Disclaimers in Part One.
Mulder drove down the dirt road towards the water until he reached a security checkpoint. He rolled his window down and leaned out towards the guard to be heard over all the noise coming from the shipyard.
'I'm looking for Dale Cooper.' He yelled.
The soldier leaned down. 'And you are?'
Mulder held out his badge for inspection and Koskie followed suit.
The soldier brought a portable radio up to his mouth, reading their names. 'Unit thirteen to Unit six.'
'Unit six.' The voice immediately came back. 'Go ahead.'
'Agents Mulder and Koskie with the FBI to see Mr. Cooper.'
'Send them back.'
The soldier pointed down the dirt path they were on. 'When the road Y's, stay to the right until it ends. You'll have to walk the rest of the way, but just follow the lights.'
Koskie glanced over at his new partner as they continued down the path. They hadn't talked much. 'You got any idea what this is about?'
Mulder shook his head. 'You know as much as I do.' That was all he said.
'You know, Mulder, I am your new partner, much as neither of us wants me to be, so you might need to start clueing me in on a few things.' Koskie glanced out his window. 'I'm not exactly looking forward to watching my career being flushed down the drain so don't think you're the only one not doing cartwheels over the new arrangement.'
'That's the way to win over your new partner.' Mulder wryly replied. 'Start things off on a good note by insulting the importance of his work.'
Koskie smiled, watching the trees pass by. 'I'm merely stating the obvious, stagnant momentum of your career with the FBI once you burrowed down to the basement, no offense meant to you.'
'None taken.' Mulder replied.
They were silent for a moment before Mulder grudgingly gave in.
'There are lot's of fascinating aspects of working on the X-Files.' He said softly. 'You could see some amazing things as long as you're willing to keep an open mind. You might even like it.'
'As long as people don't start calling me Mrs. Spooky.' Koskie said.
Mulder skidded to a stop in the dirt and slammed the car into park. He turned and eyed Koskie, a weird look in his eyes.
'What the hell did you just say?'
Koskie had realized his mistake, too late. He had forgotten about Scully being dead. Again. His mouth had a tendency to run away on its own. He made a mental note to work on that.
'What can I say, Agent Mulder?' Koskie turned apologetic eyes on his partner. 'I spoke before I thought. I'm sorry.'
Mulder ignored him and slammed the car door as he stalked away in the direction of the media lights. Koskie followed behind, glancing up the helicopters circling the area.
He shook his head, muttering. 'Damn reporters.'
They came over a hill and stopped, staring down at the scene in front of them. Dozens of ships, more boxcars, even more people. Helicopter's were circling around and every now and again, one would venture too close, only to be chased away by military helicopter's.
Mulder and Koskie approached the crowd of military soldiers and men in suites milling around. They made their way over to an area cordoned off by crime scene tape tied down to orange traffic cones. They didn't make it far before being intercepted by another soldier.
'Agents Mulder and Koskie?' He asked, stepping in front of them.
Mulder nodded, flashing his badge again. 'Supposed to see Dale Cooper.'
The soldier turned and pointed towards a group of people gathered around a particular boxcar. 'Mr. Cooper's in there, he's been waiting for you to get here before anything was touched.'
'Isn't it nice to suddenly be so highly regarded.' Mulder mumbled, remembering his words to Scully on their first meeting. If only she could see me now, he thought to himself as they ducked under the yellow tape the soldier held up for them.
'What the hell is Cooper doing here?' Koskie said softly to Mulder. 'This looks military to me.'
Mulder shrugged. 'Last I heard, Cooper had been recruited out of the Bureau by the NSA.'
Koskie looked sideways at his partner. 'Why would the National Security Agency be interested in the X-Files?'
'Who the hell knows?' Mulder grinned to himself, shrugging. 'Nothing surprises me anymore.'
'Agent Mulder.' Cooper approached them, holding a hand out and clad in his usual somber black suit.
'Nice to see you again, Cooper.' Mulder said loudly over the buzz of a helicopter, his tie flapping in the wind. 'I'm not sure how to address you.'
Cooper shot up an eyebrow. 'Your Royal Highness?'
'That would be partly true.' Mulder replied. 'Because you'd have to be really high to think I'd address you that way.'
'You can salute me, if you'd like.' Cooper smiled.
Mulder grinned back. 'Now you're just turning me on.'
Koskie watch the banter with his mouth partly open. 'I wasn't aware you two knew each other.'
'We worked together a long time ago.' Cooper explained.
'An undercover assignment.' Mulder said. 'When I was first with the Bureau.'
Cooper leisurely looked over at him. 'Undergarment assignment may be a little more accurate.'
'Don't start, Chip.' Mulder was grinning, feeling young and just out of the academy again.
Cooper was immediately silenced by the nickname. 'Okay, boys, if you'll follow me this way…'
'Who found the body?' Mulder asked, their shoes crunching gravel.
'A guard.' Cooper replied. 'He was making his usual rounds and smelled it.'
Mulder nodded. 'How long has it been?'
'Just over three hours.' Cooper replied, consulting his watch.
They reached the opening of the boxcar and the smell hit them like a wall. Koskie wrinkled his nose, believing he had never smelled anything quite like it. He glanced at Mulder and Cooper to see them slipping plastic booties over their shoes. He bit back a sarcastic remark; he'd already made more than his quota for the week, and followed their lead.
Mulder must have seen the expression on his face. 'Evidence purposes.'
Koskie cocked his head at him. 'No shit.'
'Bit of an attitude.' Mulder said softly.
Cooper nodded. 'A bit.'
Mulder stepped into the container, sweeping his flashlight back and forth. A decomposing body jumped out of the dark and Mulder played the beam of light along it.
'Male. About six feet. A hundred ninety pounds. Caucasian.' Koskie was rattling off stats into a hand held recorder.
'Oh no.' Mulder said, looking at the small recorder in Koskie's hand with dismay. 'Not you too.'
'What?' Koskie asked defensively. 'It helps me think back, later on when I'm writing the report.'
Cooper nodded. 'That was always my argument for Annie.'
'Who's Annie?' Koskie asked.
