From jkc1984@niia.net Wed Apr 30 15:31:07 1997 Subject: Silver Skin (1/6) From: jamescampagna -------- Philes, Well, I really hope this works..... Hello, I'm Ninx, and this is one of my few fanfic creations that is FINISHED. Done. Whatever. It appeared in Clasica Leo's X-Paper (subscribe--it's worth it!), but really was started in English class, when two bored students decided to write a letter...and well, this spun out. Oh, please forgive the spelling and grammer--they suck...and before I forget, I do not claim this is scientifically accurate. Not at all. Title: Silver Skin Author: Ninx Rating: PG for this part-nothing too bad. Classification-XFictionalis Storius USTus Summary: Mulder and Scully find themselves exposed to an unusual situation when they stumble onto an odd cave, a working computer, and a man with silver skin. Disclaimer-I don't own them! They ain't mine!! No infringement intended cause they belong toCC, 1013, and FOX. I do, however, have my own characters in here. Silver Skin (1/6) "If this beach had anymore rocks on it, it would be a gravel pit," Scully groaned in disgust. "Hmmm...I will have to agree with your scientific opinion, Agent Scully," Mulder grimaced as he picked his way across the rocks. They were walking down a very rocky, very bare beach. They'd had a case in the nearby town of Croup involving alledged "warbles" in time. Things were repeating themselves, people were working backwards, and other strange phenominom that barely defined themselves. However, the agents had found no such trace, and everything appeared to be back to normal. Now, they had a couple days to waste, and they were wasting them with pleasure. This beach, however, was not a pleasure. It had seemed nice at first, made of sandy but hard packed sand; a soft breeze came off the gray lake. Scully thought softly. She sighed, though, and continued to follow her partner down the beach. Even Mulder didn't know why he was out today. It was all very odd to him, but he'd been compelled to visit this beach that some locals said was haunted. Maybe it was the very thought, the excitement that one felt when they went ghost hunting. Of course, he hadn't told Scully this--she would have given him that famous look and told him what to do with his day at the beach. His eyes drifted off to the right, catching a very familar looking piece of landscape. "Look, Scully," Mulder said, stopping to shield his eyes and point. "A cave." She looked, and saw the rounded rise of rock. "Yes, it is a cave," she said. "Is that your scientific opinion?" Mulder teased. "Well, yes....unless you think it happens to be a flying saucer that crashed into the landscape and just became apart of it." A smile quirked the corners of his mouth. "I have some interesting material on unnatural natural looking formations, Scully. You want to hear about it?" he asked. She looked at him, eyebrows raised. "If you're talking about what I think you're talking about, no," she said. "Me, Scully?" he said, exaggerating innocence. "You, Mulder," she replied, shielding her eyes to look at the cave again. "Feel like checking it out?" he asked. "Do you really think that is some kind of unnatural natural looking formation? I hate to break it to you, but the Easter Islanders never came this far inland," she joked. "No, but I haven't gone spelunking in a while," he said. Then,"Besides, it couldn't be as rocky as this beach." "True, true," she replied, then nodded. They both started off to the cave, his black trenchcoat sweeping out behind him like a cape. As they approached the cave, Mulder felt something very weird, as if someone was projecting disorientation on him. He took a couple of deep breaths, and Scully asked,"What's wrong, Mulder?" "Nothing, Scully. Just a funny feeling," he said. "Do you need to go back to the hotel?" she asked, her voice slightly concerned. "And miss exploring this cave? No way, Scully," he said, his voice boyish in enthusiasm. They entered the cave about then, Mulder ducking the low hanging ceiling. It was fairly cool, but dry, in there; they worked their way around the main opening, oohing and aahing at the oddites they found. "Look, Mulder," Scully said, bending down. "What?" he asked, kneeling beside her. "Footprints...old ones," she replied, her fingers lightly skimming around the edge of what appeared to be a size eight footprint. "Hmm...they go that way. Care to check it out?" Mulder asked. "Sure," she replied, and they both unholstered their guns and crept into the dark tunnel that the footprints went into. They crept along for forty or fifty feet or so, then ran into a ledge. After another thirty feet, they ran into another. And then another twenty feet, another. By this time, Mulder's stomach was sore and Scully's pantlegs were scuffed from climbing, yet they willingly went up the last