From: Judochop9@aol.com Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 16:08:36 EDT Subject: Biohazard Prologue [an X-File PG-13] Source: xff TITLE: Biohazard AUTHOR: Christine (Judochop9@aol.com) FEEDBACK: Yes, that's what makes writing FanFic even worth it! ARCHIVING: Sure, just ask me first so I know where it is. E-mail, or IM if you have AOL. RATING: PG (A few mild expletives) CATEGORY: X-File SPOILERS: None SUMMARY: An accident at a Biological weapons lab has strange repercussions. DISCLAIMER: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Walter Skinner, the Lone Gunmen, and any other recognizable faces from the X-files, do not belong to me, of course, they belong to Chris Carter, Ten-Thirteen, and Fox Broadcasting. If you didn't know that they are owned by them, you have seriously been living under a rock. Anyone else is my creation, and you can borrow them if you ask me and give me credit for them. ;-) AUTHOR'S NOTES: Any information pertaining to the bacteria Clostridium tetani in its natural state, comes from the CDC site at www.cdc.gov, and another site. I accidentally forgot to note where it was though, and after an extensive search on several search engines I couldn't find it. I chose not to use in text documentation because it would detract from the story. Just keep in mind that any references to the normal strain of this bacteria is from these sources. Prologue *** Underground Research Facility Location Unknown Time Unknown *** Kei Desaki moved around the spotless white lab with the certainty one gets after working in the same lab for five years. The bio suit crinkled as she sat back down by her workstation, the sound was magnified in the closed space of the suit. The plastic faceplate made the suit humid and sticky, and she could hear every breath with uncanny clarity. She picked up a tissue sample clumsily with the suit's fat fingered gloves, and nearly dropped it. Desaki cursed under her breath. You knew you'd have to wear one of these, there's no way around it. You've *been* wearing one for 10 years! She mentally scolded herself. Yeah, but that doesn't make them any more comfortable! A tiny voice retorted. "Can somebody get me-" she started to ask over the intercom, but reminded herself all the other technicians were busy too. "Never mind," She finished, "I'll get it myself." Desaki shoved off her desk and stood. She made her way over to the specimen refrigerator, a shining steel monstrosity the techs had dubbed the 'monolith'. She stared at the blaring neon orange stickers with black semi-circles covering the monolith that labeled it a biohazard. Desaki chuckled at the irony of it. If you were working *here* you most certainly knew what was in there, and it was far worse than the stickers could warn about. Desaki pulled on the monolith's handle, but it stuck. Desaki grunted and tried again. It almost budged. By now several technicians heads had popped up and were watching her with quiet curiosity. Desaki tightened her grip and pulled. Hard. The door popped open, followed almost instantaneously by a bright phosphorescent flash. It lasted only a hundredth of a second, but it was still long enough to blind her momentarily. The flash was followed by a mini eruption of glass shards spewing outward. The shards shredded Desaki's suit, and she looked down to find the rags of her suit dripping with an ooze-like liquid. No, she thought frozen with horror. By now the other techs had started scrambling hastily out of the room, knowing the consequences of such a disaster. A red klaxon blared in the lab, and Desaki was sure it was going off else where in the facility too. She stumbled toward the closing seal door. The last tech squeezed through the gap between the wall and door, barely making it. By the time Desaki reached the door, it sealed shut with a deep whoosh. Desaki stared in despair at the foot of steel sealing her death warrant. From: Judochop9@aol.com Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 16:16:17 EDT Subject: Biohazard Chapter 1 [an X-File PG-13] Source: xff Chapter 1 *** FBI Headquarters Washington D.C. 8:34 a.m. *** A manila folder fell inches from her nose and landed with a thwap on his desk below her. Scully looked up from where she was sitting at Mulder's desk. He stood leaning on his arms, hands on the edge of his desk, staring down at her. "Find anything interesting in there?" Mulder asked, motioning toward his desk. "Just seeing what it's like to have a desk," She retorted. Scully picked up the folder Mulder had unceremoniously dropped on the desk, and began to skim over a few of the obviously copied pages. 15.10.96.01:00:15:43 Project Blue Sky leader exposed to the agent, please advise. 15.10.96.01:02:56:35 Quarantine under restriction Tango Red, Three, Five, Niner. Repeat, Tango Red, Three, Five, Niner. If the pathogen should fail to react, continue the tests for Tango Red. If clean after a week move to monitoring conditions Delta Grey, Six, Five, Two. 15.10.96.01:06:37:59 Affirmative. Over. Scully flipped some more pages and skimmed a few more lines. 20.10.96.18:27:09:03 Blue Sky leader is showing no signs. We expect a full recovery. Moving to observation Delta Grey, Six, Five, Two. 20.10.96.18:27:26:52 Affirmative. Keep us notified. -End Transmission- She looked up at Mulder slightly puzzled. "Where did you get this?" "Unofficial channels," he replied, "Some friends thought I'd be interested."= Scully rolled her eyes. "Not the Lone Gunmen?" She asked. "The one and only," Mulder replied, "They got this off the Department of Defense server. Apparently they're running some sort of tests and I think something went wrong." Scully nodded and pointed to a line she'd skimmed. " 'If the *pathogen* should fail to react...' " she quoted, "They're working with *something* biological, and if it's the DOD I'll bet it isn't a cure for cancer." Mulder nodded, in agreement. "I think I can get the Gunmen to pinpoint where this first transmission is," Mulder said pointing to the first line, "I think that must be some sort of research facility, the one that asked for advice on their 'situation'." Scully looked slightly hesitant. "I don't know Mulder," She replied, "Are you sure you want to tangle with the DOD? This could get us in deep." Mulder shrugged, "Has that ever stopped me before?" Scully sighed, "I guess not, but curiosity killed the cat Mulder." "If it gets too deep we can quit." Scully snorted at that last comment. If we get in deep that'll only make you want to go further, she thought. "Alright," she finally consented. "I'll go.