Life from the Ashes Book 3 - SBS
by Jo B.
purplefox@usfamily.netNC-17
Keywords: M/Sk/K SLASH
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 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 18
XowolfeThe Crystal Palace
Friday, May 4
7:30 p.m.King Walter, his top generals and his advisors were all busy conferring over maps and reports in the palace's strategy room. The grief was clearly visible to all those who glanced upon Skinner's face, and although his heart was breaking he took complete charge of the operation to find his abducted lover.
"Why are we just sitting around here? We need to be out looking for him?" Krycek yelled, grabbing Skinner's arm. "It's been over three hours!"
"Alex, calm down!" Skinner growled. "We can't go around half cocked, hoping we'd find him! We need to know where to look first. You know that."
"No, I don't know that, Walter! What's the point in having all of these fucking clairvoyants around if they cannot pinpoint where that creature has taken Fox! This island was supposed to be safe. If I hadn't been with Fox, no one would have known what had become of him!"
"This island is safer than any other place on this planet! Alex, we cannot guard against something we haven't encountered before. Remember the time the morph sneaked onto our estate? Once we felt his presence we knew what to guard against. The Seraphim will never be able to get on the island again without being detected!" Skinner argued, his gut sinking, knowing that it took Fox's kidnapping to make the other immortals safer.
As if hearing Skinner's thoughts, Alex responded angrily, "Yeah, a lot of good that did Fox! He had to be abducted first to make the rest of us safer!" Krycek threw his hands up in irritation. He knew that he was wasting his time here. He stormed out of the throne room and toward the direction of the turret housing the Lone Gunmen's headquarters.
Skinner watched him go, he was irritated that Alex seemed to be blaming him for Fox's abduction. Skinner was having a hard time controlling his emotions in front of his staff. Not only was Fox missing but with him; their unborn child. What if that alien killed their baby like they tried to do with Hope? If he could find that Seraphim he'd tear him apart with his bare hands.
Krycek ran up the stairs of the turret instead of waiting for an elevator. The Lone Gunmen's office and apartments were on the top floor. The office was a technogeek's dream. It seemed Skinner had wasted no expense in furnishing the Gunmen with the latest in computer equipment and gadgets.
The three men were so busy working on their computers that they didn't even notice Krycek as he came storming in.
"Alex, I'm sorry about Mulder," Hans Schatz said. He was helping Frohike search online for any information that could lead them to Mulder.
"Thanks, Hans," Krycek said automatically as he made a beeline for Langly. "Have you found anything yet?"
"Sorry, dude, we're scanning all police departments, military channels, and news services for any sightings of angels or winged beings. Nothing yet, except for around the White Mountain in Alaska, but CGB Spender doesn't match this Xowolfe character close enough," Langly said.
"Xowolfe is an alien, Langly, he's not a mutant. Fox told Walter that Xowolfe and his race were the ones responsible for releasing the virus on our planet. If those creatures have found a way to get onto our planet undetected, then all of the immortals will be in danger," Krycek stressed.
"Including yourself, Alex," Langly pointed out. "But, there haven't been any reports of UFO activity in our galaxy."
"Then how did he get here?" Krycek argued.
"That's a good question, Alex," Byers said, standing and stretching. "We could really use your help in searching the databases." The dapper gunmen could see that Krycek was close to coming apart and thought if he had something to focus on he'd be able to handle Mulder's abduction better.
"Sure, show me what to do," Krycek said anxiously.
"You can use this workstation. We are scanning all recent reports starting on the East Coast then working our way West, South, and North. If you find anything that is of the least bit suspicious print it off and Frohike will check into it further," Byers explained.
"Okay, I can do that … at least it's better than doing nothing," Krycek said.
***
White Mountain
Friday, May 4
9:30 p.m.Ian crept down the cold, dark hallway to the room holding Jeffrey Spender. He carried bread and cheese; hidden under his shirt. The Batman, as Ian thought of CGB Spender, was trying to break his son by depriving him of food, sleep, and comfort. The smoker had been enraged that his son hadn't mutated in a similar fashion to himself.
The cell door was locked, but it had a small window, which Ian looked through. "Hey, Jeff, I brought you something," the blond immortal whispered.
Jeff eased himself along the cold concrete wall until he made it to the door. He was so weak that he could barely stand and he needed the support of the wall to keep him upright. "You shouldn't be helping me, Ian. My father would be very upset if he found out," Spender said tiredly, glancing through the bars at the beautiful immortal.