ledge. And found a body. "Hello!" Scully called, then put her fingers to the side of his neck. "His heartbeat is faint...gone! Mulder, call 911!!" she said, then began the procedures of CPR. She barely noticed that fact that his hair was purple, or that his skin had a silvery tone to it. Mulder didn't notice either, but instead hurridedly called 911, giving their names and destination. His eyes moved frantically around the room during this, and alighted on a laptop. "Scully," he said softly, but she wasn't listening, too concentrated at bringing the man back to life. He moved over, moved the cursor button, a program called "ClarisWorks" sitting open. On a hunch, he checked the files, and found two--one called "Letter" and one called "Legacy". He opened the file to find a page of typing, and sitting on the cool floor, he began to read. From jkc1984@niia.net Wed Apr 30 15:31:13 1997 Subject: Silver Skin (2/6) From: jamescampagna -------- Okay, everything from part one applies here. DISCLAIMER and all. I'd like to dedicate this set of stories (oops, forgot something!) to my editor and friend, Clasica Leo. She made this possible. --------------------------------------------------------------------- TO THE ONE WHO FINDS THIS: I don't know how to describe my predicament. It is so awful for me, and the experience is hidous, not to mention beyond the realm of normal. If I, two years ago, had heard this, I would laugh and have the person thrown in jail. My experience goes beyond the realm of normal, and has put me in a situation I fear I will never get out of. Maybe introductions are in order. My name is Khmer Brindle, of the city of Khmer. I was hatched on the second floor of the Building of Life a mere 15 or so cycles ago, yet you would consider me old. I know by now you must notice the difference in my address to you, and to myself and my city. My people have the first name of their city and it is the last name that takes on originality....so, you see, Khmer is almost like my last name. My race and yours, we are not so different in personality....but the differences are there. I wonder if you seek more differences. I might, if I were you. My race posesses almost no sex--because of the conditions we live under-- but I am normally male. Currently, I am two figs, 2 rms tall--about 5 foot 8, actually--and posess the oddest looks. My dimension is not as stable as yours, you see, and our appearance can change quite rapidly depending on the conditions. It is our adaptability that keeps us alive. I am not of this world. I am from an unstable dimension, a place of havoc, yet it is wonderful and beautiful at the same time. My hair is a bright, shining purple; my eyes are slate gray to match the dirt on my world. My skin posesses a slight silver sheen, which posesses somewhat reflective capabilites as well. My organs are in the same place as yours, but my body chemistry is so out of whack that no scientist would be able to comprehend my foreigness. I have no way home. My last place to rest is here, the place of my death, the place I leave my last will and testament. Yet, words are not as important as the feelings that go with them, and I know it is hard for those who read to feel as well. I have left apart of myself with this, a part which will enable you to feel what I want you to feel. It is there--just touch it. I will go now. I do not belong here. But if someone is able to find this and bring a message to this dimension I speak of, tell Khmer Rhea that I...I...it is so hard to explain!! "I love her" is your closest equivalent, but when it goes to the soul....anyway, please, try to tell her "Ut tocs ka mu lynk arg"...she will understand. Goodbye, too kind world..... KHMER BRINDLE Mulder could barely keep his hands from shaking as he read, but he couldn't tear his eyes from the computer screen. The last thought came to him as he realized his partner had been working feverishly on this patient the whole time. He'd wondered before he opened the file if she would ask him to help, but she seemed to want to do this job alone. "Scully stop!!" he cried out, mouth dry. "Mulder, are you crazy! This man has just started breathing again!!" Scully shouted back as she continued compressions. "Scully, stop!! That man is not human!!" Mulder shouted. From jkc1984@niia.net Wed Apr 30 15:31:19 1997 Subject: Silver Skin (3/6) From: jamescampagna -------- All above applies...it gets kinda odd here, so hold on to your seats! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "'Tis a day for an adventure," she had said upon awakening. Now, as she and Ret strolled down the beach, she wondered what the day would bring. Her feelings on such things were normally not wrong. "Penny for your thoughts?" Ret asked, looking down to her. "Inflation has upped to the cost to fifty cents," she replied dryly, a strand of her black hair floating across her face. She blew it away from her, and it settled off to one side. "Funny," he said. "But really, you seem a little troubled." "And it bugs you not to know why?" she replied, smiling. "A little," he replied. She sighed softly, looking away, then straight ahead. "I woke up with a feeling this morning, Ret. An odd feeling. I wonder what it signals." "Maybe change," he suggested. "Or it could have just been a nightmare. You never know." "True, you never know," she replied, turning to face into the wind. He stood beside her, equally dark hair sweeping out in long streaks behind him. "But it was a feeling of adventure, Ret. Adventure!" "Maybe it has something to do with those streaks," he suggested. "Maybe," she replied, letting her eyes drift to gaze upon the purple sky. "Maybe." * * * * "He's not human." The words rang in Scully's ears like drumbeats, pulsating and pounding. She looked up from her patient to stare at Mulder, letting her face reveal her shock, then went to back to work upon him. "Scully!" he said, but then they heard scuffling behind them. Mulder picked up his gun--he barely realized he'd dropped it--and went to check. "Hello?" he called. "Agent Mulder?" came back the voice. "We got a call to the EMS about an injured man, possibly close to death, from here." Mulder gazed back for an instant at Scully, then called down,"I'm bringing him down." "Mulder," Scully hissed fiercely as he stooped to pick up the barely breathing individual. "Disturbing him now could cause him serious damage!" When he ignored her, she cried out "Mulder!" "Get the laptop, Scully," was his only response as he began the descent to ground level. She stared after him until his brown head was out of her sight, then feverishly stamped her foot. she thought brutally for a second. Then she remembered the words he said, and the truth in his face, in his eyes, and she stooped and picked up the closed laptop computer. Tucking it under her arm, she slowly began to follow her partner down. Ten minutes later they were sitting back in the hospital, waiting. The doctor's had taken the man, who had stopped breathing a few times on his trip to the hospital, into another room to stablilize him. Now, they were waiting for his report, and to see the patient. "It's not going to work, Scully," Mulder said fiercly. He was pacing in a confined space, steps quick and hard against the tile floor. "He has a totally different biochemistry than us. They could kill him!!" "Mulder, calm down," Scully replied patiently. "Just because he looks different does not make him an alien!!" Mulder sighed. "Scully, did you read the file on the laptop?" "Yes, Mulder," she replied. "And it sounds like something right out of the latest science fiction magazine!!" He sighed at this remark, and she began to feel her frustration build. "Mulder, you can't believe every account you come across. This man was bound to be shunned because of his looks, and he made up some odd story to explain them and then tried to kill himself!!" Mulder turned and stared down at her, and seemed about to reply when a doctor stepped into the hallway. "Agents Mulder and Scully?" she said. "Yes," said Mulder, coming down the hall with Scully tagging quickly on his heels. "The patient has been stabilized," she said wearily. "But his body is totally different from anything I've seen...it took a lot of charge to restart his heart, and for some reason his blood pressure fluctuates in swings as if adapting to something. It's very, very odd." "Can we see him?" Mulder asked. "Yes," the doctor replied, stepping aside to allow him into the room. They entered, and immediately noticed a change in the man. His normally silver skin was now a light white in color, and his hair seemed to have the purple washed right out of it. "Mulder look at this!" Scully said, walking over to the bedside to look at the man's wrist. Mulder bent in closer, carefully rubbing his finger over it...and coming up with a thumbful of silver dust. "It's like he's shedding his abnormalities," Mulder replied, running his hand along the arm. He briskly flicked the dust off, then turned to Scully, saying,"Go ask the doctor if this was happening during the procedure." "Mulder, this shouldn't be happening at all!" Scully muttered as she turned away. "Auhhh," came a sound that stopped her in her tracks. "Scully..." Mulder whispered, and she came around his bedside. As they watched, his eyelids began to flicker, and he restlessly moved his head again as if shaking off the unconciousness that bound him. "AuGhhhh," he said again. Then, his eyes flew open to reveal eyes of slate gray and normal black pupils. His face contorted in fear, and Scully whispered,"It's okay sir, you're in a hospital...." "THEY'VE FOUND IT!!" he shouted loudly, his deep voice