= But I'm warning you," she pointed a finger at him without finishing her threat. Bad idea, bad idea, she thought, how *do* I let him talk me into these things? *** Lone Gunmen's Office 6:54 p.m. *** Langly looked at the computer screen, and cursed softly. "Sorry Mulder, dead end." Mulder looked up from some computer printouts slightly disappointed. "We can't trace where the origin of the first transmission is. They used a worm to erase any traceable data from their server. We almost got it but there's a chunk of data that we need, and it's erased. I mean this *is* the Department of Defense. They wouldn't be careless enough to let anyone trace their location," Langly paused. "So there's no way?" Mulder asked. Frohike shook his head, "Sorry mi amigo, no can do." "Thanks anyway guys," Mulder called as he left their office. *** Scully's Apartment 8:17 p.m. *** Scully put her book down, and picked up the ringing phone. "Scully," she answered. "Hey Scully," Mulder answered, "Bad news." "What?" "The Gunmen couldn't trace the location of the facility," he answered. "So I guess this case is over before it started." "Sorry, Mulder," She said even though it wasn't her fault. "S'ok, Talk to you tomorrow Scully." "Bye," she hung up. Scully hung up the phone and went back to her book. A few seconds later the phone rang again. "Mulder," she began but there was silence on the other end of the line. "Huh? Hello?" but there was only a dead line. "That's weird," she whispered, staring at the receiver, "Must've been a wrong number." *** Location Unknown Time Unknown *** The gaunt man sat in front of a mess of computer parts and wires. To anyone else it would've seemed a clutter, but he knew where every component was and its exact function. The computer's modem dialed the number he had input. As soon as the receiver clicked on, the computer was recording. He watched as it created a jagged green spike map, an impression of the person's vocalizations, a voice's finger print. The green spikes and dips filled a bar menu, and became the word 'Mulder', all in the space of a few seconds. "Sorry, but I'm not he," he whispered, even though there was no way she could hear him. He disconnected the line, that one word was all he needed. He had to know if it was her, only she could help him. He moved the mouse to browse through a few files and highlighted the one he was looking for. The new sound file opened below the other, and he clicked on the 'compare' function. A bar ran over the impression on both of the files, playing them together. To his ears they sounded the same, both sweetly magical, but he made the computer analyze the signature in detail. No room for errors. The voice signature was identical. "Soon," he said, "We have to meet very soon, Doctor Scully." *** FBI Headquarters 1:31 a.m. *** Scully stepped into the basement office to find Mulder sulking at his desk, only half reading a case file. "Ooo, a man that shape shifts into a...wolf!"= Scully said with sarcasm, "Sounds right up our alley." Mulder's ears caught on the word *our*. Our? Since when is Scully interested in werewolves? He shook his head clearing away the thought. "Yeah, but I'm really not that interested in it," he said. "Oh? Why not?" Scully asked slightly bemused. Mulder shut the folder and sighed. "It's that transmission the Gunmen picked up. I can't let it go." Scully shrugged. "I don't know what to tell you Mulder. There's no way the Lone Gunmen could trace it. I don't think we can find the facility mentioned either. I mean, unless you've got a *really* good friend in the Department of Defense." Mulder shook his head, "I don't. It's just a shame." She put a hand on his shoulder. "I know, but let's focus on a case we *can* do. At least for now." They spent the rest of the afternoon in relative silence, reading up on this latest case. Scully stood to stretch after sitting on her legs for nearly three hours of reading. Mulder looked up as she tried to stand, but rather she stumbled and nearly fell, grabbing on to the filing cabinet at the last second. She hauled herself back into a standing position, a sheepish grin from ear to ear. "Stand much?" Mulder asked with a smile. That elicited a laugh from her. "Yes. I just don't read whole books about werewolves, much," she retorted, "I'm not a seasoned pro like you." Scully yawned and glanced at her watch. "Jesus," she cursed softly, "It's six! When did that happen?" Mulder shrugged, "Wanna get a bite to eat?" Scully glanced at the ceiling in thought. "Actually," she replied, "I'm not that hungry." She paused and Mulder groaned inwardly when he saw mischief flash in her eyes. "C'mon," she said, "I scream, you scream...we all scream for ice cream." "So long as its not a non-fat rice tofutti dream-sicle!" Mulder called as he grabbed his coat and rushed to catch her. *** Scully's Apartment 7:30 p.m. *** Mulder walked Scully to her apartment and waited as she unlocked the door. "Thanks for the ice cream, Mulder," she thanked him. "Sure," he said innocently, "see you tomorrow." She stepped inside and was about to close the door when he quickly called, "Chocolate beats raspberry!"= Scully rolled her eyes as she closed the door. He could be like a big kid sometimes. He had insisted the whole time they were eating their ice cream that *chocolate* was the best. Of course she had disagreed, and he tried to force her to have some of his, and ended up dropping it on the sidewalk. Scully had just sunk comfortably into her chair, and had taken off her shoes when the phone rang. Probably Mulder calling to remind me chocolate's the best, she thought with a smile. "Scully," she said ready to hear his voice. Instead a monotone computerized voice answered. "Hello, Doctor Scully. I have information you may find necessary. Meet me in fifteen minutes at the reflecting pool," it said cryptically and hung up. Too short of a call to be traced, a little paranoid? she thought, or necessary? Scully looked at her phone as if it could answer her questions. How do They know my name, and who is They? she asked herself, Information? About what? Scully debated telling Mulder before she left but hastily decided against it. She *did*, however, grab her Sig Sauer out of her dresser drawer. She released the clip making sure it was fully loaded, then clicked it back into the handle. She grabbed her trench coat and stepped out of her apartment door. *** Desaki Residence Location: Desert area New Mexico 6:30 a.m. *** Kei poured some coffee and went to gather up her papers and laptop from her office. She grabbed the rectangular black bag containing her personal laptop, and shoved a few files in the front pouch. They weren't expecting her to come back to the facility today, but Desaki was absorbed in the current project, and wanted to tie up some loose ends. She had been fully cleared of the contaminant, and had not shown signs of infection. By now she should be -theoretically- dead if the virus had taken effect. Desaki rounded the corner to her kitchen and her hip slammed into the table. "Ow!" she cried. The big cafe sized mug full of coffee started tipping from side to side when she hit the table. Desaki watched in suspense *really* not