"Doesn't matter. What more can he do to me than he's already done?" Ian said, passing the bread and cheese through the bars, he watched as Jeffrey hungrily wolfed the small amount of food down. Ian itched to touch Jeffrey's downy, russet wings, he'd never seen anything more magnificent. The rest of Spender's body had transformed into a work of art, with smooth, well-defined muscles, hard pecs, and a flat washboard stomach. His penis had mutated similarly to his father's with bristles covering its length. However on the son, it appeared highly erotic and Ian yearned to feel the length inside of him and the bristles teasing his passage.
"Thanks, Ian," Spender said, looking longingly at the beautiful immortal. He wanted to kill his father for what he had done to Ian and Kahlid, but he was too weak. If he had any powers like his father possessed, he was unable to access them in the cell.
"Isn't this a lovely sight. My son getting to know his new step-mother," CGB Spender purred menacingly from down the hallway.
"Fuck off, asshole, I am not a woman!" Ian growled angrily.
"You're not a man, my dear. Men cannot have babies," the smoker said as he stalked over to Ian and pulled him against his chest. His hand clutched the immortal's stomach. "Soon as you develop your womb here and I'll fill it with my offspring. You will always be barefoot and pregnant, my dear."
"Get your hands off him, father!"
"All men desire to have their mates knocked up with their child, son," The smoker sneered. "You want him for yourself, don't you? Admit it. If you swear your loyalty to me, son, I'll give you this beauty as a present. I'll even throw both of you a big wedding."
"You don't own Ian, father. It is not your right to give him to anyone. Let him go."
"You're living in the past, son. Look around you! Only the strongest and smartest men rule now. Humans and n'thrals are here to serve us, and these lovely immortals are for the mightiest and most intelligent amongst us to breed with," the smoker exclaimed. "You are still too weak, son, your brother would have made a fine ruler. It is too bad that he is an immortal, but maybe I can have some more of this serum made," he said, holding up the near empty syringe. "There just might be enough of it left to analyze. Think of it, Jeffrey, it might give your brother Fox some sorcerer powers."
"Father you can't! You have no idea what it would do to him."
"He could be a great leader, Jeffrey, if he had powers."
"Fox, is already a better leader than you'd ever make, even without any powers," Jeff spat.
"Such loyalty to your step-brother, Jeffrey. A short time ago you hated and despised him," the smoker said as he caressed Ian's body.
Spender glared angrily. "I was naïve then, father! I didn't know who the good guys were, but I am no longer naïve, not since you finding out you were indirectly responsible for my mother death. You and your associates helped to destroy this planet. Did you know that, Ian? My father was one of the top officials in the consortium, he worked directly with the aliens."
Ian knew that. He knew all about the consortium; its doctors and scientists had subjected him to countless experimentations. He was trembling with fear as the smoker caressed his body. He didn't want the Batman touching him. If the son would only promise his loyalty then Ian would be free from its touch. "Jeff, please. Help me."
"Ian." Spender bowed his head in defeat. He couldn't allow his father to continue to abuse Ian. "Okay, father, you win. Just don't touch him any longer."
"Sorry, son, but I don't believe you. I think that I'll wait a bit longer until I am sure of your loyalty to me. Come along, Azure, I want to fuck you." The smoker dragged the struggling immortal down the corridor.
Jeffrey sighed, and placed his head against the bars.
***
St. Petersburg
Friday, May 4
10:30 p.m.Slava stood on the roof of his palace and looked up into the nighttime sky. Alexei hadn't gotten in touch with him, and it was only through his agents in New America that he had learned of Fox's abduction by Xowolfe. Slava was saddened that Alexei hadn't called him and told him the news personally.
The Tsar had called King Walter and offered his assistance in the search. To his surprise the new King had graciously accepted any help that he could provide. Slava now had all of his forces concentrating on finding Fox.
For as much as he loved and worshipped Alexei, he was still desperately in love with Fox, too. It angered Slava that Xowolfe had gotten his hands on Fox. He should have killed the Seraphim when he had the chance. The Tsar wondered if Fox had been pregnant with Alexei's baby before the Seraphim kidnaped him or if that creature had deprived his lover the joys of being the father of Fox's baby.
Slava desperately wanted Alexei at his side. He craved for his kisses, his love, and his companionship. Since Alexei left, he realized how truly lonely he was for the first time in his life. He only hoped that they'd find Fox soon so Alexei could come to him.
***
The Crystal Palace
Saturday, May 5
3:30 a.m.Krycek stared at the information from a New Orleans' news program. "Bingo!" He stood and walked over to Frohike. "Take a look at this, Fro."
Frohike took it and a glanced at it briefly then added it to a stack of papers.
"Hey! That's important!" Krycek growled snatching the paper back.
"Alex, and so are all these other hundreds of reports and sightings. I'll get to it in about two hours," Frohike grumbled. He had been checking up on leads all night and he was tired and irritable.
"Never mind, I'll check into it myself," Krycek snapped and stormed out of the door.
