From: ThePimpernel Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 01:29:08 +0100 Subject: New: Rhythm & Clues (1/2) by The Pimpernel Source: atxc Title: Rhythm and Clues Date: April 2001 Author: The Pimpernel Rating: At a guess PG13 for bad words Summary: Dancing themselves to death Category: X Spoilers: None but anything up to season 7 is fair game. Feedback: I'd be stunned but if you want to I promise to reply when I've picked the keyboard up off the floor. - thepimpernel@waitrose.com Archive: I'd be even more stunned but go ahead. It's written to be read. Disclaimer: I'm English - forgive me my spelling As this is my Universe I can believe whatever I want, but just in case this slips through wormholes in the cybernet and ends up in a less complacent universe - please accept this humble offering as homage (and free publicity) to the creator of the XFiles and all his satellites. Anyone overcome by the power of the words written here to the extent that they feel the need to donate of their hard earned income should send all monies to FOX Corporation direct and not to me. In other words any reference to characters created by Chris Carter real or imaginary is purely deliberate but they're not mine. Part 1 of 2 In the upstairs bar, soft evening light came through the big picture windows at the front of the room. A long wooden counter ran most of the way down the opposite wall, spirits racked up along the wall, beers lined up in the chillers below. Bar staff scurried to fulfil drinks orders. There was a hum of pleasant chatter with the occasional guffaw of laughter. No drunken bellows currently disrupted the lively atmosphere. Three people came out of a side door carrying musical instruments and made their way towards a small stage in the back corner. They spent a few minutes setting up. There was a small slim woman, probably in her forties, a few lines on her face, fair hair tinged with only a hint of grey framing her face. Her eyes sparkled, she was not smiling as she set up her bass guitar but her overall demeanour was one of relaxation. There was a boy medium height about twenty, fresh faced, fair-haired like the woman setting up an electronic keyboard. His movements were quick but sure, his brown eyes sparkled in excitement. The third was a boy in his mid to late teens; he shuffled onto the stage looking about blankly. He was also fair-haired but his face was slack his mouth hanging open slightly, vacant looking, but the grip on his electric guitar was firm. He almost appeared to be caressing it. The plugs and cables sorted, the woman and the elder boy looked at each other, smiled then started to play. The music was reasonable but not good enough to attract the attention of the crowd. The woman was looking at the younger boy who eventually made eye contact; she smiled at him gently and nodded in encouragement. As the music continued the young lad started to join in. Softly at first, not even playing the entire bar but when he did join in he never missed a beat. As the next song started, he joined in more and at the end was playing all the notes but still softly. Another song and now he played more forcefully; patrons started to take notice. This time there was polite applause at the end of the song. The next song he played with confidence, the chords seemed to fill the room, the notes surprising people as they went passed, insinuated themselves into people's conscience as they undulated through the air. Now the entire crowd was taking notice, conversations stopped as people turned their heads and listened raptly as the song continued. Some of the audience got up to dance, they were more susceptible. Within half an hour the entire audience was on its feet dancing. Young and old alike, some of who probably should have known better. People were sweating, breathing heavily, muscles twitching to the beat of the music. The music thrummed through the room, even the air seemed to be vibrating, it bounced off the walls, rose up behind people and propelled them forward to dance, dance, dance. People danced up to the bar to order drinks, the bartenders were tapping their feet and swinging their hips as they served. The young lad was now vibrant, energetically animated. He leapt about the stage, crashing the notes out of the guitar in seemingly impossible chords, his fingers a blur across the strings. The audience seemed enthralled by the music, unable to drag themselves away from the compelling sounds. Dance, dance, dance it seemed to say. A girl, with a group of people near the stairs suddenly clutched at her chest and collapsed to the floor. The music rocked on, her friends noticed her but seemed unable to stop dancing long enough to do anything constructive. Eventual one gets to the phone to dial 911. Several weeks later, in another bar this one decidedly seedy, dingy lighting and cobwebs in the corners being some of the least offensive visual objects. In a cramped corner a band started to play. There's a woman looking drawn and gaunt. There are shadows under the eyes of the older boy. The younger boy is limp and listless. The music is subdued and lifeless to start with, the younger boy hardly joining in at all. The crowd ignores them. A few songs later, the crowd started to edge towards the corner as if drawn by some invisible force. Some started to dance, others just twitch or tap in time to the music. The intensity of the sound seemed to increase, the music swirling round the room, beckoning, enticing, ensnaring. Many people are now dancing, even a couple of old timers complete with walking sticks get up to join the fun. The man behind the bar, who's beating time against some glasses, suggests they act their age. A choice epitaph or two is their considered response and they continue to shuffle towards the music. The whole bar seemed to be bouncing now, the music throbbing and reverberating through the air. The old timers are still jiggling trying to keep in time with the beat, arms and sticks waving in the air, legs and knees shaking but the feet are hardly moving now, there is sweat on their brows, they look pale. There could almost be a look of panic in their eyes, yet they do not stop. They become whiter still, almost ghostly just before they collapse to the ground. And the beat goes on. In a dark and dingy room the air is heavy with expectation, the equipment is ready, the show must go on. Deep in the bowels of an anonymous government building, lurked a creature with deliberate intent. Special Agent Fox Mulder of the FBI waited, attempting patience, for his partner to come into the office. He did not do patient well and this morning he had a cunning, dastardly, devious plan to enact