wanting to clean up shattered ceramic and coffee today. The mug slipped from the edge of the table and started careening toward the floor. "No!" she cried, reaching her hand toward it but she was too far away. Desaki closed her eyes ready to hear the shatter of the mug and feel the scalding coffee spray all over the kitchen. A few seconds passed and finally Desaki opened one eye. She could never imagine what she saw, not in her wildest dreams. The mug hung suspended in space like a still shot. There was even a small trail of coffee drops trailing behind it, each one stopped in mid fall. "What the-" was all she could manage to utter. Desaki crouched down and touched the mug, and when it neither fell, nor was she able to pick it up, she was even more awe struck. The mug remained where it was as if life had stopped for it, and so had the laws of physics. Desaki stepped back, jaw dropped. A thought tickled at the back of her head, and she drew a breath. Desaki closed her eyes and imagined the mug falling, and to her surprise the mug suddenly resumed it's plummet, shattering and spewing ceramic shards across the room, along with hot coffee. A few steaming beads landed on her bare forearm but Desaki seemed oblivious to them. Another thought was forming in the back of her mind and she knew she wouldn't be going to the facility, today. *** Reflecting Pool 7:44 p.m. *** Scully walked down the cold marble, the wind biting through her coat. There only a few small groups of people mingling around the pool. Scully scanned the groups of people, but none of them seemed to be paying any attention to her. She was about to give up when she saw a small, thin man sitting on a bench by the far end of the pool. Scully walked briskly toward him. He started to stand and then decided against it. "Doctor Scully?" he asked almost nervously. She looked at the man's gaunt unshaven face and red eyes and realized whatever he had to say was very important. "Yes," she responded simply. "Please sit down. You may not know me but I knew you when you were getting your undergraduate degree in physics. Your thesis on Einstein's Twin Paradox was amazing," he said. "Thank you," she replied, "may I ask what you called me here for." "Oh yes, yes," he answered getting straight to business. "It's about the transmission your partner intercepted. I-" he paused scanning the crowd, "I know where the facility is," he said in a quiet whisper. Scully's eyes widened, "How, Where?" "I'm friends with the project leader, you know, the one who was quarantined?" he asked and when she nodded he continued, "The co-ordinates are, thirty-four degrees, fifty two minutes, thirteen seconds North, One hundred seven degrees, thirty nine minutes, forty two seconds West. Ask for a Doctor Kei Desaki, I told her to watch for you." He waited until Scully had jotted the co-ordinates down on a scrap of paper, the hastily stood. "2#19#11#25#CT7717, remember that, it's very important." "I have to go, no one can see me with you or your life is in danger," he said soberly. She stood and thanked him then strode off. *** Back Alley Exact Location Unknown *** Greg O'del walked quickly down the alley. I shouldn't have told her. Why did I involve her? he thought angrily. O'del shoved his hands in his pockets and walked even faster, head down, and careened into a burly man in a black suit. "Huh?" he muttered looking up, "oh. What do you want?" "You haven't been talking to anyone lately have you?" the man said in a low voice. "N-no. Of course not!" O'del lied. "What if I don't believe you?" the man asked and grabbed O'del by his lapels. The big man lifted O'del of his feet and shoved him into the brick wall of a nearby building. His small frame shook on impact with the wall. "You think I'd be that stupid?" O'del asked, "That I'd really go around telling everyone the DOD's secrets?" The big man just grunted in response and kept O'del pinned against the wall. O'del snorted, "Like anyone would believe me anyway. I mean look at me I haven't had a shower or a shave in a week! I'm just another ranting homeless man." Now the big man looked hesitant, and his grip loosened fractionally. O'del realizing he had an advantage pressed his luck a little farther. "Now let me go before this starts to look suspicious. Then some people might actually believe me if I went around 'ranting'." The big man in black dropped O'del. O'del straightened his coat and started to walk away. "If you ever hear that you *did* say anything you can be sure to see me again," the man threatened, but O'del had stopped listening, just trying to get out of there as fast as possible. *** FBI Headquarters 8:15 a.m. *** Mulder sat at his desk in the basement office, still looking over the last details of their latest case and was about to book some plane tickets when Scully came in. "Morning," he said as she poured some coffee. "I know where it is," she said simply. "Where what is?" he asked puzzled "The facility," she answered, and placed a map down in front of him with a red dot in New Mexico, a couple hundred miles Southwest of Albuquerque." "But how?" "Anonymous source," she replied. "So can you book those tickets to New Mexico instead?" She asked nodding toward the phone. "Yeah," he said with a grin. *** Scully's Apartment 4:30 a.m. Next day *** "Ready to git goin' partner?" Mulder asked in a poor southern accent. Scully rolled her eyes and nodded, closing the car door. There was relatively no traffic on the major roads around D.C. as they made their way to Dulles. Probably because nobody but us would get up at such an ungodly hour to fly out into the desert, Scully thought cynically. "Cheer up," Mulder said lightly punching her arm. He's had *way* too much coffee, she thought slightly annoyed, now he's going to talk to me the whole flight and I won't get any sleep! *** The first flight was rather lonely, no one leaving D.C. for New Mexico. And Mulder was non stop chatter. Scully actually tried to slip one of her sleeping pills into his eggs when he wasn't looking, but no one, who isn't criminally insane, eats airplane eggs. "So," Mulder said waving his hand in front of her face for attention, "think we'll be able to see Kei Desaki? I mean if she was infected and is the leader of this top secret project we'll be able to talk to her? I seriously doubt it, I mean the DOD isn't that careless they..." He continued on but Scully stopped listening as the caffeine made him rant on and on. She sighed, I can't wait until he's settled down. I need some Ritalin or something for him. *** From: Judochop9@aol.com Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 16:16:31 EDT Subject: Biohazard Chapter 2 [an X-File PG-13] Source: xff Chapter 2 They landed with a screech in New Mexico. Mulder had already arranged for a Taurus from Lariat to be waiting for them. Scully sat next to him and pulled a small handheld GPS device from her purse, and pressed it on. She waited while the tracking satellites locked on their position. "We're at, 34 degrees, 13 minutes, 22 seconds North. 