Byers came over and placed a mug of coffee in front of Frohike. "Where is Alex going?"
"He found what he thinks is a lead and he is taking it to Walter," Frohike sighed.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, I'm sure. Alex's mind is like an open book, an X-rated book a lot of the times," Frohike leered, which turned sheepish at the unhappy look Hans threw him.
Krycek raced through palace to the center tower and took the elevator up to his floor. When he saw Fox again Alex would give him a big kiss for teaching him how to conceal his thoughts, it had just come in handy in fooling Frohike. Alex didn't trust anyone to rescue Fox but himself. He needed supplies for where he was going and to conceal his features. If Alex told Walter, the older man would never allow him to go now that he was an immortal. He'd be too worried about the Seraphim abducting him.
Krycek dressed all in black then emptied the contents of his daughter's oversized diaper bag. Fox had it pack to the brim with not only stuff for Faith and Hope, but his things, too. He had a couple of novels, sandals, suntan oil, and a beach towel for their one trip to the beach yesterday with the babies. Krycek fingered the beach towel and felt tears well up in his eyes as he stuffed his disguise inside. It would be less noticeable carrying the diaper bag than a backpack. Anyone seeing him would assume that he was taking it to his daughter. Faith and Hope were staying with Justin, Joe, and Pyetr.
He boarded the elevator to take it back down to the foyer.
"Going out again, bright eyes?" Arty inquired.
"It's none of your business, Arty, and its Mr. Krycek or sir," he snarled at the computer.
"Whatever, sugar buns. Does the King know that you are leaving the palace at such an inadvisable time?" the AI computer questioned.
Krycek gritted his teeth. He had thought it was funny when the computer from hell flirted with Fox and interfered with Fox's life. Now that Arty was doing it to him too, Alex didn't find it at all humorous. "King Walter does not need to know everything that I do. He is not my keeper. If you don't want your memory chips yanked out then I suggest that you mind your own business, Arty."
"Oh dear, you are a spunky one. I just love it when you talk tough, *sir,*" the computer purred. "I'll tell you what, sweety. I'll give you an hour to do whatever it is you are going to do, but if you're not back by then I'm contacting the King. 'Kay?"
This is one dead computer, Krycek thought as he forced himself to smile. "Okay, Arty. I'll be back in an hour, just don't tell King Walter," he said as the door slid open to the foyer.
The palace was alive with activity. His presence was noticed instantly, but everyone assumed he was going to see the Gunmen or King Walter.
"Hey, guys, I'm stepping outside for some fresh air," Krycek said as he approached the guards at the entryway.
"With a diaper bag?" The captain asked, raising his eyebrow skeptically.
Krycek kept his face indifferent. "You wouldn't happen to be related to Dana Scully? Never mind. My daughter is asleep in the throne room and I just want to cool down before going into that room again," he said, looking sadly at the four guards.
The guards exchanged looks, and the captain of the guards turned back to Krycek. "We can understand that -- the throne room isn't the most pleasant place to be right now. We're all saddened by what has happened to Prince Fox. Lou, go with the Prince Alex on his walk," Captain Jordan ordered.
"Yes, sir."
Lou followed Krycek out of the palace and in the direction of the helicopter pads. "Prince Alex, wouldn't you prefer walking in an area less noisy?" the guard shouted as another jet-powered helicopter came in for a landing. Since Fox's abduction, helicopters were coming and going virtually nonstop from the island.
Krycek smiled inwardly, this is going to be easier than he had imagined it would be, he thought, as he watched a crew finish fueling up one helicopter then move on to another. He turned and led the guard toward an isolated area near the protective wall surrounding the palace. Several bushes provided the perfect cover as he pulled a hypodermic from his pocket and stabbed it into the guard's neck. The guard collapsed unconscious and Krycek hid his body behind the bushes.
He then headed back toward the helicopters. He quickly sneaked onto the closest one, while all the activity was at the other end of the landing pads. He tossed the diaper bag onto the seat beside him and quickly flipped on all the switches. It was impossible to get on the island without being challenged and scanned, but it was relatively easy to get off; Krycek soon discovered as he guided the helicopter upward into the nighttime sky, and directed it toward New Orleans.
***
New Orleans
Saturday, May 5
8:30 a.m.Mulder regained consciousness to a pleasant feeling of floating, and a warm tingle coming from his belly. His face was pressed against a soft fabric and held there by fingers delicately cupping his head, and a strong arm was wrapped around his back. The only discomfort he felt came from his arms and legs dangling in the air. Mulder wrapped his arms and legs around the body holding him and nuzzled closer.
"Ah, my precious mate, you're awake at last. We will be at our destination soon," the King rumbled soothingly.
Mulder smiled against his well muscled chest, he was feeling so good. "Hmm, that's nice. What did you call me?" he purred.