so he was particularly keen for Dana Scully to appear. He tried distracting himself but the anticipation was too much. Fortunately before he did anything too stupid, Scully made an appearance. Let the game begin. "Thirty deaths in six months in twenty six different towns, across several counties and two states. Don't you think that's a bit high Scully" queried Mulder. "But all these are recorded as natural deaths" Scully said as she leafed through several autopsy reports. "heart attack, stroke, broken neck (where he jumped out of a window).. hyperthermia.. kidney failure... cerebral oedema...." she trailed off. "cerebral oedema" she repeated to herself. A puzzled look appeared on her face, as she put the reports down on the desk, spreading them out to look more closely at some of the figures. Mulder watched her closely but did not say anything. After a few minutes, she shook her head, gathered up the reports and turning back towards Mulder said, "There's nothing conclusive here Mulder". He gave her a questioning look. She frowned "Well, the odd thing is that the serotonin levels are compromised, I thought maybe it was some sort of drug abuse but all the toxicological tests were negative, even the one who jumped out of the window." "These deaths all happened in bars during or just after a live band had been playing" he added, "none of the people who died had any record of having taken drugs. Could this be someone spiking the cokes or some..um.. sort of new recreational drug?" "Club drug?" she questioned. He nodded. She paused in thought for a moment "Well, some club drugs are colourless, tasteless, and odourless. Anyone who wanted to intoxicate, incapacitate or sedate others could possibly add them unobtrusively to beverages. Toxicity can be difficult to determine given the uncertainties about drug sources, pharmacological agents and chemicals used to manufacture them. Then there's the possiblity of contaminants. However, I'm sure the labs would find something in the toxicological tests, even if it were something new." "What were you checking for after you read that list of deaths?" She sighed but continued "Some drugs, MDMA for example, have a range of effects that can lead to acute toxic reactions, including hyperthermia, raised blood pressure, raised heart rate, cardiac arrhythmias and coagulopathy. Hypertension may lead in turn to stroke, and hyperthermia to rhabdomyolysis, dehydration and renal failure. These effects appear to be caused by the action of MDMA on serotonergic and dopaminergic systems, resulting in increased release of neurotransmitters. Serotonin being the neurotransmitter that plays an important role in regulating mood, memory, sleep, pain, appetite and higher order cognitive processes. It is possible that MDMA use can cause a variety of behavioural and cognitive consequences as well as impairing memory. It has a chemical structure similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline and can produce both stimulant and psychedelic effects. Reportedly, MDMA's psychedelic effects are milder than those produced by hallucinogens such as LSD and mescaline." Mulder hoped he'd managed to identify the salient points. "But you still might chuck yourself out of a window?" he queried. She nodded. " and MDMA to us average lay people would be ?" She hid a small smile "3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine" she said, only slightly smugly. "Scully" he said warningly. She wondered briefly what he would do if she continued teasing him but the professional demeanour angel hovered meaningfully over her shoulder. "MDMA's street names include ecstasy, XTC, clarity, essence and Adam." "Can we go with ecstasy?" "Let's stick with MDMA" "Spoilsport, but I thought ecstasy was a 'safe' drug?" "No drug is benign. Mulder. Usually its long-term abuse that causes such reactions but it is currently impossible to predict which users will be most liable to experience toxic effects. MDMA related fatalities have been reported at raves. The stimulant effects of the drug enable the user to dance for extended periods. Combined with the hot, crowded conditions usually found at such places can lead to dehydration, hyperthermia, and heart or kidney failure. Also the excessive consumption of fluids, as in the unrestricted intake of water can cause death by cerebral oedema. But all this is irrelevant because there was no indication of it in the blood work!" "Scully are there any other mechanisms.. anything physical that would have the same effects?" She looked thoughtful for a moment. "I can't see why you are interested in this. Is there, by any remote possibility, that there is some sort of link between these people that you are not telling me about Mulder?" "Ahh, it was the same band every time. Some of the statements given to the police report that witnesses felt compelled to dance." "Compelled. So what is this Mulder? The possessed dancing shoes, the poltergeist percussionist, the demon drummer...?" "Don't be silly Scully! I think we may have a genetic mutant that is unable to manufacture its own serotonin, you know like the fat sucking guy, or the pituitary-less guy or even the brain sucking guy. And.. as there was another death last night we have two tickets to the next show" he said waving them under her nose. She reached for his hand to stop his movement. "Mulder, there's nothing in the autopsies to indicate any..." she began but made the mistake of looking at his face. He was giving her the 'come on, you must be a little bit curious at least' look. Her shoulders slumped in resignation, he was right, there was a pattern and she could try and argue against the genetic mutant theory, unfortunately she'd seen one or two of those herself, and yes she was curious... The local Sheriff seemed a little embarrassed about the incident. "Folks in the bar that night, said that the music was making them dance. They couldn't stop. Even when Jed collapsed, his friends couldn't seem to stop themselves dancing to check on him. Then when Christine, his girlfriend, did do something she was still swaying to the music. She just tried to pull him up thinking he was just messing about. It seems to have taken quite a while for them to realise that he wasn't joking this time. Still they'd all had a skinfull and Jed was always one for fooling around, pranks and that. But he wasn't a bad kid" he hastened to add "most everyone liked him. Christine's real shook up. Thinks she might have saved him if she had not wasted time." he trailed away. "Do you have a cause of death yet?" asked Scully. The Sheriff looked a bit concerned and glanced at Mulder before replying "Er, no. The town's not big enough to