"Umbra 38/38" By Dawson E. Rambo Author's Note : Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Walter Skinner and any other tangentially mentioned characters created by Chris Carter remain his property and the property of 1013 Productions and Fox Television, a unit of 20th Century Fox, Inc. All rights are reserved and these characters are used without permission. Any characters created by the author remain his property. Original Posting : September 9, 1997 Archive Entry : Umbra 38 Classification : MSR, Action Adventure Rating : R (Adult Themes, Language, Violence) Spoilers : None that I can think of... Casting : Gleanne Headly, "CMDR Maggie King" : Ed Harris, "Ron Burke" ENJOY! ------ Zeus Storage Scully came to first. Blinking her eyes, she glanced around the abandoned room. There was a table in the back, three chairs, and nothing else. Sitting up, grunting with the effort, she rolled to her side and stopped. A body. She looked down at the misshappen skull and remembered. Graves. Reaching out a hand, she turned the head towards her. A single, neat bullet hole was in the center of his forehead. She remembered...entering the room, with Graves. Mulder asking why they were there...Graves reaching for the device in Mulder's hand, kicking Mulder in the leg, the device falling into his hands, Graves sick, mad, twisted laugh as he triggered it. The gas, escaping from underneath. Choking against it, Scully drawing her weapon and firing. Graves going down, and then... blackness. Scully glanced at her watch. 2:30pm, Sunday afternoon. Graves dead. Mulder! Over her shoulder, Mulder, face down, breathing shallowly. She moved to him, her hands reaching. "Mulder!" she whispered. He moaned and shifted, his lips moving, no sound coming out. "Mulder!" she said, a little louder. "Scully," he whispered, and opened his eyes. "GRAVES!" he shouted, sitting bolt upright. "It's ok...I shot him," she said. "He's dead." "W-what happened?" Mulder asked. Scully filled him in quickly and he nodded, remembering. "So...it's over?" Scully nodded. "Stone's dead, Graves is dead. It's over." Mulder thought about it for a long, long moment and then shook his head. "No...no, it's not. The network still exists. All of Graves' people are out there, waiting. Sooner or later one of them is going to figure out that the king is dead, and start the net up again." He stood, helping Scully to her feet. "We have a lot of work to do." *** Forensics was still working the scene when Mulder's cell chirped. "Mulder." "Skinner," his boss said. "Talk to me." Mulder brought his boss up to date. "Sounds like a clean shoot." "It was," Mulder said, slightly offended that Skinner would suspect Scully of assassination. "We had no choice." "The gas?" "Knocked us out for a few hours, but that's about it. As soon as we're done here, Scully and I are going to the hospital to get checked out." Skinner made noises of approval and rang off. Scully was in the corner, going over the events with the shooting team. They were working slow and easy, aware that what had transpired was not an ordinary Agent-involved shooting. The SAC of the forensics unit found Mulder. "Secret Service is chewing us a new one. Some moron named Burke wants to speak to you." "Where is he?" "Outside. We've got uniforms from Metro holding everyone back." Mulder nodded; it was standard procedure. "Let him in. He'll want to see what happened, and he's due." The SAC nodded and picked up a radio. Twenty seconds later Ron Burke came tear-assing into the room, his face red with anger. "What the FUCK happened, Mulder?" Mulder took him by the shoulder and guided him to the corner furthest from Scully. "Graves told us he wanted to show us were he mixed the stuff; said there was a lot left that shouldn't fall into the wrong hands. When he got here, he managed to get the device away from me and set it off. Just before we went down, Scully waxed him; once in the forehead." Burke looked at the sheet-covered body in the middle of the room and sighed. "Dammit." "What's the matter?" "I wanted to interrogate him. He managed to get onto the White House grounds with a chemical weapon. He had a level 99 clearence. There's no way something like that should happen!" Mulder nodded. "Listen...is there anyone you want me to talk to? Your boss? There are some things about this case that I can't tell you. Classified and all that. But if I can talk to your boss, take some of the heat off...I'd be happy-" Burke nodded. "I'd appreciate it. Right now, the SAC of the Washingtion Field Office and the Director are waiting for me back at the mansion. And I have a feeling they have their kick-ass shoes on." Mulder grinned. "Hey, at least I had the