Cooper pulled his own recorder out of his pocket. 'I never leave home without her.'
'Like a damn security blanket.' Mulder said.
Koskie stared at Cooper for a moment, then looked over at Mulder. 'Okay, that is weird. I've never named mine before.'
'Where was this ship coming from?' Mulder bent over the body.
'Ireland.' Cooper answered.
'Top of the mornin' to ya.' Koskie bellowed out an Irish accent, standing next to Mulder. 'Me poor, poor, fellar.'
Mulder shook his head. 'Koskie, you are one disturbed man.'
Cooper joined the two of them, staring down at the dead man. A hole was torn where the man's chest and stomach used to be.
'What the hell could have done that?' Koskie asked softly.
Cooper turned and played the flashlight around. 'Looks like an animal attack.'
'Makes sense.' Koskie shrugged. 'An animal would have to eat on the journey over here.' He shined his flashlight around, looking at the walls and ceiling. 'There's a lot of castoff on the walls, but not on the ceiling. You'd think there would be more above from the backswing on any weapon.'
'Even then,' Cooper said, looking at the walls, 'these uniform trails don't look all that uniform.'
Mulder's face was full of dread. 'Was the seal on the container broken?'
'No.' Cooper shook his head. 'And it was affixed by the foreign shipper.'
Koskie squatted down next to the gaping wound. 'So that means that the body was in here before it was sealed?'
Cooper nodded. 'In theory.'
'So then, the animal would still be in here too.'
Mulder stood up, his hands on his hips, staring down at the body. He was chewing on his lower lip. Cooper joined him, taking in his intense stare.
'What are you thinking, Mulder?'
'Just kicking things around.' He eyed his new partner. 'What do you think, Koskie?'
'Well, if you look at the skin tearing…' Koskie pointed along the outside of the wound. 'If it was from a frontal assault, the skin should be pushed in, but it's not. It's pushed out.' He looked up at Mulder and Cooper. 'It's almost like something tore its way out of him.'
In the eerie glow of the flashlights, Mulder grinned.
'I need to get some pictures of the body in situ.' Koskie said, pulling off his latex gloves. 'Has the ME been called yet?'
Mulder fought back a bitter sadness. The snapping sound of Koskie's gloves brought back every imaginable image of Scully. It hadn't been even a month since her death and he was pushing it away. Running back to work, running back to the Bureau, running back to the X-Files. Had he just been in Southern California last week? It seemed like so long ago. Being at Scully's funeral, if that's what you wanted to the party it had turned into. Dealing with one of the greatest losses of his life was bad enough, but having to share his sorrow with everyone else was horrible. Having to face Scully's family, Skinner, the Lone Gunmen.
Having to deal with Alex Krycek.
'Mulder?'
He jerked his head over to see Koskie and Cooper staring back at him.
'Dreaming of silky nightie's again?' Cooper asked, a hint of a smile playing across his stoic features.
Mulder stepped over the body and made his way to them. 'Just don't know when to quit, do you, Chip?'
Koskie began to take pictures of the area as Mulder and Cooper spoke in hushed tones; the darkness and silence of the boxcar interrupted by flashes and whines from the camera.
'What're you thinking?' Cooper asked him. 'You've got that look on your face.'
'This face?' Mulder looked seriously back at him.
'Not your 'panic look'.' Cooper said. 'The face where it looks like you're having gas pain.'
'Oh, the face I make when all pieces of the puzzle just fell together and I don't like they way it's looking.'
Cooper nodded. 'That's the one.'
'Smartass.' Mulder mumbled as Koskie stepped over to them.
'Someone needs to tell the crime-scene tech's to get in here.'
'Has anyone called the ME?' Mulder asked, stepping out into the sunlight.
Koskie and Cooper stared back at him, the former shaking his head. 'Must've been a hell of a memory.'
'Huh?' Mulder looked quizzically at the two of them.
'We've already had this discussion, Mulder.' Cooper said. 'The Medical Examiner's on his way and he'll make sure the removal service people pick up our guy.'
Something caught Mulder's eye and he moved over to the corner of the boxcar. 'I want the body sent to Quantico for further analysis.' He said, bending down to peer at something on the ground. 'I want those lacerations tested for DNA.'
'DNA?' Koskie asked as Cooper brought his portable radio up to his mouth and began to speak.
'Yeah.' Mulder said absently. 'Koskie, come here and check this out.'
'What's up?' Koskie tried to take the booties off of his shoes as he walked.
Mulder watched the graceful performance, shaking his head and grinning as Koskie hopped around on one foot. He was finding himself annoyed that his new partner was so amusing. Damn, Mulder thought, why couldn't I hate anyone anymore? First Krycek isn't the tyrant I want him to be and now my new partner is a comedian.
'You okay?' Mulder pulled a straight face and looked up at Koskie as he finally stood next to him. 'You need any help with that?'
Koskie rewarded Mulder with a look not too unlike the one's Scully gave him when he was dangerously close to getting a kick in the ass. 'You wanna tell me what's up or you just gonna look at me all day?'
'I don't know, Koskie. That's a tough call.' Mulder said, pulling tweezers out of his pocket and using them to pick something up off the ground. 'You have a mighty pretty mouth.'
'What the hell is that?' Koskie asked as Mulder held it up in front of his face and peered at it.
He inspected it for a moment before shaking his head. 'Damn.'
Koskie squatted down next to him, squinting in the sunlight. 'Almost looks like chicken skin.'
Mulder grinned. 'Yeah, but you can't make nugget's out of this chicken.'
*************************
Mulder let go of the rung of the ladder and dropped down into six inches of sewer water. He twisted his face and spoke out loud to no one. 'Oh yeah, that's the smell I'm talking about.'
He turned on his flashlight and shined it down the tunnel. The beam of light stretched forever into darkness, first one way, then the other. The continuous drip, drip, drip of water sounded musical.
Mulder strained to hear something, anything. When Koskie practically fell into the tunnel from above, the splash seemed as loud as a sonic boom.
'Goddamn motherfucking sonofabitch!!!' Koskie exclaimed, quickly standing up and trying to shake the filthy water off of him.
