Via Sub Rosa, by Scifinerdgrl Part 3 CHAPTER 9 When they arrived at the monastery's complex, there were cars at the main gate -- state troopers' cars. The priest drove past, not even slowing down, as Doggett and Reyes looked over their shoulders. "That was close," the father Tomas noted. "I'll have to be more careful next time." "Next time?" Doggett asked incredulously. "How often do you do this?" The priest smirked and kept driving in silence. Monica looked over her shoulder and said, as much to herself as to John, "I hope this is just about the car..." John put his arm around her shoulder and said soothingly, "If they are looking for us, they'll be moving on and we'll be even safer." "But what about Gibson?" Monica asked, her forehead wrinkled with worry lines. "He's in the hands of pros, it seems," John smiled, pleased that she was worried about the boy. "They'd have to get past Mother Catherine and Sister Martha to get to him." She smiled back at him and settled into his arm. "It's just a matter of time before they catch up with us... whoever they are." "Whatever they are," the priest interjected. He pulled the van to a stop by the side of the road and leaned over his seat. "Those state troopers are okay... I know them," he chuckled. "I know them very well... I hear their confessions." "Why am I expecting a 'but' here?" Doggett asked. "So far the aliens don't know about us... about the Via Sub Rosa... about the network of telepaths around the world," the priest paused for Doggett and Reyes to absorb this information, then added, "a network that can defeat them." "But?" Reyes inquired. "But it's a matter of time, as you say. They have found out about the caves... so they know about the magnetite." He noted the agents' surprised faces and confirmed their conclusions, "Yes, we have known about the supersoldiers and their weakness. But we did *not* know we were sheltering a collaborator," he said pointedly. "Now everything is different. We can't be passive anymore. ...we need your help as much as you need ours." "What about Agents Mulder and Scully?" Reyes asked. "Are they okay? Did they survive?" "I don't know," he answered, shaking his head. "But Agent Mulder doesn't know what I've told you. He knows more than he tells, but..." "But what?" Doggett said with annoyance. "But he doesn't have what it takes..." he looked over the rim of his glasses, checking Reyes' reaction. "You're asking us... to join you?" Reyes asked. The priest nodded. "Now, wait a goddamned minute," Doggett shouted. "We belong to the FBI! Yeah, things are a little... strange right now, but we're federal agents, not clergy! We have jobs!" Monica jabbed her elbow into his ribs. "Wha--?" he exclaimed. "This isn't *us* Monica -- this isn't what we do... this isn't the way we operate. Stealing cars? Hiding from state troopers?" "Breaking convicts out of jail?" she answered, her arched eyebrows framing questioning eyes. Doggett sighed. "I dunno, Monica. What have we come to... What next?" He shook his head, refusing to look up into either her or the priest's eyes. Monica and Tomas exchanged glances, then Tomas reached out and laid a hand on John's shoulder. "It's not a matter of asking you to join *us* John... you are already one of us. It's not a matter of asking you to join the fight... you are already fighting." John looked up. "So what is this about?" "This is about cooperation. Joining forces." Tomas turned more completely in his seat, casually curling his legs underneath him. "This is about you helping us... us helping you..." "You've already helped us, and we appreciate it," Reyes said soothingly. John shot her an angry look. "So now we owe you? Is that it?" "No," Tomas assured him. "You owe it only to yourselves... and to humanity." "No pressure!" Doggett sneered. "John," Monica said calmly. "We have been fighting against people inside the FBI, and whoever it is they are working for... and where have we gotten doing it alone?" She paused as John bowed his head and studied his hands. "John," she reached for his chin and turned his face to hers. "We can't do it alone. Even if we could find Mulder and Scully, there would just be four of us... five with A.D. Skinner... against how many?" He clenched his teeth and grimaced his silent acknowledgment as Reyes continued. "We need them, John. We need all the help we can get.... Knowing what we