warrant a doctor, he has to come over from Little Billing. He covers five towns, comes over once a fortnight. I was rather expecting. hoping. that is your partner said that you would do the autopsy for us, Agent Scully." Ah, another one of those little details Mulder forgot to mention. Tempting though it was to give her partner a filthy look she managed to ignore him. Hopefully by now, given her reaction in instances past, his instinctive reaction should be to don his shield of repel exasperated redheads or duck behind the nearest desk while hastily trying to concoct an excuse or even an apology. She smiled inwardly, he'd also know that she wouldn't call him on it in front of others. However, she now had an entire autopsy's worth of time to plan her revenge. The internal smile transform into an evil grin. In this instance it wasn't that he was volunteering her time and services without consulting her. She wouldn't mind so much if he'd said something so she wasn't caught off-guard, at least then there wouldn't be this uncomfortable moment with the local law enforcement. "Is there somewhere set up?" she asked somewhat in trepidation given the small town spiel. "Um, well, it's probably not what you're used to." Her heart started to sink. "It's the best we could do...We're not really suspecting foul play or anything. Nobody saw anyone unusual in the bar that night, he was dancing with friends and there doesn't seem to be a mark on him, but he's young and after what happened at Joe's people are starting to talk, so I called in a few favours.." Scully groaned inwardly, given the heat outside this could be unpleasant. "What happened at Joe's?" Mulder chirped in. "Two regulars of Joe's died last week when this same band were playing. They had a heart attack while dancing. What could they expect dancing at their age, They should have known better. Fred practically had to walk with a zimmer frame, let alone dance. Anyways, people have been saying as how the boy's possessed. And I have to say, he is kind of strange. But all three of them were on stage all the time. There's no way of connecting them to the deaths. Unless they poisoned the beer. but then there should be more deaths right? Could not be just one?" Scully saw Mulder's eyes light up at the word possessed. 'Oh God. Just what I don't need!' she thought. "Which boy?" "Oh sorry. Yeah right. The band's made up of two brothers and their mother, the Harrison's. The younger boy, late teens I guess, looks out of it most of the time. That is until he plays his guitar, then he seems to come alive, his eyes blazing, an evil grin on his face and sparks flying from his fingers. Least ways that's what folks who were there are saying. I didn't see it myself but I did see him later and he don't look like he could summon enough brain cells to co-ordinate killing a fly let alone a kid the size of Jed." "I think I'd like to go talk to them anyway Sheriff. Are they still in town?" "Yeah. They're staying at Lizzy's boarding house down the street. They're due to play at the bar again tonight. I'd appreciate it if you could find out what killed Jed, so as I know whether to stop it or not." Added the Sheriff turning towards Scully. "Well, if you show me where the body is I'll get started." "I'll go talk to the Harrison's" Mulder said hoping to make his escape. "Mulder, I think you need to come with me first". She saw Mulder gulp but nod. 'Good', she thought, 'if I'm going to have to do an autopsy in some barn in this heat, he can damn well help me.. and that's not my revenge.' As it turned out, it was some pig farmer's refrigerator truck, and once she got past the initial surprise at the location it wasn't that bad. It was cool, light and roomy, she'd certainly done autopsies in worst places. They'd even rigged up a table for the body. She took a quick look at the body. The Sheriff was right about size. Jed must be 6' 4" and a good 200lb, most of it muscle. She'd need help turning him over. However, it turned out that the farmer's wife was an ex nurse, wasn't squeamish and being somewhat of a strapping woman declared herself only too ready to give Scully a hand. So Mulder was let off the hook and could go do some interviews. Scully would have preferred to have been in on the interviews, you never knew which direction Mulder might suddenly veer off on but at least this way they might get this case sewn up early and get home by the weekend. Mulder went to the bar first and found a couple of locals chatting over a lunchtime drink. The bar was surprisingly decent. Clean floors, the brass work looked like it got polished every day, no watermarks on the glasses. There was a faint haze from the customers currently smoking but paint on the walls and ceiling were relatively nicotine free. There were photographs of the owner posing with various musicians. And there were guitars, saxophones, trumpets, and various other musical instruments hanging from the ceiling and walls behind the bar, even a mouth organ or three. The bartender came over and Mulder identified himself and asked to speak to George. "You found him Agent Mulder. Is this about Nancy and the boys? What happened to Jed, the rumours that are going round?" "What rumours would those be?" Mulder asked. "Oh well, they range from the preposterous to the extreme. That the boy's possessed by some kind of devil, hypnotising folks with his music so he can steal their souls, to it's a haunted guitar and when he plays it the ghost comes out to seek vengeance on the unmusical! And all sorts of rubbish in between!" George replied mockingly. "So you don't favour these rumours?" "Nancy and I go way back. And before you go getting any ideas, it was Frank and I that used to hang out together. Frank being the boys' father. Frank and I were session musicians. No one could play the guitar like Frank. He used to make it sing or sob. He used to eat and sleep playing that guitar of his. Then one summer we were playing a few bars in between jobs, just as a little holiday you might say. One night there was Nancy looking pretty as a picture and all dreamy eyed at him playing. Soon after that they were inseparable. Then the kids came along and you'd have thought they were on cloud nine. One happy family, Frank used to play to his kids every night before they went to bed. A bedtime story told in a slightly different way. Unfortunately, it wasn't all sweetness and light. Frank had been into drugs before he met Nancy. Swore he was clear and he probably was when Nancy was about. Then one night while he was on the road, Nancy have stayed home feeling a bit under par having given birth to Ben just a couple of months earlier, he overdosed. Nancy