Life from the Ashes Book 3 - SBS
by Jo B.
purplefox@usfamily.netNC-17
Disclaimer: The X-Files characters Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Alex Krycek, Walter Skinner, Jeffrey Spender, CSM, the Lone Gunmen, Kimberly Cook, Senator Matheson, Bill Scully, the morph etc. are the property Chris Carter, 1013 productions and Fox Broadcasting. All other characters in the series are mine.
Summary: This is an Alternative Universe Story. It takes place after an alien virus has killed off most of the world's females and caused mutations in forty-five percent of the remaining males.
Authors Notes: This is the third book in my AU series "Life from the Ashes - SBS." You might want to read the prequel and the first two books of the series to understand this one.
I would like to thank my beta-readers Laurie, Cerulean Blue, Kiyoko, Nicole, Michael, and Susan for all their hard work and patience in editing this story and plot suggestions.
Feedback is always welcome. Any constructive suggestions are appreciated.
WARNING! This story contains explicit Sex/Romance between two or more men. Turn back now, if the subject matter offends you.
Okay to Archive: please ask first.
***
Chapter 13
Rebirth by FireFoxfire Glenn Estate
Thursday, March 30
5:30 p.m.Mulder sighed sadly. Alex had only been gone three hours and already he missed him. Throughout all the hurt and pain over the past few weeks his love for Alex had not diminished, he only wished that they could have worked out their differences before Alex left. He smiled softly at his baby girls who were playing happily with their toys at his feet while he sat on the sofa watching the evening news. All the other members of the household were in the backyard preparing a barbecue and enjoying the warm spring weather.
"Well girls it's just us tomorrow. Shall we take in a movie? How about we hit the malls? Maybe stop at the salon and have our hair done," he quipped, then sighed, "Let me warn you about men. When they promise you they'll share fifty-fifty in the raising of the children, don't buy it," he grumbled.
"Buy it, girls! Daddy Walter and Daddy Alex spend just as much time with you as your Daddy Fox does," Skinner said gruffly, coming into the family room. His tie was loose and his suit slightly crumpled after a hard day at work. He had taken time to swing through the butler's pantry for a couple of bottles of beer. One he handed to Mulder as he leaned down and kissed him then set his own bottle on the end table and bent to greet each of the babies. "Did Alex get off okay?"
"Unfortunately, yes. If I would have thought of it at the time, I would have put sugar in Rory's gas tank," Mulder grumbled.
"He'll be fine, Fox. Don't forget that before the virus Alex used to do this sort of thing for a living, and he's with Rory. That man could steal the seat out from under you," Skinner said. "Did anything else happen while I was at work?"
"My daughters' blood samples arrived from Russia. I placed them in the cooler. You can take them into work with you tomorrow and give them to Andy Nelson to run a DNA test on," Mulder said.
Skinner grumbled, "Fox, couldn't we have Shinji analyze the samples for us?"
"No, I want the samples authenticated by an official agency of the U.S. government. You're just afraid of Agent Nelson," Mulder smirked, thinking of the times Nelson had openly panted after Walter. He wrapped his lips around the beer bottle and took a slow, seductive sip.
"I am not. The man is a total kiss ass," Skinner growled, hungrily watching Mulder's lush lips.
"He's a good lab tech, though. Walter, if the U.S. government confirms that they are indeed my children then I might be able to have the State Department arrange for visitation rights with Slava," Mulder replied.
"Fox, let them go! You already have a family and children, and I would prefer that you do not have any contact with Slava," Skinner snapped.
Mulder's bottom lip trembled and he started nervously peeling the label off the bottle. "Walter, if they were your children you'd want to see them. How can you just expect me to simply let them go?"
Skinner sighed, realizing what an ass he was being. He sat down on the sofa next to Mulder and gathered him in his arms. Kissing him softly, he said, "I'm sorry, Fox. We'll figure out a way for you to see your other daughters without Slava being present. You're right, if they were my children nothing would stop me from seeing them."
Mulder returned the kiss. "Thanks, Walter. Why don't you go and change. The guys are barbecuing out back and it should be ready soon. When you come back could you bring the babies' spring jackets from the bedroom and we'll go out and join them?"
"Sure, Fox," Skinner said.
***
FBI Interim Offices Alexandria
Friday, March 31
9:30 a.m.As Skinner stepped into the bustling FBI lab, his eyes slid over all the unpacked boxes. He watched briefly as several lab technicians hurriedly unpacked and set up equipment. He glanced around the crowded room for Andy Nelson and finally located him in the far corner unpacking chemicals and placing them in an over-head cabinet. "Agent Nelson, I have some blood samples that I would like you to analyze," he said, walking up to the younger man.
Nelson looked surprised then happy to see Skinner. His gray eyes sparkled behind thick lenses, on his pimply white face. He was at least six-inches shorter than Skinner, and he was too skinny. "I'll get right on it, sir. May I inquire what case this is for?" he asked excitedly, looking for all the world like a puppy eager to please its master.
Skinner cringed under those intense eyes that were looking at him as if he were a Milk Bone biscuit. He wondered at first how much he should tell the man, but he decided that Nelson would need to refer to samples of Mulder's DNA to compare against the samples taken from Slava's daughters.
"Agent Nelson, this is to be kept under the strictest confidence. These blood samples are from Tsar Nikolai Slava's baby girls, I want them to be matched against Agent Mulder's DNA. He … we believe the babies may be Agent Mulder's daughters, but we want to find out for sure."
Nelson paled noticeably. His eyes flashed briefly with anger then regained their neutral appearance. "Why would Agent Mulder believe Slava's daughters are his? He'd have to have been sleeping with Slava for them to even be able to conceive a child together!" Nelson exclaimed with a bitter edge in his voice.
"That really is *none* of your concern, Agent! Just run the tests and get the results back to me as soon as possible," Skinner snapped, turning, he stormed angrily out of the lab. Agent Nelson gave him the creeps, there was something about the young man that didn't sit well with him.
