*~*~*~*~*~* Connected by Lovesfox *~*~*~*~*~* lovesfox@rogers.com Headers in Part 1 *** Part 9 of 12 Unknown Location Tuesday Scully was not surprised when Mulder's questions were ignored, her eyes darting from the man now in the corner, and the two guards by the door. Neither commando had moved, as she had feared they might in order to silence Mulder, and both still stared straight ahead. She exhaled a tiny sigh of relief. Her partner wore a look she had seen often -- one that alerted her to the fact that he was perilously close to getting himself or them both into even more serious trouble. Fists clenched tight, his eyes were focused raptor-like on the technician's back. She was desperate to derail him from his dangerous path. A path she herself had nearly taken minutes ago, she recalled with some embarrassment. Panicking like a rookie, endangering both herself and her partner. Pushing that thought aside, she mind-called to him. <> And again when his gaze did not waver from the technician. <> She could not tell if he was deliberately ignoring her, or too caught up in his anger to hear. There was a third alternative, one that had just occurred to her and worried her greatly -- that their mind-reading abilities were fading, thereby rendering them of no use to their captors. For she was slowly coming to the realization that those abilities were the reason they had been brought to this facility. Hoping her ploy was not too obvious, Scully coughed. Whether it was or not, it worked. Mulder's head swiveled in her direction, his concern clear. His mouth opened as if he were about to speak, and she shook her head just slightly. With his focus now on her, she tried mind-speaking again. <> Awareness flickered in his eyes, followed by acknowledgment, and Scully was further relieved. More so when he sent a reply, his first words somewhat contrite. <> Scully nodded slightly, her eyes flicking from Mulder to the guards and then to the occupied technician. They did not appear to be under any additional observation, barring the possible watchers behind the one-way glass. So she decided to ask him a question about the situation that was plaguing her now. <> She gleaned the answer from his eyes before he sent his response. <> Her worry about the fact that their 'powers' might be disappearing intensified, seemed highly likely. By the sudden deadening of his _expression, she knew Mulder had come to the same conclusion, and was equally apprehensive. She stated her concern baldly in her next mind-thought. <> <> Another thought occurred to her then -- she had not heard anyone but Mulder since leaving the Gunmen's the night before. Nor had Mulder, as far as she knew. <> A moment passed, and then he blinked, as if startled by her question, or perhaps his own realization about the subject. His lips tightened, and Scully once again knew what he was going to say, saw it in his eyes, before he replied. <> Their silent communication was abruptly severed by the opening of the door. Both she and Mulder turned their heads at the same time, and watched the latest arrival, another white-coated man. This one was tall and thin and appeared to be in his mid-thirties. He immediately joined the other man, the one she had determined must be a technician. The two men conferred briefly, their low voices inaudible, most likely a deliberate action, before each one took the handles of a machine and rolled them over to the space between her and Mulder's chairs. Scully believed she recognized both pieces of equipment, though each was definitely state of the art, and appeared to be of the newest technology, highly advanced. The first was an electroencephalographic or EEG machine, and its purpose was to monitor brain waves. The second was a polygraph machine, which was used to monitor physiological functions such as breathing, pulse and the galvanic skin responses. Their presence compounded her growing suspicion that she and Mulder were to be tested. Whether it was at an unspoken signal or a predetermined response, the two commandos left their post and moved to stand at an alert position near the chairs as the technicians began to set up the equipment. Scully took their proximity as a subtle reminder to Mulder and her that any misconduct would be dealt with swiftly. Despite the abhorrent and frightening nature of the situation, her scientifically-trained mind could not help but be fascinated and intrigued by the evidence that the machines were indeed technically advanced. Instead of many electrodes attached to their scalps as was usually the norm for EEGs, there were only four each -- two at their temples, close to the scalp, and two at the base of their necks. For the polygraph machine, gone were the cumbersome leather straps around chest and abdomen -- one electrode over each of their hearts seemed to suffice. As well, there was the rather surprising fact that they both were hooked up to the same units at the same time. Once the blood pressure cuffs, one for each of them, had been affixed, and finger-clip electrodes were attached to their index fingers, the first technician returned to the corner to retrieve another piece of apparatus. He subsequently deposited it on top of the EEG machine and set about making the proper connections. This unit was easily portable, a little larger than a laptop, and completely foreign to Scully. By the questioning look in Mulder's eyes, it was equally foreign to her partner. The placement of this third piece of equipment was such that Scully had only a limited view. She was just barely able to make out a corner of the screen, similar to that of a computer, and the neon-green glow of data streams. Data concerning her and Mulder, she felt it safe to presume. Her gaze flicked from that view to the two technicians, who seemed to be paying her no mind, busy with their assorted tasks. Next she glanced at Mulder, who was watching the proceedings with evident curiosity and perhaps a healthy dose of apprehension. Leery of attempting to mind-talk now, Scully shifted slightly in the chair. The motion was enough to attract his attention; he turned his head in her direction. Their gazes met, and in his eyes she saw the same feelings that she was experiencing -- confusion, regret, anxiety. And a whirl of emotions flowing so quickly they were not easily identifiable. Adding to, and fueling her uncertainty. She did recognize his self-recrimination however, and was saddened by it. Despite her hesitancy of a moment ago, she deemed it worth the risk to try mind-speaking to him. She could not let him go on blaming himself for their situation. <> He gritted his teeth, shook his head minutely. Refusing her attempt to absolve him. He signed then, and looked away briefly before returning his gaze to her. <> Again their conversation was cut off by the door opening. A third man walked in, far older than any of the men in the room. He was very distinguished-looking, with a rigid bearing that called to mind service in the military and suited him well. Though neither guard moved at his entrance, both technicians reacted with