booming throughout the room. "Sir..." Mulder tried, but the man's head just shook. "They've found it," he said again, and then his eyes closed. * * * * The moment she found the rift she knew it was the key. She and Ret had been exploring the cave near the seaside when they'd come across it. It's gaping pink maw was just a slit in the side of the wall, and it pulsated like the beating of a heart. Neither of them had run back to the town to tell them about it. This was their discovery, just theirs. "Should we go through it?" Ret asked. "Yes..." she replied, entranced. A first touch had revealed it to be soft, and as she stepped into it she slowly repeated,"Yes." They stepped out of their cave...and into another one. A cave filled with dust, except for clear spots where someone had lain...and where two sets of footprints had tread. From jkc1984@niia.net Wed Apr 30 15:31:34 1997 Subject: Silver Skin (4/6) From: jamescampagna -------- La-lalalalala....yep, me again, saying everything applies from part one. The DISCLAIMER, the TITLE, the AUTHOR, even the RATING because, gosh darnit, I just not that kinda person. Enjoy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mulder sat in his hotel room, wearily paging through the magazine in front of him. He could've cared less, though, about what Hollywood stars were doing what. What he wanted, though, he couldn't find or couldn't have. Life wasn't going to let go of her end of the stick just yet. He wanted Samantha. He wanted Scully to believe. He wanted those SOB's to pay for his hellish life. But right now, he wanted answers about the man. Khmer Brindle was his name. Currently, he was asleep in the hospital, enjoying the benefits of a soft bed and an IV drip in his hand. He was normal now, posessing black hair, slate gray eyes, and white skin flecked with freckles. He could've passed for any human being. Mulder's eyes flicked to the innocent looking laptop sitting on the hotel table. Scully had given it to him after they'd left the hospital room, still trying to rationalize what she'd seen. In fact, she'd tried from the time they'd left through dinner and their review of the first case--the time warp case--until they'd said their mutual goodnights. She'd dismissed the report, but not her own eyes. He hadn't dismissed Khmer Brindle's tale just yet, though. He believed him. The silver skin and the things the doctor said had betrayed him in his mind. >it took a lot of charge to restart his heart, and for some reason his blood pressure< >fluctuates in swings as if adapting to something. It's very, very odd< Mulder moved from the bed to sit at the table and open the laptop. Quickly, he logged on and into ClarisWorks. He reread the file, and this time, something caught his eyes. Something he'd noticed before, but hadn't tied in. >Yet, words are not as important as the feelings that go with them, and I know it is< >hard for those who read to feel as well. I have left apart of myself with this, a< >part which will enable you to feel what I want you to feel. It is there--just touch< >it....< He moved the cursor up to File, and down to Open. He clicked, and saw what he'd expected to see--two files. One called "Letter".... And the other called "Legacy." He opened it, and waited as the drive clicked on and the file came up. He groaned inwardly--it was just a picture of a rose. Then, the words "Click" shimmered into view on top of the rose. *Whoa* he thought as he stared at it. *How did he do this?* He brushed the thought off, though, and moved the mouse over to click on the picture. *Should you, Mulder, without telling Scully?* came a sudden voice through his head. He tried to brush this thought away, but it only came back with a venegance, it's light, vibrating voice screaming across his mind. *Should you? Are you leaving your partner once again?* "No," he whispered to himself. *Then why are you so set on opening this by yourself?* his mind asked him. "She doesn't believe," he whispered. *But what if this kills you? What then? Beliefs don't matter when you're dead,* came the voice. "Tell that to the matyrs," he said. "Besides, it's probably nothing." *You should really have her here to document this 'nothing'...especially if it becomes something,* the voice said logically. Just then, the picture winked at him. Well not really winked, but the bud seemed to close and rebloom--right in front of his eyes. He blinked in shock. *Mulder,* his mind warned as he pushed the cursor closer and closer. He didn't listen, though, and nearly slammed the button down to click on the picture. Nothing. For two seconds. Then, the colors of the rose swirled together, forming a whirlpool of red and green and brown and black. He stared at it anxiously, a sudden feeling of anxiety softly singing in his brain. Then, the whirlpool stopped swirling, and from its center came two jagged bolts of blue light, reaching into his eyes. His hands gripped the table fiercly, and he trembled in his seat. Then, it was over. He understood now. He stood up, retrieved his coat, and walked out the door. {Transfer complete} read the computer screen. From jkc1984@niia.net Wed Apr 30 15:31:38 1997 Subject: Silver Skin (5/6) From: jamescampagna -------- All applies above. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Scully shot awake from her bed. She didn't know why, but suddenly she found herself in a sitting position, staring wildly at the wall in front of her, breathing as if she'd run nonstop from Washington to Maine. Her eyes automatically found the clock, and a feeling of puzzlement shot through her at the sight of the digital numbers reading 11:30. She automatically got up and fumbled for her robe, throwing it over her pajamas of choice for the night. As she adjusted the ties, an odd sensation hit her. She stopped, and looked around the room, eyes searching the shadows for an oddities. Her hand automatically strayed toward her gun. It was then she realized it was completely silent. Scully, when she had first come to work with Mulder, had not been able to stand the sound of the T.V. blaring in the next room. She didn't know how he could sleep with it on; she hadn't known about his peculiar sleep habits then. Finally, she'd gotten used to the noise, and found it actually lulling, even when staticy. But there was no noise now. She looked, stared at the door adjoining their rooms. She wondered if he'd turned it off, or if he just had gone out for a run. The time nagged at her, though--Mulder usually would have just been hitting his insomniac stride by now. She sighed, wrapped her robe tighter about her, and passed from her room into his. The whole room was dark except for a shining computer screen, and that puzzled her as well. Not that she'd been evesdropping on her sleeping partner, but he usually had something electronic on. However, all lights were out as well as the T.V. and the clock. *The clock?* she wondered. *Why is the clock out?* She went to what she hoped would be the nearest source of info--the computer--but was stopped by something unusual. Mulder's coat was gone, as were his shoes, his badge, and his gun. Her breathing began to turn shallow, and she drew in faster breaths as she crept closer to the screen. It had turned to a plain white screen, a sign of a screen saver, and she nudged the mouse a little. The screen lit up, and she read the file name: "LEGACY." Then her eyes found the words, and she gasped. {Transfer complete,} it read. She stared at the screen for awhile, and then realization dawned on her. She turned to race back into the room--and stared in horror at the black smudges on the side of the T.V., the bedsheet, and the lampstand. ------------- She looked up from the waves she was staring at, and fumbled her way to a stand. Ret followed. "What is it?" he asked. She placed a hand on his shoulder in reply, and his eyes widened. "Let's go," he said. ------------- The Hospital Mulder walked casually into the room, his whole air and attitude belaying the inner chaos he felt. Although the nurses had commented on his good looks the first time, they weren't really observant. Otherwise, they would've noticed his hazel eyes were now a varying shade of bright blue-gray. He walked into the man's room, his eyes barely taking in the extreme change in the man before him. His skin was now fully and completely flesh colored, the freckles more than mere sprinkles, his hair a deeper black, his open eyes a sharper slate-gray. *Always changing,* Mulder thought. He walked up to the bed and began to tap on it, satisfied to watch Khmer's eyes focus on him. -tap, tap, taptaptap, tap, tap, taptap. tap, tap, taptaptap, tap tap taptap.- Kmher's eyes widened, and then he smiled. |You found the file!| he said in his soft, harsh native tongue. |Yes indeed. Gave this one quite a shock, but you did good.| Mulder replied, the syllables rolling off his tongue as easily as they would if he were speaking English. |How do you feel?| Khmer closed his eyes. |This body is stronger now. Their medicine is not too dissimilar from ours, though I could do without this needle in my hand. However, my mind is...unbalanced.| he whispered. |I'm not surprised. You've adapted. That takes energy.| Mulder replied, then paused. |We must complete soon. This one now knows the truth he found is half-truth. He knows me, and he resists. Soon, Brindle, we must become one.| |I'm not in the condition to start this again!| Khmer yelled at him, his voice rising an octave than falling again. His eyes started to almost swirl, till the gray was edged by purple. |Brindle...I know it's hard. You've resisted.| Mulder started, taking Khmer's hand. |It is the Law.