From: Bether6074 Date: 19 Jan 2000 10:33:17 GMT Subject: NEW: Playing The Game Title: Playing The Game Author: Beth Heier Archive: If you want it, you can have it, just let me know. Feedback: Bether6074@aol.com Spoilers: Since I'm not sure of all the episode titles, let's just say everything up until the present is fair game. Summary: Mulder has possession of something very important and Scully pays the price for protecting him. Classification: I'm not even sure what to call it. A case file? Disclaimer: Everything pertaining to The X-Files belongs to Fox and 1013 productions. I don't own them. "Answer the question, Agent Scully!" "I can't do that, Sir." "You WILL tell the truth, Agent, or you will face the repercussions." "I'm aware of the penalty, Sir, and I am prepared to accept the punishment." "Where is Agent Mulder?" "With all due respect, Sir, I just told you I can not answer that question." "Where is the evidence?" "Sir?" "You are forcing my hand, Agent Scully. This insubordination will simply not be tolerated. I demand an answer!" "My apologies, Sir, but I can not provide one." "Can not, Miss Scully? Or will not?" "I will not divulge this information." An unending journey down an eternal path. The road to a course unchartered, a destination unknown, a fate uncertain. A fate which likely has already been written by the men who witnessed my birth, destroyed my family and essentially created my life. "I'm going to give you one last chance, Agent Scully. Tell us about the evidence." "I know of no such evidence." "We're talking about highly classified evidence, Agent! If you have any knowledge of the theft of said evidence or of it's whereabouts, and do not reveal this information, you are effectively in contempt." "What evidence, Sir? Evidence of something you have denied exists? Evidence of what?" "There is no need for me to answer such questions..." "Why not, Sir? What are you trying to conceal? I am only attempting to consider the safety of myself and of my partner. I respectfully refuse to endanger that safety by answering these questions." The enemy surrounds us. They do not appear with an evil glare or an obvious darkness. There are no clothes of black, no darkened glasses, no sinister expressions. I am forced to trust no one. To believe no one. Only in the eyes of my partner, have I found hope. She is the only one I know. She is the only one I trust. I trust her to protect me. I trust her to tell the truth. She has saved me. Saved me from my own demons. Saved me from my blind ambition. Saved me from myself... I need her now. "Well then, Agent Scully, you have given me no choice. I am forced to commence with your punishment. By your uncooperative response to the questions you have been asked, I am holding you in contempt. I hereby immediately relieve you of your position as Special Agent of the F.B.I. You are fired, Miss Scully, and you are going to jail. This is a serious matter. You shall remain under lock and key until you agree to cooperate with this court. Do you understand?" "Yes, Sir, I understand. But time in jail will not affect my response. I will not jeopardize Agent Mulder or myself for the pleasure of this panel." "Very well then... Take her away!" It almost resembles a human child. Hands. Feet. A face. Eyes, nose, a mouth. But this is not human. It isn't the embryo of a person who came from this planet. Its skin is pale green. The head is oblong. The eyes on its face are large and elliptical. It is something I've waited an eternity to hold in my hands. Alien. Extraterrestrial... This IS the proof. Proof of something which our government has always denied to the world. . E.T.s, U.F.O.s, and a vast world with other planets and other beings. A knowledge of life forms other than our own. They've denied it and they have kept us from the truth. I know the truth. And I know of their lies. "Hey, sweetie! What's a pretty girl like you doin' in a place like this?" "I'm not your sweetie." "Well..well, alright then, what're you doin' here with us thugs and thiefs?" "I'm not here by choice." "None of us are." "You've commited crimes, haven't you? You've been convicted by a court of law, right?" "Sure. But we didn't get caught on purpose...What did they get you on, hon?" "They haven't gotten me on anything." "What? Can't hear you... Oh, lookie here. Looks like you got company, Missy... Wow! He looks mighty mean. Bald as an apple...Hey man, nice hair, dude." She has given me a chance. The chance to examine and...identify. The chance to know. I want it disclosed. I want it revealed. I want it known. For myself and her... She knows what this means to me. She knows this is everything. And she knows I'll return for her. I need time. Time and opportunity. "Agent Scully." "Sir." "Would you mind telling me what the hell is going on here? I was barely able to get past the guards." "They're holding me until I tell them where Agent Mulder is...They fired me." "So I've been told.... These matters are larger than just Bureau. They find Mulder with