deference, immediately leaving their posts and hurrying over to the third man. Their posture and demeanor were subservient, and Scully deduced that this man was their superior, perhaps a doctor. She received confirmation at the first technician's statement. Words spoken softly, spoken with deference. Words that made her heart start pounding. "Subjects are ready for you, Doctor." *** Ominous. Mulder decided that was an apt descriptor for the words the technician spoke. A sense of foreboding had washed through him upon hearing them, and he had been unable to contain a slight shiver of dread. Looking at Scully, it was clear she shared the same or similar feelings. Hands clenched into tight fists at her sides, the knuckles showing white, her already pale face had further blanched. Seeing her thusly only compounded his guilt for getting them into this situation. He knew Scully would say that she had chosen to come with him, that he had not forced her, but he couldn't accept that. Couldn't accept her shouldering any blame. He had placed her in harm's way far too many times. If only he had ignored the phone call from Dr. Kushov; had not listened to that tingle of excitement that had filled him as the good doctor had told his tale of mind control and experimental drugs. Yet would he have been true to himself, true to the X-Files, if he had not? Gritting his teeth, he pushed the thought aside. It would do no good to dwell on the past. Not now, when it appeared there might not be a future. That bleak possibility reminded Mulder of his missed chance to tell Scully just how much she meant to him. On some level, he was certain she was already aware of his feelings -- through their natural bond and their closeness as friends and partners, and also because of their now fading mind-reading ability. When the Doctor appeared at Mulder's side and took hold of his arm -- the one not encumbered by the blood pressure cuff -- and turned it outwards, Mulder realized he must have missed something during his musings, the Doctor's instructions perhaps. A glance at Scully revealed she was watching the proceedings with narrowed eyes and teeth biting her lower lip. He risked a thought towards her. <> Her head jerked up, gaze meeting his briefly before darting back to the doctor and the technician who had joined him. The reply she sent was terse. <> His arm was quickly prepped, and a second later he felt the sharp prick of a needle, inserted into one of the veins on the inside of his elbow. So much for the gentle touch. He was tempted to comment, but refrained, knowing his sardonic humor would be far from appreciated. Two tubes of blood were taken and handed off to one of the technicians, who promptly left the room with them, and the Doctor moved over to Scully. Mulder's gaze flicked from the door through which the technician had taken the blood, and to his partner. He watched as the procedure was repeated on Scully, and her blood was also taken out of the room. The Doctor left Scully's side without a word to either of them, and began tapping at the keypad of what looked like an extremely advanced, high-tech laptop. He did so until the two technicians returned. One of them carried a long, slim black leather case, which he took immediately to the Doctor. Handing it over almost ceremoniously, he murmured, "The injections are ready, Doctor." Mulder was once again suffused with dread, his body going cold. A clammy sweat broke out at his temples, where the electrodes were stuck to his skin, right at his scalp. At the same time, he was bombarded with waves of emotion from Scully. It was very similar to that instance of not long ago when they had been brought to their current location and she had started to panic. When she had begun to remember or have flashbacks to any one of her previous abductions. Or perhaps she was even now reliving that period of missing time, as a result of her abduction by Duane Barry. Thinking of that only worsened his feeling of dread. His breathing had quickened, and his body was tense. Glancing at his partner, he saw that her gaze was fixated on the Doctor's hands, holding the black case. Mulder knew he had to risk mind-calling to her, to try and calm her down, to stop the torrent of her emotions. <> Thankfully, she looked to him immediately, surprise coloring her features -- his worry must have rang through loud and clear. A part of his brain still had the clarity to muse about the fact that although their ability was fading, extreme emotion seemed to be the one thing strong enough to surpass their weakening link. Scully responded, giving him a tiny, affirmative nod of her head. Despite this, he noted that her eyes were still a little wild, and like him, her breathing had altered, to a hurried, almost panting. His attention was diverted from Scully by the sudden activity at the grouping of machines between their two chairs. The Doctor and both technicians appeared quite interested in something on the screens. This interest also seemed to be focused on Scully, as they repeatedly looked from her to the those screens, with the Doctor making furious notations on the keypad of the laptop. Though he too had been the recipient of a rather pointed glance when he had mind-spoken to Scully. Mulder could only assume, but inwardly be certain, that They had the capability and technology to monitor brainwaves. Or more specifically, brainwaves produced by the transmission of thoughts and feelings. The Doctor murmured something then, something Mulder could not make out. Apparently it had been instructions of some sort, for the two technicians broke into further action. One took the Doctor's place at the laptop as the Doctor made his way to Mulder's side, while the other unzipped the leather case. Removing a syringe from a fitted slot inside the case, he carried it to the Doctor with a noted caution and placed it into the Doctor's waiting hand. The two guards moved to stand directly beside his chair, one on either side. Another clear warning, one that held him still despite the desperate urge to fight for his freedom. A surprisingly steely grip clamped around his wrist, held his arm immobile. He felt a cold swipe near his inner elbow, and watched with revulsion as the needle slowly punctured his vein with precision, and the plunger was depressed. Releasing its toxins into his body. He couldn't accurately say what pulled his gaze from the needle in his arm and made him look at Scully -- perhaps she mind-cried to him, or perhaps the force of her emotions called to him. Perhaps it was because she was the lure to which he would always be drawn. His partner was staring at the syringe with the same revulsion, her eyes dark and her features tight. Revulsion mixed with empathy and fear and anger. Lassitude was beginning to roll through his body, and he knew it was from the injection. His eyes were suddenly heavy-lidded, and though he fought it, they slid closed. He forced them open again immediately, only to see Scully blur before him. Blinking rapidly, he opened his mouth to cry out, to call to her. Soundlessly. *** End Part 9 of 12