Redemption (12/26) by GeorgeHale Rating: R Feedback: Classification: Colonization/Mythology/MSR/William, post I.W.T.B. Canon. Spoilers: Left, right, & center. This is best served if you REALLY know your X-Files. Disclaimer: I wish I made this. This has been my catharsis, five years in the making. Maybe it can be one for you, too. Warning: Violence, Gratuitous employment of the 'Our little sailor' clause (swearing,) Fluff with two 'f's, Cheesy dialogue, Friendly Ghosts, Melodramatics, Plot devices, Fiji Mermen (no, not really,) Angst, Blasphemy, Dehydration via crying, Scientific Whammies, Plams, Lots & Lots & Lots of...Bees, Magical Growing Scully Cross Chain, Red Herrings. It's going to get strange and ugly before the end. ------------------------------------------------------------------ XII ------------------------------------------------------------------ "I think that you appreciate that there are extraordinary men and women; extraordinary moments when history leaps forward on the backs of these individuals. What can be imagined, can be achieved. You must dare to dream, but it is no substitute for perseverance and hard work. And teamwork, because no one gets there alone. And while we commemorate the greatness of these events and the individuals who achieve them, we cannot forget the sacrifices of those who make these achievements and dreams possible." - Dana Scully, Max ------------------------------------------------------------------ The dim lighting matched the mood at the viewing for Gibson Praise. It had just been over a day since his passing. With few individuals present, Scully was not surprised to see the small turnout. While she knew better, it was clear that Gibson had been viewed as a spy by many in the bunker and that he tended to avoid others because of it. His abilities had made him outcast, and it saddened her to know that he died young and pessimistic. He had been a good kid cast in a role he never wanted, denied a childhood and the ability to live life like a regular human being. William seemed to be coping sorely with the loss, his sour mood a mask for the deep mourning he was experiencing for his friend. Kryder seemed to be having difficulty dealing with the loss as well and the others left him alone while he dealt with his sorrow. Scully observed them from afar as she stood by Mulder and Skinner. "It's easy to feel that we've been all been slighted by life, but Gibson had it far worse. I think his abilities were more of a curse for him then a blessing." Mulder nodded in agreement. "It allowed him access to the darkest thoughts in everyone's mind. How different life would seem if we all removed the filter that stands between what we think and what we let others know we think. To constantly be assaulted by everyone's fears and temptations, it's no wonder he stayed away from others...not that that helped much. He told me once that he looked forward to death, because then he wouldn't have to listen to everyone and feel responsible for all their problems." Skinner bowed his head. "I never knew him well, but I hope he's at peace now...I'm going to pay my respects and head back down." The young girl they had rescued from the gas station was being kept in quarantine where Threadgoode was looking after her far below. Skinner had become quite attached to the child, despite her unwillingness to speak other than an occasional head nod. "Have you found anything out?" Scully had been meaning to be more helpful but had spent most of the last day recovering from her extended sleep deprivation. She hadn't known of the girl's existence until Mulder filled her in on their excursion after William's recovery. "We think her name is Rachel. One of the women was finally able to convince her to change and it was written on the tag inside her shirt. Other than that, she still won't speak. Threadgoode hasn't been able to determine much else yet..." Nodding to his former colleagues, Skinner took the initiative and walked to where Gibson was laid out where the Gunmen already stood looking over the body. Frohike, dressed up for the occasion, seemed a relic from a bygone era. "He was a real patriot." "A true American," Byers concurred. "He had awesome kung fu." Langly concluded. "Rest in peace, soldier," Frohike said in farewell and the three left to prepare a wake they had planned in the young man's honor. ------------------------------------------------------------------ "Do you think that's how William feels about people, being able to understand their thoughts?" Scully didn't mean to sound afraid, but the thought terrified her. She could handle the thought of William being different from other children, but she was afraid that he might not. "Do you think he'll recover after everything he's been through...losing the family that raised