground. "Stay out of range!" he shouted to Langley, grabbing his feet and puling him over. Suddenly, Skinner cried out as he hit the ground, hard. "Skinner!" Pendrell screamed as he ran to him. "Are you hit!" Skinner was pale and trembling, as a bead of sweat trickled down his face. "No-I don't think so" Pendrell breathed a sigh of relief. "C'mon!" he hoisted him to his feet, and they ran. As Skinner dodged behind a rock, a small metallic object glittered on the back of his neck. ~*~*~*~ "Just another game, Alex." Sand repeated, giving up upon struggling against him. "What is it about her? Do you actually love her Alex? Or do you just lust for her body?" "Shut up." Krycek growled, twisting her arm further, causing her to smile bitterly. He may stop her from physically hurting anyone, but there was nothing he could do to stop the guilt she would inflict upon them, the guilt, her mind games, that had so easily before wreaked relationships, hurt people in the worst kind of way. "Make me." She replied. He yanked her up by the collar of her shirt. She grabbed his arms and shoved him off of her. He fell backwards, and smashed into the near by table. Krycek moved to lunge at her. Morris whipped out her Plam. "Never leave home without it, Alex. Said so yourself. Don't move." He didn't dare. None of them did. She seemed just a pretty face, but could Plam a hybrid before they could even *reach* for their lasers. "You don't screw with her when she'd got a stiletto." Krycek muttered, directing his comment towards Scully. She nodded slowly. "You." She spat, shifting her eyes to rest on Scully. Sand's expression changed, and she dramatically clasped her hands to her heart. "Oh, Alex," She batted her eyelashes, "I love you!" She swooned, then gasped, taking a step forward. "Don't die, Mulder, Please don't die on me!" She cried, tears brimming her eyes. "You *BITCH*!" Scully cried. She gently moved Mulder aside, before lunging at Sand. "Scully, Don't!" Krycek cried, but it was too late. "FUCK YOU!!" She screamed, shoving her backwards. Morris grinned. Scully lunged for her again, but Sand grabbed, quickly wrapping her arm under her neck. She shoved the plam at the base of her neck, until Scully could feel the prick of the cool metal. "Now what, Alex?" Morris sneered. "Do you care about her enough to wreck our work? Everything we worked for? All we are?" He paused, looking from Sand's angry face to Scully's tear streaked one. "Kill me then." She spat. "You know I'll kill her if you don't. She said she'd do anything to save her partner. Her *partner* Alex. Is that not what we are? PARTNERS." Sand continued, voice wavering. "Sand." Krycek spoke slowly. "We've been friends for so long. It doesn't have to end like this. Let Dana go, Sand." Morris looked unsure for a second. "No." She whispered. "No, I won't. What, let her go so she can try to kill me again for what I did to her little friend?" Her expression darkened. "Sorry, Alex. No go." He stood, taking a step towards her. "Sand, If she joined the commanders, pledged alliance, and PROMISED not to kill you, will you let us all go? All to leave *alive*?" Sand smiled, pressing the stiletto harder against Scully's neck. A small trail of blood tricked down her neck, splashing onto the floor. Behind her, Mulder focused his blurry eyes, reaching for a large piece of metal. He wobbly pushed himself up, before bringing it down over Sand's head. Scully wrenched out of her arms as Sand fell to the ground with a large crash. She lay on the floor, blood trickling across the cold linoleum. "God..." Scully gasped. She reached down to feel her pulse. "Is she dead?" Krycek knelt down beside her frantically. Scully shook her head grimly. "Nothing to serious. She'll live." Krycek leapt to his feet and opened the door. "Good, then let's get the hell out of here." "Wait," Mulder grabbed his arm. "What's going on here?" He glared at Scully, who cringed from the betrayed sting in his eyes. "Mulder..." She began, but he cut her off. "Scully, over 7 years of being partners and you ditch me for the man who killed my father? Is that all I meant to you?" "This has nothing to do that. I can't explain why," She said through clenched teeth, pulling Mulder's hand away from