Mirror Image by bellefleur Email: bellefleur1013@yahoo.com Rating: PG-13 for a naughty word Warning: Here be spoilers, sort of. Disclaimer: I'm still holding Mulder and Scully hostage, Chris, until I'm convinced you'll take good care of them in the revival. I'm just borrowing the other agents, and then you can have them back. Summary: Meet the new agents. Notes: This story is loosely based on some spoilers for the revival, but it is more speculation than spoiler. Still, if you're avoiding all spoilers, then you shouldn't read past this point. ***** ***** Mulder squirmed in his chair. He knew he hadn't done anything to piss off Skinner this time -- or at least, he didn't think he had -- but somehow he still felt like he had been called to the principal's office. Maybe because he was dreading this new assignment. Scully, who was seated next to him, didn't seem to have the same problem. "Agent Scully," Skinner said, "since one of your conditions in returning to reopen the X-Files is that it would be a temporary assignment for both of you, we need to start looking for new agents who can be trained as your replacements." Mulder shifted again, and Scully shot him a look. He tried to still his restless legs. But the stack of folders on Skinner's desk was making him nervous. He was having horrible flashbacks to their months spent doing tedious background checks. Skinner tapped the pile. "I've already selected for you a number of possible candidates. They all have at least a couple years' field experience. Some have a background in science or technology. And, although it's not politically correct, at your request none of them have children, and most of them are single." Scully said, "Thank you, sir. You know the toll these cases can take on the agent's family. We prefer to put as few additional people in jeopardy as possible." Skinner drew a breath, as though he were going to add a comment, but he simply nodded. Mulder decided it was time to jump in. "I don't see how a simple personnel file is going to tell us who will be right for this job. And how do we know that any of them are trustworthy?" "Because I picked them out myself, Agent Mulder." Skinner leaned back in his chair and stroked his beard. "Look, I know your concerns. These agents will be under my supervision, and believe me, the last thing I want is another Krycek. Just go through the files, pick out your top candidates, and then you can call them in for interviews. Once you meet them, I'm sure you'll get a much better sense of their character and abilities." "Yes, sir," Scully replied. She scooted forward in her chair, and Skinner picked up the pile of folders and held it up for them to take. Mulder grabbed the stack and made a hasty retreat out of the office. *** When Scully returned to their basement office later that afternoon, she noted that Mulder's pile of sunflower seed husks had doubled, but there weren't any new pencils in the ceiling. She took that as a good sign. He was busy staring at the computer screen and didn't acknowledge her entrance. "Any luck?" she asked. After a moment, he dragged his attention away from the screen and picked up a handful of folders sitting in front of him. "My top three choices, right here." She stepped over and reached for the folders, but he held them away from her with his long arm. "I'll show you mine if you show me yours," he said. She crossed her arms. "Mulder, why don't you want me to see your choices?" "Why don't you want me to see yours?" She rolled her eyes. "I never said I didn't. You're the one who's keeping yours away from me." "But you haven't told me who your choices are either, and you already selected yours a couple of hours ago." "Fine." She walked over to her desk and sat down. "I guess we'll find out when we interview them." He set the folders back down on his desk. "You know, I couldn't help but notice that not one of these candidates is older than thirty. Do you know how old that makes me feel?" "That's about how old I was when I started in this division. We're not getting any younger, Mulder. We're already pushing the upper age limit for active field agents." "You're making me feel so much better." "Look, Mulder, we've paid our dues. We're only back here now because we know how important this work is. And I only agreed to do this because *you* agreed that this wasn't permanent. The hospital is expecting me to return when my sabbatical is over. You're welcome to stay on here if you want, but I'm not planning to." "You know I don't want to do this without you." She was about to object, afraid he was going to try to talk her into changing her mind, but he held up his hand. "I'm not saying you need to stay," Mulder said. "But I don't really want to be the old man with creaky knees left here with all the young pups. I'll be happy to go back to consulting when our time is up." "Well, then, you better call Skinner and tell him we're ready to meet the young pups." *** They hadn't really intended to conduct interviews separately, but Scully had been called away to Quantico for a couple of days, so it turned out that they both met with their top candidates individually. They agreed to allow each other final approval or veto before anyone was actually offered the position. Scully came down the hallway toward their office door to find a young woman standing there, poised to knock. She was a few inches taller than Scully, with long auburn hair. She turned as Scully approached. "You