From drjudd@rainbow.net.au Fri Aug 30 08:55:15 1996 OFFSPRING DESLEA R. JUDD drjudd@rainbow.net.au Copyright 1996 DISCLAIMER This book is based on The X Files, a creation of Chris Carter owned by him, Twentieth Century Fox, and Ten-Thirteen Productions. Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Walter Skinner, and a number of lesser characters including Bill Mulder, Mrs Mulder, Samantha Mulder and her clones, Maggie Scully, Melissa Scully, Captain Scully, Sharon Skinner, Kimberly Cooke, the Cigarette Smoking (Cancer) Man, the Well Manicured Man and his offsider, Frohike, Quiqueg, Gautier, Jean Gautier, Ellen, and Alex Krycek remain the intellectual property of those parties. A number of other characters are the author's creation and are copyright, and may not be used without her written permission. These include but are not limited to Dr Karen Koettig, Agent Grbevski, Melissa Samantha Scully, Grace Skinner, Clone 1 (Cynthia), Clone 3 (Carolyn), Clone 4 (Catherine), Dr Sam Fieldman, Dr Paul Sturrock, Dr Marion Pieterse, Wendy Tomiris, Serena Ingleburn, Amarette, Dr Jillian Maitz, Hallie, and Emily Trent. Any queries concerning ownership of minor characters not mentioned here should be directed to the author. (See Pt 1 for complete spoiler, content, and comments info). A few spoilers from Pilot, Duane Barry, Ascension, One Breath, Colony, Endgame, Anasazi, Blessing Way, Paper Clip, Nisei, 7.31, Piper Maru, Apocrypha, and Avatar. I've rated this book R just to be on the safe side, but I think it's more PG-13, in truth. There's some low-level sex (three scenes, more emotional than anatomical), low-level bad language, low-level violence, and that's about all. Comments, good and bad, are welcome; but make sure they're constructive, please! My e-mail is drjudd@rainbow.net.au, but don't worry if you see something else in your "reply" header like magna.com, because Rainbow.Net shares a server with another ISP called MagnaData. And if you think my work's worth stealing, I'm flattered; but don't even think about it. Archivists, feel free to add this to your collections; but be sure to let me know. OFFSPRING BY DESLEA R. JUDD (15/18) SEVEN CONTINUED A Warehouse Unmapped U.S. Government Territory North Dakota March 13, 1997 A few minutes later, they sat in Samantha's cell. It was safe there, she explained; she had doctored the surveillance camera so that the security guards only ever saw a repetitive tape of her doing routine tasks. Scully gathered that Samantha's years in custody had left her with more skills than winning at Patience. Frohike, she said, knew where to find them when he wanted to. Mulder was breathless with excitement. "Samantha, we have to get you out of here." She gave him a gentle smile. "Your friend told you it wasn't as simple as that, Fox. There are others here, too. I have to get them out. I would prefer your help, but I will understand if you feel the risk is too great." Mulder looked at her, incredulously. "Don't be silly, Samantha. Who are they?" he asked. Samantha hesitated, shooting Scully a glance. "They're abductees. Like Dana." "<> like Dana?" he asked, automatically repeating her words. Scully reflected that she didn't think she'd ever heard him use her name - even about her, much less to her. Samantha hesitated once more, but finally, she admitted, "They're pregnant. All of them. They only bring them here if they get pregnant - otherwise they let them go." She looked at Dana, piercingly. "They wondered if you got pregnant, since you got away before they could find out. They watched you for a while, and decided you didn't. But I wondered." She paused. "I see by your face that you did." Scully met the other woman's gaze for a long moment, trying to decide whether or not to trust her. Finally, she nodded. "She was born this morning." "She? It was a girl?" Wordlessly, she nodded, suddenly frightened. She was sitting here with her baby's mother, and she was frightened. Finding her voice, she said tremorously, "Samantha, what do you know about all this?" "I know most of it," Samantha replied. "I'm something of a computer hacker, as you've seen. As you probably realise, a number of projects are going on, all to do with alien genetic material. There were the cloning experiments, which created alien clones of humans; and Fox, you came across the results of those. There have also been human clones and alien-human hybrids, and a few experiments with the morphing aliens, as well." She paused. "I and a small number of others have been the basis of these experiments. We have been lucky in that we have been well treated, because we are the centre of the experiments. Others, such as the hybrids and the pregnant women, have often not been so lucky. When an experiment does not work as planned, terminal force is often ordered." Mulder winced, remembering a trainload of alien-human corpses he had once found. They had been viciously executed. Samantha went on. "I have no doubt that other extra-terrestrial related testing is occuring, but that is outside of my knowledge. The various genetic tests and experiments have all been with a view to warfare, both nuclear and biological. Their immune systems are different and they have a capacity to