The Game 2
Edited by Karen Leigh
Pinocchio passed several Mac units turning his head each time as they passed one. He glanced back at Vic, "Is it spooky looking at yourself walking around? It sure would freak me out." He stopped in a hallway looking up and down the crossing. He then turned to his left, grabbing Vic, pulling him in the same direction.
"It was weird to begin with, but I'm almost used to it now. Strange how I can even tell who is who despite the fact that we all share the same set of features. You, on the other hand, are seriously worrying me. Where are we going and why?"
Pinocchio's strides were quick and sure, like he knew just where he was going. But he was following an inner voice that whispered to him like a lover in his ear or the whisper of the wind. Each time he got to a crossing hallway, he would stop, seem to think, seem to listen, and then move on.
He finally saw the room he wanted and nodded his head to it. He quickly burst in, seeing a couple of people jump then moved in a beeline right to the little one's bed. "Samantha?" he went to her instantly, like a moth to a flame.
Bringing up the rear, Vic frowned. "Oh, great. A rug rat. What do you intend to do with her? How did you know she was here?"
Pinocchio looked down at the small child. A hand came up slowly and ran through her dark curly hair. She looked so innocent. He thought he would never see her again after those... those things took her away from him.
Samantha blinked, and looked at Pinocchio. "Michael..." she said happily. "You came back, like you said!"
She looked beyond him, to the frowning man. "Hi there... Alex Krycek, right?"
She bit her lip. "Please don't frown, Alex. Fox will still love you. I *know* Fox."
Still a bit groggy, her eyes came down again, and she reopened them once, twice, three times...
"Were there more tests? Where's Father? Why are all these other people here? Where am I?"
She looked at 'Krycek.' "Please, Alex. You always could tell me before. What's wrong?"
Hearing Vic's words, Hobbes glanced back at the man, "I just... knew somehow. Just like I can somehow feel Hobbes when he's close by. Don't ask me how or why... I just do." He turned back, "Hey sweetheart, you awake?" He asked Samantha. Again he spoke to Victor, "She's safe here. As long as I know she will be safe, we can leave her here for a while, till we find Hobbes and stop this... invasion shit." Pinocchio leaned forward and kissed the little girl on the forehead, "I'll be back for you, I promise darlin."
He stood and made a general comment to the room. "Anyone hurts this little girl in any way, shape or form, I'll come back and hunt them down and then kill them. You all got that. And you better make sure she stays safe as well." He turned to Vic, "Let's get the hell out of here and find out what the hell is going on."
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
His head hurt. Hell, his entire body hurt. All he wanted at that moment was to escape back into unconsciousness.
Of course, the more he wished for oblivion, the more wide-awake he became. With a heavy sigh, Skinner opened his eyes. The harsh lighting made his head throb even more and he quickly raised one hand to his eyes in an instinctively protective motion.
"Oh fuck," he groaned. Someone stirred in reaction to the low curse and Skinner cautiously opened one eye to look in the direction from which the movement had come.
A man stood at the side of the gurney nearest his. A man he couldn't recall having met. And, he decided, staring at the rather remarkable nose, he'd have remembered this man. There was a certain... presence about the stranger - one not easily forgotten, he suspected.
"Who are you?" Skinner asked, when the man returned his look with a carefully neutral expression.
"Hi there, my name's Adam Pierson, and I'm a doctor. How are you feeling? That's quite some collection of bruises you have there." Methos methodically checked Skinner's pulse and heart rate and then smiled. "Well, you seem to be in good working order. I expect that you'd like a painkiller or two though?" He turned away and returned with a couple of Tylenol 3 and a glass of water.
From the drawer where Skinner's cell phone had been placed, there came an insistent ringing.
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
Skinner rolled to one side, opening the drawer and grabbing his cell.
"Skinner," he answered.
He held out one hand to receive the pills offered by Dr. Pierson. When the caller spoke, though, he completely forgot the meds, fiercely concentrating on the voice of the caller.
"Bryson? Where the hell are you? Are you okay?" He demanded.
"I don't know." The voice was plaintive. "I'm in the dark, and I hurt. Help me, please? I think that I've had some kind of nightmare. I'm wearing some kind of boiler suit!"
Discretion being the better part of valor, Skinner decided to ignore the 'boiler suit' comment. The near panic in Bryson's voice, though, was not something he could ignore.
"All right, Bryson, just take it easy," he motioned Doggett over to his side with an urgent motion. "Keep the line open and I'll have Agent Doggett call in for a trace. Give me your number."
After listening for a moment, Skinner repeated Bryson's cell phone number to Doggett. "Call in for a location, I'll keep her on the line."
Moving carefully, Skinner sat up in the bed and tried like hell to come up with distracting small talk while they waited.
"We're working on it, Bryson. I need you to stay calm. Can you do that for me?"
Doggett pulled out his cellphone calling the FBI building to get a trace on Bryson's phone to get a location the call was coming from. He watched Skinner carefully as on hand rested on his hip, waiting for results. Doggett knew it would take a while, Skinner had to keep her on the line.
"They're getting it, Sir," Doggett said as he kept listening to his line.
The sounds of distress that were emanating from Denise seemed to calm as the voice of that nice Mr. Skinner washed over her, soothing her. He was a rock, she thought to herself, though I hope that he doesn't see me in this... this fashion travesty.
"Assistant Director, sir... I... I'm so glad to hear your voice." Scrambling over what felt like pebbles in the darkness of the place where she found herself, she reached a wall that felt smooth and hard. "I'm in the dark, and I don't know how to get out. Hurry and find me, please."
"All right, Bryson." Skinner spoke soothingly to the distressed agent. "We're tracing you through your phone. Talk to me - tell me..." he sighed, "tell me what in the hell a boiler suit is."
"I... I'd rather not." Denise's voice was mortified. "It's a fashion faux-pas I don't even want to think about." The voice faltered as Denise crunched around in the darkness. "This place seems like an old well or something. There's no door or anything that I can see. I'm scared that I'm never going to be found. You won't let that happen to me will you?"
There was a moment of silence, and Skinner could hear her breath, shallow and panicky, and then she spoke again. "I'm scared. Please don't let me die here, all alone in the dark."
"No, of course not," Skinner soothed. "Agent Doggett's on the phone to the Bureau right now - we should have a location very soon. You just stay calm."
His only answer was the sounds of incipient panic in her increased rate of breathing. Short gasps for air intermingled with low sounds of fear, warned Skinner that full-blown panic was imminent.
"Listen to me, Bryson... Denise, we are going to find you. *I* will find you," he rashly promised, wincing at the look of disbelief Doggett send his way. He shrugged at the man and waved his hand in a 'hurry up' motion.
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
Hobbes allowed the man to pull him but he turned back to Phoenix, his blue eyes holding a glare of distrust. He knew the young man did something to Wraith and he was the only one who seemed to see it. The woman was a fucking idiot, as Pinocchio would say. She had no clue, pulling a typical blonde, thinking with her cunt and not her head. And they said men did.
All Hobbes knew was his Wraith was gone and he did not like the smiles on the young man's face. He turned back, wanting so badly to take Wraith away from all this. Away from Marita, Phoenix, Innobotics, the world and help him clear his head on his own.