"My precious mate," Xowolfe said, smiling softly and holding onto the young immortal tighter.
"Oh, that's what I thought. I have another name, but I seemed to have misplaced it. Help me look for it," Mulder said in a drunken slur.
"No need, it is Xofox."
"Nope, silly, that isn't it," Mulder giggled. He felt that he should remember it, but it was just out of his grasp. All that his muddled brain could think of was how nice it felt to be held by this beautiful being. "I remember you. I've seen you in that garden next to a waterfall," he murmured against the Xowolfe's chest.
"That is right, Xofox, it is going to be your new home."
Mulder craned his neck and tried to look at the creature. "I can't seem to remember your name either."
"Xowolfe."
"Gotcha, Wolfy." Mulder's hand explored down his body until it contacted his belly and the large organ inserted into his navel. "Umm, feels great." Something about being penetrated here was important. Mulder frowned, what was wrong with him? Why were his memories eluding him?
"Wolfy?" the King chuckled. "How charming you are, Xofox."
"Fox," Mulder corrected, knowing that was right.
Xowolfe landed in the courtyard of the temple and eased out of Mulder's body. Mulder's legs gave out on him and the Seraphim scooped him up in his strong arms. They were still invisible as the King carried his mate into the temple and down the stairs. The bodies of the dead cultist were gone as was the gateway. The King materialized and laid his mate on the altar. A shimmering light appeared and General Xobonoa and the Gateway reappeared.
"My King, we had to conceal our presence, the humans came here searching shortly after you left."
Xowolfe looked concerned. "If humans know about this place, it is not safe. We need to find another place for the Gateway."
"It has already been taken care of, my King. Once we step through back to our planet I have programmed the Gateway to teleport to another location on this planet," Xobonoa said.
"Good, General Xobonoa, we should leave now then. My mate is tired and in need of rest," the King turned back to the altar where Mulder was stretching seductively, his hand caressing and squeezing the swollen organ inside his jeans.
The black Seraphim looked admiringly over at the immortal. "He's a beauty, my King. Even lovelier than Xoric, and so hot for you."
"Yes, he is, isn't he?" The large Seraphim King smiled scooping Mulder back into his arms and sinking his face into the side of the immortal's neck. He licked and nipped at the delicious flesh. "My days and nights will be occupied making love to my beauty," he said, nuzzling his nose into Mulder's hair. Mulder giggled and wrapped his arms around the King's neck and snuggled closer.
"Let us depart," the King said, climbing the stairs to the Gateway. He tried to step through, but found he was unable to enter the Portal with Mulder. He turned and handed Mulder over to Xobonoa, then stepped through without a problem, coming out in the portal room on Empyreal. The King turned and stepped back through to Earth. "Put my mate down, Xobonoa," he ordered then touched Mulder's arm lovingly. "Xofox, I want you to walk through this doorway, it will take you home."
Mulder smiled happily. Going home sounded good to him, so he tried to step through the portal, but some invisible force was holding him back. The King and Xobonoa exchanged confused looks. Then the black Seraphim pulled a wand from its scabbard at his hip. He waved it around Mulder's body and the wand changed color as it passed over Mulder's belly.
"What is it?" the King asked.
"We programmed the Gateway to not allow the human sorcerers to pass through, my King."
"What does that have to do with Xofox?"
"It appears he is pregnant with a human sorcerer's offspring. We must abort that pregnancy in order for him to pass through the gateway."
Xowolfe's face paled. "He is also pregnant with my child. If we kill this sorcerer's child we will also be killing mine."
"You can always get him with child again during his next cycle, my King. It is too dangerous for us to linger here," Xobonoa said.
Mulder listened to their conversation with growing dread, and although they were speaking a different language he understood them clearly. He was pregnant? Walter's baby! How could he have forgotten Walter? Everything was so confusing. He started to back away toward the stairs as his memories started returning.
"Xofox, come back here," Xowolfe ordered.
"No! You bastards, stay away from me," Mulder hissed angrily as his foot touched the bottom step. Awareness came flooding back to him. "You killed Earth's females! Why?"
"It is necessary for the survival of my race, Xofox. You and your brothers may be the key we've been searching millenniums to find that will revive the Seraphim race," Xowolfe explained.
"Dammit! How could killing Earth's females save your race?" Mulder asked, stepping onto the bottom step.
Xowolfe wasn't worried about his mate escaping, he knew that he could easily catch him. "The Seraphim females were killed off by the same virus that we've unleashed on your world. We've been working to genetically alter other races to match the Seraphim's DNA in hopes that someday a virus free Seraphim female will be born to one of them. You human immortals are the closest we've come to a vessel that may give birth to a female Seraphim. Xofox, your daughters are proof that a female can be born immune to the virus. On no other world has a female even been born."
