TITLE: Another World of X-Files
AUTHOR: Lois Merritt
E-MAIL: OV_099@yahoo.com
FEEDBACK: absolutely -- just no flaming!
CATEGORY: X/C X-Files/Another World
RATING: PG
DISTRIBUTION: sure, just keep my name and address on it, and I prefer
to be notified.
KEYWORDS: none

SPOILERS: Just slight references to:
	    The Field Where I Died
	    War of the Coprophages
	    and any movie/episode with the bees. . .

SUMMARY: Mulder gets invited to a strange ball in Bay City, Illinois,
where he gets involved, and ultimately, gets to the bottom of things.

DISCLAIMERS: I do not own any of the people or shows in this story.
The X-Files and company are Chris Carter's and the Fox Network. Another
World and company were NBC's and Procter and Gamble's. I am merely
borrowing them for a short while, and I promise to put them back, where
I found them, hopefully unharmed. (Yes, I promise to put Fox Mulder back,
even though I **really, really** don't want to!)

COMMENTS:
	   1. Absolutely 'shipper free!!

	   2. Scully fans, just turn back right now; in order to make my 
	   life simple, and this story simple, she's not really in this
	   all that much. Sorry. maybe next time.

	   3. I came up with this idea because when I began writing this, 
	   Another World added this new element to it, the Lumina
	   Foundation, which feels way X-Files like. Of course, this got
	   me thinking as to what Mulder would be doing. So, in answer
	   to that question, I started this; it was begun with the few
	   details given at that point, and as I wrote, I added the
	   important past history of the people to give those who may not
	   watch Another World the idea as to what's going on. As for the
	   AW people, I figure that an outsider like Mulder would see
	   their worst parts, so that's how I wrote it. But some of them
	   are really cool when you watch them on a longer basis. But,
	   of course, now you won't be able to because NBC cancelled the
	   show. Talk about your conspiracies. . .
	   As I wrote this, the show progressed, and I added to it
	   accordingly.  However, the story lasted for seven months, and I
	   decided to shorten it considerably to fit it in one story.
	   Besides, chances are, Mulder would not need those seven months.
	   And if anyone who may read this actually did watch the ending of
	   Another World, I came up with my own explanation as to how he
	   got the baby from the elevator.  That, as you may recall, was
	   never explained -- just like an X-Files episode.

***************************************************************************
FBI Headquarters
Friday, 16 October 1998
9:05 am

	Special Agent Fox Mulder sat down at his desk. His eyes glanced over 
a semi-large pile of mail.  On top of it was something that caught his 
attention. All that was written on the outer envelope was his name, and in 
the upper left-hand corner were the words "Lumina Foundation." The
envelope had a fine gold like liner inside. It was an invitation -- a
very fancy invitation.
	He read it aloud. "The Lumina Foundation requests the honor of your 
presence at a Masquerade Ball on the roof of the Lumina Building in Bay 
City, Illinois, underneath the October Orionid Meteor Shower, Wednesday, 
the twenty-first, beginning at eight p.m."
	Just then, his partner walked in. "Hey, Scully, check you mail, will 
you? See if you got something from a Lumina Foundation." Mulder called out 
to her.
	"Good morning to you too, Mulder." Special Agent Dana Scully
answered as she walked over to her desk. Just as he, right on top was an
invitation. She opened, and read it.
	"Who are these people?" Scully asked.
	"I was going to ask the same thing of you."
	Scully turned on her computer, and accessed the Internet. "The
Lumina Foundation is involved in scientific research into. . . oh, you
are going  to love this. . . the paranormal, especially into the mysteries
of the mind."
	"Ooh, I'm definitely going, how about you?"
	"Someone needs to keep an eye on you over there, Mulder. You'll 
probably annoy them to death with questions."
	"Nah, wouldn't do that."
	"Yes, you would. No question."

*****
Bay City, Illinois
Tuesday, 20 October 1998
9:36 am

	The FBI agents arrived early, the day before the ball, to look
around and get a feel for the city -- especially Mulder; he wanted to try
to figure out why a paranormal investigative foundation would pick a city
like that.

	Across the street of the hotel Mulder and Scully checked into, was a 
restaurant they decided to have breakfast in -- an obviously Italian bistro
named Carlino's.
	When they entered, they picked a booth to their left. It was quiet, 
and away from everything.
	Soon after they sat, a blond, slightly overweight woman, overly 
cheerful woman came over, handing them menus. "Welcome to Carlino's, I'm 
Paulina Carlino. I haven't seen you here before, are you new in town?"
	"We're just here for the Lumina Ball," Scully said.
	"Really? Us too. Do you guys know anything about them?"
	"All we know is that they investigate the paranormal," Mulder 
answered, proudly.
	"Hmm. The only reason why we're really going is because they made a 
substantial donation to the Police Benevolent Association; my husband's
the police captain, Joe Carlino."
	"We're FBI agents." They pulled out their badges. "I'm Special Agent 
Dana Scully and this is my partner, Special Agent Fox Mulder."
	"Did they make a donation to you guys too?"
	"No, we work in a little known area of the FBI known as the X-Files,
were we look into suspected paranormal and alien cases. They've probably 
just heard of my reputation," Mulder said.
	"You're right, I never heard of it. What costumes did you get?" 
Paulina asked.
	"What do you mean?"
	"All of us received specific costumes to wear."
	"We didn't -- we brought our own," Scully answered, surprised.
	"Who's 'all of us'?" Mulder asked as he took out a piece of paper
and a pen from his jacket.
	"Oh boy, there's me and Joe, Sofia Carlino is his sister; there's 
Vicky and Jake McKinnon, with Marley Hudson, Vicky's twin, Nick Hudson, 
their half brother, who's going with Remy Woods, and the twin's mother, 
Donna Love; there's Rachel Cory Hutchins, her children Amanda and Matt
Cory; Lila Roberts, Cass Winthrop, Felicia Gallant; Gary and Josie
Sinclair, and Gary's brother Cameron; Toni Burrell, who's going with Chris
Madison, her mother Etta Mae Burrell, and their friend Tyrone Montgomery;
and the mayor Grant and Cindy Harrison."
	"Do you think anyone would mind if we were to interview them, ask 
around about this foundation? See what people know, all that?"
	"No, I don't think so. But I don't think anyone really knows much.
But I'd go to Matt and Sofia, and Grant Harrison first. You figure the 
mayor ought to know something, but Matt and Sophia work with a person 
named Zak Wilder. He seems to have a connection to them, but it's a little 
fuzzy."
	"Okay, then, thank you."
	Scully shook her head. "Can I have a cup of coffee and a bagel with
light cream cheese?"
	"Sure." Paulina wrote it down. "And you, Agent Mulder?"
	"Iced Tea and scrambled eggs with toast."
	"No problem. I'll be right back."
	As soon as she left, Scully sat forward. "Mulder, there is no case 
here. A lot of foundations are quiet about what they do; and considering 
what this one is involved in, it's obvious why they want to be quiet about
themselves."
	"Who sends costumes to their guests?"
	"Brides and grooms to their maids and ushers."
	"In case you haven't noticed, Scully, this isn't a wedding."
	"No, it's not. But it isn't as unusual as you're making it out to 
be."
	"Don't you want to explore, meet the people? Meeting them might give 
us a clue as to why there is a paranormal investigating foundation in
their backyards."
	"Yeah, Mulder, maybe these people are crazy and need it."
	"Fine. You sight-see, I'm investigating."
	"Fine. But please make sure I get the chance to say 'I told you so' 
when you discover you're wrong."
	"You're not going to need to Scully because you'll see I'm not."
	"We'll see."