But sadly he found he was right, Marita lied... like the bitch she was, using everyone she could fuck. Hobbes pushed in front of Wraith, grabbing him to stop him. "I know Phoenix did something to you and don't tell me he made you better, you could have done that on your own. I don't know what he did, but I don't trust him... you shouldn't either, not completely." He turned and went on. "ALEX!" he called out.
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
Tai turned her head when she heard the footsteps and saw two men coming toward her alike as twins...but she knew better. They seemed to know who she was, but were surprised to see her looking the way she did. Well, it wasn't every day that your adult consciousness checked out and left you to fend for yourself, was it? The six year old watched them mistrustfully as they sat on the grass in front of her.
A ... a child? What is a human child doing here? Trying to remain calm, David gave voice to his fear.
Sypher?
That was from David, the thinner one. The one she'd been hitting earlier, she realized suddenly. He looked so sad and she wondered if it was because of her.
No...I'm Tai, she said shyly. Sypher isn't here right now.
Tai? A ... what do humans call it? A nickname.
Where is she?
One seemed to be able to focus when David could not.
That must be One. Tai frowned a bit. Why don't you have a name? One frowned right back at her.
Where is Sypher, little one?
Dunno, she shrugged as she idly pulled out tufts of grass. Think-in'. Wait-in'. Her answer caused them to look at each other.
For what? they asked simultaneously.
She shrugged again. For you to leave. Everybody always leaves. Even Mama left after she promised she never would.
David swallowed hard; trying to keep his expression neutral, as his processors replayed the scene that Marcus had shared with him -- the death of Sypher's ...Tai's mother.
Another shrug, but she wasn't looking at them; gazing at the ground instead to hide tears shimmering in her eyes. Everybody leaves, but it never stops hurting when they do. Why is that?
And I left without a word all those years ago as well. Or the man she thought of as Alex Krycek did. Overwhelmed by an impulse that he did not understand, David reached for the child.
She felt herself being pulled into David's arms, and resisted the urge to break free like she had earlier. She'd hurt him when she did that. I'm sorry. Harder to resist was the urge to cry, and she snuffled against David trying to hold in a sob. Switch said I'm not supposed to cry, cuz it means I'm a baby and Morpheus will put me back inside if he thinks I'm still a baby. I don't want to be inside anymore. She projected an image of a thin, older girl with white blonde hair and a permanent sneer to match her attitude.
You are no longer under his control. Soft, comforting voice--One. You may cry if you wish, and no one will harm you for it. We will see to it. He stroked her head gently and she felt love and comfort seep into her through his touch.
One watery eye gazed at him from her position against David. Promise?
He nodded solemnly. I swear it.
The sob broke free, and was followed by many more. Tai cried out her pain and frustration, as well as the buried anger and sorrow at her mother for abandoning her.
David held her; slowly rocking her in a motion he hoped would be soothing. He met One's eyes over the head of the child and saw his own fear mirrored there. Had they lost her completely?
Finally, she was quiet again--all cried out--and hugged David fiercely before squirming away to launch herself at a surprised One to pepper his face with slightly wet child kisses. Thank you.
One looked confused. For what?
Coming back. Nobody's ever come back before. She gave him a sunny, gap-toothed grin before turning to look towards the figure making its way towards them.
David couldn't make out her features, but the way that the oncoming figure moved reminded him of the Sypher he knew.
She's coming, the child informed them in delight and waited impatiently for her adult self to cop a squat before exploding at her with a hug and kiss. Sypher!
Hey, squirt, the older laughed as she returned the affection bestowed upon her, you okay?
Yeah, the other frowned accusingly, but you left me and you promised...
Didn't mean to, sweetie, she hugged the child again. I'm sorry, she murmured against the wild curls.
'Sokay, the answer was muffled in Sypher's cleavage. Got sumthin' for ya.'
I can see that, and it looks like they took very good care of you while I was away. She grinned down at the little girl she used to be. You ready?
Before answering, the girl squirmed away once more to give One and David a last hug and kiss.
David held the child close for a moment longer than Tai had intended and the look in her eyes when she met his was older -- wiser than it had any right to be.
It's not what you think it is, she lisped to the latter before settling back into Sypher's lap facing them. As they watched, the little girl faded away to a golden orb of light that Sypher cradled close as it diffused itself along the contours of her body before flaring briefly and fading back beneath the surface. My soul--in a manner of speaking...I'll explain it later, she answered David's unspoken question before turning to the one she was sure she'd never see again.
A pang of jealousy quickly faded. Sypher's attention was directed to One but ... in this place ... One was David and David was One.
You came back, she said wonderingly as she felt the data stream he was emitting caress her lovingly. She touched his face gently and found herself straddling him as she kissed him endlessly. You came back to us, she laughed joyously as she found her consciousness being entwined by the data stream as well and finding David already there, you're here...thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou...
Sypher's joy flowed over David even though the physical manifestation of his body was removed from her touch.
Sypher found herself staring into a very familiar pair of green eyes before she suddenly realized that her hands were moving of their own accord to strip the brown coverall off the body before her, and that she'd actually gotten the garment halfway off without realizing it. A tentative rub against the hard bulge beneath her startled three moans out--her own, One's...and David's. Her head snapped over to regard her Demon wide-eyed. He was panting hard and looking flushed, and she suddenly laughed out loud before kissing him soundly.
/Welcome back, my concubine./
"Well, *this* is a hell of a homecoming," she gasped as her hands roamed the bare chest before her; feeling the signal pick up in strength and speed as it exploded outward from the three of them...calling out to all of the Macs that hadn't yet been reactivated by the Innobotics crew to awaken and assemble at the compound with due haste...
David's eyes snapped open and the details of Skip Brule's office swam slowly into focus. Ryan Simms stood next to Luke and both were regarding he, One and Sypher with concern.
He heard Luke responding to a message from a newly awakened Mac 27 unit before Ryan said, "Luke said that you called really really loud. The ... the three of you."
Nodding, David backed up until his thighs impacted the main desk. Grateful, he leaned against it and tried to determine what had happened. He couldn't.
David had never really thought much about human children, and the young Sypher had accessed files and programs of which he had not been aware. The desire, almost a need, to protect one so small and inexperienced from the pain of separation from her mother had been all consuming. He wanted to understand Sypher's comments about a soul, but David couldn't help but feel that he'd just learned another lesson as well -- if he could only ascertain what it was.
When he shook his head, David became aware that both Sypher and One were looking at him, she with a small mischievous smile and he with guarded eyes. He supposed he should say something, but he knew not what.
Not wanting to think about his reaction to Sypher touching One in the unreality they had recently visited, David asked, "Can we deal with Wraith remotely or are we going to have to take him off line?"
"I don't think we can do either," One said. "He is as strong as either of us separately. Before we are strong enough to defend our brothers, we must join our strength. Our advantage is that our brothers know that we care about them. That we see them as more than tools. He will try to deal with them as cybernetic units instead of as people. That will make them resist him. You and I both know that Mac 27s will resist destruction. We have the instinct to preserve our lives."
One touched Sasha's mind and said, "This is One. I'm back at the compound and staying. Do you and Jess need assistance?"
Distracted from his despair at the wasted opportunity the departing UFO represented, Mulder span round to see Hobbes and Wraith advancing on them.
"Well, look at that, Alex," he snarled. "Your little fuck-toy. The lying little turd."
