From: dmcintoshtx@yahoo.com   
      
   Title:  HOME AGAIN   
   Author: Donna McIntosh   
   Email: dmcintoshtx@yahoo.com   
   Fandom:  X-Files   
   Pairing:  Skinner/Krycek  &  Mulder/Scully   
   Genre:  Slash   
   Rating:  NC – 17   FRAO   
   Disclaimer:  These characters belong to Chris Carter but they have a   
   lot more fun with me!  I make no money off of them.   
   Summary:  Skinner takes on his first assignment for the Resistance and   
   everything goes wrong.  Krycek goes to Mulder for help.   
   Beta:  Thanks so much Ursula for all your help.  I really appreciate it.   
      
   HOME AGAIN   
      
   "Think of all living beings as a pyramid.  Humans – mankind is the   
   lowest level.  Then you have your altered humans, then your Elders.    
   Above the Elders you have the hybrids and at the very top, what we   
   consider aliens  -- a life form so advanced that their knowledge spans   
   millennia; their powers endless, un-imaginable."   
      
   "Their goal?"  Skinner asked.   
      
   "Universal peace; and they have achieved it on several worlds.  You   
   will visit some on our many journeys."   
      
   "So even you, an Elder, have someone to answer to?"   
      
   "I wouldn't exactly use the term 'answer to' but we do have those we   
   report to and take direction from."   
      
   "The hybrids?"   
      
   "Yes.  They are a mixed breed of the higher evolved species.  Their   
   knowledge and experience is in-valuable in our work."   
      
   "If they are so powerful, why don't they just come in and transform   
   each world themselves?"   
      
   "Oh my goodness, no! Mankind in all its many forms, are creatures of   
   free will.  They must be handled with great care, schooled in the ways   
   of a peaceful existence."   
      
   "It's not an easy task they've taken on."   
      
   "They will accomplish their goal when the time is right."   
      
   "In our life time?"  Skinner asked.   
      
   "That is impossible to know.  We, each of us, must simply do what we   
   can to further the process."   
      
   Skinner shook his head in agreement and stood as the Elder stood,   
   signaling the end of their session.   
      
   "Thank you for your time, Elder Eli."   
      
   "You are most welcome, Walter.  I always enjoy counseling the young ones."   
      
      
   Walter made his way from the Elder's chambers down the ramp where Alex   
   was waiting for him.   
      
   "What are you grinning about?"  Alex asked.   
      
   "It's been a long time since I've been considered a 'young one'."   
      
   "Well, you are.  We all are compared to the Elders."   
      
   "I'm starving.  You ready for lunch?"  Walter asked.   
      
   "Yes!  I was just thinking about some chicken quesadillas.  What do   
   you feel like?"  Alex asked as they walked down ramp to the eating   
   area in the courtyard.   
      
   "That sounds great."  Walter agreed as they entered the small café,   
   seated themselves and tapped in their choices on the automated menus   
   imbedded in the table top.   
      
   "I talked with Jeremiah while you were in with Elder Eli.  He's got   
   something going and he's thinking of using us."   
      
   "Really?  What is it?  I'll take anything they offer."  Skinner came   
   to full alert; anxious for his first assignment.   
      
   "He didn't say.  He asked if I thought you were ready and I assured   
   him that you are."   
      
   "I am!  Did he give you any idea what's going on; what the mission   
   might be?"  Walter fidgeted with his water glass.   
      
   "No; he didn't say.  He was deep in thought and we only spoke for a   
   moment.  He was headed for a meeting with Elder Daniel."   
      
   "I wonder what it is."  Walter waited anxiously.  "How long do you   
   think before we'll know something?"   
      
   "No telling.  I'm sure we'll have time to finish our meal.  Eat!"    
   Alex grinned as he ate and encouraged Walter to do the same.   
      
   They had finished and were just leaving the café when they heard their   
   names over the PA system with instructions to join Jeremiah Smith in   
   his office.  They grinned at each other and took off for the nearest   
   up ramp.   
      
   "Please sit down.  I have something I need to discuss with you."    
   Jeremiah said as they hurried into his office.  The three of them sat   
   down and he began.  "Something has come up that is most urgent.  I   
   hadn't planned on using you this soon, Walter; but Alex assures me   
   that you are ready."   
      
   "I am!  Whatever it is, I accept."  Walter said sitting on the edge of   
   his chair.   
      
   "You'd better hear the details first.  If you'd rather not go; I'm   
   sure we can find someone else to go with Alex."   
      
   "I want to go!"  Walter insisted.   
      
   "What is the mission?"  Alex asked, not quite as eager as Walter.    
   Though he was sure Walter had completed the training all right, he   
   wasn't exactly eager to take him into a dangerous situation.   
      
   "It's a rescue mission.  A very important person has been taken.  We   
   are the only chance he has of escaping with his life.  The situation   
   has become dire."   
      
   "In what way?"  Alex asked.   
      
   "We have someone on the inside.  He has managed to get a message to us   
   that the subject is scheduled to be – studied, in other words; dissected."   
      
   Walter winced; Alex asked, "How much time do we have?"   
      
   "Unknown.  But very little."   
      
   "Where is he being held?"   
      
   "Third quadrant, the miner's colony.  You'll have to take the shuttle."   
      
   "Are they below?"  The sweat stood out on Alex's forehead.  He hated   
   the mines; his claustrophobia caused him fits last time he had to go   
   down into one.   
      
   "No.  It's in a large warehouse complex; building 3B.  That's as much   
   information as I have.  By the time you get ready to go, I should have   
   more for you.  Are you sure you want to try something this difficult   
   on your first assignment, Walter?"   
      
   "Yes.  I accept."   
      
   "Very well.  The shuttle is being prepared as we speak.  Any further   
   information will be transmitted to you en route."  Jeremiah stood.   
      
   Walter and Alex hurried to their rooms and donned their specialized   
   gear.  "I can't believe I'm finally going on a real mission.  I've   
   been training for nearly a year now.  I was beginning to think they   
   were just training me to keep me out of their hair."   
      
   "They wouldn't do that."  Alex assured him as they hurried to the   
   shuttle bay.   
      
   Jeremiah met them there. "I did manage to find one more bit of   
   information.  The man you're going after is someone you both know.    
   Fox Mulder."   
      
   "On my God!"  Walter gasped.   
      
   "Just remember, Walter, follow Alex's orders.  He is in control of   
   this mission.   
      
   "I understand."  Walter shook his head.   
      
   They boarded the shuttle craft and were surprised when Jeremiah joined   
   them.   
      
   "You're going along?"  Alex asked.   
      
   "I am.  In case the process has already started he will need a healer   
   immediately."   
      
   "Good."  Alex said and looked at Walter who had gone silent since   
   hearing it was Mulder they were going after.   
      
      
   The trip took an agonizing four hours before they were in the docking   
   area of the busy Third quadrant.  Vehicles of all shapes and sizes   
   were coming and going and as stunned as Walter was, he carefully took   
   in all the activity.  He had heard of talk about a moon base but   
   assumed it to be just a small operation.  What he saw looked to him   
   like a small domed city.     
      
   "Good luck," Jeremiah said as they climbed down from their docked   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)