From: tim Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: Filter (Prolog and Day1) Date: Tue, 30 Apr 1996 13:59:41 +0100 Story : "Filter" Author : Tim Bentley (t.a.bentley@bradford.ac.uk) Genre : X-Files Setting : Post Season 2 Adult : Minimal language, no sex, no violence Length : 7500 Words (Approx 20 pages A4) Format : Generic DOS Text (ASCII) Filename: LAMBS2.TXT Notes : The characters Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Cancerman, Mr.X, Walter Skinner, and The Lone Gunmen, are the property of Chris Carter and Ten-Thirteen Productions used without permission. The characters Will Graham, Jack Crawford, Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter are copyright Thomas Harris and used without permission. The characters Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin are the property of A.A.Milne and are used without permission. No infringement is intended. This story is fictional and copyright T.A.Bentley 1996, excepting the acknowledgements above, and is released with no profit motive to alt.tv.x-files.creative. Any criticisms flames or thoughts to t.a.bentley@bradford.ac.uk. Please say why you liked it or didn't like it in your message. Regards, Tim Filter ------ by Tim Bentley Prolog : 8:15pm 21st September 1995 Investigative Support Department, FBI Academy, Quantico, VA. The door to the corridor opened, and a man clad in a long black coat carrying a briefcase walked along the thick carpeted floor and stopped outside an office door. The door was a half glass affair leading to a darkened office. The name on the glass read 'Assistant Director J. Crawford'. He unlocked the door to the outer office and entered. He switched on the desk lamp on the first desk, and after placing his briefcase on the floor, rummaged in his pocket looking for the key to his own office, his inner sanctum. He opened the door and stepped inside. "Hello Jack" said a voice from the darkness of the corner, "I've been waiting for you. It's been a long long time". Jack Crawford started, reaching for the gun he no longer carried. "Now now, that's no way to greet an old friend is it?" The owner of the voice stood and moved towards Crawford, leaving the cover of the shadows. "Christ!" exclaimed Crawford. "Not even close." came the reply. * * * * * Day1 : 12.15pm 22nd September 1995 FBI Headquarters, Washington D.C. The phone on Mulder's desk rang. "Mulder", he said picking it up. "No she's not here just now, she's doing battle with that new copier you had installed" He paused, a quizzical look coming over his features. "Okay, we'll come on up". He replaced the handset in it's cradle, and sat, head in his hands. Dana Scully, arms full of papers, bustled through the door sending their desk fan flying. "Damn!" she murmured, "Mulder, when are you going to start thinking before you put things down any old place." She stopped, seeing his demeanour. "What is it?" she asked. "Skinner called" he said. "Yeah, but he doesn't usually have such an effect on you." she replied, her annoyance gone in an instant. "He told me Jack Crawford was dead". "Jack Crawford? You mean Behavioral Sciences' Jack Crawford at Quantico?" Her look disbelieving. "Uh-huh. Investigative Support's Jack Crawford" "What happened?" she asked. "Skinner didn't say, but he sounded worried" Mulder looked up at her, "He wants us to go see him right away." "Mulder, didn't you know Jack Crawford?" Scully ventured. "Yeah, I knew him" Mulder stood picking up his jacket "I did some work a while back before Behavioral Sciences became Investigative Support. I was profiling serial killers for Jack Crawford" "Didn't he have something to do with Doctor Lecter?" "That's right, `Hannibal the Cannibal' was caught by Jack's top psychopath hunter Will Graham, it was required reading at the Academy; still is I think. Come on Scully, lets go." * * * * * "Agent Scully, Agent Mulder, sit down please." FBI Assistant Director Walter Skinner was, as ever, business like. "Between approximately eight and ten p.m. last night, an unknown assailant attacked Assistant Director Jack Crawford in his office at Quantico. At around ten, Security noticed that his outer office light hadn't been shut off, and found him on the floor. They've performed a preliminary autopsy to determine the cause of death. The report and the statements of the security guards on duty last night are in the case file." Skinner stood, and handed over a red edged file folder. "Sir, is this as X-file?" Mulder asked. "Read the file Agent Mulder. I know you knew Jack Crawford, so did I; Jack and I were classmates at the Academy". Mulder took the file and met Skinners eyes. "Okay, we're on it." "Thank you Agent Mulder." replied Skinner. They rose to leave. "Agent Scully, would you stay a moment?". She stopped, and flashed a glance at Mulder. "I, uh, I'll get the car. See you outside". Mulder left, closing the office door behind him. "Agent Scully, I need you to keep Mulder objective in this investigation. If I could have given it to anyone else, I would have done. "Sir, I'm not sure what you mean?" Here it comes she thought. "Jack Crawford was one of the few people that listened to Mulder when he came up with his more, shall we say, radical theories. He was one of the few people that actually called him Fox." Scully nodded, "Yes Sir, I'll bear that in mind." * * * * * The blue Ford cruised along the interstate, Mulder at the wheel. "So what did Skinner want?" Mulder was his usual direct self. "He told me about Jack Crawford and your relationship