twoof7swords: I heard you're selling. I'm here to buy.
The Deal
by Satina and Shannon
Date First Posted: Fall, 2005Rating: NC-17 * Pairing: M/K
Archive Permissions: Freely given, but please use HTML format to preserve the IM quality.
Disclaimers: Mulder and Krycek are not my characters. They belong to Fox and Chris Carter.
Warnings: None.
Summary:
This takes place after Existence. Mulder is hiding in the desert and believes Krycek is dead. Krycek is alive and has been referred to a new, incredible source of information about the supersoldiers. It's Mulder, but Krycek doesn't know that. So Mulder doesn't know he's talking to Krycek, and Krycek doesn't know he's talking to Mulder as our story begins.
Feedback Welcomed HERE.
Return to The M/K Shrine
anasaziX555: Give me your opening offer, then.twoof7swords: I was told you'd name a price.
anasaziX555: Do you have the data on A.D. Kersch I'm looking for?
twoof7swords: Yes.
anasaziX555: So send it.
twoof7swords: Not until you answer a question for me.
anasaziX555: Try me.
twoof7swords: Red Sox or Padres?
anasaziX555: Sox.
twoof7swords: Good answer. Looks like we have a deal. Info on its way...
anasaziX555: Received. Reviewing...
twoof7swords: Do you have the location I need?
anasaziX555: I might. This is acceptable data.
twoof7swords: Glad you think so. And what do you mean, you might?
twoof7swords: That was the deal. Kersch for the location of the target.
anasaziX555: This is more than I requested. I have doubts about its legitimacy.twoof7swords: Since when did doing exemplary work become a detriment? Look, it was all on the same disk. If you're going to get squirrelly, I can take the goods to someone else next time.
anasaziX555: Corner of Upton and Miller, apt. 57
anasaziX555: And what I have, you can't get anywhere else.
twoof7swords: So I hear. But I've dealt with enough paranoid primadonnas to know when it's not worth it. We're cool, though. How soon will the location be secure?
anasaziX555: in 48 hours, for one day only
anasaziX555: You better get it while it's hot.twoof7swords: Don't worry. I will.
anasaziX555: The other half of the deal is you share the results of the testing.
anasaziX555: And if you do, I'll have more.
twoof7swords: May take some time. You got a couple weeks to invest in this gig, 555?
anasaziX555: Move as fast as you can on this. You'll see why once you do the tests. Then believe me, you'll be back for more.
twoof7swords: You always on this sn?
anasaziX555: Yes. This account's always on and open.
twoof7swords: My contact said you were knowledgeable and discreet. I hope that's true. I don't like being fucked over.
anasaziX555: Guess you'll see when you do the tests. And if you try to trace me, you'll get a viral infection so bad it'll dissolve your whole city's hard drive.
twoof7swords: Already tried. Good thing I've got security of my own. Nice system, though. My hat's off.
anasaziX555: See you in two weeks.
twoof7swords: Less. I always cushion my time for the client.
anasaziX555: Yeah, well, less talk, more action.
twoof7swords: Keep your pants on. I'll be back before you can say, "The Padres suck."
anasaziX555: If you walk as good as you talk, this could be a beautiful thing. If not, you'll be hunted down and killed. Bye.
anasaziX555: ***This user is idle.***
A few days later...
twoof7swords: Chocolate or raspberry?
anasaziX555: Depends.twoof7swords: On what?
anasaziX555: On whether we're talking about BnJ or HD.
anasaziX555: Now where the fuck's my research data?
twoof7swords: Bullets. Two from a sawed-off shotgun work pretty well, but I've found an automatic is really the way to go. Knives are tricky but effective if you don't get your ass kicked in the process.
anasaziX555: It takes that much?
anasaziX555: Knives. That's practically useless.
anasaziX555: What's the scope of the damage with pellets from a sawed-off shotgun?
twoof7swords: Extensive. It'll work. But that's not the really good news.
anasaziX555: I'm waiting...
twoof7swords: Stiletto to the back of the neck causes instant meltdown. It's their Achilles heel. It's something I've seen before.
anasaziX555: Hence the ridge. Do we know what's located there, exactly?
twoof7swords: Like our spinal cord, they seem to have a network of wires embedded in the tissue. I've had it analyzed to be sure, but it almost seems both metallic and organic.
twoof7swords: I'm working on a kind of magnetite pesticide as well as a way to administer it as a liquid of some kind.
anasaziX555: Administer how? Do they consume fuel?
anasaziX555: Does it work on contact when in colloidal form?anasaziX555: Or did you not do that test?
twoof7swords: Still working on that aspect. Should know more in a few days. How much of a rush do you want put on the colloidal remedy specifically?anasaziX555: I would think that if it works at all, it's a damned easy weapon, and anyone at all, even a child, could carry it.
anasaziX555: Squirt guns.
anasaziX555: Whodathunk?
twoof7swords: Yeah, well, that's what I have for now. You have a new target for me?
anasaziX555: I have a theory that they all receive input from a centralized source. If you could compromise that, you could control or at least sabotage them all at once.twoof7swords: You're a theorist then? Don't see a lot of action?
anasaziX555: I'm the brain of this operation. You're the brawn.
twoof7swords: Fuck you. You have pieces of information, I'm the one who's doing something about it. I'm sorry if I insulted your sensibilities. I just wanted to know if you're a desk jockey or if you have any experience at all putting your life on the line for this shit.
anasaziX555: My ass is so far out on the line that the only way I can even communicate with other living beings, not counting the fucking scorpions, is through this machine. That experienced enough for ya?
twoof7swords: Just checking. I had a feeling about you. I've found that sometimes the only way to get an honest answer out of a man is to insult him in some way. I'm convinced you're on the level. You wouldn't know about these things if you were some executive assistant in Pittsburg.
twoof7swords: So do I get my location now or are there hoops you'd like me to jump through first?
anasaziX555: I'd like a prototype of the shotgun shells. To keep on hand. I'm not so far up the world's ass that I'm immune to the supersoldiers. I could use a little hard protection.
anasaziX555: I'm a favorite flavor of theirs.
anasaziX555: Can't imagine why.
twoof7swords: I know the feeling. All right. Where do I take them?
anasaziX555: I have a drop point. Leave them at 6789 Lake St. box #42 in the city.twoof7swords: 42? What time? I don't want company. I get a whiff of a scent that goes beyond rat shit and I'm gone.
anasaziX555: That your unlucky number or something?
twoof7swords: You could say that.
anasaziX555: The courier won't pick up until 48 hours.
twoof7swords: And you'll be here? 24/7?
anasaziX555: Yeah. My life's just that much fun.
twoof7swords: I hope you have a few good forged cards so you can at least buy yourself some good 'Net porn.
anasaziX555: That's one resource I made sure I was stocked up on.
anasaziX555: Same pals who do my security.
twoof7swords: I'll be back here in 48 hours to get my target. Don't hurt yourself pointing and clicking now.
anasaziX555: It's the other hand that's sore. See you in 48.
anasaziX555: ***This user is idle.***
About a week later...
twoof7swords: Did you get them?
anasaziX555: Yes. I gotta say, it was more than I expected. It's great not to have my ass hanging out in the breeze anymore.twoof7swords: Like that, did ya?
anasaziX555: I have a chance against them if they show up now. And I think we have a pretty good chance of making a real difference.
twoof7swords: Happy to hear it. What are my new marks?
anasaziX555: 8353 N. Abraham, Jesse Carmichael. Please confirm before shooting him. And 352 Salmon Lane, Amy Dreisdale. Again, get confirmation first.
twoof7swords: Confirmation? You mean you're not SURE? I'm not going in there and firing on some poor schmuck, are you kidding me? Where do you get your information? How the fuck DO you know who they are and where?? Yes, you were right about the last one, and yes, I don't shoot without a positive tag first, but Jesus. This isn't a game. If you're over there reading the Tarot or rolling the dice, I wanna know it.
anasaziX555: What does it matter how I get it if it's legit?
twoof7swords: It was legit once. If I were gonna do a set up, I'd give legit info the first time, too.
anasaziX555: Nice to know.
twoof7swords: Oh come on, give me a break. I've been cool with you twice now and all you've given me is a name and an address and I'm supposed to go on faith.
anasaziX555: It's not a set up. I don't want innocent people harmed. I just wanna take down the supersoldiers and the colonists.
anasaziX555: And why would I give you all this information, just to then set you up? Right now, you're the only one I'm dealing with on this.
anasaziX555: I need a good ally as badly as you do.
twoof7swords: I just have no idea how you're getting this intel. I've checked you out and you must have some real security because all I know is you're hanging out in the Southwest somewhere and seem to magically know who's a replicant and who's not. Look, I get it. I understand. Can't you just tell me anything about your source? What would such a divulgence be worth to you?
anasaziX555: Jesus, next you're gonna tell me you wanna believe. I have a source. So far I trust it. I don't really think you want to know any more.
anasaziX555: And if you've traced me that far, I have a hell of a lot more to fear from you than you do from me.
twoof7swords: You'd be wrong. I want to know absolutely fucking everything. You'll get that about me eventually. All right, I won't shoot 'till I see the whites of their eyes, so to speak. If this one goes smooth, no more shit.
twoof7swords: You said yourself you're in the desert. It doesn't take a genius to figure out the general region if your sn is Anasazi.
anasaziX555: I guess I'm not as good at this as I thought. Or I'm in the Sahara and just fuckin' with your head.
anasaziX555: Or hell, Alaska.
twoof7swords: Don't worry. The entire American southwest is a pretty big safehouse. If that is, indeed, where you are.
twoof7swords: If I can't trace you, you can't be traced, brother.
anasaziX555: Stop trying to find me. If you even get close and someone gets a hold of what you have, I could be found and then your fun would be over.
anasaziX555: I can't stress to you how high this goes. How deeply I am into it. How much THEY want me dead. More than I even suspected.
twoof7swords: All right. I think I understand. You don't have anything to worry about where I'm concerned. I'm not looking for you, so just relax. I know hiding can be hard. Damned hard. I'm not going to bring anybody (or thing) down on you. I promise.
anasaziX555: Thank you. You're the only one I'm trusting with this stuff.
twoof7swords: And I have no other source barring the contact that put me in touch with you. I'm invested in keeping you alive. You ever used an automatic weapon before?
anasaziX555: Yeah, not exactly my weapon of choice, but handy when you're facing indestructible humanoid machines.
twoof7swords: Yeah, it lacks any kind of dignity whatsoever, but it does the trick. So you can handle yourself?
anasaziX555: And if I can't?
anasaziX555: Yeah, I can handle an automatic weapon. But not everyone can. In fact, few really have any idea what to do with one. Which is why I think we should concentrate on the colloidal solution research.
twoof7swords: You mean...the squirt guns??
anasaziX555: Yes. Just think of it. A weapon that is absolutely harmless except to the supersoldiers. It's perfect!
anasaziX555: Even children and the elderly could be armed.
anasaziX555: Without any risk to anything living!
twoof7swords: It's not perfect. I don't think it's going to be effective enough. And that's assuming we find a verifiable method of liquifying the magnetite. Look, I know what I said before, but if I'm going up against one of these things, I'm gonna want firepower. We should concentrate our efforts there.
anasaziX555: That's fine for you. You're obviously used to packing heat. What about your grandmother?
twoof7swords: She's been in the ground for years.
anasaziX555: All right, your mother then. Your aunt Bee. Your little nephew, Herbert.
twoof7swords: People are going to have to get their heads out of the sand and learn to defend themselves. I won't leave this country's fate to a little water in a plastic toy.
