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Dominion Over My Soul r1-StarWindDancer-p1

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"What do you mean I can't investigate, this is a perfect X-File," Mulder screamed at his impassionate A.D.

"Mulder, as I explained before your skills are needed else where, not investigating a straight forward arson case."

"Straight forward?!? Straight forward?!? There is nothing straight forward about that case. It screams alien involvement. A sperm and ovum bank bursts into flames after strange lights appear in the sky. Two doctors killed in the fire have no records of ever existing, on this planet anyways. Four men who look exactly alike, except for their clothes, were placed at the scene by several eye witnesses and another Samantha clone with them. This IS an X-File."

"Mulder, I don't doubt that it is. However your presence is needed for a high priority case in Los Angles."

"Oh, please," Mulder moaned as he threw his hands up into the air. "That's a jerk off assignment if ever I heard one."

"Mulder!" Scully said, surprised at the agents use of language in front of their A.D.

Skinner, himself, just growled a little at his ranting agent.

"Well, it is, Scully. A straight forward serial stalker case. The case is so straight forward I could write a profile in my sleep. In fact I've already written one. The UNSUB is between 35 and 45, homophobic and probably confused about sexuality in general. Parents probably abused him mentally and physically. Didn't have a very happy childhood and probably ousted in later life too. He probably travels a lot but considers L.A. his home, his stomping ground. That's why the victims are so spread out. The ritualistic way he kills his victims probably stems from long time association with the occult and fantastic. Probably had a near death experience or some other such event in his early childhood. He's also semi-attractive, not overtly beautiful but just enough so to pick up his victims, both male and female. Travels in a small pack with unsuspecting friends or like minded people. One of the killings did seem to be more of a copy cat rather then the original UNSUB. Since no details have been released that follow the UNSUB's routine as close as the copy cat has accomplished, it probably is a second killer out there. Which I don't get because the original killer is too paranoid to really let someone in close enough to watch."

"Don't worry, Mulder. Skinner and I will witness for you." Scully said in jest, trying to lighten the mood.

"Are you trying to imply that I could be the killer?" Mulder said as he turned steamy eyes on his diminutive partner.

"Well, you did mention a lot of things that you fit into. I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it."

Mulder just glared at Scully for a few minutes before turning back to Skinner. "I do not need to go to L.A. This case is non-essential."

"People are getting killed, Agent Mulder, that does not make a case non-essential. Your chasing aliens while a killer on the loose is non-essential. You will go to L.A., report to the agent in charge, and you will do what he says. Do I make myself understood, Agent Mulder," Skinner said, rising from his desk to tower over the other man.

"Crystal, sir."

"Under no circumstances are you to go any where near Springfeild and the ovum bank. You will board your 3:15 flight to L.A. today, correct."

"Yes, sir."

"Don't worry, sir. I'll make sure he gets there and assists the investigating team any way we can."

"Actually, Scully, you will not be joining him in L.A."

"What!?" Mulder screamed, turning back on his A.D. once more. "Scully's my partner, of course she'll be joining."

"Agent Scully's presence has been requested at a pathology seminar at Quantico. The guest lecturer, a Dr. Alfred Sayure, has turned up missing. He was scheduled to give a lecture on cult and ritualistic killings in light of the new Millenium. Agent Scully is to be the substitute guest lecturer, in light of her knowledge and expertise in investigating paranormal cases."

"And when were you planning to spring this little surprise on me, before or after I boarded the plane."

"Agent Mulder, if you had bothered to read the files I sent down, you would have noticed only one air line ticket and, I suspect, the out line of the seminar for Miss Scully."

"I didn't bother to read the files because I thought you would realize that the whole case is a bunch of bull crap," Mulder said through the grinding of his teeth.

"Agent Mulder, do I have to remind you whose office this is. I will not have that kind of language spoken to me."

"I'm surprised, since you like to bend over and take it up the tail pipe."

"Agent Mulder," Skinner yelled at the same time Scully said, "Mulder."

Being chastised on both fronts for his language, Mulder backed off from his imposing stance on his A.D. "You and I both know, Skinner, this case is to keep me busy while they clean up the evidence at Springfeild. Dr. Alfred Sayure's disappearance is no coincidence. Without Scully by my side, no one will believe my profiles nor will the forensic teams be able to get me the information I need to do what I need to do. Agent Scully and I are a team, sir, and without her it'll take twice as long to do the same job."

