[Disclaimers in Part One] Games of the Mind (Part 4) by Christina Shuy cshuy@netcom.com "See, I knew there would be something." Mulder said, setting the folder down on his desk where Christina was sitting with her head tilted back, a cold cloth Mulder had gotten for her on her forehead and eyes closed. "One of the advantages of having a photographic memory." <<<'Like I said... the man needs a new line of work.'>>> Valerie's voice held a smirk. <<<'And as I have said several times today already, Valerie, *shut up*!'>>> Christina retorted. Valerie was about to say something when both she and Christina felt Marie's presence silently cautioning them not to. And as it was part of Marie's job to keep the peace, they both listened. Christina's headache ached sharply, then faded mostly into the background. She straightened the chair and then opened her eyes, setting the washcloth on top of her head, trying to wish away the pain. The coolness slowly seeped into her head, relaxing the tension slightly. Flipping open the file folder he handed to her, she read similar cases of people reported bright lights in their eyes and then disappeared for differing lengths of time. "Mulder, I found several reports in Los Angeles of people complaining of bright lights flashing and strange sightings..." Scully said, bringing a printed copy of the reports to the three gathered around Mulder's desk. Christina looked them over slowly. "Considering the people of Los Angeles find more things to complain about in a day than there are days in a year, Agent Scully, I'm not the least bit surprised." Christina stated softly, though her voice contained more than a little bit of sarcasm. Then she sighed. "However, just because there were reports of such things, it does not mean much... if anything." "Did any match the occurance where Christina went to school? Or even on the same day, Scully?" Mulder asked. "Actually, several of them do. They correspond to the time and the place, especially since at least two of them are from people who are on staff at that particular university, but I still don't know what you're looking for." "Agent Mulder, it says here that... ow..." she winced as the intensity of the headache increased. After waiting for it to decrease slightly, she had to refocus her thoughts. "Umm... it says here that the people reporting the light disappeared for different lengths of time... none of them as long as the ten months I was missing. "Since that is the case, I do not see how there can be a corellation. One similarity or two may be purely coincidental. The length of time I was missing in itself could well rule out whatever else it is that has similarities." Christina said, wishing that the headache would go away and leave her alone. Her headaches always seemed to be bad when her internal people were arguing with the intensity usually reserved for things like hurricanes. At present, they were getting so loud, it was almost impossible to think clearly. "Oh no... I've got two of you now..." Mulder grinned sheepishly and Chris laughed softly, reaching out to caress Christina's cheek. She reached out, took hold of his fingers and kissed them, smiling at him. "Agent Mulder, I am an Electrical Engineering major... well, at least I was when I disappeared... I have no idea what my status may be with the university I was attending at present." "Once an Engineer always an engineer?" Mulder suggested, thoughtfully, with a smile. "Speaking of which, did you happen to notice what all of the reports had in common besides the light and the disappearances for brief periods of time?" "Yes, but I don't see what you're getting at, Agent Mulder. As you have pointed out, I AM an engineer... or I will be." Chris was studying the file over her shoulder. "There might be that too, love. Look here... each of the people who reported the light and then disappeared, though for comparably shorter periods, also were in some sort of Engineering field... and all of them were students as well. It looks like a pattern to me." "Chris, you're stretching for an explaination. I don't know if that data is..." she trailed off and winced as she had a flash of something. A memory fragment or something similar had forced its way into her mind and it hurt. "Agent Mulder, can you or Agent Scully check on the planetary carbon dioxide levels at all?" "Carbon dioxide?" Scully asked. "Yes... I don't know why, but I just had a flash of something and it might be important to check the levels." "Okay, but I don't know what you're aiming for." Scully said, going back over to sit at her computer where she typed in several search commands. Christina watched as Scully looked for the information she had just requested. ----- "You see? The planetary carbon dioxide levels on your planet are dangerously high. Therefore, we will take some of it and use it as fuel for our ships. However, you and your people must be careful." stated a strong echoing male voice, though it seemed to be in her mind. "But what will happen if you take too much?" she heard herself ask, though she didn't feel as though she were the one asking. "That we don't know yet, but sending up this much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when you and your species are oxygen breathers is not a very wise decision." the voice continued. "My species might be oxygen breathers, but