107 degrees, 10 minutes, 15 seconds West. We need to be at 34 degrees, 13 seconds North, 107 degrees, 39 minutes, 42 seconds west," She told him, "It shouldn't be too long a drive. I hope..." Mulder nodded and started their cruise. Nearly an hour later Scully watched as they approached the co-ordinates displayed on the GPS. "Almost there. Few more feet," Scully told him, "Right....here." Mulder stopped the car, and they stepped out. Mulder scanned the barren desert landscape finding no sign of civilization. "Are you *sure*?" He asked, "Let me see that." She handed him the GPS and he double checked the co-ordinates. Yep. This was it. He handed the GPS back to her. "Well, I guess it must be underground." "Obviously." Scully pointed to a large grouping of rocks, "That's about the only thing that could hide an entrance." Mulder shrugged. "Let's check it out." They walked over to the dusty tan rocks and started poking around. Mulder started digging at some rocks at the base of the small hill and found a small panel with a number pad on it. "Hmm. Scully did your source happen to tell you the code for this?" he asked. Scully thought for a moment and dug a scrap of paper out of her coat pocket. "Well he did tell me to remember some numbers. He said they would be important, but didn't tell me for what. We can always try them. They were 2#, 19#, 11#, 25#, CT7717." She read as Mulder punched in the sequence on the pad. The numbers turned from red to green and they watched as the rocks slid gratingly apart, just like something out of a spy movie. "Hmph, who would've thought those old movie producers were on the right track," Scully said aloud, "Although I must admit these rocks are much more realistic, I didn't even see the split, they camouflaged it so well." A set of shiny steel doors parted revealing a cement ramp leading down, which was illuminated by white fluorescent lights. Scully looked up at the ceiling about thirty feet above her head. It was like a warehouse's ceiling at the top and reminded her of a man made cave. The facility was immense but the entrance was relatively narrow in comparison. Their heels echoed off the walls as they made their way into the bowels of the earth. They walked down the ramp until it flattened out and a wall of half-steel half-glass stood in the way. Beyond that was an entrance that resembled a hospital's. A chain link gate was closed in between two glass guard stations. The two guards, in military dress, stepped from their booths and opened the gate to reach the two agents. Both had automatic rifles slung over their shoulders, and didn't seem to be too happy to find the agents at their doorstep. "Sir, Ma'am," the one said gruffly, "I'll ask you to turn around now, and leave. Forget that you were even here." "We're with the FBI," Mulder said flashing his badge. "The FBI has no jurisdiction here. I'll ask you once again to leave. Now." He repeated, this time more tersely. "Evans!" A female voice called from behind the two soldiers. Mulder and Scully looked over the soldier's shoulders to find a small Japanese woman quickly over to them, lab coat fluttering behind her. "It's okay. Let them pass," She commanded. "But-" "No. Let them come in," she snapped at him. Evans backed down and the two MP's returned to their posts. The Japanese woman pushed her small-framed glasses back up on her nose and extended her hand to Scully. "I'm Doctor Desaki. Project Leader." Scully nodded, "Agent Dana Scully. I also hold an M.D., and am a pathologist. This is my partner, Agent Mulder." Desaki nodded at him, "O'del told me to expect you two. I saw you outside with the surveillance camera. I can't talk to you here for obvious reasons," she glanced at the guards receding backs, and then continued in a hushed voice, "how about the diner down the road a few miles, Rosie's Family Diner.=" Mulder nodded, "We saw it on the way in. When do you want to meet there?" "Later today, 9:15," she said quietly. "Well, it was nice catching up with you all. Sorry about the trouble the MP'=s gave you. Just doing their job," She said in a jovial tone of voice, trying to throw anyone who might have been watching them. She smiled, "Wish you could stay longer but hey, work is work." Desaki laughed, turned, and walked back to the gate. Mulder and Scully watched as the guards unlatched it and let her back in. The two agents walked back the way they had come. *** They slipped back into their respective seats in the Taurus. Mulder, as usual, in the driver's seat. He jumped when his cell phone rang from in his coat pocket. "Mulder." "Where the hell are you?" a familiar, but angry, voice asked. "We're in New Mexico," he answered. Scully looked curiously at him and he mouthed 'Skinner'. "Care to tell me what you're doing there? Your latest case is in Maine that'=s *quite* a bit away from New Mexico." "We're following up a lead. I'm not sure how long we'll be here but it shouldn't be over a week, sir." "The hell it won't. One week or less, and your asses had better be on the first flight to D.C.," Skinner answered angrily. "Yes, sir. We'll have a full report ready on arrival," he said hoping to smooth over the situation a little bit. "I expect no less," he replied curtly and hung up. "Well he's not too pleased about all this," Mulder said, "Think we should've told him before hand?" Scully shook her head, "No way. Skinner never would've let us go. He would've been especially fired up about how you happened to come across that information from the DOD" "You're right," Mulder said turning the wheel hand-over-hand to turn around and head in the opposite direction they were facing. *** Sundel Motel 7:00 p.m. *** Scully unpacked in her room, adjacent to Mulder's in their customary fashion. She turned around to find him leaning in the doorframe staring at a spot on her wall. Scully waved a hand in front of his face, and his eyes snapped to focus on her. "Hmm?" "What are you thinking Mulder?" she asked. "Oh, just thinking about Dr. Desaki," he responded, "I mean why would she, the leader of a top secret Department of Defense project be so willing to talk?" "It is a bit strange, after all the tight lipped government officials we've run across. Maybe she has a reason to tell us? Maybe she needs our help," Scully answered. "Makes sense. I'm going to get a shower before we head over to the diner, okay?" he asked. "Of course, sounds like a good idea," she told him. Mulder stepped out of the hot shower, into the steamy bathroom. He tied a towel around his waist, and rubbed his dripping hair with another. He wiped a clear spot on his mirror and combed his hair. Man that felt good, he thought. I didn't think I got that dirty in the desert but I guess I did. After he