From schirmer@uslink.net Mon May 19 14:34:39 1997 Subject: NEW: Broken II: Shattered (1/5) From: schirmer@uslink.net -------- *This is INCREDIBLY late and unfare to fans, but here it is, in it's entirety. The five episodes of Shattered. You can finally see what has come to pass since "Broken". I hope that this was worth the wait! Please send any questions, comments, ect. to ! Thanks for your patience! * The characters and situations of the television program "The X Files" are the creations and property of Chris Carter, Fox Broadcasting, and Ten-Thirteen Productions, and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended. Please distribute my work about freely, as long as it remains unedited and my name remains in the credits. Characters not regularly seen on "The X-Files" come from only me. * Short summary: Part Two in the Broken trilogy. Mulder's been "abducted", Scully's held captive... what else could go wrong? As it turns out, a lot. Small portions of M/S Romance. * Classification: X, with small bits of romance * Spoiler: This story takes place after "Tempus Fugit" and "Max". Everything after has been disregarded. * This story is approximately a PG, for language. ****************************************************************************** The X-Files: Shattered Prologue Near Dana Scully's Apartment Washington, D.C. 4:03 AM The voice was so familiar. Dana Scully braced herself against the cold, brick wall as she stared at the stranger. The .44 was point blank from her skull. One shot... God, where had she heard his voice? The hidden man trembled as he prepared to shoot. His finger shook as it began pulling back on the trigger. He listened as Scully winced, "Mulder, I'll be with you again... soon." Mulder? What did she know about Mulder's whereabouts? Startled by what Scully had whimpered, he let his guard down. Only for a second. It was then, in that second, that the tables turned. Everything changed in the blink of an eye. Scully had sensed that if she was going to make a move and live, now would be the time. Her leg whipped forward with all of her fear and fury, and it collided with her assaulter's gut. He gasped for air and dropped to the ground. He glanced up, still hidden in the shadows. The kick wasn't about to stop him. He didn't want to anger the Cancer Man. He brought the gun up again, his false arm creaking, still wheezing. Scully jumped back again, startled by the man's determination. The man was as startled as Scully when the gunshot rang. Scully winced in pain and anger, glancing towards her left shoulder. She could feel the bullet, alien to her body, beginning to do it's work. Blood began to spew down her shoulder. And dripped from her nose. She brought her hand to her face and wiped the nosebleed away. No, Dana, she thought. Don't even start thinking about the tumor. You've gotta keep your wits up now. Don't even THINK about the goddamn cancer. As Scully brought her hand down, another shot rang. She winced again, but sighed a silent sigh when she heard the bullet ricochet of the brick behind her. Thoughts of death and pain and Mulder rushed through her, but she pushed them down, creating them into anger. And anger that sent her leg forward again. Scully wasn't sure if the crack that followed was just her imagination or if she had perhaps broken one or two of the attacker's ribs. She ruled out it being her imagination when the man let out a scream of agony and dropped to the ground, the gun falling out of his possession. Scully snatched it up, her shoulder sending a pain surging throughout her body as she did, and then aimed it at the attacker's head. "DON'T MOVE!!" Scully yelled with all her might. "Don't make a goddamn move!" The man, still wheezing and panting, looked up into her eyes. She got a clear look at his face. Her eyes widened, her mouth drooped. The voice... it belonged to... "Krycek?" Scully gasped. "My God. KRYCEK?!" The face was a familiar one, minus the newly grown mustache. His fake arm squeaked a little as he moved it. He winced from the pain in his chest as he said, "Agent Scully. It's a pleasure to see you again." Blood began to drip from Scully's nose again, and she quickly wiped it away. She ached all over, but wasn't about to think about it. "Who sent you?" she asked, her anger exposing it's self in her words. Krycek began to get to his feet, but Scully's foot pushed him down. He sighed, then answered the question. "Why do you care? Besides, I couldn't expose that information anyway." "Listen, Krycek," Scully spat. "The reason I care is because that person apparently wants me dead. And don't give me any shit. You're in NO position to be arguing." Krycek snickered. "What, Scully, do you plan on doing?" He winced, finally standing up. "Killing me? You jest! Isn't killing against FBI regulations?" Scully grimaced. "Not if it's in self defense!" she smiled, as another kick to the chest sent Krycek back to the ground. "And besides, I'm guessing I pissed off Skinner pretty bad... I'm sure he fired me." Krycek was wheezing again, clenching his chest. "God, are you're feet made of rock?" he said, off subject. "And you're wrong about Skinner. He didn't fire you, he went to my boss. That's why I was put up to this job." Scully shook her head, protesting. "No. Because I hung up on Skinner is no reason to kill me. This has something to do with the UFO crash, doesn't it?" Krycek snickered a little, forcing him to cough from the damage to his chest. "Brilliant, Holmes. But I thought you didn't believe in aliens! You're the skeptic, remember?" Scully opened her mouth to answer, but was stopped when she tasted the blood running down her face. She wiped off the blood, her mind heading back to the tumor. Krycek nodded. "Ah, yes. The cancer," he said, trying to stand up once more. "YOUR cancer. That's your reason for losing your skepticism." Scully shook her head, furious. "Or is it something else...? Perhaps... Agent Mul..." He was stopped by the firing of a gun, dropping back to the ground suddenly. He searched his body frantically for wounds -- none. Scully winced with fury. "I missed the first time. Next time, you won't be so lucky." Krycek shook his head. "The cancer man. He sent me. But you already knew