"What sort of monsters are you? That you could slaughtered countless races so yours could live!" Mulder cried.
The King made for him then stopped suddenly surprise written on his beautiful face. Mulder felt an arm wrap around his waist and pull him backward as a low voice sounded in his ear. "I have you, Fox."
"Alex, how?"
The scarf Krycek was wearing had fallen away from his face allowing the Seraphim King to see who he was.
"Well, if it isn't our other pretty immortal. General Xobonoa, grab him," the King ordered.
The General made for Krycek. Suddenly a loud gunshot filled the chamber and the black Seraphim collapsed to the ground dead with the left side of his face blown away. Krycek turned the gun on the King who was already retreating to the portal. He had a clear shot at the back of the King's head and squeezed the trigger, but Mulder pushed the gun away and the shot went wild as the King disappeared through the portal.
"Fox, why?"
"Alex, I don't know. I just couldn't stand the thought of him dead," Mulder confessed his voice shaky then his face suddenly turned pale. He started to shake uncontrollably. "Oh God, oh God, oh God." Mulder sank to the ground and wrapped his arms around his legs and buried his face into his knees.
"Fox, it's okay. He's gone, and I'm going to take you home. We'll have this…portal destroyed so he can't…return." Alex stopped, stunned as the gateway vanished. "Shit."
"Alex, he raped me. Oh God, I'm…I'm pregnant with its baby." Mulder broke down sobbing.
"Christ, Fox." Krycek sat on the step next to him and pulled his distraught lover into his arms. "Ssh, we'll get through this together. I'll never leave you, Fox, you have my word on that." He kissed the top of Fox's head as his lover sobbed in his arms.
Shouting came from outside and soon Walter stormed down the steps followed by his security team. "Fox! Alex, how is he?"
Krycek hugged Mulder closer as he looked up at Skinner. *Not good, Walter,* Alex said telepathically, while showing Skinner mentally everything that had transpired. *That creature has impregnated him.*
Skinner's face went pale. "Oh God," he said softly, kneeling, he pulled Mulder into his arms. "Fox, it's going to be okay. I'm here for you now." Skinner kissed his face and brushed the tears away with his thumbs. His heart felt like it was being squeezed when he saw at the blank, lifeless look in Fox's eyes. "Don't worry, baby. I'm here, Alex is here, you're not alone in this."
"Walter, he's going into shock, we need to get him away from here," Krycek said, standing and assisting Skinner with their unresponsive lover.
Skinner finally had to scoop Mulder up into his arms and carry him out of the basement. "Alex, we'll talk about your leaving without telling anyone. Thank God, Arty ratted on you ten minutes after you left and Melvin knew where you had gone."
Krycek thought about slowly taking that computer apart chip-by-chip. "Walter, if it weren't for me we'd have never gotten to Fox in time. That creature was going to kill our unborn babies in order to take Fox through that Gateway! Don't you understand! I couldn't wait for anyone to decide whether this was a valid lead or not. In my gut I knew that it was!"
"I would have believed you, Alex, and I would have dropped everything to come with you. We're family. We need to watch each other's backs," Skinner said. He scowled at the television cameras that had magically appeared on the scene.
"I couldn't take the chance, Walter. What if you refused to let me go? It would have been different if I was still a sorcerer, I wouldn't have been afraid of you or anyone else stopping me, you couldn't have. Now. I'm at your mercy," Krycek said, climbing onboard the helicopter, he turned to help Walter with Fox.
Skinner positioned Fox's unresponsive body so he was in the middle between them. "Alex, you have to trust me to treat you like an equal."
"You…we never treated Fox as an equal," Alex whispered combing his fingers through Mulder's fine hair.
Skinner noticed that Mulder was weeping softly, his face buried into Alex's shoulder. "Sometimes we hurt the ones we love the most out of the desire to protect them. Alex, Fox always scared me. He used to take such risks with his life as if he didn't care whether he lived or died -- I cared though, I had for years." Walter rested a hand on Mulder's back and massaged his knotted muscles.
"Fox, things will be different. You'll see," Skinner soothed.
Mulder kept his arms wrapped around Krycek's body and his face buried against his lover's shoulder as his voice replied weakly, "I'm so frightened, Walter. Why do these things always happen to me?"
"There is nothing to be afraid of, Fox," Krycek said. I'm going to stay with you forever…I'm not going to Nikolai. No way will I ever leave you. I love you too much."
"Fox, Alex is right there is nothing for you to be afraid of. We're both here for you," Skinner said.
"That's not true, guys, there is a monster growing inside my belly along side your babies. What if it kills them?" Mulder said apprehensively.