Nelson's eyes lustfully followed Skinner's muscular physique as it exited the door. "I'm making it my business, sir," he muttered under his breath. He had been in love with Skinner since he first started working for the FBI and the mere thought of that slut of an immortal cheating on someone as noble and honorable as Walter Skinner made him furious.
//Mulder, if these are your bastard children you will pay dearly, that I promise you,// Nelson thought then placed the vials into the cooler and rushed to set up the equipment needed to perform the tests.
***
Denmark
Friday, March 31
9:30 p.m.Krycek stared anxiously around the crowded pub. He barely had any powers left now, and he was feeling extremely vulnerable without them. Although he was more than able to defend himself against any n'thral, human, or ghoul, it was defending himself against his fellow sorcerers that had him worried. He looked up with relief as Rory set a stein of beer in front of him.
"It's all set, lad, we leave in the morning," he drawled, plopping down in the chair next to Krycek.
"Rory, I have something to tell you. I think you really need to know. My powers have been acting up and I can barely light a match with them let alone use them to fight with," he said.
"I know, lad. I've been shielding your thoughts since we left the States, you're as open as a book," Rory said, leaning back in his chair he studied the young man's downcast face.
Krycek grimaced. "I should have learned Fox's technique for shielding his thoughts. Damn, I never felt I had to, with my powers it was always so easy," he replied sullenly. "I'm sorry, Rory, I didn't mean to put your life at risk … I really thought that my powers would come back once I was away from Fox. We've been having a hard time together lately if you haven't noticed."
"We all noticed, Alex. You're lucky Mulder was defending you or else one of us would have kicked your butt for the way you've been treating him. Kazuo and I covered up your lack of powers from Walter's probing; we wanted you away from Mulder for a while. Of course, we couldn't tell Shinji. He would have run to Mulder with the news. Immortals, they're always sticking together," MacIver complained.
"Rory, I'm still able to defend myself the old fashion way!" Krycek muttered angrily.
"I know that, Alex. C'mon, let's turn in, we need to get an early start tomorrow," MacIver said, standing and stretching.
Krycek followed him out the side door and down the cobblestone street. Denmark had only recently become ghoul free, and men were loitering outside enjoying the peaceful evening. His thoughts as always turned to Fox. Now that they were so far apart he could see more clearly what a complete jerk he had been. He couldn't wait to get home so he could make it up to his lover.
***
Foxfire Glenn Estate
Saturday, April 1
6:30 a.m.Mulder and Skinner awoke to a loud pounding on their bedroom door.
"Come in," Skinner growled as the babies started crying in the nursery.
Scully rushed into the room. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you but this couldn't wait," she said breathlessly. She tried not to stare as the two men sat up in bed and the blankets slid down exposing their bare chests. Her eyes lowered off their chests to the floor, and she quickly raised them, blushing at the discarded briefs lying there.
"Dana, can you turn the other direction for a moment? I would like to get my robe," Skinner said. When she did, he quickly stood and grabbed his robe from the chair near the bed and at the same time kicked his briefs under the bed and out of view. He went into the nursery and came back with both babies who were whimpering softly.
Mulder had propped his pillow up and was lying back against the headboard watching the scene with bemusement. Skinner set the girls on the bed and they immediately crawled into the comfort of their Daddy Fox's arms and laid their heads on his bare chest.
"Okay, what is it, Dana?" Skinner asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed.
When she turned back to face the two men her voice caught in her throat at the sight of Mulder and the two baby girls cuddling on the bed. She had never seen a more blissful scene in her life. All three of them were so beautiful. It took her a moment to remember why she had barged in on them in the first place.
"Ah, Walter, I'm concerned about Alex. More cases have been reported of sorcerers whose powers have been weakening. In a few cases, the sorcerers have completely loss their powers," she said.
"Shit. Dana, have any of them reported their powers returning?" Skinner asked.
"No. Walter, there aren't that many cases to begin with. It seems to be effecting less than one percent of the sorcerer population. Some sorcerers have even reported that their powers have increased," Scully replied, her eyes wandering back to Mulder and the babies. She stared into Mulder's wide, frightened hazel eyes.
Mulder was speechless. His fears for Alex were like a lead weight in his belly. He glanced over to Walter for reassurance.
"Fox, Alex will be all right. Even without his powers he is still a top rate operative," Skinner replied, resting a hand on his thigh.
"I wish that I could believe that, Walter," Mulder said sadly.
"Dana, can you get me all the information available on this power loss problem? Maybe there is something we're overlooking," Skinner asked.
"Yes, sir," she murmured then slowly left the room. She hated seeing Mulder so downtrodden.
After she left, Skinner put his arms around Mulder and the babies. "Fox, don't worry, nothing is going to happen to him."
"My instincts are telling me that he is in danger, Walter."
Skinner frowned, knowing that Fox's instincts had an uncanny way of always being right.
***
Oslo Norway
Saturday, April 1
1:30 p.m.It was an overcast, chilly day in Norway as Krycek and MacIver stood with their hands raised above their heads. They were surrounded and outnumbered. Krycek glared at the resistance leader who had led them into this trap. The man was talking openly to the leader of the military unit that had them surrounded. The other four members of their small group were in a state of shock over their leader's betrayal.
*Rory, I can't tell … how many sorcerers are there?* Krycek asked telepathically.
*Five more than I can handle alone,* MacIver grumbled.
*ENOUGH!* The shout echoed through both men's minds as a military major stepped up to them. "There will be no talking! Telepathically or vocally is that clear?" he growled.
Krycek opened his mouth to tell the man to go to hell, but MacIver's hand on his arm silenced him, and he realized that if he angered the major it wasn't just himself who would suffer.
"Your friend is a wise man," the major said, staring into Krycek's eyes. "Now take off your clothes, boy," he ordered, holding Krycek's green gaze briefly before turning to the other prisoners. "Strip, all of you!"
When Krycek didn't move the major used mind control to get him to comply. Krycek jerkily started undressing as he made a feeble attempt to fight off the older man's hold on his mind.
