From: Uppervilla Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 20:58:41 EST Subject: AND...Treacherous Allies, Part IV Somewhere in Minnesota Around 12:00 a.m., November 17 The animals were gathered, the moon was full. It was perfect conditions, not a cloud in the sky. The bonfire had been lit quickly and was now totally ablaze. Even the ritual knives were perfectly sharp and in the exact order. Yet, the Dragon was agitated. The traitor was to move tonight, she knew. Those still faithful to her had already been ordered to scatter. The Wolf and the Falcon were the only ones left that were allied with her, both standing on either side of her on the platform. She knew however, along with the rest of the cult, that they were the most powerful of them all, excluding herself. They had been with her in Colorado, training in the ways of the primordial as she acquired her contacts in the black market dealings. They had recruited others to join them. They had been with her throughout it all; and they would remain till her death. Perhaps they would part ways tonight. It didn't matter. They would live along with Nature, help with her chores to tend life and those she loves. It would be as Paradise was for the first humans ever to walk the earth. Nokomis was one with Nature already. They had all felt their sister's death, as they had felt the death of their brother, the Panther, though his had been less of a shock than the Jackal's; she had been more powerful. The Dragon whispered a prayer for her ally, hoping her sister could hear it. The Cobra, an unlikely ally, had been chosen to send the vision to the Fox before she went her way. The Falcon had sent the dream to the Vixen after the Cobra left. The Cobra had always been the best at visions, but the Falcon had fabricated a wonderful message for the Vixen all the same. The Leopard had been assigned her duty right away: to lead the Foxes to the Star of Artemis. She was now well away and good luck to her. The Coyote had been assigned the duty of revealing the true danger the Vixen faced to her. He had followed orders from the Jackal, not her, but it had worked; at least the Fox had been more on his guard. The Jackal had been near once, after the Fox had returned to the site of that murder. She knew she was going against the Dragon's wishes by leading the Fox more than expected, but the Dragon had not been able to stop her for her cover needed to be foolproof. The Wolf had helped enforce the urgency of the Fox's protection of his Vixen. The Cheetah had been the one to send the envelope to the Fox. He had also killed the Panther. He had also been under instruction by Nokomis, yet he had saved the Fox's life, and the Dragon held no quarrel against him. Now only the Wolf and the Falcon were by her side. It was meant to be this way. She knew from visions that many would die this night, and she was uncertain whether included in that number would be herself. She sighed and nodded to the Falcon to begin the ceremony. The Falcon bowed and approached the edge of the platform. "The moon is high, the family is gathered. Shall the energy of nature be infused within us?" The crowd of animals shouted out as one: "Aye." "Shall the power of nature be bestowed upon us?" "Aye!" "Shall the contributor be revealed?" "AYE!" The Dragon nodded to the Wolf, who in turn called out: "Bring out the fortunate, that we may begin!" His cry was met with thunderous cheers. From behind the crowd came two hooded figures with a third between them, clothed in white. The sacrifice. As they came closer, the Dragon saw the others were dragging the third, her head hung in unnatural fatigue, and her fox-colored hair cascaded around her face, concealing it, the tips matted with a darker red: blood. The Vixen! The Dragon stood quickly and roared for silence. "What is the meaning of this?! The sacrifice is to be voluntary! She is not one of us." Some of the animals seemed to look around in confusion, but most merely cheered the louder. One of the figures dragging the Vixen dropped the arm he held and removed his hood. "We are sick of your silly, weak- minded rules, Dragon!" the Tiger growled in unmasked contempt. The majority of the crowd cheered in agreement. The other figure was already tying the Vixen to the ritual stake. The Tiger roared for silence and was instantly obliged. "You and your petty followers are no longer the strongest. The Clan is mine now!" As the crowd exploded into different animal noises as they cheered, the Wolf, almost without moving, alerted the Dragon's attention to