Colby, KS

Mulder could just make out William's thin frame in the furthest reaches of the headlights as the car tore around the corner of the building. Without hesitation, he was out of the car before it came to a complete stop. 

"Mulder!" Skinner yelled, as he too exited the car before stopping short.

Mulder ignored him. Already, he'd cleared the fence and was pushing forward through the field. There was nothing Skinner could do. Pursuit on foot would be useless at this point. He didn't even think Mulder stood a chance at catching up with the boy before the super-soldiers did, but he did understand one thing. Had William been his son, he'd have done exactly the same thing. 

A whistle sounded to his left. A headlight ripped through the fog as a train rounded a bend and came into view. It was crawling along, having just left the small town to head back down the line. 

"Damn it," Skinner cursed, jumping back into the car. 

He gunned it and drove straight towards the field, ignoring the fence that stood in his way. It wouldn't be the first time he ruined a vehicle while in pursuit of justice and hopefully, it wouldn't be his last. 

Bracing for the impact, he found himself fighting a series of shivers that raced the length of his spine when the metal ripped through the barbed wire, scraping the car. One of the fence posts slammed into the windshield with such force that it splintered, but didn't shatter. Wire caught on mirrors and fenders and forged a trail in the direction he drove. 

Mulder looked over his shoulder when the car hit. He couldn't believe Skinner had bulldozed right through the fence. That man never ceased to amaze him, and he almost wanted to send up a cheer for his former boss as the car angled past him, realizing Skinner's intent to even the odds. 

*** 

There was a rise in the land. At the top of it, Will stumbled and fell. Cold steel touched his hands, filtering the vibration of the oncoming train. Hurrying to his feet, he observed the scene behind him. 

A car bore down on the two shadow men. Another man, running on foot, trailed the car. With every bit of action focused in his direction, Will slid down the far side of the track and ran towards the train. No longer could he see what was taking place now because he was lower than the tracks. His only hope was to make sure the train separated him from the others. 

*** 

Skinner hit one of the super-soldiers from behind, entwining him in the tangle of trailing barbwire. There'd be no success untangling himself unless Skinner stopped the car, which he had no intention of doing. Gunning it, he hoped to snare the other man, but as bad luck would have it, he had already started up the embankment. The best Skinner could hope for was to keep one super-soldier preoccupied in a web of wire, and pray that Mulder would somehow be able to thwart the attempts of the other. 

FBI Headquarters - Washington, D.C. 

Deputy Director Kersh scanned his notes from his meeting with General Musgrave. The officer was pissed off that Dana Scully made outside contact. As of yet, no one was able to verify who her message had gone to. Kersh laid odds it was Fox Mulder. 

Kersh had no personal recollection of Mulder. He and the woman were somehow connected, but his memory seemed clouded on the subject. In fact, he really had no recollection of Scully either with the exception of helping to apprehend her and watching Mulder's failed attempt to rescue her. As far as his memory was concerned, she was a threat that warranted removal, and he obeyed Musgrave's orders to bring her in. 

There were other orders as well; find Scully and Mulder's son, William. He was the greater threat. Kersh didn't waste time wondering how a boy could be a threat. The fact remained that he was, and he must be found and quite possibly eliminated. There was satisfaction in that it was his field agents who first located the boy. They failed to kill him but from their report, he ascertained that the child was more powerful than originally assumed. With no understanding of the power he possessed, he became even more dangerous. It would take some serious planning and scheming to lure the boy in, but Kersh didn't waste time worrying about it. He knew he would succeed. 

X-Files Office 

Gibson and the Lone Gunmen watched Kersh from the basement office. 

"Come on, slime ball. Use the damn letter opener already," Langly spouted off. 

They'd been watching the monitor all day, anxiously awaiting to see if the magnetite would have any affect. 

"Alvin Kersh," the Director said, answering his phone. "Yes... Yes, I know, but I haven't determined who's down there." 

"Guys, listen up," Gibson said. "Langly, turn it up. They're onto us." 

"What?" they asked in unison. 

"Ssshh." 

"I don't know who was in there. The door was locked, and I didn't have a key. The office has been empty for years. My guess is... it was someone from housekeeping. They seem to trust them with keys to everything." 

The boys in the basement looked at one another, very much concerned that they would need to move out and fast. 

"I'll do my job, and I don't need you to tell me how. You've made your point. Goodbye!" 

"Time to vacate the premises, boys," Byers ordered. 

"So much for being on the payroll," Langly griped. 

"We can't leave," Gibson said. "Not until we know if the magnetite has any effect on him." 

"Timing is everything," Langly advised. "We get caught, it's going to hit the fan, and we'll be the next batch of super recruits." 

"We won't have to wait long," Gibson directed. 

Kersh's secretary entered the room and handed a manila envelope to him. He read the label and turned it over to the taped flap. 

"This is it," Frohike announced. 

Kersh opened his drawer to retrieve his letter opener. Sliding it under the flap, he tore the seal. 

"I'll be a mother's..." 

"Wait!" Gibson interrupted sensing a disruption of thoughts as the secretary left the room, closing the door behind her. 

Setting the opener on the desk, Kersh pulled out a number of eight by ten photos. His hand began to shake uncontrollably causing him to drop the photos and grab his wrist. Confused, he opened and closed his fist several times. It was only after he returned the letter opener to the drawer that the shaking stopped. 

"Score one for the FBI Tunnel Rats," said Byers, ready to high-five anyone that was willing. "What do you know. One small step for man. One giant leap for..." 

"Agent Scully!" Frohike pushed Langly out of the way and concentrated on the photo in Kersh's hands. "Where's the damn control..." he demanded, adjusting the zoom, hoping he was wrong. 

But he wasn't. Kersh had turned the photo around to read what was written on the back. They watched in silence, taking in the pictures of their badly injured friend. 

"I'll kill those bastards," Frohike threatened. 

"If there's anything left after Mulder gets through with them," Byers added. 

"Guys," Gibson promoted. "We can't let Mulder know about this. He'll go ballistic." 

"Ya think?" Langly questioned sarcastically. 

As much as it was wrong to keep it from him, they all agreed. Mulder must never know the truth about Scully.