that, didn't you? You've known he'd be after you since you found that green liquid in the field in Minneapolis." Scully nodded, slowly. "Yes. But none of that matters. All that matters now is..." "...Is finding Mulder." Krycek interrupted. Scully sighed, then turned towards the night street and ran. She ran, her mind clouded. Krycek knew everything. He was part of it all. And the cancer man...! What was so important about that fluid? Suddenly, Scully halted. Her mind continued clouding. She turned to the silhouette of the FBI agent she knew so well. He had killed Mulder's father. He had nearly spread a huge evil demon through humanity when he had been possessed by it. It was his fault. Alex Krycek finally made it to his feet, relieved. She was gone. He could finally stand up. Then, the gunshot. Krycek felt the bullet tear into his scapula. He screamed. His other arm! The scream echoed throughout the dark. He dropped to his knees once again, and his hard breathing and sobbing was only interrupted by Dana Scully's voice. "Isn't it too bad I don't work for the FBI anymore?!" * * * * His hearing sense was coming back, along with his sight. Fox Mulder lay beneath a beaming, white light, confused. He didn't, couldn't remember anything since that night he lay helpless before *THEIR* wrath. How long had he been out? How long had it been since the last time they had used him as their lab rat. His thoughts were interrupted by two silhouettes, which surrounded him, engulfed by the bright light. All that could be seen was the thick, gray blurb, scanning over him. It was a frightening image, wrapped with the eerie silence. But the silence was soon broken as one of the beings spoke. "Ho onn as eee binn oww..." the voice spat, in a tired voice. "Bow un eeek," said the other, this voice deeper. The first voice spoke again. "Ann air idd ew ein imm?" "Feil. Blooee an atterd." The first one did what appeared to be nod. Then, a small, high pitched beeping noise came. The original voice spoke again. "Utt." He paused, and Mulder awaited another voice. Nothing came, though, until the same voice spoke again. "I onn eye ayy." Mulder fought to listen to more, but his body was tired. He strained and fought, to no avail. Then, he passed out. * * * * Frohike hadn't slept in days. His tired eyes scanned over the green substance once more. Another one to add to the millions of times he had seen it. Langly walked up from behind. The voice startled Frohike. "Give it up," Langly said. "You'll never figure out what it is." Frohike shook his head. "It keeps moving around. I don't know what it is or..." Suddenly, he stopped. Langly stood, confused, looking over Frohike's shoulder. "Hey, Frohike," he said, nervous. "You okay?" Langly brought his head back from the microscope. "Jesus. Take a look at this." Frohike nodded, then brought his eye down to see. The liquid had changed. No longer a liquid, but an... Frohike backed up, startled. "Get Mulder on the phone." Langly nodded, then ran off. "This is the proof he's been looking for." * * * * Near Dana Scully's Apartment Washington, D.C. 5:59 AM The car sped through Washington, D.C., as the night faded to dawn. The streets weren't busy. That was bad. Scully could have gotten away quicker and easier, and with hardly any witnesses. Finally, the dark car came to a halt, screeching to a stop near the alley by Scully's apartment. An elder man stepped out from the backseat into the darkness that engulfed the man he had hired. His shoes stepped into the puddle of blood, streaming from Krycek's shoulder. "I can't believe you failed," the scratchy voice said. Alex Krycek turned his head up to view his boss. "Cancer Man," was all he choked out. The cigarette smoking man blew the thick Camel smoke into Krycek's face. "I can't believe you failed," he said as Krycek coughed, removing the cloud of tar from his lungs. "She's 70 lbs. lighter, she's shorter, and she's got a damn tumor. And yet, you're the one who's crouched in an alley, dying." Krycek was furious, and it took all of his strength to show it. "I got a shot off, too. Hit her in the arm. But she's strong. Stronger than you think, even with the 'damn' tumor. If I didn't miss my mark, she'll be coming after YOU next. You watch your ass, or you'll be dead." The cancer man shook his head. "No, no, Agent Krycek," he said. "You're mistaken. Agent Scully would never kill me." He paused, snickering a little. "She won't lay a damn finger on me." Krycek nodded. "Because of..." The cancer man interrupted, taking a puff of the cigarette. "Yeah. "Because I've got something too important to her." * * * * Scully ran. She had been running for what seemed like an eternity, clutching her shoulder, blood streaming from her nose. She had to get far enough away from Krycek and the Cancer Man before that bullet was removed. No matter HOW bad it hurt. As she ran, images flew through her head. The encounter with Krycek, the green liquid, her feelings for Mulder. Mulder... God, did she miss him. And at the same time, she hated him. For leaving. Before she could tell him. But none of that mattered anymore. As soon as the piercing bullet was removed, she knew what she had to do. Who she had to face. She needed to know the truth, to finally push her skepticism down. At all costs. * * * * Mulder's answering machine picked up the call. "Hi," said Mulder's familiar voice. "You've reached the FBI's most unwanted. Leave a message -- unless you're trying to sell me something." A small, high pitched beep followed. Langly's hysterical voice rushed out from the other line. "Mulder, get your ass down here now! And bring the champagne!" He paused. "We figured out what the green crap is!" continued... * * * * From schirmer@uslink.net Mon May 19 14:35:15 1997 Subject: NEW: Broken II: Shattered (2/5) From: schirmer@uslink.net -------- Disclaimer in part one... ****************************************************************************** The X-Files: Shattered Chapter One: What Once Was Lost... St. Joseph's Hospital Washington, D.C. 5:06 PM "How does a pretty little girl like you get a bullet in the arm?" Scully's arm ached with pain. It was a good pain, Scully decided, though. The bullet had been lodged inside for almost twelve hours