Krycek. "I trusted you! With everything! Scully, get a grip, he killed your sister, Sand was right, he's playing with your mind..." "THAT'S ENOUGH Mulder!" Scully shouted at him. Mulder gulped, beginning to regret letting those words fly out. "He just saved your damn life! Don't tell me who's a traitor, I can decide for myself who I trust!" She glared at him a final time and walked out the door, followed by Krycek. Mulder uncertainly followed. ~*~*~*~ Skinner leaned against the wall, gasping for air. Langley and Pendrell bumped into him seconds later. "Finally. We're in." sweat trickled down Langley's nose as he typed in the access code. Skinner still leaned against the wall, staring at Langley's laser with a crazy gleam in his eye. Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed it, pointing it at Pendrell and the lone gunmen. Frohike blanched. "What are you doing, man." Byers just trembled next to him, as Skinner laughed hysterically. "I know who you are," He wheedled in a funny, high-pitched voice. "Your those damn little kids, always after me lucky charms!" Langley suppressed the urge to laugh, and said, "Skinner, we don't want your lucky charms, now just hand the us the laser..." he slowly reached towards him, Skinner stepped forward. "I WILL NOT BE TRICKED!!" he screamed. "My horseshoes! MINE!" The gunmen backed up slowly...Pendrell craned his head, looking for something.....aha, just as he thought. B-177, right in the back of the neck. he paled. B- 177's were not only hallucinogenic, they were often explosive. ~*~*~*~ Sand wondered, slowly sitting up. She brought a hand to her head, and glanced around. "Damn him." She whispered, realizing that the three had taken off. "Damn him to hell." She stood to go, as her eyes came to rest upon a half burned picture sitting at the foot of her stake. "I'll hit him... and him..." She stumbled, still woozy from the blow to her head. "I'll hit 'em both where it hurts." She gasped, crumpling the picture, before tossing it back into the small flame not yet extinguished. She left the room, as the flames reached the face on the picture... Scully's. ~*~*~*~ Pendrell swallowed hard. He tried to remember his training. A little voice sang Skinner continued to wheeze, and looked around wildly. "I know they're here... Where are they? STOP THEM FROM LEAVING!" He crumpled to the ground in a heap. Pendrell motioned for the others. "B-177." He said, as the guys crowded around him. "Oh my god.." Frohike breathed. "What do we do?" "We run." Byers answered. "There's no stopping this thing from blowing." "Silly rabbit...." Skinner whimpered "Trix are for KIDS!" He growled the last part, raising, and slowly stalking towards the group. ~*~*~*~ Pendrell put his hand on Langly's shoulder, tapping it frantically. "Run..." he murmured. Without hesitation, Pendrell pulled all three guys behind the steel door, and burst into full speed down the hallway. The clueless men followed. A thunderous crash sounded behind the door, as flames consumed the entrance to Haven. Time seemed to stop. Suddenly, shrapnel burst the door open and sent the lone gunmen and Pendrell flying against the wall. Skinner's remnants sprawled across the floor, causing Byers to turn away as he turned a peculiar green shade. "Oh the humanity..." Pendrell breathed as he paled, parts of Skinner landing upon him. Irony is left a bitter taste in the groups mouths, as they heard the founder of Haven, the safest compound in the world, burn and crackle steadily. Horrified awe waved on their faces. Silence roared. ~*~*~*~ Krycek, Scully, and Mulder exited the Haven through a back tunnel, wincing as the sun blared across the windswept land. Where orchards lazily drifted, children played, and animals grazed, lay barren earth. The three trekked across the dunes of sand, silent, until sight of water sent them running. Mulder fell into the water, gulping with thirst and gasping for air as his lungs burned. Krycek drank too, drawing his hand across his forehead, marred by sweat. When they turned around, Scully stood there shaking with fear as a crazed Sand held an old-fashioned pistol to her forehead, blood trickling down her face as she clenched her teeth. ~*~*~*~ "No one here." Frohike said