FROZEN IN TIME

r1-Aqualegia-p3

North Dakota June 27, 2313

Archeology is the proof of History.
Archaeological digs can turn Myth, or Legend, into History.

Robert Gethin looked at the inscription he'd written in the front of his field journal. It seemed so long ago that his professor had greeted the new intake of students with those words. They had fired his imagination, and it had become a habit to copy the two lines into a new notebook at the beginning of each new assignment. Sometimes, like now, when things didn't seem to be going too well, it was only rereading those words that kept him going.

Ever since, he'd first seen the remains of a hypercaust, the Roman central heating system, he had known what he wanted to do with his life... The ancient civilizations had invented so many wonders, which, for reasons he couldn't comprehend, had then been totally ignored by their successors.

He sighed, looked out of the cabin window at the unfamiliar landscape passing beneath them, and wondered, not for the first time, what was so important about this place that they had so precipitously hauled him away from his dig in Colchester. A new town, by Roman standards, built in the reign of Augustus some two-thousand years ago.

Try as he might, he couldn't understand why he was being assigned to the supposed site of a less than four-hundred year old cold war installation in the middle of the North American continent, when his real of expertise was with the ancient civilizations of Europe or Asia. No site he had excavated had been less than fifteen hundred years old.

He hoped that his forthcoming meeting with the expedition's leader, Commander Prescott, would provide an explanation.

As the helicar came into land, he put the notebook back in his pocket, and mentally prepared himself to meet his new colleagues.

When he walked down the ramp, a man who was maybe an inch taller than his own five foot nine, with greying dark hair and blue eyes, smartly dressed in the dark-green uniform of a Ministry of Culture Commander, who introduced himself as Gregory Prescott. He introduced the other members of the welcoming party. Frank Taylor, Gethin's guide to the area and assistant, and the expedition's photographers, Malcolm Bailey and David Leith who had been busy recording his arrival on their cameras.

Gethin in turn introduced Lieutenant Commander Charles Morrison, who had piloted the helicar and would also be joining the expedition.

Leaving Taylor to show Morrison where his quarters were, Prescott took Gethin to his office.

When they were comfortably seated, sipping steaming cups of coffee, he said, "I expect you have been wondering why we shipped you here so hurriedly, so I'll tell you as much as I can.

"In your search for ancient towns and fortifications, you have become an expert in interpreting satellite photographs. It's not a skill that members of the Antiquities Department have had to develop on this continent. Some months ago, a cold war command centre was discovered during the recovery of a helicar which had been forced down and damaged by a sudden storm.

"Much of the installation had been deliberately destroyed. But there were tantalising glimpses of previously unknown artifacts. For some reason the discovery stirred the First Families into searching their own records of the period, to see if that were the only base that existed. There were extensive records of a base in California, which was destroyed during the huge earthquake about seventy years ago, and a mention of a base somewhere in the Dakotas.

The First Families then convened a meeting of the full Consortium, and they directed the Ministry to Culture to find it - the Minister himself handed me the assignment, and here we are...."

He poured himself another coffee, and topped up Gethin's cup before continuing with a wry smile on his lips. "At least one other Ministry has received orders, Air and Space have made a satellite map of the Dakotas for us, and of the area around the other base for comparison."

"Hence the reason my boss, Andrei Kamarov, sent me here."

"Exactly."

-oo00oo-

From: Dr. Robert Gethin
To: General Andrei Kamarov
July 1, 2313

I don't think I truly appreciated the size of the North American continent, until I saw the satellite map of North and South Dakota. I may be an expert in interpreting these things, but I've never had to deal with such a large area in one map before.

Although nature has reclaimed much of this unpopulated land, it's easy to trace the paths of what were once major roads, their shadows cut broad swathes across the images. The long abandoned cities, towns and villages have also left unmistakable marks.

I've studied the photographs of the installation to the South and although there were no direct comparisons to be made it did give me enough pointers, along with my gut instinct, and singled out where the airstrip must have been, and the road to the bunker which disappears into the side of a mountain.

Commander Prescott has arranged to lead a small expedition to investigate the area, consisting of myself, Frank Taylor, the two photographers, and Barry Mitchell one of the engineers on loan to us.

-oo00oo-

From: Dr. Robert Gethin
To: General Andrei Kamarov
July 8, 2313

A landslip has covered the entrance to the bunker, but we have managed to get a drill through some of the scree to get a microcam through, and confirm that there are metal doors behind the screen of rock.

The whole base of operations has moved to the valley floor, near the old airstrip.

After some argument I managed to stop the engineers from blasting the rock clear, we don't want any more of the mountain down here in the valley, and we don't know what damage it might do inside.