anasaziX555: Again, it's perfect, don't you see? Cheap to produce, no training necessary, and they don't even have to look like weapons...every single person above the age of three can be armed against the supersoldiers!
anasaziX555: Super Soldier Super Soakers!
anasaziX555: Hello?
anasaziX555: Are you there?
twoof7swords: Yeah. I'm here. You just...reminded me of something. Someone, actually. Again, you're talking about putting our lives in the hands of Mattel. I can't condone that kind of risk-taking. Not when the odds are stacked against us already.
anasaziX555: Listen, I'm not asking you to sell your stock in Magnum and buy up ToysRUs...yet. I'm just saying put some serious focus on determining the effectiveness of various solution intensities. I could be wrong. It's been known to happen once or twice.
anasaziX555: I'd do it myself but I don't have the capabilities. I need you on this.
twoof7swords: I'm not ruling out the soluable properties of the magnetite. I'll...give it some thought. Jesus, you're like a rug salesman. Were you a rug salesman? It'd explain your capability with automatic weapons.
anasaziX555:
Close. twoof7swords: You haven't been wrong yet, 555. I'll keep that in mind.
anasaziX555: My boss probably did own a toupee...
anasaziX555: Thank you. I'm a good bet. If you do this for me, I'll come through for you, I promise.
twoof7swords: I need to get going on this info you gave me. I'll know something about the solution tomorrow. Lemme guess. You'll be here.
anasaziX555: :-\
anasaziX555: That means yes.
twoof7swords: Must be hard. When all this is done, I'll take you out for a beer.
anasaziX555: God, it's a deal. I can't even get anything but Coors and Miller out here.
twoof7swords: Hell.
anasaziX555: I don't actually drink much. Can't afford to relax.
twoof7swords: Take it easy... We'll win, you know. Talk to you soon.
anasaziX555: See ya.
anasaziX555: ***This user is idle.***
A couple of weeks after that...
twoof7swords: It's soluable. Haven't tried your super soaker idea, but it's theoretically possible it seems.
anasaziX555: Far out. :-DanasaziX555: Do we know at what concentration it becomes lethal to them?
twoof7swords: Trials suggest it's somewhere between 200 and 500 mililiters. But I'm not sure if that changes once it's become solution. Might up the ante. Couple more days and I'll know more.
twoof7swords: I'm sorry it took me so long to get back. I was hoping to be on-line with this by morning, but I worked on the solution through mid-day. I knew you'd be waiting.
anasaziX555: So you're talking about pure liquid magnetite, then? We don't know what happens when we dilute it? Hey, don't sweat it. I found a great site of Disney porn.
twoof7swords: Yes, pure magnetite. I know it doesn't seem like much to give you, but trust me, working with this stuff, especially in secret, isn't as easy as it looks. I haven't slept in about 38 hours.
twoof7swords: Did you say Disney porn? Do I even want to ask?
anasaziX555: Sorry. I forget maybe other people have lives and are used to that whole sleeping thing. Yeah, Ariel does some wicked stuff with a squid.
twoof7swords: I don't have a life where I sleep much. But 38 is pushing it even for me. I think my record is 56, but I don't think that counts as I was hopped up on crystal. I stay away from that shit now. I have to rely solely on Hills Brothers.
anasaziX555: Glad to hear it. I need you clear. The world does.
twoof7swords: Ariel and squid the best you can do over there? If you need some better sites, that could be my payment for your next drop of intel. Seriously, you need to wean off the toons.
anasaziX555: Hey, don't knock it till you've tried it.
twoof7swords: World, you, whatever. It's semantics. I understand either way. And I can appreciate that. I don't like myself on that junk either. It's been a while since I walked that road. And at the time, I needed it just to survive.
twoof7swords: And I've tried some kinkier shit than that, 555. Just don't want you to burn your corneas on all the acid-trip graphics.
anasaziX555: Kinkier shit, eh? Do tell. Hey, I get bored out here.
twoof7swords: You name it. Farm animals, enemas, amputees... If it's out there, I've probably seen it. I don't know if I'm desensitized or just sick sometimes.
anasaziX555: Seen it...or done it?
anasaziX555: Farm...animals...???
twoof7swords: Seen most. Done some.
anasaziX555: Again...farm...animals?????
twoof7swords: LOL! A man has to have some secrets, right? Even from the one person he's telling his secrets to.
anasaziX555: Surely I'm not YOUR only source and contact.
anasaziX555: And by the way, if you think enemas and amputees are kinky, you have NOT seen it all, friend.
twoof7swords: Let's just say I'm very careful about who I talk to these days. I don't come out to play often.
twoof7swords: Not kinky, huh? Would those be just run of the mill for you there, 555?
anasaziX555: ::shrug::
twoof7swords: How long have you been hiding?
anasaziX555: ::yawn::
twoof7swords: LOL!
anasaziX555: :-/
anasaziX555: Too damn long. But not long enough yet.
twoof7swords: Have you always been out there alone?
anasaziX555: You mean where I am now?
twoof7swords: Or anywhere you've been hiding. Is it just you?
anasaziX555: Yeah, I'm alone. I have to be. There are people I care about that I'm trying to keep alive.
twoof7swords: Do you have any contact with them?
anasaziX555: I'd rather not say, if you don't mind.
twoof7swords: I'm not trying to get information on you. I shouldn't have asked. I just...didn't know if I was the only person you've had any interaction with lately. I can try to be more entertaining if that's the case.
anasaziX555: You're pretty much my social life, yeah.
twoof7swords: Well, it's been a while since I've eaten. You wanna have dinner with me?
anasaziX555: Heh. Sure.
twoof7swords: All I've got are frozen hamburger patties and coconut cream pie.
anasaziX555: I'd fuck nine Samurais for a pizza.
twoof7swords: Yeah, but would you GET fucked by nine Samurais for a pizza?
anasaziX555: LOL. Yes. If it was pepperoni and came with a couple of Coronas.
twoof7swords: How are you getting food? Or should I not ask even that?
anasaziX555: Yeah, you can ask that. I get boxes delivered monthly. Same courier that's picking up your shipments for me.
twoof7swords: Busy guy. You ever just fuck *him* to be able to get laid?
twoof7swords: I bet you never actually see him, though, do you?
anasaziX555: No, or his ass'd be mine.
anasaziX555: ;-)
twoof7swords: I understand. I really do.
anasaziX555: I'm kidding.
twoof7swords: I'm not.
anasaziX555: I'll warn your postal carrier now.
twoof7swords: Don't worry. I can control myself pretty well.
twoof7swords: Doesn't your guy ever bring you frozen pizza at least?
anasaziX555: :-/ He has to travel several hours just to drop the stuff. Canned or dry. Those are my culinary options. I'm learning to make my own. What is this world coming to?
twoof7swords: Try this: canned salmon, capers, and artichoke hearts. Gourmet. It's not Little Caesar's, but it'll do in a pinch.
anasaziX555: Damn. Sounds good, two. I'll have to put that on my next order.
anasaziX555: Interesting screenname, by the way. And you mentioned the Tarot once. Any special reason you chose that name?
twoof7swords: Yes, but if I don't turn these burgers, they're gonna burn. brb...
anasaziX555: k
twoof7swords: I used to dabble in my youth. I have a deck I kind of cart around with me. Pretty beat up by now, but I like it...
twoof7swords: It's got a little bit different spin on things than your typical Tarot. In my deck, the seven of swords signifies deceit. But the primary message is to trust yourself above all others. The two of swords is about peace...reconciliation. Resolution between two conflicting options. I guess I wanna get past the bullshit and have some fucking peace in all this.
anasaziX555: Interesting. Peace sounds good to me, too. And I'm so fucking tired of deceit. And right now, I have no one but myself to trust.anasaziX555: I don't mean to offend. I do trust you. And I can't tell you how much that means to me.
twoof7swords: Trust yourself first, 555. Even though I have no plans to deceive you. It's always good advice.
anasaziX555: I always have, two. That's why I'm still breathing. That and a lot of damned luck.
twoof7swords: You eating yet over there?
anasaziX555: Yeah. Gotta wipe the grease off between typing. How's your burger?
twoof7swords: Not as good as this place I used to go up the street from my old apartment. But passable. Wish I had some A-1. What are you eating? All I know is it's not pizza.
anasaziX555: Macaroni and cheese made with powdered milk. YUM.
twoof7swords: All right, here's what you do next time. Add a can of tuna and some capers. You ever try that?
anasaziX555: You're all about the capers, aren't you?
twoof7swords: Capers add flavor.
twoof7swords: And they come in jars which is good for you, my friend.
anasaziX555: So...what are you in your other life? Not a rug salesman...a chef, maybe? Yes, jars and me have become real tight.
twoof7swords: Guess again.
twoof7swords: But I've learned a few things here and there.
anasaziX555: Traveled a lot, then?
twoof7swords: Yeah. You?
anasaziX555: Yeah, not a lot of sight-seeing tho. Mostly business. Okay, all.
twoof7swords: Me, too. But I stopped and ate. (Excepting that time half-crazed on meth.) Didn't you?
anasaziX555: Ate, yes. Stopped...not so much.
twoof7swords: You a find-me-a-McDonald's-in-any-country kind of guy?
anasaziX555: You've got my number, now, two. I'm gettin' worried. ;-)
twoof7swords: When all's said and done, I'll meet you in Paris for a Big Mac and a beer.
anasaziX555: Deal. Let's hope that Eiffel Tower's still standing.
anasaziX555: Hey, two, I've been spending a lot of time going over the information you gave me on Kersh and other dealings within the F.B.I., and I gotta say. I've got good sources, and I've never seen anything this good.
twoof7swords: Oh yeah?
anasaziX555: Yeah. You uh...wouldn't wanna let me in on how you got such high access intel, would you?
anasaziX555: No names...just...man, how did you GET this stuff??
twoof7swords: Just because we ate dinner together doesn't mean I'm going to spread for you, 555.
anasaziX555: All right then. What would it take? I'm not trying to get you or anyone else in trouble. I just can't believe how complete this is.
twoof7swords: Give me a first initial.
anasaziX555: Z.
anasaziX555: Oh, you meant mine?
twoof7swords: Anybody ever tell you you're kind of a smartass prick?
anasaziX555: You couldn't count the times, my friend.
twoof7swords: It doesn't have to be real. Just something to call you besides a number or the name of some tribe.
anasaziX555: Call me Marty.
twoof7swords: Marty?? Okay, I *know* that's fake! Marty?? Really?? Can't I just call you M? Or something?
anasaziX555: Don't like Marty, eh? Too rug-salesman for ya?
anasaziX555: M's fine.
twoof7swords: Yeah, it's somehow nerdy and sleazy both at once.
anasaziX555: I do try.
twoof7swords: M's better.
twoof7swords: Well, M, I need to catch a couple of hours sleep before I get to work on this solution again. I can IM back in a couple of days.
twoof7swords: Or would you prefer daily updates just to be sure.
anasaziX555: Hey! I gave you an initial...so give it up, already!
twoof7swords: Next time maybe. Be good and stay clear of those squid if you can help it. They're poisonous, you know.
anasaziX555: I like a little danger.
anasaziX555: All right, all right. I'm not gonna beg. Next time. I'll be here.
twoof7swords: Tomorrow, then?
anasaziX555: Yes.
twoof7swords: Tomorrow, then.
twoof7swords: Take care of yourself, M.
anasaziX555: I'm trying. You too, two.
twoof7swords: Call me RB.
anasaziX555: Thanks. See you tomorrow, RB.