withstand radiation. Their craft and other debris from their planet emit it, and they are capable of doing so themselves at will, I believe." Her brow creased. "I don't think they're trying to utilise the radioactive qualities themselves - more the capacity to withstand radiation. The idea is twofold - one, to create a breed which are capable of fighting in nuclear or germ war conditions, and two (and I gather this has become the primary aim in the last decade) to create a breed which will survive such war, by engineering human genes to incorporate the survival characteristics of the aliens." Mulder spoke. "How long has this been going on?" "Decades," Samantha responded. "Understand, it's a long process. First, they thought that to utilise these qualities, the hybrids and clones needed to be almost entirely alien. And genetic engineering was in its most primitive stages." She paused. "They found that the early hybrids were too alien. Rebellion was a problem because they had those other, less desirable alien traits - such as high level psi, the ability to emit radiation, extraordinary intelligence, and so on. Later, they tried cloning, then engineering in various ways to create more human hybrids." She paused. "The early hybrids, which were mostly alien, were incubated in alien mothers. They found that human mothers miscarried. They thought it was an immune response, but they could never correct it. Later hybrids, who were increasingly human, were carried by humans. Most of them also miscarried, but there have been a few successes. The human mothers seem to have an increased complication rate - hypertension, placenta pravia, gestational diabetes, and the like. They don't know why. As I presume you found, the gestation period is shorter, too; because the alien gestation period is only six to seven months." Scully started in sudden comprehension. That was why Melissa's lung function was that of a term infant. It also explained her toxemia despite a lack of history of hypertension in herself or her family. "The hybrids, who now tend to be 40-60% human, are usually alien in appearance. Their immune qualities and so on are quite satisfactory, however; and ten years ago, that would have been enough. But now that human survival in as complete a form as possible is the primary aim, they are attempting to reduce the alien content further, giving human appearance and as great a human DNA as possible - not to mention increasing the rate of successful pregnancy. Tests are ongoing." She wasn't sure if she wanted to know, but she had to. "What do you know about the tests on me?" Scully demanded. Samantha turned to face her. "Human ova - mine - with alien splicing at a human-alien ratio of 3:1. The sperm, I believe, came from one of the clones, with human-alien ratio of 2:3. The resulting child should have been a little over 50% human. They tried the clones for the alien content with the hope of overcoming the problem of human appearance. They haven't succeeded previously with such a combination, however; the foetuses seem to have the same sort of blood as the clones - green and acidic, as you've seen. The mothers miscarry - again, an immune response. One mother gave birth, but came in contact with the infant's blood in childbirth and died. The child, in turn, had some sort of immune response to the mother's blood and also died." Scully shuddered. "But you survived," Samantha said, awed. "And so did the baby - didn't she?" she added, hurriedly. She nodded. "I became pregnant with your ovum, but not the clone's sperm. Walter, my partner-" she paused diplomatically (and how strange it was to call Walter her partner! Mulder was her partner. Walter was - well, Walter) "-um, beat it there." Mulder smirked. <> she reproached mentally. "Melissa looks entirely human, and her blood seems normal. DNA testing has shown the splicing you refer to. She's about 87.5% human." "DNA testing?" Samantha queried. Mulder answered. "That's the other interesting thing. Coincidentally, Scully was caught in an accident with nuclear waste at a power plant. Everyone else died, but she and the baby were fine. She knows more about it than me, but enzyme activity seems to have been responsible. The DNA testing was done to see if there had been any mutations as a result." Samantha's eyes widened. She stared at them, stunned. "Well, I'll be- it actually works with that little alien input!" Recovering a little, she added, "That's incredible!" Noting their strange looks, she went on, "You must understand, you do acquire a certain scientific curiosity about these things when you live them. I didn't mean to offend, Dana." Scully shook her head. "No, that's fine," she said absently. Cautiously, she continued, "We knew you were the genetic mother, Samantha. We ran a check on what we could construct of her from the DNA we got from Melissa. Mulder was a very close match. We knew it had to be you." She met the older woman's gaze, suddenly very frightened, very protective of her daughter. She resisted the urge to shout, <> But Samantha took her hand. "I'm not her mother, Dana. You have no idea how many children of mine I've seen being carried by other women, how many I've seen miscarried, or born and died, or