'Is that so?' Mulder asked softly, walking into the darkness.
'You going to tell me what the hell we're looking for, Mulder.' Koskie asked. 'A giant, rubber chicken?'
'I'm not even sure what it is we're looking for.' Mulder said.
Koskie called out to him, looking both ways down the tunnel. 'You sure you're going the right way?'
Mulder shushed him, flipping open a map in response. The two of them huddled together, shining their flashlights on the paper.
'Straight ahead is north.' Koskie said.
Mulder stared ahead of them, waiting for the feeling of what he should do to enter his head. 'That's the way we need to go.' He said, beginning to walk forward.
Koskie followed behind. 'Are you sure?'
'Yes.' Mulder said, picking up his pace.
'How do you know?'
'I just do.' Mulder replied, a memory flooding his brain.
'Spooky Mulder.' Krycek said, grinning. 'Where do you think you got the sixth sense from?'
'Sixth sense?' Mulder whispered.
'They way you just kinda know, where to go?' Krycek said. 'The reason everyone calls you Spooky. You go in the strangest directions, no one else would think of, and it's right. Spooky. Not so spooky, just alien.'
A sudden image of him sitting on a bench. Krycek standing in front of him in that casual way of his. Mulder had hated him more than anything back then. He'd wanted nothing to do with Krycek, but Scully had wanted them to talk.
Mulder shook his head, begging the memory to go away. The more he thought of Krycek, the more he thought of Scully and he really didn't need to be thinking of either one of them right now.
They walked in silence for awhile, consulting the map whenever needing to make a left or right and Koskie would chalk the wall to mark where they'd come from. The last thing they needed was to be wandering the New York sewer system. The rumors of what inhabited the network of tunnels were worthy of a dozen or so X-Files.
Moss hung from above, the walls were slick with algae, and every now and one of them would nearly fall because of the slippery floor. Neither of them was fond of the idea of falling into the sewer water and Mulder was reminded of his experience with the Fluke Worm guy. The sound of dripping water was almost hypnotic and he found his mind wandering again.
Powerless to stop them, the images flooded his brain.
Scully and Krycek, standing covered in pumpkin goo, surprise covering both of their faces at the sight of him. Krycek handing him a beer and telling him that he was going to end up like their father if he wasn't careful. The three of them, laughing like fools at the dinner table. Krycek dancing to the Red Hot Chile Peppers. Scully and Krycek, having an intense stare-down on the beach in the full moonlight. Scully, crying in his arms as he wondered what the hell had just happened.
Mulder ran into a ladder face first with a resounding bang. He shook his head again as Koskie put an arm on his shoulder to steady him. No, he really didn't need to be thinking of her right now.
'Look at that.' Koskie said softly, shining his flashlight at the water.
Mulder shined his own flashlight down at the weird substance that was caught on the bottom rung of the ladder, rippling in the water.
They both leaned down to take a closer look. Mulder grinned up at Koskie and whispered.
'Winner.'
Mulder climbed up the ladder and listened in silence for a moment to the heavy thud of bass. There was music coming from above him. He pushed the grate out of his way and hoisted himself up, looking around to make sure he wasn't about to be rushed by a giant, rubber chicken.
The hallway was deserted and he stuck his head towards the tunnel just as Koskie popped his head up.
They both yelled in surprise as their heads knocked together.
'Damnit, Mulder!' Koskie exclaimed.
Mulder stood up, rubbing his head as his partner climbed out of the tunnel. 'Well how the hell did I know you were coming up right after me?'
'Did you think I was going to hang around in the sewers all alone for the rest of the night?'
Mulder didn't answer. He saw an odd, slimy substance on the ground in front of him. He stuck his fingers in it and brought his hand closer to his face.
'You always stick your hands in weird places?' Koskie asked, leaning closer to Mulder for a better look at the strange goo.
Mulder looked at Koskie. 'You always need to crowd me?'
'You always need to argue?' Koskie asked, looking back at him.
Mulder cringed. 'Is that offending aroma you or me?'
'I think it's both of us.' Koskie answered.
Mulder had been about to crack a joke. He wanted to banter playfully like he used to with Scully, wanted to lighten up his heavy mood. He just couldn't bring himself to do it. Him and Koskie reeking of sewer water suddenly reminded him of the time he and Scully had been covered in fertilizer.
They stared at each other in silence for a moment before Koskie grinned. 'We'll laugh about this someday.'
Mulder refused to be charmed by his new partner, regardless of how hard Koskie was making it. He stood up. 'I need to tell you something.'
Koskie joined him. 'Oh boy. Now I get the secrets of life.'
'Not exactly.' Mulder said, shining his flashlight in front of him.
'Then what?' Koskie followed as Mulder began to walk down the tunnel.
'That skin you saw. It's from an extraterrestrial biological entity.'
'An EBE?' Koskie asked, a smile on his face.
Mulder looked at him in surprise. 'Good, you already know the lingo. That much less I have to teach.'
'I feel so complimented.'
'I've only seen it a couple of times.' Mulder said, ignoring him. 'Scully and I have the DNA from its claws.'
'You're serious?' Koskie asked.
Mulder didn't answer. He was too busy thinking about the first time that he'd seen the creature. When he'd been in all those ice caves. When he'd gone to find her. He shook his head again.
He really didn't need to be thinking about her right now.
'Yeah.' Mulder said softly. 'I believe that the alien grows inside a human host, using it to survive. Then it's birthed directly from the human. Tearing it's way out, just as you said.'
Koskie was silent for a moment. 'You sure I shouldn't be the one addressing you as Your Royal Highness?'
Mulder smiled again.
'You going to tell me anything else about the chicken?' Koskie asked as they continued down the hall.
'Not much you need to know.' The music was louder as they approached the end of the hallway. Mulder drew his gun as they stopped in front of a door. 'It's strong, it's fast, it's ugly, it has really long claws and it's been in a bad mood every time I've seen it.'
Koskie took out his own gun and held it in the ready position. 'Sounds beautiful. But can I ask you a question?'
'Ask away.'
'What, exactly, are you planning on doing?'