The next night...
twoof7swords: What's for dinner tonight, M?
anasaziX555: Dinty Moore. Pull up a chair.anasaziX555: So. Give it up.
twoof7swords: I had a terrier like you once.
twoof7swords: All right. Because you're willing to share your stew...
anasaziX555: ::pant::
anasaziX555: Hurry or I'll piss on your shoe.
twoof7swords: I used to have an informant. Pretty high up. He had an in to the FBI. I'm working off his old files and access codes.
anasaziX555: An in to the FBI, huh? Used to?
twoof7swords: Yeah.
anasaziX555: Gonna make me give you more warmup, huh?
anasaziX555: All right, I'm no rapist. Was he/she an agent?
twoof7swords: Former agent, yes. Long time ago.
anasaziX555: He/she was your informant a long time ago?
twoof7swords: Yes. Up through around a year ago.
anasaziX555: What happened to him/her?twoof7swords: *He* suffered an unfortunate incident. But I have access to his information on Kersch. My informant had a man in some power on his payroll. Had gotten a fix on the FBI mainframe that way, so even though he's...departed...I can still access certain files because even when the codes change, I'm in the system.
anasaziX555: Sounds like a perfect setup.
twoof7swords: He had a pretty good handle on things, yeah. At least, he liked to think so. Not good enough to stay alive, though, so I guess he wasn't perfect.
anasaziX555: I've lost several informants. The sense of personal responsibility can be pretty shitty. Did you know him well?
twoof7swords: Very.
twoof7swords: He was really more of a...partner...than an informant.
anasaziX555: I see. Well, I wouldn't normally applaud infiltrating the FBI, but under the circumstances we're in, I guess I'd better be really damned grateful for his work.
twoof7swords: Don't bother. He's dead, and he was an insufferable son of a bitch most of the time when he wasn't. You don't owe him your gratitude. Just take what he knew from me and help me end this.
anasaziX555: Nice way to talk about your partner. Not friends, then? I understand. I haven't always gotten along with mine, either.
twoof7swords: He was the best friend I had. Even though he wasn't always a good person. Hardly ever really. But then, he had a job to do.
anasaziX555: I'm not gonna judge him. Not from where I'm sitting now. It must have been hard, then. His death, I mean.
twoof7swords: Well, he had to go. It's been hard without him, but he and I didn't have a choice.
anasaziX555: You're making it sound like he sacrificed himself knowingly?
twoof7swords: He was set up. Things had to go down the way they did. They were out of his hands. That's how it is sometimes, you know. *They* call the shots.
anasaziX555: Set up, huh? Damn. I've been there. Guess we all take that risk every day, doing this work. I can see why you were so paranoid about me, wanting the source of my info. I guess by now you've figured out I'm not setting you up, though, right?twoof7swords: Yeah. I know that.
anasaziX555: Like I said before, I've got some access myself at the FBI. Would it compromise your safety to tell me the name of your ex-partner?
anasaziX555: RB?
anasaziX555: Sorry...just thought I might know him...guess I'm just trying to connect. You probably aren't interested in that.
anasaziX555: At least not until our date in gay Paree. ;-)
twoof7swords: Since his death, I've gone invisible. You and I aren't all that unalike in that respect. I'm just doing it in the city, you in the desert. When I had him, I felt less human. He made it feel like machinery. Cold and sterile. In a really fucked up way, he made it safer for me. I've been working underground for a while now and... I don't know. It's harder not to be human anymore.
anasaziX555: Yeah. I know. I was never a social butterfly, but sometimes I think it'd be easier to just let them have me.
twoof7swords: Don't fucking say that. You hear me, M? That's unacceptable.
anasaziX555: I know. They'd just use me, probably. If I thought they'd just kill me...well, to tell you the truth, sometimes I wish they had.
anasaziX555: There was an attempt on my life. Totally out of left field. Someone I thought was my ally. That's when I decided to disappear.
anasaziX555: Same time your partner was killed. Maybe the same people.
anasaziX555: Shit, I've said too much. Guess if you wanted to find out who I was, you could, now. Oh well. Fuck it. I'm so sick of it. I've gotta trust somebody.
twoof7swords: Seeing as how my partner was Alex Krycek, I figured out who you were, M, a few paragraphs back.
twoof7swords: I have no desire to see you hurt. I won't even use your name ever. Please know...this doesn't change that.
twoof7swords: M?
twoof7swords: Shit. M???
anasaziX555: If you were working with Krycek, you want me dead, too.
anasaziX555: Guess you're not good enough to find me, though, huh?
twoof7swords: I don't want you dead and neither did he. That's what I meant when I said he was set up.
anasaziX555: Tell me more.
twoof7swords: I guess I have to now if we're going to still work together. All right, M...
twoof7swords: I'll tell you what I can. What I know to be true. Krycek was a cold, ruthless bastard sometimes. He put the job first. He was a killer and a thief and a traitor to you and others. But he was sent in like a lamb to the slaughter that night. They wanted him out, they wanted you destroyed. The plan was never to pull the trigger. He told me he'd been helping you.
anasaziX555: He pulled the trigger, RB. I watched his finger tighten on it.
twoof7swords: I've seen the tape. Did you notice his aim, M?
anasaziX555: I was a little distracted at the time.
anasaziX555: That tape was 'disappeared' that night. How did you get it?
twoof7swords: I told you. He had FBI access. I inherited it after his demise.
anasaziX555: And you inherited the job of mindfucking me, too, maybe?
twoof7swords: They sent him in there, M. He didn't take the shot. He could have anytime and he didn't. It was fixed. His murder, your destruction.
anasaziX555: What do you mean they sent him in there? He just wanted me to THINK he was going to kill me??
twoof7swords: He wasn't in control. He'd communicated with me a few days before that he knew they were targeting him. But it turns out just taking him out when they could first use him to get to you wouldn't have sufficed. They had to take you both down.twoof7swords: Mind control, M. Didn't you see his face? He never wanted to kill you.
anasaziX555: Mind control? He kills me and Skinner kills him?
twoof7swords: Just your friendly neighborhood double murder.
anasaziX555: I checked you out. While you were typing, I got on the phone to the Smiths. They say you're credible. I'd say you're full of shit except they read minds.
anasaziX555: They wouldn't tell me who you are, though.
twoof7swords: I guess they're a more reputable endorsement than ever Alex Krycek was.
twoof7swords: Look, I understand your reticence. After what happened between the two of you. But I know the truth of it. And even if I didn't know him, I know the Colonists had the perfect alibi since there would be no forensic evidence to identify that it was anything but Krycek pulling that trigger.
anasaziX555: Shit. If they went to all that trouble to kill both of us, then Krycek really must have been trying to help me stop them.twoof7swords: He told me you'd been protected for years. If they were willing to kill you, that says a lot. It's a good thing you're in hiding. He'd want you to be very careful, M. I know he considered you the resistance's best chance. (Other than himself, of course.)
anasaziX555: Of course.
twoof7swords: He was pretty closed-mouthed, despite what I've told you. And he seems to have been impeccably trying to keep your name out of his files. So I really don't know all that much about your relationship. Only that he seemed to think you were on the same side and that you tended to disagree.
anasaziX555: Tended to disagree. Yes, you could say that.
anasaziX555: I need a minute with this, RB. I thought he'd done it to me again. I really thought he'd turned on me after everything. To know that he was really trying to help me...I just need a minute.
anasaziX555: Dammit. That means we really had a chance. THEY believed it. Enough to kill us both.
twoof7swords: You still do have a chance.
anasaziX555: Can't help thinking what it might have been like if we'd been able to do this together. But I guess you know what I mean. You worked with him.
twoof7swords: With the antagonism between you two, you don't really think you'd want to be working with him, do you? It's probably for the best, M.
anasaziX555: And God...Skinner...he murdered him. He didn't just stop him, RB. Fuck, he must be dirty, too. Or just a murderer.
anasaziX555: I didn't let myself consider it before. Because I thought he'd turned out to be the dirtiest one of all, and whatever Skinner wanted to do to him, I was game. But now... I have no contact with Skinner. I would suggest you watch out for him, too.
twoof7swords: From what Krycek said about him, I gathered that he was just a coward. I don't think he's dirty. Just not willing to sacrifice his life for yours. Only his integrity and your work.
anasaziX555: And he's a murderer.
twoof7swords: He's only dirty in the smallest sense. He's not working with Them. And now that Krycek's out of the picture, he can probably go back to being something of an ally to you, though I'd caution you not to trust anyone too far. Can't be too careful.
anasaziX555: He was your best friend, RB. How can you say his death is probably for the best??
anasaziX555: And he was probably our best chance to win this thing!
twoof7swords: The best for you. And you're the one that's going to bring them down.
anasaziX555: Oh yeah, superhero that I am, living in a trailer in the middle of fucking nowhere. All I have is some information. I'd have nothing useable without your help.
twoof7swords: Well, it's a good thing you called the Smiths, then. I can finish his work with you. He'd want that.
anasaziX555: Goddamn it! He stayed alive so long...through so much! Couldn't he have just stayed around a little while longer, finished what he started?
anasaziX555: Settled some fucking scores? Answered some Goddamned questions? Shit.
twoof7swords: Settle the score between the two of you? For good, you mean?
anasaziX555: Well, he certainly owed me that, yeah!
twoof7swords: So you'd just like him back so you can get what he owed you?
anasaziX555: I didn't say I'd like him back. I just said...fuck. It's personal. It always was.
twoof7swords: Personal how? You wanna bring him back to life to kill him yourself?
anasaziX555: It's not fair. THEM coming between us. This was our fucking fight, not theirs, and they had to come in and fuck it all up.
anasaziX555: I wasn't going to kill him, asshole. God, I never even tried, except the time he drugged my fucking water, and that served his lying ass right!
anasaziX555: Listen, I know he was your friend, but you said yourself he was closed-mouthed about me. Let's just say there was more than professional disagreement between us.
twoof7swords: But not enough to keep you from working with him now if he was alive?
anasaziX555: Of course not. It never really stopped us before, so it sure as hell wouldn't now, when the shit's hitting the fan!
anasaziX555: We WERE working together, before THEY sent him in with his mind fucked up to kill me.
anasaziX555: And they knew it. They fucking knew it. So they took us both out.
anasaziX555: I'm not saying I wouldn't love the chance to really kick his ass. Especially for leaving all the shit work to me, now.
twoof7swords: That wasn't exactly his choice, you know.
anasaziX555: Yeah, I know. I'd still kick his ass for it, though.
anasaziX555: So, he didn't talk about me at all?
twoof7swords: I'm sure it was for your own protection. For the most part.
twoof7swords: Is that how it was with you? Beating each other up?
anasaziX555: Well...sort of. He mindfucked me. So I fucked him up.
twoof7swords: You must be a big guy if he couldn't defend himself effectively.
twoof7swords: That or a Samurai.
anasaziX555: LOL
twoof7swords: Are you? A Samurai?
anasaziX555: You know I'm not. Don't you know what I look like? You know who I am.
twoof7swords: I've seen the tape. I know what you look like.
anasaziX555: So you're being facetious, then.
anasaziX555: He didn't hit back.
anasaziX555: And I'm betting you knew that. Did he tell you?
twoof7swords: Well, you said you fucked him up. I know he knew how to fight, so yeah. Either you're specially trained in hand to hand or he didn't fight you.
anasaziX555: We had a kind of arrangement, you might say.
twoof7swords: An arrangement?? Pray tell.
anasaziX555: Well, I hit him and he knew he deserved it. So he let me.
anasaziX555: But I hadn't hit him in a really long time, you know.
twoof7swords: Why not?