before she finally had it removed. Scully smiled up at the elder nurse, who was busy wrapping gauze around the wound in Scully's shoulder. "It's a long story," was the answer Scully chose. "I don't want to bore you with it. So, am I ready to go yet?" The gauze was cut and taped down. "Why, aren't we impatient...!" laughed the nurse. "Does leaving so soon have anything to do with this 'boring' long story?" "Yes," Scully hesitantly confessed. The nurse smiled. "Apparently it's not such a boring story at all, Dr. Scully!" she exclaimed. "But, yes, you can leave whenever you feel like it. Just take a few aspirin, and keep it easy when using that arm, okay?" Scully nodded. "Thanks," she smiled, standing up and walking to the door. Her mind continued to race, as it had hours before, as she approached the elevator. Mulder, Krycek, the Cancer Man; everything was connected somehow. She was sure of that. It was how they were connected she didn't have a clue about. Scully thought about Agent Skinner as the elevator began to descend. Krycek had used Skinner as an excuse to fire a .44 at her, but she was sure that wasn't the only reason. The green liquid had something to do with it. But what? "God, Dana," she thought aloud. "You're mind is goddamned screwed." Scully exited the elevator and walked outside. An gloomy overcast hung above her head. She glanced around before finally hailing a taxi with her good arm. Her mind had slowed down. That was good. But what to do about the situation, she didn't know. She sat down in the musty car as the driver turned back to her. "Where to?" he asked, with a Mexican accent. "39th Avenue, north," she said. The driver nodded and began the journey. First, she'd head home. Then... ... Then it would be time. * * * * "Drriinkk thissss, Missste Mulller." Fox Mulder's eyesight was finally returning at a rapid rate, and his hearing sense was coming even more quick. His ears were now able to make out words. Maybe finally, after lying here for God know's how long, he could find out where, or why, THEY had taken him. The raspy voice continued. "It willll helllll youuu seeee." Mulder continued squinting, making out colors on the figure above. The face was a tan color, the color of human flesh. Beneath the neck, something long and red hung down, engulfed in a large gray mass, which made up the rest of the creature's body. Mulder shook his head and squinted harder, straining to discover details. Suddenly, Mulder felt the grip of it's hand on his face. It opened his mouth, and a soothing, cold liquid streamed down his throat. Cool, but bitter. Mulder fought to spit the horrid taste out, but was blocked by more of the same liquid entering his mouth. He winced as he swallowed. The voice did what Mulder thought was a small laugh. "Resssss assuuuuuured, Agennnnn Mulller," it said. "Youuuuuuull beee uppp onn yerrrr feeeet inn noo tiime." Mulder slept. * * * * Dana Scully's Apartment Washington, D.C. 5:41 PM Skinner stood in front of Scully's apartment, pounding on the door. "Scully!" he yelled, his powerful fist slamming once more to the doors wooden surface. "Scully! Open the door!" Dana Scully was unaware her former FBI Agent Director would be standing at her front door as she pulled up in the cab. Her mind began swelling again, filling with the anger that she felt. It was HIS fault that the X-Files were canceled out, making it his fault that Mulder had been furious and run off. It was all because of him. Scully handed the cab driver a wad of dollar bills, then stepped out into the cool capitol air. Her anger raised and raised in each step she took. By the time she reached her front door, all that she was able to mutter was, "YOU!" Walter Skinner spun around, surprised. "Scully," he said to the troubled woman. "Scully, I need..." Scully promptly interrupted. "You canceled the X-Files," she spat. "I argued with you and was almost killed because of it. GodDAMMIT, Skinner, you got Mulder killed." Skinner looked down towards the cement. He sighed heavily, then tried again. "Scully, you have to understand. It wasn't me! Our friend with higher power, he's pulling my strings, and you know that, dammit!!" He paused, taking a deep breath. "And besides, Mul..." "YEAH! It might have been the Cancer Man, but so what?! Why on earth would he kill me and Mulder?! It's because of how we acted towards you, right?!" Scully yelled. Inside, Scully knew this to be wrong, but right now, Skinner was the only one she could point blame at. Skinner yelled back, his powerful voice louder than hers. "I didn't want you KILLED!" Skinner spat. "I had no idea he was going to try to have you wiped out!! And about Muld..." "Let me inside," Scully interrupted once again. Skinner's face was beet red, obviously furious. Scully tried again. "Let me insi..." She was silenced by Skinner's strong hand, slapping across her face. "SCULLY! SHUT THE HELL UP FOR ONE MOMENT AND LISTEN!!" Scully jumped back, breathing heavily from pain and astonishment. Skinner began talking again. "Scully, Mulder is ALIVE." Scully just stared. Skinner stared right back. * * * * "Geez, Mulder," Langly spat. "Pick up the damn phone." With a heavy sigh, Langly put the phone back on the receiver. He clenched his fist, then slammed it down to the table. God, why wouldn't Mulder call back?! Byers walked over from across the room. "Still no luck?" he asked his troubled friend. The response he got was a mere shaking of Langly's head. Byers nodded to himself as he said, "Well, keep trying, Langly. You're bound to get a hold of him sooner or later." Another dark sigh from Langly was all Byers got as he walked back to the microscope. Langly began talking to himself in an act of frustration. "God, Mulder's gonna miss the whole show!" He scooted over on his desk chair to the microscope where Frohike and Byers stood, watching in awe. Langly put his eye to magnifier. "God," Frohike said to no one in particular. "It's growing even faster. You'd better get a hold of Mulder soon. He won't want to miss this." Langly nodded, pulling his head away. All three were silent. Byers was the one to break that silence. "Hey, Langly," he said, a glint of hope in his eye. Langly looked up at him. "Have you tried Scully yet?" * * * * 