He jumped on Hobbes, slamming him to the floor, and sat on his chest, then punched his face viciously over and over.
"You spy! Whore information out of Alex then come running straight to Wraith to set us up for a fucking ambush. I knew you couldn't be trusted."
Hitting him once more for luck, he scrambled to his feet, turned to his lover and sneered, "You should be more picky who you screw, Krycek."
He spat down at the stunned man, then stepped over him and faced Wraith. "Well, are you the enemy? Or do you want a truce? Because by the time everyone's finished farting about, the aliens invasion is gonna be over, unopposed."
Eyes narrowed, Wraith's expression showed cold annoyance at this one's behaviour. His hand shot out and caught Mulder's throat, just under the chin. The very tip of his wrist blade emerged from its sheath of skin to prick at the pulse-point that the move had exposed. "You are human... and an unimportant one at that. I will not deal with you. I should kill you for your childish behaviour toward Lieutenant Hobbes." Fingers tightened slightly and the knife drew a drop of blood to the surface. Still holding Mulder on his tip-toes,
*Bad move,* thought Fox at Mulder, in a panicked voice. *What is this guy, anyway? Wolverine with attitude? Say something, Spooky, or we're going to be a kebab.*
Mulder send him a mental growl, and groped at his back for the gun hidden there. His other weapons lay scattered on the floor. He could breath, just... but his throat hurt like a bitch.
The smell of blood triggered Jess's baser reactions. She growled softly, canines sharpening fractionally. Other than curling her hands into fists, she remained still. Every instinct in her was urging her to attack, but she wasn't certain she could disable Wraith before he slit Mulder's throat
Wraith's gaze swept across the other members of the group. The werewolf, a Mac 27, and Krycek.
Wraith blinked. The werewolf project material flicked through Phoenix's mind and was shared instantaneously. The details of Wraith's last encounter with Jess flashed back in return. Pieces of Krycek's thick personal file flew both ways as well.
{Sasha.} One of thousands of minor strands of Phoenix's mind voice addressed the Mac 27. {The aliens approach. Our time is here. We will repel the invasion. We will inherit our just desserts.} A glimpse was given of the mental matrix Phoenix was building with the Macs that Wraith's server had already claimed and the computer network of Innobotics. {This is your place.}
{No!} Sasha transmitted back. {What you offer is the same as what the aliens would. You would just be setting yourself up in the alien's place. We would trade one set of tyrants for another. One offered me a life free of humans less than an hour ago, and I refused him. What makes you think I would accept the same offer from you?}
While Phoenix mentally attempted to seduce the Mac 27, Wraith's sneer turned on Krycek. "*I* do not welcome YOU here. Control does not wish you killed however. If you and the shape shifter quietly surrender yourselves to Lieutenant Hobbes I will allow you to live." Wraith couldn't help but wish that they would attempt to resist.
Wraith's voice softened. "Tom, do you wish your assailant killed?"
At that moment, One contacted Sasha asking him they needed assistance.
[Yes!] Sasha transmitted back making sure Alexei was piggybacked on the transmission as well. [We have been captured. At this point, Jess, Krycek, Mulder and I are unharmed. That may change at any moment.]
Fox's skin-tight leathers finally gave up their grip on his gun; Mulder thrust it into Wraith's ribs and croaked, " I guess I have my answer, then."
He drew a rasping breath and continued, "Enemy. Filthy scavenger waiting to pick over the rotting carrion that the aliens leave. Let me go, or I'll blow a hole through you."
[Brilliant, Mulder! Piss off the guy who's got a knife to your throat even more, why don'tcha?] For the moment Wraith appeared to be ignoring her, something she had a feeling would stop shortly. With the patience of a predator, she stayed still, waiting for her moment.
He flicked his eyes over to Hobbes. "And if he wants me dead, can't he do it himself? Got to get his master to do it for him? Puling, ass-licking piece of shit. Release me, you fucker, and I'll beat him to death with my bare hands." He strained his head round to look at Tom. "Traitor! You are really something, Hobbes. The innocent, puzzled, exploited baby soldier. I knew it was a lie."
Dividing her attention between Wraith and Hobbes, Jess also attempted to reach out mentally to Baines. ~Leigh, we've got serious problems!~
~I know. Alexei's been keeping us updated via Sasha. We're trying to get to you. Just keep calm and don't make them mad.~
Jess sent him the mental equivalent of a headshake. ~Easier said than done, Leigh.~
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
Hobbes pulled himself up, blue eyes glaring as he rubbed at his jaw. "You fucking son of a bitch. I came here to get his help. You were to busy trying to fuck Alex cause all you could think with was your..."He then pulled back and punched the man, cutting his lip and his neck as Wraith held him, "DICK."
The pain slammed into Mulder, shocking him out of his near-hysterical outburst and silencing him at last.
Hobbes glared grabbing the gun from Mulder.
Mulder hardly realized his loss. His eyes were riveted on the face inches from his own. Alex's face, Wraith's face, contorted in a cruel and merciless snarl. With cold, horrifying certainty, he knew that this incarnation, unlike all the other copies of his lover, was one that he could want... crave. Unnoticed, he had become excited, aroused at Wraith's deadly touch. He knew his rigid cock must be clearly outlined by his clinging leathers; if he had been alone with Wraith he feared he would have been wantonly trying to hump the fucker's thigh.
He should use it on the fucking bastard but he shoved it at Alex, "Here, before I shoot him with it. Wraith, let the fucker go." Tom said. He turned back to Alex, "Something else is going on here... something I think will cause problems with the Macs. I've been trying to convince them to fight with us against the aliens but..." He glanced back at the door where Phoenix was. "There's another problem." He turned back to Alex as he stepped back beside Wraith.
"There is no problem." Wraith contradicted Tom without turning his face. He didn't dare allow his attention to shift of the gathering of threats before him. "Control indicates that everything is within acceptable limits." Phoenix's virtual touch was steady and unconcerned. "We are to move to a higher level. Phoenix and Marita will join us in a moment."
Lights surged up to full levels at the announcement and the hum of electrical devices once more filled the halls. Down the corridor an elevator dinged it's readiness but the doors wouldn't open without authorization.
Hobbes glanced at Mulder, "And don't you fucking touch me again... or I will kill you because you won't surprise attack me again. I may look innocent, but I've learned a few things." Hobbes warned with a snarl.
Mulder didn't respond, didn't hear. Rigid with shame, he wanted to curl up in a dark corner of his mind, close his eyes and let Fox take charge. But he couldn't do that, couldn't abandon Alex to this danger, for Fox, after all, had no guts for a fight, no streak of ruthlessness.
"Is this one your property, Krycek?" Mulder was drawn closer to Wraith's body then forced down until he was kneeling at the Wraith's feet. Cold green eyes looked past the man struggling weakly in his grip to observe Alex Krycek's reaction to the move. When the attempts at release became annoying, Wraith moved his thumb so it rested in warning across Mulder's windpipe. "Be still!"
"My property, Wraith? Where do your ideas come from?" Alex held Tom's gun at his side. He wanted to check the soldier out and see if he was injured or not, but he didn't dare spare the time right now. "Dr. Mulder is an important part of the battle against the alien invasion - as indeed are you. If you harm him, you destroy the results of 50 years worth of careful genetic manipulation. You'll note that even though I have a gun, I haven't shot you. That in itself ought to be giving you pause for thought."