behind the Tiger. One lone form was sneaking away from the crowd, coming ever closer to the stake and the Vixen. The Dragon squinted and saw the mask the form wore: a fox. Resourceful, indeed! He had found them. She nodded to the Falcon. "Start now. We must get the upper hand before he notices the thief behind him," she whispered. The Falcon, who had also noticed the Fox, screeched in the language of the birds and cast a smoke from the bonfire to engulf the cult members. In the confusion, the Fox saw his chance. Instantly, he began to run for the stake, bypassing the Tiger by a few feet. He grabbed a knife and was cutting the Vixen's bonds before the Dragon and the Wolf had joined the Falcon in their flight. The Dragon, leaping from the platform, caught a glimpse of the Tiger as he finally noticed the Fox. Taking a quick detour, she ran for the Fox, reaching him before the Tiger even began to move. "You must hurry, Fox! Take her and run," she ordered the Fox, gesturing behind him. The Fox took a quick glance and, scooping the obviously drugged woman in his arms, ran from the stake. After noting the distance between the Tiger and the Fox, the Dragon followed suit, running towards the Falcon where she stood, waiting. Mulder had never ran so fast in his life. His surroundings were a blur. After retrieving the mask from his room, he had followed the directions in the envelope as fast as he could. >>From the moment he had arrived in the clearing to the present, his only goals were to find Scully and get out. Now he was done with the first and, hopefully, would finish the second at the rate he was going. At that moment, a bulldozer struck him from behind. The mask was knocked away. He fell to the ground, jarring his shoulder as he maneuvered his body to fall over Scully and not on. The landing stunned her and she woke up from the fog of drugs. Mulder looked for the bulldozer and caught glimpse of the Tiger recovering from the blow for another charge. Shielding Scully with his own body, Mulder braced himself for the second attack. It never came. As the Tiger lunged, the Wolf came in sideways and knocked him out of his trajectory. Mulder watched as the Wolf slammed his elbow into the Tiger's temple, knocking him out, then turned his attention to Scully. "Are you O.K.?" Scully nodded, still too foggy to speak. "Cover your ears, Fox." Mulder whirled about to see the Wolf standing next to him. The Wolf gestured toward the Dragon and the Falcon. "If you hear them and see them, you'll fall under as well." He then walked over to the Tiger and pinned him down, keeping his eyes away from the two women. "Scully, close your eyes," Mulder insisted. She nodded and shut them without comment. Mulder, too curious to resist, covered his ears and watched. The Dragon reached the Falcon as the smoke screen began to dissipate. The Falcon had already removed her mask and cloak and was calming herself for the final assault. "It's time," the Dragon said, removing her own mask and cloak. The Falcon nodded and they grasped hands. They raised their free hands to the sky and began to chant. The cult members, becoming free of the smoke were greeted with the intense faces and the loud chanting of their most powerful members and stopped short. The Dragon's chanting began growing louder than the Falcon's, until she shrieked. A blue streak of lightning shot down from the sky to her outstretched hand, passed through them, and returned to the sky through the Falcon. The Falcon then began to chant louder than the Dragon, until the lightning struck her hand. With one last shout, the lightning struck both of their hands and they clapped them together. A great white wave of light shot out from between them, enveloping everything and everyone within the clearing. For several seconds, it was quiet, the white light blinding everyone who saw. The chanting lulled everyone who heard. The Wolf didn't see; he was safe. Scully didn't see; she was safe. Mulder didn't hear; he was safe. The Dragon and the Falcon were looking to the sky; they didn't see. The Tiger roared one last time in defiance, and the light disappeared. Mulder looked around for a moment, his vision suffering from light spots. The entire cult, save the three, was down, either unconscious or dead. Glancing at the Tiger, it was clear that they were merely sleeping. He removed his hands from his ears and shook Scully lightly. She opened her eyes. "Come on," Mulder said as he carefully slipped his arms under her and lifted her up. "What happened?" Scully croaked as she saw the sleeping