Mulder seemed confused. He tilted his head. 'What do you mean?'
Koskie gestured at the door with his gun. 'You just going to run in there and hope the rubber chicken behaves when you pull the gun on it?'
'Other than what?' Mulder asked. 'Standing out here waiting to be invited for a drink?'
'I don't know, Spooky.' Koskie said, stressing his name. 'You tell me.'
'If you want me to tell you, why the question in the first place?'
'Charging in there like this doesn't seem wise.'
'Charging in like what?' Mulder asked.
Koskie nodded his head at the door. 'Sounds like there's a lot of people in there.
'All the more reason to get in there, before the rubber chicken can hurt someone, or worse.'
Koskie hesitated, then shook his head and held his gun back up. 'You're the boss.'
Mulder tried the door to find it unlocked. He looked at Koskie to make sure he was ready, then pushed the door open.
Music spilled into the hallway.
'…Creeping up the back stairs…Slinking into dark stalls…'
A heavy, rhythmic beat flooded their ears as they slid around the corners of the doorway. Mulder blinked in the darkness. The only light was the neon glow of whatever was shining under the black lights and the flashing of the strobe lights. A blanket of fog created by dry ice hovered three feet off the ground. Hundreds of people were crammed into the deserted warehouse, dancing to Siouxsie and the Banshees.
So this is a retro rave, Mulder thought to himself.
Koskie looked over at him and set his gun straight down by his leg, not wanting to draw attention and create a panic. Mulder did the same as they both began to try to weave their way through the people. The crowd was insane. There were too many people jumping around, dancing, and rubbing against the two of them. A thick haze of smoke from cigarettes hung in the air and the aroma of marijuana was overpowering.
'…Peek a boo…Peek a boo…'
Mulder caught Koskie's eyes and got his returning nod before venturing deeper into the crowd. They couldn't get far because of the wall to wall people. Mulder caught sight of something off to his right, in the corner of the dark room. He tried to see in the darkness through the smoke and flashing of the lights.
He slowly moved towards the dim form as the music pounded against his skull.
'…She's jeering at the shadows…Sneering behind the smile…'
Mulder inched closer, step by slow step. He was squinting his eyes, straining to see the vague form huddled in the corner. What the hell was that? A person? Or something worse.
The shape suddenly passed by him in a blur, leaving him momentarily stunned and frozen. Warm wetness peppered his face as the person on the right of him fell down first, then the person on his left. He blinked in confusion, trying to pinpoint the retreating form through the crowd. Mulder got his feet moving, raising his gun up by his face. He was weaving in and out of people; never losing sight of the creature as it slashed it's way through the crowd.
The sound of someone screaming could be faintly heard over the music.
Mulder kept his eye on the retreating figure as he chased it back the way he'd just come from. He nearly tripped over something and in a quick glance down, saw it was the body of a young girl. People began to take notice of him and his gun. They began to glance around in confusion.
Oh god, he thought, please don't let them panic.
Mayhem broke out in the warehouse.
The whole crowd seemed to surge towards the doors on the opposite side of the warehouse. Everyone was yelling and shoving, screaming and crying. Mulder focused on getting to the creature, kept moving against the crowd. He thanked whatever god was out there that he was hadn't ventured too far away from their original starting point. He dimly thought of Koskie, wondered where he was.
The last of the crowd shoved past Mulder and the rubber chicken spun around, facing him.
Mulder froze with his gun pointed towards the creature, and stared in awe at his alien. The gun in his hand was jumping up and down due to the shaking of his hands. His eyes were wide as he tried to look over the alien, take in all of its features for future reference.
I shouldn't be scared, he thought. I've been waiting for this for years.
Shit, it's tall.
The creature hissed at him and Mulder involuntarily took a step backwards. As if in response, the alien took a step forward.
'…Golly…Jeepers…Where'd you get those peepers…'
He and the alien regarded each other for a moment, the latter tilting its head to one side.
Mulder's mind was suddenly filled with curiosity. Fear. Incredible sadness.
Tears filled Mulder's eyes. His whole body began to shake. He'd never felt so scared in his life, so alone, and wondered if they were his feelings, or the alien's.
Don't do this, Mulder told himself as his resolve began to fade in sympathy for the confused creature.
It simply stared back. Mulder kept getting the same feeling from the creature, over and over. The only translation he could maybe understand was, why, why, why?
Mulder's lower lip began to tremble with emotion. Scared? Hell, he was damn petrified.
He tried to assess the weight, the height, the color. He couldn't. All he could see was the eyes.
'…Peep show…Creep show…Where did you get those eyes…'
'Mulder?'
Koskie's voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts. The alien hissed again and was gone in an instant, breaking their contact. Mulder heard a surprised yell and tried to locate the source of the sound.
'Koskie?'
He only got music in response.
'…They're slinking out the back door…She gets up from all fours…Rhinestone pools and silver dollars…Curl into bitter tears…'
He scanned the layer of fog that filled the room, waiting for the alien and several of its friends to pop up and use him as a nail file.
'…Peek a boo…Peek a boo…'
'Koskie!' Mulder yelled louder.
'…Golly…Jeepers…Where'd you get those peepers…'
'I'm okay.' Came the strangled reply.
'Where are you?'
'Over here.' Koskie's faint reply came. 'I'm okay.'
That statement alone spoke volumes and Mulder followed the sound of his voice, thinking to himself. Isn't it supposed to be; 'I'm fine'?
He kept moving in slow, purposeful steps, scanning the haze. 'Where are you, Koskie?'
'Over here.'
'…Peep show…Creep show…Where did you get those eyes…'
Something grabbed Mulder's foot. He let out a yelp and spun around, pointing his gun down and the figure on the ground.
'I'm okay.' Koskie said softly.
Mulder cast a nervous glance around the room before kneeling next to his partner. The front of Koskie's shirt was covered in blood.
'That doesn't look okay, Koskie.' Mulder said. He was torn between putting his gun away to check out Koskie's wound, and dragging his partner out while keeping his weapon at the ready.
'Can you walk?'
Koskie nodded. 'I think so.'