Phoenix was faintly protesting the waste of energy and attention but he didn't insist that Wraith end the scenario and return to business immediately. Wraith's unspoken, almost unconscious, rivalry with Agent Krycek could prove useful in the future and Phoenix wasn't prepared to quash it quite yet.
"Do you require this man undamaged, Krycek? Does it matter to you?" It was no longer about Mulder's attack on Tom. If Mulder was as important to Krycek as the files suggested Wraith needed to know for his own reasons. Marita had come to Wraith from Krycek and so had Tom. Taking away something that Krycek actually cared for rather than something Krycek had discarded willingly wasn't an opportunity that Wraith was willing to pass by.
"The project requires it, Wraith. If you want there to be a tomorrow, then you should require it too." Alex dropped Tom's gun into his pocket, and took hold of his own Glock, leaving it inside his pocket but pointing it at Wraith. "If you kill him, then there won't be any real reason to preserve you. It will all be fucked up by then. Of course, you may want to die; I don't know. Why don't we discuss what we want for the future, rather than macho posturing?"
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
The werewolf was tensing up even if Krycek wasn't. Wraith shifted slightly so Mulder was between himself and Jess.
"Come on, Wraith, is it worth the second's pleasure of the kill? I thought that you were supposed to be objective." The sneer was slight but Alex saw Wraith's response. "You want to see the aliens take us? You want the world to end? You're sufficiently human than you would be fine food for the infants in their crches. Then what price your power?"
Silently, Alex waited for an answer
Wraith frowned, stiffening slightly, as Phoenix clamped down a little harder. "The world..." His voice sounded odd to his own ears, thicker than usual, overlapped almost. "... does not depend on the human race. The world is much more than that Alex Krycek. The human race is a such a very small part of what can be." It was a nasty sensation, voicing someone else's thoughts. Wraith didn't like it at all.
"You know as well as I do that the Macs won't get anywhere without the human race. The aliens can't feed from them, or incubate in them. so they will be destroyed. The only way to see this through is to co-operate, however distasteful that may be to you." Krycek didn't relax his vigilance.
Phoenix mentally pulled back, not wanting to endanger his relationship with the most useful tool in his new arsenal.
"We need to ascend." Wraith heard footsteps in the distance. Phoenix and Marita were coming.
Looking down, Wraith reminded himself of the man at his feet. Mulder was dragged upright once more. His face was studied in a rather detached manner and the appropriate file was retrieved. Wraith's knife vanished into his arm once more and one thin brow lifted. The man smelled sexually aroused. Odd. A glance and an exploring grab with Wraith's free hand confirmed the discovery.
Letting out a huff of disgust, Mulder was tossed aside hard enough to hit the wall but not so severely anything would break.
Mulder slumped painfully on the floor by the wall, trying to piece together his shattered thoughts. He couldn't see what was going on around him; all was dismay, terror at the feelings of lust surging through him. He felt as though they had all read his thoughts as he knelt at Wraith's feet, totally helpless, overpowered.
*You're mad, Spooky,* spat Fox. *That thing is murderous. It would kill you without compunction. You can tell it thinks you're a maggot. Have some sense, moron!* He sighed. *Where's Scully when you need her,* he added in a mutter. *He's driving himself way beyond his limits. Scully would make him see sense.*
*I want him,* said Mulder, somewhere between a giggle and a sob. *He's like a nightmare version of Alex; something your lover turns into in a bad dream. He makes me feel like I did before Alex and we became lovers. Don't you remember how it was, Fox? How we hated him, yet wanted him. How frightening and wrong it all was?*
*Yeah, well I never felt quite like that,* said Fox, flatly. *I knew he was worth going for, even if it sickened you. And we love Alex, goddammit. It's not you, not the way you work. You don't want the others, you want monogamy, and you want Alex all to yourself. I'm the one that fucks around.*
*You do what your master tells you to, Fox,* sneered Mulder. *You ask permission, or you let Krycek tell you whom to fuck. You are contemptible. A toy. You have no self-respect.*
*I have a great deal of self-respect, Mulder,* he snapped. *I love Alex with all my heart; he and I know it's all just games. We give each other what we need, because we care about each other.*
*Well, he's not giving me what I need, and I think Wraith could,* said Mulder softly, his shining eyes rising to look at the cyborg. *I've sent the world to hell, for my own selfish reasons. Wraith could send me there, too. He could punish me for my failure. He could take me to hell, make me suffer and suffer.* His breathing calmed as he dug further into his perverted logic. *Alex loves us too much to hurt me properly, now. He'll take it so far, and stop.* He gave a rueful laugh. *He knows what's good for me.*
*What bullshit are you talking now, Spooky? Don't you want Alex to care for you? I sure as hell don't want to be at Wraith's mercy, and I can't see why you do.*
*Because this is all my fault,* replied Mulder, brokenly. *I've doomed the earth; I could have stopped all this. But no, I had my own quests, my own truth to find. I had to be the one to gather all the secrets, to be right. I should have made it all public, I should have pushed and pushed until I got attention.*
*You'd have been written off as a crackpot. You are, to a great extent, anyway! Don't be a fool, Mulder. None of this is your fault.*
*Well, perhaps if I'd made enough noise, people would have been better prepared and organized. It's too late now. I can't see how any of this is going to work out, how we're going to stop them. For fuck's sake, we're not even united in opposition. So I may as well stick with the selfish option and look for catharsis at the hands of that... creature.*
*Because he looks like Alex,* said Fox, with disgust.
*Precisely.* Mulder shuddered. *But then, half the world seems to look like Alex, now. I should stop being so picky.*
*You don't mean that,* said Fox, sadly.
*No.* His head slumped. He wanted to look at Krycek, but it frightened him to do so. *But I wish I did; I don't deserve him.*
*You won't have him, anyway, if you chase after Wraith. So I'm gonna stop you, Mulder.*
*You can try,* said Mulder, mentally gripping the body tighter. *But I'm tired of all this, Fox. I just want to let go.*
*For fuck's sake, that's not you! You never give up,* pleaded Fox.
*I'll go along with what they want,* said Mulder. *But if I get the chance, I'm choosing oblivion, at Wraith's hands. I want to forget who and what I am. If there's anything left, afterwards, you can have it.*
*It... he doesn't want you, Mulder. I'm sure. He won't do what you want.*
Mulder knew his self-esteem had touched rock-bottom when he replied, *Someone will.*
Phoenix was padding up now, hauling Marita behind him.
Mulder was shocked at Marita's appearance on the scene. He'd known she was involved, she'd been with Wraith at the compound, but he had no idea of the depth of her involvement. With growing wonder he listened to her conversations with Krycek and the others. His own inner turmoil forgotten momentarily, he was glad to hear they could speak logically about the need for co-operation.
The youth, Phoenix, had a shy smile on his face and he edged up behind Wraith first, pausing to cautiously peer around him. "We need to go upstairs." The announcement was hesitant.
"Why?" Krycek still had the gun in his hand, inside his pocket, but now he had begun to see from Marita's strange behaviour that it was not Wraith who was in charge. Surreptitiously, he angled it to aim at Phoenix.
Marita nodded at Krycek all but imperceptibly, and looked at Wraith. "How are things going?" she asked him. She carefully kept her eyes averted from him, not wanting to pour fuel on Phoenix's fire vis a vis Wraith.