with him." She replied. There was no point in lying, he'd have known anyway. "I figured as much. Doctor Crawford was a real good guy who listened and told me I was spouting garbage like everyone else did, but he at least used to tell me why." He continued, "You know Scully, there's more to this than a murder. Take a look at the autopsy report. Notice anything missing?" She picked up the file and started to read. "His liver was missing? "That's right. Remind you of anyone?" He glanced across, a slight grin on his face. "Tooms is dead Mulder. Besides, the report lists his liver as being removed with a sharp instrument of some type." "Sure, where did this happen then? Look at the crime scene report. Minimal blood on the carpet, and definitely no fur on the mat." "Fur on the mat? Where does it say that?" Scully flicked through the file looking for a mention of animal skins and hair. "Sorry Scully," Mulder said chuckling, "It's a fragment of a poem that was parodied. Do you remember that one about Christopher Robin? `Hush, Hush, Whisper who dares? Christopher Robin is saying his prayers'?" "Of course. My Mom used to sing to me at bedtime. Where is this leading Mulder?" "Well the version I heard at college had a couple of extra lines; `There's blood on the carpet, there's fur on the mat. Christopher Robin's beheaded the Cat!'" He ended laughing. "Mulder! What kind of stories did you read as a child?" "Mad Magazine mostly, but Playboy had the occasional good piece." "You get worse you know?" She stopped, took a deep breath, and said, "Tell me about the crime scene." Back to business. "Think about it Scully. When you are performing an Autopsy, how long does it take to remove a liver carefully, and how much blood do you suppose would be spilt if the corpse was real fresh?" "It wouldn't take too long I'd guess, but the blood question, that's tricky. A dead body doesn't pump too much blood, what with the heart not working and everything, even so I'd have expected more than was reported." She continued reading the file. "Wait a moment, there was nearly the normal amount of blood expected to be in an undamaged corpse in Jack Crawford's body. Mulder, this man's liver was surgically removed, probably post mortem" "So what does that tell you?" he said gesturing to the file. "That this is a fabrication." Not a question, a statement. "Scully, we're being handed this crock because Skinner doesn't believe that Jack Crawford's death was at the hands of a normal common or garden psychopathic liver stealer. The fact remains that Jack Crawford is dead, and Skinner wants to know who did it." "I'll check out the body myself. I can't believe that they would think that we wouldn't notice these anomalies in the file, and that they'd expect us to think of Tooms." She was starting to get quite annoyed. "If it is Tooms that they wanted us to think of." "What do you mean?" "What about our buddy Doctor Lecter? Wasn't he a gourmet human offal chef?" "That's stupid. Lecter was shot dead eight months ago in Florida." "Maybe that's what we were supposed to believe?" "Mulder, that's stretching belief somewhat don't you think? Hannibal the Cannibal rises from the grave to slay his old adversary and eat his liver with fava beans and another bottle of Chianti? The shooting was on TV you know. CNN managed to capture the whole thing. I think the video is outselling OJ Simpson's chase and trial." "I agree. I am fairly insulted that there are so many obviously untrue factors in the file, and that we were even given it. Unless that's what we're supposed to think." His eyes glittered with mischief at his last comment. "Mulder, you think everything is a conspiracy" "Everything is." * * * * * 4:35pm 22nd September 1995 FBI Academy, Quantico, VA Scully and Mulder opened the office door and entered the pathology lab. "Doctor Martin? I'm Agent Scully and this is Agent Mulder" Scully made the introductions. "Doctor Dana Scully? Well I guess I am your successor. Bob Martin. Nice to meet you. Your reputations precede you." He shook hands with first Scully and then Mulder. "I'm not sure I like the sound of that" said Mulder. "Oh nothing bad I assure you" said Martin amiably. He stepped closer. "Assistant Director Skinner suggested I gave you any help you require." "Uh-huh? Okay then Doctor Martin," said Scully, "have you personally examined Jack Crawford's body?" "I can't say I have. Lt.Commander Harriman was the only pathologist available this morning". "What do you think to Lt.Commander Harriman's abilities?" Mulder interjected. "I can't say I know much about her. I've been told she is very good." "You've been told?" asked Scully, "Have you actually met her?" "No I haven't." He answered. "Is there a problem?" "Can we see the body?" said Mulder, ignoring the question. "Well I'll see if that's possible." "Assistant Director Skinner will authorise it. Go get the body now." Martin backed up a step and made as if to say something. He thought better of it, turned and walked out of the room without another word. "Mulder, what are you doing?" "This sucks Scully. Lt.Commander Harriman? Is he kidding? There isn't a pathologist called Harriman at Quantico. I checked, besides the autopsy report is signed Special Agent Robert J. Martin, MD." He waved the file. "Bobby-Jay either doesn't know squat about this case or he's lying." "Mulder, Martin said that Skinner told him to help us and.." "And you believe him?" Mulder looked shocked. "Dammit Scully, when has Skinner ever called anyone and told them to