know... finding out the truth... that's just a start...." John closed his eyes and nodded. "You're right... but..." He opened his eyes and studied the priest's face. "How do we know they're legit? How do we know they aren't really working against us?" Monica sighed softly then whispered, "You know. And you know *how* you know." He looked into her eyes and she held his gaze. He sensed, rather than saw, her trust in Tomas, and he had to admit to himself that he had always trusted her judgment, even when he couldn't admit why he trusted it. "Are you with us?" Tomas asked hopefully. Doggett nodded, and Monica smiled broadly. "Thank you for your offer," she said graciously. They returned to the monastery in time for Mass, which Tomas attended with them. They sat at the rear of the tiny chapel as Mother Catherine read from her massive Bible: "Give counsel, grant justice; Make your shade like night at the height of noon; Hide the outcasts, betray not the fugitive; Let the outcasts of Moab sojourn among you; Be a refuge to them from the destroyer..." (Isaiah 16:3-4) The inhabitants of the rear pew heard quiet footsteps and turned to see Gibson, dressed in a donated KISS T-shirt. He sidled down the pew and sat next to Monica, who put an arm around his shoulders. "I was worried about you," she whispered. "I know," he whispered back. Chapter 10 After Mass, Doggett slapped Gibson on the back. "I was afraid those state troopers had you for car theft!" he grinned. "But you sensed I was okay when you got here," Gibson finished. The grin evaporated from Doggett's face. "Cop's instinct," he said, putting his hands in his pockets. Gibson smirked, but sensing Doggett's discomfort, added, "Whatever you say." Then his expression turned more serious. "I'm glad you came back. There's something I want to show you." Father Tomas, who had been speaking with Reyes, turned his attention to Gibson. "So you're the boy these two have been fussing over," he smiled broadly. Gibson scowled at Tomas, his eyebrows knit as he tried to block Tomas' sense of him. "Very good," Tomas said. "For a beginner. Now try this," he said, staring into Gibson's mind. Gibson's eyes widened and his face grew pale. "Hey! Stop that!" Doggett ordered, pulling Gibson away from Tomas' gaze. Tomas turned and looked blankly at Doggett. "The boy has a lot to learn," he said patronizingly. "As do you. Join us and I will teach you." Tomas turned and walked away, leaving Gibson and Doggett behind, open-mouthed. "What was that about?" Reyes asked, approaching Gibson and laying a hand on his shoulder. "I'm not sure," Doggett answered, his hand still grasping Gibson's arm from the other side. He and Reyes looked at Gibson, who looked from one to the other. "Me neither," Gibson shrugged. At Doggett and Reyes' surprised and doubtful expression, he added, "He's good. Very good." They stood silently for a moment, then Doggett asked, "What did you want to show us?" Gibson led them past the bakery, the smell of freshly baked bread wafting over them, making their stomachs growl. Gibson took Monica's hand, and she took John's into her other hand as Gibson led them down a narrow wooden stairway into a ravine. As they approached the bottom they smelled an acrid, burning smell, which grew stronger until they arrived at the bottom. They could hear the clank of metal and the distant voices of men. "What the--" Doggett started, but Gibson turned and shhhh'ed him angrily. They let go of each others' hands and looked around carefully as Gibson waved them toward the opening of a cave. The smell became almost overwhelming as they took a few steps inside. Suddenly they heard footsteps behind them, and then the unmistakable "click" of a gun being cocked. ******************* "Turn around... slowly," the voice of an elderly woman said. Reyes and Doggett raised their arms, then all three turned to see Mother Catherine, armed with a .357, and accompanied by Tomas. "You can put your arms down," she ordered, and she lowered her gun. "But I warn you, my eyesight isn't as good as it used to be." "She's bluffing," Gibson said smugly. "How do you know?" Tomas asked. "Because her mind-blocking isn't..." Gibson hesitated, then finished. "...isn't as good as yours." "Tomas," Catherine scolded. "Have you been toying with the boy?" Tomas looked at his feet and sheepishly replied, "Yes, Mother Catherine." The old woman