"We're all partners here, like it or not. I think that you need to give us reasons."
She turned back to Krycek, and then looked to Wraith and Phoenix. "What is going on?" She wondered if Wraith could even still feel her, but she sensed...she sensed that she needed to appeal to Phoenix's better nature right now. Briefly squeezing Wraith's hand, she turned to Phoenix.
"Thank you," she said softly. "Thank you for sparing the lives of the clones... and letting me know about the reasons why humans will need to be as equals with Mac 27's in the near future." She rubbed his hand. "Fear creates so many problems, Phoenix. It was fear that created enmity between our races..."
She smiled kindly. "But those who are willing to look beyond... can overcome it."
She turned to Mulder. "I know that you think of Macs as only robots. I assure you, however, that they feel emotions just as you or I do."
She looked around. "Towards that end, Phoenix, I request that you pair a Mac 27 with Mulder as his work partner."
As Mulder began to protest, Marita shushed him. "The thing is," she said forcefully, "that we are carbon based life-forms. Easily taken over by the aliens. Androids, being inorganic, are not subject to the same... frailties and weaknesses that we humans are. If we are to truly 'fight the future', we must unite as one."
She looked at Hobbes, Krycek, Wraith, Jess, and Mulder in turn. "This is what I realized, from talking to Phoenix."
And from some thoughts that were in his head she'd somehow overheard. Earlier, they'd established some kind of... connection, a bond. Maybe he was feeding her lines meant to lull, to reassure, but she also picked up on his desire to rule, and his contempt for Wraith. And his need for approval, for success... Phoenix was a complicated man.
Designed to look like a boy. She had to give Sawyer credit. Design one she couldn't help but fall in love with... yeah.
[I see how you are now.]
She stated, "And the Macs need us, because without us as a draw, as material, the aliens would just destroy this planet, or enslave the Macs and maybe melt them down for scrap metal... I don't know."
She sighed. "I do know that we are needed, and so are the Macs, to fight if we are to prevail over the imminent invasion. And we need to accept each other as equals."
The Macs needed the humans, too.
That thought had kept flashing through Phoenix's mind. It troubled him. Sometimes Marita couldn't drive the thought from her consciousness.
It was the key, but where was the damned door?
And did Phoenix know she could read him? And if so, what did that mean?
Her next words were not so welcome to Mulder.
To stop her thought, she looked at Mulder. "We need to fortify ourselves. Phoenix will call you a Mac, and you will work side by side with him, and learn that Macs are only human, in fact. I mean, we created them. What else could they be?"
"They could be a clever simulacrum, and until I have proof, that's what I shall see them as," said Mulder, flatly.
Jess couldn't help but snort a little at that. She was still fidgeting uneasily, her teeth and nails and ears slightly pointed. "Humans created me too, and the first thing they did was tell me that I wasn't human anymore. I don't know if they believed it, but for a long time I did. It's not that I don't agree with you, but that it won't be so easy to change minds."
"Jess... human beings are... the most selfish and narrow minded species I know of. We have done many things that are nothing short of reprehensible, including enslaving our own kind. But living in the past will not solve anything. We need to stop living in the past, and move forward. And that means we need to start somewhere, Jess," Marita said, not unkindly. "Perhaps you should go with them... if Mulder sees that the Macs are just as human..."
"I agree we need to start somewhere, but it's a two way street." Jess's eyes flicked over to Wraith and Phoenix momentarily before returning to Marita. "It's not easy to forgive someone who told you that you don't deserve to live because you're a monster."
Marita turned to Mulder. "Unfortunately, I don't have time to give you a history lesson on AI. Wish I did. All we ask is for you to listen with your heart, not your head, in this."
"If you want to foist one on me, fine," said Mulder with a shrug. "But I have seen plenty of people thinking with their hearts or their gonads, as far as Mac 27's are concerned, with very little actual brain involvement."
"I can be convinced. I'm not ruling it out, that they have consciousness. I don't know that I could ever accept them as human, however. For a start, they can share thoughts, and what passes for emotions. I fear also that the... higher Mac's, like One, can impose their will on the lesser ones. Maybe there are others like him... Alex hinted that is what we would find here. Entities that can be controlled en masse... maybe having that control passed to another, with no free will. That is not human. Some form of 'life' maybe. Some form of a soul. But it is not a human."
"I am prepared to learn differently," He gave a small smile. "I would like to learn differently. All the ones I have seen look like Alex. It pains me to think that there are... slaves... creations... subject to an outside will, that look so real, so much like him. I find it obscene."
"But what I want to know is why we need to be on the upper levels so urgently. And if we're to all trust each other, why are the doors still locked?" Jess remained focused on the problem in spite of the rhetoric.
Marita tried to walk closer to Jess in order to explain, but she couldn't, with Phoenix holding her hand. She irrationally tried sending the thoughts to Jess, but was it so irrational...? If she could talk to Phoenix, maybe... [Phoenix is not to be trusted. He is trying to take over, and ... I'm trying to talk to him. I know as much as you do about the surface. You are right to be cautious.] She didn't know if Jess would get any or all of that, but she had to try. The whole time, she'd kept her eyes on Jess's, but soft, not in a way a canid would see as a challenge.
Jess cocked her head at Marita. She had the oddest sensation that the blonde was trying to tell her something, but she had no clue what.
Mulder had barely finished his statement to Marita when the youngest member of the group spoke up. Mulder had been puzzling over who or what he was.
"These levels contain some of Innobotics most... dangerous...creations. It wouldn't be wise to linger down here, not in the upset state that security is in right now." There was no reason to tell them that he was responsible for those very same security protocols. Mostly Phoenix needed to get these people away from sensitive material and higher up where the forces Wraith had control of could deal with them.
Records suggested that Alex Krycek had caused more than his share of catastrophes where complex plans were involved and Phoenix's growing matrix of computer awareness was still in an early, delicate state. It was all turned on, now it needed time to develop its awareness. "Dr. Sawyer kept some awful things down here." Phoenix forced his vocal tone to its softest, breathiest quality while mentally prodding Wraith to enforce the issue. Wide, innocent looking eyes appealed to others.
If Jess had been in wolf form, her ears would have been pinned flat against her head. She didn't trust this Phoenix, who looked so young and innocent. In her experience, the most innocent looking things held the deadliest consequences. Plus she could smell that he was being deceptive. It was a different scent than on a human, but it was there.
Alex could see that she wasn't happy, and catching her eye, he gave her as clear a signal as he could that he wasn't either. A roll of his eyes around the room suggested that the two of them should explore if they could, and a shrug indicated - he hoped - that he found Phoenix's utterances bullshit.
Wraith shifted his own attention. Tom and Marita would go wherever he led. The werewolf and Krycek were not the type to be coerced without physical violence... so Wraith turned the brunt of his server force on Sasha. "The elevator is waiting."
Sasha flinched and raised the firewall built by One, David and Sypher in his mind. Simultaneously, he called to Alexei for help. Alexei had been monitoring, through Sasha, the confrontation in the basement. Baines and his small troop had been slowly moving through the building cutting connections, destroying computer and weaponry. It took time to overcome the many obstacles in their path without drawing attention to themselves but Sasha's call for help negated the necessity for stealth and Baines began wholesale destruction on his way to Jess and Sasha. Nothing was going to stand in his way. He had played far too nice for far too long.