anasaziX555: Too busy? I don't know. Just didn't get around to it, I guess.
anasaziX555: For several years, I hadn't seen him much. And when we did see each other, there were people around and things to do.
twoof7swords: Did you want to? Hit him?
anasaziX555: Well, yeah, of course.
twoof7swords: Of course? Wasn't he helping you toward the end? He said he was.
anasaziX555: Well, yeah, but didn't you ever wanna hit him? C'mon, you said he was a prick...you must have wanted to.
twoof7swords: So you'd hit him now? Even if he came back from the dead to help you? Just for kicks?
anasaziX555: You didn't answer MY question. You were his partner, for chrissakes, you MUST have wanted to hit him!
twoof7swords: Well, looks like he took it enough from you without me getting in on it. But yeah. I guess maybe I did a couple of times. When he'd do something I knew he was going to wish he hadn't.
anasaziX555: Don't get all defensive. I'm telling you, he deserved it! I could never depend on him. I would give him my trust and he'd turn on me...over and over and over again! But then he'd come back with some new tidbit to tempt me with...so I couldn't actually kill him...but then he'd fuck me over, even if what he'd given me was legit...he drove me fucking crazy!
twoof7swords: Yeah, he was a prick sometimes.
twoof7swords: Why'd you let him back in again?anasaziX555: He always made it sound so good, I guess. That's another thing that made me wanna hit him. The way he knew just what to say and how to say it to lure me in again.
anasaziX555: He wasn't like anyone else. It was like it was a game with him. To see if he could 'get' me again. And he always, always did.
twoof7swords: Sounds like you might be projecting. He never let on to me that any of this was anything close to a game with him.
anasaziX555: All those smirks? All that purring?
anasaziX555: All that heavy breathing and tough-talking?
anasaziX555: I can't imagine him doing that with everybody.
anasaziX555: I can't imagine them putting up with it the way I did.
twoof7swords: Sounds like you didn't, slugger.
twoof7swords: Did you say...purring?
anasaziX555: Oh don't tell me you don't know exactly what I'm talking about.
twoof7swords: Purring...uh, no, I don't, M.
anasaziX555: You know, that whole hushed voice, demurely downcast expression, burning eyes glancing up through the eyelashes, drawing your name out...
twoof7swords: I guess you were paying more attention to him than I was.
anasaziX555: Smug upturn of the lips, half-whispered promises...
anasaziX555: You were his best friend, don't tell me he didn't use those on you!
twoof7swords: I couldn't say he did, M.
anasaziX555: Well, then, see? It was just his special Mulder-mindfuckery game.
twoof7swords: He's got a naturally deep voice, you know.
anasaziX555: And naturally downcast eyes and half-smirking lips?
anasaziX555: That he's always licking, keeping them parted, fluttering his damned eyelashes?
anasaziX555: Tell me, RB. How much did you know about his personal life?
twoof7swords: A little bit. Why?
anasaziX555: You know what I'm going to ask. So why not just tell me?
anasaziX555: I guess I already know. What I really wanna know is, was it just Krycek using everything at his disposal, or did he have...tendencies?
anasaziX555: C'mon, he's dead. What could it hurt? It's not like it's gonna ruin his reputation and get him kicked out of the ol' boys' network.
twoof7swords: I guess you have a point...
twoof7swords: And I guess you could say he had...tendencies.
anasaziX555: I knew it!
anasaziX555: I suppose that must have been both an asset and a liability in his line of work.
anasaziX555: Depending on who it was he was trying to screw, so to speak.
twoof7swords: Anybody's sexuality can be an asset or a liability, M.
anasaziX555: Yeah, but looking like that...
twoof7swords: Looking like what?
anasaziX555: Whaddya mean, what? Please. We don't have to pretend that he wasn't beautiful, just because we're guys.
anasaziX555: I mean, I'm just saying...he had the kind of looks that probably got a lot of attention. Some of it was probably unwanted.
anasaziX555: Especially with him giving off that vibe.
twoof7swords: You thought he was b
twoof7swords: What vibe???
anasaziX555: You know, that vibe. That one that says, 'touch me.'
anasaziX555: Like a cat wanting to be petted or something.
anasaziX555: Hello???
anasaziX555: Are you there?
twoof7swords: Sorry. I'm just trying to... You thought he wanted to be petted? Krycek?? From what little he told me, I didn't think you...well, there was never any petting going on. Was there?
anasaziX555: No!
anasaziX555: No, of course not! I just mean...it was always there...this energy...even when he was pushing me away...maybe especially then!
anasaziX555: He just exuded it, you know? Come ON! You can't tell me you didn't feel it! Nobody's that straight!
anasaziX555: You can tell me, you know.
twoof7swords: Tell you what?
anasaziX555: If you felt it. If you wanted him. It's okay.
anasaziX555: You were his best friend. It's natural.
anasaziX555: I don't have a problem with it.
twoof7swords: You don't???
anasaziX555: No, why would I? I guess you really DON'T know me very well. It's just sex.
twoof7swords: I guess he and I didn't have exactly the same energy between us that you seemed to. According to what you're telling me.anasaziX555: Oh.
twoof7swords: So you were attracted to him then?
anasaziX555: I didn't say that.
anasaziX555: So you weren't?
twoof7swords: He, uh, wasn't my type.anasaziX555: Because he's a man?
anasaziX555: Was.
anasaziX555: Sorry.
twoof7swords: Not really. More because we were too much alike.
anasaziX555: So you've been attracted to men, then?
twoof7swords: From time to time.
anasaziX555: But not him?
twoof7swords: Well, some, I guess. But I never felt...what you described up there. Not with him.
anasaziX555: Oh.
twoof7swords: Sounds like the two of you had...chemistry. Maybe not all bad.
twoof7swords: Hello?
twoof7swords: Have I freaked you out?
twoof7swords: M???
anasaziX555: I'm here.
anasaziX555: I guess maybe we did.
twoof7swords: Did he know? That it wasn't all bad on your side, that is?
anasaziX555: You tell me.
anasaziX555: Did he ever say anything about that? About me...seeming to...be somewhat attracted to him, maybe?
twoof7swords: M...I don't think he had a fucking clue. Not a fucking clue.
anasaziX555: That's a relief.
twoof7swords: Why? Things might have been different between you! He might have...been less of a bastard!
anasaziX555: Ha! Or he might have used it against me even more than he already did, just by doing what came naturally!
anasaziX555: Or he might have just laughed himself sick!
twoof7swords: I don't think so, M. I really don't. You don't know him as well as you think you do.
anasaziX555: Don't you mean 'didn't know him'? It doesn't really matter now. It's too late to change anything. And if he never said anything about me, it probably wouldn't have made a difference anyway.
anasaziX555: How well did you know him?
twoof7swords: Like a brother.
anasaziX555: And he *never* talked about me?
anasaziX555: Sorry, I sound like a child.
twoof7swords: Jesus, I'm sure he would have if he felt it was safe to! Fuck, M... He was like that! He was about the work. He couldn't sacrifice the work, even for... he had to do what was in the best interest of the work. Always. No matter who it hurt. No matter how dead he had to become.
anasaziX555: Do you believe it has to be like that, RB?
twoof7swords: He didn't fucking like it. On the next drop, I'll send you the tape of that night. Just look at his fucking face. It was killing him to do that.
anasaziX555: I don't want to see it. Don't send it.
twoof7swords: All right. I'm sorry.
anasaziX555: I see it in my nightmares.
anasaziX555: I have an eidetic memory. Photographic. I see every detail almost every night.
twoof7swords: Jesus.
twoof7swords: Have you seen the Smiths about that? I think they can help. Please go see them. He wouldn't want you to go through that.
anasaziX555: I lied. It's not my nightmares. You have to sleep to have those. It's when I'm lying awake TRYING to sleep.
anasaziX555: I've always seen his face, and wondered why he was going through with it if it was so damned hard for him.
twoof7swords: But your face on the tape... You look so...unaffected by his death.
anasaziX555: I always held onto my hatred with the thought that it didn't matter, because it wasn't hard enough to actually stop him.
anasaziX555: RB, I've told you it was personal. I was hurt, okay? I was so devastated by this final, perfect betrayal that I didn't care about much of anything, anymore. I wanted him to do it. Practically dared him.
anasaziX555: Did dare him.
twoof7swords: You wanted to die because of...him?anasaziX555: I guess so. It all just seemed so hopeless.
anasaziX555: I couldn't go through it again.
anasaziX555: And who better?
twoof7swords: God... Look, M, I uh... I have to get back to work. We need to get exact numbers on the solution. I should go. I'm sorry.
anasaziX555: Oh, okay. Sorry for keeping you. I'm very anxious to see those numbers, too.
anasaziX555: Sorry for getting heavy on you like that. It's sure not your problem.
twoof7swords: It's okay. I'll be back later.
anasaziX555: I'll be here.
anasaziX555: Thanks. For the talk.
anasaziX555: It helped. You really can't know how much.
twoof7swords: Yeah. I'm glad. See you, M.
anasaziX555: See you later, RB.
Next day...
twoof7swords: Hi, M. How are you doing?
anasaziX555: I'm fine, RB. How are you?twoof7swords: All right. I'm sorry I ran out on you so fast last night. I don't want you to think I... Well, I'm sorry.
anasaziX555: No, no problem. You're not my counselor. We have work to do. So, what's the report?
twoof7swords: I've got it up to 5000 parts per million. The metal starts to deteriorate at that point, but it's not enough yet so that they can't just regenerate.
anasaziX555: Wow, though! It's working! That's great!
twoof7swords: Yeah. It's working. :-)
twoof7swords: I'm going to go back into work in the morning. I want to get this done, but I think I'm gonna need a few hours sleep first. I can't afford to fuck up.
anasaziX555: No, you can't. Neither one of us can.
anasaziX555: But God, it's working. I can't believe it's working.
twoof7swords: Looks like you were right about the viability of this method. I'd say it's almost time to make a trip to ToysRUs for the Super Soakers. Krycek would probably have been seething at this point. Weird how things change.
anasaziX555: Yeah.
anasaziX555: I have some friends working on some weapon designs to take advantage of the magnetite solution, when you're ready.
anasaziX555: You'd have thought he'd be used to me being right. I always was.
twoof7swords: Friends? Ones you know you can trust? Have you run them by the Smiths?
anasaziX555: I'm trusting them with my life.
anasaziX555: I've known them since...well, since before I met Krycek, to give you a point of reference. I trust them. Implicitly.
twoof7swords: He wasn't always the best at seeing solutions he himself didn't think up. And God forbid you suggest he was wrong. But I got the feeling you were different. He may not have always acted like it, but I'm fairly certain you had his respect.
anasaziX555: Well, I'm fairly certain you're wrong, but thank you anyway.
anasaziX555: Maybe if he hadn't always been so damned sure he knew what was best...
anasaziX555: It doesn't matter now. No use dwelling on it.
twoof7swords: Yeah. Guess not.
anasaziX555: I want to thank YOU for your open-mindedness. Being willing to go forward with my idea. You wouldn't have had to. You could have done anything you wanted with the data I gave you. And I would have been powerless.
twoof7swords: He wouldn't have wanted that. And neither do I.
anasaziX555: I'm just some spooky freak in the desert, getting information from God knows who. Heh. What a turn of phrase. Anyway, without someone to give it to, it's just gibbrish.
twoof7swords: Speaking of that...you've never said from whom this information is coming.
anasaziX555: No, I haven't.
twoof7swords: Ahem. ;-)
twoof7swords: You know...I can handle it.
anasaziX555: Yeah, I've heard that before.