scowled at him. "After we're finished with them, you and I need to have a talk." "Finish what?" Reyes asked. "Tomas tells me you don't want to join us," she answered. "I can't let you into this cave until we have a little discussion about that." "We'd like to know more about this Via Sub Rosa before we make up our minds," Doggett answered. Reyes nodded her assent, and Gibson looked at them in confusion. "You *do* know what 'sub rosa' means?" Catherine sneered. "It means 'secret,'" Reyes offered. "Yes," Catherine said with a superior tone. "And if we tell you more and you don't join us, then what?" She swung her gun to and fro, leading Gibson's head from side to side with it. Gibson gulped. Catherine continued, "You all know what you need to know by now. No need to poke around where you aren't supposed to be. Talk it over in your cottage. Lunch is in an hour. Afterwards I want your decision." She waved the gun toward the cave's entrance. Doggett and Reyes looked at each other with concern, and Catherine answered their unspoken thoughts. "Yes, the cottage is yours for as long as you want it, no matter what you decide. We know our duty." Catherine and Tomas marched them to their cottage, and left them sitting in the living room, with an admonition to stay put until summoned for lunch. John and Monica sat on the couch, and Gibson sat in the rocker. "Well?" John asked, looking to Gibson and Monica in turn. "What do you think?" "What are they asking us to join?" Gibson asked. After being filled in he said, "They hid me and Agent Mulder. Not these people, but others like them. They were very secretive, and they spoke in code, even when they weren't speaking." He checked Doggett and Reyes' reactions, and when he saw they were listening intently, he continued, "But they led Agent Mulder to the plant where he found out about the invasion date, and they..." "Wait!" Doggett interrupted. "What invasion?" "December 22, 2012," Gibson answered. "Mulder didn't tell you?" Doggett and Reyes shook their heads. "He didn't tell me, either, but... it was all he thought about all through that trial. It was hard to miss." "Who's invading?" Reyes asked. "The aliens. The ones Sister Catherine wants us to fight," Gibson answered. Doggett and Reyes stared at each other in horror. Finally, Doggett asked Gibson, "How do you know she isn't pulling a fast one? You may be able to read minds, but how do you know she isn't fooling you?" He put a finger to his temple. "You know, up here? She's a lot more experienced than you." "John..." Reyes put a hand on his forearm. "I don't think..." She stopped when she realized all she had was a hunch, a gut feeling. "All my life I've followed my instincts. And my instincts are telling me she's on our side." She looked into John's questioning eyes for a long moment, then looked down as if questioning herself. "I think they all are," she concluded. "Me too," Gibson agreed. "So, what are you saying?" Doggett demanded. "That we should join this.... this...." He thought for a moment and started over. "How do we know this isn't some kind of cult -- like that UFO cult that kidnaped William?" Reyes' eyes misted up at the mention of the baby Scully had given up for adoption but the question also jogged her thinking. "Technically, any religion is a cult," she explained. "It's only when they are destructive... when they separate people from their families, their jobs, their friends, or even society... for their own selfish reasons.. that it's a problem." "Sounds like these people, don't it?" Doggett challenged. "John," Monica responded with deliberate calmness. "Those things have already happened to us." Gibson watched John's reaction carefully. John turned his gaze from Monica to Gibson and realized Monica was speaking for all three of them. "Gibson, we haven't asked you about your parents," John said. "They aren't my real parents," Gibson said brusquely. "I'm adopted." "Gibson, I'm adopted too," Reyes interrupted. "And I consider my adoptive parents my real parents." She waited a moment to give Gibson a chance to speak, and when he didn't she continued, "Real parents are people who take care of you, and want what's best for you, and love you no matter what. Biology has nothing to do with it." "Then I guess I have no real parents," Gibson said sullenly. "My so-called parents only cared about making money from their freaky