must be Agent Scully," the young woman said. She extended a hand. "I'm Agent Eisenstein." Scully shook her hand. "I take it you're one of the agents interviewing for the X-Files position?" She smiled. "I am. Agent Mulder told me to come by the office to meet you. I'm afraid I'm a little early." "Nonsense," Scully said. "Come right in." She turned the knob and opened the door. Mulder was leaning back in his chair, throwing pencils at the ceiling. He stopped himself from launching the next one as they entered. "Scully." He righted himself in the chair before it tipped over backwards. "I see you've met the new agent." Scully suppressed her smirk at his behavior. "I have. We met in the hall." She turned to address Agent Eisenstein as well. "I also asked Agent Miller to join us. He should be here any minute." No sooner had she said that than the elevator dinged and a set of footsteps approached down the hall. Mulder stood and put on his suit jacket. He stepped around the desk just as the young man appeared in the doorway. "Come in," Scully said. "Agent Miller, meet Agent Mulder. Mulder, Miller." Mulder reached out to shake the young man's hand. It wasn't until that moment that Scully realized the two were about the same height and had the same hair color. Releasing Miller's hand, Mulder gestured over to the young woman standing to the side. "Miller, meet Einstein." Reaching out to shake Miller's hand, she said, "Eisenstein, sir." Mulder winced at the "sir," but the twinkle in his eye told Scully that he knew exactly what her name was. He continued as though he hadn't heard her. "Einstein here has a B.A. in biology and a Ph.D. in physics." Miller nodded and cordially said, "Agent Eisenstein." Dropping her hand, he stepped over next to her, the two of them facing Mulder and Scully. Scully gestured toward the set of chairs in front of Mulder's desk. "Why don't you take a seat, and we'll all get acquainted?" *** Skinner opened the door to his waiting room and addressed his secretary. "Kim, I'm running behind this afternoon. Can you call Agent Brewer and reschedule his appointment sometime later this week?" "Yes, sir." Only then did he turn and take in the tableau awaiting him for his next appointment. On one side of the room stood a tall, dark-haired agent, well dressed in a gray suit, but with a not-so-subtle tie. Next to him stood a red-haired female agent, clearly no-nonsense and ready for business. On the other side of the room stood Mulder and Scully. Skinner looked from one pair agents to the other, then back again. Scully stepped forward and said, "Sir, these are Agents Miller and Eisenstein." Skinner eyed the two and then looked at Mulder and Scully in suspicion, but he didn't say anything yet. He was waiting for the punch line. After an awkward pause, Scully handed him a couple of folders. "Mulder and I have selected these two candidates for the X- Files positions, but we knew you'd want to meet them before giving final approval." Skinner turned to the younger pair and said, "Agents, would you mind waiting out here for now?" He glanced at Mulder and Scully and nodded toward his office, then turned and headed inside. As soon as the two had entered behind him and shut the door, Skinner let loose, "Is this a joke?" Scully was halfway into her a seat but stood back up. She shared a look with Mulder. "Sir?" Skinner shook his head and slapped the folders down onto his desk. "I thought you two would take this more seriously." Scully frowned. "We have taken it seriously, sir. If you look at their personnel files, you'll see they're both excellent agents with promising futures." Since Scully seemed sincere, Skinner was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. He took a seat and opened the folder on top. Mulder and Scully seated themselves on the other side of the desk, but both were perched uneasily on their chairs. Skinner perused the personnel file for Agent Miller and then opened the other folder. Mulder broke the silence. "You'll see that Einstein --" "Eisenstein," Scully corrected. Mulder continued, not missing a beat. "-- is highly educated and has a background in science. She has quite a bit of lab experience, especially with genetics and virology." Scully added, "And Agent Miller has an Ivy-League education, as well as a Masters degree from Cambridge. His specialty is Eastern European languages, but he also has some background in parapsychology." Skinner looked up from the folders, staring at one agent and then the other. Could they really not see it? "Agent Miller and a red-headed scientist? You do realize you've selected younger versions of yourselves, don't you?" The pair slowly turned and blinked at each other, a light dawning in their eyes. Finally, Mulder shrugged. "Do you think Miller could pass for me when I'm due for my next colonoscopy?" Scully said, "Behave yourself, Mulder, or you're going to get one before you leave this room." Skinner saw the next few years flash before his eyes. He was close to retirement, but not close enough to go through another version of Mulder and Scully, all over again. He buried his head in his hands and ignored the banter that continued across his desk. "I'm too old for this shit." ***** ***** Notes: I have no idea how CC intends to introduce Mulder and Scully wannabes and have us take them seriously, but this is my most plausible scenario. Visit my fic at: https://bellefleur1013.wordpress.com Send feedback to: bellefleur1013@yahoo.com