The major laughed scornfully at Krycek as he removed two metal ankle cuffs from the lead-lined box. "You are a poor excuse for a sorcerer! This power control cuff will be wasted on you, but it is under orders from my King that you wear it."
Krycek removed his final item of clothing and stood barefooted on the cold dirt ground. He was shivering, the temperature was only in the high forties, and he wasn't able to use his powers to keep himself warm like Rory was doing. But even Rory wouldn't be able to do that for much longer, once the metal ankle cuff was placed on him he would be powerless, too. He should have listened to Fox! When was he ever going to learn that his lover's hunches were usually right on the mark? Krycek bit his tongue angrily as his ankle was grabbed by rough hands and the cold metal cuff fastened around it.
Major Bjørnson looked up at Krycek from where he knelt on the ground at the young man's feet. "You might not be much of a sorcerer, but you are an exceptional beauty and should bring my King a good profit at the auction block," the major stated as he ran his hand up Krycek's muscular thigh stopping at his smooth groin area. "You're even nicely shaved. It's pleasing to see that you should be able to rapidly adjust to your new life as slave, all slaves in our brothels are kept smooth for the clientele. By the way, nice tattoo," Bjørnson said, leering up at Krycek. He turned to his men. "Do a body cavity check on them while I attend to our pretty little sorcerer here."
The major looked into Krycek's defiant eyes. "Bend over and spread your ass cheeks apart for me, pretty one." When Krycek didn't budge, he forced him to comply again by using mind control. Alex turned a flaming shade of red, as he stood bent with his own hands spreading himself open for the larger man's probing finger. It delved painfully deep into his body followed quickly by a second dry finger. Alex gasped in pain as the major's fingers stretched him and pushed against the walls of his rectum uncomfortably. The search seemed to go on for long, humiliating minutes -- many more minutes than the other prisoners had to endure, they stood watching the scene with loathing. The fingers twisted in all directions purposefully brushing his prostate until his penis started to respond to the stimulation, then they were roughly withdrawn.
The major didn't get up right away instead he stayed crouched at Krycek feet and caressed Alex's long, toned legs then fondled his balls and hard cock. "Hm, very sensitive, you have a nice and tight hole, not to mention long beautiful legs, and a great ass. You are going to warm many a bed during your stay with us, American. Maybe I'll pay for a night of pleasure myself, but I have a feeling that your cost would be more than a simple officer's salary could afford."
MacIver wanted to kill the major as he saw Alex's face flush with anger, his young friend was held powerless, not even able to tell the man to fuck off.
"Leave him the fuck alone," the Scotsman growled.
The nearest soldier slammed his rifle butt into MacIver's stomach, making him crumple to his knees holding his midsection. Before the soldier could deliver a second blow they were interrupted as a car squealed to a halt and a young captain from the King's personal guard came rushing over.
"Major Bjørnson, King Gullbrand would like you to bring the foreign prisoners to him immediately, and he said you are to hang the other traitors inside crow cages as a warning to their fellow resistance fighters." He nodded toward their four naked countrymen.
Major Bjørnson shuddered. He didn't like using the crow cages. It was a painful death. Leaving a man suspended in a cage from the top of a tall poll as he slowly starved to death, then the crows start feasting on the corpse's flesh, and sometimes the man wasn't dead before the crows started their feast. Bjørnson felt a simple bullet to the back of the head was a more efficient way of dealing with traitors.
"Very well, Captain, tell the King that I'll be there immediately, I just need to get the prisoners dressed."
"He wants them delivered naked. Have your assistant deal with the other prisoners and you can accompany me back now," the captain said.
Krycek helped MacIver to his feet. "Don't do anything so stupid again, Rory! I am more than capable of fighting my own battles," he hissed into the older man's ear.
"You could have fooled me, lad," MacIver moaned.
"Silence! You two, get in the car," the major growled.
Krycek slid into the backseat, he was about to slide over to the far door when Major Bjørnson opened that door and climbed in sandwiching Krycek between himself and MacIver. The coarse fabric of the major's coat was pressed uncomfortably against Alex's bare flesh. His mind was whirling, looking for a means of escape, but with the power cuffs on, and their lack of dress it would be impossible. They would have to bide their time until an opportunity arose.
"That's wise decision, pretty one, you and your friend wouldn't make it five feet," the major said, his hand again stroking Krycek's bare thigh.
"Stay out of my mind, bastard!" Krycek hissed, pushing the man's hand away.
Captain Jonsen chuckled in the front seat. "He's a spirited one, isn't he? He's just the type that our King's Aussie friend likes to play with."
Krycek didn't like the sound of that, but his response was lost as the car drove through the opulent gates of a massive palace. The palace was still under construction. There were thousands of n'thral and human slaves laboring under the watchful eyes of clairvoyant and sorcerer overseers.
"I see you are impressed. We sorcerers built the palace as a present to our new King, using our powers. We had the main portion raised in two months, now we use slaves to complete the rest. Tsar Nikolai Slava's Winter Palace will pale in comparison when this one is finally finished," Captain Jonsen said proudly.
The car pulled up in front of the main entrance and four large n'thral guards stepped forward. They leered lecherously at both Krycek and MacIver as they ushered them out of the car. The guards knew better than to touch the prisoners. However, they came close to forgetting Gullbrand's orders as they gazed upon the sable-haired beauty. If Captain Jonsen's harsh voice hadn't pulled them back to reality they would have ravaged the young man on the spot.
"Idiots, put your tongues back in your mouths! He's just a man! The way you four buffoons are drooling, you'd think he was an immortal! Now get back to your posts!"
The captain and the major led Krycek and MacIver through the palace's wide corridors. The floor was a dark green marble and the walls were a dark, polished, gray stone with dark mahogany woodwork. To Krycek it had the feel of some medieval castle.
They finally arrived at a large noisy dining hall. It had five, large pewter chandeliers hanging from a fifty foot ceiling above a long table with two equally long tables coming off its ends forming an open square. Thirty rugged and boisterous men sat eating, drinking, and laughing as scantily dressed slaves waited on them. Krycek watched with disgust as one of the slaves was grabbed and bent over the table and roughly taken from behind as the other men at the table shouted encouragement to the rapist. The room became quiet as their presence was finally noticed. Krycek kept his head held high under the men's scrutinizing eyes; he would never allow anyone to see that he was afraid.
