EPISODE 3: Written in Stone Chapter 1: ******************************************** Date: 09/25/02, 09:46 AM RP: CSM Subject: {RP, Trigger for Ep3} IOH From: Nancy { X-Files font } Stonehenge Wiltshire County, England { / X-Files font } The best lies contain a bit of truth in them. The best way to hide something is to place it right under someone's nose. Like the aliens had done to us. And so it was that the Cigarette Smoking Man leaned on the fence at Stonehenge at this, one of the monument's busiest times of the year, the autumnal equinox. The smoke from his Morley blended with the thick English fog. He walked around the park, taking photos, waiting, pretending to be interested in the stone structure, when in fact, he knew more about Stonehenge than most earthlings. Finally Emma Nittany emerged from the fog, seemingly looking for something. He recognized her easily from the Syndicate's photos: dark hair cut tomboy-short, and sparkling brown eyes that indicated she was no stranger to mischief. He approached her at the Heel Stone; the crowds were thick there, and the more witnesses you had, the more conflicting stories there would be. The better the truth would be disguised. "Miss Nittany?" "Yes?" CSM lied: "Hello, I'm from the Horizon Foundation--" A big smile crossed her face. "Oh! Excuse me! It's so good to meet you! Thank you so much, I'm honored, me winning an award, how exciting! I expected more people, you know, cameras and--" "Yes," he interrupted. "But what we have in mind for you is much more interesting than a simple interview." He lit another Morley. "Much more important." "Like what?" "The Horizon Foundation gave you the all-expenses-paid trip here as an award, yes. But also, as an opportunity. To prove your theory." She took a step back. "To prove it?" "If," CSM continued, "as you wrote in your article, the British and US government have secret documents hidden here, and if your theory about how to find them is true--" "I don't know *exactly* how it works. What I wrote--" "You know," he said in a voice as cool and still as the fog surrounding them, looking at Stonehenge. "There's a door in one of the stones." She observed him quietly for a long moment before whispering. "So you *know* how it works?" He grabbed her hand, put something in it. Three thin golden pieces shaped like the letters I, O, and H. Then he closed her fingers around the letters. Pointed towards the ancient structure. "Stone fifty-three." She nodded knowingly. "Wow. Of course. IOH:LVD:DEFERRE is carved into it, but no one can trace the name to the time they think it was carved." "You hold the keys in your hand. Put them in the carved letters and the door will let you through. "Oh my God!" She shrieked, attracting the attention of some of the nearby tourists. "The symmetry of the letters! I was *right?*" CSM knew she hadn't been even close (her article mentioned no aliens, let alone how they used Stonehenge). But the Syndicate had decided that by sending her through the door, she would be able to disarm the aliens' weapon - even if by accident - and disable their ability to use it. However, to Nittany, he said, "Go get the papers. I'll be here." As if steeling her nerves, she pursed her lips. Suddenly she scaled the fence and ran across the open space towards the stones. And as people were pointing and yelling, "look, look!" CSM tossed the Morley on the chalky ground and walked towards the carpark, knowing there was no need to wait. -0-0-0-0-0- { X-Files font} September 25, 2002 Washington DC { / X-Files font } Approaching the front door to the Office of The Lone Gunmen, Frohike noticed a small newspaper, slightly bigger than The Lone Gunmen's own publication, on the floor at the foot of the door. He picked it up and pulled off the rubberband - it was a tabloid. Wondering which of his roommates would have spent money on a subscription, he unlocked the door with his key. As he entered, he called out, "All right, which one of you--" But something caught his attention. He noticed one of the pages looked like it had been folded at the corner. "Hey, look." As if in explanation, he said to Jordan, "Around here, a newspaper mysteriously appears with a dogeared page, well, it *means* something." He opened the rag to the marked page and read: --- September 24, 2002, Wiltshire, England: Yesterday, at Stonehenge in England, in front of thousands of tourists, Emma Nittany of Washington DC disappeared after climbing over the fence and reaching the inner stones of the ancient structure. "She was talking to an old man," one witness said. "I overheard them discussing the American government when I stopped to take a picture. A really weird conversation - I remember it because they sounded like wackos." She describes the elder gentleman as well-dressed, with an air of refinement, and a chain smoker. "I'd gone over to photograph the Heel Stone when I heard a commotion. I turned and the girl had jumped the fence and was running towards the stones. Then the old man threw his cigarette on the ground and walked away." Other witnesses claim that the trespasser appeared to hold something shiny in her hand as she ran across the open area. But there are no witnesses to her leaving the area either voluntarily or with police escort. Emma Nittany won a trip to England for an article she wrote that appeared in a small newsletter called The Lone Gunman. The search for her continues and her family has been notified. Local authorities have asked that anyone with additional information, including the whereabouts of the elder gentleman, contact the Wiltshire or Amesbury police. --- Frohike turned from the article, and looked at Jordan. He handed the newspaper to Langly and said, "Guys, what should we do? ******************************************** Date: 09/25/02, 05:55 PM RP: Jordan Yorba Subject: Re: {RP, Trigger for