whiz-kid, and when I refused to play chess they dumped me at that school." He scowled at Reyes and Doggett in turn, willing them not to feel pity for him. "And now?" Reyes asked, the openness of her expression inviting him to be honest. Gibson bit his lip then said, "I bet they haven't even figured out I'm not at that school." "Now, that can't be true," Doggett argued. "They must be worried about you." Gibson shot him a skeptical glance, and Doggett continued, "You haven't contacted them?" Gibson shook his head. Reyes sighed heavily, catching Doggett's attention for a moment. He gave the matter some thought then announced, "I want you to contact them, Gibson. We'll ask Mother Catherine and Tomas to help us get a message to them. It'll be a good way to test if they're on the level, too." "And if they are?" Reyes asked. "Then we'll see if they'd still want us to work with them if we returned to our jobs," he sighed. Gibson asked, "And if they don't -- what happens to me?" "Whatever happens," Reyes assured him. "We'll make sure you're okay." "And that you have as normal a life as possible," Doggett added. "And if you go back to your jobs?" Gibson asked tentatively. "It's up to you," Reyes answered. "Can I come with you?" Gibson asked hopefully. "Yes," John and Monica answered simultaneously. They smiled at each other and joined hands. CHAPTER 11 To everyone's surprise, Tomas and Catherine promised to contact any relatives they wanted, and guaranteed their location would not be revealed. "How?" Doggett asked skeptically. Tomas answered, "We have been doing this for many years. As have others all over the world. If you wanted us to get a message to someone in Tibet, we could do it. And quickly, too." Catherine waved her arms over the table in the refectory where the little gathering was talking. "For centuries, people like us have been burned as witches, imprisoned in asylums, subjected to shock treatments..." She breathed deeply and watched Doggett and Reyes' expressions. "But we have also been revered -- as mystics, shamans, seers. When we use our gifts in the service of religion we are safe, and often also powerful. But although we work for the Church, in our case, our primary duty is toward others of our kind. To protect them and help them." Gibson nodded with gratitude. Catherine continued, "To lead them toward safety, and shelter them along the way." "Like the Underground Railroad?" Reyes asked. Catherine smiled enigmatically. "Where do you think Harriet Tubman got the idea?" "Lemme get this straight," Doggett interrupted. He turned to Gibson and asked, "So you stayed in touch with Agent Mulder when you were on the run?" Gibson nodded. "And these... people of the Via sheltered you?" Gibson nodded again. Doggett turned to Sister Catherine. "And if we join you, do we have to live here? Or join some religious..." "Cult?" finished Catherine. "We are not a cult. And you don't have to live here, or in any other kind of monastery to be part of the Via. Times have changed, and we don't need to hide like we used to. But many of us feel more comfortable living in seclusion, away from society, for our own peace of mind. The thoughts of others can be quite... overwhelming to some of us." Doggett looked at Gibson, who looked away, blushing. "We can train him to block out what he finds uncomfortable," Tomas offered. "And we can train you to be more open to others' thoughts," he continued, looking directly into Doggett's crystal blue eyes. "And to each other's," he added, nodding toward Reyes. Reyes blushed. "I'd like that," she said softly. Doggett looked at her with disgust bordering on contempt, then saw her raise her eyes to his. She smiled and said, "I'd like to know what you're thinking." It took a moment for him to grasp her meaning, and when he did, he couldn't help smirking. Yes, he admitted to himself. Love-making between two psychically linked people could be incredible. Reyes' smile broadened when she saw that he understood. "So where do we sign up?" Doggett asked. Catherine and Tomas escorted the pilgrims to the little library, where Agatha sat at ta computer with a Mexican girl of about fifteen looking on. The girl turned and looked admiringly at Gibson, who blushed. "Rosalita," said Catherine with uncharacteristic kindness and affection. "Please find Sister Martha and ask her to join us here." Rosalita shyly