5:49 PM "...So the Cancer Man sent Krycek after you?" Skinner sat in Scully's apartment, sipping on a cup on warm coffee. Scully paced back and forth repeatedly in front of him. "Yeah," Scully finally answered. "Our dear pal Krycek." Skinner just shook his head. Suddenly, Scully changed the subject. "Now, how the hell do you know Mulder is alive?" Skinner sighed, then began his story. "Last week when you got so angry over the phone, I knew something was wrong, " he said. "I reported it to the Cigarette Man, who promptly fired me for 'not keeping track of you'. "I decided I'd find out what was wrong myself, so I headed to Minneapolis." He paused, taking a deep sip of his coffee. "I searched your motel rooms, but nothing came about. I was about to leave, and then I decided to check out the 'UFO' crash sight." Scully sat down, intrigued. "And that's where you found Mulder?" Skinner nodded. "Damn good thing I did, too, Scully. Mulder had been nearly torn apart. He had some pretty bad wounds, and I did the only logical thing." "What?" Scully asked, fluttered. "Skinner, where is Mulder?" Skinner shook his head, looking to the floor. Scully tried again. "Skinner, tell me where Mulder is." Skinner's eyes raised to meet her's. "I took him to the Cancer Man." Scully's eyes widened. She was speechless. Skinner continued. "I took him to the goddamn Cancer Man. And because I did that, I got my job back." Scully could only stare. Time seemed to stand still. An ear piercing silence filled the atmosphere of Scully's apartment. Skinner and Scully stared, both deeply confused. The silence was suddenly disturbed, though, with the wringing of Scully's telephone. Scully jumped, surprised by the sudden noise. She quickly stood up and grabbed the phone, fleeing the agitating scene with Skinner. "Scully," she answered, her voice very nervous. Langly's voice exploded through the receiver, obviously excited. "SCULLY! Ha ha!" he near shouted. "Oh, man! Are we glad to get a hold of you!!" "Settle down, Langly," Scully said, trying to calm him. "Scully, get your ass down here... NOW. And bring Mulder." Scully tried again. "Langly, Mulder's not here. He's... *missing*." Her voice became stone cold as she said that last word. Skinner cringed in the corner. Scully finished, "What's the big deal, anyway?" Langly was nearly a wreck, his voice almost a scream, as he said: "Scully, we figured out what that green crap is!" Scully nearly dropped the phone. continued... From schirmer@uslink.net Mon May 19 14:36:07 1997 Subject: NEW: Broken II: Shattered (3/5) From: schirmer@uslink.net -------- disclaimer in part one-- if you haven't read the first two REVISED parts, then this will be mucho confusing! The X-Files: Shattered Chapter Two: Encounter The Lone Gunmen's "Hideaway" 5:52 PM Langly's chair scooted across the room, telephone in hand. "Scully, we figured out what that green crap is!" he exclaimed, dipping his eye to the microscope once more. There was no response from the other line. "Scully?" Langly asked. "Did you hear me? I said, we know what it..." "I heard you," Scully's voice interrupted. Langly pulled the microscope away, staring at the cluster of green liquid with his naked eye. He could see all of the little particles without the microscope! They had doubled in size in almost an hour! It was growing like... "LANGLY!" Langly snapped out of his trance. "H-huh?" he stuttered. * * * * Dana Scully's Apartment same time "I said, what exactly is it?" Agent Dana Scully's eyes were wide, her jaw nearly on the ground, and Walter Skinner was puzzled by the exasperated look. She paced about her apartment, more quick than she had just a moment ago when talking to Skinner about her partner's disappearance. Langly's voice came from the phone. "Well, Scully," his voice said, glee shining through. "I guarantee you've NEVER seen anything like it, even with your medical practice. It's some kind of life form and it's growing faster than hell. I give it a day or two, TOPS, before it's fully grown." Scully stopped pacing. "W-what kind of life form?" she choked. Langly laughed. "Well," he smiled. "Let's just say this might prove Mulder's beliefs. It's nothing that came from this goddamned earth." Scully kept the same blank expression on her face. "That could explain why Krycek tried to kill me..." she stammered, but quickly caught herself. "No, wait a minute! What the hell am I talking about? It can't be an alien!" "Why?" question Langly. "What makes you so sure that this isn't an E.B.E., huh? Scully, think about it -- about all you've seen, about all of the cover ups that you've bought... it's time to wake up." "No," Scully spat, frustrated. "It's not. Because I know I'm right. I'll be my life on it." "One look at THIS," Langly said, referring to the growing green liquid, "and you'd change your mind. "Just get down here soon," Langly said, sternly. "I don't want you... or Mulder, for that matter... to miss the show." Scully opened her mouth to dispute, but a dial tone was all she heard. She shook her head, thinking aloud, "Growing life form?" Skinner had kept quiet long enough. He interrupted her train of thought, speaking. "Scully?" he asked. "What was that all about? And who's Langly?" Scully spun around to face her former director. Her voice came prompt, swift, and stern. "Get up," she spat. Skinner jumped up. There was no way he was going to argue with an agent who could take a bullet in the arm and run for twelve hours. Scully finished, grabbing her gun. "We've got someone to talk to." * * * * Federal Bureau of Investigation Medical Wing 6:27 PM It was a very bright light. That was the first thought that crossed Mulder's mind as he opened his un-dilated eyes. Agent Fox Mulder awoke after heaven know's how long, and noticed the cramps and pains immediately. Slowly, he rose to a sitting position, grunting the entire way up. He winced as he attempted to look around with his stiff neck. For the first time, he would see *THEM*. He would see the inside of a UFO. He would... Cold realization struck Mulder with an astounding force. He looked around, all the pain suddenly disappearing from his body. What the hell was he doing in a hospital? More specifically, a hospital bed? It was true, Mulder