Subject: NEW: Odyssey 5/12 Sent: 31/01 11:16 AM Received: 31/01 6:14 PM From: Sharon Nuttycombe, avalon@terranet.ab.ca To: dobbo@c031.aone.net.au Odyssey part 5/12 Sharon Nuttycombe avalon@terranet.ab.ca August 21, 1996 ************************************************************ This is a Scully and Skinner action/adventure story. It is not related to my former story, Crossing the Line. (There will be a sequel to Crossing the Line, but this is not it). It is not NC -17 but is rated R for violence. SUMMARY: When Mulder disappears in the Caribbean, Scully and Skinner are drawn into a web of intrigue and danger. I am a permanent resident of the State of Denial -- Avatar never happened. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Alistair Maclean's "The Golden Rendezvous". OK - I shamelessly stole his ideas, but I made lots of changes. Honest. This is an homage... :) Apologies for any medical inaccuracies! I would appreciate any comments or criticism. Many thanks. Acknowledgements: Thanks to Linda Campbell for racking up a huge phone bill helping me plot this monster, and for refusing to let me pack it in when the going got tough... Disclaimer: Scully, Skinner, and Mulder belong to Chris Carter. I don't own them, I'm only borrowing them for a while (But do I have to return Skinner? Can I keep him, huh Chris? Please...?) ************************************************************ Odyssey part 5/12 TUESDAY EVENING THE ODYSSEY. SICKBAY. The ship is forging through increasingly heavy waves as the sun sets. In sickbay, Henderson and the Captain are still unconscious. Scully is sitting on the edge of Skinner's bed, checking his pulse. The door to sickbay opens and Josef and another terrorist enter. JOSEF: This is cosy. SCULLY: (Wearily) What do you want? JOSEF: What is Dietrich's condition? SCULLY: He's still breathing. He's got a bullet in his chest. It needs to come out. Right now, whether he lives or dies depends on his constitution, and how soon he receives proper medical care. JOSEF: Can't you operate? SCULLY: Only if you want him to die. If I cut him open now, under these conditions, it will kill him. You might as well just shoot him. JOSEF: I need him alive. SCULLY: Then I suggest you turn this ship around and head for the nearest hospital as fast as you can. JOSEF: I'm afraid that is not an option, Doctor. SCULLY: (Pauses) You promised me some help. JOSEF: It's on the way. (Looks at Skinner.) How's the leg, Secret Agent Man? SCULLY: The bullet fractured his left femur. It missed the femoral artery but it tore through the rectus femoris and vastus intermedius. He'll certainly never walk again. Not without crutches. JOSEF: (Without much interest) Too bad. (To Skinner) I guess you won't be playing hero anymore. (Skinner says nothing. Josef prods at him with his rifle.) SCULLY: Leave him alone. JOSEF: I want answers first. Without warning, he brings his rifle down hard on Skinner's injury. Scully grabs his arm. SCULLY: Stop it! JOSEF: Heinrich! The other terrorist steps forward, pulls her away and twists one arm behind her back. As Josef raises his gun again, Scully struggles against Heinrich and reaches with her free hand for the surgical scissors on a table nearby. She stabs him in the arm and he releases her. Scully spins to launch herself at Josef only to find herself looking into the barrel of his gun. She freezes and swallows. JOSEF: Drop it, Doctor. (She hesitates.) Need I remind you again of the dangers of disobeying me? Scully glances at Skinner who is clutching his leg. He meets her eyes and nods slightly. Scully reluctantly drops the scissors. Heinrich seizes her from behind, blood dripping down his arm. Josef steps toward her and reaches out to cup her chin upward, running one finger along her swollen and cut lip. She jerks her head out of his grasp. JOSEF: That was unwise, Doctor. SCULLY: (Bravely) It seemed like a good idea at the time. JOSEF: You were wrong. (Draws his handgun.) SCULLY: You can't kill me. I'm the only doctor on board. You need me. JOSEF: But I don't need him. He aims the gun at Skinner, who does not move. Josef's finger tightens on the trigger. SCULLY: (Quickly) Don't! JOSEF: (Looks sideways toward her) Why not? SCULLY: (Swallows) Because if you kill him, I won't help you. JOSEF: You won't have a choice. SCULLY: I'll let Dietrich die. I'll kill him myself if I have to. JOSEF: And what about