even murdered. At some point you stop thinking they're yours. Because no amount of pain you can suffer compares to the pain of the women who carried them." She looked away, tears in her eyes. "There was one...he was a hybrid, and he looked - grotesque; there's no other way to say it. He was part morph, and they knew as soon as they saw him that he could pass on the retrovirus - it was the only part-morph they ever made." She swallowed hard. "They killed him, right there in front of me and the mother." She paused. "My heart broke that day, but I survived. The mother didn't. They hypnotised her to not remember, but even though she forgot the events, she never forgot the pain. She suicided a week after they released her." Scully bowed her head, ashamed of her thoughts. Moved, she drew Samantha close, her normal reserve forgotten. "I'm sorry," she whispered. Mulder looked on helplessly. After a long moment, Samantha drew away. Composing herself, she repeated, "No, they aren't mine; but I do feel protective of them, just the same. That's why I have to get them and the mothers out." Mulder nodded wordlessly, his eyes bright. Scully spoke. "Where are they?" Samantha flicked her head downwards. "There are more cells downstairs." They were interrupted by a series of beeps outside the door as someone keyed in an access code. Scully and Mulder each drew their guns, and Mulder moved in front of his sister; but Samantha pushed him aside. The door burst open, and a young woman in her twenties burst in. "Samantha!" Samantha's tone was brisk and professional. Clearly, Scully thought, Mulder's sister ran things among the prisoners - and the girl was her offsider. "Hallie, what is it?" The girl was in a state of panic. "The security guards are clearing out, and the support staff are already gone. I checked the chief of staff's desk. It's pretty much cleared out, too; but there was a memo in the photocopier. The order came through this morning." Samantha's jaw dropped. "So soon? I thought we had at least another month!" Hallie shrugged. "According to his e-mail, he knew there had been a security breach last night-" <> Scully thought "-and he asked for instructions. I gather that was the impetus for accelerating the order." "What order?" Mulder asked. "I'm her brother," he added, by way of an incomplete introduction. Hallie dismissed this. "I know that ," she said scornfully. "News travels among the prisoners," Samantha said as an aside. "The order is to terminate the project." "The project?" Scully asked suspiciously. "Or the project subjects?" "They're one and the same thing," Samantha said calmly. Mulder grabbed her by the arm. "All right, let's get out of here." But Samantha pulled away. "How long?" she asked Hallie. "I don't know. But with security gone, I'd say not long." The older woman turned to Mulder. "Fox, you and Dana go and find Frohike and get him out. From the questions he was asking me, I'd say he was most interested in the computer systems room, just off the west door - the one you came in by. I'm going to warn the others. It shouldn't take long." Mulder's eyes blazed. "No way, Samantha. I'm not leaving you." "You're an agent, Fox. You know better. You have to." "No!" Samantha leaned forward and kissed him gently. "Yes, Fox. You must. And you will. Because you know it's the right way to do it." She paused. "When we get out, I'll meet you at the eastern door - or whatever remains of it. Hopefully, I won't be alone." "And what if you don't?" he demanded of her. She smiled then, sweetly, the way he remembered from when they were children. "If I don't, then you'll go on. You'll find the other women, if there are any, and you'll look after them and Scully and her baby, and you'll go on." She took his hand. "But I will." It broke his heart to do it, but he nodded. Taking Scully by the arm, he hurried out. Ten minutes later, they were in the computer systems room in the building's western wing. Scully wiped a bead of perspiration from her brow at the carefully controlled climate of the room. Mulder was searching. The building was empty; there was no need for discretion. "Frohike!" he called, to no avail. "I don't think he's here," he said, more annoyed than concerned right this minute. Damn it, his sister was on a kamikaze rescue mission and he couldn't even help her because he was busy searching for an alcoholic paranoic! "He's probably found the executive bar and is getting drunk right this minute," he muttered. "You don't mean that, Mulder." He shot her a look, then admitted, "No, I don't." He sighed. "Come on, let's keep looking." But before they could leave the room, Scully's phone rang. She flipped it open. "Scully." It was Samantha, and her voice was tinged with urgency - no, fright. She was speaking quickly - too quickly. "Scully, I've found it. I've found the bomb. I can't disable it, and we've got less time than I thought. You have to get out." "How long?" "Fifteen seconds." The words hadn't fully reached her when Scully's eyes widened. She grabbed Mulder's arm and pulled him towards the door. "Can you get out?" she demanded, her voice louder than usual with barely controlled panic. Samantha's voice was resolute. "I don't think so. Tell Fox I love