| Just then, Scully walked in, saying, "Mulder, what the hell is..." but then stopped when he turned. As a reflex, they'd made eye contact. And what she saw was not her partner. "Scully," he replied in a flat voice. |Don't hurt her! She saved me!| Khmer implored. |Shutup, Brindle. She is what keeps this one...| he tapped his chest |going. If I take her, he dies.| "Mulder?" Scully asked, her voice trembling as she watched her partner exchange a smooth flow of harsh words with the man in the bedside. |You wouldn't kill him!| Khmer roared. |No. Yes. He doesn't matter.| Mulder replied flatly. Scully felt tears in her eyes as she reached for her gun. Somehow, she knew they were talking about Mulder's life. She looked at her weapon for a second, then raised it to him. Her aim, as usual, was slightly to the right. "NOO!!" came a cry from outside, and the three in the room looked. The door burst open to admit a women and a man, each holding something in their hands. "No!" Khmer cried in English. "Leave me alone!" There was no reply except for a flash of blue light. From jkc1984@niia.net Wed Apr 30 15:31:44 1997 Subject: Silver Skin (6/6) From: jamescampagna -------- Finished at last!! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "Oh....agh..." Scully murmured as she felt herself awakening. *Where am I?* she wondered as the sleep--or whatever it was--leaked away from her. Then, the shock hit her, sending her from a flat position in a crouch at the other end of the cave. *Mulder's room...the hospital...those people...they wanted to kill me!!* The last thought had her eyes searching the room, trying to find traces of what was going on. It was a cave, or a room of a cave; the floors was flat and slightly dusty, and the roof was smooth rock. It puzzled her, for the whole room seemed to have been hollowed out precisely. She stood, her head missing the ceiling by a foot or so, and began to walk around. Soon, she noticed tracks on the floor, and bent to examine them. There were two pairs of boots, a pair of soft shoes, and a distinct pair of dress shoe prints. She bent to examine those more closely, and felt a mixture of wonder and horror stir within her. For the tracks were scuffed, and more than that, drug out, as if the person hadn't been functioning well enough to walk on their own. * * * * "Mulder...Agent Fox William Mulder, can you hear me?" Mulder's eyes flashed open at the sound of the voice, and they eagerly found and searched the face above him. *Great, another hospital...wonder if the nurse will be cute...and if Nurse Scully will be present as well..*came his string of thoughts. Something puzzled him, though. Why would the nurse address him by his full name? And call him an agent with his full name to boot? It didn't make sense....he shot up to a sitting position and cracked his head. "Ow," he said, leaning back a little. Now he could see where he was, but it didn't answer any of his questions. It appeared to be a small hollow in the wall of a cave, like a niche carved out for a bed. It was wider than high; the person wasn't above him, really, but leaning over him. It was a she, a she with black hair hanging down in silky strands, a she with intense blue eyes that glued him in place. "Yes," he said, except it sounded more like "Yemph" coming out. She giggled a little, then said, "I forgot about that. Open wide, Mulder!" He complied, and her delicate fingers reached in and pulled out some kind of fiber that appeared to be cotten, but he couldn't be sure. He hadn't really even felt it in his mouth; except, that is, when he talked. *Strange.....* "Where am I?" he asked. "Back at the cave where you first found Khmer," she replied. Khmer......he squeezed his eyes shut, not wanting to think about it. However, forgetting things and posessing a photographic memory is a combination that cancels out, and he wasn't able to. She now had concern on her face. "That one will trouble you for awhile, won't it?" she said. "Posession has that effect on people," he responded drily. And what a fun posession it'd been. The minute the electricity had touched his brain his personality had started dying inside him, the new one squelching out his own self totally. Then, a new thought came to him. "Where's Scully?" "She's fine. Just being held for safe keeping," she replied, then studied him more with those hypnotic eyes. "Hmmm...Mulder, come on, your better now. Come with me," she replied, sliding out of the cave. He followed her, standing up after he emerged. "How is he, Ret?" asked the girl. "Better, Ari, better," replied Ret, who was kneeling next to the body of...Khmer Brindle!! He'd regained his silver skin and odd appearance, as well as wearing some clothing that Mulder thought looked like fashion on an acid trip. "Transfer complete?" she asked, and he nodded. "What?" Mulder