had been dressed for a while, Scully stepped into his room, ready to go. Mulder checked his watch, and decided they'd better hit the road. He picked up the keys and she followed him out to their car. *** Rosie's Family Diner 9:07 p.m. *** They were early but that would give them enough time to find a table. Mulder stepped into the diner first, only to find it practically empty. A few truckers were scattered at some tables but that was about it. "Guess nobody but trucker's and paranoid FBI agents come out this far into nowhere," Scully whispered to Mulder. He smiled and moved toward a booth in the back corner. They sank into the sticky, torn leather seats, and Scully cringed slightly. I *just* got a shower, a voice in her head whined. A waitress came over to them and took out her pad and pen. "What can I get you folks?" she asked. "Just some coffee for me please," Scully said to her. Mulder nodded. "I'll have the same." Their coffee arrived a few minutes later and Scully frowned when she looked at the thick, oily, black liquid in her mug. She couldn't quite call it coffee. Mulder smiled, "Bottoms up Scully. It's the truckers' brew." "Great," she muttered. Mulder looked up as he heard someone enter the diner. Desaki stepped inside and scanned the room until she locked eyes with him. She walked briskly over to their table, and sat down next to Scully. "Now, I'm going to get straight to business," Desaki said, "I am currently working on a new biological weapon for the Department of Defense, as you may have gathered. The project's code name is 'Blue Sky'." Hmm I like her already, Mulder thought, slightly shocked. She cuts right to the chase. "We have been working with an enhanced strain of the Clostridium tetani bacteria." "The causative agent of tetanus," Scully filled in for Mulder's sake. Desaki nodded, "The carrier rate was improved from about zero to twenty-five percent in the normal tetanus bacteria, to anywhere from seventy five to one hundred percent. We enhanced the amount and intensity of tetanospasmin, or the toxin, produced when the bacteria germinates. Only a small amount of germination cell growth is required until the toxin is produced. The toxin has a specific action on nervous tissue, which may be an anomaly of nature. The toxin can be destroyed at 56 degrees Celsius in 5 minutes, however the purified toxin rapidly converts to toxoid at 0 degrees Celsius in the presence of formalin." She paused while they absorbed the information, "We have to keep the purified toxin over zero degrees Celsius. So, we were storing the toxin in a specimen refrigerator in the lab area of the facility, when the 'accident' happened. No one's been in the lab since, we've been waiting for an internal investigation but you know how that can go..." "You said the *accident* what happened?" Mulder asked. "I don't know exactly what happened but I have a feeling it was planned. I opened the refrigerator door, well it stuck at first, then when I did there was a brilliant white flash and all the specimen flasks shattered on me," Desaki said. "There was nothing in the refrigerator that could have done that spontaneously. I was hoping...well I think I can get you two in as internal investigators." The two agents glanced at each other and nodded. "Good, but pardon my asking," Mulder said, "Why are you being so helpful? A full internal investigation would produce the same evidence we will." "Maybe and maybe not," Desaki answered. "I've heard that you tend to lean toward the paranormal answers Mr. Mulder, and this may interest you. A few weeks after I had been cleared as not having the bacteria, I was fixing coffee and getting ready to go to work. I ran into the table and the mug fell from the edge. I was *really* not in the mood to clean up that mess I was already behind schedule, well somehow I suspended the mug in the air. I didn't know how it happened and I still don't. Then I pictured it falling and shattering, and it happened. I eventually came to the conclusion that maybe this was an effect from the bacteria, since I didn't get the disease," she paused, "I ran some tests on my own tissue samples. What I found shocked me. Apparently the toxin in the bacteria had somehow altered one of the protein bases in a few select strands of my DNA, specifically the purine base. It destroyed some of the proteins making up this base, synthesized different proteins, and they attached to the rest of the base. I haven't been able to figure out how but that has given me this...power...to freeze moving atoms." Mulder sat in silence absorbing this new information. Scully looked at her skeptically, "Pardon my skepticism but can you prove this 'power', as you call it, to us?" Desaki nodded, "I understand. Here." She picked up her fork and held it above her head. Desaki closed her eyes and dropped it. Scully and Mulder watched in shock as the fork dropped about a foot and then suddenly just, stopped. Desaki opened her eyes and sat back in staring at the fork hung in mid-air. Scully reached out to the fork, timidly, and touched lightly. The fork didn't budge. Desaki closed her eyes again and the fork dropped to the table. "Is that proof enough?" Scully swallowed and nodded. Desaki looked around at the few people in the diner. No one seemed to have heard or seen anything. Desaki checked her watch, "I have to be getting back." Mulder handed her his card, "Give us a call when you can." Desaki nodded and left the restaurant. From: Judochop9@aol.com Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 16:16:10 EDT Subject: Biohazard Chapter 3 [an X-File PG-13] Source: xff Chapter 3 *** Sundel Motel 8:27 a.m. *** Mulder lay sleeping on the motel bed when his cell phone rang, but its digital ring was not enough to rouse him on the first two or three rings. "MMmmm," Mulder groaned and pulled his pillow over his head. The cell was persistent he sighed when the caller didn't hang up and reluctantly stumbled out of his bed. Mulder squinted at the morning sun coming through the blinds. Must not be as early as I thought, he told himself. "Mulder," he mumbled into the cell phone. "Mr. Mulder, this is Dr. Kei Desaki," the voice said, "I can get you in as internal investigators. Where are you now?" "Uh, the Sundel Motel," he said. "I'll meet you in two hours," she replied and hung up. Mulder clicked the 'end' button. "Scully, hey Scully!" He called into the next room. "Mmmph. Go away Mulder," he heard her slur from the next room. He stepped into her room to see her face down in her bed trying to sleep. "C'mon sleepy head we have to get up." Mulder dodged as a pillow flew at his head. He looked back at where it landed in his room. "Close but no cigar Scul-" he started to say but another pillow slammed into the back of his head when he was turned away from her. "Hey!" he cried playfully and turned to see Scully sitting on her bed a big grin on