recognized everything. It was the same sight he would see in any hospital ever. The same plain, tiled walls. The same tight, enclosed walls. The same completely and utterly uncomfortable "bed". "But I..." Mulder began to say aloud, then stopping. No, he thought. This isn't right. He remembered in vivid detail that night in Minneapolis. He remembered staring into the vortex which would surely be his undoing -- the alien craft. He remembered his ascension, the cold breeze streaming through his thick hair. It was all so clear, so wonderful and frightening at the same time. But this...? A hospital? "Ahh, Mr. Mulder," came a sudden and familiar voice from behind. Mulder spun his head rapidly, once again wincing from the pain. He found himself staring into the same cold face he had seen so many times. The face that was responsible for all of his pain. The face... ...of the Cigarette Smoking Man. Mulder dropped his feet out of the bed on on to the icy floor. Pushing with all of his might, working his stiff and tired muscles to their maximum, he finally found his way to the standing position. But not for long. His feet suddenly slipped from under him. Using his quick reflexes, he grabbed on to the bed as he fell, keeping himself from hitting the floor. "You," he finally hissed, his confusion building. How could the cancer man be here...? "Mr. Mulder," the Cancer Man smiled. "You're a very sick man. Just lie back down and relax, and we'll get you something nice to ea..." "How?" Mulder interrupted, once again pushing himself to his feet, this time maintaining his balance. "How the HELL could you be here? They took me, but I'm here...?" The elder man shrugged a very small and simple shrug. "Yes, you're 'here'," the Cancer Man stated. "If 'here' is Washington, D.C. More specifically, the medical wing of the Bureau, in Washington, D.C." Mulder tried to walk in his fury, but his feet still wouldn't take it. Another slip, but this time Mulder was ready, catching himself more rapidly. "This isn't right..." Mulder said, straining himself to stand up once more. "I'm not here. I *CAN'T* be here..." The Cancer Man dropped his smoke, snuffing it out with his toe. "Mr. Mulder," he squinted. "Your questions aren't adding up. 'Why am I here?' 'How could you be here'? Mulder, where exactly do YOU think you are?" Mulder tried once more to take a step. This time, it stuck. But he didn't care. His mind was still too angry. "Don't give me this bullshit," Mulder spat. "You've been covering them up forever. And now I know for sure." He took another step. Another victory. "I know because I saw it with my own eyes. I felt them take me away. I sensed their presence. "You know I was up there as well as I do," Mulder spat, squinting. "Just like Samantha. I'm just like her..." Another step. "...because they took me away." The Cancer Man sighed heavily, taking out another Camel and lighting it. "Mr. Mulder," he shook his head, puffing out the deep tar cloud. "You've been unconscious for a week. Look at you! You're walking like a baby taking it's first steps! And surely, while you were sleeping, you were having dreams. Now if you'd please lay down, we'll..." Mulder interrupted, taking another step. "You..." he glared. "You make it sound so believable, like you really do care about me and about the other thousands of victims." Another step. Mulder was only a few feet from the Cancer Man now. Close enough to break his jaw. But Mulder didn't resort to violence. He continued. "What the hell was the big deal about the downed alien craft in Minneapolis? Huh?" Mulder spat. "It wasn't any more different than all of the other cases me and Scully covered!" Scully! Was she all right? No, what did it matter. She had nearly shooed Mulder away after that kiss... "That UFO crash wasn't any different!" Another step. Mulder began to feel the hatred boiling in him. "And yet, during this one, we got too close! So you shut us down. You take away anything and everything that's ever been important to me. "And you figure you can still feed everyone line after line," Mulder said, his voice becoming cold. "And you hope they all buy it. But we don't. We don't believe any of the goddamn crap you try to give us. 'It was a weather balloon,' or, 'You're hallucinating.' But I know what I've seen is real. Your lies are nothing to me. "And neither are you." Mulder was breathing heavy, noticing the sweat dripping down his brow. The Cancer Man was obviously startled by Mulder's sudden outburst. "Mr. Mulder," he sighed. "You've been a thorn in my foot for too long." Mulder was thinking the same thoughts as the elder man. What were they going to do about Mulder? He knew he was right. He knew what he had seen was real. What was there to do except... Mulder couldn't react in time. The Cancer Man's hand flew into the dark, brown trenchcoat he was wearing. Slowly, he exposed a .90 caliber pistol, silencer and all. Mulder's heart began to race, but he would not let it show. Mulder stood, still breathing hard, as the gun was raised and put point blank next to his forehead. Mulder smiled as he thought aloud, scared out of his mind. "Murder," Mulder smiled. "The ultimate coverup." In a moment, it would all be over. Mulder winced. * * * * 6:29 PM Scully stepped out of the yellow cab, with Skinner right behind her. "Scully," he asked. "What's going on? Why did we come here?" They stood in front of the building in which they had devoted their lives to the government. The Bureau. It looked the same as it always had in the rapidly dimming sky. Scully turned to Skinner, glaring. "You said you brought Mulder to the Cancer Man?" Scully asked. Skinner nodded. "Well, we've come to get him back. "A friend of his wants to show him something." Slowly, Scully and Skinner approached the building. And unaware to Skinner, Scully was cradling a .44. * * * * 6:31 PM "Jesus H. Christ," Frohike spat over Langly's shoulder. The three Lone Gunmen hovered around what had once been a green liquid. Byers turned to Langly. "You did call Scully and Mulder...?" he asked. Langly nodded, then turned his attention back to... ...To the eggs. The liquid had grown into a batch of transparent eggs, unlike any that the Gunmen had ever seen. Inside, small lifeforms