asked, springing in angrily. "Are you telling me that...THING...is now inside him?" Ari smiled at the ground, as if composing herself, then looked up at Mulder, eyes sparkling. "Yes, it is," she replied. "Why?? That thing takes over. It's a rampant parasite in people's minds!!" he shouted. "It's how his people live," she replied softly. "Their society calls for the incorporation of a certain program into people in order for them to function in that society." "Are you saying there's a kind of bond between their biology and computers?" he asked. "No. Most could probably function completely independent of the computer if they could," she said. "But the Law is the Law, and all must join." "It's not voluntary?" "Most often, yes. However, in some cases--like Khmer's--it is not." She seemed reflective for an instant. "Very few cases." "This is forced upon them? Are you from their race, too?" he asked. She laughed, shaking her head, and Ret seemed to echo her laughter with his own. "No, Agent Mulder," he replied. "We are independent of them, but that doesn't mean we don't know of them." "But why force this poor man to accept something he doesn't want?" he asked. Ari seemed very thoughtful, then sighed. "Agent Mulder, it's very hard to explain," she said. "Our societies are tied together by mutual dependence--trade and such--and their laws and our laws are respected by all of us. One individual can't run off just because he doesn't want to do this. It's for the greater good, Mulder." "You don't believe in this, do you?" he challenged in a whisper. "No, I don't," she replied forcefully. "But it's MY life and RET's life if we don't make him procede." "ARI!" called Ret. "He's coming around!" Both proceded over to the prone body of Khmer. A body which was no longer prone. In the course of the yard it took between the entrance to the hollow and his body, he popped to a stand and began to look around. "Hello," he said, and his voice was flat. "Thank you for helping me to join. I couldn't have done it without your help." "You are welcome, Khmer Brindle. You may return now," Ari clacked off, her voice hard and siblant. "Thank you," he said, then looked straight at Mulder. "I am sorry that I forced this self upon you. It was a foolish act of biological logic, and it won't bother you anymore." Mulder thought he looked incredibly sad when he said this, as if regretting every word. Then, he turned, just a tissue paper fissure seemed to open in the wall. He grasped the sides, pulling it apart to reveal a throbbing red opening, then stepped through. It closed with a squelch. "Why was he here?" Mulder asked now, hoarsely. Ari nodded to Ret first, who moved over to the wall. "We figure he came here through one of the dimensional rifts. He secured the laptop-- we don't know how--then transferred the personality to it. He probably planned to destroy it, but he took sick suddenly and decided he was dying. On a whim, he set up a sort of relay that would transmit his electronic personality to that of the person who read it. Either way, he would be rid of the thing," Ari explained. The wall opened in front of him now, revealing a surprised Scully. "Mulder!" she called. "Are you all right?" "Am I all right?" he drily asked Ari, and she nodded seriously. "Fine, Scully. You?" he asked. "Fine," she replied. "What's going on?" It was then that Ari and Ret linked arms and turned and walked out of the cave. "See you again sometime, Mulder!" Ari called as they strolled down the beach. "Mulder, what happened?" Scully pushed. "Where's Khmer Brindle? Who were those two?" "Scully," he asked suddenly, facing her. "Do you believe in the existence of parallel dimensions?" The question took her aback for a picosecond before she replied, "Scientifically, I would have to say yes. Variances in time and space could result in dimensions with similar yet different properties." "No Scully, I mean a dimension situated close to ours. A dimension so similar it produces beings of the same type, but with differences. A dimension in which freedom has been so reduced while technology grows," he rasped out. "Mulder...I don't know," she said. He looked at her. She sighed, then replied,"While statistically it would be pretty much improbably, the universe is an odd place." She looked at him closely now, and noticed the lines and sudden gauntness about him. "Mulder, are you sure you're okay?" she asked. "I'm fine, Scully," he replied, and then walked out of the cave. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Now that you're down, it would please me very much to hear what you had to say about this little caper I've thought up. jkc1984@niia.net is the address for you. I hope you enjoyed it, no matter what your thoughts. I accept all of those, by the way (thoughts) even the flaming, fireball ones. NINX--In good health!