cult. "A miscalculation," the Dragon's voice replied from behind Mulder. He turned to face her. "Lilith." Lilith nodded, smiling slightly, her eyes sad. "This is my fault. They didn't understand the true nature of my philosophy." The Falcon, the snake-haired woman from Scully's dream and the woman Mulder saw in the store, came up behind the Dragon. "You know that's not true. It was the Tiger, not you. Look at how much good you've done for us." The Dragon raised a hand to silence her. "No. I knew about the Tiger long before the killings began. And still I did nothing." She turned to look at the disabled cult. "This can't happen again." "You know what I have to do," the Wolf answered Lilith's unspoken question. "Don't. It'll do no good," Lilith replied, placing a hand on the tall man's shoulder. "You know I must," he repeated. For a long moment Lilith merely gazed at him. Then, resignedly, she lowered her head and nodded. "Very well. Go in peace, brother." The Wolf kissed her on the forehead and turned to the Falcon. "Go in peace, my sisters." He kissed the Falcon in the same manner, then turned and walked away. "Come quickly," Lilith ordered, waving the others along. "We must go now. I'll show you the way." She herded the Falcon and Mulder into the forest, glanced behind her once more, then followed the others. "I'm truly sorry for all this," Lilith was saying. They had been trekking through the forest, one where many people had been hunted down and killed by many humanistic animals, for several minutes. "At least we have no need to worry that my philosophy will be followed incorrectly." At that moment, a horrible thundering sound, like an explosion, shook the ground. A bright orange-red light shone through the trees. The Falcon and Lilith looked at each other and made a small gesture of farewell. "You shall live forever now, Wolf," the Falcon whispered. "Remember us in your journeys, brother," Lilith said quietly. She stood in silence for a moment more, then ushered Mulder on. "We have to keep in front of the fire. This forest will be ash by morning." "What about the cities around it?" Mulder asked. "It's controlled. The cities will not be harmed," Lilith answered. They emerged from the forest one hour later. The moon was slowly being masked by smoke from the forest fire. Scully had become steadily heavier, and Mulder wasn't certain how much longer he could carry her. She was in no shape to walk. Beside the wounds and bruises she received from the struggle with the Tiger, she had been marred and bruised everywhere when his accomplices got a hold of her. She didn't remember much, but that they had constantly beat on her. Lilith had explained that the Tiger had always been into barbaric and pure brutality. He had twisted her philosophy to fit his thirst for inflicting pain. Why have the sacrifices be voluntary when it was so much fun to listen to screams of agony? Both agents had shivered visibly at this. The Falcon remained very quiet, always following behind Lilith and never raising her head. "We must leave you now. I will not face human justice for these crimes." Lilith grimaced at the lights of a city close to the edge of the forest. "Someone has to," Scully replied. "And who will make me?" Lilith's glare became so fierce that Scully visibly flinched. Both agents were unwilling to push the issue further. "In any case, you have saved the innocents," Lilith continued. "And for that I am grateful." She slipped a hand into a pocket and removed a smooth agate carved and sharpened into the form of a dragon's claw. She placed it in Scully's hand and closed her fingers over it. "Take this, and may its protection never be needed." She then looked up at Mulder. "Fox, I thank you greatly." She put her hand on his cheek and kissed him quickly. From another pocket, she revealed a small dark cloth, embroidered in gold, about the size of a handkerchief. "Keep the opal in this. You will know why, perhaps, one day. I pray not." She tucked it into his shirt pocket, then took Scully's free hand and kissed it. "Take care, both of you. May your paths continue happily together. Fare well." Lilith turned and began to walk away. The Falcon bowed to both and followed. "Wait," Mulder called. "Lilith Marcellus is no more, brother Fox. You never knew us though we may meet again, if the Fates allow. I am almost certain we will." Lilith smiled and disappeared into the forest, the Falcon following suite. Mulder and Scully watched the forest for a long time, the flickering of orange light playing over their faces, until Scully