her face. "Gotcha," she said. "So," she rubbed her eyes, "what is it?" "Dr. Desaki called. She can get us in," he answered, "She said she'd be here in two hours." Scully eyed him, "*I* get the shower first." *** Approximately one hour later both agents were clean and presentable. Mulder tossed his black boxers into his bag, and went to check on Scully. "I'm heading down to the lobby, do you want some coffee or anything?" he asked. "Sure. Coffee sounds good and if they have any doughnuts or pastries I'd really like one," she replied. "Doughnuts?" Mulder tisked, "that's not very health conscious." "Don't make me throw another pillow at you," she warned. *** Mulder had been sitting on his bed drinking the coffee when there was a knock at his door. He walked over to the peephole and saw Desaki standing outside. "Scully she's here," Mulder called. He opened the door. "Come in." Desaki stepped inside, with another person in tow. "This is Specialist Bateman," Desaki introduced her. "She'll be making your entrance badges for the investigation." Mulder shook her hand and led Bateman to a table in his room. They sat next to each other and Bateman pulled a high-powered laptop and some other equipment from a bag she was carrying. Scully sat with Desaki and talked with her about the technical medical details of the project. "Alright," Bateman said as she booted up the computer, "You'll need an alias for me to put on the badge." Mulder considered Rob Petrie, but decided no, that'd be too obvious. "James Tyrell." Bateman typed his name on a line on the badge. "DOB?" "September 12, 1961." "Alright. That's it. All your other physical data will remain the same." She input the rest of the information on the lines given for the badge. "Your partner?" Mulder smiled, Should he? Yes. "I think she'll trust me enough. Hmm name, Rachael Steele. Date of birth June 8, 1962." Bateman did the same process on another badge. While they waited for it to process, Mulder started some small talk. "So, you know anything about this bacteria, the advanced tetanus strain?" "Yes I've been fully briefed by Dr. Desaki," she answered. "She told me a good bit about it but there's one thing I'm still not clear on. How the bacteria would be spread. Tetanus has to be inside the body to act, correct?" Mulder asked. Bateman nodded, "The Department of Defense planned to give it out as a 'vaccine' to enemy countries, using one of their allies as an alias. This 'vaccine' would really be the virus, and it wouldn't turn up on a preliminary analysis because a vaccine has dead or weakened versions of the pathogen in it. This strain we have created remains dormant until inside the host's body. So then the person would become infected, and thus the demand for the 'vaccine' would be greater, creating a vicious circle." Mulder nodded, "Chillingly effective." Bateman produced a Polaroid camera. "Now say cheese." While she waited for Mulder's picture to develop she snapped on of Scully too. Then she pulled out of her bag a small flatbed scanner and hooked it up to the laptop and scanned in Mulder's picture. Once she had both the agents' pictures scanned she transferred them to the badges, very professionally. "Do this much?" Mulder asked. "You don't want to know," she responded, and began the print job for the badges. A few minutes later they had a pair of fully laminated, very official looking Department of Defense Investigation badges. Mulder and Scully slipped them into the tag casings Bateman gave them and attached them to their suits. "When can we start?" Scully asked Desaki. "Today," she replied, "In fact you can ride over with me if you want." *** They reached the facility approximately fifteen minutes later. Mulder and Scully waited as Desaki entered her code, the code they had used to get in yesterday had been annulled. The two agents followed Desaki down the spacious ramp to the guard station. "Ma'am," the guard said and nodded toward her. Fortunately these guards were different from yesterday's and wouldn't recognize them as FBI agents. Desaki had planned it well. He started to stop Mulder and Scully when Desaki raised her hand. "It's ok corporal these are the investigators I told you would be coming." Mulder and Scully flashed their fake badges, and proceeded to the main entrance. They stepped inside and it was much like a hospital only even more modern looking, and larger. They both stopped at the main room, which was where they put on the sterile bio suits, and then stepped into a small chamber. This was an ultraviolet chamber to kill any organism that might have gotten on the suits when they got in them. The black light stayed on for two minutes and then they were clear to enter the main facility, and most importantly the main lab. Desaki lead them towards it, and stopped before they went in. "No one's been allowed in here since the accident as I told you. Everything has remained untouched." Scully stepped in first followed by Mulder and Desaki. Other than glass shard spayed around the room, everything seemed intact. Mulder walked over to the still open specimen refrigerator. There was a faint black circle around where the flasks would have been. Mulder pulled out a bag and a small brush he'd been given for collecting evidence. Everything had to be checked by security before they left to make sure no residue of the bacteria left the facility. Mulder brushed some of the black powder into his bag, and walked back over to Scully. She had a camera and was taking photos of the scene. Other than that there was not much else to do. Mulder bent down and picked up a shard of the glass. Maybe forensics can find something from this too, he thought. Then another thought came to him. "Desaki," He said switching his headset to the frequency they had set for sensitive information. This way no one who was listening in on their headsets would know they weren't really who they said they were. "Can we use the FBI's labs, or do we have to use the DOD's?" Desaki thought for a moment, "It'd be better to use the FBI's because eventually they *will* get around to the official investigation, and we don't want anything showing you were working here. Can you keep it quiet at the FBI?" Mulder and Scully both nodded; they knew enough lab technicians, who could keep their mouths shut, to conduct the investigation. "Alright," she said, "I guess that wraps it up. I'll take care of the guard who saw you. And of any records that you were here." The two agents nodded, not wanting to know the exact details of how this would be done. All they needed to know was that it would be done. From: Judochop9@aol.com Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 16:16:03 EDT Subject: Biohazard Chapter 4 [an X-File PG-13] Source: xff Chapter 4 *** FBI Headquarters 12:30 p.m. Next Day *** Agent Jonau leaned over the microscope, focusing in on the black powder under the