him. And kiss the baby." Scully yanked open the door and dragged Mulder out. He had some inkling, then, and he tried to tear away. Scully held him with all her strengh. "Mulder, no, you can't get to her in time!" They struggled for precious seconds. Incredibly, Scully was able to drag him a few feet from the building. The phone flew a good few feet further still, and both of them screamed in its general direction, "Samantha!" Mulder leaped for it, landed heavily on his stomach. He grabbed it. "Samantha, I love you!" Scully reached him a moment later. She could hear Samantha, her voice high and clear and strong. It was a voice of courage. There were three beeps in rapid succession, then a second of silence in which she spoke. "Don't mourn, Fox. This is right." And then the building blew. Scully opened her eyes. She was conscious first of the tremendous heat emanating from behind her, then of the rough gravelly surface beneath her. There was a howling, roaring sound. She dragged herself to her knees and looked around. It was an inferno. There was nothing left of the warehouse, it seemed, except for a few sticks. There was no way of knowing what remained behind the wall of flames, but Scully suspected there wasn't much. She turned to her left. Mulder sat, cross-legged, staring dully into the blaze. He was bleeding from one shoulder, but seemed oblivious to the fact. He was rocking, hugging himself. Scully thought he looked like a wounded animal. She went to him and put her hand on his shoulder. "Mulder," she yelled to be heard above the flames. She squinted against the impossibly hot wind. He turned to look at her. "She's still in there!" he shouted. "My sister's in there!" "Mulder, no-one could have survived that!" She tried to make her voice gentle, which was a ridiculous exercise, given the decibels with which she had to use it. "She's gone!" She took his arms and leaned closer, trying to convey with her face the sorrow for him that she couldn't convey with her voice. "She's gone." He looked back at the raging warehouse. This wasn't how she'd meant to tell him, shouting above a howling firestorm; but somehow, she knew it was right. "Mulder?" she cried. There was no answer. "Walter and I thought of a name!" He turned to look at her. "Melissa?" he yelled. He showed no surprise, and no confusion at her statement, which she realised must seem utterly out of context. "Melissa...Melissa Samantha." Mulder stared at her for a moment, then crumpled. He buried his head in his hands. She held him tightly, and there in the heat and the noise, he wept in her arms. They found Frohike an hour later. He was collapsed on the eastern side of the complex. He'd been outside when the explosion occurred, but had apparently found himself on the receiving end of flying schrapnel. He was burned, bleeding, and concussed; but according to Scully, he would live. They took him to Mercer General Hospital and stayed with him. His burns were second degree and might scar. They would certainly pain him for weeks to come. Skin grafts were a possibility. But Frohike was in reasonably good spirits. Mulder had a feeling this was the sort of episode which kept him in the government surveillance game. One of these days, he thought, Frohike's quest for the ultimate adrenaline rush would get him killed. Samantha, Frohike told them, had caught up with him and, distant and preoccupied, told him to get out. She'd led him to an exit, but when he'd turned, she'd gone back into the building. Less than a minute later - not enough time for her to reach any of the other doors - the warehouse had gone up. She could not possibly have gotten out without him seeing. He didn't have to tell them that she could not possibly have survived without his knowledge. Mulder turned away at this, but his look was resigned. Scully asked him about the other women, but Frohike shook his head. Samantha had not gotten any of the women out. Any who had survived the blaze would not be capable of escaping the troops which he was sure would go in to kill any survivors. The project was a failure, so they had decided to erase the evidence and start fresh. Scully nodded in understanding...but understanding didn't help. So many women, so many unborn. So many hopeless, useless deaths. And she had been allowed to survive to raise her daughter. <> But she knew why. This unholy experiment had had nothing to do with God, with the natural forces of creation. And God had remained distant of it as a consequence. But in seeking what was truthful and right, she had returned to God what was God's, as Mulder had put it. And God had smiled on her child. Even in the pain and the suffering and the darkness of that night through which she comforted her tortured partner, Dana Scully felt singularly blessed. Somehow, she knew that everything was going to be all right. And somewhere in the ruins of the warehouse, green acid bubbled and boiled like a witches' brew. Like an omen. Coming In Part 16: Speculation/A Visit To Virginia Mulder/Admissions/A Proposal -- _______________________________________ | | |Deslea R. Judd (drjudd@rainbow.net.au) | |"The Owls Are Not What They Seem" | | - The Log Lady, Twin Peaks) | |_______________________________________|