blamed herself for not having gone with him of course. Then Ben started getting sickly, would not eat, screamed most of the time. She was at her wit's end and very little money saved to keep taking him to the doctor. Then one night the damnedest thing happened. Brian who would have been about four then, picked up a toy mouth organ and started playing. Ben calmed like magic and went to sleep listening to the music. I've watched those boys grow up, listened to them playing music together. They've played in this bar on and off for the last three years and there's never been any problem until now. So no Agent Mulder, I don't believe in no god damn rumours." George had worked himself up to righteous indignation. Mulder nodded in acknowledgement. "Were you here last night? Did you see what happened?" "No." George replied grudgingly. "I went over to see my sister, she's not been feeling too good. So I took her over some fresh groceries and some soup for her dinner. I left Mike in charge, I've done it before, I usually take one night off a week. It's not like we host the local wrecker crowd or anything. I wasn't expecting any trouble." He was lapsing back into frustrated confusion and concern. "Do you know what killed Jed yet?" "No, my partner's doing the autopsy at the moment, but it will be a few days before she gets all the lab results back. Are the Harrison's playing here again tonight?" "Yeah. They were going to call it off, what with Jed dying, thought it was disrespectful. Jed and Brian were good friends, not as close since Brian started travelling around but happy to meet up again, you know. Unfortunately, the rumours are bringing the vulture crowd into town.." he nodded towards a table with a group of people who currently though boisterous were not particularly mean looking. "Groups like them been coming into town all afternoon. They got too much energy. The Sheriff's worried they might turn ugly if they don't get to see the 'ghostly guitar'. He doesn't have the men to deal with a riot. You'd think it would keep people away wouldn't you, but no it draws them like crows to roadkill." A potentially nasty crowd had gathered outside the boarding house when Mulder got there, which the Sheriff was trying to disperse. These must have been local people because the Sheriff was reminding them how the Harrison's were good people, known to most folks in the town for many years and it was not nice to pick on them now for some unfortunate but perfectly natural death. There was some grumbling but the crowd began to break up. As Mulder approached the boarding house, the strains of a haunting guitar melody floated out of the open window. The landlady let him in and directed him to a room upstairs. He knocked on the door, there was scuffling behind the door, the melody stopped before the door opened. Nancy Harrison, was looking washed out, drained, the result of more than one sleepless night. She kept glancing over at Ben who was sat huddled in a corner, clutching his guitar and staring blankly into the air. The older boy was looking pale with dark circles under his eyes. He was apprehensive, afraid to make eye contact, listlessly thumbing through a music magazine. Mulder was about to do the helping with enquiries routine, when Mrs Harrison launched straight in with "Is there any news about how Jed died?" "Sorry, no news yet." Mulder answered. "It's such a tragedy. The boys have know him for a long time, it's such a shock. He was fine yesterday afternoon so young, fit and healthy. It makes it so hard to believe now. I feel for Christine too." She was babbling nervously. "It will probably be a few days before the exact cause of Jed's death is known. You say you saw him yesterday afternoon. Where was that?" Mulder inquired. "We got into town midday yesterday. We had arranged to have lunch with Jessie, Jed's mom. We usually try to get together when we're back here. Jed stopped in on a flying visit just to say hi and that he'd see us at the bar in the evening. He was always so exuberant, so full of life. He and his friends got there just as we were starting, he waved at us from the bar." she trailed off lost in a remembrance. "Did you know most of the people in the bar last night?" he was trying to make his questions general, as if they were just routine grunt work, while trying to keep her talking so his mind might pick up on what it was that was unusual. He was watching the two brothers in his peripheral vision. "I guess so. There were a few new faces, they could have just been passing through or they could be new townsfolk. It's been four months since we were here last so people could have moved on. Come to think of it, Jessie did not mention anyone new and she probably would have. In a small town like this it would be cause for gossip for several weeks. Brian and Ben grew up here, it's only in the last few years that we started moving about. It's for Ben you see. He doesn't talk much, he speaks through the music. Sometimes I think it's all that keeps him going.." Mulder encouraged her to go on. "Their father was a musician, he used to play songs to put them to sleep. When he died, well Ben only seemed to respond to music. As he grew up he just used to play tin cans or jars filled with water, a Jew's harp. Then friends started to give us some old instruments, flute, saxophone.. People were so kind then, always encouraging him to play. Then suddenly overnight its like.." She stopped suddenly realising the track she'd gone down. Mulder asked her to finish. She looked a bit embarrassed, nervous. "It's not everybody Agent Mulder, but just a few people can make life very uncomfortable, especially is a small town like this even with our friends standing by us. Some people have been saying nasty things about us Agent Mulder, but all we do is play music just to keep body and soul together." "Like you say it's a small town, little things can have people gossiping for weeks. The sooner we get to the bottom of this the sooner it will all blow over." He looked over at Ben who was still cradling his guitar. "Did a friend give him that guitar too?" "No. It's a funny thing about that guitar. Ben's never had a guitar until last summer. We were passing a second hand shop, I can't even remember which town now, when he suddenly started pulling on my arm and pointing at the back of the shop. He was so insistent that we went in and he dug this thing out of a box. It was in a bit of a state, big deep scratches and scuff marks and it needed new strings and a couple of frets. We'd been playing pretty regularly for a few weeks and the guitar was cheap being in such a state. So I bought it, it's not as if he asks for things very