your Hippocratic Oath, Doctor Kimble? SCULLY: To hell with Hippocrates and to hell with you! (Heinrich's hands tighten about her, and she struggles briefly against him.) JOSEF: (Holsters the handgun. To Scully) I don't have to kill you to make you wish you'd obeyed me. (He takes a step forward). SKINNER: That's enough. Let her go. (Josef turns back to Skinner). JOSEF: You are no longer in a position to give orders, Assistant Director Skinner. I am in command of this ship now. SKINNER: For how long? One of your men has been shot, the ship's doctor is dead, and it's only thanks to blind luck that there's another person with medical training on board. Hell, I've got file clerks that are better at organizing than you. Josef tenses and reaches for his gun once more. Scully interrupts. SCULLY: Somebody get this Neanderthal off of me. I've got patients to see to. JOSEF: Certainly Doctor. And your first one will be Heinrich. I'm sure you won't mind repairing the damage you did, will you? Josef gestures to Heinrich whose arms tighten around her before reluctantly letting her go. Scully instantly steps away, stares at Josef for a moment then stalks silently across the sickbay to the supply room. She returns a moment later and stitches Heinrich up, ignoring his intense gaze. After she finishes he rolls down his sleeve and brushes purposely by her as he rejoins Josef. Scully suppresses a shudder and looks away. Josef gives Scully a measuring look. At that moment, his radio crackles and he speaks into it in German, then returns it to his belt. He gives Heinrich a quick order and they both turn to leave. Josef pauses at the door. JOSEF: (To Scully) Remember this. If Dietrich dies you die. You all die. Do you understand me? Scully nods silently. JOSEF: Heinrich will be outside the door. You will inform him as soon as Dietrich is awake. It is not a question. Josef stares intently at Skinner and Scully for a long moment then spins on his heel and exits with Heinrich. SKINNER: Lovely bedside manner you've got, Doctor. Scully shivers, then returns to the Captain's side. * * * TUESDAY EVENING THE ODYSSEY. SICKBAY. The cabin slowly grows darker, and Scully turns on some lights, staring briefly out the window at the ocean. The ship has altered course and is beginning to roll more heavily in the swells. It has also increased its speed, and the low rumble of its engines can be heard. She turns back to Skinner, rubbing the back of her neck. SCULLY: There's a storm coming. SKINNER: I know. (Scully crosses to his side.) SCULLY: How are you feeling? SKINNER: I've been better. SCULLY: You're lucky only a couple of stitches were torn open. SKINNER: I don't feel lucky. SCULLY: Are the painkillers wearing off? SKINNER: Did you give me painkillers? (Pauses.) I'm fine. But we need to talk. We've got to find out what these people want. SCULLY: And how they got on board? We still don't know anything about this ship... SKINNER: Or where Agent Mulder's disappearance fits into all this... SCULLY: Too many questions and not enough answers. SKINNER: Well, maybe it's time we started finding some of those answers. (Throws the covers back, preparing to get up.) SCULLY: What are you doing? SKINNER: You said it wasn't serious. SCULLY: (Pressing on his shoulder) I also said you've lost a lot of blood. Your system's in shock, your heart rate is elevated, and you're running a slight fever. For heaven's sake, get back in bed. Skinner ignores her, removing her hands, and struggles to his feet (in his boxer shorts). Once there, his vision greys out and he sways. SCULLY: (Taking his arm) Sit down before you fall down. SKINNER: I'll be fine in a minute. SCULLY: No you won't. And if you fall on your face, I won't be able to pick you up again. Skinner takes a cautious pace forward, hopping on his right leg, and almost crashes to the ground. Scully tries desperately to support him. Finally he gives in and lowers himself back onto the bed. SKINNER: (weakly) Aren't you going to say it? SCULLY: (covering him up and taking his pulse) Say what? SKINNER: I told you so. SCULLY: Only if it will make you feel better. Just precisely what did you think you were doing? SKINNER: One of us has to try to get some help. If I can reach the radio room, and your gun... SCULLY: Sir, with all due respect, I think the drugs I gave you are clouding your mind. You wouldn't make it five steps down the