could be seen, growing at a rapid rate. Langly broke the eerie silence that engulfed them. "Maybe this is a way of keeping the species alive. Maybe whatever that green liquid was ensures a new generation will form." "Who the hell cares?" Frohike spat. "Look at this! We've got aliens growing in our lab!" The three laughed, cheering with glee. They patted each other on the back, more excited than they had ever been. Then, the crash. All three immediately stopped, spinning around. Behind them, a figure hidden the dark stood. He was a brooding silhouette, and it seemed as if he was growing darker as he approached them. His voice boomed through the lab. "I've come for the eggs. Cooperate... "...and I won't take your lives, too." continued... From schirmer@uslink.net Mon May 19 14:36:47 1997 Subject: NEW: Broken II: Shattered (4/5) From: schirmer@uslink.net -------- disclaimer in part one The X-Files: Shattered Chapter Three: Downhill Federal Bureau of Investigation Medical Wing 6:32 PM Mulder's smile still donned his face. "Murder," he grimaced. "The ultimate coverup." The Cancer Man would have been weaker and easily overpowered if Mulder had his full strength. But after waking up after a week of being unconscious, his muscles were tight and cramped, making it impossible to throw the .90 caliber pistol aimed at his skull to the ground. He heard the gun being cocked, wincing, knowing that in a second his life and his secret would both be bleeding from a fatal bullet wound in the skull. He could almost feel the Cancer Man's fear as his finger began to squeeze the trigger... "FREEZE!" Both Mulder and the Cancer Man glanced to the doorway of Mulder's hospital room. There, tightly gripping a gun, Agent Dana Scully stood, with the Assistant Director of Resources Walter Skinner standing behind her. Everyone but Scully was surprised at her appearance. The Cancer Man was the first to notice the bullet wound to the shoulder, as well as the small stream of blood trickling down Scully's lip. Scully noticed the blood next. Damn cancer, she thought, wiping the blood away. The Cancer Man smiled as he lowered the gun. "Why, Agent Scully!" he snickered, pulling out another cigarette. "What a pleasant surprise." Scully's pressure, all of her feelings, everything had molded into a large piece of anger, and she knew exactly who to aim it at. "Don't give me any shit," Scully spat. "I want to know what the hell has been going on, and I want to know NOW." Mulder smiled. God, did she have guts. It wasn't any wonder he was so in lo... The Cancer Man broke Mulder's train of thought, and once again the gun was at Mulder's head. The elder man shook his head, squinting through his own smoke. "Agent Scully, you've been worried to death about THIS," he said, gesturing to Mulder. "And I have an idea that you want him back. So put the gun down, and he's yours." Scully clenched the gun tighter. Did she want to risk Mulder...? No, not at all. She had worried too much and too long for him. But she stood her ground. "I want Mulder," she spat. "And I need the truth." "Doctor Scully," the Cigarette Smoking Man said. "What do you need with the truth?" "Right now," she nearly yelled. "I have three people who say they've discovered an unknown life form in a pile of green liquid I collected from the 'crash' sight in Minneapolis. Is it an alien?" "Ahh, Scully. I thought you were the skeptic," the elder man smiled. "IS IT A GODDAMN ALIEN?!" Scully yelled, obviously losing her edge. Skinner held back. There was no way he was going to get involved in this. At least, not until one of the other three was dead. The Cancer Man shook his head, almost looking like he was disappointed. "Agent Scully," he muttered, "You ask me to tell you what I know. You ask me to give you your ex-partner. I, in return, I get nothing. Nothing. Well, that just isn't right." He cocked the pistol again, and Mulder heard it loud and clear. The Cancer Man grabbed Mulder's head by the hair and threw the gun to it. "Now," the elder man snickered. "You're faced with a decision. What's more important? The truth?" He shook Mulder, pulling the hair tighter. "Or Mulder?" Mulder's beaming eyes stared back into Scully's. God, she needed him. And she needed the truth. She had no idea what to do. * * * * The chair came down upon Byers's head hard, and he fell to the ground, moaning in pain. It hadn't been a memorable fight for the Lone Gunmen. The stranger in the dark coat hadn't looked as strong when he first arrived at their now un-secretive lab. He had bellowed, "I've come from the eggs. Cooperate... and I won't take your lives, too." Frohike had been the first to attack. He ran up no later than the instant the words left the assaulter's lips, yelling menacingly as he approached. He jumped, slamming his fist down hard into the man's shoulder. Unfortunately, his fist didn't effect the stranger as much as Frohike had hoped. The assaulter's fist wasn't different, though. Harder. Tighter. And it hurt a hell of a lot more as it found it's way across Frohike's face. He had tasted blood before the fist had even left his face. And he had dropped to the ground, leaving it up to the other two Gunmen. Langly had been startled. "You bastard!" he yelled. "You could have killed him!!" The man drew nearer, exposing a mustache on his younger face. "Give me the eggs," he demanded. Langly attacked next. His fight, too, was less than successful. And what seemed merely the instant he had begun his attack, he joined Frohike in the corner, bleeding. The younger man drew nearer to the prize that he had come for, and Byers tried to hold his ground. Unfortunately, the large, gliding chair had found it's way to the attacker's side, and it came down HARD on Byers. The small batch of eggs lay unguarded. Slowly, the hidden man took out a lighter. The eggs burned quicker than the Gunmen could have hoped, sending an unpleasant stench into the air. The man proceeded in trashing each and every document the Lone Gunmen had written about the growing life form. After what seemed like an eternity, his tiresome job was done. Or so the Gunmen thought. He walked over to the three men, who had tucked themselves in a corner, trying to let their pain cool off. Frohike looked