'Let's get out of here and call for backup.' Mulder pulled Koskie up by arm with one hand and kept his gun in the other. He got a closer look at Koskie's face. He couldn't see much in the bad light, but he believed Koskie was in shock. 'You sure you're okay? You look like you've seen a ghost.'
'No ghost.' Koskie replied, his teeth chattering. 'Just a giant, rubber chicken with an attitude problem.'
*************************
Mulder leaned against the back of the ambulance, watching the paramedics treat Koskie. He wanted a look at the wound under that shredded shirt. He took another glance at Koskie's pale face and felt a twinge of guilt. What must he be thinking? Mulder had years leading up to a close encounter. Koskie knew nothing about it and it must have been quite a shock to be clawed by an alien.
'You okay?' Mulder asked for the tenth time.
'I told you, Mulder.' Koskie snapped. 'I'm fine.'
Mulder sighed, he almost felt better hearing those words. Almost.
Three Town Cars sped towards them, kicking dust up into the air.
'Uh oh.' Mulder said. 'Here comes the cavalry.'
Koskie glanced up and leaned out to see the cars sliding to a stop. He grinned. 'Smackdown time.'
Mulder chuckled. 'It'll be my smackdown, don't worry.'
Skinner jumped out of the first car and stalked over to them, a stern look on his face. 'What the hell are you trying to do?' He reached the back of the ambulance. 'Put me in an early grave?'
'Sir?' Mulder and Koskie both responded in unison.
'I'm being told that there are several dead bodies in there, Agents.' Skinner was furious. 'Several dead TEENAGE bodies.'
'Well, Sir.' Mulder started. 'We haven't been back in there since our escape-'
'Escape from what?' Skinner's face was beet red.
Mulder nodded his head towards his partner. 'From whatever attacked Agent Koskie.'
'You were attacked?' Skinner voice was harsh.
'Yessir.' Koskie replied.
Skinner narrowed his eyes. 'By who?'
'By what.' Mulder corrected.
'By whatever did this.' Koskie said, pulling his shredded shirt open for Skinner.
There were four deep gashes across Koskie's chest. Skinner leaned in close to get a better look before turning to Mulder. 'What did that?'
Mulder cocked his head at his superior. 'What do you think?'
'Don't tell me.' Skinner said sarcastically. 'One of your little green men?'
'We prefer the term 'rubber chicken'.' Koskie said.
'This the same chicken you were talking about at the shipyard?' Cooper's voice materialized out of nowhere and they all turned to see him standing behind Skinner. They all stared at him in silence.
'You found something…' Cooper prompted them. 'You said it looked like chicken skin.'
'Oh yes.' Koskie said. 'Same chicken.'
Cooper turned to Mulder. 'How do we handle something like this?'
'I don't know.' Mulder shrugged. 'I don't know how to follow it, unless it's leaving skin everywhere.'
'Damn!' Skinner exclaimed 'What the hell is that smell?'
'That would be us, Sir.' Mulder replied.
Skinner was clearly frustrated with everything that was happening. 'What happened?'
'We stopped at Nordstrom's on the way over.' Koskie went on. 'Tested a new aftershave. Eau de Les Sewer. You like it? Because it's on sale for fifty percent off-'
'Shut up, Koskie.' Skinner cut off his rambling.
A guy in a suit walked up to Cooper. 'We've set up the perimeters, Sir.'
Cooper nodded. 'Has anyone brought in the fans that I requested?'
'They're setting them up now, Sir.'
Cooper turned back to the three men. 'If we're going to get a jump on the scene, now's the time.'
Koskie hopped down from the ambulance and the three of them followed Cooper.
The four of them stepped inside the warehouse and surveyed the scene.
It was grisly.
Three people, two male and one female, had been crushed to death in the stampede to get out of the building. As for victims of the 'unidentified assailant', there were five victims and counting.
The dry ice and cigarette smoke was being blown out the doors and now open windows by the industrial fans that had been brought in. It was eerie watching body by body appear out of the fog as it was all being blown out the back doors. The sound system had never been stopped and 'Closer' by Nine Inch Nails was blaring down at them.
Skinner shook his head as he let out a deep breath. 'Mulder, this is going to reflect badly upon the Bureau.'
'I know that, Sir.'
Skinner turned towards Mulder. 'What am I supposed to tell the press?' They were speaking loudly to be heard over the music.
'Well-' Mulder began to speak but Skinner angrily interrupted him.
'What am I supposed to tell the Director?'
'Agent Mulder's only concern was public safety.' Koskie interrupted, a hand pressed against the wounds on his chest. 'When I displayed hesitance against entering the building, Mulder expressed concern for the people.'
Skinner stared back at Koskie. 'You didn't want to enter the warehouse?'
'I hesitated.' Koskie said, choosing his words carefully so he wasn't lying. 'But Mulder was afraid that the rubber-um, the unidentified assailant was going to attack the people inside.'
'Is this true?' Skinner turned to Mulder.
'Uh…' Mulder wasn't sure how to respond to this. 'I was worried…'
Koskie nodded encouragingly, signaling for him to elaborate.
'It was my opinion that the 'unidentified assailant' would react with hostility.' Mulder said, trying not to break out in laughter at the pathetic attempt he was making to explain himself.
Skinner regarded him for a moment. 'You lucky bastard.' He said softly.
Mulder raised an eyebrow. 'Excuse me, Sir?'
'Scully was always covering your ass.' He replied, trying to hide a grin. 'Now you've got someone else willing to do it.' Skinner abruptly turned and walked away, towards the nearest cluster of bodies.
Mulder and Koskie exchanged a glance before following him.
Skinner reached the nearest body, a girl of around sixteen, and huffed as he turned back towards Mulder. 'What am I supposed to say about this?'
Mulder looked down at the body. It was gashed open, the intestines hanging out. 'I don't know, Sir.'
'The media will eat us alive.' Skinner said, turning towards Cooper.
'The media doesn't need to know anything.' He replied, staring down at the fallen teenager.
Another body appeared as the fog retreated, then another.
'How do you expect to keep this quiet?' Skinner asked.