corridor, even if you did manage to get past the guard outside. You need time to heal. SKINNER: Time is something we don't have much of. Just give me some more painkillers and I'll be fine. SCULLY: I'm not going to help you kill yourself. SKINNER: (Darkly) Don't make me make it an order, Agent Scully. Suddenly the door opens. Heinrich enters, carrying his rifle over one shoulder, holding a young woman by the arm. She is tall and slender, with long wavy brown hair, and is expensively dressed. Heinrich shoves the woman forward and turns to leave. He stares silently at Scully over his shoulder. She meets his gaze. After a long moment, he exits. Scully suppresses a shudder and does not meet Skinner's eyes. They both look at the new arrival. SCULLY: Who are you? WOMAN: Victoria. Victoria Mason. SCULLY: I'm Dana...Kimble and this is Walter Skinner. VICTORIA: He...he said I was supposed to help you. SCULLY: Who said? VICTORIA: That man. Josef. SCULLY: Are you part of the medical staff? VICTORIA: I'm a passenger. I...the nurse was delayed joining the ship and was supposed to catch up with us on Long Island. He asked for anyone with medical experience. SCULLY: What kind of experience? VICTORIA: I took a Red Cross course once. Scully and Skinner exchange glances, then Scully waves Victoria to a seat. The woman sits down, nervously fiddling with her Rolex. SKINNER: What's been happening out there? VICTORIA: After you went they took us all into the lounge. SCULLY: Passengers and crew? VICTORIA: Yes. SKINNER: Did they say what they want? VICTORIA: No. They just said that if we obeyed them, we wouldn't get hurt. And that this would all be over by Thursday. SCULLY: Thursday? VICTORIA: Yes. That's what they said. Skinner and Scully exchange a glance, realizing how little time they have. SCULLY: I wonder what happens on Thursday? SKINNER: We'll find out, one way or another. SCULLY: (To Victoria) How are the passengers? VICTORIA: Scared. But no one else has been hurt. (Stands up.) Look, I'm supposed to be helping you. Tell me what I can do. SCULLY: Well, we could use some coffee. VICTORIA: (Incredulously) You want me to make coffee? SCULLY: (With steel in her voice) Yes, please. There should be some in there. She indicates the small galley connected to sickbay. Victoria stares at her for a moment then turns on her heel. VICTORIA: Coffee. Sure. She stalks from the room. Skinner raises an eyebrow and looks up at Scully. SKINNER: What's the matter? SCULLY: (Evasively) I'm thirsty. SKINNER: Have you seen her before? SCULLY: Yes. She boarded at Nassau. We never spoke, but I saw her around. She went to a lot of aerobics classes. SKINNER: Which explains why Mrs. Dalton hid her husband's binoculars. SCULLY: (Shoots him a look) Aerobics or not, I think we should watch what we say around her. SKINNER: Agreed. Now, about those painkillers... SCULLY: Fine. SKINNER: (suspiciously) What? No arguments? SCULLY: (meets his gaze) As you reminded me, you're the Assistant Director. No arguments...Sir. Scully gives him an injection. SKINNER: How long? SCULLY: About five minutes. Victoria emerges from the galley with three mugs of coffee on a tray. She puts the tray on a table and sits down beside Skinner. VICTORIA: I didn't know how you liked it, Walter. SKINNER: Black. No sugar. VICTORIA: Good. I guessed right. SCULLY: Ahem. Scully coughs, and picks up the tray, one eyebrow raised. Victoria shoots her a look then gets up, takes the tray from Scully and carries it back to the galley. SCULLY: She didn't ask how I like my coffee. SKINNER: Must've slipped her mind. (His eyelids are growing heavy.) I've gotta get going. SCULLY: You're not going anywhere tonight. I just gave you a sedative. In another minute or two you're going to be unconscious. SKINNER: ...thought I gave you a direct order... SCULLY: You did. I guess you'll just have to fire me. SKINNER: ...you're fired Dana... (Leans back wearily against the pillow and closes his eyes.) ...Effective tomorrow... SCULLY: (smiles to herself) Yes, sir. * * * END OF PART 5 Sharon Nuttycombe avalon@terranet.ab.ca celtic@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca "Knowing's easy. Everyone does that ad nauseum. I just sort of hope." -- Doctor Who Sharon Nuttycombe avalon@terranet.ab.ca --"I have as much respect for the chain of command as the next guy. --Only if you're standing next to Fletcher Christian." -- Adderly