up to the man. "You've destroyed our evidence. You've defeated us. What more do you want?" Frohike wished he hadn't asked, as the small needle was exposed. "Your memory," the man snickered. And as he inserted the needle into each one of the helpless men, a though passed through his head. Truly, the coverup was fully complete. * * * * 6:34 PM Dana Scully stood her ground, the gun aimed directly at the Cancer Man's skull, staring her partner into the eyes. Mulder's look of terror, his look for help, was enough to drive her over the edge. She opened her mouth to speak, to tell the Cancer Man that Mulder was more important than the truth. It was then that she tasted the blood running down her lip. Was the truth more important? Maybe be exposing the truth, she'd be able to be the sole survivor of the abducted women. Abducted? Goddammit, Dana, she thought. Now you're starting to SOUND like Mulder! You NEED him! And you NEED the truth. "I grow tired of waiting, Scully," the Cancer Man said, breaking the silence. "When I reach 'three', have a decision made, or I'll make the decision for you." He clenched Mulder's hair tighter. "One." Mulder will die, Dana. And so will you, if you don't get the truth. "Two." Dammit, dammit, dammit, Dana! Mulder will be dead in a second!! But you need to the know!! "Scully, what is your answer?" Mulder! The truth! Oh, hell! The Cancer Man sighed, cocking the .90. "Well, Mr. Mulder," he snickered. "You'll be with your family again shortly." He clenched the trigger. "Father..." Mulder winced his eyes. "And little Samanth..." "STOP!!!!" Scully's scream was earth shattering. All three of the others in the room jumped, turning to face her. She was panting with frustration, and her eyes were squinted tight. "Let him go," she spat at the elder man. "Let Mulder go." Skinner let out a sigh of relief from behind. The Cigarette Smoking Man smiled, uncocking the gun and slipping it away. "Wise choice, Agent Scully," he smiled, releasing Mulder's head, who promptly ran to Scully. "But I didn't doubt that you would chose Mulder in the end for a second. After all, the power of love is much stronger than curiosity." But Scully and Mulder weren't listening. Scully was wrapped tightly in Mulder's arms, her eyes shut tightly, their lips pressed together. They stood there, wrapped in their delight, smiling deep down inside. This is what the both wanted. This is what they both needed. Each other. * * * * 6:51 PM Mulder had been sent to another hospital immediately afterword, to get the rest and medical attention he needed. Scully stood in a familiar hallway of the Bureau in which she had devoted her life to. She didn't notice as Skinner approached from behind. Her mind was too busy right now. "Scully," Skinner began. Scully jumped, startled. Skinner drew nearer. "That was some damn nice work back there. You're a lot tougher than I thought." He paused. "And a lot smarter." Scully knew what he meant, and she smiled back at him. She turned to face her former FBI Director and smiled. "Skinner, thank you," she said with a sigh. "I owe you a lot. For helping me, for telling me the truth, for being there when..." "...When Mulder wasn't," Skinner finished. Scully smiled a little brighter. "Yeah," she said, nodding her head. Skinner returned the nod. There was an awkward stare between the two, before Skinner finally said, "Agent Scully, I'm going to miss you. Not having you in my section of the Bureau is going to be... different." Scully's eyes glanced up into his. She was touched, no doubt. But she didn't let it show. Instead, she just said, "Who said I'm not going to work in you sector anymore? Who said I'm giving up the X-Files?" Skinner's eyes went wide by the sudden remark from Scully. "Well, the Cancer Man says so. He kind of reassigned you and Mulder, as well as shut down the X-Files." Scully nodded. "Yeah," she smiled. "He may have. But I have to talk to him. "After all, we still need to discuss the rest of the deal. Mulder or the truth was completely unfair." "And if he doesn't let you argue...?" Skinner asked. Scully stepped up on her tip toes and whispered into his ear. "I've still got a gun." concluded... From schirmer@uslink.net Mon May 19 14:37:33 1997 Subject: NEW: Broken II: Shattered (5/5) From: schirmer@uslink.net -------- disclaimer in part one The X-Files: Shattered Epilogue St. Joseph's Hospital Washington, D.C. 7:56 PM "Over my dead body!" Dana Scully sat next to her newly reassigned partner, Fox Mulder, with a glint of sadness in her eye. When the Cancer Man had agreed to reopen the X-Files, Scully was ecstatic. But that happiness faded quickly. Scully learned that with the Cigarette Smoking Man, there was always a catch. If you thought you had a good deal, he'd slaughter it. This time was no different. Sure, he had agreed to start the X-Files once more, but he was hellbent to keep Mulder away from them. So that was it. Scully could have her X-Files job back, while Mulder kept his reassignment. Mulder was not taking the news well. "Mulder," Scully tried to protest. "You have to understand! The Cancer Man thinks he can pull your strings. He thinks he'll trick you into quitting if..." "He's pretty damn close to tricking me," Mulder spat, interrupting. Scully sighed, then opened her mouth to speak. But Mulder continued. "Scully, he doesn't THINK he can pull my strings. He KNOWS he can pull my strings. Because he knows me. It was him who had my dad killed, it was him who almost drove my mom to death, and it's him who knows where Samantha is." Scully stood up. "Mulder, stop!" she yelled. "Stop chasing your sister! We both know she's gone! I can feel that in you! And the alien abduction story..." "...is one you're starting to believe, Agent Scully," Mulder stopped her. Scully remained hushed. All Mulder could do was smile. * * * * The Cancer Man paced his room back and forth. His mind wandered back and forth between Scully and Mulder. Was it the right thing to do, reinstate the X-Files without Agent Mulder? He had seen Mulder's stamina, his ability to pursue, to go against the odds until he found what he was looking for. And the Cancer Man was sure, no matter what happened, no matter if the X-Files were no longer his, Mulder would go