"I understand that, Agent Mulder," Skinner said, his voice still on the edge of yelling at the belligerent agent. "However, Scully needs to go to Quantico for the seminar and you need to go to Los Angles to catch a killer."

"Sir, I could stay here investigating Springfeild while Scully gives her lecture at Quantico then we both could go to L.A. to solve the case. That is a viable alternative," Mulder said, putting on his "it's for the best and it's reasonable" face with a little chastised "puppy dog eyes." He secretly crossed his fingers, hoping to be able to investigate clinic case.

"Why must you try my patience, Agent Mulder. Your presence has been requested immediately, immediately," Skinner repeated, trying to emphasize his point, "in L.A. to help with their case. Not to investigate some other case then, at your leisure, profile the UNSUB. You will be at JFK airport, ready and willing, at 3:15 even if I have to drag your bony ass there

personally."

Mulder glared at Skinner before leaning in close to him to whisper, "Dance, puppet, dance," then abruptly left the office without being dismissed.

"I'm sorry, sir, I don't know what's gotten into him," Scully said as she watched Skinner take off his eye glasses to rub the bridge of his nose.

"No, it's all right, Scully. I can understand how he could feel, having an interesting case under his nose then being pulled all the way across the country to investigate another one, only then to find out that his partner

isn't going with him."

"I know, but it still doesn't excuse his behavior. In fact, the past couple of months he's become down right...bitchy?"

Skinner tried not to smile but the odd language coming out of his upright agent and friend, the language so unlike her, but she succeeded to crack his stone faced facade for a moment. "You know, that is the exact word I would have used myself."

"Really, sir? I never would have guessed that of you."

"Cut the sarcasm, Scully. We both know I've used stronger language then that concerning Agent Mulder's behavior."

"You know, you used to call me Dana. Things can't have changed so much between us that you can't call me Dana in private anymore, has it, Walter?"

"This is neither the time nor the place, Scully."

"No, this is the perfect time and the perfect place. Stop pushing me away."

"I'm not pushing you away," Skinner said. "It's just..."

"It's just what? You haven't given me a straight answer in months. What's wrong with you. We used to be so close."

"I'm sorry, Scully..."

"No, I don't want sorry. I want answers, I deserve closure. How about you meet me tonight at our cafe, at the same time we usually meet, me at six, you at seven or eight. What do you say?"

"I'm sorry, Scully, I won't be able to make it," Skinner said, opening up one of the many file folders on his desk, a silent message that the conversation was over.

"That's not good enough," Scully said, putting a hand over Skinner's, making him look up from his reports. She looked him straight in the eye as she slowly said, "Walter, we need to talk."

Skinner slid his hand out from under hers then leaned back in his chair. He regarded her for a moment before nodding and saying he would meet her at their cafe.

Scully smiled one last time before leaving his office on a straight course for the basement.

**********

"They should not have been able to get a copy of that file," a husky voice said from the shadows of Skinner's office. The dark shadows parted, revealing a handsome man dressed in an impeccably tailored suit. He would easily go unnoticed in the halls of the FBI if it were not for the scent of stale cigarette smoke and two kidskin black leather gloves. One arm hung bent at his side, almost like it was forgotten in his smooth movements. In his other hand, though, was a small silverish box which the man's thumb

hovered over.

"What do you want, Krycek."

"I want to know how our charming Agent Mulder got a hold of that file when I asked specifically that it be kept from his reach."

"I don't know. Only the reporting officer, myself, and my secretary knew of that file."

"The officer has been taken care of so that leaves only you and your secretary as a security risk."

"If you lay one hand on..."

"Ah, ah, ah," Krycek said, moving his thumb closer to the touch pad of the hand held computer.

Skinner froze where he stood. He tried to stare down his captor but the worm kept on moving as he talked.

"I told you under no circumstances was Agent Mulder to know of or investigate the Springfeild investigation and yet, despite my reasonable request, Mulder has found out anyway. Your secretary Kim, therefore, is a security risk that must be eliminated."

"What if the leak is not at my end but at yours. Somebody had to have tipped off the aliens of the meeting between your men and the rebel cell working in D.C. Kim doesn't know about that, how could she?"

"That," Krycek growled, "that was an oversight that has been taken care of."