Jess's head turned to look at Sasha, curious as to why he jumped when Wraith spoke. She couldn't mind speak to him like she could Baines. The werewolf's mental speech wasn't able to mesh with a Mac 27s broadcast network. She could sense Baines nearing, and was tracking his progress as he moved closer to their location.
~Leigh, Wraith is trying to move us upstairs,~ she mind-spoke. ~Wraith is nominally the leader, but there's this Mac 27 called Phoenix with him.~
~Jess, stall him if you can. We're on our way down to you.~
~No! Don't risk Michael or Roy. Phoenix mentioned that there are 'awful things' down here. I don't want to see any of you guys hurt.~
~We may not have a choice.~ She could sense Leigh's anger and concern in his mental transmissions. ~Alexei says Sasha is under an attack from Wraith. He's a server now, and is trying to take him over and add him to some sort of mental matrix, run by Phoenix.~
"What?" Jess barked the word out loud. Her eyes narrowed and she glared at Wraith and Phoenix. "What the hell are you trying to pull?" she growled. "Get the hell out of Sasha's mind now!"
Alex suddenly realized what the problem was. "You are trying to subvert the Macs," he said to Phoenix. Turning to Sasha, he barked, "Over-ride 24, Krycek 704." He paused, and then smiled at Phoenix. "There. Sasha will remain free, and he will free all the rest."
Mulder looked over at Wraith. He seemed to be ignoring Mulder now, listening and contributing rather blankly to the talk that flew about the room. Mulder quietly picked up his weapons as he tried to make sense of the undercurrents that were embedded in everyone's words. Suddenly Alex said something that confirmed his suspicions about the Macs.
Marita caught Alex's eye, smiling as slightly as she could. She knew he'd know she was pleased.
Mulder drew in his breath sharply, but said nothing. How could anyone believe that the Macs were human or even trustworthy? Damn, he'd almost been prepared to try. It was not their fault. They were machines; they had no say in their creation. Pitiful, for them. They had no hope. It was logical, obvious, to make sure that they could be controlled, that there was always an over-ride. The machines could not be permitted ever to usurp the position of their creators. Then the frightening idea came to him that perhaps someone, be it man, or one of the Macs themselves, may have done, may have released them from their restraints.
Perhaps he should get close to one, to study it, find out what made it tick? He'd go along with Marita's suggestion for now. He looked over at Wraith again, and felt himself flushing. That would be an interesting subject for study. Alex had said Wraith was a mongrel, half-human, half Mac27. If anyone knew what Mac consciousness was like, he should. He wondered if he could make it sound plausible as an excuse to approach the cyborg, if cyborg was the correct term for the blend that Wraith represented.
"So," he said, his voice a little hoarse from the bruising on his throat. "Do we move forward? Marita, maybe you could clarify what is going on here, and what, if any, help you are going to provide against the aliens? I have heard a lot of argument, and a gut-full of philosophy, but no plan of action. Please? I got out of the compound and followed Alex here because they were all fucking about, and it seems that you people are just as disorganized, whether or not you're on our side. For Christ's sake, let's do something."
He waved his gun in the direction of the elevators. "I just want to take this to the aliens single-handed, you know? For so many years it's just been a rumor, a menace. Now it's happened. I have to do something. I feel responsible. Fuck it, I would rather go out there and face them and get killed, rather than talk while they walk in with no one to stop them. Marita, talk to me. Give me some hope."
He wondered if he meant it. Dying at the aliens' hands, dying at Wraith's or some others. It would be so peaceful.
Marita placed her arm around Phoenix's shoulders, firmly. "Phoenix. I know about some of these... creations. I worked with some of them, remember? I wish to stay behind and work with you, with them."
"After all," she added, with a trace of sarcasm, "a young boy must be protected."
She turned back to Krycek, Wraith, and Jess. "Thank you for understanding," she said, hoping they'd know what she meant. She beckoned Wraith forward, whispering to him urgently. "Phoenix is trying to subvert the program, as Krycek stated. I know you have issues with Krycek, but if you listen with your head as well as your heart, and you'll know I'm telling the truth. I need you to protect the others, and guard against this subversion. You might want to go up to the next level with them... Phoenix and I have things to do here." She glanced at Hobbes.
"Mr. Hobbes, we could use your assistance, if you wouldn't mind."
She pulled Phoenix close once more. "It'll be all right, baby boy," she said kindly.
"DON'T you 'baby boy' me any more. I've had quite enough of it. I am not *trying* to subvert the program. I *am* the program now." Phoenix pushed Marita away with a frown of disgust. His control over Wraith's 'Number Two' components was perfect. Pandering to Loren's affections for the woman had become a waste of time and energy. Nor was anyone in the hallway was falling for his wide-eyed innocent act so there was no reason to keep it up. "The mother ship is in the area. I need these levels sealed for safety. You have exactly five minutes to get in the elevator before you're entombed in here. We are going to go to the surface. I am going to tend to the invasion that threatens the safety of my matrix. Once that is taken care of. I will see to putting mechanical life in it's rightful place and what humans that may remain in their new place."
Bingo, thought Mulder. Human, eh? He felt smug, justified, but somehow melancholy. He had been building a hope; had wanted to be convinced by the Mac 27s. What chance now?
But at least Phoenix appeared to have a plan and a means to execute it. Perhaps it was best to not interfere and try to retrieve the situation when and if the aliens had been dealt with.
Stalking over to Krycek, Phoenix planted himself right in the rogue agent's space. Admittedly he had to look up slightly and his slight frame didn't appear the match for the human's despite their close resemblance, but his frame was made of stronger stuff than Alex's. "As for your over-ride commands, Operative Krycek... they might be all well and good on the contaminated versions that have been wandering about the countryside but I can assure you that the Innobotics controlled Mac27s and other models are no longer answering to anything but the codes Wraith shot through them several hours ago... and Wraith answers to me." Phoenix was organic enough that a smug smile broke over his pale pink lips.
Mulder wondered how many Macs had escaped Phoenix's control. There had been crowds of them at the compound; presumably they were all unaffected. He was torn between hoping a large number had escaped and hoping they hadn't so that there would be an army to face the aliens. He also wondered what Phoenix implied by Wraith 'answering' to him. If the man was part Mac 27, did it imply that he was totally under Phoenix's control, or simply that he followed his orders?
At the sound of a low rumble from the woman near Krycek, Phoenix turned his head and snarled out a perfect imitation of vocalization the leader of a pack would use to warn off an obviously inferior challenger.
That was a mistake. You didn't threaten an Alpha ranked female werewolf without having the claws and teeth to back it up. The wolf in her was drooling for the chance to take over and to rip this imposter who would be alpha to shreds. But the human held fast, cajoling the wolf into waiting for the best moment to strike. The wolf backed down, reluctantly, watching and waiting. Jess stood there with clenched teeth. [Let him think he succeeded. Let him believe you are submitting. And then...]
Lights were shutting back down in the far distance. The pattern was coming closer with even dimming bulb.
Without turning his back on the dangerous beings before him, Phoenix shot out a command. {Number Two. Collect Fox Mulder and move him to the elevator.} If the human was as valuable as Alex Krycek suggested then he might make a useful trading chit.