RG

-oo00oo-

From: Dr. Robert Gethin
To: General Andrei Kamarov
July 15, 2313

We have the outer doors open.

My warnings about the possibility of foul air rushing out when the doors opened for the first time were ignored; one man died of asphyxiation, and two others were overcome but recovered later. Hopefully they will now listen to me, and learn from my greater experience with enclosed sites.

The main cavern is enormous, and almost empty. There are some vehicles that Taylor tells me are 'forklift trucks' and an automobile from around the year 2000. We have collected the contents of the vehicle for further study.

Because of the way the base was sealed there is very little dust, although there have been some falls from the ceiling, and most of the machinery is in good condition.

The engineering division will be sending a separate report.

We have moved out offices into the main cavern to save time recording our finds.

RG

As he touched the stylus on 'send' his phone chirped, and when he answered it, an excited voice assaulted his eardrums.

"Dr Gethin? Adams here. We've found something you ought to see in area G, level 5. There's the remains of a skeleton, and what looks like two coffins; each has a body in it."

"I'll be there right away. Get in touch with Bailey, I'll want everything photographed before we move anything." He shut off the computer and hurried down the stairway to the fifth level.

Adams was waiting for them when he and Bailey arrived. He led them into a large room where two of Adams's search team were illuminating the area with their powerful 'Daylight' torches, which they were in the process of attaching to tripods. When they were done, Bailey immediately starting taking pictures of the room and its contents, a visual record to be included in their reports.

Then they called in more people to remove the skeleton, and the odd pile of dust resting on a large leather-bound book. Gethin himself took charge of he book and moved across he room to lay it on a table. Gingerly he opened the cover and was relieved to find that it didn't fall apart in his hands. Noting that it seemed to be some kind of journal, he called for someone to bring him a box for it to be safely carried to the surface.

While he was waiting, he went over to the coffins and peered at them closely, noting the wires and the small lights at the foot end of each. He frowned, deep in thought, then opened his phone and pushed the button to connect his with Commander Prescott.

When it was answered, he quickly told Prescott of the find, then asked him to call in some experts on cryogenics. They would need people who had experience with stasis chambers, and medical experts in the same field, as unless he missed his guess, these two men were still capable of being revived.

Prescott said he'd get on it right away, and Gethin stared down at the two handsome young men, lying there so serenely... like two sleeping beauties, awaiting the kiss of life... He smiled wryly at his own whimsicality, and went back to the table where he'd placed the ancient book, wondering if its contents held some clues as to the identities of the two men, and the reasons why they had been placed here. Had someone failed in their duty to come and wake these two? Had the person entrusted with their care died before he could complete his, or her, task?

Madeleine Wright, an expert on book restoration, and her assistant Brian, came into the room. "I understand you have a book for me to restore," she said, coming to a halt in the middle of the room.

Gethin nodded. "Yes, it was found over there, between the two chambers. I'm hoping it may hold the reasons why... but come look for yourself...." He guided her into a position where she could see into the cases.

She gasped with surprise. "My goodness, they're beautiful," she whispered. "Are they alive?"

"That's a difficult question, and the answer's somewhere between yes... and no. I don't know much about cryogenics, but that fact that they look as if they are sleeping, means there is some possibility of reviving them... we've sent for some experts... and maybe the book we have recovered might hold some clues...."

Noises from the corridor shook them out of their rapt contemplation of the two men.

"Er... yes.. the book," she murmured and turned away towards the table. From the bag she had slung over her shoulder she took out a stout plastic box, with some wadding already in it. She carefully packed the book inside it and prepared to leave. As she approached doorway, she was swept aside by an influx of people carrying bags of tools. They started pulling the chambers away from their positions.

"STOP!" Gethin roared, "What the fuck do you think you are doing?"

Everyone froze in their tracks, then retreated as one extremely angry man bore down on them. Only when he was standing between them and the chambers did he stop moving.

Madeleine put the box and her bag down on the table and moved across the room to join Gethin, she was not about to allow anyone to harm those two beautiful men if she could help it.

"Well?" Gethin demanded, when no-one had answered his question.

"We were told to open the coffins and prepare the bodies to be autopsied." A man in dark-blue coveralls truculently answered him.

"On whose orders?"

"Mine." Morrison's voice came from the doorway, where he Taylor were crossing the threshold, both looking very smug.

With a great deal of effort, Gethin held on to his temper. "Number one, these are not, I repeat not, coffins. And the men inside are not laboratory specimens to be dissected. They are human beings, and, unless told otherwise, I assume they have the same rights to life as the rest of the population."