good sense to have a boss that steps into the line of fire." Burke regarded Mulder silently. "It kinda looked like you were giving the orders out there," he remarked. Mulder nodded. That was true. He remembered how Skinner had turned the operation over to him without a complaint. Another thing to talk to Skinner about. "Lemme check on my partner, and we'll come back to the Mansion with you," he said. Burke just grunted, moving to Graves' body and lifting the sheet. "Asshole," he said to the body. *** Walter Reed Army Hospital Skinner grunted when the phone rang. Who the hell? "Skinner?" "Mr. Skinner," the voice said. "What do you want now?" "Mr. Mulder and Miss Scully and I had a very interesting conversation. Too bad they won't remember it for a few years." Skinner sighed. More games. "What do you want?" "Just have a good story prepared when they show up. Things are going according to plan, Mr. Skinner. I wanted you to know that I am very...pleased with your performance through all this. The trust I have placed in you is obviously well-founded." "Kiss my ass," Skinner growled. "As I recall, this is the second time you've offered such services. I wouldn't take the don't-ask-don't-tell policy too far, Mr. Skinner. I'm not sure what the Marine Corps would say if they discovered that one of their most capable officers was-" Skinner hung up. Asshole. *** The White House The Suburban piloted by Ron Burke pulled into the East Gate and up the drive. It took them a few moments to navigate security. Scully and Mulder were weaponless, having surrendered all of their hardware, including duty weapons, to the shooting team. It was standard practice, and neither on of them was bothered by it. Still, after the last few days, they both felt naked without their weapons and armor. The Director of the Secret Service and the Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Office were waiting for Burke, as he'd promised. Neither one of them looked happy. "Agent Burke," the Director started, as soon as they'd entered the Secret Service Command Post. "Would you mind explaining how a madman managed to get a chemical weapon onto the grounds of the mansion?" Mulder started. "Sir, I'm Special Agent Mulder with the FBI. Perhaps I can shed some light on what transpired here today." The Director turned to the lanky FBI agent, hands on his hips. "And you! Shooting up the mansion like some wild west town! What the hell were you thinking, man?" "Sir, I-" "SILENCE!" the Director bellowed. There was a knock at the door. Vice Admiral Jake Karns, Commander in Chief, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, stood in the doorway. "Yes?" the Director asked, obviously annoyed at being interrupted. "I'm Admiral Karns," Karns stated. "Perhaps I can add something to the party." "Well, come on in," the Director said sarcastically. "Perhaps we can expect a visit from the Joint Chiefs next!" Letting out a huge breath, the Director sat down behind the desk and drummed his fingers on the desktop. "Very well. Agent Mulder, why don't you begin? You seem to be the head honcho in this mess. And I'm warning you, Mulder -- make it good." "Yes, sir. Sir, approximately six days ago, Admiral Karn approached the FBI with a rather...sensitive problem." Mulder went onto explain as much as he could, omitting certain facts that he would go over with Karn later, and dropping any references to certain issues that were too explosive to be discussed in the open. The story took almost half an hour to complete. When he was done, the Director's eyebrows were crawling up his face, and his mouth hung open in disblief or surprise. Mulder couldn't tell which. "And you expect me to believe that the FBI let you two agents chase this madman across hill and dale, directly to the front door of the White House? Just the two of you?" "No, sir. Commander Stone and Assistant Director Skinner were also involved in the final assualt," Scully provided. "I see," the Director said. "That would explain the dead body in the hallway." "His body is still here?" Scully asked. "Yes. My own forensics team is working the scene." "Sir, if I may...I'd like to go and..." "Yes, whatever. I still have some questions for your partner in crime here." As Scully left the office, she heard the Director asking some very pointed questions about checmical weapons. *** National Security Advisor's Office The White House The sheet covering Stone's body was bloody at one end. Scully felt her face tightening as she took in the scene. Half a dozen Secret Service technicians scurried around the office, dusting for prints and taking pictures and God only knew what else. There was an ugly red splotch of blood, tissue and hair