*****
Bay City Police Department 
10:42 am 
 
	After breakfast, Scully went back to her hotel room to try on her 
costume, and alter it as necessary. Mulder roamed the streets of Bay City.
He wasn't that far away from the police department; in fact, it was across
the other street from Carlino's. In thought, he commented how close 
everything was in this part of town.
	He walked in the police room. He stopped the first person that came 
near him, another blond, but slightly younger and thinner woman. "Pardon 
me, but where can I find Captain Joe Carlino?" 
	"He should be in his office. Who are you?"
	He pulled out his badge. "Special Agent Fox Mulder." 
	She sighed. "The FBI. Do you know how you've destroyed my life?" 
	"What?" Mulder asked, confused. 
	"Never mind. I'm Detective Josie Sinclair. Earlier this year I 
trained at Quantico. That's how I. . . forget it." 
	"Uh-huh. Well, whatever it is that you're talking about, I'm not
here because of that. I don't even know what the hell you're talking
about." 
	"Of course you don't. Why would you?" She pointed to the room behind 
her. "That's his office.  You can see if he's there. If not, just wait, he
should be there soon." 
	"Thank you, Detective Sinclair," Mulder moved away, sighing. "She's
a little uptight there for a detective. . ." he thought. 
	He knocked on the door. "Come in," a male voice answered. 
	Mulder went in. "Captain Joe Carlino?" 
	"Yes?" He looked up from his desk. 
	Mulder caught himself from laughing. Joe could have been right out
of a production of Grease, especially with his hair. Instead, he opened
his  badge. "Special Agent Fox Mulder." 
	"How can I help the FBI? Is it about Josie and Cameron?" 
	"No -- whoever Cameron is. My partner and I were invited to the same 
Lumina Ball as you were, and I'm just trying to learn as much as I can 
about them. Your wife suggested some persons named Grant Harrison and Matt 
Cory. Where can I find them?" 
	"Figures the FBI would be asking about Grant." 
	"I was just told he was the mayor." 
	"Yeah, he is. But he sure as hell is no saint." Carlino wrote down 
the addresses. "If I may ask, why are you going after Matt?" 
	"Your wife said he and your sister work with a person named Zak. I 
figure to go to them for him.  As for the mayor, usually mayors know who's
moving in to their towns." 
	"True. Why is the FBI interested?" 
	"As I said, we were invited, but there isn't much documented about 
them. But we do know they are into the paranormal, which is my specialty." 
	"Since when does the FBI look into that type of thing?" 
	"Since I showed up in 1991. We're a small, yet dedicated bunch." 
	"Oh, well, I'm glad someone's looking into Lumina. I'm curious
myself, but I'm just too busy with everything else." Joe handed him the
paper. "If you find anything interesting, could you come back and tell
me?" 
	"Sure, assuming there is anything to find." 
	"Good luck then." 
	"Thank you Captain." 
	Mulder walked out of the office, and rolled his eyes. "These people 
are nuts," he thought, "They don't need paranormal investigators, they
need psychiatrists."  
	Mulder left the pd and got a taxi. He decided to first pay a call on 
the mayor. 

***** 
Mayor's Residence 
11:21 am 

	"Who are you?" A man asked, after he quickly opened the door. 
	Mulder once again took out his badge. "I'm Agent Fox Mulder. I. . ." 
	"FBI?" He quickly said. "Come in, come in. To what do I owe the 
pleasure, uh, Agent Mulder?" 
	"Are you the mayor?" Mulder asked as he walked through the door. 
	"Yes. Grant Harrison." They shook hands. His mood, Mulder noted,
changed very quickly from being annoyed from being bothered to 
exceptionally cheerful. Way too much so. He wondered if he really wanted
to know what he might be hiding. 
	"Can I assume you've been invited to the Lumina Foundation Ball 
tomorrow night?" 
	"Yes, is there a problem?" 
	"Probably not. My partner and I also were invited, but it appears 
very little is actually known about them. I'm just trying to discover what 
I can. . . I'm a very curious person." 
	"Oh, I see. All I know is that they moved in this year, and I have
as yet to meet the CEO." Grant picked up the latest newspaper, pointing
out a particular page to Mulder. "This is their full page as, if that
helps at all." 
	As he examined it, all he saw new to him what was apparently their
logo. It looked like a comet, pointing up and down, but with a tail that 
looked more like a lightening bold with the middle of it bent, like the 
sign of electricity. Under that was only their address. 
	"Can I take this?" 
	"Sure." 
	He ripped it out, folded it up and placed it in the inside jacket
pocket. "Did you receive a costume as well?" 
	"Yeah, yeah, but when I tried the mask on, I felt like a modern day 
Julius Caesar or something." 
	"Well, I guess that's it. Thank you for your time." 
	As Mulder started towards the door, Grant said, "By the way, since 
you're here, maybe you can help me find my ex-wife Cynthia. I have to tell
her the divorce is final." 
	"Sorry, that is not in my league -- unless she's from another planet
or something like that." 
	"I have wondered about that myself, but as far as I can tell, she's
human. Although it would explain a lot." 
	"Sorry, can't do. Not my line of work." Mulder hurried out.  
	"Uh-huh. . . Another weirdo." 
 
***** 
Grounds of the Cory Mansion 
12:00 p.m. 

	Agent Mulder arrived at the Cory Residence. Once he got out of the 
taxi, he corrected himself. It wasn't a residence, or at least, any old 
residence. It was a mansion; a very large mansion. 
	He rang the doorbell, and he was surprise how loud it was -- he
heard the stupid thing outside.  This time, thought, he had his badge
ready. 
	"Can I help you?" a maid asked. 
	"I'm Special Agent Fox Mulder of the FBI. I need to see Matt Cory, 
or Sophia Carlino please." 
	"You're in luck, they're both here, come on in." 
 	"Thank you." 
	After he stepped into the house, he was pointed straight ahead of 
himself into the living room, the exceptionally large living room, where
there were a number of loud voices echoing with each other. 
	"You always have parties like that?" 
	"If I may say, sir, honestly, not before Lila Roberts entered and 
moved into our lives." 
	The maid went her way, Fox walked forward. "Excuse me. . ." he said. 
	The yelling continued. 
	"Okay. . . EXCUSE ME!" He yelled louder than all of them. 
	The five individuals turned to face him, all having shut up. 
	"That's much better. I'm Agent Fox Mulder of the FBI. Any of you
people Matt Cory or Sophia Carlino?" 
	"I am," two young adults said. To Mulder, Sofia looked younger than
Matt. 
	"Who are the rest of you?" 
	The pregnant -- very pregnant -- black haired woman stepped in front
of all of them, obviously trying to draw attention to herself, and only
herself. "I'm Lila Roberts," answered the southern belle, with the very
southern accent, reminding Mulder of Sarah back in. . . 
	The older, more mature woman stepped forward, quite obviously 
annoyed with Lila. "I'm Rachel Cory Hutchins, and this is the family 
lawyer, Cass Winthrop. How can we help you Agent Mulder?" 
	"I was told Mr. Cory and Ms. Carlino know someone who has some kind
of connection to the Lumina Foundation." 
	"Yeah, Zak, our producer. Is there something wrong?" 
	"No, no, I merely am trying to find out about them, and figured he'd
be the guy to go to." 
	"Well, right now, I really don't know where he is," Matt began. 
	"What exactly is he the producer of?" 
	"We own and run a new music company, C-Squared, and he is our music
recording/producer person," Sofia answered. 
	In her voice, Mulder detected that she may be acting more mature for
her age, but the act wasn't really working. 
	"Did all of you receive costumes?" 
	"I think we all did, yes," Cass answered. 
	"Hmm. . . I still didn't. I'm starting to feel left out," Mulder
mused. 
	"You were invited? Why would a FBI man, as handsome as yourself, be
invited?" Lila asked; Cass rolled his eyes. Obviously not the first time
she did that. 
	"My reputation, most logically. They appear to be involved with the
paranormal, as I am. But I never liked being in the dark about things. 
Just my nature, I guess." 
	"I never even thought about it until you mentioned it, being a FBI
agent. . ." Rachel said. "But I guess I should still make some kind of
appearance, considering the painting and all. . ." 
	Mulder asked, "Painting?" 
	"You see, someone stole the Cory Publishing Company funds, hiding
them in a bank somewhere around the world. They needed some money very
fast to keep the company running, so this Lumina Foundation agreed to buy
one of the more expensive pieces in the art collection. But they surprised
all of us when they returned it, saying it can be kept here on a permanent
loan," Cass explained. 
	"Which one is it?" Mulder asked. 
	Rachel led him to the far wall. "This one. I was highly grateful
that they did it; it holds great sentimental value from my first husband,
Mac Cory." 
	Mulder examined it from the outside, then felt the bottom edge,
underneath. "That's unusual, isn't it? It's like they gave you free 
money." 
	"I really. . . didn't think of it like that," she answered. 
	"Did you get the key chain?" Matt asked. 
	"Key chain?" Mulder asked, facing him. 
	"All the men who received invitations got key chains, the women got
pins, all with their logo." 
	"The comet, right?" 
	"Yeah, if that's what that thing is." 
	"Do any of you know who's in charge over there?" 
	"The only thing we know is that the guy's name is Jordan Stark,
absolutely nothing else," Matt answered. 
	"Don't forget to mention that it was my idea to sell the art, and I
helped make the sale in the end. . ." Lila butted in. 
	"Yeah, well, " Mulder began. He made a mental note -- Lila,
egocentric individual, needs to be the center of attention. He took out
his card, giving it to Matt. "If you see this Zak anytime today, please
call me. I'd highly appreciate it." 
	"So would we, actually," Sofia said. 
	"Thank you for your time then. I'll show myself out; you can get
back to your. . . disagreement." 
	Mulder began walking out, but thought of something else. "Do any of
you have one of those pins or key chains that I can borrow?" 
	Lila took hers off her jacket. "Here you go, you can keep it;
anything for a handsome FBI agent." 
	Mulder smiled. "Thank you. I bet your husband can't wait until the
baby's born, huh?" 
	"What husband," she waved her hand at him. 
	"That's what we're trying to decide, right now. . ." Matt said. 
	"But no one here's listening to me," Cass said. 
	"Sure, thank you again." Mulder left, quickly. 
	"Whatever. . ." he said aloud, once he was outside, with the door
closed behind him. "Head shrinkers. Definitely head shrinkers." 
 