co-operate. Other than me of course." He added with a crooked smile. "I think Skinner's given up on that too. You think Martin is being set up here?" "No more than us Scully, no more than us." He gestured to the doorway. "Here he comes." "Agent Scully, Agent Mulder," said Martin as he entered. "It seems that the body has been moved for burial and is unavailable for further examination. The Crawford family have been quite explicit about their instructions." "Bob," said Mulder, "Why did you sign the report?" "What report?" "Doctor Martin, you signed the autopsy report" stated Scully. "Agent Scully, I don't know what you're talking about." "Show him Mulder". Mulder opened the file and withdrew the relevant papers. "Right here Bob. Robert J. Martin. It's time stamped 10:30 this morning." He indicated the signature. "That's mine alright, but I didn't do it. I wasn't in the office this morning, I was taking my annual physical. It is not possible that I signed this report." "So if you didn't, who did?" * * * * * "What's on your mind Scully" said Mulder as they drove back to Washington. "Why didn't you ask to see the body again? Insist on it?" "Because it is almost certainly gone. According to the schedule in his office, Bob Martin was supposed to have his physical this afternoon, not this morning. A guy from administration called in sick and they bumped him. He should not have been available for comment this afternoon." "So it would be safe to assume that Doctor Martin was not involved, and that we were not supposed to talk to him yet." "That's good Scully. You'll be a paranoid yet." "That's somebody who thinks that someone is out to get them. I know that Frohike is out to get me" Scully concluded ruefully. "Okay so it's not paranoia. How about wishful thinking?" He said with a grin. "Mulder don't! I have had enough trouble sleeping as it is." "Listen Scully, think about this case. Why were we involved? Why would anyone want to kill Jack Crawford? Why kill him in his office in Quantico of all places? Did you know that the Security guys on duty were all on vacation today? Clearly we are not supposed to talk to anyone until tomorrow" "When did you find that out?" "While you and Skinner were discussing how I thought of Jack Crawford as a surrogate Dad." "He said that because he wanted to me to keep you objective. I'm sorry, but I don't get the feeling that you and Crawford were that close." "We were once. Not long after I graduated from college, my Dad and I had another bust up about Samantha. I thought that he.." he paused, "I hoped that he had forgiven me. I was wrong." "I'm sorry Mulder. I didn't know." "There's no way you could have Scully. Anyway, I was in Crawford's Behavioral Sci class when I finally understood that while my Dad blamed me for Samantha's disappearance, he didn't hate me, but for some reason he just couldn't bear to be near me. Crawford helped me through that time by listening while I talked about the abduction, and later I helped him by spending some time in his unit working on profiling wackos." "I wasn't aware that wacko was a technical term Mulder" "Crawford charged his team a dollar every time anyone said wacko. I guess we owe him three bucks." "So what's our next move?" "We need to check out a couple of things." "Like what?" "Like has anyone else died under similar circumstances." "And the other?" "I am in dire need of double pepperoni with extra cheese." "You buying?" "Do I have a choice?" * * * * * 7:25pm 22nd September 1995 FBI Headquarters, Washington D.C. "I don't think you're hearing me Assistant Director Skinner. This is a simple murder. Get Mulder off this case. If you can't I will" As he finished, he blew another puff of cigarette smoke into Walter Skinner's face. "Why? He's going to want to know why." Skinner looked straight at 'Cancerman', his gaze never flinching, even as the smoke threatened to make his eyes water. "Jack Crawford's death is not an X-File. He was the victim of an attack by a lunatic, revenge motive probably. Jack did have many many enemies. I wouldn't be surprised if the miscreant was already in custody." "Attacked by a lunatic with a revenge motive in the basement of the Academy? Are you serious?" Skinner was starting to get agitated. "Jack Crawford and I were friends you cold blooded son of a bitch. I'm going to find out what happened." Cancerman regarded Skinner for a moment, took another drag of his Morley and said, "Do what you have to Assistant Director Skinner. Use Mulder if you will. Don't be surprised if you don't find anything out. The case is already closed." With that, Cancerman blew one more puff of smoke into Skinner's face, turned and made his exit through the executive door to Skinner's office. Skinner stood, staring at his retreating form as if the rage in his glare could actually make a difference. * * * * * Scully and Mulder sat opposite each other in the pizza parlour. "I think there's something else here Scully." Mulder said. "What do you mean?" "Well," he replied, "There's no evidence of a weapon at the scene, Crawford died from a knife wound to the chest, little blood at the scene not uncommon with thoracic trauma; not exactly unusual material, but why was he in the office so late?" "Maybe he had to work late?" said Scully. "Could be, but according to the log on the main door, he left at four thirty and returned at eight fifteen. So it would be reasonable to assume that he was coming into the office. Why do that?" "Perhaps he forgot something, or had only left the building for a