him, his sense of life, the illness, now Gibson? I'm worried over how badly he's been traumatized." Mulder bit his lip, pausing for consideration. "I think we've all been traumatized by everything that's happened. If you'd like a psychological opinion, I'd say that many kids are better at adapting to and accepting tragedy than adults. And while it's clear that he's depressed, as long as he feels safe and knows there's hope...Understands that he has someone to turn to, knows that he's loved...I think he'll recover eventually." Scully gripped her partner's hand, grateful for this soft side of him that came out whenever she needed it to. "Us." Mulder nodded, sharing the light knowing smile only she understood. "When he finally does melt down, we'll be there. We'll all help each other get through this." They were silent a moment, reflecting on the occasion. The Gunmen paused by them on their way out. The service would end soon. "You guys stopping by?" "Yeah, we'll be by in a bit." Mulder responded, chewing at his lip, preoccupied. He was watching Will, more concerned than he was letting on, seething over recent events. Hope and safety were in short supply these days. Nodding, the Gunmen departed. Scully looked to William, who sat alone on a bench near Gibson. "Do you think he's ready to go?" "Let's see." They sat a polite distance away but flanked both sides of the broken-hearted boy. "Hey," Mulder ventured. "Hey," William responded simply, his face drawn and devoid of emotion. "The service will be concluding soon. Should we pay our respects?" Scully didn't want to rush William but knew the unit in charge of cremations would be arriving soon and preferred they be gone by the time they arrive. "Yeah." Getting up slowly, William made his way to Gibson following Mulder. The three of them stood side by side near the corpse. "He was a good man," Mulder began. "He left me stay with him in the desert when I needed to hide. He did everything he could to help me and I owe my life to him." William nodded as he looked at Gibson's closed eyes. "He told me about it. He said you're a terrible roommate, but that you had a lot of great stories." Mulder smiled. Entertainment was sorely lacking in Gibson's underground home and the younger man seemed to enjoy listening to every wild adventure Mulder would tell him, eager to point out any critical details Mulder was omitting. "I didn't get to know him very long," William continued, "but he really helped me. He was a good friend. I think I might have gone insane without him. I feel like he saved my life, too." William wanted to reach out and touch Gibson's hand, but he was afraid to touch the corpse. Scully bowed her head briefly, hoping to summarize what they all felt. "Rest in peace, Gibson. Thank you for all you have done for us. We will always remember you." Together, they left the service. William cast one last sad look back at his friend before slipping his hand inside Scully's. It was the first physical act of comfort he had sought and Scully wrapped her hand around his as she beamed inward, careful not to react too strongly. Neither of them saw it, but Mulder smiled behind them, touched by the tender act, temporarily distracted from the whirlwind of thoughts clouding his brain. While he mourned for Gibson, he knew that he had finally earned the rest he had sought for so long. ------------------------------------------------------------------ The wake was little more than a meal between friends at the Gunmen's, a ritual that had become a weekly meeting between the old confidants to stay apprised of everything that was happening in the base. Threadgoode and Kryder had been invited to join the party as the weekly gatherings progressed, and while Skinner and Threadgoode were in the isolation ward several stories below, the rest of them assembled to share each other's company in the cramped quarters. The rooms that Mulder and Scully shared would have been more accommodating, but the Gunmen knew their rooms were not being monitored, their predilection for paranoia an old habit that had served them well through the years. "A toast to Gibson," Frohike raised his glass as they neared the end of their meal. "Cut down before his time." Silently, they raised their glasses and drank. There was little more to say, their stories about the young man having been shared and relished. Scully moved to change the subject before everyone decided to call it a night. "This may not be the best time to bring this up, but it's the safest opportunity...we've decided to leave." Their friends looked at her with a mix of shock and surprise. "The Overseer invited William and I to meet with him yesterday," Mulder offered in explanation, anger tingeing his words. "I was reprimanded for allowing Smith into the compound without submitting him to quarantine. As 'punishment,' he's forcing William to take over Gibson's role as his personal spy, a role he calls the "Watchman." After he allowed William to leave the room, he threatened that any further perceived insubordination would result in Will being removed from our custody, *for his safety.