***** 
Carlino's Restaurant 
12:37 p.m. 
 
	Mulder headed back into town for lunch. Until he heard from the
Cory's about Zak, he didn't know what else could be done in the meantime,
except to eat. He went back to Carlino's. 
	He started going inside, but once he saw a tall, red-haired woman
coming towards him. . . not watching. . . 
	"Thanks, Paulina, I. . ." 
	Both fell to the ground. 
	Mulder stood up, wiping any dirt from his pants. She also stood.
"Oh dear lord, I'm so sorry." 
	He looked at her. He thought, "Another mental note: red-haired
woman, very unlike Scully, completely and utterly loud and obnoxious." 
	Aloud, he said, "It's all right. I was in the mood for another
trip." 
	The woman saw his gun on the ground. "Uh, is that. . . is that,
yours?" 
	"Oh yeah, constantly losing this thing." He put it away, more
securely. 
	"Who are you?" 
	He whipped out his badge, again. "FBI agent Fox Mulder." 
	She sighed, relieved. "Oh, thank god. Cynthia Harrison." 
	"Oh, I met up with the mayor before. He's trying to find you to
tell you that the divorce is final and. . ." 
	"I. . . but. . ." Tears formed in her eyes, but then she wiped them
away, and laughed, evilly, like a wicked stepmother. "Well, I'll show that
son of a . . ." She walked away, ready to rip of the head of a
Tyrannosaurs. 
	"You wonder why he wanted to get away from her. . . can't imagine;
lovely woman." He shook his head, and went inside. 
	This time, he sat at one of the bar stools. A young woman waitress
came up to him. "So, what's the lunch special today?" he asked. 
	"Lasagna. Paulina's is excellent," she answered. 
	"Sounds good. I'll have that with some iced tea, please." 
	"Sure." She stopped for a moment. "Whoa. . ." 
	"Are you all right?" 
	"Yeah, yeah, I just got a bad feeling." 
	"A psychic feeling?" 
	"Uh, yeah. . ." she cautiously answered. 
	"About what?" 
	"Tomorrow night." 
	"The Lumina Ball? You had a premonition about the Lumina Ball?"
Mulder asked, eyes so widened with excitement. 
	"Who are you?" she asked, annoyed at the stranger. 
 	"I'm looking into the Foundation, and I'm going to the ball." 
	"I'm going to, with Nick Hudson. I'm Remy." 
	"Fox Mulder, FBI. Are you psychic, Remy?" 
	"As I told Nick, I. . ." He noted she talked with her hands, and
was trying to avoid a lot by doing so. "I just get occasional feelings.
It's really. . . nothing." 
	"What feeling are you getting about tomorrow?" 
	"Something bad's gonna happen. I don't know what." Remy became
frustrated. "Look, I have other customers here, your lunch will be out
soon." 
	"Thank you. . ." She left before hearing his response. 
	"Mm, mm, mm. . ." he mumbled. He took out that little piece of paper
he wrote the names on. He crossed off those he had seen and talked to. He
examined who was left. "Okay. . ." he thought to himself, "Vicky and Jake
McKinnon, Marley Hudson, Nick Hudson, Donna Love, Amanda Cory, Felicia
Gallant, Gary Sinclair, Cameron Sinclair, Toni Burrell, Chris Madison,
Etta Mae Burrell and Tyrone Montgomery." Mulder decided to go through
some of the rest, but then go to Lumina Building itself, afterwards. 
	He put the paper away, and looked at the pin that Lila gave him. He
turned it over. "Wait a minute. . ." He slipped on his glasses, and
pulled out a pen. With the sharp point of the pen, he pushed off the
back of the pin. He saw the smallest electronics inside he had seen in a
long time.  "A bug. . ." He tossed it on the ground, stepped on it,
breaking it into many pieces, and then threw it away. "Why would anyone
be bugging Lila Roberts, the local southern belle?" 
	He took out the newspaper ad, and examined it again. The logo was a
comet all right, with that tail that looked like electricity. What, if 
any, and he was sure there was, significance was there to it? And the 
name, Lumina -- light, also goes with electricity. But how does that
connect to paranormal investigations? Why would anyone like this send
costumes to their guests? And was there any significance to the meteor
shower? 
	Nothing was making sense, anywhere. And so far, none of these
people were helping, or making any sense themselves. He decided to make
a call. "Hey, Scully, where are you?" 
	"I'm having lunch at this place called the Harbor Club; you should
see it, it's so nice over here." 
	"I'm back at Carlino's. I've been through something like half of 
the people on the list. They really don't need a paranormal investigator
in their backyards. They need shrinks." 
	"Can I say I told you so yet?" Mulder heard the smile on Scully's
face. 
	"No, and as a matter of fact, there's a lot of strange things going
on here." 
	"Like what?" she asked, skeptically. 
	"The biggest is the fact that I found a listening device in a pin
they sent to an exceptionally pregnant woman." 
	"A bug? Have you been hanging around the Lone Gunmen too long?" 
	"No, I haven't, and it was there, I saw it, I destroyed it." 
	"Sure, fine, whatever." 
	He sighed. "After I interview the rest, I'm planning on going to
visit the building. Wanna come?" 
	"No. Later I'm going to this place called the Lucky Lady. It's some
kind of jazz club or something." 
	"Fine. But you'll see -- I'll be the one who says, 'I told you
so'." 
	"Just don't end up in prison, Mulder. I'm not getting you out this
time." 
 