'They cannot see through the walls.' Cooper replied solemnly.
'There were a couple hundred people here.' Mulder said. 'I'm sure some, if not all of them, will talk.'
Someone had found the stereo and the music abruptly went silent as the disappearing fog revealed yet another slain victim.
'Agent Mulder.' Skinner said. 'You were on this scene, which means you are responsible. Please tell me you entered this building after all this was over. Please tell me there was nothing you could have done to prevent it.'
Mulder was saved as Skinner's cell phone rang at his side and he snatched it up.
'Skinner. Yes. Yes.' He flipped open a notepad and scratched a pen across it, taking a couple of steps away.
Mulder and Koskie glanced at each other, then turned and looked at Cooper.
He gave Mulder a small grin. 'Review panel.'
Mulder made a face at him. 'Bite my ass.'
Koskie laughed, then stopped and clutched his wounds. 'Ow, don't make me laugh.'
'Bend over and you'll get something implanted on your ass.' Cooper shrugged. 'It may not be the indentation of my teeth, but I'm sure you'll enjoy it either way.'
Mulder grinned. 'Don't turn me on, Chip.'
'Don't make me laugh.' Koskie said again, holding his stomach.
Cooper pulled a straight face as the Assistant Director walked back towards them.
'Yes, Sir.' Skinner clicked the phone down and glared at the two of them. 'There's been another murder.'
'What?' Mulder and Koskie both asked.
'You heard me, Agents. I need you out there, the Director sounds like someone lit a fire under his ass.' He eyed Koskie. 'You up to this?'
'Yessir.' Koskie said.
'It's barely been over an hour.' Mulder consulted his watch. 'This is going to be a mess if the chicken isn't caught soon.'
'It already is a mess, Agent Mulder.' Skinner ripped off the piece of paper and handed it to Mulder. 'This one has the governor nervous. Get there ASAP, ignore the press on the way out, and Mulder?'
Mulder had begun to walk away after he snatched the address out of Skinner's hand. 'Sir?'
Skinner yanked a handkerchief out of his pocket and held it out towards him. 'For god's sake, wipe that blood off your face.'
*************************
'I can't believe we're going to another scene looking like this.' Koskie said, looking down at himself as they drove towards Park Avenue.
Mulder grinned. 'Not to mention smelling this way.'
'I'm fairly certain there's regulations against our appearance.' Koskie sighed and rubbed his eyes before looking out the window. The sun was rising. 'I've been awake too damn long.'
Mulder suddenly slammed on the breaks and threw the car into park.
'What? What?' Koskie looked around.
Mulder turned on the hazard lights and got out of the car. 'Cream or sugar?'
'What?'
'How do you take your coffee?' Mulder leaned back in and looked at him.
'Black.' Koskie replied. He watched Mulder walk into a doughnut shop and shook his head. Guy slams on the breaks and leaves his car in the middle of the street to get coffee. Definitely spooky.
A dozen horns blared from behind and Koskie leaned out of his window and threw up his hands. 'What, are you friggin' blind?' He yelled back in a New Yorker's accent. 'Can you see the hazard lights? We got us a problem here! Go around! Go around!'
Mulder heard the commotion and looked outside. He grinned at the sight of his partner; sleep-deprived and filthy, throwing up his hands and yelling out the window. He shook his head and grabbed the cups of coffee, smiling his thanks at the man behind the counter.
'I see you're making friends?' Mulder handed Koskie a cup of coffee and set his own on top of the car. He turned back towards the angry drivers and flashed his badge. 'Sorry about the inconvenience. Official FBI business. We're leaving now.'
Koskie grinned as Mulder got in the car. 'Are we trying to break every rule and regulation within the first week of our partnership?'
Mulder looked over his shoulder and eased out into the traffic. 'If so, we're off to a fine start.'
'A damn fine start.' Koskie took a sip of his coffee. 'Oh wow.'
Mulder looked over at him. 'Strong?'
'Bitter.'
'Putrid?'
'Rank.'
Mulder rolled to a stop, as it became apparent that the cars stopped in the street were there to stay. 'It's so nice to know that two highly educated men such as ourselves have such deep and though provoking conversations.'
'It restores my faith in formal education.' Koskie said. 'And I'm taking an educated guess by saying this must be the place.'
The whole street was blocked off by news vans and police cars. They got out of the car and made their way through the mess of people and lights, the ever present helicopters buzzing overhead.
Koskie buttoned up his jacket to cover his shredded, bloody shirt. 'Damn reporters.'
A camera and a microphone were shoved in Mulder's face. 'Sir, are you with the FBI? What do you think of the Senator's murder? Do you have any leads?'
'No comment.' Mulder said, brushing past the reporter.
An officer with the NYPD stopped them at the crime scene tape. 'I need to see some identification.'
They both pulled out their badges and the officer shook his head. 'How many of you do they need in there?'
'The FBI is already here?' Mulder asked.
'No Sir, but ATF is.'
'ATF?' Koskie asked. 'What the hell are they doing here?'
The officer shrugged. 'I don't know anything standing out here.'
Mulder and Koskie ducked under the tape and walked across the perfectly manicured lawn.
'The house is on the corner.' Mulder said. 'Directly across the street from the park.'
Koskie followed his gaze. 'Implying the chicken got here through the sewers and hit the first house it saw upon exiting that drainage pipe over there?'
'I was just wondering how much a place like this would go for.' Mulder replied.
'Agent Mulder?'
They both turned as a man walked up to them, clad in an expensive, well-tailored suit. He didn't offer to shake hands.
'That's me.' Mulder said, instantly disliking him.
'I'm Agent Anderson, ATF. We've been waiting for you. I got a call from some goon with the NSA, instructing us that nothing was to be touched until you got here. He said you've already been following leads pertaining to this. He said you were to take charge here.'
'ATF is here because…?' Koskie asked him
Anderson eyed Koskie with distaste. 'Who are you?'
'This is my partner, Agent Steven Koskie.' Mulder said quickly, not wanting Koskie to shoot off his mouth and get them both reprimanded.