meeting." "Yeah, that's fair assumption. In that case, where's his briefcase?" asked Mulder. "The scene of the crime report didn't mention a briefcase at all, and Crawford was found in his overcoat." confirmed Scully. "Right, so his case was stolen, and then he had his liver removed. That does not follow Scully." "Not unless it was meant to throw us off, which it didn't. There is another possibility," she said. "I'm not sure I see it," answered Mulder. "How about if the removal of his liver was to conceal some medical evidence that would shed light on this case." Mulder paused mid bite, mozzarella left hanging from the slice of pizza. "Hold on a minute Scully." he said, "We're assuming that it was ever removed in the first place. How about if the report falsely records a missing liver to get us, specifically us, to concentrate on his anatomy rather than what's actually important here, his missing briefcase." "What could have been in his briefcase that warranted his death?" Scully looked horrified. "I don't know, but I think we need to speak to security". * * * * * Later that night, Mulder lay awake on the couch in his apartment, the TV's late night basketball special drowning out the constant drone of the compressor pumping air into his fish tank. The telephone rang. "Mulder" he said into the handset. "Mr. Mulder," said the voice he'd come to know as Mr. X, "You're too late. Crawford's papers have been destroyed." "What papers? Wait tell me what papers?" The phone clicked once and was replaced with the dial tone. Mulder, sat with his head in his hands. Jack Crawford must have found something serious to be killed for it, but then again, how safe was an Assistant Director of the FBI if a President wasn't safe. * * * * * =========================================================================== From: tim Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: Filter (Day 2) Date: Tue, 30 Apr 1996 14:01:38 +0100 Story : "Filter" Author : Tim Bentley (t.a.bentley@bradford.ac.uk) Genre : X-Files Setting : Post Season 2 Adult : Minimal language, no sex, no violence Length : 7500 Words (Approx 20 pages A4) Format : Generic DOS Text (ASCII) Filename: LAMBS2.TXT Notes : The characters Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Cancerman, Mr.X, Walter Skinner, and The Lone Gunmen, are the property of Chris Carter and Ten-Thirteen Productions used without permission. The characters Will Graham, Jack Crawford, Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter are copyright Thomas Harris and used without permission. The characters Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin are the property of A.A.Milne and are used without permission. No infringement is intended. This story is fictional and copyright T.A.Bentley 1996, excepting the acknowledgements above, and is released with no profit motive to alt.tv.x-files.creative. Any criticisms flames or thoughts to t.a.bentley@bradford.ac.uk. Please say why you liked it or didn't like it in your message. Regards, Tim Day 2 : 8:45am 23rd September 1995 Investigative Support Department, FBI Academy, Quantico, VA. "I'm sorry for dragging you here so early Scully" Mulder was apologetic. "That's OK, but remember that not everyone thrives on two hours sleep a night followed by a long car journey driven by an insomniac." "Hmm, a little testy this morning are we? Have some coffee. There's some doughnuts in the box." He handed over a steaming polystyrene cup. "Hmm, that's good Mulder" "Blue Mountain; Jack Crawford really knew his coffee beans. We're supposed to be meeting the three guards on duty in this basement the night before last." He said, gesturing to the clock in the outer office, "They're late". "Have you checked that they're even here?" asked Scully. "The door system logged them as entering at around eight this morning, or rather two of them did. Looks like John Marks did not even arrive." "Wasn't Marks the guard that found Crawford?" "Uh-huh. None of the others were even present at the scene at time of the discovery, according to the logs that is." "Where were they then?" asked Scully. "Well," said Mulder biting into a jelly doughnut, "One said he was at the security desk, Tom Shannon I think, and the other guard reckons he was checking out the emergency stairwell. Apparently the alarm had been tripped, but he didn't find anything. The alarm system confirmed his story." "Okay, so what about the during the supposed time of death, where were they then?" she said. "Assuming that Tom was in the can," said Mulder, "he's a big Sports Illustrated reader I'm told, John Marks was on his break in the security office, and the third guard, what was his name?" "Mike Krazny" she answered, "Yeah, 'Big Red' was on the desk. Nothing going on except three guys missing the ball game." He said. "Pretty much like now except we're missing the three guys and there's no ball game." She smiled, ruefully. "At least the coffee's good and someone else is paying for the doughnuts." He said wiping a spot of jelly from his tie. Someone rapped twice on the door. "Come in" said Mulder. The door opened and in walked one of the security guards stooping slightly so he wouldn't bump his head on the door frame. He was even taller than Mulder noted Scully. The name on his badge said "Krazny". "I was told to come here." He rumbled. "Mike Krazny?" said Scully. The giant nodded. "I'm Special Agent Scully and this is Special Agent Mulder. We'd like to talk to you about the night before last. You were on the night shift?" "That's right