"How can you be assure that it won't happen again? The rebels are getting antsy, they don't like working through a middle man."

"I don't care. I will not risk the entire population of the human rebellion. You will proceed as planned to meet the Rebel counsel to start negotiations and collaborate our efforts."

"You and I both know they'll want to meet up with the head of the human resistance, not work through someone like me, someone who doesn't believe in the same work and is being black mailed into the whole war."

Krycek's thumb descended on the device, sending a jolt of power through Skinner, bringing the man to his knees. "You will obey. You will not question me, you will not ignore my orders. Your life is in my hands, Skinner, do not play with me or else I will play with you." Krycek left the A.D. hovering at the edge of pain for a minute more before lifting his thumb off the control pad. Skinner slumped against his desk in relief.

"Now, what happens this weekend?" Krycek prompted.

"I'll meet with the head Rebel counsel," Skinner puffed out.

"And then what?"

"I offer the counsel the use what ever the human resistance has manufactured."

"Such as?"

"A sample of my blood with the nanocite technology, a sample of the oilien vaccine, and schematics for the prototype space craft which will be manufactured by the humans if the rebels comply with the resistance demands."

"Which are?"

"What ever you think up, you bastard," Skinner said before he collapsed once more from the pain as Krycek's thumb slid over the controls of the palm pilot.

Krycek stood there silently, watching Skinner writhe in pain for a while before sliding his thumb once more over the pad. Skinner fell in a heap on the floor immediately. Satisfied that the A.D. had been properly chastised, Krycek left his office using the seldom used side door.

**********

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Mulder. I mean, really. Is that you or were you taken over by menstraighting demons and forget to tell me."

"Is that some sort of clue saying that I should be grateful that we'll be

out of each other's hair for a while?"

"Mulder," Scully said, ignoring his remark, "Would you mind telling me what all that was about? Jeeze Louise, I've never heard you talk like that to Skinner before."

"And he deserved every word of it."

"What do you mean? He's our A.D., our superior. You know you could have been fired for a stunt like that that you pulled back there."

"He's not going to fire me, he won't. All that was about was me telling him, in not so many words, that I don't trust him and that I know he's working for the other side again."

"What are you talking about?"

"Skinner's letting himself be black mailed."

"What?!"

"Skinner's letting himself be black mailed by this man," Mulder threw down a surveillance photo from a few months back. On it could be seen a grimy, long haired man, almost like a Vietnam vet or a hippie in appearance.

"Letting, Mulder, really. Nobody wants to be blackmailed."

"Yes, but Skinner isn't fighting him, he's just letting the perp walk all over him."

"And what is Skinner supposed to do, let the man destroy his career or whatever. Maybe it's a lot more serious then what you know."

"I know exactly what this man is doing to Skinner," Mulder said, tapping the photo on his desk. "Remember those nano techno thingies Skinner got infected with a few months back? This man has his finger on the trigger."

"You mean Skinner's life is being threatened?"

"No, Skinner's life is being ruled over by Long Haired Jack and Skinner's letting him. For the past couple of months, Skinner's done this man's dirty work, who, in turn is doing another person's dirty work. A Cretan someone I'd like to put a bullet through."

Scully picked up the familiar picture, looking at it closely. "Who is he

working for?"

"The cigarette smoking man. This guy works for the bastard and now Skinner's

working for him."

"How can you be sure?"

"Oh, please, where were you this past half hour? Skinner won't let me poke my nose even a little into the Hometown case."

"Mulder, it's understandable, you do need to go to L.A. to profile the killer."

"And you're staying behind? Just a little too convenient for my tastes. Without you there by my side it will take forever to catch this killer. The only headway I'll make in the case will be when you join me in L.A. after the lecture."

Scully smirked at her partner. "You seem pretty confident of my skills."

"Believe me, Scully, you are one in a million, one in a billion."

"Mulder, don't change the subject. What makes you say that Skinner's working for the other side. So far you've only stated evidence that doesn't directly involve him. If he didn't want you involved at all how'd you get the Springfeild case to begin with."

"Umm, I didn't, the gunmen did," Mulder said sheepishly.

"Mulder, what did they do?"

"Nothing illegal, really. They just have eyes and ears out for any interesting and unusual cases. They heard through a police scanner about the case, then they tracked down all the copies they could on the case. There's reports that the FBI, an Agent Wilson, was on scene. I've been trying to get a hold of him, see what he's found out, but I guess that's useless now that I'm going to L.A."