***** 
1:02 p.m. 
 
	Before leaving the restaurant, Mulder checked the phone book for
any of the names left on his list.  To his amazement, each and every
one of them were in there. "Guess they don't believe in a little privacy,"
he thought. He decided to visit Marley Hudson first; she was the closest
to him at the moment. 
 
***** 
Marley Hudson's Residence 
1:12 p.m. 
 
	A tall, blond, exceptionally anorexic-looking woman answered the 
door.  "Yes?" she said, out of breath, bordering annoyed and tired. 
	"My name is Fox Mulder, Special Agent of the FBI. I just would like
to ask you some questions about the Lumina Ball, if you don't mind. You
are Marley Hudson, are you not?" 
	"Yes, I am, come on in." 
	He noticed before going in further, she looked around, in that way
people always had when they wanted to make sure things were not out of
place. They wanted whatever it was hidden, and kept hidden. 
	Whatever it may have been, he saw she wasn't alone. One young man,
one bedridden, apparently paralyzed woman, and a couple who appeared
to be married. 
	"This is my sister, Victoria and her husband, Jake McKinnon, our
brother Nick, and this is our mother, Donna Love." The mother was the one
in the bed. 
	"Marley and Vicky must be fraternal twins," Mulder thought.  They
looked nothing alike. 
	He then looked at Donna. "May I ask what happened?" 
	"She had a very bad fall," Marley quickly interjected. She was so
nervous, he wondered why no one else seemed to pick it up. "She is
paralyzed on one side and can not speak because she is aphasic." 
	"How she fell is still being determined," Jake added. 
	"Jake, come on. . ." Vicky said. 
	"Well, he sees it," Mulder thought. 
	"This is Special Agent Fox Mulder. He wants to know about the party
tomorrow night," Marley explained. 
	Donna's eyes widened, almost smiling, but Fox didn't see it. 
	"Is there a problem?" Vicky asked. 
	"No. I am merely trying to discover information about the
foundation.  Did any of you receive costumes from them?" 
	Marley picked up the big black box that was on her couch. "I think
we all did. This is Donna's. As you can see, she will not be using it.
She'll be home, with the nurse," she stressed the nurse part, for some
odd reason. 
	Mulder placed it back. He first examined the top. It had the name
and the logo of the foundation.  He pushed it to the side, and looked
inside. White tissue paper covered the costume. Once he saw the costume,
he knew this group had money. It wasn't a simple thrown together costume
one gets at any Halloween store in a mall. This was custom made for the
wearer, with expensive fabrics.
	Donna's was a crimson color, reminding Mulder of something that
could have been seen on Lady Capulet or Montague in Romeo and Juliet;
almost. Where were they making their money from?  And why go through the
trouble of doing this? Huge egos -- not likely. 
	"Did any of you receive pins or key chains, as well?" he asked. 
	"Yeah, I got a pin and Jake got a key chain, why?" Vicky asked. 
	"Do you have it on you?" 
	"I have mine." Marley walked to the fireplace, and on the mantle
was a small box. He saw her pick up the same pin that Lila Roberts gave
him. "Here you go." 
	Once she handed it to him, he turned it over. The back was flat one
this one, no place to put any kind of electronic equipment. He started
to assume Lila's was the only one bugged. Mulder handed it back to her. 
	He sighed. "Does anyone have the key chain with them?" 
	Nick stepped forward. "I do." He pulled it out of his pocket. 
	By contrast, it was cheap. A piece of paper with the logo inside
two sides of plastic, just like any other you find in a mall or gift
shop when you go on vacation. No way can anyone hide a bug in it,
although he was sure the Lone Gunmen could tell him of a way. 
	He gave it back. "Do any of you know anything about them?" 
	"Just that they donated a large sum of money in our deceased
father's name at the hospital," Vicky said. 
	"And they are donating another large sum to the burn unit, using
someone at my newspaper to do so," Jake said. 
	"A lot of money. . . Thank you very much." Mulder began leaving. 
	"Is there something going on?" Jake asked. 
	"No. I just can't stand not knowing anything about a party I'm going
to. One of those things.  Thank you for your time." 
	He walked out. Vicky, Jake and Nick watched him go. Donna closed her
eyes and sighed, frustrated. Marley whispered, "See, he wasn't going to
help you." She looked over to the patio, and saw Cynthia Harrison peeking
in. 
 
	Mulder sat down on the curb. He crossed off those five names. There
were eight names left, but he figured he'd just get the same information,
so visiting them would be useless. He looked at the Foundation address.
"Time to go to the heart of the problem." 
	He called a taxi. 
 
***** 
Lumina Foundation Building 
1:45 p.m. 
 
	Fox Mulder stepped out of the taxi, and looked up. Actually, he
tried to look up -- from where he stood, it looked like the building had
no top, that it kept going on forever. "No wonder it's being held
underneath a meteor shower; we'll be right next to it. We can catch one
and keep it as a souvenir." He walked inside, mentally recalling where his
gun and spare were. Just in case -- never know anymore. 
	Mulder went up to the receptionist's desk. "Can I help you?" 
	"Yeah, I'd like to see Jordan Stark, please." 
	"I'm sorry, he isn't seeing anyone right now. Can I give him a
message?" 
	"Well, maybe he'll see this. . ." He took out his badge. 
	"FBI?" she read, aloud. 
	The ringing phone startled her. "Yes. . . very well. . ." she said
into the receiver. "Mr. Stark will see you. One-hundredth floor." 
	"Nice surveillance system he's got here. Thank you very much." 
	He went into the elevator and prepared for the long ride. 
 
***** 
Stark's office 
1:47 p.m. 
 
	"Zak, why is Agent Fox Mulder here?" 
	"I don't know; but he can't hurt us, very few believe him anyway." 
	"Who put him on the guest list?" 
	"I don't know, and no one else seems to either." 
 	"It had better not be. . . *them*." 
	"If it was, how can we stop it?" 
	"There must be a way. But, for now, I want you to find out why 
Lila's listening device is not working." 
	"Yes, sir." 
 
***** 
Stark's office 
1:52 p.m. 
 
	Mulder knocked on the thick steel door that simply had the words
"Jordan Stark" on it. 
	The door opened; but he didn't realize that it opened by itself. 
	"Mr. Stark?" he asked. 
	"Please come in, Agent Mulder." 
The office was dark, and as he expected, TV surveillance monitors on the
wall. He could see whatever he wanted to see inside the building. Stark
himself was facing out the window, not making any effort to face his
guest.
	"What do I owe the honor of this visit, Agent Mulder?" 
	He sat down. The voice, it felt like he was listening to X, or even
Darth Vader. "Do I know you?" 
	"No. On the other hand, I know you. I am quite familiar with your
work as a fellow paranormal investigator." 
	"Is that why Scully and I were invited?" 
	"Yes," he answered, quickly, suddenly. 
	"Can I ask you a few questions about your work?" 
	"I will answer what I can." 
	"Is there a particular reason why you sent costumes to most of your
guests?" 
	"They fit the theme of the night." 
	"Is that why you're holding it during a meteor shower?" 
	"Storm, actually. This year's is supposed to be the strongest in a
long time. You could say. . . I wanted to share the view." 
	"What kind of research do you do?" 
	"I am quite interested in human mind, what it could be capable of if
we turned on the right switch, if you will. And for those who have it,
what caused them to have it." 
	"Are you one, as you put it, one who has it?" 
	"In a way." 
	"Is your logo a comet?" 
	"It symbolizes energy. There's energy everywhere in the universe -- 
out there, in the mind. And yes, it does resemble a comet." 
	"The pins and key chains -- is that a promotional gimmick?" 
 	"I guess you could say that -- and men aren't known to wearing
pins, that's why one has one, and the other has the other." 
	"Do you know Lila Roberts?" 
	"Personally, no. I am familiar with her, as all the others by name,
face and reputation. She is involved with the Cory's, a very prominent
family in this city." 
	"Why did you base your foundation in this city?" 
	"It was written in the stars." 
	"Do you have a lot of supporters of you work? After all, to be of
this magnitude, one would need money." 
	"Inheritance and other ventures, Mr. Mulder. And, yes, we do
have a lot of serious supporters.  There are others, just as yourself,
who are willing to believe." 
	"Are your donations and introduction to the community?" 
	"My way of giving back to the people." 
	Mulder's cell phone rang. "Excuse me. . . Mulder here. . . I'll be
right there." He put it back. "I'm sorry, Mr. Stark, but I have been
waiting for this. Will you be at the party tomorrow?" 
	"My presence will be felt. It will be an evening to remember." 
	"Somehow, I bet it will," Mulder answered, as he left. 
	Once he got outside, Mulder called for a taxi. "Why didn't we rent a
 car?" 
	He was on his way back to the Cory Mansion to attempt collaboration
of the story he just got. 
 