sneezed. "I have to get you to a doctor," Mulder commented, his mind switched completely to concern for his partner. "I AM a doctor," Scully replied, smirking in grim humor. Mulder grinned at her. "All the same, you can't make a diagnosis unless you're in a hospital." He started walking toward the city lights. "They go well together, don't they?" Lilith commented as they watched from a tall hill as Mulder carried Scully to the city. "Yes. They are both very strong," the Falcon replied. "You know what I mean," Lilith chided. They were silent for a moment, then Lilith snorted in amusement. "What?" the Falcon asked. "I just received a mental picture of little red-headed children with very intuitive eyes running around a suburbian front yard." The Falcon chuckled. "You don't know that will ever happen." "Of course not," Lilith said, nodding knowingly. They watched the agents for a moment more. "Come on. We waste time standing here gawking." They then descended the hill to an unknown destination. American Airlines Flight to Washington, D.C. from Minneapolis Monday, November 18; 4:15 p.m. "OUCH!" Scully glanced at Mulder quizzically. "What?" "Damn thing burned me again," Mulder replied, fishing the opal out of his back pocket. It was wrapped in the dark green cloth and didn't burn his hands as he unfolded it. Both agents stared at it in confusion. "What does that mean?" Scully asked quietly. Mulder looked up from the ebony shaded rock that used to be an opal. "The fire's out." Scully cocked an eyebrow at him. "No more organized cult, no more golden age of animalism, or something like that, I guess." He folded the cloth over the ebony stone and returned it to his pocket. The "Fasten Your Seatbelts" sign flashed on. "Home, sweet home," Mulder mumbled, his mind chaotic with how to write up the report on this one. Epilogue ADDENDUM TO CASE FILE: Special Agent Dana Scully Human kind has always been intuitive into the unknown. It is our nature as well as a weakness. Perhaps with the evolution of civilization, we lost some kind of connection with our primordial roots. Whether we are able to retrieve that connection or not is undecided, but one thing remains. What human beings have lost may need to remain forgotten for the continuation of our species. To yearn for the past is to become consumed by it. It may not happen immediately, but only time will tell whether or not our past is one we have no wish to return to. BASEMENT OF THE J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING A WEEK LATER "You got a present," Scully remarked casually as she entered the office, a small envelope in her hand. She tossed it on his desk and sat down. "Oh, you shouldn't have," Mulder replied, opening the blank white envelope. He stared inside it for a moment in dead silence, then whistled softly. "What?" Scully asked, trying to take a peek. Mulder removed a small fortune from the envelope and a small piece of paper. He set down the money and unfolded the paper. It read: "Another rare occurrence. I rarely offer refunds" in Lilith's hand writing. "I feel blessed," Mulder grinned thoughtfully as he fanned out the bills. A slender figure with dark brown hair slipped through the bustle of the FBI building quietly, her intense green eyes fixed on the floor. No one seemed to see her, and no one stopped her as she slid past the guards. Finally outside in her true element, she smiled and turned her collar up to ward off the newly arrived chill. She made her way down the street and was soon met by another woman, smaller with strangely bright gold and tan hair put up in a French braid. The first woman grinned at the second and put a companionable arm around her. The second smiled back and they walked down the street together, unseen by the crowds. THE END Author's End Notes: 1. Some of you may be confused, and YOU SHOULD BE! Who isn't confused after an episode of the X-Files? I sure am. J 2. Perhaps it was a bit predictable? Please remember, this is my first attempt. I think, for a beginner, this was pretty damn good. J 3. Anyone who e-mails me to ask if the two women at the end are Lesbians will get a fierce nip in the butt (No offense to anyone reading this). You can't be true friends with anyone of the same sex anymore. Pppthhhb. >:P 4. Any Questions, Comments, Concerns, Complaints, Considerations, Flames (please no!), etc. WILL be read and replied to (if they're polite!). 5. Watch out for a sequel...In the immortal words of Forrest Gump's Mother, "Life is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you're gonna get."