"You can still investigate when you get back. There's no telling if what the police find is accurate. If what you suspect is true, this will go down as an unsolved case."

"And it will continue to be an unsolved case by the time I get back. Crucial witnesses will disappear or change their story, records will be forged for the doctors, evidence will be misplaced or disappear, and bodies will be destroyed, taking with them every answer they could give us. They," Mulder emphasized the word by waving a nebulous hand in the air, "only need me out of their hair for a while as they clean the mess up."

"Still, it can't be helped, you do need to catch that killer before he kills again."

"You haven't seen the file, have you." Mulder said, shaking his head before reaching through the mess on his desk to pick up the file. "The UNSUB hasn't changed his MO in years. They've been trying to catch him for a long time but this guy is good, very paranoid. It's out of the blue and very sudden that I'm being called on the case, in fact I nor any other profilers wouldn't be called in to assist if it were not for the fact that the UNSUB seems to have killed a prominent politician and former movie star's kid. That killing I think was staged. Probably the copy cat. This is a classic 'bring him in at the last minute before he does something stupid case' they used to pull on me while I was in VC."

"You think very highly of their capabilities, Mulder."

"Oh, believe me, I do not want to underestimate them again. There's more at stake here then just me trying to find Samantha."

"You know, Mulder, I've always wondered what you'd do if you ever found her. Would you give up alien chasing?"

"Not bloody likely. Somebody needs to chase the aliens for the FBI. Otherwise there'll be just a lot of unsolved cases and some really confused people out there."

"As if there aren't enough already?"

"Well, we do solve a lot of them," Mulder said as he checked his watch. He tossed a pile of folders into his bag then grabbed his coat. "And I better go and pack for one of them. My flight leaves in two hours. See you later Scully."

"Good luck, Mulder," Scully yelled after him but Mulder was already gone.

**********

Krycek sat silently across from Spender Sr. and his alien lackey, the Bounty Hunter. Nicotine stained fingers rose to withered lips so Spender could feed his constant addiction as he fed the other one, the addiction to power.

"I understand every thing went according to your plan."

"Yes, by denying Agent Mulder the chance to investigate the Springfeild case, we've assured his co-operation. Agent Mulder will fore go his trip to Los Angles and proceed to Springfeild. There he will pick up on the clues the Rebel cell left. Unknowingly, Agent Mulder will track down the leaders for us, bringing them out into the open for extermination."

Spender dipped his head in the direction of the Bounty Hunter, who proceeded off to tail Agent Mulder as he investigated.

Once Spender was alone with Krycek he said, "I trust our other plans are going along as scheduled?"

"Yes, Skinner will meet with the head council of the alien rebels and give them a sample of the vaccine. It will be just enough to test that it works but not enough for them to be able to duplicate. Once they are confident that it works, the false vaccine will be introduced. The human hosts will be abandoned and soon the entire rebellion will be infected."

"How can you be so sure of their capabilities? The alien rebels have proven to be capable of outsmarting you."

"The rebels have degrated themselves to levels of human capabilities. Even with the technology that we have given you, they wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the vaccine and the virus accelerate. Your feeble technology," Krycek sneered in contempt, "is no match for the technology that await you, if you are successful. Maybe then you would be able to keep up the entity of your half of the bargain and produce a human/alien hybrid."

"It will not be long now, we still have Dr. Openshaw's notes and when the rebels eliminated the original hybrid and the rest of the consortium, they opened many doors for myself. The hybrid will be produced, as according to your plans and the steps to produce more hybrids will be taken."

"As long as the hybrid can be produced quickly." Krycek raised his arms and ran an appreciative hand over one of them. "This human's physique is magnificent. With the changes already made in his makeup, he has become a very useful tool. After the rebels have been eliminated, I'd like this body to undergo the hybridization process. He may become my permanent host."

"I do not think that is advised. This host serves us now, however it will not be as co-operative in the future. He has a knack of sticking his nose where it doesn't belong as well as getting out of that predicament. He is, after all, the one who provided us with the vaccine to begin with."

"And it is that exact capability that makes him valuable to us now. With the vaccine we have been able to synthesize a better medium in which to infect hosts with. He is an extremely useful tool, just like Agent Mulder."