shuffled past the group, but as she passed Gibson she sneaked another glance at him, eliciting another blush on his part. Agatha rose and stood to the side as Catherine took over. "Here," she clicked on an icon. She waved Monica, John, and Gibson closer, and they obediently looked over her shoulder. "The Via Sub Rosa has just started using the internet. We have set up e-mail accounts for all of you. Wherever you go you can contact one of us, and we will find a way to help you with whatever you need." Reyes nodded admiringly as Doggett pursed his lips skeptically. "How do we know you won't monitor our e-mail?" he asked. Catherine laughed. "Count on it! That's part of how it works." Reyes backed away warily. "I don't think I like that." "You think your e-mails haven't been monitored by the FBI?" Doggett's eyes met Reyes' over the top of Catherine's head. "And not just by your old boyfriend," Catherine added. At their surprised reactions Catherine turned around to face them. "Of course I know about that," she said. "I think he'll be very useful to us." Doggett rolled his eyes and his lip curled into a slight sneer. Catherine looked at Reyes and added, "He's been looking for you." Monica gasped and felt her heart racing. "How do you know?" she asked breathily. "Like I said, the Via Sub Rosa is a large network, and very efficient." Reyes' panicked eyes sought Doggett's. "But don't you worry," Catherine added smugly. "We won't let him find you until it suits our purposes -- or until you want him to." "No, that's okay," Reyes said hurriedly. "We're not ready to be found." Instinctively, Doggett reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. She smiled gratefully, and he moved his hand up her arm and across her shoulders. She leaned her head against his arm and sighed. "I don't want to go back at all if it will mean owing Brad a favor," she said softly but firmly. "Me neither," Doggett agreed. He kissed the top of her head and added, "Or anybody else." Reyes put her arms around his waist and he responded by pulling her closer. "Oh please!" Gibson groaned, rolling his eyes. Doggett and Reyes parted, making Gibson grin victoriously. "You're one to talk," Catherine snorted. "I heard what you were thinking about Rosalita!" John and Monica grinned at Gibson, who said, "What?" "Nothing," Doggett feigned innocence. "I didn't say a thing. "Don't look at me!" Reyes laughed. Mother Catherine cleared her throat and said commandingly, "Anyway... As you might imagine, face-to-face we have very few security problems... But when we write, on paper or in e-mail, we write in code. Only Father Tomas, Sister Martha, and Sister Mary will be able to read your e-mails. They will translate them to a new code and pass them to the others who will translate them into another code, and so on... For now, we will only teach you one code." "Isn't this how terrorist networks operate?" Doggett scoffed. "I wouldn't know," she answered haughtily. Reyes' forehead crinkled in thought. "Why can't *you* read our mail?" "Because," Catherine nodded to Gibson, "As the boy said, I'm not as good at blocking snoopy telepaths." Tomas leaned back on his heels and stared into Gibson's eyes. Gibson stared back defiantly, but a bead of sweat on his brow and a quiver in his lip belied his confidence. "STOP IT!!!" Doggett yelled, forcefully pulling Gibson by the arm, as he had before. Reyes whirled and threw a fist into Tomas' stomach. Tomas doubled over, groaning loudly before straightening despite a violent cough. Catherine smiled admiringly at Reyes, then grinned at Tomas. "Tsk tsk," she chided. "You should have seen that coming!" CHAPTER 12 Catherine laid out their schedules with practiced efficiency. Their mornings would be spent with her, learning their assigned code. Afternoons would be reserved for the opus dei. In Doggett's case this meant assuming the role of handyman, mechanic, and delivery driver. Reyes would tutor Gibson and Rosalita, and would also teach Agatha about computers. In the evenings, Gibson would be with Martha, learning to block others' thoughts, while Doggett and Reyes would be learning how to develop their potential under Father Tomas' tutelage. Doggett immediately set out for the garage, and checked the condition of the community's vehicles. Within minutes he felt relaxed and happy, his arms smeared with grease and oil, his shirt damp