***** 
Cory Residence 
2:10 p.m. 
 
	"Thank you for calling, Mr. Cory," Mulder said; he found it odd
that Matt answered the door, and not the maid. Was he waiting for him? 
	"No problem, Agent Mulder." 
	When Fox entered the living room, he noticed some of the same people
were there -- Rachel, Lila, Matt, Sophia, but now, there were three new
additions. Rachel introduced two as Amanda Cory and Cameron Sinclair. The
third eyed him strangely. 
	"Agent Mulder, this is Zak Wilder, C-Squared's music produced. This
is Special Agent Fox Mulder of the FBI," Matt introduced. 
	"I just wanted to ask you some stuff about Lumina, hope you don't
mind." 
	"Oh, no, not at all, Agent Mulder." 
	"What kind of paranormal research do they do over there?" 
	"I could be wrong, but I think it has something to do with the
powers of the mind." 
	"How did you get introduced to them?" 
	"I volunteered for some of their experiments once. When Mrs.
Hutchins needed to sell some of her artwork, I just knew they'd be
interested." 
	"How did you know they'd be interested?" 
	"The pieces here are truly one of a kind. They are always looking
for such things." Mulder noticed he momentarily looked at Lila. 
	"In just thing, or also people?" 
	"I'm not exactly sure what you mean, but of course. Don't most
corporations usually?" 
	"Would you have an idea as to why they'd send their guests
costumes?" 
	"No." 
	"Did you receive one?" 
	"Yes." 
	"Do you know anything about Jordan Stark?" 
	"Just that I read his book, *Beyond Imagination*." 
	"Do you know anything about the company logo?" 
	"Sure, it's a comet. It probably has something to do with energy." 
	"Got him. . ." Mulder thought. "You just proved you know more than
you're willing to say, or let these people know. . ." 
	Aloud, he said, "Well, I guess that's it. I just hate not knowing,
know what I mean?" 
	"Of course. I'm sorry I couldn't be much help," Zak said. 
	"I wouldn't say that. You've helped me more than you know. Thank
you." 
	"I have to leave, Matt, anything else?" Zak asked, confused by
Mulder's statement. 
	"No, no, thanks for staying." 
	"Sure. Are all of you going tomorrow night?" 
	"Yes, except Lila," Rachel said. 
	"Yeah, I know, I know," The southern belle grinned. 
	Mulder thought, "She's going." He noticed Zak sigh, with his own
grin. "He's glad she's going. Why?" 
	"I'll see you there then, okay?" He stepped out. 
	"He practically said nothing; how does it help, Agent Mulder?"
Amanda asked. 
	"It's an FBI thing." He sat down next to Lila on the couch. "When
is the baby due?" 
	"This week. I can't wait for this thing to be over with." 
	"I guess that's why you wouldn't want to go, just in case." 
	"Yeah, but I wouldn't mind; I mean, a ball. . . I've never been
to a ball before." 
	"Lila, we're not making you out to be Cinderella here. Use your
common sense here: the baby could come at any moment. Besides, Sophia
and I want to spend the night together, just us. Is that so hard to 
understand?" Matt said. 
	"No; I got it, all right? I'm not going." Lila stormed out of the
room. 
	"A little hard to handle?" Fox asked. 
	"Yeah, but we're handing it. Pretty much," Rachel said. 
	"Well, thank you for your time. I'll be seeing you there." 
 
***** 
Stark's office 
3:00 p.m. 
 
	"Mulder came to the Cory Mansion. Lila said she gave him the pin.
More than likely, he discovered the bug," Zak explained. 
	"We underestimated him," Stark said. 
	"I think he suspects my connection here." 
	"He probably does. No matter how careful you were, he'd pick
something up. He was here you know. Presumably the phone call he
received was from the Cory's about you." 
	"What about his partner, Dana Scully? Where has she been all
morning?" 
	"Around town. She thinks this little investigation of his is a
joke.  Of course, Mr. Mulder realizes differently, and correctly." 
	"What are we going to do about him tomorrow night?" 
	"Nothing. He will not be able to explain anything, or convince
anyone outside of Bay City. It will be of no concern. It will actually
prove interesting, to hear his opinion of our work." 
	"And if he figures out why we want Lila here?" 
	"He won't; and if he does, he can not stop it. He is but one man.
Do you really think I have not planned for every possibility?" 
	"As I've heard, he's very hard to plan for, very unpredictable." 
	"So am I." 
	Stark laughed evilly. 
 
***** 
Bay City Hotel 
3:10 p.m. 
 
	Mulder returned to his hotel room. Scully wasn't in hers, but it
didn't matter much. She wouldn't see anything in the little he's found
anyway. He examined his costume. He was going to be a prince, like from
one of those Disney Movies he didn't watch. It had a white suit to it,
with medals and badges, and a sword from the middle ages. He wondered
where his horse was. He only took that because all the little green men
costumes were sold out. 
	He tried to convince his partner to go as a princess, so they'd
match. But she refused. Scully saw the Good Witch of the North's costumes
from the Wizard of Oz, and had to get it, even if it was in pink. . . 
	Mulder looked at the piece of paper with the names of the residents
in Bay City, trying to get comfortable on the bed. But he decided that was
useless, so he laid down on the couch.  "Somehow, for some reason, this
all centers around Lila. Is it the baby they want? But why would they
want an unborn baby? If they wanted to experiment, they can buy illegally
sold babies who were kidnaped. . ." After thinking about all the
individuals he met earlier in the day, he realized, "It feels like I am
in a soap opera that is set in a X-File. If one person isn't hiding
something, it's everyone hiding something from everyone else. Everyone
has their own agenda. But they don't mean anything. Lumina is looming
over all of them like an exterminator with some cockroaches.  But is
one of them a queen to be saved?" 
	He grinned. "Queen are with bees, not cockroaches."  Then he
frowned.  "Bees. . . you had to bring them up, right? And why the hell
are you talking to yourself?" 
	He called for some room service, including some iced tea and 
sunflower seeds. He decided tomorrow, he'd be visiting the local library. 
 
***** 
Cory Residence 
Wednesday, 21 October, 1998 
12:00 p.m. 
 
	Mulder did not tell Scully what he learned from the day before, 
after all. He had nothing to collaborate with anything, just
speculations, which, as everyone knew, she hates. All he could do at
the party was to watch everything and everyone, even the looney tunes
he's met so far. 
	Until then, he first snuck in the Cory household to see Lila. 
	He stood on the porch, and tried the door. He slowly opened it. 
"You'd think people like this would lock their doors. . ." He peeked in
first, and saw a couple of individuals looking outside, towards the
patio.  He ever so slowly and quietly closed the door behind himself
and went up the staircase that was immediately to his right. 