hollowly, shutting the last door in the hallway. Without Skinner to bark out orders, hope seemed lost. Pendrell placed his hand on Frohike's shoulder. "We've got to let ourselves move on... for Scully and Mulder's sake." Frohike nodded, resilient, and determined to find them. He prayed madly in his head that they'd find the two. Langly and Byers jogged towards them. "No one is here except a few dead soldiers. The place was attacked and infected. It,it's a ghost site." Pendrell said to them. "We think we know what happened to them..." Byers said excitedly. "The back entrance was used recently, and a few footsteps could be seen. They couldn't have left more than ten minutes ago!" The four glanced at each other and sprinted towards the exit. ~*~*~*~ Krycek stood there, unsure of what to do next. "YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" Sand screamed at Krycek, pressing the gun harder against Scully's head. "YOU DITCH ME FOR THEM? FOR *HER*? AND YOU LET MULDER" She spat his name like it was the devil himself. "HIT ME OVER THE HEAD! HE COULD HAVE KILLED ME!" She shook her head, forcing blond hair off her face. "AND FOR *WHAT*? SO YOU CAN SCREW YOUR STUPID. LITTLE. FED.?" With each word, she shook Scully violently. Scully whimpered, fighting back vicious tears. "Sand." Krycek's voice was soft despite the drastic situation. "I couldn't let you kill him, or kill her. I don't want anyone to die here. Not now. Not here. Hopefully not any time soon." Morris glared at him. "Go fuck yourself Krycek." She spat at him, and tightened her fingers on the trigger. "SCHULLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Mulder screamed, lunging for Morris. The scene unfolded in front of Krycek's eyes in slow motion. Mulder grabbed Sand, knocking her to the ground. The gunfire went off, But he had no time to move before the bullet ripped through his chest. Krycek fell to the ground, and welcomed the blackness that came. ~*~*~*~ "I see blood!" Frohike bellowed, pointing across the dunes. Pendrell ran up, eying it. "There's not that much here to be fatal." He breathed, looking extremely relieved. Byers and Langly soon caught up, Frohike sprinting on. "Look!" Langly shouted, pointing. "In the distance!" The others followed his gaze, spotting to figures almost melded together in the distance. A blood pitched scream echoed across the dunes. The guys broke into a run. ~*~*~*~ Scully scrambled up, trying to pull Mulder back. Sand kicked her away. "Mulder!" Scully tried to scream his name, but it came out only a whisper. She watched in sickening satisfaction as Mulder shoved Sand towards the cliff. She went convoluting off, Reaching for Mulder as an anchor. Scully's satisfaction turned to horror as she watch Mulder fall with Sand. His eyes pierced her heart, as he fell, looking so lost, so alone. "Now I'm free." He mouthed at her, before his body slipped out of view. Scully stood there, paralyzed, for what seemed like forever. And then she screamed. "Scully! Scully!" Byers called, running up to her. "Scully, what's wrong?" Pendrell asked, out of breath. She just shook her head, and walked off, down the sand dunes into the darkness. Perhaps she was heading towards the base, to gather memories. Or perhaps she was going no where. No one ever really knew, For after this day, Dana Kathrine Scully was no more. ~*~*~*~ Krycek shook his head, sitting up. He thought, looking around. Panicked, he jumped up, eying the bodies of a blond women and tall dark haired man on the ground. He wondered. He didn't know anything, anymore. Bending down, he Pulled a black and white photograph from the women's hand. It was ruined and burned, but he could still make out the face in the picture. One thing in his mind was certain. "This women...." He whispered, tracing her face. "I loved her." He tossed the photograph into the wind, watching in sadness as it fluttered up, up, up, spiralling towards the stars, the rain splashing his face the only answer to his gaze. ~*~*~*~ finis ~*~*~*~ Skinner bits dedicated to Charlie and Kitty. :) <3 ya! Feedback to Quinn (qhegal@hotmail.com) and Cheyenne (honeydew842@go.com) in case you're too lazy to scroll up. Lucky charm bit dedicated to fellow Lcer, Liz M. <3! Quinn & Cheyenne