Ep3} IOH From: Viki Jordan was sitting on the edge of a bed, dangling her legs, looking a bit like a small child. She looked up when she heard the locks being thrown, and saw Frohike come in. > "All right, which one of you--" But something caught his > attention. He noticed one of the pages looked like it had been > folded at the corner. "Hey, look." > > As if in explanation, he said to Jordan, "Around here, a > newspaper mysteriously appears with a dogeared page, well, it > *means* something." Jordan was interested, and stood to read the article over Frohike's shoulder. > Frohike turned from the article, and looked at Jordan. He handed > the newspaper to Langly and said, "Guys, what should we do? Jordan was a bit confused. She didn't quite understand what was going on, or who this Nittany woman was. Did they actually know her? Jordan had noticed all the issues of The Lone Gunman laying around, and the equipment to make the magazine... were they the writers? "Umn... what's all this about, Ringo?" She asked, turning to the face she recognized the most. ******************************************** Date: 09/29/02, 07:35 PM RP: Ringo Langly Subject: Re: Re: {RP, Trigger for Ep3} IOH From: Jan > Frohike turned from the article, and looked at Jordan. He handed > the newspaper to Langly and said, "Guys, what should we do?" Langly skimmed the article, his eyes growing wide behind his glasses. "Sounds like a story to me," he said, barely able to conceal his glee at something worthy of the front page of "The Lone Gunman." > Jordan was a bit confused. She didn't quite understand what > was going on, or who this Nittany woman was. Did they actually > know her? Jordan had noticed all the issues of The Lone Gunman > laying around, and the equipment to make the magazine... were > they the writers? > > "Umn... what's all this about, Ringo?" She asked, turning to the > face she recognized the most. Langly looked up from the newspaper. Setting it down on the bed next to her, he gestured for her to follow him and led her out into the room that contained their computers. Handing her one of their older issues, he explained "This is our newspaper, 'The Lone Gunman.' We print the stories no one else has the courage to." "Emma Nittany was a contributing reporter," Byers chimed in. "We published her theory about secret government documents being hidden in Stonehenge in our last issue... she said there was a door in one of the stones." Frohike adjusted his fur vest, deep in thought. "What could she have had in her hand?" ******************************************** Date: 09/30/02, 01:40 PM RP: Jordan Yorba Subject: Re: Re: Re: {RP, Trigger for Ep3} IOH From: Viki Jordan followed Ringo out of the bedroom into a larger room containing several computers. She heard Ringo explaining their newspaper, the older issue. > "Emma Nittany was a contributing reporter," Byers > chimed in. "We published her theory about secret > government documents being hidden in Stonehenge > in our last issue... she said there was a door in > one of the stones." > > Frohike adjusted his fur vest, deep in thought. > "What could she have had in her hand?" Jordan thought for a moment. "Well..." she started, still deep in thought, "if she thought it was a door... maybe it was the key?" She immediately looked down. "I mean, I don't really know much about it..." ******************************************** Date: 10/08/02, 06:51 AM RP: Ringo Langly Subject: Re: {RP, Trigger for Ep3} IOH From: Jan > Jordan thought for a moment. "Well..." she started, still deep > in thought, "if she thought it was a door... maybe it was the > key?" She immediately looked down. "I mean, I don't really know > much about it..." "No, no, there could be something to that," Langly said. "But it wasn't a key like we know it, or someone would have opened the door a long time ago..." Byers grabbed a nearby copy of their latest issue and spread it flat, poring over Nittany's article. "She mentions the fifty-third stone, the letters carved into it." "You think that's where the door is?" "Maybe." Byers shrugged. "If we could get close enough to examine it..." ******************************************** Date: 10/14/02, 11:05 AM RP: Vladimir Tchikov Subject: RP3 From: RA This RP was written by RA. Enjoy! :) RP3 By RA Vlad stepped out into the morning landscape, squinting his eyes so he could make the transition from dark to light easier. He then sat down on the stairs leading to the building he just left, looked down at the piece of paper, then he took out his cellphone and dialed 9 of the 11 required digits and turned the power off. He took a deep breath and muttered inaudibly to himself "Ok vlad, get it together" then he looked down at the paper once more this time entering all the needed digits, it rang once twice and on the beginning of the third ring a feminine voice answered on the other side with her name. Vlad began the difficult (for him at least) task of introducing himself and trying to explain the situation "I never was a great intial communicator" Vlad thought to himself. "Hello, Dr. Scully my name is Vladamir Tchikov and im the fresh meat on the X files, Skinner told me to contact you ,to introduce myself and that you could send some background info on the current case files, at your convenience of course" Vlad took a deep breath he was running his thoughts together again, he tended to do that when he was nervous, he paused and waited for a response from the other side. ******************************************** Date: 10/14/02, 03:18 PM RP: Dana Scully Subject: {RP, EP: 3}" I Am Henry VIIII I Am" From: Brandi -0-0-0- Apartment of Dana Scully 8:09 am, EST -0-0-0- Scully adjusted then handset closer to her ear. It was early morning and, despite a rather sleepless night, the fog around her brain had yet to dissipate. > "Hello, Dr. Scully my name