the plants take carbon dioxide and change it into oxygen. What of them?" "At present rates," the voice echoed in her mind. "The plants on your planet cannot keep up with the amount of carbon dioxide being put out. There are not enough of them. And with the supply of them diminishing with every passing moment, the oxygen also diminishes." "I am concerned about this as well... but what is the use of telling me this? It's not like I can do anything about it... short of stopping to breathe!" she protested. ----- "Christina? Love? Are you ok?" Chris asked, waving his hands in front of her face and eyes. As soon as he touched her on her shoulder, she flinched and jolted slightly. "Oh... sorry... what?" she blinked. "Your expression went completely blank for just a moment. What's going on?" "I'm not entirely sure, myself..." <<<'Valerie, what was that?'>>> <<<'One of our friends...'>>> Valerie said, refusing to elaborate. <<<'Valerie! TELL us what has gone on the last ten months? Did those aliens perform tests on us? Get us pregnant? Put implants in our, unfortunately, shared body?'>>> Lisa demanded. <<<'Why the hell are you keeping secrets from us? Are you trying to get us all killed?!'>>> <<<'Lisa, SHUT UP! All of you, please, just SHUT UP!!!!!'>>> Christina held her head and squeezed her eyes shut, nausea threatening. Lisa could be quite the loudmouth when she wanted to be, especially since she was the result of being badly dumped by someone, even though their relationship had not progressed that far. Her personality and tone of voice all belonged to that former friend. Not only that, she ended to over-react to things... a lot. She slumped a bit in her chair. Keeping at least a bit of control over what was going on inside her own mind was difficult and draining, and she knew she didn't have the energy for it. She felt Chris' hand on her shoulder and a look of concern on his face, even though she couldn't see it. It did relax her a little, though and the pain seemed to subside slightly. Just enough for her to get her eyes open and slightly focused. "Would you like an asprin?" Chris smiled. "Uh... no. Some sleep, maybe... but I don't know where to go about getting a nap... and has my mother been notified that you've found me?" she asked, feeling several switches happening all at once, resulting in yet another headache, which, added onto the one she already had, made her head throb. She saw Chris wince from it and knew he could feel what she was feeling as well. Reaching up, she touched his cheek with her hand and caressed his face gently. <'I'm sorry. I don't mean to hurt you.'> was her thought. <'Don't worry about it, love.'> his thought replied as he kissed the palm of her hand. Then, both were smiling. "Your mother was notified as per Chris' directions. I called her while Mulder was out looking for you." Scully said. "Though I'm not too sure she believed me. In fact, she stopped short of calling me a liar." "Sounds typical of her." Christina said, immediately, her voice full of bitter sarcasm. Then, suddenly there was an abrupt switch in the tone and rhythm of her voice, as well as her internal thought planes. "What about the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere?" The switch gave her a momentary sense of disorientation. "Well... " Scully studied the screen closely, though it seemed she wasn't believing what she saw. "This is strange. The levels have actually been _decreasing_ over the last year or so... and it started right around the time you disappeared last year." <<<'Valerie... it is time you told us the truth. What the HELL is going on? And what are you hiding from us?!'>>> Marie said calmly, though with more than a hint of anger. <<<'Marie, please... my head hurts enough as it is. Will you please try to calm down? With you and Lisa and who knows who else on the warpath, it makes it difficult for us to function on the outside. You and the others know that.'>>> Christina pleaded. Christina nodded. "It still may not mean anything, though. One strange incident in itself may simply be a random occurance, nothing at all to note. Am I right?" "Have you been taking lessons? No, there is no way you could have... you just met Scully." Mulder smiled, flashing an affectionate glance at Scully before looking at Christina. She and Scully both grinned at Mulder just a little. "Mulder, this is typical questioning for me. I'm a scientist at heart, you know, or should know if Chris gave you the right information about me." Christina glanced at Chris, who nodded. "So... we have one strange occurance with the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere decreasing. What could possibly have caused that?" Christina blinked again as she could feel internal nudging. <<<'What about his sister? Samantha?'>>> Lisa asked. <<<'There is still a question as to how we know about her without being TOLD!'>>> Once again, she winced, this time upon being presented with the clear image of one Samantha Mulder, somewhere in her early to mid-thirties... and dressed in conventional style clothing. Unfortunately, it also brought about a roaring headache. It was too much for her to handle all at once. "Your... sister... I... see... her..." she felt her lips move and heard herself say something, but the pain was so intense, blackness overtook her moments later. End Part 4.