*************************************************************** This author's e-mail has changed to: patfiler@hotmail.com *************************************************************** From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org Date: 11 Mar 2005 23:30:47 -0000 Subject: After the Run, Part 4.5: And What of the Clones? by Pattie Source: direct Reply To: trish59@444.net Title: And what of the Clones? Author: Pattie Rated: Safe for most folks. There are one or two cuss words. Category: Post-Series, Colonization Prevented. Spoiler(s): From the Pilot to The Truth. Summary: If you're going to save the world, you may as well be thorough about it. Archive: Gossamer. If you want it, just ask me. It can be seen at Pattie's Pocketful of X as well. Feedback: patfiler@hotmail.com Disclaimer: Characters and the name X-Files are copyrights of Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen Productions and Fox Studios. The idea in this story is mine. Author's Note: This story takes place during my After the Run Series, between Part 4: Jeremiah Isn't a Bullfrog and Part 5: Fulfill the Prophecy. I looked back and felt that maybe I wasn't the only one asking, "What do they do with the clones?" MULDER RESIDENCE, WEST TISBURY, MASS. 1:18 AM HOURS BEFORE DEPARTURE TO NAVAJO RESERVATION For many, the fate of the clone colonies, the colony of drones keeping the bees in Alberta and other locations, and the many other clones in vitro or mature was not known. One man would hold the knowledge of that until all was resolved regarding the prevention of Colonization. Fox Mulder had been visited the previous day by Jeremiah Smith, a member of an alien race opposed to the others who would fight the greys for possession of this world. Smith was among many who were called "The Resistance". He advised Mulder and Agent John Doggett to travel to the Navaho Reservation to ask that mining rights to a rich magnecite deposit be given to those still loyal to the government in order to fight off Colonization. This metal was fatal to aliens who were exposed to it. Mulder was just falling asleep in preparation for his early flight with Doggett when he felt compelled to get out of bed and sit downstairs in the living room. He sat there for fifteen minutes wondering why he was there. Scully was fast asleep, as were William and John Doggett. The house was locked up and the lights were out. Why was he sitting on the couch in the dark? Perhaps the answer would come to mind. Mulder was startled when Jeremiah Smith appeared again.As he turned on the lamp beside him, he thought he was dreaming. "Jeremiah? It's late... " "We need to discuss one more thing. I'm sorry to have awakened you. No one must know what we're about to discuss. Do you remember the Colony in Alberta?" Mulder rubbed his eyes. "Do I have a choice? So many mute little girls all resembling Samantha when she was taken. Then there were the blond boys, the dead Telus repairman and the bees. A Clone colony run completely by drones. Virus carrying bees. Scully was stung by one of them and damn near died. What about the clones?" "They cannot remain. They are instruments of the Colonization plan." "We can't just kill them! What do we do with them? We give them a language, we educate them, we... we integrate them into society." Mulder was now wide awake and steaming inside. "We don't just KILL them!" he whispered angrily. "The older ones live with them. They have language, they know what they were designed for and they were fighting against it. They were rebelling! I'd like to think that some part of my sister lives on after all that #$%@!" "Mr. Mulder, the younger ones stay the same age as long as they are alive. Genetically, they have no potential for language, education, procreation. They would pose a serious burden on society. You do not believe in slavery, and you cannot institutionalize them as those with autism or mental illness. We propose to take them to our world to live out their lives. They will be well cared for." "My God. And the adults? What happens to them? Do they get jobs at Walmart, houses, mortgages and pay taxes? Do we really need to see clones of so many abductees, which I remind you includes those created from cells taken for me, Scully, and so many others? My picture on a few dozen driver's licenses, who knows what names they'll have, and I'll be mistaken for them. Oh, and Scully? She's seen one clone of herself, Emily. I don't want her seeing any more of them around to wound her more than she already has been, or looking at other people and seeing her face! Dammit! I've had enough! Don't forget the families of the women who were taken, their eggs stolen, their clones walking around, and their families scared half to death that they'll see their wives and mothers over and over again! Don't!" "Mr. Mulder, we understand what these men and women went through, the women who were given the cancer. We cannot take lives that are not ours to take." "Even if those lives were not your enemies' to make?" "We have asked the adult clones who have managed to hide what they wish to do. They know they cannot see the families they were products of, but they do deserve to live. What we have proposed to them is a life on our world, along with the younger ones with no language. But again, they are not ours to take from their home." Mulder shook his head, a wry smile on his face. "You don't understand. I can't just call the various countries of the world, tell them I know the secret, and promise to keep my mouth shut, expecting to live with that knowledge. I have a family to think about! Besides, we can't just ask them to please give us the clones because they're not really all ours! And I sure can't tell them I know the secret! Do you know what many countries are like? Their governments would never agree to this! We'd have more wars, each country blaming the other, and they wouldn't believe the 'shadow government' story. I have a family to think about!" Smith nodded with empathy. "We will speak to those who were spawned from the experiments. We know we cannot put you into a dangerous position. Our plans can be carried out. I know you think this is not the way everything should have happened. We just needed to hear from the clones. We are aware of Earth's limited understanding of these things, and the secrecy many have been living with. We thought you should know. If at least one person here knows the truth, perhaps no one will ever agree to a deal such as your government made ever again. You're in a position to make sure trustworthy people will know the fate of these unfortunate children." "I see. The... the fetuses... the eggs... what happens to them?" Mulder found the issue a difficult one. "What happens to the knowledge about the genetics? It's far more than the genome studies have ever discovered!" "They were terminated, the eggs destroyed, and the doctors involved are long dead. Unfortunately, the Bounty Hunters were carrying out their plans during the time you and your colleagues were investigating the laboratories. No scientist who participated in the experiments lives, and no information remains." Mulder felt his protective instincts rising to the surface. "By whose authority?" he whispered. "By those who are responsible for their existence." "Oh no... I have to tell Scully." Mulder stood and was about to run up the stairs, but Smith held him back. "You must not. Not just because of her condition, but because you cannot spread word of any of these things until your world is free of those who would own it, and destroy it in trying. I know you must rest before your flight." Mulder stood and stared Smith sternly in the eyes. "Do you know where they all are? All the clones? Do you know that all the re-written genetic material was disposed of, the eggs and fetuses all accounted for and gone? Do you?" "If I didn't, I wouldn't be standing here before you. The Bounty Hunters are powerful, and while they do not agree with us, we have managed to remain discrete. Any other option is out of the question. They wish to exterminate us, but their hate prevents them from winning. Will you keep the information I have given you until the time comes for you to reveal it?" Mulder paced the living room, feeling that his heart just couldn't carry this burden he was debating in his mind. "For how long?" There was a sense of resignation in his voice. "Perhaps the time will come soon, perhaps never. There may never be a need to tell anyone. You do not need to answer people who might not understand any of the things that have been done, any of the creatures created." "I'll do it," Mulder said firmly. "Make sure they live out their lives with some semblance of normalcy and freedom! They're still our people." "My race is not a barbaric one, I assure you. They will be well taken care of and live out their lives in co-existence with us. I mest leave now. All will go well." Mulder was left to ponder their conversation. If anything, another secret was one hell of a burden. Hadn't he kept a couple of secrets from Scully for too long? First the removal of her eggs, then his location when he picked upand left her so soon after William's birth. He prayed he would never need to tell anyone about their loved one's "children". Heaven knows, his child had been through enough, and so had he and Scully. END