twoof7swords: I'm fighting super soldiers and alien colonists with water guns. I think I can take it. Spirit guides? People from the future? Your aunt Bee?
anasaziX555: I don't think Bee was there.
anasaziX555: Are you sure you're not going to just think I've gone insane from the heat and isolation? Just take what I've given you, call it a fluke, and disappear?
twoof7swords: Like you said...you've been right so far. And if Krycek was working with you, I know I can, too. Whatever your source. I'm not going to think you're crazy. I'm too far on the edge now myself.
anasaziX555: You're still on the edge? I'm way over it.
anasaziX555: A lot's changed since Krycek's death. Just because I was relatively sane before doesn't mean I haven't gone around the bend, now.
anasaziX555: Hell, how can you be so sure? I can't!
twoof7swords: I know what we're up against. It's going to take a miracle to stop them. So if a miracle is what you got... Hit me with an oracle or a burning bush, M. I'm ready.
anasaziX555: Oh man. You're asking for it.
anasaziX555: All right. But don't say I didn't warn ya.
twoof7swords: Over and over, yes. ;-)
anasaziX555: I lied when I said I had no other contact. I get a monthly visit from some Navajo people. A group of five elders. They make a day-long journey out here on foot every month.
anasaziX555: They just showed up a couple of months after I got here, and started giving me bits and pieces of information. None of it made sense at first.
anasaziX555: But after several months, I started to see connections and patterns and to put the seemingly-random pieces of information together.
anasaziX555: That's when I told the Smiths I needed someone who could test my theories and see if they were valid.
twoof7swords: Wow. So they gave you magnetite? These Navajos?
anasaziX555: No, they gave me bits and pieces of information that they themselves didn't understand.
anasaziX555: They had never heard of supersoldiers.
anasaziX555: It took me months to figure out that's what the...information was referring to.
twoof7swords: How did they know to come to you? How to find you?
anasaziX555: I don't know.
twoof7swords: Do they know?
anasaziX555: Well...yes...kind of...
twoof7swords: Are they...channeling this to you?
anasaziX555: No...
anasaziX555: You're familiar with channeling?
twoof7swords: Some, yes.
anasaziX555: That's not what they call it, of course. They told me that their ancestors, the Anasazi, come to them in the dreamtime and give them words. And that these Anasazi told them where to find me.
anasaziX555: It's pretty much gibbrish to them. They just report it exactly as it comes to them, then I write it down and study it and make sense of it.
anasaziX555: The Ancestors have to use the elders' vocabulary, so it's a bit limiting.
anasaziX555: The Anasazi told the elders that they and I are doing The Great Work.
anasaziX555: That we have worked together before.
twoof7swords: I can imagine. But it's really the perfect way to relay something like that. It's naturally encrypted.
anasaziX555: Heh...yeah, I guess it is...I never thought of it that way!
anasaziX555: I've done studies with persons with schizophrenia, where they 'channeled' information that they had no concept of how to interpret...and it turned out to be predictions and scientific formulas, theories, diagrams, and things like that.
anasaziX555: So this is not without precedent.
anasaziX555: And I guess that's why they came to me...they knew I'd listen.
twoof7swords: You don't have to win me. I believe.
anasaziX555: It's probably best if we keep this between us. Not every mind is as open as yours.
anasaziX555: But it's great to have someone to share it with, I have to admit.
twoof7swords: You think I actually *talk* to people??
anasaziX555: I guess I assumed...you're out in the world...
twoof7swords: I told you. I'm not. Not really. Alex Krycek was my liason to the world. I'm underground. As much as I can be. I talk to as few people as possible and there's NO ONE I'd trust with what you just told me or ANYTHING you tell me. Just get that straight now.
anasaziX555: Okay. Got it.
twoof7swords: Good. Now what's for dinner?
anasaziX555: Pick me up some McDonald's, wouldja?
twoof7swords: Love to. Really. I wish I could.
twoof7swords: I should get going and eat something. Maybe catch a nap. The sooner I can narrow down these numbers...
anasaziX555: Yeah, I can't wait. We're almost there. God, this is amazing.
anasaziX555: All these months of sweating over pages and pages of what seemed like nonsense. And it just might end up saving the world.
twoof7swords: I'm really glad I can help you. Especially knowing who you are now.
anasaziX555: Thanks for taking a chance on me. Either way. I'm not sure which one's less likely to be believed, a stranger or...me.
twoof7swords: Stranger. Hands down. Take care. I'll be back soon.
anasaziX555: See you later.
twoof7swords ***This user is no longer online.***
A week later...
twoof7swords: 10,000 parts to a million causes sustained damage.
anasaziX555: Hey far fucking out!twoof7swords: Thought you'd like that. :-)
anasaziX555: I do like that.
twoof7swords: Still working on finding the dose that's lethal. I'm pretty confident I'll have that within the week.
anasaziX555: That's just great. Just amazing. Be nice to see it myself, but fuck it. Someday, I guess.
twoof7swords: Well, when it's lethal, you can come out of hiding, M.
anasaziX555: Wow.
anasaziX555: Guess that's true, maybe. Kick myself some supersoldier asss, eh?
anasaziX555: Krycek'dbe looking for the highest bidder to sell the information to bynow.
twoof7swords: Hey, no offense, M, but are you drinking?
anasaziX555: Don't ya think? Just find some pissed off second-world country to sell the infoto, or corner the market and charge people exorbiitant amounts of money for it.
anasaziX555: Hey how are youu gonna manufacture this shit, RB?
anasaziX555: Gonna try to keep that juicy market cornered like your old pal, Krycek?
anasaziX555: He who holdsthe key to killing the supersoldiers rules the world and all that shit.
twoof7swords: I have a private lab set up. And no, I don't plan to sell any information. He did what he felt he had to. Things are different now.
anasaziX555: Yeah, like I cn do shit about it out here. I can watch the fireworks, that's about it.
twoof7swords: You're the reason we're going to win.
anasaziX555: You can do anything you want. Anything. Just like him. He always helds all the cards and you hold them now.
anasaziX555: What do I have got? Nothing.
twoof7swords: You have the key to all of this. The Anasazi channelings, the brain to decipher it, the leverage to know and work with the Smiths... And I'm on your side. My hand is worthless if you decide to quit giving me the information only you are getting.
anasaziX555: YOu have enough to rule the world already
anasaziX555: I've been thinking
anasaziX555: about that
twoof7swords: Yet I still come back here every day, M.
anasaziX555: why?
twoof7swords: I'm not going to abandon you. We need each other. You need to know what I'm doing and I need to know what you know.
anasaziX555: What do you want? rreally? I wanna know.
anasaziX555: what did you two want??
anasaziX555: What thefuck was worth all that shit?
twoof7swords: What?
anasaziX555: You and him. working so damned clsoe. What the fuck did you want so bad? was it wroth everything he went through?? everything WE went through?
twoof7swords: Not yet. But it might be. I hope it will be. Will it be worth it to you if we save the world?
anasaziX555: Will WHAT be worth it to me?
twoof7swords: Losing each other. Losing him.
anasaziX555: I didn't LOSE him.
twoof7swords: No, I guess he lost himself.
anasaziX555: So you think he had to die to save the world? Tha'ts what you're saying?
anasaziX555: That's bulllshit. He didn't have to die..
anasaziX555: He had to lose the arm, but not die.
twoof7swords: How much have you had?
anasaziX555: How much of his shit? To o much, RB.
twoof7swords: To drink, M.
anasaziX555: Then he just disssappears.
anasaziX555: If the gods or whateverthefuck think that's justice, they're wrong
anasaziX555: justice is me getting to make the call
anasaziX555: goddamn it
twoof7swords: On whether he lives or dies? Or on how he's judged for his crimes.
twoof7swords: M, I think he'd have preferred it that way, too. Whatever your answer.
anasaziX555: never said it was about him living or dying. I wanted him alive or I woulda arrrested him. that woulda killed him. I didn't. I wanted to see him suffer, yeah
anasaziX555: Like i said, the arm was okay the arm was fair. but this isn't fair, RB. I deserve some fairness and this isn't fair!!!111
anasaziX555: ONe more to go and I'm out
twoof7swords: Imagine how he felt.
anasaziX555: he never TOLD ME how he felt!!1 fucker! nnever told me anything! yeah he said he didn't wanna haveto kill me, but fuck!
anasaziX555: dammit i only ordered the one case want MORE
anasaziX555: i shoulda stayed with him, RB
twoof7swords: He was a shit. An asshole. He should fall on his knees to you and apologize and that wouldn't be enough, M.
twoof7swords: What? What do you mean?
anasaziX555: they got him when i went off with dogbreath.
anasaziX555: shoulda stayed with him. do you think he would have done it then? did they get him then, RB? do you know?
twoof7swords: Yeah. They did. But you would have been killed, M. You would have done their work for them. I'm sure Alex was really glad that didn't happen.
anasaziX555: he saved Scully even. di dyou know that? i told him to and he did. and they got him when i left him alone.
anasaziX555: do you like Coors? i don't.
anasaziX555: not anymore.
anasaziX555: hang on...gota puke
anasaziX555: oh fuck. you don't wanna hear this. i should go.
twoof7swords: Do you have any vitamins? You should take one with a glass of water.
twoof7swords: Stay!! Please.
twoof7swords: Mulder, please.
anasaziX555: know how long its been since somebody's used my name? they don't. the smiths. or the elders. i'm fox to the elders. agent x to the smiths. for my own ssafety.
twoof7swords: May I use it? Please? I'd...like to.
anasaziX555: Yeah. go for it.
twoof7swords: Don't go, Mulder. I don't care that you're drunk.
anasaziX555: the arm. yeah it's even okay that it was kinda my fault. right even. made things even in a way.,
anasaziX555: but this. this made things wrong. wrong for eveyrbody. the wold. you.
anasaziX555: world
anasaziX555: shit you don't realize how much cooordination it takes to hit that shfit key or delete key till you've had a case of beer
twoof7swords: He never blamed you.
anasaziX555: like an endless loop of hitting the wrong keys and thentrying to correct that and making more mistakes
anasaziX555: it's like life huh? the more you fuck up the harder it is to fix and then its unfixable
twoof7swords: Alex had the same trouble after it got cut off.
anasaziX555: Alex. i never calle dhim that. well almost never.
twoof7swords: Once or twice I was told.
anasaziX555: when we were parntered up and i wanted something from him. hehe
twoof7swords: I think it always shocked the hell out of him. He thought of himself as Krycek, too. I think he liked you saying his first name, though.
anasaziX555: and when he was killing me. i said it then. to reach him. to let him know it was him and me. not them, just him adn me he was doing this to.
anasaziX555: but it wasn't. it WAS THEM. it wasn't him and me at all!!!
twoof7swords: He was there. Inside. He heard you. And he was grateful and sick both at once.
anasaziX555: now you know him so well huh? well thanks for trying. he probably jsut thought i was maniuplationing him again like before.
anasaziX555: he was right, tho. i was.
anasaziX555: manipulating
anasaziX555: wow. whathappened there?
twoof7swords: I think he thought that was a rather endearing quirk of yours actually, Mulder.
anasaziX555: DON"T tell me he liked me
anasaziX555: it wasn't liek that RB.
anasaziX555: i was a fun toy thats all.
twoof7swords: I think it was something infinitely more complicated than anything I could talk about here.
anasaziX555: yeah well i wasn't done playing.
twoof7swords: He wasn't either.
anasaziX555: i know.
anasaziX555: puking againbrb
twoof7swords: Do you have activated charcoal? Take 'em if you've got 'em.