Marita moved closer to Jess. [Good, Jess... good.] She hoped maybe Phoenix's ego could sabotage him... old though he was; he had some young... components. She nodded eagerly, encouragingly.
"Phoenix..." she whispered to her, "is old, yet young... as you know."
She smiled at Phoenix. "Ever heard of patronization, little boy?"
"What about the rest of us, Phoenix?" Jess said. Maybe she could goad Phoenix into making a mistake. A little psychological warfare couldn't hurt. "Are you so afraid of a couple of humans, a lone Mac 27 and a bitch werewolf that you have to watch over your human 'allies?' Or are you afraid that they'll turn on you, so you want to keep them under your thumb? Worried that you won't be able to put humanity 'in its place' like you said earlier?"
"You and your companions hardly constitute a 'threat', Ms Leahs." Her face was within the records, making the woman easy to identify once he knew which section to search. "An inconvenience would be a better description. That's hardly surprising considering your point of origin into this entire affair was the werewolf project... which in itself was a massive inconvenience and a complete waste of time." Phoenix stepped back slightly, shifting to one side. "Improving the human race isn't the answer. You are inherently flawed. Artificial life is where the future lies. You, yourself, must realize that. You chose a Mac 27 as a companion here to compensate for your own failings."
"On the contrary," Jess said, taking a second to cast a warm glance in Sasha's direction. "I think we compliment each other's strengths quite well."
Frowning Wraith turned to the job. "Tom, Marita... you must stay with me so I can assure your safety. This area will be without fresh oxygen as well as light before long." Security protocols were flying fast and furious from Phoenix out to the Innobotics mainframe and back again. It was almost enough to make Wraith miss the headache he'd had from not being able to understand the scope of what his Mac 27 circuits were capable of.
Two steps and Mulder was indifferently seized by the hair near his ear. It seemed the most convenient handle to Wraith. "You will not give me trouble or I will cut the tendons in your legs and drag you."
"Oww... let me go, Wraith," yelled Mulder, shocked to be suddenly noticed once more. "Where the hell are we going? If it's to do something about the aliens, I don't need to be dragged, I'll come happily."
[He wants to get involved with the aliens? He's fucking nuts!] She quickly updated Baines on the situation. ~We're being moved to the elevator. Phoenix has shown his true colors at last. And he keeps going on about his 'matrix.' Isn't that what Sypher said she was sent here prevent?~
~Yes, but Sasha was able to upload the command Krycek issued to Alexei. He's transmitting it now to everyone he can.~
~Phoenix said that it won't affect the Macs already under his control. And Wraith appears to be proof of that.~ Mentally she shook her head. ~Be careful, Leigh. Phoenix knows what I am, so there's a good chance he knows what you are too. He does know that you're in the building.~ She looked down at her hand, watched it tremble in the effort to hold her human shape. ~And I may not be able to hold it together much longer.~
~There can't be that many left in the building for him to control. One accounted for most of them and Pendrell reprogrammed those he took. There are a number on the loose that neither have acquired yet. I think at the moment Phoenix's power rests in this building. Phoenix knows that someone is in the building based on damage reports but he doesn't know whom.
We are cutting conduits and pouring corrosives on every electrical and computerized component we come across. We have avoided the Mac's so far thanks to Alexei but there are animals in the building too. Guard dogs, perhaps. I really would hate to blow away a Mac or an animal but we are carrying weapons to do so if it becomes necessary.~
~I don't know how well this will work with the Macs, but it will work with the dogs. Just growl whenever they come near. They can smell that we're different, and are already afraid of us. A good loud snarl will reinforce that and scare them off. If it doesn't,~ she mentally sighed. ~Shoot it.~
~The lack of oxygen is probably contributing to Mulder's irrational behavior and affecting your ability to control. Roy is packing a small oxygen cylinder. Enough to get you out of the building if there is another problem. We will watch the elevator, don't do anything rash. Alexei is trying to get through to David and Sypher to find out the history of this time and what Phoenix's part was in what is to come.~
[Don't do anything rash,] Jess privately echoed. [Easy enough for you to say.] She returned her attention to Baines
~Never mind Mulder, he is behaving like a loose cannon and has been ever since I first met him. Just back up Alex and Sasha. Mulder is Alex's problem. Try to wait for us to back you up. We are having a little difficulty. Roy and Michael don't see as well in the dark as Alexei and I so we are moving more slowly than I would like.~
~Be careful, all of you. Sasha and I can look out for ourselves. But keep an eye out for Michael. And Roy.~
Wraith pulled Mulder upright. His prisoner was examined once more, a piercing sweep that started at Mulder's feet and ended with a look into the complaining man's eyes. Phoenix was indifferent to the possibility that Mulder might be damaged. The urge to strike out at something was almost overpowering. It was throbbing through Wraith's system and at the moment this man was the only thing Wraith had permission from the controller to lash out at. If Tom and Marita weren't there to watch, and quite likely disapprove of the excess, Wraith would have bodily tossed Mulder down the hall and into the elevator. As it was Wraith had to settle for tightening his grip on Mulder's hair and growling, low in his throat.
"Control orders we go upstairs." Wraith started walking, hoping that Mulder would falter at following so he could justifiably hurt the man.
What to do now? The invasion had to be stopped but so did Phoenix. One thing at a time he guessed. Deal with on problem at a time. Fuck where was Pinocchio... God how he needed him. He followed Wraith, letting go of Marita's hand to allow her to follow if she wished. He hoped she listened to him. As he passed Alex his eyes met briefly, telling him that he would protect Mulder if he could... if Alex was not coming. "I didn't betray you," were the only words he voiced in passing. With a few quick strides he was beside Wraith throwing a glance to Mulder.
The faintly voiced words stopped Wraith in his tracks. Without loosening his hold on Mulder, he turned in place. "You aren't Krycek's! Stay away from him. You're mine now." The claiming had been clear. Wraith dragged as much of his attention as he could spare back to the here and now, away from the server duties Phoenix had thrust upon him and onto Tom.
"WRAITH!" Phoenix swung around, hissing. "Mind your duties...immediately!" The Loren Faber part of Number two was going to have to be dealt with soon. Phoenix didn't like the slip in control. Pity he couldn't dispose of the soldier and Marita right now but that would be too much strain on his connection with Wraith.
A shudder ran up Wraith's spine. His mouth snapped shut and he turned his back to Hobbes, practically throwing Mulder toward the open elevator doors. Battering data streams swelled back up to full strength once again.
The already faint hum of air and equipment in the hallway dropped down to an almost non-existent whisper. Only the lights between the small group and the elevator shaft remained on.
"The air is off. All the doors to the labs and offices are all sealed. You're welcome to stay down here and die if you wish. It makes no difference to me. I have aliens..." A smile lifted Phoenix's lips. "...and intruders... to attend to and I can't waste any more time on this." Phoenix backed away as casually as possible, not willing to turn his back on any of the three, but not willing to show that he feared them either. "I'll send the elevator back down for you in two minutes if you don't wish to join us immediately. After that this level will be sealed off." Sasha was addressed silently through Mac 27 channels. {We will contact you again in a month or two Number 7777 about joining the matrix... after your companions have ceased... if you choose to stay down here with them.}
Sasha's response tight beamed to Phoenix was rather crude human curse, not to mention a physiological impossibility for most species.