with sweat. He sighed at the realization that here in the garage he would be away from the prying minds of the spooky nuns. He could accept Gibson because of what he'd read in the X-Files, and he credited Monica with nothing more than good instincts despite her strange ideas. But he had to admit that despite his skepticism about ESP, the mere idea of strangers prying into his thoughts gave him the willies. Reyes and Gibson stayed in the little library after the others departed. They sat at a wide oak table, lit by the bright desert sun filtering through gauzy white curtains that billowed languidly in the desert breeze. Reyes picked up a stack of website print-outs that Agatha had set aside and leafed through them. She selected a packet, set it in front of Gibson, and said, "Let's start with a review of basic math," She smiled, ignoring Gibson's indifference. "Everybody's favorite." "Let's not and say we did," Gibson snorted. Reyes adopted a Valley Girl voice and answered, "That's so funny I forgot to laugh." She put her hand to her hair and gave it a broad, histrionic flip. Gibson laughed in spite of himself. "Oh... my... Gawwwwwwwwwd," Reyes drawled, still in her Valley Girl voice. "He CAN laugh!" Gibson looked over his shoulder then leaned forward and whispered, "Shhhhhh.... Don't tell anyone." "Cross my heart and hope to die," Reyes said. "Stick a needle in my eye!" "Ewwww!" Gibson made a face. "That's dis-GUS-ting!" Reyes laughed. "I've never visualized that before" "Liar, liar, pants on fire!" Gibson sang, giggling. "Busted!" Reyes leaned back in her seat. "I actually think about it all the time!" "Do not!" Gibson challenged. "Do too!" Reyes answered. "Nuh-huh" "Uh-huh" "No way!" "Wa-ay!" Gibson could barely speak by now. "What were we arguing about, again," he asked through his giggles. Reyes wiped a laugh tear from her eye and answered, "That's for me to know and you to find out." Gibson focused on Reyes' mind then said, "Thumb wrestling? What's that?" Reyes put her arm out on the table and curled her fingers to accept his. He followed her instructions and soon their thumbs were battling for the top position. Reyes won handily, trapping her opponent's thumb in a matter of seconds. "Two out of three?" Gibson pleaded. Monica pulled her hand away. "And what percentage would that be?" Gibson grunted and threw his head into his palms. "NO!!!" He cried out in mock terror. "NO MATH!!!" "Well?" Reyes asked patiently. "No rematch without an answer." "Sixty-seven percent," Gibson grumbled, then thrust his hand to the middle of the table. After another humiliating defeat, he asked, "Three out of five?" Reyes pulled her hand away and raised her eyebrows in expectation. "Sixty percent," Gibson sighed resignedly. By the time the bells rang for the next series of prayers and chants, they had thoroughly reviewed percentages and long division. Reyes' advantage stood at a lucky thirteen to one. "Let's take a break," Reyes suggested. "I don't think either of us could hold a pencil right now anyway!" she added, shaking her hand. Gibson stood up and shook his hand in rhythm with hers. "I hope nobody is looking in the window," he laughed. Reyes put her hand across his shoulders as they walked toward the courtyard. She dropped it to her side when they passed through the courtyard door, and she could hear Gibson sigh with relief. They strolled the perimeter of the courtyard to the light treble of the nuns' chanting their afternoon psalms. When they came to the bench near the rose bush, Reyes asked, "Do you know why 'sub rosa' means in secret?" Gibson shook his head. "But I know you're dying to tell me!" Monica sighed but ignored his remark. "The rose became a symbol of secrecy," she said, kneeling next to the rose bush. Taking a Swiss Army knife from her jeans pocket, she cut a rose from a lower branch as she continued, "...because in Greek mythology, Cupid gave it to someone who had overheard two lovers." She stood up and laid the rose atop the six-foot adobe wall. "And ever since, all conversations held underneath a rose were kept secret." She walked back to the bench and sat a few feet from Gibson. Gibson looked at the rose, then to Reyes' impishly conspiratorial face. "So," she smirked. "What happened between you and Rosalita?" Gibson looked at her warily, but Monica persisted. "I never betray a confidence," she assured him.