The men admired Krycek's beautiful body, his long muscular legs, toned pectorals, and flat stomach. Both the sweet curve of his buttocks and the pink bowed lips on his all too pretty face just begged for a cock to be buried between them. The other slaves paled in comparison to this beauty and the men turned to look at their king hoping that this man was brought for their enjoyment.
"Well, if it isn't the famous Alexei Krycek," Gullbrand bellowed, slamming his gold stein of ale down on the table and rising. "Your reputation proceeds you, Alexei!" He walked around the table to where the four men stood waiting.
Beiran Havock had been sitting to the King's right with one leg propped over the arm of his chair. He unhooked his leg and also stood, openly leering at Krycek then focusing on MacIver. "MacIver, you dog! I've been looking forward to running into you again. You still owe me thousands for messing up my drug deal! I think I'll take what you owe me in flesh," he said menacingly, pulling a long, serrated knife from his boot.
"Put it away, Beiran," the King said as he walked around the two naked men, admiring the toned bodies and their good looks. The Scotsman was in his early forties, but he looked younger than his years and ruggedly handsome. Considering he was a sorcerer and wouldn't age further he would have brought a nice price. However, Gullbrand wasn't planning on selling him or his pretty companion, he had a better use for them.
"Dammit, Thor, he owes me! I demand retribution!" Havock growled, waving the knife around.
The men in the room went totally still. Some of them were loyal to Havock and the remaining belonged to Gullbrand.
Gullbrand leveled the Australian with a cold look. "Beiran, I advise you to watch your tongue or it will be removed. You are a guest on my soil and my decision is final! These men belong to me, not you."
Krycek looked over at MacIver's sweaty face and whispered, "Rory, it's nice to see you make friends wherever you go."
"Shut up, Alex," MacIver muttered.
"Captain Jonsen, find some clothes for our guests. I don't want them catching cold," the King ordered. After the officer had left, he turned back to Krycek and MacIver. "Friends, please join me at the table. You both must be starving after your long journey."
Krycek stood his ground. "If we're your guests then I think we'll skip dinner and leave as soon as the captain returns with our clothes."
The King threw back his head and laughed. "Oh, Alexei, you are both much more than my guests. You are my bargaining chips! I plan to exchange you for the love of my life. I don't doubt for a minute that your lovers won't hesitate to give me Hans in order to get the both of you back."
"Fox would never sell out his friend, even to get me back," Krycek growled as he followed Gullbrand around the dining table. He jumped when one of the men at the table pinched his ass, and he spun around so quickly there wasn't time for anyone to react as he struck the man with such force between his eyes that the large man toppled unconscious out of his chair.
Gullbrand watched with amusement, turning to one of his guards. "Remove that," he said, nodding at the unconscious man. Then he turned back to Krycek as if the incidence didn't happen. "I think Fox Mulder will, when he gets the photographs of you writhing at the end of my cock," Gullbrand said pleasantly. He motioned for the servers to bring his guests drinks. "You know very well, Alexei, that I can make you do anything I want. And, if I want to see you ride every man's cock in this room you will, and with a smile on your pretty lips."
Krycek turned red with anger as he glanced around the table at the thirty aroused men who were leering at him. He wanted to wipe the expressions off all of their faces. He knew Fox wouldn't turn Hans over to Gullbrand, even for him. However, he also knew that Fox would try to rescue him himself, and the thought of Fox falling into these men's hands was unthinkable. He picked up the drink in front of him and downed half its contents before replying. "You can do whatever you want to me, you son of a bitch, but Fox will never send you Hans. Ask your clairvoyants if you don't believe me, neither Fox nor Shinji would ever betray a friend."
The King kept a tentative hold on his temper as he motioned to the guard standing behind him. "Bring me Martin Frøysok," he commanded. "For both your sakes, Alexei, I hope you are wrong."
MacIver and Krycek exchanged worried glances; they both knew Krycek was right, which meant they were in deep trouble. They nervously picked at the food forcing themselves to eat. They knew it would probably be the last good meal they would have for as long as they remained prisoners here.
A small trollish man entered the room and Krycek stared opened mouth at him. The man looked almost exactly like Frohike. What was this? How many doubles did Frohike have? He pushed his plate away believing that his host had put something in the food.
"Frøysok, I need your expert opinion on a matter of the utmost importance," Gullbrand said, looking coldly at the smaller man standing before him. "I would like to know if my captive's lovers would exchange Hans Schatz for them?"
"No, my King, neither Fox Mulder nor Shinji Takeda would betray their friend."
"Damn," the King swore as he threw his mug angrily across the room, it bounced noisily off the far wall. "I guess you can have your pound of flesh after all, Beiran."
MacIver tensed up. His heart constricted as he watched Havock pull a knife from its sheath, knowing that he would never see his son being born or hold his child in his arms.
"My King, you cannot kill either of these men if you want Hans Schatz," Frøysok said quickly.
"What the *HELL* do you mean, Frøysok? You just said their lovers would never exchange Hans for them!" Gullbrand barked.
Frøysok wasn't fazed by his King's anger, he replied calmly, "That is correct, Your Highness, they would never betray their friend. However, Hans Schatz would come to you willingly and exchange himself for their freedom. If you kill them then Hans Schatz will never be yours."
A smile spread across Gullbrand's handsome face. "Of course, my love would sacrifice himself for his friends. He is pure of heart and wouldn't want them to suffer. I should have thought of that. Frøysok, I need you to find a way for me to get a secret message to my Hans, you have two days to find one."
"Yes, my King," the older man said, bowing he backed out of the room only turning when he reached the door.
"It looks like you've had a reprieve, Mr. MacIver. You may get to see your son's birth after all," Gullbrand said, not trying to conceal the fact that he had been reading the Scotsman's mind. "I will see that you are treated fairly for your remaining stay here. Is there anything at all you require?"