"We can have Doctor Pendrell abort your pregnancy and try again next cycle," Skinner offered hesitantly.
For some reason that was even more distressful to Mulder than being pregnant with the Seraphim's baby. "No. We'll have Doctor Pendrell monitor my condition. If at some point the alien's offspring threatens the survival of our babies then we can try to have it removed. I don't want to lose my babies." Mulder felt protective toward the new life growing inside him, it was necessary a foreign feeling he had always been protective of those weaker than he.
"Okay, Fox. We'll do whatever you want."
"Thanks, Walter."
***
The Crystal Palace
Sunday, May 6
10:30 a.m.Krycek sat on the bed cradling his lover's head on his lap. Fox had finally succumbed to sleep. If his pregnancy followed the same track as the other immortals he'd be asleep for a month. Krycek vowed never to be more than five minutes away from his side.
Doctor Pendrell and Walter walked into the bedroom.
"How is he?" Walter asked.
"Sleeping."
Doctor Pendrell opened his bag and climbed onto the bed. He had done a thorough examination of Mulder when he had arrived back at the palace yesterday. Now he would monitor his condition daily.
Krycek hadn't left Mulder's side since yesterday. He hadn't been able to talk about his concerns in front of Mulder. "Kyle, Fox is worried that this alien baby might kill mine and Walter's babies. Do you think that is possible?"
"It might be if they were sharing the same fluid and in the embryonic sac together, but immortals carry their babies differently than human females. From the ultrasounds and tests I've done I discovered that their babies are in self-contained pouches inside the womb instead of embryonic sac. The pouches are filled with a thick gelatinous fluid that protects the baby and provide it with nutrients. I believe that the babies will be born inside the pouches. They will have to be removed from the pouches in the delivery room," Pendrell said.
"Is that why the immortals aren't as big a pregnant female?" Krycek asked.
"Yes. The gelatinous fluid surrounding the fetus is a little less than half of the volume of the fluid in the embryonic sac."
Krycek's eyes grew wide. "So if Fox was only having one baby he'd be less than half the size of a pregnant female, but with three babies he'll be … huge."
"And we'll going to be very supportive of Fox. Won't we, Alex?" Skinner said, looking sternly at him.
"Well, yeah. One of us is going to have to follow him around though, to help him back up when he sits, haul him out of the bathtub, put his shoes for him and…"
"Alex, enough!"
Doctor Pendrell was chuckling as he checked Mulder's blood pressure. "Alex, don't be too obvious when you're following him around. Mulder is going to be embarrassed enough by his size without you drawing added attention to it."
Skinner looked at him worriedly. "Kyle, he's not going to be…ah…you know, overly emotional and moody."
"Maybe, but you'll both be very supportive of him," Pendrell smiled.
***
Alaska
Tuesday, May 15
8:30 p.m.Ari was careful to conceal his features on the boat trip over to Alaska. Although, even if he stood buck naked on the bow of the ship he doubted anyone would have tried anything, not with Duffy standing protectively nearby. None of the ship's crew would come within a yard of the nine-foot tall n'thral.
The cold sea air made Ari shiver even with his coat on. He turned to Duffy and wrapped his arms around the giant who in turn enfolded him in his arms. "Cold. Hold me, Jason," he mumbled.
"You should go lay down below deck and get out of this wind, Ari," Duffy rumbled, gently rubbing his back.
"No, I want to stay with you. It's too bad you can't fit through the hatchway." Ari rested his head over the giant's heart and slipped his hand inside Duffy's shirt against his hot flesh. "We can go down in the ship's hold with the horses."
"No, it's filthy down there," Duffy grumbled. "Come here." The n'thral guided the smaller man over against a wall that was out of the wind, sitting Duffy pulled Ari down onto his lap and cradled him against his chest.
Ari wiggled against the hard object pushing into this thigh. "You want to fuck me, Jason?"
"Yes, but I won't, not in your present condition. It might jeopardize your baby." Duffy rubbed Ari's back trying to warm him.
"You're a strange n'thral, Jason," Ari murmured.
"I'm a human being, Ari."
Ari saw the sadness in Duffy's eyes. "Yes, you are, and that is why I love you," he said, rising and gently kissing Duffy's lips.
Duffy's heart was soaring. His beautiful Ari had just confessed to loving him. He had never believed he'd find love again. "I love you, Ari," he beamed brightly.
"Jason, where did you live in the States before you were captured by the coalition?" Ari asked, resting his head against Duffy's chest.
"I had an apartment in my buddy Walter's mansion."
"Mansion? Is this Walter guy rich?"
"He's not poor, but I believe the money was his husband Fox's."
Ari had kept up on current events, whenever they got into a city he'd purchase all the magazines and newspapers he could find. Walter, mansion, Fox, all rang a bell with him. "Jason, are you talking about Walter Skinner and Fox Mulder?"