	The first eight rooms were unoccupied for the moment, but the ninth
had the treasure that so many people seemed to be after. Mulder lightly
knocked. "Lila?" 
	She stood up from the bed. "Oh, Agent Mulder, you startled me. What
are you doing up here?" 
	"I needed to see you privately, without anyone else around,
especially Zak." 
	"Why Zak?" 
	"Just call it a hunch, I guess." 
	"But, Agent Mulder, Zak has helped me in more ways than you can
realize." 
	"What do you mean?" He sat down on the chair farthest from her. 
	She sat back down on the bed. "Well, for example, last week, we
discovered my baby was in a breech position, meaning that he didn't turn
so the head would be facing down, ready for birth; anyway, Zak helped me
relax, and taught me to talk to the baby, and tell him to turn. It was so
amazing. Just like that, the next day, I went to the hospital, and there
was the picture, the baby turned. But he's done other things like that. 
He has this annoying habit of saying to think positively, and everything
you want will come to you. And it had a tendency of happening." 
	"What else, besides the baby, have you wanted?" 
	"Oh, I don't know if I should tell. . ." 
	"You could think of me as your lawyer -- will not tell anyone
anything." 
	"Last lawyer that told me that broke that philosophy." 
	"Lawyer, doctor, whatever makes you feel better." 
	Mulder screamed inside his mind of frustration. 
	She sighed. "All right. I was married to someone named Shane
Roberts a long time ago. Earlier this year, he was dying from a disease
that he picked up when he was stationed in South America a number of
years ago. I wanted to be close to him again, so I tried having his baby,
but the timing was off. So, I asked Matt, who was interested in me, to
come over my apartment. . . and then I got pregnant.  Before I could tell
Shane, he died in a totally unrelated car accident on a very icy road
one night. 
	"At first, I told everyone it was Shane's, to try to inherit his
estate for me and the baby.  Eventually, I got it, but it ended up being
worthless. So, I broke the news to Matt that it really is his baby, which
it is. I'm trying to get him to marry me so my child will have a name and
married parents who will love him, like I didn't have.  
	"I never knew my father. . . my mother, well, I can't deny it, even
to myself, but she was a prostitute, and there were too many people coming
in and out. Plus, one of them killed her when I was young. So, I want to
do everything completely different for my baby." 
	"If I may say, he appears to be involved with that Sofia." 
	"Not if I can help it, Mr. Mulder." 
	"Uh-huh. When did you first meet Zak?" 
	"Well, right before I moved in here, I was still living in my
apartment, having major money problems. I was at the Harbor Club having
lunch, and I realized too late that I couldn't pay my bill.  He all of a
sudden, just out of nowhere appeared, saying to think positively, and 
things will go my way. In the meantime, Donna, the owner, was threatening
to call the police, and as soon as I turned my back, Zak paid the bill.  
	"Ever since then, he's been around, always repeating that same
statement, think positively, think that you will get what you want. He's
been a pain with it sometimes, but it really is the truth.  
	"Oh, and that first day, I learned he was in the music business, so
I introduced him to Matt and Sofia for their company." 
	"Did he convince you to go to the ball tonight?" 
	"Well, maybe a little, but it was mostly me. I mean, I've never gone
to something like this, never even asked." 
	"Feel like Cinderella?" 
	"Oh, yes. I have the opportunity to see how the other people live --
this place here is amazing, true, but it's not everything." 
	"Aren't you worried the baby will decide to visit?" 
	"It's fine, I'm fine, it's not due until next week." 
	He sighed. This one was stubborn as all hell. "How are you going?" 
	"Well, I'm not going with the Cory's, surely you see that." 
	"Of course. Has Zak talked to you about his past?" 
	"No." 
	"Have you told him about yours?" 
	"Not much, but of course little things here and there pop up from
time to time. . . Look, what are you trying to get at here? Are you trying
to pin something on him?" 
	Mulder stood. "No. But I think he knows more than he's telling. I
also think these Lumina people are focused on you." 
	"Well, maybe they're just interested in seeing me get what I want." 
	"Exactly -- why would they be?" 
	"Probably because I'm a lonely pregnant woman." 
	"I don't know. When are you going to arrive?" 
	"When these people leave." 
	"When you get there, I'll be watching. Seeing what they do." 
	"Fine, whatever. You're just overreacting." 
	"I don't think I am. Just be careful when you're there." 
	"Yeah, yeah, whatever." 
	Mulder walked out, Lila closed the door. "Dear lord, that guy is
spooky." 
	Right in front of her door, he said, "Dear lord, that woman is
crazy." 
 
***** 
Bay City Library 
1:00 p.m. 
 
	Mulder first looked in the card catalog to see if they had a copy
of Jordan Stark's *Beyond Imagination* on the shelves. There were such
titles as *Beyond Hell*, *Beyond Help*, *Beyond Hope*, *Beyond the Orbit
of Pluto*, *Beyond the Uses of Bondage in the Bedroom*, but none with the 
word "imagination". 
 
	He sat down at the first available Internet terminal, typing in the
address for the library book search engine. "Okay, Beyond. . . 
Imagination. . ." he typed, then pressed enter. 
	The screen changed, almost immediately. There was one found
reference. The one which appeared to be correct. "*Beyond Imagination*,
author: Jordan Stark." 
	He clicked on the reference. A new screen popped up with a summary.
"'*Beyond Imagination* is a book about one man's search to unlock the
mysteries and the powers of the mind. . .'" Mulder whispered to himself.
"'. . .Now out of print. . .' Now out of print? How the hell did. . ."
Then he looked at the middle of the screen. "Published in 1799?! That's
impossible. . ." He scrolled to the bottom. "Published in 1799, in the
colony state of Massachusetts, a year before. . ." 
	The computer went out. Mulder noticed it wasn't just his, either.
All of the Internet terminals crashed. 
	"A year before what? What don't you want me to know, Mr. Stark?"
he said. Mulder moved to the online library catalog computers. From the
choices, he switched to the biographical database, then at the prompt
typed, "Stark, Jordan". A book title came up: *Mysticism and Unsolved
Mysteries of the 18th Century*. 
	"Uh-huh." He went to the shelf that the computer led him to. 
	The book index referred him to three specific pages, one of which
was a picture. He opened to that page first. 
	Once he saw it, he sighed. "Convenient," he commented. It was
neatly cut out. He then read the couple lines of biography on the other
two pages.  "Jordan Stark was one who experimented with the powers of the
mind. He saw the imagination as more than something to just fantasize
with, but to aid in getting what the person most desires. He believes the
powers locked up in the mind, in the imagination, can allow the
individual to merely think about what they want, and it will happen.
His book, published in 1789, explains how he intended on unleashing this
power. A year later, he was convicted of killing his wife. . . and after
receiving the sentence of hanging, he disappeared, never to be seen again,
as was the body of the wife. . ." 
	Mulder searched the book. There were no more references to him, the
book, or anything about the dead wife. 
	"Oh dear lord, does he think he's this Stark? A descendant, or is
it really him, searching for his long lost wife? Has he been living for
the past two hundred years? Are these people his experimental subject for
that way he intends on unleashing that power, and they don't even know
it?" 
	He put the book back, and decided it was time to get ready for the
party, and for whatever would happen. 
 
***** 
Bay City Hotel 
2:34 p.m. 
	Mulder knocked on Scully's door. As soon as he saw the knob turn,
the thing just flew right open.  "What?" she asked, annoyed. "Oh, Mulder,
where the hell have you been?" 
	Scully's hair was wrapped in a towel, and she was wearing a very
long, unflattering robe. 
	"I've been around, trying to figure out why. . ." 
	"Don't even say it. I don't want to hear it." 
	"Look, all I want to know from you is if you want to go to Lumina
a little early." 
	"How much earlier are you thinking?" 
	"In a couple hours, maybe at six?" 
	"And watch them set up? I don't think so. Why are you so
determined to find something wrong?" 
	"Because something is wrong, Scully, and it's going to happen
tonight." 
	"Mulder, there will always be something wrong somewhere, but they
aren't always problems for us to solve. This one is one of those. Now,
if you want to go early, fine. I'll be meeting you there.  I'm going when
all the other normal people in this town are going, and I'm going to
enjoy one of the only balls that I have ever been invited to. See you
later." She slammed the door in his face. 
	"What normal people, Scully? I haven't found any here yet." He
sighed. He was by himself on this one. He just hoped it wasn't as big of
a situation as he feared it was.  
	Mulder went back to his room, and got ready himself. He was still
going to go early. He wanted to be a thorn in their sides -- they
obviously weren't expecting him in the first place. 
 