'Senator Fletcher was an avid gun collector.' Anderson said, turning back to Mulder. 'He has damn near close to a small armory in his basement. Illegal weapons. That's why we were called in. What I want to know is why the NSA is getting involved in a simple murder case.'
'I'm sure the NSA told you everything they needed to.' Mulder rubbed a hand over his face.
'This is my squad here.' Anderson said. 'If there's something going on, I think I should be aware of it.'
'Of course there's something going on.' Koskie replied. 'A man has been murdered.'
'And I'm sure the NSA is concerned with the fact that the man was a Senator.' Mulder said. 'We've been following a string of murders, which originated in a naval shipyard not too far from here twenty-four hours ago. You have to see where the NSA would be concerned. There may be a connection between a Naval shipyard and a Senator.'
Anderson didn't look convinced. 'The body's upstairs, third door on the right. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some calls to make.'
Mulder and Koskie watched the man stomp away.
'That could have gone better.' Koskie said.
'It's too bad he didn't like us.' Mulder replied. 'I thought he was rather charming.'
'I don't think he liked our refugee-on-the-run image.'
'You think?' Mulder asked as they began walking towards the house.
'Oh sure.' Koskie nodded. 'It's either that or the cloud of stench that's hovering around us.'
Mulder shrugged. 'I thought he was just jealous at how quickly I linked the two murders together.'
'At least you didn't squeeze the underground party fiasco into your monologue.' Koskie said. 'He probably would have had a melt-down right here.'
They both flashed their badges at another officer as they entered the house and made their way up the staircase. They took in the immaculate, sterile residence.
'Remember Ferris Bueller's Day Off?' Koskie asked.
'Surely you're not going to suggest we play hooky today and hit a Yankee's game.'
'The way he described Cameron's house. Like a museum.'
Mulder looked at his partner, wondering where he was going with this. 'Yeah. What about it?'
'That's what this place reminds me of.' Koskie shivered, looking around. 'Blah, gives me the creeps.'
Mulder stood in the doorway of the bedroom, looking at all the people inside, his mouth open.
Koskie didn't need to see inside the room to know why Mulder was so angry.
'What the hell is going on?' Mulder asked loudly. 'I was told nothing would be touched until we got here.'
'We're about to start stringing.' A female ATF agent said. 'No one's been near the body.'
'How do I know that?' Mulder asked, stepping into the room. 'Who's in charge here?'
'I'm in charge.' The woman said. 'So I can tell you that the body has not been touched.'
'Who are you?' Mulder asked, knowing he was being rude, but really too tired and too angry to care.
'I beg your pardon.' She challenged him back. 'But who are you?'
'Special Agent Fox Mulder with the FBI.' He said. 'I believe you've been informed that I'll be taking charge here. My orders came directly from the NSA so if you or anyone else here has a problem with me, you can take it up with the Attorney General or the President. Although I don't think either one of them would like to hear their phone ringing this early.'
She was silent for a moment. 'You're Fox Mulder?'
'Yes. Now if you'd be so kind as to tell me who you are, we can get started here.'
'Agent Marie Koskie.'
He finally looked at her, confused.
She smirked. 'Steven never mentioned you were such an arrogant asshole.'
Mulder looked over the woman standing before him. She looked young, possibly in her late twenties or early thirties. She was a brunette, her hair falling naturally past her shoulders. She was approximately five feet, six inches, with beautiful, deep brown eyes. She wasn't too skinny, and she had a beautiful smile, which revealed striking, white teeth.
Mulder grinned. 'I am sorry to say, that he left out the best attribute I happen to possess.'
'So it seems.'
'He never mentioned that he had a sister.'
'Doesn't surprise me.'
'Why is that?' Mulder asked.
She finally grinned in return. 'You'll find out.'
'Confident, are we?'
'No reason for me not to be, Agent Mulder.'
'I don't see the similarity between you two.' Mulder said sarcastically.
'Well, aren't you a peach.' She smiled larger and tilted her head.
'Fresh off the tree.' Mulder grinned stupidly. 'You aren't too bad yourself, you know?'
'I have been told that a time or two.'
'I wouldn't doubt it.'
'I am sorry, uh…' Mulder suddenly drew a blank and couldn't remember her name.
'Marie.' She said bluntly.
'Yes, Marie. What-'
Marie cut him off. 'Enough of the chit chat, is there something I can help you with Agent Mulder?'
'I was about to ask you the same thing. I thought if anyone needed help, it would be you. Thought I would do my good deed for the day, maybe earn my 'kindness to those in need' badge and I think that door to door sales time is rolling around.'
'Well, well, well. You possess wit and undying charm as well. Is that a package deal?' She asked, mockingly.
'What have you discovered about the case?'
'Agent Mulder, why don't you take a step inside, and have a look at the body.'
'You wouldn't happen to have ordered an autopsy, would you?'
'Agent Mulder…" Marie began. "Please excuse me for a moment.' She walked away, towards a man that had caught her attention.
Koskie's voice announced his arrival. 'Hey, Mulder, I think I was right. Agent Anderson does not like our fugitive look. I say we go and grab a pair of shackles and hideous orange jumpsuits just to spite him.'
'What?' Mulder asked, turning around. 'I think the outfits are cute. They make me look slimmer. Did you know that no major department stores carry them? Something about hysteria in the streets, I just can't imagine.'
Mulder saw Koskie's eyes fixated across the room, a huge smile spread across his face.
'Well, if it isn't Maria Tortilla.' He said.
'Tortilla?' Mulder raised an eyebrow at his partner.
Koskie waved a hand at him. 'A nickname from when were kids. Long story.'
'You didn't tell me you had a sister in ATF.'
'Not something that really comes up during normal business hours, Mulder.' Koskie unbuttoned his coat so he could examine his wounds. 'Not to mention we haven't exactly been playing 'Twenty Questions'.'
'Agent Koskie.' Marie approached the two of them.
Koskie smiled back and nodded at her. 'Agent Koskie.'
'This is the new assignment you told me about?' She gestured her head at Mulder and he nodded in response.
'That it is.'
'Involved with the NSA?' Marie smiled. 'My, you're definitely moving up in the world.'