"Ahh," Spender said as he tapped his cigarette, sending ashes to float down to the floor, "but unlike Mulder, this host is not as easily controlled. I fear he may slip through your grasp."

"There is always a way to control something, remember that," Krycek's voice said with a sharp tone to it. Spender sat there silently, looking at his companion who rose and left the room. Two men walked in just after Krycek's departure.

"Follow him, when he's out of the building, eliminate him. Remember the body must be totally incinerated."

The two thugs nodded then followed Krycek.

**********

Kim hummed as she stepped down the stairs to the second floor. She could have used the elevator but usually she used the stairs. Since her new routine she'd lost 10 pounds and did not want to put them back on. Her and her boyfriend, Jason, had really been getting serious of late. In fact she hoped that at any time he would pop the big question. Already she knew the exact wedding dress she would use.

She was so lost in her musings that she didn't hear anything until she bumped into a man on the steps.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I wasn't paying attention."

"No, really, it is I who must apologize for being in your way."

"No, no, I'm at fault. I wasn't watching where I was going." Kim shuffled one of the files to her left hand and reached her right out to shake the strangers hand. "I should probably introduce myself, I'm Kim Smithers and you?"

"You're Skinner's secretary, right?"

"Yeah, I work for old stony himself," Kim said, tucking a hair behind her ear, trying to make her movements less awkward since he didn't take her hand.

"It's quite quiet here, not a lot of people around," the man observed. He looked around Kim upstairs and down stairs to see no one around them.

"Yeah, most people use the elevators now a days. I guess I'm an old fashioned kind of gal since I still use the stairs."

"So we're alone here," the stranger said in a menacing tone. He turned dark eyes on Kim.

Kim saw the hungry look in his eyes a split second before she threw the contents of the folders at him. She quickly turned around to head upstairs away from the stranger. The stranger was too quick for her, grabbing her by the ankle and dragging her down.

Kim kicked furiously at the stranger. She tried aiming the heel of her shoe at his eye, but he easily evaded. Soon the stranger had her pinned underneath him, his strong hands around her throat.

Kim clawed at his face, fighting for her life as those fingers tightened their hold. A voice kept screaming in her mind before she recognized it as her woman's defense coach. She was screaming, "Go for his balls, kick him in the nuts," which Kim did. She kneed him as hard as she could but to no effect.

Panic started to settle in but still she fought. She looked straight into her captors eyes, green eyes that seemed a little too smoky as she fought. Her right hand scratched at the warm leather encircling her throat, trying to free her air pipe.

It seemed like an eternity later when she heard the loud boom of a gun being fired. She felt the warm spray of blood that hit her as the bullet ripped through the stranger. However this wasn't enough to dislodge him. It took several more booms and bullets before the stranger was loosening his hold on her neck. The stranger let go of her then ran down the stairs at lightning speed as two men with guns raced after him. She only had a moment to notice the guns didn't look like standard issue before they were gone.

In seconds the entire stairwell was filled people, some agents with their guns drawn. The area became a mass of confusion until she heard a loud, strong voice.

"Sir, *cough* *cough* he went that way," Kim wheezed, trying to give the agents a chance at catching the stranger.

"Don't try to talk. We'll lock down the building." Skinner's strong hands lifted her up, trying to make her comfortable. "You," Skinner pointed to the closest agent, "call the paramedics. And you, get Ms. Smithers something to drink."

"No, sir, I'm *cough* all right. *wheeze* You don't need to go *cough* *cough* to all this trouble."

"Can you breathe all right?"

"I'm *wheeze* fine. Just a little shaken though," Kim puffed.

"You are not fine," Skinner said as he helped Kim to her feet. He looked at the avid bruises on her neck before saying, "You're going to the hospital to let the doctors check you out. I don't want to see you here again until they give you a clean bill of health, do you understand?"

At facing an adamant A.D., Kim agreed before she was ushered out by one of the other secretaries.

Skinner stayed behind, coordinating his agents, knowing it would be useless. The bastard that had attacked Kim would be long gone. He knew it was only a matter of time before he tried again. In the mean time he had to make sure Krycek or any of his goons got anywhere near his secretary, her life depended on it.

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Fan4richie's turn, hope I have it set up right for you. And I apologize for the spelling mistakes, I'm using a friends computer and she doesn't have spell check (how stupid is that?)