Sir. Look I already spoke to the Agent-in-charge when I gave my statement. What's this about?" "Just a couple of things to check out Red," said Mulder, "you don't mind if I call you 'Red' do you?" "No Sir, everyone else does" he answered. "Tell me about the alarm in the emergency stairwell." Asked Scully. "Well, there's not much to tell," said Red, "it was nine forty-five, and I was on the desk, it was my turn between nine and ten, when I noticed the silent alarm for the stairwell door had tripped and so I got Tom to spell me while I checked it out." "Tom was back from the bathroom then" asked Mulder. "Yes Sir, his Sports Illustrated wasn't a swimsuit edition so he wasn't long." "So what happened then?" continued Scully trying not to smile. "Okay, so Tom was at the desk, I think Marks was out back on his break, and I went to look at the door." He paused a moment, "no wait a minute, Marks had already set off on his round; I think he was bored of drinking coffee and watching the ball game." "What did you find at the door?" said Scully. "Nothing Ma'am, nothing at all. I figured the alarm must have been on the fritz, the door was shut properly, and the glass safety bolt in place." He said. "So what did you do then?" she asked. "Well, I checked a few of the doors nearby to see if anyone was still in their offices." He smiled and added, "Some agents forget the time when they're real occupied and I thought someone may have touched or bumped the door or something." "All right," said Mulder, "what then?" "Well Sir, that's around about when Tom starts hollerin' 'Red get back here' and so I ran on back to the desk. Marks was standing there like he'd seen a ghost." Red stopped, and looked down at his hands. "What is it?" asked Scully. "That's when Tom told me that Doctor Crawford was dead." He paused and looked up at the two agents. "He was a real nice guy. Murdered on my shift too. Some kind of Security I turned out to be." Red looked down once more, his face drawn into a mask of guilt and grief. "Hey, take it easy Red" said Mulder, "no-one's saying that it's your fault." "That's not it Sir. I've been saying 'mornin' and 'evenin' to Doctor Crawford for five years now, he's always said 'Hi' back and 'How are you doin?' It's going to be difficult to walk around this floor without expecting him to ask how my kids are doing." "He was one of the last real gentlemen wasn't he?" said Mulder. "You got that right Sir." Answered Red. "You said that Marks looked like he'd seen a ghost," asked Scully, "what do you mean?" "Marks is the new guy on the shift Ma'am." Said Red, "I don't think he's ever seen a body before, least of all someone he knew. I think it rattled him some." "So what happened then?" said Mulder. "I think Marks went to the bathroom to throw up, Tom called the main desk and I went to see if Doctor Crawford was really dead or just hurt." He clenched and unclenched his massive fists, "Marks was right, he was dead, knife wound to the chest. I sat with him till the paramedics arrived." "Just one wound?" asked Scully? "Looked that way Ma'am. I couldn't see anything else wrong. He didn't look like he'd been bleeding, so I thought he'd had a heart attack or something at first, but then I found where the blade went in." He then added "I seen something like it before. A buddy of mine, back in the 'Nam, got a bayonet in the chest, present from Charlie; he died before the bird arrived. The Corpsman said that his heart had been cut and he'd been bleeding on the inside not the outside. He said there was nothing nobody could have done for him. At least it was quick, poor bastard" "Did you see his briefcase in the office?" asked Mulder. "I can't say I did Sir." "Okay Red, I think that's all we need for now." Said Mulder. "Mr. Mulder?" "Yeah?" "If you find who did that to Doctor Crawford, you give me a call okay?" He ducked under the door frame and lumbered off down the corridor. "Lets just hope that we find the killer before Red does and pulls his arms and legs off!" said Mulder. "Why have you been calling him 'Red' Mulder?" "How's your Russian Scully? Krazny? Red? Come on haven't you seen the 'Hunt for Red October'?" "Not as many times as you have I'm sure" she replied, "Okay, so what we're looking at here is a murder, nasty but not weird, and a theft." "I wonder what was in the briefcase?" said Mulder. "Let's find it and take a look then." Replied Scully. "I don't think that we're going to find it Scully. I got a call from our friend last night. He said that Crawford's papers were already gone." His cell phone rang demanding attention. "Mulder" he said answering it. He listened for a moment and said, "No I don't think that she should be involved. You tell her." He listened a moment longer. "Okay, thanks" and with that he hung up. "That sounded cryptic Mulder" said Scully. "That was the Main desk. John Marks has called in sick, and Tom Shannon has been found at his desk drunk as a skunk. Looks like he's been talking to Jack Daniels." "And who was 'her'?" she asked. "Clarice" "Clarice who?" "Special Agent Clarice Starling, one of Jack Crawford's people. She was the agent who nailed Buffalo Bill." Said Mulder. "She is liable to get a little upset about this." "You know her?" "Yeah," said Mulder, "Clarice and I worked a case once. We were trying to catch that serial killer in Richmond, the one the Enquirer called 'Spiderman' because of his climbing ability." "I remember" said Scully, "Didn't he commit suicide?" "Clarice was really pissed about it. We found him ten