***** 
Lumina Foundation Building 
6:17 p.m. 
 
	Before entering the building, Mulder looked up to the skies. They
were mysterious, just as the truth that he searched for, and the truth
that Lumina was hiding. It was very clear, the skies were darkening, the
first stars were twinkling. He wasn't psychic, but he had the feeling
come over him that something was going to happen. Something really bad,
just like what that Remy said. 
 
***** 
Rooftop Ballroom 
Lumina Foundation Building 
6:22 p.m. 
 
	He stepped out of the elevator. As the doors opened and closed,
they made a spacey kind of special effect noise, announcing the arrival
and departure. Mulder looked around, the moment he got out. 
	Some people were setting out the food, others were placing the
finishing touches on the tables.  Most just ignored him, but some shook
their heads, saying something like, "Figures, always one early bird." 
	He put his mask on. It was just a simple black velvet feeling mask,
right over his eyes. He didn't want anything too elaborate because the
costume was enough so. 
	On one hand, he felt sort of out of place with the prince's outfit,
but on the other, he felt like he was on an undercover job. 
	He walked near the railing. Were they ever on the top floor -- you
couldn't see anything from the ground except whatever lights were on. But
he was right from before, they almost were close enough to touch the
meteors. 
	As soon as one of the waiters passed by, he stopped them. "Pardon
me, but is Jordan Stark planning on showing up tonight?" 
	"Not that I am aware of, sir." 
	"You'd think the host would show up at his own party. . ." 
	"I was just hired for the night, I don't know a thing about how
they decide to run it." He moved away. 
	"Hmm. . . cheery fellow, isn't he?" Mulder commented. 
 
***** 
7:22 p.m. 
 
	The next hour, Mulder stayed outside, watching who passed by, and
what they did on the inside.  The first guests started showing up at the
hour point. He didn't recognize anyone yet. 
 
***** 
7:31 p.m. 
 
	The elevator opened and Mulder saw Glinda the Good Witch walk in.
He went inside to join her. 
	"I think you're in the wrong place -- I don't see a yellow brick
road or any munchkins around," he said. 
	"Mulder, cut it out," Scully said, "No jokes." 
	"All right, no jokes. By the way, I met with a stray dog. The tag
said 'Toto' and. . ." 
	"Mulder. . ." 
	"All right, fine. Now that you're here, I want to introduce you to
Jordan Stark, he's. . ." 
	"Mulder, there is no case here. If you think there is, fine, but
leave me out of it. I'm going to enjoy myself, eat, dance, and all that
stuff. So, I'll see you later." Scully walked away. 
	He sighed. She just wasn't getting it, he thought. 
	The elevator arrived again. Matt Cory and Sofia Carlino walked out.
He knew once the rest of the Corys arrived, Lila would arrive herself. 
	Mulder got a drink and sat down at a table which was far from
everything and everyone, but he had a clear view to the elevator. As soon
as he sat, he saw Amanda Cory with Cameron Sinclair.  Sofia looked like
she was supposed to be Cleopatra, particularly with the hair ornament. 
Amanda, on the other hand, looked like she was an African Princess with
the animal printed dress she wore.
	Matt and Cameron wore tuxes, but had different masks. 
	A minute after, another woman came in. Her outfit was blue, her
hat had exceptionally high ostrich feathers coming from it. Cass
Winthrop, who came in right after, went directly to her. He was not
wearing his mask yet.  Mulder saw his lips move -- he was talking to
Felicia, Felicia Gallant.  Her last name matched her personality
perfectly. 
	For a moment, he got up to get a plate of food. In the corner of
his eye, he saw two individuals who stood, far in the corner, watching.
The man wore a lion mask, covering his face. The woman did not wear a
costume, only a white formal gown. Most of the time, they also watched
who came in, and what they did. But the man kept going back and forth
from them, to Mulder. 
	Mulder grinned. "Making him nervous. . ." he thought. He returned
to his table. More than likely, that was Mr. Stark, and he was in damned
good shape for someone over two hundred years old.  Was he a vampire, or 
someone who had the secret of the fountain of youth all these years? He
had to find out, whether or not that was true, one way or another. So 
many questions, so few answers. 
	The next recognizable person who stepped off the elevator was
Marley Hudson. He noted that she looked even more anorexic with this
outfit. He couldn't begin to guess what she was supposed to be in her
long, very red gown -- a wicked stepsister? 
	Cynthia Harrison followed in, and went right to Marley. Now, if
Sofia was the pure and good version of Cleopatra, then Cindy was the evil,
demonic, flashy version of the queen in the all purple gown.  "Whatever."
Mulder could only say to it. But he did wonder what they were up to,
especially with the micro cassette tape Cindy was waving around in the
air. He wouldn't be surprised if those two were friends -- unstable people
stick together. 
	He noticed Marley's attention turned to the couple who just arrived.
Something like a prince and princess walked in, Jake and Victoria
McKinnon.  Mulder watched Marley's eyes. She watched Jake with love, but
looked at her sister with hatred. Mulder smiled, figuring out their
problem, at least -- she wanted her sister's husband! Why not, he already
felt like he was in a soap opera, but at least that problem was normal
compared to this paranormal stuff going on around them all. 
	His eyes moved to the fountain in front of the food table. He
thought of the fountain of youth idea again, but then realized something
else. "A past life!" he said aloud. "What if he's really this two
hundred-year old Jordan Stark, but he's looking for the wife that he lost,
only, with her, she's in another body now, with a new life?" he thought.
"It explains the book, what he's doing here with the Foundation, and why
he seems interested in everyone. Does he think Lila is the one he's
looking for? That's the answer to try to find. . ." 
 
***** 
Jordan Stark's Office 
Lumina Foundation Building 
7:48 p.m. 
	
	Once the attention of Stark and the blond woman was elsewhere,
Mulder snuck away. Taking the stairs, as not to alert anyone, he picked
his way into Stark's office. 
	He noticed the cameras were on, watching every move at the ball. He
smiled when he saw Scully the Good Witch dancing with Grant Harrison
Caesar. "Beware the ides of March. . . and Scully's shot Mr. Mayor. . ." 
he thought, as he rubbed the shoulder she had shot a few years ago. 
	Mulder sat down at the desk. He knew what he was looking for, he
just had to find it, and logically, it would be right near Stark, so
close. . . 
	Fox opened all the desk drawers. Finally, in the bottom right
contained a book. He took it out and examined the cover. "Gotcha. . ." 
	*Beyond Imagination* was the title. 
	He opened the cover and looked at the first page. Just as the
computer told him, it was written by a Jordan Stark in 1789. There was
nothing in there that he could see just by skimming it whether or not the
author was the same Stark in who's chair he now sat. But, by breezing
through, he found a drawing. A woman with long hair was sitting in front
of a mirror. Her face could not be seen, to the reader or the mirror, for
that matter. On the previous page, it talked about Amalie, Stark's. . .
"Wife. . . He's looking for the person who used to be Amalie. . ." Mulder
said, ". . . For the person who holds her being, her soul. Maybe he can't
remember what she looks like.  Somehow, he's the real Stark, whether
centuries old or reincarnated himself, but he is searching for the one
who holds the reincarnated Amalie." All he could tell for certain was that
was definitely what and who Stark was looking for, everything else was
more guessing. But, how better to get to know everyone in town than by
inviting them all to a social gathering where they could be assembled in
the same room? 
	He looked through the rest of the book. Some of the things in it
seemed too unbelievable, even to him. One section actually talked about
bringing someone's soul back from the dead. They'd still be dead, but
yet, not. . . so confusing. Other parts talked about hypnotizing people,
another talked about helping one bring the past that is so deeply buried
in one's mind to their consciousness. No doubt he learned that to help
Amalie surface, once he found her. 
	He put the book away, exactly as he found it. At that moment,
Mulder realized Jordan Stark, no matter how he's come to be this supposed
over two-hundred year old man, was someone who lost a love so great and
dear to him -- and he'd do anything to get it back. Anything. 
	And Fox Mulder had to stop him from doing that. 
 