"Yes. We have a friend who was taken captive … Hans would want his release, too," MacIver said.
"What is your friend's name? I will see that he is brought here at once."
"Jonathan Carter."
"Guard, I want this Jonathan Carter brought here and placed in the guest suite with Mr. MacIver."
MacIver met Krycek's eyes worriedly. "Ah, King Gullbrand, what about Alex?"
"His welfare is really none of your concern, but to put your mind at ease he will be staying in my bedroom until the exchange is made."
MacIver glared angrily, "Your clairvoyant said …"
The King interrupted him. "Frøysok said that I cannot kill either of you, but he didn't say that I couldn't take pleasure from Alexei's beautiful body. Don't worry, Mr. MacIver, once Hans is with me I will send all three of you back to the States . You have my word on that."
Krycek sat there stunned. He was feeling like an object, a piece of meat as the two older men discussed him as if he weren't even there. "No fucking way! I'd rather be locked in the dungeon if it's all the same to you," Krycek growled.
"And I'd rather you sat there quietly, looking like the pretty little trollop you are," Gullbrand replied.
Krycek started to reply but found he couldn't get his voice to work.
Havock started laughing. "He looks like a guppy with those pretty lips moving and nothing coming out. God, Thor, you kill me. You are going to share him with me, aren't you?"
Gullbrand trailed a finger down Krycek's bare chest, stopping to scrap the nail over the young man's nipple. "Yes, Beiran, and I'll even allow you to pierce his nipples."
Krycek couldn't move a muscle, he wanted to break the offending fingers off and drive his fist down the king's throat.
Captain Jonsen came back with his arms full of clothing.
"Good, Captain, give Mr. MacIver the clothes and show him to the guest suite. I want four sorcerers guarding him at all times. Is that clear?"
"Yes, my King. Mr. MacIver, this way."
MacIver wanted to protest and to protect Alex, but in their present circumstances there was nothing he could do. He squeezed Alex's shoulder in sympathy as he stood and picked up the clothes and followed Captain Jonsen out of the dining hall.
Havock got up and walked behind Krycek. "Stand, boy," he hissed.
Krycek found himself rising, bending to the Australian's will. He flinched as the man reached between his legs and fondled his balls. "Thor, what do you think? Should I stretch these beauties? Maybe cut them off, I bet he'd make a hot eunuch."
"No, Beiran, eunuchs are not any fun. Besides, I don't want him permanently damaged. Just be happy that I'm allowing you to pierce his nipples," Gullbrand said, caressing Alex's firm buttocks, he was going to have a lot of fun with this beauty.
Krycek wished for one second of freewill! He'd use it to slice Havock's cock off and shove it down Gullbrand's arrogant throat.
***
St. Petersburg
Sunday, April 2
1:30 a.m.Tsar Nikolai Slava paced back and forth. He couldn't believe what Fyodorov had told him. It wasn't possible. Although his spies had already confirmed that King Gullbrand was holding Alexei Krycek, they were unable to confirm the second part of Fyodorov's message. Either way, he needed to get Krycek away from Gullbrand. Fox would come back to him, if for nothing else then to be with Krycek.
***
Oslo Norway
Sunday, April 2
4:30 a.m.Krycek tugged uselessly at the steel chain fettering him to the large wooden bedpost. From his position on the hard floor at the foot of the large bed he listened to the snoring coming from the two men sleeping on it. He had spent the past three hours trying to break the lock that held him chained, before finally giving up. He was cold, exhausted, and sore. He curled up on the rug, bringing his knees up to his chest trying to get warm. Dry semen caked his thighs, buttocks, and belly, making his skin uncomfortably itchy. He had never felt so helpless before, not even when the consortium had kidnapped him and Fox, or the time he was locked inside the missile silo. But then, he had never been raped before. Considering his looks and his profession, he had come close a few times, but he had easily defended himself. Now he was powerless against these sorcerers who could read and control his mind.
He thought of Fox, this feeling of helplessness must be what his lover felt on a daily basis. He needed to get back to Fox to tell him that he was sorry. A solitary tear made its way down his cheek as he closed his eyes; his lover's beautiful face was the last image he saw before falling asleep.
***
Foxfire Glenn Estate
Sunday, April 2
1:30 p.m.Mulder sat at the kitchen counter watching Justin and Joe as they maneuvered around each other in the kitchen. They seemed full of energy and happy while he felt tired and miserable. His whole being ached with need and desire. Justin was five months pregnant and he still wasn't outwardly showing. Mulder looked over at his ex-partner who was sitting at the round kitchen table with Pyetr and Shinji. Scully was also five months pregnant and she looked it. She hadn't switched totally over to maternity clothes yet, but it was only a matter of weeks before she had to.
He looked back and forth between Justin and Scully. Maybe immortal pregnancies were different enough that the men wouldn't show their state too badly. Doctor Pendrell had said that the reason Justin and the others weren't showing was that they had a dense gel surrounding the fetus instead of a fluid.
Mulder couldn't imagine, no he didn't want to imagine needing to wear maternity clothes or requiring assistance to stand. That would be too embarrassing. He had already made up his mind that he would go through with it and get pregnant during his next cycle. The compulsion was now too strong to resist.
He looked up as an arm wrapped around his waist. "A penny for your thoughts?" Skinner murmured, kissing his cheek.
"I'll tell you in our bedroom," Mulder said, turning around on the stool and hugging Skinner tightly, burying his face in the older man's neck and breathing in his rich scent.
"Sure, Fox, whatever you want."
The others watched Mulder and Skinner leave. Justin turned to Shinji and said, "It looks like you are going to owe Joe and I twenty hours of free babysitting."
"No way, Justin. Mulder is going to hold out for at least another one or two months," Takeda said.
"Ha! Did you see that look on his face? The man is about to crack!"
Scully looked at both immortals, confused. "Can you please enlighten me? What the hell are you two talking about?"