minutes after he hung himself." "So what's the problem here?" "Well, Crawford was Clarice's mentor, kind of the father figure that Skinner thinks I regarded him as. Clarice Starling did regard Jack Crawford as her Dad. Her natural parents had both died by the time she was twelve." He continued, "Her Dad was a cop, killed at night in the line of duty. I don't think Clarice would be objective here." "Says who?" came a voice from the door. "Spooky Mulder? The expert on who is and isn't objective?" Her slight West Virginian accent becoming more apparent the more annoyed she got. "Hi Clarice." Mulder turned to face the newcomer. "Clarice, this is Special Agent Dana Scully. Scully this is Special Agent Clarice Starling." Scully regarded Clarice Starling with a controlled professional eye. They were about the same height, their eyes nearly the same colour, and wore their hair the same way. Scully could have been looking in a mirror were it not for the expression of anger twisting Agent Starling's face. "Damn you Mulder! I am a Special Agent in the FBI, how dare you accuse me of not being objective. You don't even know why I'm here!" Clarice Starling was really angry now. Scully sat quietly wondering when the fists would start flying and on which side to join when it happened. "Calm down Clarice!" Mulder was his usual tactful self. "That's 'Agent Starling' to you Agent Mulder" "Okay, calm down 'Agent Starling'!" Clarice Starling took a deep breath and said, "You know Mulder, you are still an almost instantly irritating son-of-a-bitch." "Just the way you like me Clarice." Scully couldn't believe her ears. "In your dreams Mulder" replied Clarice Starling with a smile. "It's good to see you again Spooky." "You too Clarice. Do you have to shout at me every time you see me?" "Of course." She replied, "I wouldn't want you to think I've forgiven you for standing me up on our first date." "Oh come on Clarice, that was four years ago, and I had a good excuse." He said. "I had food poisoning, I'll never eat sushi again." "Mulder, what the hell is going on?" asked Scully, quietly. "Oh sorry Scully. Clarice and I have this ritual that she likes to observe every time we meet." "Yes, it's called reminding that unreliable bastard, what an jerk he is and how he's damned lucky I didn't shoot him for standing me up." Said Clarice. "Next time he does it, I'll hold him still while you hurt him" said Scully offering her hand to Clarice. "It's a deal" said Clarice, shaking on it. "Great, now I have to worry about both of you trying to finish me off!" "You'll be fine Mulder," said Scully, "just don't annoy either of us for the rest of your life and you'll be fine." "Okay Clarice, let's hear it." He said, "Why are you here? I thought you were attached to the Seattle office chasing that wacko who has been killing people whilst wearing the Big Foot suit." "Read the news Mulder, Sasquatch Junior was caught three weeks ago." Said Clarice. "Crawford asked me to come here. He even met me at the airport two days ago." "So you saw him before he was killed?" asked Scully. "Yes" she replied, "Crawford met me at Dulles and drove me to Watergate." "When Clarice?" said Mulder. "The flight came in at six o'clock and he dropped me off at seven thirty." "Where did he go then?" "He said he had to go back to the office to collect some copies of his files," she answered, "but he didn't come back. The office called at ten thirty and said that he'd been found dead." "What files was he going to get?" asked Scully. "Crawford was working on a link between a number of pattern killers to determine the root of their psychosis," she said, "When he called last week, he said that he'd found something in the autopsy reports that the computers hadn't. He also said he knew why." "Did he tell you want the link was?" asked Mulder. "No, but he left me with this." She held up her hand, and in it was a single computer disk. "I've had a look to see what's on it, and all I could find is one executable program that said "missing data file" when I ran it." "That could mean anything," said Mulder, "it could be that you were trying to run the program on the wrong computer platform; it could be damaged, the program that is; or of course it could mean that the data file associated with it is missing." "Great Mulder," replied Scully, "now you've stated the obvious, what are we going to do with the disk?" "Yeah, come on Fox, what do we do now?" asked Starling. "Well, we've got to find out what this disk is; I know just the guys to help. Then I think we need to speak to Officer Marks." He turned to Agent Starling and continued, "Clarice, you should get back to your office and stay out of the way. I don't want you involved in this." "That's not going to happen Mulder. I'm involved. Jack Crawford saw to that. You two get on with the disk, and I'll find Marks. Don't worry, I won't move in until you get back to me." Clarice Starling turned and left the office. "Mulder, you're not taking this disk to who I think you're taking this disk to are you?" "Come on Scully, you know how much you brighten up Frohike's day!" * * * * * 1:20pm 23rd September 1995 Offices of 'The Lone Gunmen', Washington D.C. "It's interesting" said Byers. "Looks like a PC compatible conversion of a mainframe data retrieval query. There is no specific data file for this program to work on." "I don't get it." said Scully. "What he means, Agent Scully, is that this is a collection of commands designed to work on a mainframe computer, saved and compiled as a PC