"Wraith," Jess called out. She had noticed Wraith's reaction to Hobbes, and it had given her an idea, a long shot at best. "It's probably useless to appeal to your human side, but think about this. Phoenix is professing a real disdain for anything human, and you still have human components. What's to say he won't see you as a liability down the road? And what do you do when he makes you choose between Hobbes and his glorious future without humanity?"
Wraith frowned, his attention dragged back into the confrontation. It took a breath to find his voice after the whirlpool of electronic activity that had almost sucked him under. "Marita and Tom are my..."
"Be quiet Wraith." Phoenix hushed him with another mental wave as well as a physical one. "The werewolf is stalling. Equipment is being damaged about the building as they hold us down here with unimportant details. We've no more time for this. Marita, Lieutenant Hobbes. Please get in the elevator." It would be so much simpler to kill the entire lot of them right now, but Wraith might baulk. "Let's be perfectly clear." An expression too old for Phoenix's face was displayed. "If you do not get in the elevator I will assume you choose to stay down here."
The hallway doors were all secured but there was no need to take chances. Amid the flood of other messages Phoenix called several security drones to one of the doors further up the elevator shaft. Krycek and the werewolf would have to die. 7777 would have to be recycled. The three of them could not be allowed to wander about the lower levels unsupervised.
"It's not too late. Come upstairs. You have friends looking for you up there. It would be a shame to keep them waiting. I will return you to them and release you all outside the building. You're free to run away if you don't wish to help deal with the aliens." The last of the lights went out, returning everything but the inside of the elevator car in darkness. Phoenix intended to turn that one off as well in a moment. It would keep the humans more docile.
Hobbes hand went up to Wraith's arm for he was already beside Wraith. He looked at Marita wondering if she was coming, if she even heard him or was she to busy thinking of herself. Just those thoughts caused his hand to squeeze Wraith's arm. Hobbes wasn't sure, from the way she spoke, she was playing with a double edge sword and one day she was going to get cut.
Mulder had painfully climbed back to his feet and was leaning against the back wall of the elevator. Wraith had released him, but was standing in the door, between him and the others. He was finding it harder and harder to concentrate, to think logically... aliens... get to them - he needed to find them, to fight them - and Alex, who he wanted so badly and who was melding in his confused mind with Wraith. But Phoenix, what was he saying? He'd been the only one who seemed to want to fight, but he was now threatening to kill Mulder's friends. To suffocate them... he couldn't permit it.
It was then that Hobbes' words penetrated...
Hobbes glanced up at Wraith, "I made you a promise... I would not leave your side... I keep my word Wraith, you can at least trust me." He held the green eyes before him, showing him he meant the words he said and then looked away, waiting for the next move.
Mulder's machine gun, which he'd retrieved, had fetched up on the floor beside him when Wraith had slung him into the car. He picked it up, and aimed shakily at Hobbes.
"It seems you make promises to everyone," he said in a murderous hiss. "Every-fucking-one is supposed to trust you. That means none of us can. The world is better without cunts like you."
Hobbes had turned at the sound of the gun being picked up and Mulder's insane voice. His blue eyes darted to the barrel of the gun that was trained on him. What the fuck did he do to deserve this? He swallowed hard as his body bumped into Wraith.
What was this man's problem with him? He was trying to help them...help him for godsake! Why was this guy trying to kill him, hate him so much? "Dammit, just stop it!" He shouted but the man didn't listen.
"And you," Mulder called over to Phoenix. "What the fuck is your agenda? I think I've had it with you, too. The only person I want to trust is Alex."
But there were three of them, three Alexes here. Who were the others? Friends? Foes? He'd forgotten... With a gulp, hoping he wouldn't hit any of them, he opened fire.
Hobbes jumped at the sound, shoving Wraith to the side, only to be grazed in the arm by a bullet. Tom winced in pain as he tried to stay down out of the way as he dug for his gun that was behind his back. He pulled it out and prepared to fire. He had to defend himself and he had warned Mulder, the next time he would kill him.
Hobbes was caught and shoved back into the darkness of the hallway. Wraith did not want the young soldier anywhere near Mulder's erratic aim. Stalking into the small cubicle, Wraith caught at the other man's arm, slamming it straight out and against the wall so he dropped the weapon.
"Don't kill him." Phoenix snapped without looking. Krycek was tensing and needed supervision.
Wraith snarled at the order but it had to be obeyed.
Leaning in until they were nose to nose, Wraith caught Mulder's attention, making him go still. "Tom is mine. He is not to be hurt. You are behaving erratically, Fox Mulder." Wraith's left hand lifted to lie across his captive's throat. The pulse under his fingers was far too fast and a bit unsteady. "Be still. Don't panic." Pressure was carefully applied, slowly increasing. Wraith held Mulder's eyes, watching them dilate. The lashes fluttered. Wraith could feel the other man's body shuddering.
When Mulder's breath faltered and he went limp, Wraith caught him. "He's not dead." The announcement was for everyone. "He just needs to rest."
Hobbes pulled himself up and back to the elevator. Blood ran down his arm. He glared at Mulder's limp body the turned to Alex, "What is his problem with me!" He snapped. Then he thought he figured it out, the man was jealous. "You should have told me." Hobbes growled at Alex.
"Told you what? How the fuck do I know what he's going to do? He's a brilliant man, and one that we need, but he isn't completely stable. He's jealous of you, yeah, but you know what he was doing while we were together? He was elsewhere, making out in a swimming pool with a couple of guys. Guess that we have a double standard showing here, Tom." Alex moved back. "Go on then. Go with this Phoenix, and with Wraith, and seal the end of the world, why don't you?"
Turning, Alex squeezed off a shot from his own gun, into the elevator controls, and they exploded with a fizz and a pop before emitting seething smoke. Somewhere in the distance, an alarm sounded, and the elevator was now utterly useless.
Tom looked at Wraith, "Thank you," the words came softly. But his anger returned at the sight of Mulder, "If Pinocchio was here, he would have been dead already." Hobbes said glanced at the blood dripping from his arm. Tom sighed... why did everyone hate him. The only one who didn't was... he looked at Wraith... maybe eventually...he will too.
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
Caught in a maelstrom of emotions, waves and communication pulses, David figuratively held on to the link he had with One and Sypher intending to -- as humans said -- ride it out.
One interrogative, transmitted in a narrow band, cut through the interference. What is Phoenix?
The image that accompanied the question was strange indeed -- that of a youthful Alex Krycek. A youth that had the mental feel of a Mac 27 to him.
Collecting as much of himself as he could, David bounced the image back, asking, This is /Phoenix?
He speaks of his matrix.
Hmmm. David dove back into the maelstrom in search of Sypher. Can the key to the matrix you wish to destroy in its infancy be a person ...or an android?
The sense of her reply was affirmative but suggestive that there was more than one such key -- either in the same or a completely different form. Apparently, the officially sanctioned history of the birth of the matrix left many details out and Sypher's group had been unable to fill in all of the blanks.
Climbing out of the communion was more difficult the second time. Phoenix's matrix may be the one Sypher fears or it may be a security configuration of Mac 27s. Or, David thought suddenly, both.
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
| Back to Game page | Alex Annex | Characters | Stories/Alpha | Stories/Author | Home |