after his sister until he found her. Of course, it was up to the Cancer Man to find her first... Then came the thoughts of Scully. Perhaps he should have told her... about the cancer, he meant. And how the deadline was coming nearer and nearer... she was a good agent. A DAMN good agent. And if he didn't act fast, there would be no way to save her. A heavy sigh followed as the Cancer Man sat down, lighting up. God, this was getting too hard. He was developing a heart. Well, he thought, inhaling on the cigarette, closing his eyes in ecstasy as he tasted the thick tar. At least I still have my true friends... * * * * Scully smiled as the familiar sound of Frohike's voice exploded out of the other end of the receiver. "Uhh... hello?" Frohike asked, sounding groggy and tired. Scully became instantly worried. "You okay, Frohike?" she asked. Frohike sighed. "Yup," he said. "Just a little bruised from... somethin'. Don't really recall what." Scully was still concerned, but decided to forget it. Right now, she needed to know about the substance that Langly claimed was 'growing'. "Anyway, Frohike, listen," she chirped. "I need to know exactly what that green liquid is. NOW." Frohike's voice came swift and abrupt, like a fist to the gut. "Green liquid? What the hell are you talking about, Scully?" Scully fell dead silent. "Scully?" Frohike asked. "Scu-u-ully?" * * * * "...And even now, that horror which is the coverup is still being worked." Mulder lay in bed, grinning up at his partner. Scully's disappointment from the phone call was easily visible on her face. She sighed heavily. Mulder chortled. "Don't be depressed," he comforted. "After all, this is only your first coverup. Mine have numbered plenty." Scully shook her head. "No, Mulder," she said solemnly. "This isn't a coverup. There's some scientific explanation to everything. We just don't know what that explanation is." "Look at yourself, Dana!" he said, nearly shouting. Scully was surprised that he had used her first name. "Your still acting as stubborn and skeptical as our first case together!! Think about it -- about all you've seen! Don't you understand? It's a goddamn conspiracy!!" "Mulder!" she spat back, almost at the same decibel level. "Shut the hell up and look at your life! Because you're chasing down these damn conspiracies, your only true love, those damn X-Files, have been canceled out! There worried about you chasing your sister and making stupid observations and choices! "So maybe the truth is out there. Maybe that's where it should stay. At least that way, you'll have a job to go to in the morning." Mulder's eyes glanced around the room. He could feel tears swelling. She had found the tender spot, all right. He sighed before he said, "Then explain this to me, DOCTOR Scully. Explain why I right now, along with everyone else who thinks they've been an abductee, all have this feeling of weightlessness. I've had it since I woke up yesterday. Explain to me why you and all of the other women who say you've been abducted developed tumors. Scully, explain to me what the hell happened to my sister when I was twelve." Scully sat for almost a minute before opening her mouth, but Mulder silenced her before she could speak. "You see?" he asked. "You can't explain it. Nothing in science can. Only the truth can, Scully. Only the GODDAMN truth!" Mulder's voice was raising; he was obviously choking up. "And that's all that matters, Scully. The truth. I know it. The Cancer Man knows it. And I think..." Scully stared, knowing what the next line was already. "I think, SKEPTICAL Agent Scully, that you know it, too." Both stayed silent for a while. They both were near tears, but for different reasons. Mulder hated her stubbornness, he hated the fact that he couldn't get over her, and he hated the fact that his life was hell. Scully... ...She was fearing. Fearing her partner was right. The long, painful silence was finally broken by Mulder's voice. "If the Cancer Man's going to keep me away, I'll help him out." From beside the bed, he grabbed his FBI tag and handed to Scully. Her eyes widened. "Turn this is for me. I won't need it anymore." "Mulder..." Scully tried, but to no avail. Her response from Mulder was cold. "Scully, I love you," he said, rolling away from her beaming eyes. "And I think if you love me, you'll see why I'm doing this." That was true. Scully could see why. Mulder was trying to escape. "Now leave me," Mulder finished. "Tell the Cancer Man I'll clear out my office tomorrow." Scully opened her mouth, but nothing came out. And she knew why. Because Mulder was doing the right thing. Slowly, she stood up, clenching the badge in the hand on her good arm. The door squeaked open, then quietly closed. Outside, all Dana Scully could do was cry. * * * * Mulder picked up the last cardboard box, recently sealed with the duct tape, and moved it towards the door. His eyes glanced around the musty basement office which he had devoted himself to. God, did it look different. And he was going to miss it. Mulder's eyes scanned everything thoroughly, taking one last look at the office which had been his home for years. He was startled when he noticed that he had forgotten to take down his favorite poster. He began to walk over to it's place, but halted. It was a familiar sight. The UFO hovering in the daylight. The green pines planted solemnly below. And the bold, white print. For the first time in his life, he read it aloud. "I want to believe," Mulder winced, surprised to find a tear coming down his cheek. Mulder laughed through the tear, wiping it from his face. "Yeah," he said. "I DO want to believe." He sighed, turning his back to the poster, letting it hang where it always had. He reached the door and took one last glance to the office and to the poster. "I want to believe," he said, shaking his head. "But I live in a country where my own government won't allow it." Quietly, he pushed the light switch down and closed the door. fin * * * * Keep reading! "IN PIECES", which has already been posted, is part three in the Broken trilogy! I have ideas for a prologue, an aftermath, and a finale to this story, to extend the parts to six. What do you think of that idea? Please send all comments to . THANKS!