program. There is probably no data file in the correct format for it to work on." said Frohike. "We can probably reverse engineer the code to see what it was expecting." Langley adjusted his thick glasses, "Leave it with us. It'll take a little while to crack the program, it could be encrypted." "Where did this come from?" asked Byers. "I'm not sure, but it probably came from the FBI central computing facility" said Mulder. Langley and Byers shared a look of incredulity between them. "Are you serious?" "A good friend of mine probably died for what's on that disk," said Mulder, "I'm serious." "How much trouble comes with this?" Frohike wanted to know. "Enough to get an FBI Assistant Director iced, if that's what you mean." Mulder didn't pull any punches. "Jack Crawford?" asked Byers. Mulder nodded once. "Cool!" exclaimed Frohike. "Like I said, he was my friend." "Sorry." Frohike seemed suitably repentant. "Listen Mulder," said Byers, "I'm sure we're all sorry about your friend." He cast a look at Frohike. Langley seemed absorbed in what was on the screen of his PC. "We'll work on this and get back to you." "How about Scully and I go get us something to eat, and see you guys in half an hour?" suggested Mulder. "Chinese food!" yelled Langley. "Make it pizza," said Frohike, "MSG sends him hyperactive." "We ate pizza yesterday" objected Scully. "We?" said Byers arching his eyebrows at Mulder. "You guys are getting chilli-dogs and you're going to like them." said Mulder giving Byers his best 'don't even think it' look. "Come on Scully, let's get out of here." * * * * * On the way back to the lair of 'The Lone Gunmen', the insistent beeping of Mulder's cell phone demanded his attention. "Sounds like the three stooges have solved the problem quicker that they thought they could" said Scully. Mulder smiled and retrieved his phone from his pocket. "Mulder" he said, placing it next to his ear. "Oh hi Clarice. No we don't know yet." He moved his phone to the other ear. "What?" He seemed perturbed. "Okay, keep me informed." He retracted the phone's aerial and returned it to his pocket. "Mulder, what was that all about?" asked Scully. "I think we're too late Scully." he said "John Marks our missing Security guard was found dead in his own bathtub, no obvious cause of death, and surprise surprise, Clarice found Crawford's briefcase at his apartment. No papers in it of course. Also, the computers in Investigative Support have crashed." "Crashed?" "All of the data files seem to have been infected with a virus. All they hold now is 'the quick brown fox got caught by the dog' again and again." "What about the backups?" "That was the backup. Scully, they're cleaning up. No files, no data, and a convenient killer who now can't answer questions. They don't want us to know why they had Crawford murdered." "We don't know that Crawford's death and the computer crash are linked, Mulder, this could be a coincidence." "Sure and Jimmy Hoffa's on vacation. Dammit Scully if they're taking these steps, taunting us even, taunting me! We must have found the answer and not seen it for what it was." "But Mulder, all we have is ..." "The computer disk. There is one problem though." "What's that?" replied Scully. "Jack Crawford didn't have a PC on his desk, and used to have someone use the computer system for him. He was kind of a technophobe when it came to our silicon buddies." "So where did the disk come from then?" "I don't know Scully, I just don't know." * * * * * "No onions?" Frohike looked disappointed. "Your breath could already strip paint Frohike, besides," Mulder stepped forward, lowered his voice and whispered conspiratorially, "Dana isn't into onions." Frohike brightened visibly. "Good point Agent Mulder." he said, "I must be more, ahem, health conscious." Frohike gathered up his chilli-dog and retreated to his own corner of the Gunmen's office. "Mulder what did you say to him?" demanded Scully. "Ah, I don't think you really want to know Scully." "I have a long and vindictive memory, I thought you knew that." "I got it!" called Langley saving Mulder's life. "Already?" said Mulder. "Yeah, it wasn't so hard." said Langley, "It wasn't even as if it was particularly well hidden. Look here" he said, indicating a portion of the screen covered in hieroglyphics. "That's clearly a data filter." said Langley. "Quite sophisticated though," added Byers, "Look how the criteria is referenced, a single instance of key data." "So you're saying that this is a kind of screen for data?" asked Scully. "That's correct. It looks like any reference to one particular data element kicks off an automated process." Langley typed furiously, "and here it is." "Wow!" said Mulder. "You're going to have to give me a clue." "You don't see it?" Langley asked. "It's right here Agent Mulder." Frohike pointed, "The data is filtered out and replaced by a pseudo- random collection of data loosely similar to the original data element." "That's great Frohike, but what is the goddamn data element that is being filtered out?" demanded Mulder. "Does this make it any clearer?" Langley opened a new window on his screen and a complex diagram depicting a molecule sprang to the front. "That's a cortico-steroid." said Scully. "Looks synthetic" added Byers. "But look at those amino acid chains." continued Scully, "Mulder do you know what this is?" "You're kidding." Mulder could not believe his eyes. "Mulder this is Purity Control." "Whoah, now that is heavy!" Langley looked elated. "Well what we have here is a data filter