slide. He had already found traces of a compound mixture, with the presence of sodium, nitrogen, oxygen, and potassium. The elements were combined and pressed into a cord, commonly know as primer cord, used in pyrotechnics. This cord is very fast burning, and it has enough force to cut a two by four by itself. It was obviously used, by whoever planted it, to shatter the flasks. Jonau picked up his phone. "Mulder? This is Agent Jonau. I have the results you asked for..." *** "Scully, we got the results back from the lab. Apparently it was some sort of pyrotechnic device, known as primer cord, that was used to shatter the flasks. Someone must've rigged so that when the door opened, the flasks would shatter," Mulder called from the other room. "Who would do that?" Scully asked. "We need to call Desaki, see if she had any enemies there. If the facility wasn't so deeply concealed special interest groups could be suspect, but I think we can rule them out," he replied. "I'll try to get a hold of her now," Scully said and picked up her cell. "Dr. Desaki? This is Age-Special Investigator Steele. Yes. We need to set up a time to meet you, my partner and I have a few questions for you. Mmmhmm, ok. Yes we'll see you there in an hour. Thank you, good bye." "Desaki told us to meet her fifteen miles north of the facility," she told Mulder. *** Fifteen Miles North of Facility 10:35 a.m. *** Mulder pulled the car onto the gravel shoulder of the desert highway, behind a blue suburban with government plates. They stepped out of the Taurus and saw Desaki standing a few feet in front of the suburban. She looked out of place here with a stark white lab coat in the dusty road. The two agents walked over to where she stood. "So, you think you've found what's happened?" Desaki asked, turning to face them. "Yes. The refrigerator was rigged. It had a fast-burning cord in it that shattered the flasks. Now all we need is a suspect and to establish a motive," Mulder answered. "Was there anyone you worked with who had any prejudices against you? Anything?" Scully asked. Desaki thought for a few moments, then replied. "There was a technician I used to work with. I mean if you could call it working together. He had something against me, I think it was because I'm Japanese. His father died in World War Two. I think it's amazing how some people can hold an entire country responsible for what their ancestors did." Desaki shook her head refocusing on the topic. "We used to be paired up for the experimentation with the toxin. He would always argue with my findings, even if he came up with the same results. He could be so stubborn, he was *impossible* to work with!" Desaki paused a troubled expression beginning to form on her face. She frowned, " I can't remember him being in the lab the day it happened. Come to think of it he *wasn't* there." Mulder and Scully didn't need to hear anymore. This only confirmed the thought that had been forming in their minds when she first mentioned him. "Can we have a name? Address?" "His name was Pat Leonard. I can't think of his address off the top of my head but I can check for you," Desaki replied. Scully nodded, "Alright. Give either of us a call as soon as you can. Thank you." *** Leonard Residence 2:30 p.m. *** "Yeah?" A voice called from inside. "Department of Defense Internal Investigators. Open the door," Mulder called. The door swung open revealing a medium sized man in his early forties, clad in khakis and a polo shirt. "What do you want? "I'm Agent Tyrell, and this is my partner Steele. We need to ask you a few questions, mind if we come in?" "Like I have a choice? Fine. Go ahead," Leonard replied. He led them into a living room, and waited until they had sat down. "What's this about?" "Can you verify your whereabouts on the week of October 15?" Mulder asked. "Every day? Well let's see. Is this about what happened at the lab?" They nodded. "I haven't been in there since...let's see...September 25, or so. Caught a really bad bug, think it was the flu, although you never know in my line of work. So I was ordered to stay home until next week under quarantine. You can check, I haven't been anywhere near the lab since. In fact they had guards posted outside my house to make sure I didn't leave and spread the virus, just in case," Leonard paused, "Until about five days ago when this all started. I guess that Dr....Desaki was more of a risk than I was." "Did you have anything against Dr. Desaki?" Mulder asked. "Am I *still* under suspicion. Look I *told* you I haven't left the house," Leonard replied half angrily. "We still need to know," Mulder answered, "In case your story doesn't check out." Leonard sighed, "It wasn't a secret around the lab that I didn't like her. She got promoted over all of us and took over the position as project leader. It really made me bitter, a *damn* foreigner got *my* job!" "You said she got promoted over all of 'us'. All the other technicians?" Scully asked. "Yeah. She found some breakthrough or something like that with the bacteria.= Everyone was just so impressed," Leonard replied bitterly. "And what do you mean she took over the position as the project leader?" she asked him. "Oh, something happened to the old guy. He got too careless and they let him go, or something. None of us got to meet him, he was in a separate area from us. You know as much as I hate to admit it, there was one good thing about Dr. Desaki," Leonard said, "She got her hands dirty with the rest of us, like a regular technician, she didn't get a big head like the last guy. No, he was too 'good' to do the grunt work in the lab." "Thank you for your time, Mr. Leonard. We'll be in touch," Scully said and they left. "Do you think it's him?" Scully asked. "I'm not sure yet. We need to check up on his background and alibi, but let's call Desaki first okay?" Mulder asked. "Sure." *** Desaki sat at her kitchen table eating a bagel, while going over flow charts and reviewing results. "Now this, *this* is odd," she mumbled to herself. The phone rang and she got up to answer it. "Dr. Desaki." "Yes, this is Mulder. We have a potential suspect. Pat Leonard. He mentioned a previous project leader. Yes, well we have to do a check on his alibi, but I'm pretty sure it's him. He seemed shifty when we were talking to him," Mulder said. Desaki half choked half swallowed her bagel. "Thank you, Mr. Mulder." Something Mulder had said triggered a thought. Everything seemed to click into place now, it all made sense. Desaki grabbed her coat. It was time to take action of her own. *** Location Unknown Approximately mid-night *** Aaron McMeel walked through his living room toward the kitchen for a glass of water, when the power flashed, then went out. "Dammit," he cursed as he tripped over a pillow lying on the floor. He pushed himself up off the ground and waited until his eyes grew more accustomed to the new lighting. "What the hell happened to the power?" he asked, agitated. McMeel made his way into his bedroom to look out the window of the condo. "That's odd," he whispered. The rest of the building still had power. He reached over for his telephone but it was dead. The phone line was out too. He heard a faint creaking of a wood board coming from the living room. McMeel went over to his closet and pulled out a 9mm of his shelf. "Who-," McMeel cleared his throat. "Who's there?" he demanded. A shadow made it's way down the hall, but he couldn't make out who it was. "So, it was you. I thought so. Did you really think you could get away with it? Did the 'big man' fall from his position of power, and couldn't take it?