"Yeah, you've heard of them?" Duffy had spent too much time living on his mountain that he hadn't been up on the news, and he had been and still was surprised by Walter's celebrity status.
"Jason, everyone has heard of them! Fox Mulder is a hero of mine. The man gave up everything to uncover the conspiracy! He's been shot, garroted, narrowly froze to death, beaten up, his father was murdered, his partner abducted, and he never gave up. I want to meet him," he exclaimed excitedly.
Duffy frowned. "I didn't know that about Mulder. No wonder Walter and Alex are overly protective of him. If he's that prone to being injured."
Ari rolled his eyes. "Walter and Alex are that way because Fox is an immortal like me. Fox should tell them to go to hell and disappear. He'd be great in my gang."
"Ari, Walter and Alex love Fox, and I know that Fox loves them, too. I'll introduce you to them, but promise me you won't stick your cute nose in where it doesn't belong?" Duffy said, holding him tighter.
"Jason, do you really think I could convince Fox Mulder to leave his lovers to join my gang? The man's an FBI agent for Christ's sake, get serious," Ari chuckled. "I hear there are other immortals living at Foxfire Glenn." He specifically was thinking about Shinji Takeda. Abducting the pretty immortal might be easier than he thought it would be now that he had a way onto the estate.
"Yes. There were four others, but Hans was abducted the same time I was and I'm not sure if he's been rescued yet," Duffy said sadly.
"Hans Schatz was back in the States with his lovers, the last I heard. Gabriel Hunter and Melvin Frohike rescued him and the other captured Americans from Cairo, Egypt," Ari replied.
Duffy smiled. "Thank God. Ari, you are a wealth of information."
"There isn't much to do on the road, but catch up on gossip and news, but it's been about five weeks since I got my hands on a current newspaper. Last I heard was that Fox Mulder still wasn't pregnant. He sure has a lot more willpower than I had. The other immortal's at the mansion are all pregnant, do you know how far along they are?"
"Justin is about the same as you nearly seven months and the other three are around six months," Duffy said.
"Do you think your friends would allow us to stay at the mansion until my baby is born?" Ari was figuring in his head that he'd need at least a month to recover and by then Takeda would have delivered his baby. They could leave Takeda's infant to be cared for by its sorcerer father, and take the Japanese immortal with them back to China.
"I know they would, Ari. You'll really like them. They're all good people."
Ari smiled up at Duffy and snuggled closer. He didn't know how he would convince Duffy to go along with their scheme. The giant was too soft hearted and had a strong sense of morality. He would probably have to leave Duffy behind. Afterward he'd call Duffy from Australia and invite him to rejoin them.
***
White Mountain
Friday, May 18
10:30 a.m.CGB Spender sat on his throne and looked smugly at the captured FBI sorcerers. "Now what should I do with you? Maybe the three of you would make nice statues." The smoker's fingers petted his immortals' heads. "What do you think, my pets, they are sorcerers and will live forever if properly cared for. A few will placed holes where their mouths and nostrils are, and of course their anuses and cocks should be exposed. Never know when I'll get the urge to fuck my artwork," the smoker laughed at his own joke.
Lars Johnson was quaking with fear at the menacing creature's words. He glanced sideways at Dakota Jones and Mike Peacock. They were powerless against this creature who was somehow leeching their sorcerer powers from them, making himself stronger and them weaker.
"Let them go," Ian begged.
"My Dear, you seem to enjoy feeding my son when you were told not to. How many times over the past two weeks have I caught you sneaking food to him? I think it is obvious that you need something to take care of," the smoker said waving his hand and Mike Peacock disappeared and against the wall under a spotlight a plaster statue appeared. It was bent at the waist with its hands on its thighs. The legs were spread. The head was up and looking toward the throne. A pair of frightened brown eyes looked out, the mouth was agape held open by the plaster.
"There you go, Azure. It won't be able to chew so you will have to force a tube down its throat to its stomach for its daily feedings. In addition, I expect you to keep it cleaned out, lubed, and stretched for me. The stretched part is optional."
"You fucking, bastard!" Ian growled and flew at the smoker in a rage.
CGB Spender easily restrained Ian, holding him on his lap with Ian's back pressed firmly against his chest. "Just say the word, Azure, and you'll have three statues to take care of instead of only one," he hissed into the immortal's ear. "I was going to give Jeffrey some company, but it's up to you."
Ian met the frightened eyes of the other two FBI men. "I'll be good. Don't hurt them."
The smoker got a distant look on his face. "We have company. Ari Summers and his gang of thieves," the smoker smiled. It had been awhile since he had seen the tall, red headed Australian.