that looks for references to 'Purity Control', alien DNA, and replaces the data elements with ordinary human DNA." said Byers. * * * * * 3.15pm 23rd September 1995 FBI Headquarters, Washington D.C. "So this is what Crawford died for." said Mulder, brandishing the diskette, "You know what this means? Jack Crawford found a link between serial killers and Purity Control." "That doesn't follow Mulder, just because he found the filter doesn't mean that there's a link to his research. You said it yourself, Crawford was a closet technophobe, where did the filter come from if it wasn't him?" Scully was, as usual, playing devil's advocate. "What other possible explanation could there be Scully?" "Is that what you're going to tell Skinner?" "What do you suggest?" "Have we checked to be sure that there's no link between John Marks and any serial killer that Crawford's caught?" asked Scully. "Clarice is on it." "You mean you're not certain that he's a patsy?" "I am certain Scully, I just knew you'd ask about any possible link." Mulder rose and walked over to the coffee machine, "You want one? I stole some of Crawford's beans." Scully nodded her assent, and Mulder poured two cups of steaming coffee. "Agent Mulder." Skinner stood at the door to their office. "Come on in Sir. Coffee?" Mulder gestured to the half full steaming jug. "No thanks. I'm glad you're both here, because I need to speak with the two of you about the Jack Crawford murder." "What about it Sir?" asked Scully. "The case is closed Scully. Marks has been named as his murderer, and his motive was robbery." "You're not serious!" Mulder was annoyed. "Agent Mulder have you ever heard of Occam's Razer? Try not to get cut with it." Even from the coffee machine, Mulder could smell the cigarette smoke on Skinner's clothes. "So we just roll over and accept it?" "Let it go Agent Mulder. Jack is dead. You two aren't, and neither am I." said Skinner, "I will of course expect your field report tomorrow morning." "You knew didn't you." Mulder waved his index finger in Skinner's face, "You knew that Crawford was killed because of what he was working on." "No Agent Mulder I didn't." "That's bullshit and you know it. Jack Crawford found out that someone was pumping people full of alien DNA, they we're losing it big time and started offing tax payers, and the Bureau knew. Standard procedure is to look for patterns using the computers, and someone filtered that information out so nobody saw it. That's what Jack Crawford found and that's why they had him killed. Marks is just a patsy, some poor bastard that was in the wrong place at the wrong time." "Can you prove that?" stormed Skinner. "Just check out the disk we found; it's the DNA filter that Crawford gave to Starling. It came from the Bureau's own computer system." replied Mulder. "Can you prove that?" demanded Skinner again. Mulder stood, silent in his rage. "You can't prove any of it can you? You haven't got anything have you?" said Skinner, "Have you?" "No I haven't." admitted Mulder. "Then it's over Agent Mulder. File your report and forget it." "I can't do that. Jack Crawford was my friend; I owe it to him to get the truth out." "You put that in a report and I won't be able to help you. Agent Mulder you are walking a fine line here, don't cross it. I need you and Scully out there, because one day they're going to screw up and then we'll all nail them to the wall. We lost this one. Don't give them the opportunity to close you down. Jack would tell you that." Skinner's voice dropped back to a normal volume when he mentioned his friend's name. "He was my friend too." "Surely that's all the more reason for this come out into the open." said Scully. "Agent Scully, you cannot prove anything. All that you could do would be to make some wild baseless accusations that could dishonour the memory of a very senior FBI man." said Skinner. "So what are we supposed to do?" asked Scully. "Do what you normally do Agent Scully, write what you saw, and what you can prove. I'll accept that." Skinner turned and left the office, closing the door behind him. Mulder sat staring at his cup of Blue Mountain. * * * * * 8:45pm Unspecified Location, Washington, D.C. "Agent Mulder." A voice came from the shadows, a voice he knew. "Tell me why." Mulder said. Mr. X. stepped from the shadows and fixed Mulder with a steady gaze. "Why do you think Agent Mulder. Jack Crawford got too close and wasn't careful enough." "Why get us to investigate? Why bother if the case was already closed." Mulder asked, "Why us?" "Because Agent Mulder, you are probably the only person who has been close to what killed Crawford." "What do you mean? You mean I know his killer?" "Remember the Gregors? The thing that killed what you thought was your sister?" "The Chameleon?" "That's right Agent Mulder. You are now in greater danger than ever before. Be very careful of those around you. My predecessor told you to trust no- one, that has never been more important than now. Crawford wasn't the target here Mulder, that was just an excuse to get you involved." Mr. X. turned and walked back into the darkness, his footsteps receding into the night. Mulder stood thinking over X's last words, how would he know when he was looking death in the face? Would the grim reaper look like Scully? Samantha? Skinner? Himself? How long had he got before the Chameleon got to him? Mulder gathered his long coat around him and made for home, inevitability weighing heavy on his shoulders, would there be time to find the truth? Ends.