Morrison sneered at him, "I have orders from General Alderton to remove the bodies and have them shipped to the Baltimore labs immediately."

"And my orders come from Minister Lermontov himself," Prescott said, as he too entered the room.

At the mention of the name of one of the most powerful men on earth, Morrison went white and Taylor looked about to faint.

"I informed Minster Lermontov of our find, and he is sending the appropriate experts here to revive the two men. I wish to talk to Dr. Gethin, the rest of you may go."

"Thank you for your support Madeleine," Gethin said, as she picked up her burdens again.

"You're welcome, Dr. Gethin," she replied as she left, leaving them alone in the room.

Gethin went over to the chambers and examined the lights, on each one, they seemed to be the same as when he'd last looked. He gently pushed each one back into their original position, and checked that none of the wires from the power source showed any sign of strain.

Prescott, stared down at the two men. "I wonder who they are.... They must have been very important to someone for them to go to all this trouble."

"The answer may be in the book that I gave to Madeleine to preserve. I've not worked with her before but I know her reputation... she very good."

Prescott nodded absently, then said, "I'll set guards that I know I can trust - I'm a little concerned after that scene with Morrison...." He punched some numbers on his phone and started giving orders for the room's protection.

-oo00oo-

From: Dr. Robert Gethin
To: General Andrei Kamarov
July 16, 2313

I am attaching a full report of our finds yesterday, and an account of some trouble we had.

RG

~~~~~~~~~~

From: General Andrei Kamarov
To: Dr. Robert Gethin
July 16, 2313

Thank you for your report. I shall make some enquiries about the troublemakers.

Kamarov

-oo00oo-

From: Dr. Robert Gethin
To: General Andrei Kamarov
July 18, 2313

The cryogenics experts and medics arrived today. They have set up a hospital and containment area inside the main cavern. The Space life-support expert, Patrick Ignu, has inspected the chambers, and the power supply. He proposes to move them into the secure area tomorrow, once they have tested all their equipment. He is confident that he can revive the two men. They also have two modern cryo-chambers available should they need to be transferred for any reason.

Madeleine Wright has given me a transcript of the book (attached), a personal journal of sorts. It was placed with them to read when they were woken and I have asked that copies of the transcript be made available. I trust this meets with your approval. The men are named in it as Fox and Alex, one of whom also seems to be named Mulder. There also some descriptions of the alien invasion.

RG

-oo00oo-

From: Dr. Robert Gethin
To: General Andrei Kamarov
July 19, 2313

The transfer of the chambers from the 5th level to the main cavern went uneventfully. The engineers had been checking out the elevators, re-cabling the goods lift since we've been here and they have done an excellent job in a remarkably short space of time.

RG

-oo00oo-

From: Dr. Robert Gethin
To: General Andrei Kamarov
July 20, 2313

The chambers have been placed in a very dimly lit, temperature controlled room, so that no tissue damage should occur, particularly to the eyes.

The revival process was started at 7pm, huge tanks of nutrients, which can be refilled from outside the room, have been attached to the appropriate intakes. Sensors have been placed on the outside of the glass chambers, and we have clear pictures of the control panels at the foot of each one.

Now all we can do is wait....

RG

-oo00oo-

From: Dr. Robert Gethin
To: General Andrei Kamarov
July 22, 2313

The chambers unlatched themselves about 3am the morning. The monitors show a slightly increased heartbeat, and some nutrients are entering the bodies. Dr. Ignu seems very pleased with the progress.

RG

-oo00oo-

As the life signs got stronger the nanites recognized their 'wake up' call, using the arteries, veins and capillaries to inspect their hosts, and repairing any damage they discovered. Drawing on the supplied nutrients to aid their activities. The nanites compared the DNA blueprint to the host's condition and renewed teeth, filled cavities, and mended bone where there had been breaks, and because of the blueprint, and because they had no way of knowing any different, they started to re-grow Alex's arm.

-oo00oo-

From: General Andrei Kamarov
To: Dr. Robert Gethin
August 1, 2313

By tracing the references from the journal, we believe we have names for your 'sleepers'. Fox, is definitely Fox William Mulder, born October 13 1961. Alex, is probably Alexander Nicolai Krycek, born November 27, 1968.

Kamarov

-oo00oo-

From: Dr. Robert Gethin
To: General Andrei Kamarov
August 7, 2313

They're awake. Very disorientated, naturally. But both have been checked out by the space-medics, and they are in excellent condition. They have now been moved from the chambers into beds.

We are going to have to break it to them very gently that they have been asleep for over 300 years.

RG

-oo00oo-

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