against the wall opposite the door. She identified the man in charge by the way he barked orders at the rest of them. Plus, he held a clipboard in his hand and seemed to be an insufferable asshole. "Sir?" she asked, reaching for her ID. "Special Agent Scully, FBI. Are you almost through here?" "What are you doing here?" he snapped. "This is not an FBI matter." "Uh, sir, I was here when this went down, and is most certainly is an FBI matter." "Not any longer," he pointed out. "What do you want?" "I'd like a moment with my...partner," she said, indicating the body. He stared at her, seeing something in her eyes that brooked no compromise. His features softened and he nodded. "Of course. Losing a partner is always difficult." How many have you lost? she thought of asking, but decided against. The SAC herded the technicians out of the room and down the hall, leaving Scully alone with Matt Stone. Steeling herself, she squatted next to his head and peeled the sheet back. His left eye was missing, nothing but a bloody, gory hole left. His right eye was open. She closed it gently. "You moron," she whispered, a smile on her face. "Had to go down in a blaze of glory, huh? Couldn't wait for Mulder to pull it out." She felt odd, speaking to a dead body, but she knew that wherever he was, Matt could hear her. "Well, partner...we didn't always see eye to eye, and you were an insufferable prick...but we got the bastard, Matt." She paused. "I got him for you." "Rest in peace." Scully covered his face with the sheet and stood. Glancing around to see if anyone was watching, Scully drew herself to attention and saluted the body. "Another SEAL to guard the gates of heaven," she whispered, and dropped her arm. Turning, she hurried back downstairs to the Command Center and her real partner. *** "Mr. Mulder," the Director was saying as she re-entered the office, "I expect that you will make yourself available for this investigation." "Of course, sir. But if we're done for now, I'd like to go and see my boss, who was injured in the assualt." "Very well. You are dismissed." Burke touched his ear, listening. "Uh, Mr. Mulder? There's another Navy officer at the East gate demanding entrance, and demanding that she speak to you." "Maggie King," Mulder said. "Let her in." Burke radioed Mulder's request to the guards at the gate. Mulder and Scully started walking back towards the door, and encountered a flustered Maggie on the way in. "Matt?" she asked, looking first at Mulder, then at Scully. Scully shook her head, and Maggie collapsed, sobbing. "Oh GOD!" she wailed. Scully kneeled by her side, gently embracing the overwrought woman. After a few moment she collected herself. "I want to see him!" she demanded. Scully and Mulder exchanged glances. "I don't think that would be a good idea," Scully said softly. "He was torn up pretty badly in the crossfire." "Did he suffer?" she asked. Scully shook her head. "He never knew what hit him." King nodded, sniffling. "I want him buried at Arlington!" Scully nodded, agreeing. "With full honors." *** Arlington National Cemetary Two Days Later "Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!" Scully mouthed the words to the mournful screech of the bagpipes. Maggie had insisted on it, even though the Navy had been equally eager to have a bugler play "Taps." In the end, they agreed on both. The casket was poised over the grave, covered with an American flag. The Chaplain had finished his invocation. Mulder, Scully and King stood graveside. Karn, in full uniform, sat in the second row. Next to him, perched on a pair of crutches, was Skinner. Ron Burke, Frohickie, Langley and Byers made up the rest of the funeral party. The honor guard approached the casket, lifted the flag from it and folded it in the prescribed military manner. The commanding officer of the color guard presented the folded flag to Maggie, and leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Please accept this token of gratitude from a grateful nation," he said softly, then straightened and saluted crisply. Maggie, in uniform, had no choice but to return the salute. Scully and Maggie had white roses in their hands. The casket started to descend into the grave. Scully stepped up and watched the casket as it lowered. "Goodbye, Matt," she whispered, tossing the rose into the pit. Maggie followed suit. Mulder stopped, glancing down. "Rest in peace," was all he could manage. Karn saluted as the rifles started firing. Overhead, four F-14 Tomcats flew by, the middle one peeling up into a steep dive at the last moment, the other three peeling off. When the echo of the rifle shots had died, the bugler began blowing "Taps." Skinner hobbled over to