= " "Desaki? Is that you? Listen, I-" "Shut up. I don't have to listen to *you*," she spat, venom dripping from every syllable. "I've had enough of you. You had *no* right!" She moved forward, face still shaded. McMeel raised the gun. "Don't make me.= " Desaki just laughed at that. A hollow laugh. McMeel clenched his eyes shut, and pulled the trigger. There was a bright flash, bright enough for him to see even through shut eyes, and a puff of smoke. McMeel exhaled, it was over. Then he heard her. A soft nasal chuckle at first that grew in intensity to a full laugh that chilled his blood. "Wha?" He whispered. The bullet meant for her chest hung like a Christmas ornament a few centimeters from her. "Oh, you didn't expect *this* to happen did you? The toxin you expected to kill me had an added bonus," Desaki said coldly. Desaki flicked her wrist and the bullet spun like a child's top, still suspended in air. "Round and round it goes," she said, "where it stops..." The bullet suddenly jerked to a stop, the tip now facing McMeel. He started to stumble backwards, but Desaki pointed at him and the slug slammed into his chest. "*Now* it's over," she said as she stood over McMeel. "It's all over." *** Mulder and Scully sat in the diner, eating breakfast. "I've been trying to reach Dr. Desaki, but her phone rings off the hook," Mulder said in between bites. "I want to let her know that Leonard's story checks out." Scully nodded, "I know." A waitress came over to their table looking flustered. "You two are like special agents of some sort right?" They nodded. "Well there's been a murder down in town. I just received the call from a friend who lives there. You might want to check it out," she said. They nodded and stood. Mulder left a few wadded bills on the table enough to cover the meal and a tip and they left. *** McMeel residence 7:30 a.m. *** Mulder and Scully stepped past the crime scene tape that the local PD had already set up. "Whoa, hang on there," a voice called from beside them. A policeman handed the clipboard he'd been writing on to someone else and walked over to them. "You can't go in there." "Agents Mulder and Scully with the FBI," Mulder told him and they flashed their badges. The man nodded, "Sheriff Grakie. The FBI here already? You boys are pretty quick." "Yes, we, um, came from the field office," Scully replied. "Oh. Well feel free to look around. Not much has been touched." The two agents nodded and stepped inside the house. They found McMeel laying on his back a bullet wound to the chest. His gun was lying a few feet from his right hand. The sheriff stepped in behind them. "Looks like a suicide. There were no reports of anyone else coming into Mr. McMeel's condo," The sheriff said, "And his neighbor's said McMeel was having trouble at work. Something about getting laid off. It's strange though, no one can tell us where he worked or what he did. No one knows." Mulder looked at Scully, and she gave him a don't-get-paranoid-on-me-yet look. She bent down and examined McMeel, and the sheriff left. "This is wrong...no mark...the gun," she murmured to herself. Scully stood. "This was no suicide, Mulder. He was murdered." Mulder looked down at her, curiosity perked. "What do you mean?" "Well here," Scully said pointing to the bullet wound, "There's no visible sign of gunpowder. For him to have shot himself, the distance would have been close enough to leave a visible sign of it. Secondly, most suicides don't shoot themselves in the chest." Mulder nodded. "I noticed something too," he said. "Look at where the gun is lying and the way the body is angled. There's no way he could have shot himself in the chest with the way the gun and body are positioned." "True. We should canvas the area for witnesses, and question the ones the police have already found," she replied. "Let's get started." From: Judochop9@aol.com Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 16:16:23 EDT Subject: Biohazard Epilogue [an X-File PG-13] Source: xff Epilogue *** Mulder and Scully sat uncomfortably in Skinner's office. "So, you mean to tell me that, there was an accident at a 'top secret' government bacteriological lab? And you cannot tell me where it was, only that they were making a new strain of the *tetanus* bacteria?" Skinner asked incredulously. The two agents swallowed. "Yes sir." He sighed. "*And* you tell me that the project leader was exposed to this 'agent' and wasn't killed but," he paused, "got the ability to stop moving objects in *mid-air*? I would expect this from you Agent Mulder, but you, Agent Scully?" "As unimaginable as it may sound, I *saw* her suspend a falling fork. The explanation I gave you in my report should cover it all," she replied. Skinner opened a folder sitting in front of him. "I read your report. I also saw that you found the 'accident' wasn't really an accident. You had an original suspect but he was cleared of blame. Then," Skinner read a line in the report, "a apparent suicide case came up, and you concluded that it was a *murder*, and Mulder here has an idea of who that murderer might be. The project leader, a Dr. Desaki. But, as usual, you have no conclusive evidence to back up this theory." "Sir," Mulder protested, "No one could testify to where this man worked, and he lived suspiciously close to the facility. He had recently been laid off, and I suspect that *he* was the previous project leader the first suspect, Leonard, mentioned." Skinner took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You know very well that I can't give this report to my superiors. You weren't even *assigned* to this case." He handed them their reports back. "You're dismissed." *** The two agents stepped out of Skinner's office, slightly disappointed. "What do you want to do with these?" Scully asked referring to the reports they held. "I'm putting mine in my collection," Mulder replied. "Of what?" "Reports that never got sent in. All the ones Skinner's rejected." Scully laughed and they made their way to the basement. "Think we should start on our next case file?" She asked half-heartedly. "No, you know what?" he asked, "I'm taking the rest of the week off." Fini