often. Ben cleaned it up and repaired it. He's hardly without it now. He can't read music, he just seems to have an ear for it, just picks up an instrument and plays with it and eventually he just starts playing. Then he'll hear a song and he'll sit there for days replaying it in his head then on his guitar, sometimes it drives me up the wall it gets so repetitive." She was trying to sound exasperated but there was a fond look and a small smile on her face as she looked at Ben while she talked about him. Mulder noticed that Brian had been looking distinctly wary while his mother had been talking about the guitar. He wondered if he could get the boy on his own at some point. There were some definite undertones going on in this family. However, he didn't think he was going to get anything more out of them just at the moment, so he said a few platitudes and left. Continued in part 2... part 2 of 2 That evening Mulder sat in the bar. Scully still had not arrived from driving over to Little Billing to get her autopsy samples sent to the FBI lab. Jed had died of cerebral oedema but what had brought it on was a mystery. The bar was fairly crowded already even though it was quite early. There was a fair amount of drinking going on. It was to be hoped this did not turn ugly later. The band shuffled onto the stage trying to look inconspicuous, but they were what people were waiting for this time. Some stared with open curiosity, some looked amazed or amused, so these three unpreprocessing people were what all the fuss was about. Some seemed incredulous others possibly malicious. The band started to play. Mulder noticed that Ben wasn't really joining in at this point just caressing the guitar gently. The song was lacklustre and the patrons were getting restless. No one clapped at the end. The next song started, a little better than the first but Ben was only strumming a few bars before stopping, waiting a little then starting again. At the end of the song there was a slow handclap from a group of kids at a table where there was plenty of sign of drinking. Dozens of glasses, several empty and several in various states of emptiness or fullness if you were feeling optimistic. Even the openly curious were beginning to look disgusted, but at least they were just turning back to their tables, their drinks and friends. Half way through the third song, by which time Ben was beginning to join in fully, the heavy atmosphere started to lift, laughter started to filter through the buzz of conversations and music. If Mulder had not been watching for something, anything he probably would not have noticed it but there was a definite shift in the atmosphere, he could not name it but something seemed to have changed. The heckling crowd were still heckling but with not quite the same menace. Maybe it had just been his imagination before, he'd misjudged the crowd. He should get out more. By the end of the fourth song, there was a swinging good time going on in the bar. There were lots of smiling faces, some people were even beginning to click their fingers or tap their feet to the music. Nothing overt, just casual movements. Mulder had his hand on his knee clicking his fingers a drink in his other hand when Scully found him. She was a bit riled that he should be sat there enjoying himself, relaxing when she'd been running round like a blue arsed fly, getting the paperwork done to send the samples off to the lab. She had not eaten yet either, which wasn't improving her temper. He greeted her jovially and she was considering snapping at him when, miraculously food arrived in front of Mulder. Lots of food. "I ordered for you too Scully, I did not think you'd be much longer and with such a crowd in here it would have taken ages to get served. It wasn't an extensive menu but they had this itsy bitsy chickeny salad thing which I was sure you'd order." She scowled at him but she'd seen the rest of the food so it was all in the spirit of the game. Really. "... and for me an intsy weeny burger with a side order of fries." Suddenly she did not feel so bad any more, letting out the breath she'd been holding which she'd drawn ready to snipe at him, she smiled and pinched a fry off his plate as she settled onto the stool next to him. He gave her an astonished look. "What?" she said but unable to hide the smirk. She knew he was feigning. "... Fortunately it was a large side order so don't feel guilty about stealing my polyunsaturated lipid soaked arteriosclerosis inducing carbohydrate!" She must have said that last time she was commenting on his cholesterol filled diet and as if she would - feel guilty that is. "I'm just thinking about your health Mulder, trying to give your arteries a bit of relief." "So it's just a doctor thing then...?" She grinned and shrugged noncommittally, his fries were fair game, he knew she wouldn't order them herself, she just liked a few to go with her salad, you know about half. "So nothing suspicious about Jed's death?" he said round a mouthful of burger. "Nothing, no puncture wounds, abrasions, bruises or scratches. I do not even think he had been drinking alcohol but the lab tests will prove that. The symptoms would indicate drug abuse but there's no immediate sign of that. Again the lab tests should highlight any substances." She had to raise her voice as the music was getting louder. Mulder was tapping his foot against the side of the stool. His knee was also bouncing up and down. Mulder nodded in acknowledgement of her summary. They carried on eating and Scully took notice of the band for the first time. "Is this the band Mulder?" she asked somewhat doubtfully, not quite believing what she saw on the stage. Although, now, Ben was getting into his stride, his eyes alight, enthusiasm and energy radiating from his body as he played. His mother and brother appeared a little nervous, casting quick anxious glances round the room, but the crowd had settled, most were watching now, conversations dried up as the music swirled through the air. Most were tapping feet or fingers on tables, some nodding their heads in time to the rhythm. The transformation was magical. "Yeah" he replied "they don't look much and they started off pretty ropy but now the guitar player's got going they're not bad. From seeing him this afternoon, I wouldn't have thought it possible. I can understand why his mother thinks he lives for the music." People had started getting up to dance between the tables. The intensity of the music seeming to entice the listeners, beckoning, inviting them to celebrate the music. Mulder was fascinated but the magic was bypassing Scully. At the pause between songs Scully said "I can hardly hear you