twoof7swords: Mulder?twoof7swords: Are you back?
twoof7swords: MULDER!
twoof7swords: Fuck, you could have alcohol poisoning! Mulder, call an ambulance.
twoof7swords: Mulder, are you there??? Tell me where you are and I'll be there as soon as I can!
twoof7swords: Mulder, Goddamnit!!!!!
anasaziX555: back
twoof7swords: You ok?
anasaziX555: I passsed out on the floor a little. better now. LOTTa puking. Sobering up fast.
twoof7swords: Fuck. I thought... I didn't know what to think, dammit.
anasaziX555: what the hell is activated charcoal??
twoof7swords: It absorbs toxins.
anasaziX555: now you sound like MY parnter.
anasaziX555: partner.
twoof7swords: Don't worry about the typos. Believe it or not, I'm entirely capable of decyphering them. ;-)
anasaziX555: Good at decryption eh?
twoof7swords: Some.
anasaziX555: Not good enough to find me. ha.
twoof7swords: Drunk Ex-FBI Agent is one of my specialties. And no, I don't know where you are. Promise me you won't go on another bender so that I have to search all of Arizona and New Mexico for you.
anasaziX555: I'm out of beer.
twoof7swords: Good.
anasaziX555: And I will never, ever dirnk it again.
anasaziX555: or drink it, even.
twoof7swords: Why'd you drink so much anyway?
anasaziX555: Well, I figured with you over there saving the world I could relax a bit and...celebrate.
twoof7swords: That's a damn lot of celebrating.
anasaziX555: Yay me.
twoof7swords: You that happy?
anasaziX555: Well I should be, right?
twoof7swords: Should I be, too? I don't really feel happy exactly. More like exhausted and...defeated. Weird, huh?
anasaziX555: Defeated? Don't you start.
anasaziX555: You said we would win.
anasaziX555: And you're right, we will.
twoof7swords: We will. We are. It's not that.
anasaziX555: We still have lives, right? to go back to when it's over? I have my parntner and the kid.
anasaziX555: That's what everybody wants, right? a little family all ready- made adn waiting?
twoof7swords: Is that what you want?
anasaziX555: Am I an evil selfish cold sonofabitch if the thought makes me wanna hurl again?
twoof7swords: Not to me. You just became exponentially more sane to me.
anasaziX555: LOL yeah but look at you.
twoof7swords: Good point!
twoof7swords: LOL!
twoof7swords: Did you and Alex ever do this? This...talking?
anasaziX555: No.
twoof7swords: I'm luckier than he was, then.
anasaziX555: I'd just look at him and wanna hit him again. I never got past that to wonder about talking to him.
anasaziX555: I used to wonder about him though.
twoof7swords: What did you wonder? Maybe I know.
anasaziX555: Wonder what he wanted to be when he was a kid. If his life was the way he wanted it to be. If he ever wanted to do it differently. Especially when we were both so young and stupid about it all.
twoof7swords: I seem to remember him saying something once. About wanting to be a spy. I don't think this was what he was thinking, though. I think he always saw himself saving the day, never taking a wrong turn, always on the right side...
anasaziX555: I used to think I saw something in him. Especially in the beginning. But that was the whole thing with him. He always made me wanna believe there was something...MORE to him. Guess I hit him to try to get to something real. Something not faked. Real grunts of pain. Real blood.
anasaziX555: But if he was really going to help me, before they set us both up, maybe I wasn't that wrong after all.
anasaziX555: Yay, I get to be right. Yay me.
anasaziX555: Sorry, RB. You were closer to him than I was. This shit probably hits you pretty damned hard. I've been really insensitive.
anasaziX555: Are you there?
anasaziX555: RB, I'm sorry. If you need some time, I understand, just let me know if you're still there.
twoof7swords: You get to know you got something real from him. Maybe...probably...more than anybody else on this planet got from him.
anasaziX555: If that's supposed to make me feel better, it doesn't.
anasaziX555: Well, I guess I can stop hating myself for not hating him.
twoof7swords: You didn't hate him? Ever?
anasaziX555: Oh probably right after he killed my father. That one cut deep.
anasaziX555: I was so young. I took it personally. Thought it meant that any kind of...friendship I'd imagined between us was all just bullshit and he was probably laughing at how well he'd reeled me in.
twoof7swords: I've never heard him laugh.
anasaziX555: Wow. Never? I heard him once, when we were partners. I made a stupid joke. He laughed. And he smiled a lot around me.
twoof7swords: Well...I guess it's just been so long I'd forgotten.
anasaziX555: His laugh is kinda boyish. Was. Maybe. If that was his laugh. God, this is a mess.
anasaziX555: I think it was real, though. Because it seemed to catch him by surprise, as if he wasn't sure what that sound coming out of his mouth was. And he blushed.
twoof7swords: He did?
anasaziX555: Yeah. He was always blushing around me. Sweaty and breathless and blushing.
twoof7swords: I'd say, since he had tendencies, that that's a pretty good indicator of how he felt about you, Mulder.
anasaziX555: God, he was so young. When we were partners, sometimes I could barely understand what he was saying to me, he was so breathless.
anasaziX555: I didn't think it was faked at the time. Only after he'd killed my father.
anasaziX555: I thought it was cute.
twoof7swords: You did?
anasaziX555: Yeah.
anasaziX555: You know, it fed my ego. Made me feel good.
anasaziX555: He'd get so sweaty that gel in his hair would just melt.
twoof7swords: He wasn't all bad, you know. I'm sure that would have been fine with him...making you feel good.
anasaziX555: I know he wasn't all bad. That's what pissed me off so much.
twoof7swords: How are you feeling now? Any better?
anasaziX555: Yeah. I drank some Alka-Seltzer. I sober up fast. Which is why if I want to be drunk, I have to drink fast.
twoof7swords: Kinda risky. Especially if it's hot there. And you're alone.
anasaziX555: 115 degrees today. And I'm very alone.
anasaziX555: Can't even get TV out here. I just play VHS tapes or music 24/7 so I don't go truly crazy.
twoof7swords: I don't have anywhere or anyone to go back to, Mulder.
twoof7swords: I have you to meet in Paris. That's it. That's the dot on my horizon.
anasaziX555: I have a few friends, and I have that ready-made family, so I guess I should be grateful. And I am. But I'm looking forward to Paris.
twoof7swords: I think I might stay there. You're welcome to stay there. You can disappear with me if you want. I mean, I know you have people who want you back. Maybe just for a little while. Couple of months. I, uh...haven't had a friend in a while.
anasaziX555: A year, probably, huh?
anasaziX555: It must have been harder for you to lose him than you've really let on.
twoof7swords: I gave him up for you. And it's okay. I like this. It's somehow more and less than what I had with him around.
anasaziX555: Jesus, I don't like the sound of that. That you gave him up so you could work with me. I don't need that kind of guilt.
twoof7swords: That's not really what I meant.
twoof7swords: Shit...
anasaziX555: Listen, I know I've been the one going on and on and you haven't had the chance to talk about your own feelings. I can be a really insensitive prick sometimes, you know.
twoof7swords: Look, don't worry about it. I have to go anyway. I really don't have time to talk about it right now.
anasaziX555: I'm sorry. Really. I know you're not just my 'fix' for getting my Krycek shit worked out.
anasaziX555: I won't talk about him anymore if you don't want me to.
twoof7swords: No. Please. It's not that. I just really have to go. I'll be back tomorrow. All right? I need to go, Mulder.
anasaziX555: Okay.
twoof7swords: Please take care of yourself.
anasaziX555: You too.
twoof7swords: ***This user is no longer online.***
Around 3 A.M. that night...
twoof7swords: M? You awake?
anasaziX555: Yeah, something wrong?twoof7swords: No. Nothing. Just...couldn't sleep.
anasaziX555: Oh. Well, yeah, I'm up. Was just watching Men in Black 2.
twoof7swords: I haven't seen the second one. I don't think. Is it good?
anasaziX555: No.
twoof7swords: :-)
twoof7swords: God, that face is so stupid. That is *not* what I look like when I smile.
anasaziX555: LOL
anasaziX555: Not even Jack Nicholson in Batman looked like that when *he* smiled.
anasaziX555: ::smile::
twoof7swords: But see that's too hard.
anasaziX555: Well, accurate personal representation takes sacrifice, RB.
twoof7swords: It's hard enough for me to capitalize everything.
anasaziX555: Why, been drinking, have we?
twoof7swords: A little.
anasaziX555: Sorry about earlier. I'm not usually like that. I'm not really the needy type. At least I don't think I am.
twoof7swords: Everybody needs. Sometime.
anasaziX555: Isn't that a U2 song?
twoof7swords: I think it's everybody hurts and it's REM.
anasaziX555: Ah. Not one of my favorites.
twoof7swords: Me either.
twoof7swords: I didn't mean to quote the damned thing!
anasaziX555: LOL
twoof7swords: >:o
anasaziX555: LMAO!
twoof7swords: That, however, looks EXACTLY like me.
anasaziX555: Like a five year old throwing a shit fit?
twoof7swords: Hey. I thought that emoticon exhibited swarthy rage and contained insanity.)
anasaziX555: LOL...swarthy rage?
anasaziX555: So what kind of music do you like?
twoof7swords: Music? Wow, uh...
anasaziX555: Yeah, music.
anasaziX555: I've been listening to a lot out here.
anasaziX555: The same damned CD's over and over and over...
twoof7swords: I like the Stones. Janis Joplin. Jane's Addiction, Depeche Mode, Bob Dylan... Some harder stuff like Marilyn Manson. A little Godsmack. George Michael...
anasaziX555: Nice mix. I'm playing some Depeche Mode right now.
twoof7swords: You can download some stuff from me if you want. (You mean you're NOT going to make fun of George Michael???)
anasaziX555: Well, it's not like you said Wham. ::smile::
twoof7swords: Especially listed, as I have him, under 'harder stuff'! Mulder, c'mon! ;-)
anasaziX555: So you're trying to start something? ;-)
twoof7swords: What if I am? Isn't that what you and he did?
twoof7swords: Which DM song do you have playing?
anasaziX555: Yeah. We did. The song is Insight.
twoof7swords: 'I'm talking to you now/The fire still burns'?
anasaziX555: Yeah.
twoof7swords: Like that one. Sad, though. Don't you think?
anasaziX555: Yeah.
twoof7swords: Does it make you think of him?twoof7swords: There was definitely fire between the two of you.
anasaziX555: Yeah, I guess it does. Pretty much everything does right now.
twoof7swords: You know, Krycek used to listen to Depeche Mode, too. I remember him having a few CDs in his car.
anasaziX555: Huh. I never knew that.
twoof7swords: Do you want to talk about him some more? I don't mind. Or talk about anything really? Or do you want to get back to your movie?
anasaziX555: You're funny.
anasaziX555: I notice you don't get emotional about him. I take it you guys didn't have that kind of relationship?
twoof7swords: No. It was business. Although, there was really no one else in my life most of the time.
anasaziX555: I guess he was hard to get close to.
twoof7swords: Yeah. I know he thought that was necessary, but I think there were times when he regretted that.
anasaziX555: It's too bad you guys couldn't have been more support to each other. God, do I sound like Oprah or what?
anasaziX555: I just mean...maybe if he had let you in, he would have been a little less hard. Less cold to the rest of us.
anasaziX555: Did he have any family?
anasaziX555: Or do you even know?
twoof7swords: No. He didn't.anasaziX555: Did he have anyone? Anyone he was close to at all?
twoof7swords: Not that I know of. If he had a family, he cut himself off from them completely. You know how this work is...how the ones you love can be used against you. Better not to have them around.