Fifteen men entered the throne room. The smoker was distracted looking up at the tallest n'thral he had ever seen. Next to him stood a tall human who was covered head to foot in fabric. CGB Spender probed the man and learned that it was Summers, the young man had been in a fire that had ravished his face and body. It was a shame Ari Summers had been quite the attractive young man.
"Summers, what brings you to my domain?" the smoker asked.
"You know my name? Who are you?" Ari asked, surprised by, and terrified of the winged creature. His eyes trailed over the two immortals who were dressed in skimpy outfits that were far too feminine for Ari's liking.
"Don't you recognize me, boy? I'm CGB Spender." He took a deep drag on his cigarette careful not to burn Ian who he still held on his lap.
"Oh, of course, that is really fucking obvious," Ari taunted sarcastically. Duffy lightly touched his arm in warning.
Duffy had recognized the two FBI agents in chains before the throne, and had noticed the third man humiliatingly displayed and encased in plaster.
The smoker roared with laughter. "You always did have a mouth on you, Ari! If you weren't the best thief I've ever employed I would seal you lips shut permanently."
"Chill, Batty, it's good to see you, too." Ari glanced around. "Nice place you have here, if you're into dark and depressing. Pretty babes though. I take it you're a sorcerer, since only sorcerers are able to hold onto immortals."
Spender ignored his questions. "Why are you here, Summers?" he asked, unnerved by the tall human's nonchalant attitude toward him.
"We're just passing through on our way to the states," he said.
The smoker snared. "You're still scared shitless about flying, aren't you? What did you do travel a thousand miles out of your way so you could cross over at the Bering Strait?"
"I could do without your criticisms. My men and I need a place to stay for the next couple of days. Do you mind if we crash here?" Ari asked.
"I'd welcome your company. We could reminisce about old times. If you entertain me well enough, I'll have Azure and Aton heal your scarred flesh, Ari," the smoker said.
"Shucks, I left my tap shoes in China, Smoky."
"You can still play the piano that will suffice. Gregors, show my guests to their rooms, and their slave to the stables," the smoker said, looking at Duffy.
"He's my lover, and he stays with me," Ari said.
CGB Spender looked at the cloth covered form of the thief in disbelief. "I suppose beggars can't be choosers," he said finally.
The nine men were shown to their rooms. Luckily for Duffy the ceilings were all over fifteen feet in height. He turned to question Ari about the wisdom of staying under this clearly deranged creature's roof. Ari placed his fingers over the giant's mouth.
"Trust me," Ari said. He wanted revenge against the smoker. Ari's mother had died from the alien virus, and although Ari and his gang had done a few jobs for the smoker, they were only employed on a contract basis. They never knew their employer's true agenda or anything about aliens.
Duffy looked into Ari's eyes and knew instantly that the young man had something up his sleeve. They've been traveling together for a month now and Duffy had learned to trust Ari's wisdom. "Okay, Ari."
***
The Crystal Palace
Friday, May 18
4:30 p.m.Alex was working on his laptop sitting cross-legged on the bed to be close to Fox. Fox had been asleep for two weeks now, and Alex hadn't left his side except to bathe. His meals were all delivered to the suite, where he, Walter, and their daughters would dine in the master bedroom. He glanced up from the screen to check on his daughter and niece, they had fallen asleep sprawled over Fox's body.
The laptop's modem was plugged into the telephone jack. Alex had been having a nonstop argument with Nikolai over his decision to remain with Fox. Slava just didn't understand that Fox needed him, that he could never leave Fox's side. Not now, not ever. He typed in the last of his email and hit send, then looked back at Fox, and realized that Faith was no longer on the bed.
Alex glanced around the bedroom, his heart caught in his throat as his eyes fell on his daughter who was across the room and pulling on a tablecloth, on top of the table a the heavy metal lamp was teetering near the edge and started to topple. It was heavy enough that it would crush Faith's skull. Alex knew that he wouldn't be able to reach his daughter in time. In his desperation, Alex pushed out with his mind and tapped a power that he had thought long gone, the lamp froze in midair. Alex scrambled off the bed and ran to his daughter, scooping her out from under the heavy lamp. Seconds later the lamp completed it fall to the floor with loud thud.
Alex was crying and laughing as he hugged Faith protectively in his arms. "Hey, Cutie, you nearly gave your Dad a heart attack." It hit him suddenly that he had just used his powers. He tried again, it was harder than before but the tablecloth and lamp flew back up on the table, smiling with satisfaction he concentrated again and the tablecloth disappeared.
He sat on the bed. "Fox, I'll be able to really protect you again, but I promise that I won't be a jerk about it. We're equal partners," Krycek said, leaning down to kiss his sleeping lover's lips, he was more hopeful for their future.
***