Hawk answered her. "Mulder's next cycle is in a couple of days. Justin and I think he will break down and ask Walter to impregnate him, but Shinji thinks he'll hold off for a couple of months yet."
Scully's eyes grew wide. She had accepted that the other immortals were pregnant, but she could not picture Mulder being in the same state. "So the bet is for free babysitting? I want in. I'll bet that Mulder can hold out for at least another three months."
"You're on, Dana."
***
"Walter, I'm serious. I can't go through another month. I want to have a child, your child," Mulder pleaded.
"Fox, we really should wait until Alex is back. It doesn't seem right to make this decision without him," Skinner replied, holding Mulder in his arms.
Mulder clung to Skinner, the demands of his body were already too strong and getting stronger the closer he got to his cycle. "Walter, my next cycle starts in two days. Alex will not be back in two days and I cannot go through another month, you don't know how unbearable the need has become," Mulder said burying his face against Skinner's chest.
"Okay, Fox, if we don't hear from Alex by Tuesday then we will go ahead. If that is what you really want?" Skinner asked, holding him tightly enjoying the hard lean body pressing against his own and the clear beating of Fox's heart against his. Having his lover pregnant with their child was something that Skinner wanted more than anything. It would be the ultimate melding of their love for each other.
Mulder couldn't tell him that it wasn't what he wanted, that he really did not want any of this, but he could no longer control the need. "Yes, Walter, it is what I want."
"Masataka and Kazuo should be gone with the girls for at least another half hour, Fox," Skinner purred, squeezing Mulder's denim-encased penis, feeling it thicken under his fingers.
"And?" Mulder moaned, nipping the side of Skinner stubble covered jaw.
"And, I want to have a little snack before dinner," Skinner said as he slid off the bed, pushing Mulder's legs apart as he knelt between them. He caressed with his palms back and forth over his lover's thighs, coming closer with each caress to his groin area, which swelled excitedly against the thick denim confining it.
"Walter, please. Your snack is going to spill before you even get to it," Mulder groaned.
"A little light on the trigger are we, Fox?" Skinner grinned and unbuttoned his lover's pants, pushing them down. The large man smiled at the sight of Fox's purple cockhead peeking out from the slit in his gray, silk boxers. Mulder raised his hips and Skinner peeled his pants and underwear down to his thighs.
Skinner curled his fingers gently around Fox's throbbing rod and lowered his head, placing a tender kiss on its leaking tip. He then twirled his tongue around the velvet surface collecting the pre-cum from its surface. "Mm, you know I can never get enough of you, Fox."
Mulder had his eyes closed and his head thrown back, he purred seductively, "You know I'm yours, Walter, take your fill."
"With pleasure, lover," Skinner whispered, taking the head of his lover's cock into his mouth. His tongue licked over the throbbing vein on its underside and he spent long minutes sucking on the head and savoring every drop of milky come that leaked out before taking it in deeper. He raised his eyes to look at Mulder. His lover's fingers were entwined in the bedcovers, and he had a total look of bliss on his pretty face as he pushed his hips up wanting to be taken deeper into that moist heat. Skinner obliged him, swallowing him as far down as he could take him before pulling back, then took him back down again.
Mulder was in heaven. The tightness of Walter's throat around his cock was exquisite and he wanted to stay forever in that hot mouth, but all too soon he felt his balls tightening and he cried out as he poured out his love. He fell back on the bed too exhausted to even sit up.
Skinner swallowed fast, he pulled back just enough so he could taste his lover's delicious essence as it spurted over his tongue. He slowly and tenderly licked his lover's wilting penis clean. Then he climbed up on the bed and draped himself over Fox's languishing body, wrapping his arms around him and pulling him closer he captured his lips in a long, wet kiss.
Mulder's arms went around Walter's neck and he looped a leg over the back of his lover's muscled thigh, bringing their bodies even closer. He felt such love for this large man. He didn't know how he could have ever survived so many years without him in his life. A wave of sadness hit him as he worried for the other man he loved, and a tear ran down the gentle curve of his cheek. He didn't know why he should feel that something was wrong with Alex when Frohike, Spender, and Fyodorov all said that he was fine. Mulder just wished he knew what Alex was doing at that minute so it would ease the gnawing worry he was feeling.
***
Oslo Norway
Monday, April 2
10:30 a.m.Krycek head hung down to his chest. His arms were stretched above his head and his toes barely touched the floor. He was beyond caring what happened to him, his body jerked by reflex alone as another stroke of the leather whip torn the flesh from his back. He felt the warmth of his blood as it ran down from his wounds and over his buttocks then trickled slowly down his legs. Through blurry eyes he stared down his bare chest at the bright gold hoops that pierced through each of his swollen nipples and the chain that joined them.
"Beiran! What in God's name have you done?" King Gullbrand's voice resounded in Alex's head.
"He hit me, Thor. I was only teaching him a lesson!"
Gullbrand looked at the swollen eye on his Australian lover's face. "I told you not to touch him without me being present. What did you try to do to him?"
"Nothing. I just thought he needed to be cleaned out again," Havock replied. "He shouldn't have struck me!"
Gullbrand looked at the torn flesh on Krycek's back. "Fuck it, Beiran, you're a sorcerer. You could have easily controlled him with your powers. There was no fucking need for this!"
Havock growled angrily. "He's a fucking slave, Thor! I shouldn't have to use my powers to control him! He should obey me out of fear like the dog he is!"
"Beiran, I don't fuck dogs, and from the look of his back I won't be fucking him either for a while. Have you ever considered taking a temper management class?" Gullbrand asked hotly, placing his shoulder under Krycek's midsection he lifted him off the floor until his bound arms were raised off the hook that held him suspended in the air. Krycek's unconscious body fell limply over Gullbrand's broad shoulder. The King was unconcerned about the blood that he was getting on himself.