Mulder, shall we get out of here?" "I think we ought to..." he said to Scully's retreating back. He glanced back at the band as the next song started but then hurried after Scully. There was a small veranda outside and Scully was waiting for him leaning against the balustrade. "I think we ought to watch a bit more of what's goes on Scully" "What are we watching for Mulder. Everything seems to indicate Jed's death was by natural causes. There's nothing to suggest anything paranormal at work here. Not even a mutant." "I just think we should be watching the crowd for anything unusual" he persisted. "What as in spooky?" He gave her a look, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Ok." She relented "But can we do it from out here? We can still see everyone and it's not as hot, crowded, smoky and loud" she asked pleading slightly. Ear shatteringly loud music wasn't her thing, although now she was outside the tune was actually quite enjoyable. She could feel herself starting to sway in time to the music, she squelched the feeling quickly. "Tell you what, we'll watch from out here for a bit, then I'll go back in later and look around" he compromised. She nodded in agreement. She looked more closely through the windows, nearly everyone was up dancing now. As they moved to the next song with hardly a pause, Mulder chimed in with "Hey, it's Freebird, I haven't heard this in ages, this is a real classic. You must like this one Scully?" Scully half smiled back "Before my time Mulder." He glowered at her. "Scully this is a classic, it's timeless." Scully could see his reflection in the glass, he'd closed his eyes, savouring the music, he was swaying with the beat. She looked through the window again, every one was dancing now, strange even some of the older people. Even given Mulder's timeless comment on this song, it seemed odd. She turned back to Mulder to comment on it but as she did so, she was surprised into a squeak of dismay as she was grabbed, spun round and held in a very close embrace against a very male chest. "Mulder!" she protested. "You got to dance to Freebird Scully, it's practically a universal constant. It spurs the biological imperative to exercise muscles in homage to a time honoured song." She opened her mouth to protest but somehow it changed itself into a smile, she felt herself melting into the music, blending into the dance, relaxing against Mulder. They danced. As the song drew to a close she started to draw away but the music did not stop it moved seamlessly onto the next song. Mulder and Scully drew closer together again continuing to dance. Inside the bar, Ben was dynamic, the notes seemed to be amplified off the walls, the ceiling, the floor, it came from every where enveloping the room, surrounding the dancers, caressing their bodies urging them to further expression. On the stage, Ben was lost in ecstasy playing in a world of his own. His mother and brother played on, with smiles fixed to their faces like a grimace, their eyes were glazed and panicked. They played on... and on. People danced on... and on. The following morning Scully awoke in an unfamiliar bed, fortunately it was her motel room. The other odd thing was she was aching in muscles she obviously had not used for a long, long time, despite her keep fit regime. Not that waking up in the morning and aching was unusual in her job but it was usually accompanied by bruises at least. She was feeling a little disoriented, the evening before started to drift back into her consciousness. They'd danced for what seemed like hours, while effectively being on surveillance! They'd danced, her and Mulder, Mulder and I, Mulder and me, most of it up close and personal whatever the song. There'd also been some personal revelations going on "You ever made love to music Scully?" was one of the questions apparently out of the blue. She'd raised her eyebrows at that but for some reason she'd answered it. "Does hearing music from the room next door while at college count?" "No it doesn't. You should pick music to match the mood. Make love while playing Freebird for example." His voice had deepened. "Isn't that a bit short?" she countered. "That's a nine minute song Scully" he said with mock outrage "and there's always the repeat button." "I think I'd prefer Beethoven. full of dips and climaxes." He'd laughed. "Now you've got my attention, maybe the vintage stuff has got something going for it after all. "Vintage, they're classical Mulder." "Nah, the King's classic." And they'd danced on. At some point, when the band had stopped playing, they'd still been so high from the dancing that they'd tripped the light fantastic all the way back to the motel. Mulder crooning Elvis songs in her ear, in a key close to if not entirely as the composer intended, to encourage her to keep in step, and she thought she remembered a Walking in Memphis rendition at one point. She groaned. God they must have been stoned out of their mind. Stoned! Scully shot up in the bed and paused in that thought as the room spun round her. They were exhibiting all the symptoms of having been stoned but that wasn't possible. she'd take blood samples. She leapt out of bed, then wished she had not as several muscle groups complained at the sudden movement. She slowed her pace down but went to get her bag. A few minutes later she was knocking on Mulder's door. A meeting with the Sheriff later that morning found him in an easier and happier mood than the previous day. Nothing had happened at the bar last night, he was almost feeling embarrassed by thinking that Jed's death was suspicious. Mulder and Scully on the other hand were a lot more suspicious as well as feeling a lot more selfconscious around each other than yesterday. Although both were hiding it well, they kept catching each other in surreptitious glances. Towards the end of the conversation the deputy walked into the office asking what to do with the body. "What body?" asked a startled Sheriff. "The vagrant found this morning" replied the deputy. "What vagrant? Where?" asked the Sheriff puzzled. "George found him round the back of the bar near the garbage cans when he went to clean up this morning, assumed he must have been scavenging and had a heart attack or something." "So stolen fries really are bad for you" Mulder muttered in Scully's ear. She kept her face passive despite the overwhelming urge to swat him. They went out to look at the body. "It's old Harry" the Sheriff said "he's been bumming round here for years on and off. I guess death finally caught up with him" He sounded like he was trying to convince himself, he looked distinctly uncomfortable. Then he looked at Scully. 