Koskie laughed and she looked him over. 'My God, Steven, what the hell happened to you?'
'Ran into a chicken with an attitude problem, nothing to be concerned about.'
'Steven, you're hurt!' She gasped and opened his jacket to look at his chest. 'Must have been one hell of a chicken!'
'It's nothing.' Koskie closed his coat back up. 'Just some scratches.'
'And you reek.'
'Thanks, Tortilla.'
'What's up with your partner?' She asked, looking over her shoulder.
Mulder was examining some scratches in the floor; he began to dig with a pen.
'He's a bit…' Koskie searched for the right word. 'Off.'
Marie tilted her head to the side and smiled at him. 'Off?'
'Don't get me wrong, he's brilliant. But he's still, off.'
'What is this business with the NSA, Steven?' She narrowed her eyes at him. 'You aren't getting in over your head again, are you?'
Koskie grinned. 'Who, me?'
'That's what I thought.' She replied as Mulder walked up to them. He held up a small, plastic bag.
'Recognize this?' He asked.
Koskie peered closely at the small object enclosed in the clear plastic. His eyes widened. 'A claw?' He looked up at Mulder in surprise.
'Look familiar?'
'Holy shit.' Koskie whispered.
'Look like a chicken fingernail to you?'
Koskie smiled up at Mulder. 'Winner!'
Mulder handed the bag to Koskie and pulled out his cell phone. 'We need to get back to DC.'
'You going to take that to Quantico for comparison?' Koskie held the bag up again and Marie crowded close to get a better look.
'No.' Mulder said. 'But I do need the results from the body we found in the shipyard so we can compare the two. Nice to meet you, Maria Tortilla, see you around.' He smiled at her.
She returned the grin and gave him a nod. 'Count on it.'
Koskie looked over at Mulder as he began talking.
'Heads up, Frohike. I need to come down ASAP. Can you get some info from Quantico for me?'
Koskie was confused. 'What are you doing, Mulder?'
'I have friends.' Mulder grinned at him, then walked away, speaking rapidly. 'You need the case number? It's X-2491573. We'll be down in a few hours, can you get that for me?'
Koskie glanced down at Marie. 'I guess it's time to go.'
She put a hand on his arm. 'Please be careful, Steven.'
'You know me.' He shrugged.
'Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of.'
Koskie grinned at her. 'I'll call you tonight.'
'Yes, I said, 'we'.' Mulder held the front door open for Koskie as he continued his conversation with Frohike. 'I have a new partner, troll-man. You'll meet him in a few hours.'
*************************
They drove down the freeway, heading to the Lone Gunmen's place. Koskie could not remember the last time he'd been so tired. Mulder seemed fine and just kept sucking down the coffee. Maybe if he had an intravenous feed of espresso he'd be okay. He keep dozing off, kept jerking awake. The last time, his head hit the window and he looked over at Mulder to see if he'd noticed.
'Maybe you should take a nap.' Mulder suggested.
Koskie shook his head. 'I'm fine.'
'We'll be there soon enough.' Mulder looked over at him. 'Unless you want me to take you home. I can go alone.'
'No, no. I just need something to keep me awake.' Koskie stretched, then leaned over and turned on the radio.
'The Otherside' by the Red Hot Chile Peppers was playing.
Mulder drew in a deep breath as his mind took on a life of it's own. He was suddenly in Scully's apartment, Krycek staring sadly at him as images collided in his head.
'…How long, how long will I slide…Separate my side…'
Scully and Krycek were sitting at a table across from Cancer Man and his sister, not too far away from a band which consisted of a banjo, a piano, a saw, a washboard, and someone playing the spoons. He could smell the jambalaya, smell the Morley Spender was smoking; he could feel the smooth, cold glass of Krycek's bottle of beer against his palm.
The music was not only on the radio, it was inside his head as well.
'…I heard your voice through a photograph…I thought it up and brought up the past…Once you know, you can never go back…I gotta take it on the otherside…'
'Mulder!'
Mulder had no idea where he was. He didn't know what was real. A small part of him screamed that he was in a car, driving on the freeway. But everything else he saw and heard was so far away.
Spender pulled out another chart and laid it on the table in between the two. 'This is the DNA of your unborn child.'
'…Centuries are what it meant to me…A cemetery where I marry the sea…Stranger things could never change my mind…I gotta take it on the otherside…'
'Mulder!' Koskie grabbed the wheel and slowly drove the car off the road.
The voice interrupted him. Mulder realized that he had his hands pressed against his face, covering his eyes. There were tears in his eyes. Krycek had just been told that he was going to be a father and Mulder was feeling everything he did all over again, for the second time in his life.
He suddenly stood up, in the restaurant, knocking over the chair in the process, and hastily walked towards the front door. He could still hear Spender's voice, speaking to Scully. It followed him out to the street.
'If you compare the DNA charts of the two of you to the chart of the child, you'll see, the child has both.'
Mulder felt hands on his arms. He opened his eyes to see a freeway. Cars whizzing past, honking. On his right, Koskie was staring at him, concern in his eyes.
'Mulder?' Koskie snapped fingers in front of his face. 'You there?'
Mulder let out a shuddering breath, his voice thick and shaky. 'Turn off the radio.'
Koskie punched at the controls until silence filled the car. Mulder began to feel a little better.
'You okay?' Koskie asked. 'You…I had to take the wheel and let us coast off.'
'Sorry.' Mulder barely managed to croak out the word.
'What happened?'
'I don't know.' Mulder shook his head. 'I can't explain it.'
'Well try, Mulder.' Koskie replied. 'You scared the hell out of me.'
Mulder hesitated, then wiped a hand across his eyes, sniffling. 'You know Koskie, you and I are gonna have to have a talk someday. Not now, but someday.'
Koskie stared back at Mulder, at the haunted look in his eyes, at the tears on his face. He felt sorry for every bad thought he'd ever had of his partner. Felt badly for every joke he'd ever laughed at, every remark he'd ever made about Spooky Mulder.
'I assume it will be quite a story.' Koskie said, opening his door. 'In the meantime, why don't I drive.'
End Part Two
Continued in Part Three.
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