anasaziX555: Yes. I lost all of mine.
twoof7swords: Didn't you say you had a family to go back to? A woman? A child?
anasaziX555: Yeah, my partner and her child. My child, I guess. They're in hiding right now, too.
twoof7swords: You guess. Was that never determined?
anasaziX555: You're not as in the loop as you think you are, RB. ;-)
anasaziX555: It appears to have my DNA, yeah.
twoof7swords: How romantic of you.
anasaziX555: It wasn't like that.
twoof7swords: It wasn't?
anasaziX555: My partner was persuaded to go on a drive with...well, the antiChrist...and during the course of the field trip, it appears he drugged her and implanted a fertilized ovum into her uterus. And somehow, he had access to samples of my sperm and her ova.
anasaziX555: Sexy enough for ya?
twoof7swords: I know the guy. And yeah, that's about as disgusting a way to do it as possible. Only one way worse, in my opinion.
anasaziX555: Well, yeah, at least he didn't get on top of her himself. God, at least there was never any evidence of that. Okay, excuse me whilst I puke again.
twoof7swords: From what I know of him, that's not his style. So you can gag it back down.
twoof7swords: So, why aren't you that excited to go be a daddy? Would you be a husband, too? Whole nine yards? Doesn't a little normalcy sound appealing after what you've been through?
anasaziX555: Well, let me ask you this, RB. Would you be anxious to be married to the woman who had you committed to a mental institution because she didn't believe you, even after you'd been proven right for YEARS?
anasaziX555: Who got up in the middle of the night after the first and ONLY time we ever had sex and quickly dressed and left without telling you, then acted like it never happened?
anasaziX555: With her, it's like she's living on a different planet. One with mandatory blinders.
anasaziX555: I love her, but no one's ever frustrated me more.
anasaziX555: Well, except him.
anasaziX555: And not that way, interestingly enough. Never that way.
anasaziX555: He never made me feel like I was crazy or even doubted my theories.
twoof7swords: And never left after sex. I get the feeling, from what I now know of your relationship with him, that he'd actually probably have wanted to stay for seconds and thirds.
anasaziX555: We never had sex, you know.
twoof7swords: I know.
twoof7swords: But the beatings were good. Weren't they?
anasaziX555: LOL...you're not subtle, are you?
anasaziX555: Does that make me sick?
twoof7swords: Usually, yes. Well, a little. It's late and I'm tired.
twoof7swords: LOL! It doesn't usually make you sick! Yes, I'm usually subtle, and yeah, it makes you a little sick. God!
anasaziX555: LOL
twoof7swords: Damn IM.
twoof7swords: >:o
twoof7swords: So...you really don't want what she's offering? Even if it means someone to love you and take care of you and be with from now on?
anasaziX555: Take care of me? God you make it sound so...1954.
twoof7swords: Sorry.
anasaziX555: She loves me. And I love her. But even though she might think she'd want to be with me...maybe...and I'm not even sure about that, because we've *never* had the guts to bring it up...she'd go fucking nuts if she actually had to spend any time with me.
anasaziX555: And honestly, I'd go fucking nuts, too. I can't even relax in her apartment. I'm afraid I'll breathe too hard on the upholstery.
twoof7swords: So. What *do* you want? When it's all over.
anasaziX555: I want them both to be safe and happy.
anasaziX555: If that means I have to be there, I guess I'll be there.
twoof7swords: You'd make another sacrifice?
anasaziX555: Another?
twoof7swords: You're hiding now to protect their lives, too, right? If it were just *your* ass on the line...would you be there?
anasaziX555: No, I wouldn't.
anasaziX555: I don't know. If I had my wish, I'd wish that while I'm huddling in the sand, she'd find a great, stable guy to marry and raise the kid with.
anasaziX555: Someone who knows how to watch his back without losing track of his life.
anasaziX555: I never wanted a wife and kids.
twoof7swords: What do you want for yourself? If it were just you you were thinking about?
anasaziX555: You mean if she found that?
twoof7swords: Yeah.
anasaziX555: Well, just because the alien threat is neutralized doesn't mean there aren't plenty of mysteries in the world. I'd go back to investigating them. I'd get private backing, I guess. It'd be harder, without FBI authorization and resources, but it's what I love.
twoof7swords: I'd back you, Mulder.
anasaziX555: Thanks.
twoof7swords: Which...shit, it sounds like I'd pay you to leave her. That's not what I meant.
anasaziX555: I know it's not.
anasaziX555: So...you're into this stuff? I mean, beyond saving the world from alien domination?
twoof7swords: Yeah. Used to love it. God, I can hardly remember so much of that time. Eons ago.
anasaziX555: So much of what time?
twoof7swords: 8, 9 years ago. And before. Like when I was just a kid. And a teenager. I ate it up.
anasaziX555: I guess those of us fated to do this work had a predestined interest in it.
twoof7swords: Do you believe in destiny, Mulder?
twoof7swords: Fate?
anasaziX555: Yeah, I do.
anasaziX555: Don't you?
twoof7swords: I hope so.
anasaziX555: What do you mean?
twoof7swords: I guess I mean...I want to believe.
anasaziX555: Ha! Really. You sound like him, now.
anasaziX555: But I know what you mean. I used to want to believe. Now I pretty much believe.
anasaziX555: I've seen too much not to.
twoof7swords: I guess if I believe in fate, then if we're meant to meet up in Paris, it's already in the cards.
anasaziX555: It doesn't really work like that. There is always choice involved. The elders tell me there are possibilities and probabilities, as well as soul contracts, and they all intermingle to create our reality, according to our free will choices.
anasaziX555: For example, I don't think it was fated for Krycek to die like that. I don't think that was the way it was supposed to be. It doesn't *feel* right. But it was probably his choice to die violently, doing things that hurt other people, sadly.
twoof7swords: His choice? You mean...unconsciously or...? And what do you mean it doesn't *feel* right?
anasaziX555: His choice before this lifetime, on another level, yes. And I mean it just feels...unfinished. Like there's just a gap in the fabric of reality, somehow.
anasaziX555: Like it should feel differently than this. Not so unsettled. Sometimes I look around and expect him to just show up again, like always.
anasaziX555: I guess it's damned hard to believe he's really gone.
anasaziX555: I guess that's why my brain keeps replaying that scene in my mind. To remind me. To convince me.
anasaziX555: Does it feel that way for you?twoof7swords: Little bit. Yeah.
anasaziX555: I didn't realize how big a part he was of my life's work...my life, really...until he wasn't there anymore.
anasaziX555: I always had this thought...maybe it was just a stupid hope...that we were really meant to work together, eventually.
anasaziX555: I guess it wasn't stupid, since it almost became true.
twoof7swords: Yeah, you were toward the end, weren't you?
twoof7swords: Or do you mean really work with? Like...partners.
anasaziX555: I guess...I just figured...no one knew as much about it as we did, and we'd just end up cleaning up the whole mess together.
anasaziX555: When we did work together, we had this...synchronicity.
twoof7swords: Tell me about it.
anasaziX555: It was so natural. All the shit just fell away and we didn't even have to talk. I'd just look at him and he'd drop his eyes and I knew he got what I was saying.
anasaziX555: It was like we really had been partners all that time. Like those few, short instances of cooperation were the truth and the rest was all a game.
twoof7swords: Maybe it was. A terrible game you both had to play. One we're going to win. But maybe he wanted it that way, too. For those instances to be the truth.
anasaziX555: I don't know if he felt it or not. I only know we worked together like a well-oiled machine. He never doubted me, questioned me, or defied me. He just did it.
anasaziX555: He must have had to put aside a LOT of his own shit to do that. To put the work before his personal feelings. When what he probably wanted to do was say, "Fuck you!" and spit in my face.
twoof7swords: Why didn't he fight back when you hit him, then?
anasaziX555: I told you. The arrangement.
anasaziX555: Unspoken, of course.
anasaziX555: But taking orders from me...I would think that would be very different.
twoof7swords: Different than physical blows. You're an interesting man, Mulder. ;-)
anasaziX555: It wasn't like that, though. It was really just me telling him what had to be done, and him doing it without any shit.
anasaziX555: Like when I told him to protect Scully. Looking back, I can't believe I did that. But at the time, that 'flow' was there and I just 'knew' he'd do it. And he did.
anasaziX555: See, we were in the Hoover and running from supersoldiers, and I couldn't be in two places at once, so I had him escort her through the building while I went after the supersoldier.
twoof7swords: That was a lot of trust you put in him. Did you do that often?
anasaziX555: Well, not to that extent, but...I did end up trusting him more than was really sane, given the situation. I trusted him to translate for me in Russia.
anasaziX555: And I trusted him when he brought me information about a captured Rebel.
anasaziX555: And I trusted him when he helped me find the ship that ended up abducting me.
anasaziX555: Although I should have taken him with me, then, too. Fat lot of help Skinner was.
anasaziX555: And I should have taken him with me to rescue the Rebel. Scully didn't even get out of the car. ;-)
anasaziX555: It wasn't like he wouldn't have gone. That's the thing. I always knew that if I asked him, he would. I didn't know why, but I just *knew*.
twoof7swords: I think Alex wanted to be trust-worthy. I know that sounds crazy. I think deep down he'd have preferred to do everything he did without being a piece of shit.
twoof7swords: What makes you so sure he'd've gone? I'm not questioning you. I trust your instincts by now. I just want to know how you know.
anasaziX555: I told you. I just know. Just like I knew he'd take care of Scully, simply because I asked...well... told him to. It's weird, now that you're making me talk about it. I'd never thought about it.
anasaziX555: Maybe it *is* the same thing as taking my punches. Shit, that's...I don't know what to think about that.
twoof7swords: You know he'd've never taken that from anybody else. He'd say he'd do something and then do it his own way (the way he felt it should have been done). You were different. If he did that with you...I don't know, maybe even he didn't understand exactly why.
anasaziX555: Yeah, he definitely rebelled, but I just *know* that if I'd simply asked him, he'd have done...well, pretty much anything. He was pissed because I was being an ass, and he walked out and left me in a Russian gulag to be tortured. So yeah, he could be a real fucker. But I'll bet you that if, when he was standing at the door about to walk out on me, I'd just said, "Don't leave me here, Alex," he wouldn't have.
anasaziX555: I say that now, but of course that's not what I was thinking at the time.
twoof7swords: What were you thinking?
anasaziX555: That it was what I expected. For him to betray me and walk out on me.
anasaziX555: So I just accepted it. Didn't even try to stop him.
anasaziX555: Like the parking garage. When I thought he was going to kill me. I just expected a betrayal, so I didn't fight it. Just went with it. Rolled over and showed my belly.
anasaziX555: But RB, I truly believe that if I'd told him to put the gun down, he would have. Even through the mind control. How fucking fucked up is that??
twoof7swords: It's not. Because I think you're right. I'm pretty damned sure I know you are.
anasaziX555: I was always so afraid of him. Afraid of the pain only he could give me. When really I never had anything to fear, if I'd only recognized the power I had with him.
twoof7swords: I've kept you up late, M. Is your terrible movie over?anasaziX555: I turned it off the minute you IM'd me, RB. I'd much rather chat with you.
twoof7swords: I just needed...to touch base with you. I'm glad you don't mind.
anasaziX555: Never. You're my social life, remember? :-)
twoof7swords: Just no more beer. All right? Not till Paris.
anasaziX555: God, right now, I never want another beer.
anasaziX555: Wine in Paris.
anasaziX555: The good stuff.
anasaziX555: You're buying. LOL
twoof7swords: Fine by me.