evidence and they're going to crucify him...They'll crucify you too... You can't ALWAYS protect him." "Sir...he's not thinking rationally..he's...he's..." "Dammit, Scully, I've laid my ass on the line for him so many times. I'm not doing it anymore. And neither should you. You're going to rot in here." "He won't let that happen..." "Tell them what you know." "I..." "I can't help you, Agent Scully. I can't help him...Tell them what you know, Agent. Tell them." "Sir,wait!.Don't go...We've got to help Agent Mulder...Sir??" "MULDER! MULDER! Open the damn door! I know you're in there." There was only darkness in an empty room. No lights. No sound. No person. Until... "How did you find me? Who told you I was here?" "Look, I came here to warn you. They're onto you. They know you have it. And they're making her pay." "She tell you where I was?" "You should know better than that...I told you, they're onto you...It's only a matter of time. I suggest you get your ass out of here and return the evidence." "I'm sorry, Skinner. I can't do that." "What the hell do you mean?" "I told you...I can't do that." "Well, I suggest you find a way to, Agent Mulder. You've put your partner at risk." "She knows what this means..." "These men don't give a rat's ass about what it means to you. They don't think about loyalty, Agent Mulder. You get in their way, and they will take you down. They could kill her...You want that on your head? "You see her? Is she OK?" "As OK as she can be behind bars...She's worried about you, Mulder...Ask yourself what's more important. They're closing in on you and they know how to make you pay. Watch your back Agent Mulder. Watch your back." "Thanks...Thanks for telling me..." The wall felt hard upon impact. Breathe. Breathe. The breaths were difficult, the hands clenched tightly about Mulder's neck. "Don't even think for a second, I did this for you. You understand? I've risked my ass again, Agent Mulder. Don't let me down." It's been nearly thirty years. The question has haunted me. The answers have eluded me. The truth...unattainable. The proof...impossible. She is a rare part of my life. She asks the questions. She seeks the answers. She wants the truth. Only the proof will convince her. The men will hurt her. And that is how they'll kill me. And I'm not ready to die... "Agent Scully? Agent Scully?" "Yes?" "You're free to go now." "What?" "I said...you're free to go." "You mean..." The smoke circled the dimly lit cell and spread slowly into the air. He puffed again and blew more out. "Mulder returned the item we needed. Found it a couple of hours ago...back in it's original container." "What did you do to him?" "Not a thing, Agent Scully. You didn't think we'd hurt him, did you? We have what we need. And now...he has what he needs. No harm done." His grin was evil. The smog clung closely around his darkened form and moved further and further away. The sickening odor departed as Scully breathed in her freedom. A freedom she hadn't expected . Not so soon and not this way. A familiar figure stood out in the hallway. The outline of his body, the features of his face, the way he stood and moved... There was no mistaking this man. No mistaking her friend and partner. "Mulder! What happened? I saw the smoking man..." "I know. I'm still trying to clear the air pollution out here. Are you alright? I'm sorry..." "I'm fine. Mulder, I thought..." "It wasn't worth it, Scully. Wasn't worth it." "But, Mulder, you had proof! Proof! Why did you..." "You mean, Scully, you believe?" "I don't know. I don't know. There could've been other explanations...It looked like the real thing, Mulder. And, judging from all the attention we gathered by possessing it, that may be hard to deny...Although I suppose I could try." "Don't deny the truth, Scully." "Mulder, tests needed to be done." "I know...I...I couldn't risk you. You could've been hurt." "So could you, Mulder. Danger is always at hand in this game. But this is the game we've chosen to play." "I didn't want to play the game alone, Scully. I don't think I could do it. You can't sacrifice one to save the other. That would kill us both. Game over....Scully, I still want to play..." "Don't give up, Mulder." "You know I won't." "They haven't beaten us yet and I don't intend to let them." "Skinner got your job back. Funny how everything is cleared up so suddenly, isn't it?" "Mmmm...Yes. Thank you, Mulder. I know what this meant to you..." "Some things are more important...Do you want to go back to work? Maybe I can dig us up a good X-File." "You think you could give me the chance to go home and change before you start in with the paranormal monologue? I stink." "Whew. Yeah, Scully, you do. Go home and wash that smoke off. I'll see you later, OK?" "OK Mulder. See you later..." Our journey is not complete. We don't have all the answers. We haven't asked all of the questions. But I held proof in my hands. Proof undeniable. I know it. They know it. And, they know, we're not going to go away until everyone knows it. The End