'Another day, another autopsy' she thought to herself. It was a pleasant, warm sunny afternoon as Mulder drove Scully back from the autopsy. He was admiring the scenery, not all of it outside the car, when off to the side of the road he noticed Brian sitting on the ground, back leaning against a tree. His head was bowed over an acoustic guitar and he was completely oblivious to their approach as he strummed a gentle tune. They allow him to finish but he jumped noticeably when Scully commented appreciatively on his performance. This was the first time she had seen Brian and even as she apologised for startling him, her doctor's eye was taking in the shadows under his eyes, his pallid complexion and his overall exhausted appearance. "You're looking a little pale Brian. Are you feeling ok?" "I've not been sleeping well, what with Jed's death and everything. It's the reason I'm out here, just trying to get some fresh air and ." he paused trying to think of the words that would best describe what he needed "some quiet time. some calm ". A perfectly plausible reply but Brian looks a little uncomfortable under her scrutiny. "How's your mother and Ben doing?" asks Mulder. Brian shrugged. "Mom's sad, Ben's been losing himself in music. Just let's the world go by you know." "I got the impression that Ben was always involved with his music" Mulder stated smiling slightly in encouragement. Brian gave a wry smile back "Yeah, but just recently . he's been even more wrapped up in it". He paused he looked like he wanted to say more and Mulder was trying to work out what would trigger his confidence when Ben materialised seemingly out of nowhere and the moment was lost. Ben was glaring intently at Brian who was scrambling rapidly to his feet. It was the most animated that Mulder had seen Ben outside of him performing. Brian was looking a little apprehensive. "So can we give you guys a lift back to town?" Mulder asked, in some way trying to break the tension. "No, we got it covered and I'd like to practice a bit more before I go back" Brian replied lifting his guitar in emphasis. Mulder and Scully took their leave, getting back in the car and heading off back down the road. "You know Mulder, Brian looks like he hasn't been sleeping for weeks rather than a couple of days. That kid looked bone weary". Mulder nodded his head in acknowledgement and looked thoughtful. Later, Brian is talking to his mother. "Someone else was found dead last night mom!" Nancy shakes her head "It's just a coincidence. It's got nothing to do with us, we just play music". She turns away from Brian "We just play music" she repeats quietly, hugging herself. The next morning the Harrison's are packing up their van getting ready to leave for the next town. Nancy & Brian turn back into the house leaving Ben and his guitar standing on the sidewalk next to the van. A group of youths spot him from across the road. They nudge each other, there's an exchange of words followed by laughter and they change direction to saunter apparently nonchalantly across the road but with their sight plainly directed towards Ben. Their whole demeanour is one of 'this is going to be fun' as they surround him. They start taunting him, when he doesn't react they brush against him or push him from behind trying to get a response. They quickly become frustrated, it's no fun if the quarry doesn't respond. One makes a grab for the guitar. Ben shouts "No!" and clutches the guitar to him but the youth sensing entertainment now lunges at the guitar with intent. All hell breaks loose. There's a scream of agonising pain, the sound of a screeching guitar and a boy writhing on the floor covered in a blue miasma emanating from the guitar. The boy's body goes taut, the screaming stops and the body drops bonelessly to the ground. The kids stare in apparent shock at their friend as Nancy & Brian come running out of the house, alerted by the screams. They come to an abrupt halt as they see the kid on the ground. "What happened?" asks Brian looking first at Ben and then at the other guys. They start backing off and then as if their wits have returned suddenly they turn as one and flea down the street. Brian feels for a pulse and yells for someone to phone 911. Nancy panics and tries to bundle them into the van so they can get away but Brian is adamant "This is no coincidence Mom. The Sheriff will want to know what happened here. We can't run away this time." Later the Sheriff is summarising the event to Mulder & Scully. "We let the Harrison's go. All the witnesses' state that Nancy & Brian were inside and that it was the boys picking on Ben that caused the trouble. Ben never touched the guy, it was only when he held the guitar that he went in to some sort of seizure. Witnesses describe a blue aura coming from the guitar and covering the victim, so we kept the guitar back, it's locked in the cupboard. We had quite a job getting Ben to part with it. He was howling and screaming" "Did you touch it Sheriff?" asked Mulder as they walked towards the cupboard, the Sheriff jiggling his keys looking for the right one. "Are you kidding. I made Brian put it in the cupboard himself" he said opening the cupboard door. Scully tried to protest as Mulder reached in to pick up the guitar. She was too slow, there was a flash of blue sparks and Mulder dropped the guitar with a "Shit". The Sheriff slammed the cupboard door shut as Scully grabbed Mulder's hand to inspect the damage. "Jesus Mulder, it's blistered go and run your hand under the cold water while I get my bag." Mulder's hand attended to, they all turn back towards the cupboard, this time with Scully sporting a thick pair of gloves. "Why do I feel like we should have a chair and a whip" quipped Mulder. The Sheriff opened the cupboard door cautiously to reveal several files, some shotgun cartridges, a pair of trainers but no guitar. Mulder & Scully turned to look at the Sheriff who was staring opened mouthed at the space of the missing evidence. "It was . I saw. I locked the door myself, it was right there!" the Sheriff babbled. "Where were they headed?" asked Mulder. The Sheriff continued to look dazedly at the cupboard "Sheriff?" Mulder prompted. The Sheriff shook his head and became aware that he was being asked a question. Mulder and Scully were headed towards the car squabbling. "Mulder the guitar has got to be here somewhere, it can't have just transported itself back to Ben!" "Then when the Sheriff finds it he can phone us up and say 'I've got it, it was here all the time hiding in the toilet, good joke, ha ha'. In the meantime I think we need to find Ben. Are you coming?" Scully hesitated trying to come up with a logical explanation as to how a