"He shouldn't have hit me! Besides, I want Fox Mulder to pay for what he did to me! Mulder loves this man and …"
Gullbrand stopped him short. "Enough, Beiran! It was your own fucking fault that you were caught. Stop trying to blame it on the American FBI man! He was only doing his job! Start taking responsibility for your own actions!" he snapped as he lay Krycek down on the bed, carefully positioning him on his stomach. "Fuck, those lacerations are going to leave permanent scars." He telepathically contacted his personal doctor, and the old man was at his door in under five minutes.
Gullbrand went into his bathroom to wash the blood off his body and clothes as the doctor patched up Krycek's wounds. When he came out Krycek had finally regained consciousness and was groaning and twisting in agony. There was a knock on his door and Captain Jonsen stepped into the bedroom.
"My King, Tsar Nikolai Slava is down in the throne room, he would like an audience with you," the young captain said.
"Slava's here?" Gullbrand's eyebrows rose in surprise. What could that Cossack want? He had always gotten along well with Slava even before they both overthrew their respective governments and placed themselves as Monarchs.
"Yes, Your Highness, but he didn't come alone. He brought his personal guard of fifty sorcerers with him," Jonsen said.
"So Slava isn't here for a friendly visit?" Gullbrand mused. "Captain, have our sorcerers positioned to defend the palace if needed. Come along, Beiran, I want you with me."
"I wouldn't miss meeting Slava for anything. The man's suppose to be the most powerful sorcerer in the world, I just might test him and find out just how tough he really is," Havock said.
"Beiran, a word of advice. Nikolai Slava has killed more men than you, the coalition, and me combined and he won't hesitate to kill you if you provoke him. The man is not to be toyed with, so watch yourself, and whatever you do don't say one word to him about Fox Mulder," Gullbrand advised as the two men walked down the hallway toward the thorn room.
***
Slava looked around Gullbrand's throne room with amusement; it was twice the size of his own throne room at the Winter Palace. His personal guard stood at attention facing Gullbrand's sorcerers. Slava had little doubt that if it came to a fight his men could easily defeat Gullbrand's men. He turned to face King Gullbrand as he strolled into the room.
"Nikolai, my friend, what brings you to Norway?" Gullbrand said, hugging the Tsar.
Both men stood the same height of six feet, five inches, but they were as different as night was to day. Gullbrand's long blond-hair hung past his shoulders, he was dressed in leather with a broadsword worn at his waist. He looked every bit like a legendary Viking King. Slava, on the other hand, had his black-hair elegantly styled and wore a three-piece, tailored, black business suit that fit his muscular frame like a glove.
"Thor, I heard you have my countryman Alexei Krycek, and I want him turned over to me," Slava said coolly as his coal black eyes looked over the rugged man at Gullbrand's side.
"That's impossible, Nikolai. I need him as part of a trade I'm putting together to get my future mate back from the Americans. You of all people should know what it's like to be in love with an immortal," Gullbrand said, walking up the steps to his throne, he sat and tried to not let Slava see how nervous he was.
"Thor, you still have two other hostages to use in your trade. Alexei Krycek will not make anymore of a difference, ask your chief clairvoyant Frøysok to confirm it. I want to avoid bloodshed, but I'm not leaving here without Alexei," Slava said softly.
"Gawd, you have some balls, mate! Waltzing in here and making demands with what? Only fifty sorcerers," Havock growled.
"Beiran, silence," Gullbrand hissed.
"Thor, let's just kick his ass out of here. How can you just sit there and let this arrogant fool make demands in your own throne room?"
Slava rolled his eyes and without even looking at Havock, he encased the man up to his neck in a block of ice, and said, "I think your friend should learn to keep a cooler head, Thor."
This got chuckles from all of Slava's men and most of Gullbrand's who didn't particularly care for Havock.
Havock tried, but couldn't make the block of ice disappear. He even tried melting it, but that didn't work, so he stood there shivering.
"Okay, Nikolai, I will check with my clairvoyant. If Frøysok says that Krycek isn't necessary then you can have him. As long as you are here, why don't you and your men accept my hospitality? My guards will escort you to the dining hall, please feel free to enjoy any of my lovely slaves while you dine," Gullbrand said lightly.
"Thank you, Thor, my men will no doubt enjoy our brief visit," Slava said bowing respectfully. He turned and left the room with his men and Gullbrand's guards following close behind.
"Ttthor, ggett tthis offf mmme," Havock stuttered through clattering teeth.
"I can't, Beiran. Slava put a counter spell on it and you are just going to have to wait until it melts on its own. Just think warm thoughts," Gullbrand replied.
***
FBI interim offices
Monday, April 3
2:30 p.m.Mulder wheeled his chair over to his filing cabinet. It felt so good to finally be back at work and away from the estate. Thankfully, Yori had agreed to babysit the girls for him and Walter. Mulder closed his eyes as another wave of anxiety hit him. He tried to pull his feelings away from the dread he had felt in the pit of his stomach for the past three days. He wasn't sure if it was worry over Alex or his decision to have a baby.
"Good morning, Agent Mulder," Andy Nelson said, walking into the office. "I have the results back from the DNA tests I ran on those blood samples A.D. Skinner dropped off on Thursday. They are beyond a doubt your daughters," he said, handing Mulder the file. His cold eyes locked onto Mulder's too beautiful face with jealousy as Mulder studied the contents of the folder.
Nelson fingered the remote control in his pocket. He had spent Sunday installing an incendiary bomb inside the air ducts behind Mulder's desk. It had enough napalm in it to destroy the office and he hoped totally vaporize Mulder's body. Once Walter accepted what a whore Mulder had been, Nelson was sure that he would be able to win the big man's love.
"Agents," Skinner said, stepping into Mulder's office.
"Sir, Agent Nelson was just dropping off the results of *my* daughters' DNA tests," Mulder said smugly, looking into his lover's handsome face, he missed the rage that burned in Nelson's eyes.
Skinner sat in a chair next to Mulder's desk and pulled the folder over to him. He looked up at Nelson, and barked, "You are dismissed, Agent Nelson."
"Yes, sir," Nelson murmured and left the office. He took a position in an empty cubicle to wait for Skinner to leave the office. He pulled the remote control from his pocket and placed it on the desk in front of him.