twoof7swords: :-)
twoof7swords: I'm going to catch a couple hours and then take another whack at diluting this stuff. Maybe this'll be the one, huh?
anasaziX555: It will be eventually, and that's enough for me. :-) Good night, RB.
twoof7swords: Night. Sweet dreams for once, M.
anasaziX555: Thanks. You too.
anasaziX555: Maybe I'll jump into that scene and rewrite it in my head.
anasaziX555: Rescripting, they call it.
anasaziX555: I'll tell him to put the gun down.
twoof7swords: He'll do it. Just don't stop looking into his eyes.
anasaziX555: Thanks for the tip. I'll let you know how it goes.
twoof7swords: Please do, Mulder.
anasaziX555: I really will. See you later, RB.
twoof7swords: *** This user is no longer online. ***
Several days later...
twoof7swords: We've got it! Mulder, we've got it! 20,000 parts to a million! And what's more, if it's fired directly to the backof the neck, it's instantaneous. This is it!
anasaziX555: Oh my God. Oh my GOD.twoof7swords: I didn't know if it would work that way. I guess it was a hunch. It just crumpled to nothing!
anasaziX555: Oh wow...
anasaziX555: Sorry, I guess I'm actually speechless.
twoof7swords: I'll ship a semi-full to wherever you want. Wherever you can get at it without revealing your whereabouts.
anasaziX555: LOL...I don't think I need a tanker trunk.
twoof7swords: Sorry. I'm just...I guess I'm a little crazy. Hardly any sleep for months, this work constantly on my mind... And it's almost over. I can't believe it.
anasaziX555: Yeah. Me neither.
anasaziX555: And I'm sick of hiding out here. You said you're in hiding, too, right?
twoof7swords: Mostly. I hide out and then emerge to go hunting, that sort of thing.
anasaziX555: Well, I was thinking...it might be smarter to hide together.
anasaziX555: Hey, RB...are you there?
anasaziX555: I'm not proposing marriage or anything!
anasaziX555: I'm just saying, we could watch each other's backs, work together to get this done as quickly as possible, that sort of thing.
anasaziX555: But if it's too much for you, I understand. You're used to being alone.
twoof7swords: I'm here, Mulder. And no. It's not too much for me. I've had plenty of alone. It's not about that.
anasaziX555: So, what, you're not fond of sand?
anasaziX555: ;-)
twoof7swords: Mulder...
anasaziX555: I'm talking about coming out of the desert, probably.
anasaziX555: As soon as we get some weapons produced, stockpile some solution.
anasaziX555: And I have more names from the elders. Supersoldiers in high places of power, that will now be simple to eradicate!
anasaziX555: I'll tell them they can send me the channeled information in the mail.
twoof7swords: That's...wonderful. That's truly amazing. God...
twoof7swords: There's nothing I want more than to do this. I just...
anasaziX555: The balance of power has been tipped! We can put security around Scully and anyone you want to protect, and I can stop cowering in the dirt!
twoof7swords: I would love that.
anasaziX555: Then we just have to figure out a way to defeat the actual colonists! Maybe that vaccine Krycek used to bring me back from the dead/alive state the alien virus put me in!
anasaziX555: We can do this! Find a way to mass produce and distribute it...make humans immune...I know that's what the little shit was working on...
anasaziX555: Hell, that's what they were working on in the Tunguska territory, but we'd do it differently!
anasaziX555: He must have had more than just the dose he gave me, right?
anasaziX555: And you *must* know where it is...
anasaziX555: God, I haven't felt this *alive* in months!!
twoof7swords: Mulder God please. Stop. Please stop.
anasaziX555: ?
anasaziX555: ???
anasaziX555: Okay, I'm shutting up, now...
anasaziX555: Fuck, RB, What?!
twoof7swords: Do you know how I feel when I see you say that? That I've made you feel alive? When I never thought I'd get the chance again? Not ever again. And it's all ending for me now because I have to tell you, but God I just want to hang on with my fingernails and never let this fucking thing go.
twoof7swords: It's me, Mulder. I'm alive.
twoof7swords: God, I'm sorry. Shit, I'm so sorry.
twoof7swords: Mulder? Please...I can't ask you not to hate me but...please. Don't hate me. Not now. Not now. I've fucking missed you.
anasaziX555: It was the Smiths, wasn't it.
twoof7swords: Yes.
anasaziX555: They wouldn't tell me anything. Said I didn't need that information yet.
twoof7swords: They didn't think you'd work with me. Knew you wouldn't. They felt this way would be better.
anasaziX555: So they told you to contact me?
anasaziX555: They told you about me?
anasaziX555: But they didn't tell me about you?!
twoof7swords: They told me to contact someone. I didn't know it was you, either. For a while. I figured it out.anasaziX555: I would imagine. Knowing I was alive gave you a little bit of an advantage.
twoof7swords: Yes. It did. By the time I knew it was okay to tell you...by the time I stopped being afraid of ruining our partnership on this by revealing who I was, I was so far in, Mulder. So far I'd jeopardized it anyway.
twoof7swords: Mulder, I don't want to hurt you. So much of what I said to you was utter truth!
twoof7swords: Oh God, Mulder, please.
anasaziX555: The mind control?
twoof7swords: True. Ask the Smiths. Please ask them, Mulder.
anasaziX555: I did. They said you were credible. I want to hear it from you.
twoof7swords: They controlled me, Mulder. Lifted my fucking arm. The only goddamned one I've got left. I felt myself squeezing the trigger and I would have turned it on myself if I could have. Thankfully, Skinner did. Although, I kind of wish he'd stopped with the one shot.
twoof7swords: I didn't want to do it, Mulder. I'd have sooner finished myself.
twoof7swords: Mulder? God, don't leave now.
anasaziX555: Leave? I told you. I'm here all the time.
twoof7swords: I mean...me.
twoof7swords: This.
twoof7swords: Mulder?
anasaziX555: Skinner doesn't know he's not a murderer, then. Or...I guess he is, because he sure as hell believes he killed you. And he believes I watched him.twoof7swords: There wasn't much you could do. And why would you want to when you believed I'd just tried to murder you?
anasaziX555: It's really you?
twoof7swords: Yes, Mulder. It's Krycek. Ask me anything. Anything just you and I would know.
anasaziX555: All right. What happened that night I got the note about Weikamp?
twoof7swords: I hit your head on your deskchair. I made a crack about beating you with one hand. You said, "Isn't that how you like to beat yourself?" I loved it. But I frowned. I told you about the rebel. I felt like I was on fire. I held your gun on you, and I kissed your cheek. Hard. Your right one. On the mole. I left. But now I know we both wanted me to stay.
twoof7swords: Mulder. It's me. It's Alex.
anasaziX555: God.
twoof7swords: I'm sorry.
twoof7swords: :'( This doesn't look like me...doesn't look like my tears.
anasaziX555: I know. I know what they look like. I've seen them.
twoof7swords: You were right. Right about everything. Why I let you hit me, why I did as you asked when you asked it, that I wouldn't have been able not to and you probably should have asked more often...
twoof7swords: You were right that I get breathy around you. That I sweat and blush and...purr. God, I'd never realized that myself! You're right that I have...tendencies. More where you're concerned. I *so* listen to Depeche Mode. It is in the car. I listen to Insight. The fire does still burn.
twoof7swords: It's been burning for a year. And seven before that. I don't know why. I don't think about it a lot. If I did, I really would be dead by now. Not thinking about it has kept me alive, Mulder. But it's there. And always has been.
twoof7swords: You're there. You're always fucking there. And dying gave me the chance to really see you. Maybe not touch you. But...know you.
anasaziX555: Not thinking about it has kept us apart, Alex.
anasaziX555: But on both our sides.
anasaziX555: It's not just you. I never let myself think about it, either. Until you died. And not even then.
anasaziX555: I get so pissed off at people who refuse to see what's right in front of their face. But it's so easy to miss when you're distracted by all the bullshit. All the games.
twoof7swords: When I found out it was you, Mulder... I was terrified. And relieved. And less lonely. And more lonely.
twoof7swords: I meant what I said. About the other me...the me before that night when I died...being cold. Less human. And thinking, *knowing* I had to be. I can't feel that now. Not with you like this. Not when you're here and you're fucking happy to see me and you tell me I'm beautiful... Not anymore.
anasaziX555: I didn't tell you. I told RB.
twoof7swords: Yeah. Rat Bastard.
anasaziX555: He shouldn't be so hard on himself. He's the best part of you.
twoof7swords: I know he is. He's also the only part now. I think. I hope. The other *is* dead.
anasaziX555: So you resurrected me, then I resurrected you. Poetic justice.
twoof7swords: So where does that leave us? I'm scared shitless to ask, but you know I have to.
anasaziX555: It leaves us both alive, I guess.
anasaziX555: After both having walked through the valley of the shadow of death.
anasaziX555: And having gotten a hell of a lot more perspective.
anasaziX555: Death'll do that to ya.
twoof7swords: Do you still believe in fate? In destiny?
anasaziX555: Yes.
twoof7swords: Can you still work with me on this?
anasaziX555: LOL...Oh, Alex. As if we *ever* had any choice, really.
anasaziX555: I think our only real choice was whether we wanted it easy or hard. Evidently we both like it hard.
twoof7swords: Yeah. I'd say that's pretty clear now.
twoof7swords: I'm sorry I misled you. I tried to be as honest as I could. God, what you must think of me...
anasaziX555: Shut up, Alex.
anasaziX555: See, it works.
anasaziX555: We both know, deep down, it had to be this way.
anasaziX555: I don't blame you for retaining your cover.
twoof7swords: Does that mean we're still on for Paris?
anasaziX555: I don't really intend to wait that long.
twoof7swords: I want to see you. Soon. Now.
anasaziX555: I always thought you were a patient man, Alex. Biding your time, watching for your window, taking only the most well-planned steps...
twoof7swords: Fuck that.
anasaziX555: ::smile::
twoof7swords: This is the most well-planned step I've ever taken in my life.
anasaziX555: LOL...yeah, I guess it is.
twoof7swords: Tell me where, Mulder. I'll bring the magnetite solution, you bring the super soakers.
anasaziX555: You tell *me* where, Alex. You know what it's like out there. I've been in a fucking sandtrap for a year, remember?
twoof7swords: You like Mexico, Mulder?anasaziX555: You know, it's not like I have a sand and heat fetish or anything, Alex.
twoof7swords: How about the ocean? Do you like sand if it meets lots and lots of water?
anasaziX555: That sounds amazing.
twoof7swords: Well, I know a good seafood place... ;-) It's not exactly in Mexico, more like the edge of it and San Diego. We're going to meet at the most Southwesterly bar in the Continental United States. Ye Olde Plank in Imperial Beach. Can you be there by tomorrow night at sundown?
anasaziX555: I think so.
anasaziX555: I have to drive. It'll be a risk.
twoof7swords: Take the guns I gave you. All right?
anasaziX555: Alex. It would be stupid of me to be afraid to tell you where I am. And I need you to watch my back. Come here and drive me.
twoof7swords: I thought you'd never ask.
anasaziX555: ::smile::
anasaziX555: Let me send you the map.
anasaziX555: *** File transfer successful.***
anasaziX555: Okay, that's it. You know where I am, now.
anasaziX555: Did you get it all right?
twoof7swords: Yes. I got it. I'm packing. Mulder...
anasaziX555: Shut up and drive, Alex.
anasaziX555: And bring the Depeche Mode.
twoof7swords: ***This user is no longer online.***
And for the record, we deny any existence of a totally schmooped-out epilogue to this story. Never happened.