guitar could disappear from a locked cupboard in full sight of the Sheriff, while Mulder cursed as he fumbled the car keys with his bandaged hand. "Give me the keys Mulder." said Scully walking towards him and holding out her hand. "Scully I'm going to find Ben.." "Yes, but your not driving with that hand. Now get in the car" By the time that Mulder & Scully got to the right bar, the band was in full swing. But as they hurried into the bar something was different, the atmosphere was heavier and more threatening than the previous gig. The crowd still appeared to be captivated but instead of the calming, excited, happy feelings of before, now there was a definite tension in the air, the feeling more of terror than ecstasy. There was fear in the dancer's eyes, their movement more that of a jerky marionette than the carefree abandonment of happy dancers. This time they knew they were being manipulated but there was nothing they could do about it. This time the music was not promising pleasure but pain, horrible gut wrenching pain. The magic was still there but now it had turned nasty. Mulder and Scully tried to work their way towards the band, concentrating on hearing nothing. They could see Ben now, he was electrified, sparks cascaded from the strings, the dischords vaulted out and around, up and down and side to side. The marionettes did the same. Suddenly there was a crescendo of noise and one of the dancers was plucked from the ground and spun in the air in a tornado of sound. The spinning continued for several minutes until at the end of one long screeching note the dancer was flung out towards the wall, which he hit before sliding down to the floor. There was probably a sickening thud but it went unheard over the torrent of noise. As the next note sounded another dancer was plucked from the ground, the crowd of dancers surged. Mulder and Scully were separated. Scully was caught in the throng, being swirled and twirled towards the maelstrom of music at the front. She flailed trying to find something to anchor herself to, there was nothing. She called out to Mulder. He launched himself after her but missed her by a fingertip. The crowd seemed to thicken in front of him, he rammed himself against them uselessly until his brain switched in and he saw the gap to his right. He lunged through it heedless of his own safety. He still wasn't close enough as he saw her being body surfed further away from him. He called her name. 'Stupid twit' he thought briefly to himself what good will that do. He continued to work his way through the dancers, not caring if they were hurt in the process, for the good of the common man taking a back seat in his anxiety to get to his partner. Now there were several dancers being twisted and turned in the air. The music throbbed and threatened, Ben's eyes were glazed, his hand a blur across the strings. Then Scully was in the tornado of bodies, she was flung against another of the grotesque puppets. Mulder called out desperately to her, he could not help himself. 'Save your breath you dumb ass' he thought to himself. Another of the dancers was flung against the wall, Mulder increased his efforts, if that were possible, to get to Scully. The song came to an end and there was a brief lull. The dancers sagged almost imperceptibly, the airborne puppets stuttering in the air. It allowed Mulder to leap forward and grab Scully's ankle. Then the music surged, with Scully being jerked upwards again but this time with Mulder firmly attached. There was a subtle change in the atmosphere. The music seemed to concentrate around Mulder and Scully. It was challenged. The music was painful to Mulder, he could feel shooting pains all down the arm that connected to Scully. He groaned but held on. On the outside of the throng a few dancers began to back off, shaking their heads, as they realised their release they bolted towards the exit. Mulder felt the music beating in front of him, below him, he tried to concentrate, it was behind him. 'The backbeat' he thought. Above him though him, through his chest, 'heartbeat' he thought. Then wished he had not as the music beat in time with his heart, which had a somewhat elevated rate already. The music sped up and so did his heart. He held on. More people were streaming out the doors, some managed to put enough coherent thought together to grab friends on their way out. Ben seemed to be a blue flame, strumming frantically at the strings. There was blood on his fingers. Mulder's heart felt like it would pound out of his chest, he couldn't feel his feet or his hands. Scully was still being jerked around like a leaf in a gale force wind. He held on. The music began to howl and screech, the blue flames flickered towards Mulder. He held on. As the blue light stretched further towards Mulder, Ben's eyes became unglazed. He looked into Mulder's eyes, up at Scully and then round the room. He looked at Mulder again and Mulder thought he saw a look of sadness pass though the boy's eyes just before he closed them. The blue light crackled over Mulder's front sending a paralysing pain through his chest. Mulder's grasp started to slip. Frantically he tried to use his other hand but the bandages and numbness were against him. He was going to lose her. Suddenly, Ben's arm raised high in the air, the music paused momentarily, then Ben brought his arm down in a crashing chord. The sound reverberated around the room, echoed back on itself, crashed into itself. Momentarily the blue flame swirled in on itself but then flickered towards Mulder again. A string snapped on the guitar, a loud discordant noise amidst all the other notes, then another and another. The strings waved frantically in the air, the music still seemed to pulse around the room, the untethered strings strained towards Mulder and then whipped back towards Ben. They coiled round his neck, slithered under his collar, the guitar continued to howl. The strings shivered and then tensed, trapping Ben's throat in their coils. The music died and into the deathly silence that followed fell Scully. Of course Mulder was there to break her fall, there was a whump followed by a squeal as they collapsed in an undignified heap. What embarrassing position they then found themselves in is left to the reader's imagination. This is a fleeting picture though because a sobbing cry of "No" pierces the deathly quiet. Nancy is crouching over Ben, cradling him in her arms. Scully disentangles herself from Mulder and rushes over but Ben is decidedly dead. The strings are still wrapped round his neck, the guitar still clutched firmly in his hands, although now she looks closely the guitar looks worn, scuffed, broken. The End