***
Same time
Oslo NorwaySlava wasn't happy when he saw the condition Krycek was in. The flashing lightning outside the palace's window highlighted the dark bruises on the young man's body and emphasized the white bandages that covered his back. Krycek stared back at Slava defiantly as the larger man reached forward and gently removed the rings piercing each of his nipples.
"Where are his clothes?" Slava growled.
Captain Jonsen stepped forward and handed Krycek a pile of clothing. The young captain kept an admiring eye focused on the handsome Russian ruler. He was impressed at the large Cossack's powerful presence and the fear he instilled in those around him including his own King.
"What's going on?" Krycek asked as he started slowly pulling on the clothes over his battered body.
"You're coming back to Russia with me, Alexei," Slava said, walking over to the window he watched the thunderstorm flash and rumble outside.
"Why?"
Slava met Krycek eyes in the darkened glass. "For Fox. He would not be happy with your present accommodations," he said lightly.
"You're going to use me so he will return to you, aren't you?" Krycek growled angrily.
"To return to us, Alexei. I intend to keep both of you. Fox will be much happier in Russia with you and I to love and protect him," Slava replied.
"You're out of your frigging mind! We will never stay with you willingly or otherwise," Krycek hissed, pulling the sock on over the metal power cuff.
"I don't expect you to accept your situation right away, Alexei. In time you will come to enjoy your life with me." Slava watched as Krycek slowly and painfully pulled the remainder of his clothes on. He knew from Krycek's mind that Havock had inflicted all of the injuries on his body. He thought reluctantly that he should have just killed Havock, encasing him in ice was too good for the man. "We will be leaving now, Thor. Thank you for your hospitality," Slava said courtly.
"Do drop by again, Nikolai, maybe your next visit will be on friendly terms," the King replied.
Krycek followed Slava to the front entrance of the palace and looked down at the long line of cars that were parked out front. Most of the Tsar's personal guards were already in the other cars waiting patiently for them. Slava shielded both of their bodies from the rain as they made their way down the rain-slick steps to the waiting limousine. Krycek was nervous as he slid into the backseat; he bit his lip against the pain as his back pressed down on the leather-upholstered seat. He couldn't allow Slava to use him as a means to get Fox to return to him.
He looked out the window of the car as it slowly made its way toward the airport through flooded streets. There were steady flashes of lightning illuminating the darkness. He glanced over at Slava. The big man was on the telephone to the airport discussing the current weather conditions and wasn't paying him any attention. The limousine slowed and Krycek saw his chance, he flung open the door and dived out, rolling as he hit the pavement. He quickly regained his feet and raced across an open field. He heard Slava's voice inside his head commanding him to stop and he slowed, coming to a reluctant halt. As he turned back toward Slava his whole world blazed bright white and a searing pain burnt through his body. His last conscious thought before he fell to the ground dead was that at least his Fox was safe.
Slava watched aghast as a bolt of lightning struck Alexei. He ran over to the young man's body and found it burnt beyond recognition. The lightning seemed to have struck the metal power cuff. The cuff was sizzling, sending blue flames throughout Krycek's dead body. Slava's men gathered and stood nearby their Tsar, watching him as he stood in the pouring rain staring grief stricken at the smoldering blacken corpse at his feet.
***
Five minutes earlier
FBI interim officeSkinner smiled as he stepped onto the elevator to head back up to his office. By tomorrow evening Fox would be pregnant with *his* child. His heart soared at the prospect. The moment the elevator doors slid shut a loud explosion threw him off his feet.
"FOX!" he cried, regaining his feet, he forced the doors open and rushed out. His whole world grayed when he saw his lover's burnt body laying in the burning ruins of his office. The sprinkler system had gone off and he stood too stunned to move as water poured down on him.Agents came running from all directions and halted in their tracks at the destruction they saw.
Agent Sullivan stepped forward shakily. "Sir, he's an immortal. He'll be fine once he heals."
"He's dead, Jack," Skinner whispered. "The only way to kill an immortal is through incineration," he said sadly. "Someone has done this intentionally." He knelt on the wet carpet beside Fox's body. He was too numb to even feel the broken glass cutting into his knees.
"Sir, he'll be okay. The reports said it takes *total* incineration to kill them. He's only ah … badly burnt." Sullivan swallowed, he wasn't sure himself if Mulder would recover, his arms and part of his legs had disintegrated. His torso and head were blackened and hairless, but they looked solid enough.
"I want the fucking bastard who did this!" Skinner roared. His grief-stricken cry tore at the hearts of all the agents, save for one.
Lars Johnson stepped up to them, and said quietly, "Sir, Doctor Pendrell is on his way. I've advised him of Mulder's condition."
Skinner closed his eyes and remembered the last time he had thought Fox dead. Maybe, just maybe, there was some hope that Fox would return to him.
***
Same time
Oslo NorwayAfter twenty minutes, Slava finally whispered . "Alexei, Fyodorov said you would be reborn by fire. I hope for our Fox's sake that he isn't wrong." The Tsar waved his arm over Krycek's body and a glass coffin appeared around it, encasing his burnt remains. He turned to face his men. "We will take our countryman back to Russia with us." Only Slava knew the rest of what Fyodorov had told him.
***
Secret Consortium Base
Monday, April 3
8:30 p.m."Sir, are you sure that you want to test this serum on yourself first? We can purchase slaves to test it on," the consortium doctor asked worriedly.
"Do it!" CSM barked, holding out his arm for the shot. He watched with fascination as the needle pierced his wrinkled flesh and the blue fluid was injected into his bloodstream. He wasn't a reckless fool by nature. He had studied the scientists' results and knew beyond doubt that this serum would change him into a sorcerer.
He looked lustfully over at the cells where the two fully healed immortals huddled, waiting for a sorcerer to claim them for his mates. He would be that sorcerer, and with them, start a new race of humans.
The smoker closed his eyes as he felt the drug burning through his body, the pain suddenly became unbearable, and it felt like his body was on fire! He screamed, as his whole world blazed into a white nothingness.
***