Mulder, Scully and King. "Beautiful ceremony," he said, trying to find something to say. "No one came," Maggie said softly. "No one but us." "Stone made a lot of enemies along the way," Skinner replied. "I think it's fitting that the last unit he served with...us... were the ones to see him on." Mulder grinned. "So we're a unit now?" Skinner nodded. "More than you know, Agent Mulder. I take it that your friends over there," he hooked a chin at the Gunmen, "are the ones that help you out with all your...esoteric technology needs?" "What friends?" Mulder asked innocently. "As far as I know, they're funeral junkies." Skinner grunted. "I imagine you have some questions for me," Skinner continued. "And I'll be seeing you next Monday at the office. Take the rest of the week off. On the Bureau." "Actually sir," Scully started, "we were hoping for a little more time." "Scully?" Skinner asked. She slid her arm through Mulder's and smiled at her boss. "Agent Mulder and I have tickets to the Bahamas. We leave tonight. For two weeks. When we we get back...we can have that discussion." Skinner grimaced. "Have you filed for time-off?" "Of course, sir. It's sitting on your desk." "Very well. Granted. Just do me a favor." "Sir?" "If you get married on vacation, don't tell me about it!" Laughing, he hobbled off. "Married?" Mulder said, his eyes wide. "Not a bad idea," Scully whispered to herself. They turned to Maggie. "So...what's next for you?" Scully asked. "Admiral Karn has transferred me to NCIS. I'll be helping him track down the last of Graves' Ronin before he takes over the Sixth Fleet." The arrests had started the day after Stone's death. They were up to almost sixty officers and enlisted men in all branches of the service. They were all being held in special cells at NCIS, totally out of communication. The President, after learning what had transpired in 'his house' while he was at Camp David, had signed a Special Presidental Intelligence Finding, authorizing the DIA and the NCIS to operate outside of normal channels in investigating and arresting those responsible. "And then, who knows?" "Good luck," Scully said, offering her hand. Maggie shook it, and then on impulse leaned up and kissed Mulder on the cheek. "Take care," she whispered. "You've got one hell of a woman." "I know it," he whispered back. *** Epilogue Scully and Mulder returned to Washington after two weeks in the Bahamas. They had a very private, very detailed discussion with Assistant Director Skinner, who was as forthcoming as he could be. He'd been instructed carefully by the smoker on what to tell his two favorite agents. "So, he was helping us on this one?" Mulder asked. "Yes. Despite what you might think, he doesn't always operate to hinder you, Agent Mulder. In some ways, he has actually operated to help you in the past, and I would imagine, the future." "But what about-" "Agent Mulder. Please understand that there are some things that even I don't know." And I hope I never will, Skinner thought. "That man operates in the darkness, in the shadows, and although you may feel from time to time that he's hiding things from you that are your right to know, there are others, above me...above him, that do not agree. But, I will tell you this much. It is my opinion that if you keep performing the way you have during this mission, that there will come a day soon when you will know everything that man does." Skinner paused. "And I dearsay there might be a time when you will regret your constant pursuit of him and his agenda." Mulder said nothing, understanding. Sometimes the devil you knew was better than the one you didn't. In the two weeks they'd been away, the NCIS and DIA had finished the investigation into Graves' Ronin. All in all, over three hundred officers had been arrested. Confronted with the overwhelming evidence against them, to a one they had plead guilty. Two had comitted suicide while in custody. The others would be given short prison sentances and dishonorably discharged, losing all pensions and beneifts. The spectre of their involvement in the LIBERTY BELL operation and their participation in Graves' plan would follow them for the rest of their lives. Captain Ronald Ebert had been one of the suicides. Followed shortly by Ally Roche. "So," Skinner said, reaching for a file in his IN box. "Next case. The Seattle police department and the Kings County Sherriff's office has requested your assistance in a series of ghost sightings inside a college library. According to the-" As Skinner trailed off, Scully and Mulder exchanged a glance. Their shared, secret smile spoke volumes of the distances they'd covered in the last three weeks. Scully glanced down at her left hand, at the small, thin tan line that showed there. Mulder glanced at his own hand, seeing a matching tan, slightly wider. They glanced at each other again and smiled wider. Things were looking up. *** Two months later, Lieutenant Colonel Walter S. Skinner, United States Marine Corps, was promoted to Colonel, USMCR. He was decorated with a classified Distinguished Service Medal for his actions in dealing with the White House Crisis. His promotion ceremony was attended by Special Agents Mulder and Scully, who, off-duty, were sporting to very odd-looking pieces of jewlery for agents whose personnel file listed them both as single. Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully were similarly decorated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the Justice Department Medal of Valor. Assistant Director Skinner declined to be so awarded. Commander Maggie King, USNR, was decorated with the Legion of Merit for her role in the White House Crisis, and frocked to Captain. Vice Admiral Jake Karns was promoted to full Admiral, and given command of the Sixth Fleet, and was similarly decorated with the Legion of Merit, his third. *** Nine months later, Captain Margaret King, USNR, gave birth to a son, Matthew Fox King. Fox William Mulder and Walter S. Skinner were named as co-godfathers. Dana Katherine Scully was named as godmother. Special Agent Fox Mulder was given a time-in-grade promotion from Supervisory Special Agent of the X-Files Division to Assistant Special Agent in Charge. Special Agent Dana Scully was promoted to Supervisory Special Agent. Special Agents Mulder and Scully quietly approached a certain Senator and asked for a waiver from FBI and Justice Department regulations dealing with the marriage of co-workers. After a similarly quiet discussion with the Attorney General, the Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Assistant Director Walter Skinner, it was decided that the interests of the country, the Justice Department and the FBI would best be served by quietly granting the waiver. Shortly thereafter, Special Agents Mulder and Scully-Mulder purchased a house in Sterling, Virginia. Of the thirty or so Special Agents who approached Skinner for similar waivers, all were denied. Two threatened to sue the FBI and the Justice Department for 'discrimination and selective enforcement of regulations.' The X-Files division was shortly classified as a National Security project, and all matters dealing with the division were moved into a Need-To-Know designation, thus barring testimony regarding any projects or personnel related to the divsion from being discussed in open court. Both agents dropped their suits. Special Agents Mulder and Scully were selected to attend the National Law Academy, a perogative usually reserved for Deputy Assistant Directors and above; their selection was considered to be an indicator of their elevated status as "fast-trackers" to senior leadership and supervisory roles inside the FBI. *** Washington, DC One month after the White House Crisis, (as the Washington Press Corps had come to call it,) the Council met again. The smoker sat at his customary position. "Status report, please," the leader requested. "All is going according to plan. I wish to take this opportunity to explain what transpired in the storage unit. There have been many rumors, all of them unfounded and untrue." "Perhaps you could...expand on those rumors." "They were told," the smoker said. "And then they were un-told. I wanted to be sure...sure that they were ready for what was coming." "And what was his reaction?" "He understands what is required of him. He will do the right thing. But he needs seasoning, training, experience. Therefore, I removed the memories...temporarily. When next we meet under similar circumstances, I will refresh his memory, and he will see why he has been put through what he has." "Will he lead us?" the leader asked. "Quite well, I'm sure." "Will he save us?" another voice asked, this one timid, scared. "They both will," the smoking man said, lighting another cigarette. "After all...it is their destiny." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE END ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have written a rather lengthy "Thanks and Other Notes" piece about "Umbra" that was originally included at the end of this chapter. Realizing that not everyone would want to read it, I have broken it out. It was sent to the mailing list members, and is available on my website at http://www.azstarnet.com/~drambo/umnotes.txt Once again, this story is dedicated to the fans. It has been my deepest honor to write for you. Dawson E. Rambo Tucson, Arizona 9 September 1997