[For disclaimer information, see part 1] Games of the Mind (part 12) by Christina Shuy cshuy@netcom.com "Have you? Have you really?" Mulder said, when he realised no one was saying anything. K'Nara nodded. "My government believe we may have located her, though we are not certain of either her current location or whether it is actually her." Mulder looked at them both in disbelief. "Please explain." he said, finally, though the tone was one Scully recognised. Mulder was losing patience. Fast. "She was taken off planet at the age you suspected. We know about your efforts to recover the memory that was lost to you when you were twelve. The information we have been given is that those who took your sister are the same ones who are working with those in your people's society who want to make the planet you inhabit a new colony." T'Kenn answered. "Christina, you were right to request that we 'get the hell off' your planet. That is part of the battle we are waging. Those whom we are battling against are the colonising force which we are attempting to have leave your planet. T'Kenn mentioned that I had an ulterior motive in coming here to attempt to help you. I do." K'Nara said, finally. "What's that?" Chrisitna's voice was still tinged with disbelief. "I have had family members killed in this fight by those very forces - the shapeshifting aliens Agents Mulder and Scully have already encountered, as well as others - who would prefer to enslave your people." "Whatever you say... I'm sure you believe it. But why help us?" Mulder asked. "The noninterference directive we were under orders of has said that in your own time, you will join the Intergalactic community... if you do not kill one another before then." K'Nara began. "It has been foreseen." "Agent Mulder, we are looking for your long lost Samantha. And we are doing what we can to bring her back to you. Alive and in one piece. You must never give up the hope that we will." T'Kenn finished. "I suppose I will hold you to that." Mulder looked a little uneasy. "It's... well, it is the least we can do, Mr. Mulder. The group who had taken your sister to begin with has little or no remorse about what they do to those they do take. In the same vein, they have treated her like property, and have also taken her far from where she came." the cello-like voice was in Mulder's mind, but everyone else could hear it as well. "Therefore, it will take some time to locate her for certain, but, be assured, we WILL find her and bring her back to you." "Even if it takes a great deal of time..." K'Nara assured him. Christina and Chris listened to this, but there were still some unanswered questions for them. "T'Kenn, why did you take me to begin with?" Christina asked. "Because, dear heart, you have the best of intentions, as do all the people who study the art form you do. Though you, as well as the others within you, do not believe what you study to be an art form, it is... and it is also a matter of perspective on that subject." <<>> Julia sounded peeved. Then again, it wasn't all that different from how she usually sounded. Julia's normal state of mind seemed to be one of either upset, annoyance, paranoia, or any combination of the three. "Would you mind telling us why this entire situation you had to set up took you ten months?" Christina asked. "That in itself is a complicated question. Your perception of time is apparently very different from our own. Those within your mind wanted to learn a great deal and set about doing so. You also did so while considering the question to help us find Agent Mulder. By the time we realised that we had to send you back before the situation became dire, ten of your months had passed." T'Kenn paused for a moment before continuing. "Also remember that the ones who exist within you are there for a good reason... they should be nurtured, not feared." T'Kenn grinned at her, and one of her Others knew... <<<'I rather figured that...'>>> Marie smiled. <<<'And we shouldn't fight so often either... we know.'>>> Valerie grinned. "Indeed, Valerie, you should not. Fighting brings nothing but trouble." T'Kenn said, speaking to them all, though what Valerie had said had not been spoken aloud. Christina glanced at Scully, who wasn't entirely sure what to believe, and her facial expression indicated the fact that she was quite curious to figure out what was going on. "Penny for your thoughts, Agent Scully?" Christina asked, the questions in her mind when she had first met Mulder and Scully now answered, even though some of the answers brought new questions. Dana startled for a moment. "I was just wondering how exactly this would fit properly into the explanation of things governed by science. I have had times in the past where things have happened that challenged my beliefs in strict science, though this..." Christina smiled and looked more than slightly relieved. "Sounds about right... I feel the same way... like this can't all be real because then things we have learned about the way the laws of the universe work are probably a load of BS." <'Well, magick can't usually be explained scientifically either, love, you know that...'> Chris' thought was immediately in her mind and she grinned at him with a slight nod of her head. Scully raised an eyebrow at her due to her reaction, and Christina continued. "Sometimes, I wonder if being a scientist/engineer is all it's cracked up to be. And then there are other times where I wonder if anything is even worth it..." she sighed softly and looked at Chris again with a half-smile. "Even living." <'Hey, no thinking like that... remember my promise... and yours...'> his thought was in her mind, and she nodded, reaching out a hand to touch his face before he leaned slightly to kiss her. "You're still young, dear heart." T'Kenn's companion said. "And from what we have seen, your mind is as it always has been. Brilliantly intelligent, despite what your biological parents might have told you." Christina, still amazed at T'Kenn and K'Nara themselves, as well as what she'd learned lately, was not surprised the topic of her biological parents had come up. "They're right, you know..." Chris spoke up. "And so are you. As I seem to remember, you've said that to me on several occasions as well." She smiled at him. "So... now what?" "Now, we send you home and continue to look for Agent Mulder's sister. We *will* find her. It is only a matter of time." T'Kenn said. "We have had to expedite matters due to something our sensors have picked up on your planet. There is no time to explain, but I must warn you that the danger to all of you is now greater than it ever has been... however, this is no guarantee it will not escalate further." "Oh, grand," Christina muttered. "Just what we need to hear." "We apologise for the urgency and need for this, but the situation we have been monitoring has escalated. We need to start preparations to stop what we know is coming." T'Kenn said. There was a touch of fear in his voice, and his eyes. "We know what is coming because we have seen it happen on other planets. First the sweet convincing, then..." He gave a visible shudder, and it was plainly obvious that he was angry, and afraid. "Which is why we need your decision, Christna. Immediately." K'Nara urged. "How will you be in touch?" Mulder asked. "Through Christina. Valerie has agreed-" "Hold it. Valerie may have agreed, but it is not her body." Marie's accent cut through and right to the chase making it obvious who was speaking from Christina's internal system. "Very true. You can't just keep using her against her will. The consent must come from all of them." Chris said. "Well, then, we give you the choice... all of you. We shall do our best to give advanced warning so that we can keep you updated on exactly what might be going on. However, there will be times, most times, when we will need to get to you before we can give you advanced notice." "I don't like this... but I'm not sure I really have much of a choice." "There is always a choice." Chris prompted gently. "Chris... that's what I keep telling *you*... but you never seem to believe me." "Are we going to blow up again?" Chris' expression was wary. She laughed. "Only if you don't kiss me." He grinned, then swept her into his arms and kissed her... much to the delighted laughter of everyone within the system, as well as the other people who were in the same room. <<>> Erin laughed, as she felt his tongue caress her lower lip. "I love you... and I never said I didn't believe you... I just... uh... never took your advice." he smirked. "Same thing, Christopher..." she raised an eyebrow, but still grinned at him. "Christina, we need your decision." "Well, I'll put it to you this way... *if* you use me without warning me first, I reserve the right not to like it and let you know... *loudly*." she answered, turning to face them. "Fair enough. " T'Kenn answered. "And now... we send you home." There was another flash of light, and a groan was heard. Then, they were gone again. End Part 12