* Now all he needs is an excuse, and we don't intend to give him time to find one. He ordered me to make final preparations with my unit. We're getting sent out early." "We don't feel we have a choice but to leave before something tragic happens," Scully added uncomfortably, the violence in her voice implicating a foul end for anyone who tried to take her son away, "but we decided to extend the invitation to any of you who would like to join us." "That sorry punk ass has a lot of nerve making threats, Mulder. Maybe it's time for reelections, if you get my drift." Frohike cracked his knuckles. Mulder agreed. "I wanted to snap his neck. He's a manipulative old bastard, I'll give him that. The power has gone to his head." "Let's take him out," Langly suggested, his voice disgusted. "We get to stay in the bunker, and you don't have to worry about him anymore." The Gunmen had had their own questionable dealings with the old man in the past. "No, the people here are too loyal to him," Scully countered. "He's too well armed. People here are so petrified of what's lurking above, they're not going to question his leadership. They view him as their savior. I think trying to remove him would end poorly for all of us." Byers sighed, leaning against the bulkhead as he crossed him arms, frowning. "I agree and understand what you are saying, but we wouldn't have any idea of what we could be facing on the surface. There are going to be entire armies of those things up above. How could we even possibly hope to survive?" "Assuming we could find an internal solution, staying here is no guarantee of safety," Scully pointed out. "Supplies here will eventually run low and there will be no choice but to return to the surface. Things will get very ugly." "Understanding that the Colonists know about the location of this bunker, it's only a matter of time before send a slave army in to take it out, which would be easier than it seems, by the way," Mulder added. "I'd like to be long gone before the proverbial 'shit' hits the fan." "We're damned if we do, and damned if we don't," Frohike sighed. "There's something else," William added, unafraid to mention to the others what his parents could not. "Mulder's allergic to the magnetite that's protecting the base. If he stays here too long it will kill him. He wants Dana to stay here to protect me but we're not going to let him go out there alone." William hadn't meant to pry, but Fox and Dana had been thinking about it constantly so it had been tearing at him too. Scully cast her eyes down, sorry that William had come to see the conflict between them, sorry she could not protect his innocence. "Well, I've got to admit that it sounds insane, but what isn't these days?" Frohike pledged his help. "I've always been under the impression that fresh air is good for the lungs." "If Toto's in, so am I," Langly decided. "Nothing gold can stay," Byers admitted, invoking Frost. "Maybe it's time to leave the coffin. What about Skinner and Threadgoode?" "They're both in. Whatever it takes," Scully supplied. "I'm with you, too," Kryder declared. The young man had never had any doubt in his mind from the moment Scully announced they were leaving. His convictions told him where he was needed most. William's revelation confirmed it. "I'll do whatever I can to help." Mulder nodded in gratitude at the soldier, feeling guilty over his previous callousness toward the man who had proved to be their ally more than once. "Breaking out of here isn't going to be easy," Langly declared, "This place is locked down tighter than Fort Knox. Good thing it just so happens we know who installed the security system." He smirked, complimenting his own handy work. "Give yourself a bone, Scarecrow," Frohike ribbed him. Langly had not been the only one who contributed to securing the base inside out. He was more interested in their old friends' response to his next question. "Once we get out, where do you plan on going? As far as we know, there's nothing left up there. What do you possibly hope to find?" "A kill switch for these creatures, something we haven't discovered or thought of. A way to eradicate them once and for all. I want to find it." "He keeps having these dreams about it," William supplied, trying to be helpful. "I have, too." "Do you know where it is? What is it?" Byers asked. "Not yet," Mulder said not wanting to divulge everything he had witnessed in his sleep, "but we have a lot of planning to do if we're even going to escape."