is Vladamir Tchikov and im the fresh meat on > the X files, Skinner told me to contact you ,to introduce myself and that > you could send some background info on the current case files, at your > convenience of course" "Whoa, whoa, first things first. You've been assigned to the X-Files?" Almost immediately she remembered being told about him, but she hadn't expected his arrival so soon. She and Mulder weren't quite ready for an extra player in their limited company. "Ah, I remember now," she said blandly. "Mr. Tchicov, is it? Mr. Tchicov I will take you through some things as soon as I can. Agent Mulder would like to meet with you, of course. In the meantime, I will arrange for you to receive some documents on our latest cases. They will not be faxed, mailed or otherwise officially registered, as these are classified to our department only. Expect a courier sometime this afternoon, from an unrecognizable messaging company. He will ask you your name, and you will reply 'I am Henry VIII,' to which he will counter, 'I always hated that song,' and give you the folder. I know it sounds ridiculous, but this method is quite effective and secure, so please endure our methods." On the nightstand near Scully's bed a digital clock flashed 12:00, signifying a recent power outage. Fearing what could only be true, that her alarm clock had failed and she was horribly late, she begrudgingly fished her wrist watch from the top draw of the table. "Mr. Tchicov I'm sorry but I do have to go." With that she clicked off the phone and hurried into the bathroom. ******************************************** Date: 10/17/02 11:36:30 AM RP: CSM / Fox Mulder Subject: {RP, Ep3} 10-17-2002 From: Nancy Few people knew what Stonehenge was for. Many had theories, some of which were well-thought out educated guesses, led by the clues which had purposely and misleadingly been left there. CSM had read all the major books, and the writers that had come too close to the truth, well, he'd arranged that they be labeled crackpots so that no one would believe them. Even the Syndicate men, who knew what the monoliths were for, knew that they only knew part of the story. They weren't even sure. And rumor had it that the aliens were about to use them. -0-0-0-0-0- Fox Mulder turned off the engine in front of the building where the Lone Gunman's office was located. He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket, examined it again, frowned at it. Got out of the car, approached TLG's door. Pressed the buzzer. Smiled in the direction of the security camera. Frohike opened the door and greeted him. Mulder said, "Hey, guys. What's up?" ******************************************** Date: 10/17/02, 01:42 PM RP: Subject: Re: {RP, Ep3} 10-17-2002 From: Viki Jordan watched the man enter the room. She looked around, realized she was by far the youngest and the only female, and became quite shy. She sat down on the bed again, trying to hide, make herself less obvious... ******************************************** Date: 10/19/02, 09:04 AM RP: Ringo Langly Subject: Re: Re: {RP, Ep3} 10-17-2002 From: Jan > Fox Mulder turned off the engine in front of the building where > the Lone Gunman's office was located. He pulled a piece of paper > out of his pocket, examined it again, frowned at it. Got out of > the car, approached TLG's door. Pressed the buzzer. Smiled in > the direction of the security camera. "Somebody's here," Langly said, too engrossed in his "Jedi Knight: Outcast" game to even consider looking up. After a long, awkward pause, Frohike groaned. "Okay, I'LL get it." > Frohike opened the door and greeted him. "Hey, Mulder." > Mulder said, "Hey, guys. What's up?" "Right now? Sticking a blue lightsaber where the sun don't shine." Langly cackled evilly, his glee partly the result of being ahead of his online competitor in the game and partly because of the fact that he had been up since the wee hours of the morning. "Take that!" Frohike rolled his eyes at his young comrade's antics. "So where's the lovely Agent Scully this morning?" ******************************************** Date: 10/22/02, 05:21 PM RP: Vladimir Tchikov Subject: Re: {RP, EP: 3}" I Am Henry VIIII I Am" From: RA A knock on the door of the apartment awoke Vlad from a light slumber. He slowly staggered towards the door, still sleepy eyed checked the peephole. It was a uniformed man ,almost instantly he recalled the conversation of a few days ago with Agent Scully. He opened the door and the man asked "What is your name" and as was told to him he responded "I am Henry VIII' to which the man countered "I always hated that song" and handed him a tick folder. 3 hours later Vlad had finished his preliminary readings and sat staring aimlessly into the vacant darkness of the room in disbelief. "Amazing" he muttered to himself he felt so overwhelmed he slowly loaded his pipe with tobacco and tamped it down, striking a single match and drew in the smoke methodically until his lungs were full then he exhaled a trail of smoke that seemed to float endlessly into the dim abyss of the room. He then got up stretched, took off his reading glasses and rubbed his already red eyes then leisurely walked to the kitchenette and poured himself a cup of coffee. Vlad had a long night of reading and e-reading the files that sat on the desk no more than 10 feet away. He then walked back to the desk bumping his knee on a chair and muttered a obscenity under his breath, then taking his seat opened the files once again, as tedious as the reading was he was thoroughly enjoying it, and he decided he wouldn't be caught off guard so in the meantime there was nothing to do but wait for contact from Scully or Mulder and bone up on the text in front of him. He checked to make sure his phone was on then threw himself back into his work. ********************************************