***** 
Rooftop Ballroom 
Lumina Foundation Building 
8:58 p.m. 
 
	Over the next hour, after Mulder got back, he watched a number of
people come in -- all except the notables, Rachel Cory Hutchins and Lila
Roberts. He noticed Zak Wilder had come and gone, and he'd always stay
relatively close to Mr. Stark, but never going right up to him while
Mulder watched. 
	He had to get up to walk around; the sitting was making his butt
sore. Just as he was going near Mr. Stark, a waiter walked to Felicia,
gave her a piece of paper, and a loud speaker came on. It sounded new
age, spacey kind of music, and it grabbed everyone's attention. 
	As the group remained quiet, and the music ended, Felicia spoke,
"Well, according to this, I'm supposed to read it to you all. 'I'd like
to welcome you all to the Grand Ballroom of the Lumina Foundation. I
would like to wish you all a great and wonderful time, and I hope that
you will realize this evening to be. . . a most magical one." 
	Then, the regular music began again, and the masked Stark
approached Felicia, asking her to dance. 
	Mulder stayed near them, watching, listening. Felicia asked about
the host; he just replied, "Perhaps he just wants his presence felt, and
not seen." Soon after, he moved away. 
	Mulder's attention turned to the arriving elevator. Rachel arrived,
but it seemed like the elevator wanted to let everyone know it. The
lights one the ballroom area shut off, and a spotlight was trained on her
for a moment. There was another small bit of music announcing it, in case
anyone didn't notice the lights go off. And, it matched her outfit -- she
could have been a queen -- Queen Elizabeth the First, to be more exact.
Then, the lights returned to normal; she joined Felicia and Cass. 
	Mulder looked for Stark again; he returned to his corner hideaway,
away from everyone, but high enough to watch everything and everyone. 
	Barely seconds later, the elevator returned again, making the same
entrance for the individual inside as it did for Rachel, but this time,
it was Lila Roberts. 
	Zak walked out of the elevator right behind her. She wore an outfit
that looked like Juliet could have worn in the Middle Ages. 
	He could not hear what she was saying to Zak, but he had an idea
that he was her ride when the Cory's left. It felt like she had to be
there at that ball for some reason, although she was bulging out at the
stomach, ready to pop as much, if not more than a balloon. 
	Rachel, Cass and Matt went near her, obviously mad, but she didn't
give a damn. Cass was grinning at her; he looked at her the same way
Marley looked at Jake -- maybe he had something for her, Mulder thought. 
	A minute later, as they argued, the woman who always seemed to be at
Stark's side, walked to the other side of the room, where the balcony was.
"Everyone, if I may have your attention, the meteor shower is now visible;
if you will come out here, you will be able to see it." she said. 
	Most of the group followed, including Scully. Mulder watched Matt,
Zak and Lila. Matt was going to go with Sofia to the balcony, but while
they weren't watching, Zak touched his neck, like Spock's Vulcan Neck
Pinch from Star Trek. He didn't fall unconscious, however. He did turn to 
Lila, the expression in his eyes now completely different. "I am going to
take you home myself. I'll be right back. . ." He started walking away,
with Lila to the elevator, not even looking back to Sofia. 
	Zak took Sofia to see the shower. "I'm sure he'll be right back. He
just wants to make sure she'll be all right." 
	"Yeah, sure. . ." she said, trying to make herself believe it. 
	Mulder saw Stark leave; as he begun to follow him, he heard a noise
from the elevator. Two floor lights were lit, a few floors down. It was
stuck, with Matt and the very pregnant Lila inside. 
	Fox had a feeling, whatever Stark's plan, it had begun. 
 
***** 

	Mulder ran to the elevator, with a couple others. He tried pressing
the up and down buttons -- neither were working. He even tried to open the
doors himself, but they were stuck closed. 
	He looked around the ballroom. Once he saw the someone in particular
that he wanted, he quickly went to him. "Captain Carlino, we have a
problem." 
	"What is it?" 
	"Can you call your people; that elevator is stuck with Matt Cory and
Lila Roberts." 
	"Oh brother. Okay, I'll be right there." 
	Mulder returned to the elevator. Now, he heard some kind of
noise. . . and he had a feeling he knew what it was. He took out his cell
phone, looked for Scully and waved her over to him. He asked the people
that now crowded around him, "Does anyone know what Matt Cory's cell phone 
number is?" 
	Sofia told him. 
	Half a minute later, he said, "This is Agent Mulder, is everything
alright in there?" 
	He looked at Scully when he heard the answer. "Look, I am going to
hand my phone over to my partner. She is a medical doctor, she'll help you
through everything if needed. I'm going to see about getting you two out
of there; in case you haven't guessed, the elevator is stuck. Just hold
on, okay?" 
	"What's going on?" she asked. 
	"This is going to be a bit of a stretch for you, considering you're
used to dead people, and all, but this elevator is stuck with a woman who
just went into labor. Her name is Lila, you are talking to the baby's
father, Matt." He handed her the phone. 
	"Matthew, this is Special Agent Dana Scully -- what exactly is going
on. . ." 
	Fox moved towards Carlino. "Do you have a group here to get that
elevator moving?" 
	"Yes, we're working on that right now." 
	"You have to get them out of there, as soon as possible, and, if at
all possible, before that baby is born. I'm not sure, I don't have proof
as of yet, but I think someone is going to try to take the baby. I really
don't think the elevator stopping now is a coincidence." 
	"Alright." Carlino and his group moved to the elevator. Mulder
decided to take a shortcut to the bottom floor. . . through Mr. Stark's
office. 
 
***** 
Stark's Office 
9:09 p.m. 
 
	Mulder didn't even bother to knock -- he just walked right in. 
	"Stark?" 
	"Yes?" A figure, sitting in the darkness was holding a remote
control and was watching the monitors on his wall. 
	"Don't feel like watching your plan in person?" 
	"What plan?" 
	"This is the way I see it. You are the Jordan Stark from 200 years
ago, the writer of "Beyond Imagination". You dearly loved your wife
Amalie, but she died. You've been searching for her reincarnated spirit
-- and this little party is to try and find her. How Lila exactly fits
into this, I'm not quite sure. Yet." 
	"Lucky thing you brought your partner here to this -- who knew
Lila Roberts would be going into labor tonight." 
	"Somehow, you did." 
	Stark stood, staring out the window. "I still underestimated you. I
must remember not to do that. I will only tell you this because the only
person outside the employees of this foundation who will ever believe this
is you. Yes, I am that Jordan Stark, born in July of 1778. I studied the 
paranormal as passionately as you investigate it now. 
	"One day, back in the early 1800s, I went to visit a Doctor named
Kittridge. But while waiting for him, I walked around the garden of his
daughter, whom I met that day named Amalie. That garden had a mystery,
a mystery that she told her father she would use as a way to choose a
suitor to marry. The mystery was that the garden, was always in bloom,
always so beautiful, just like my dear Amalie. It would be at full bloom,
even in the dead of winter. She decided she would only marry the person
who understood why that was to be so. 
	"Of course, when I came along, I figured it out. It wasn't hard,
just by meeting Amalie those few minutes to know that it was her care and
love of those flowers that kept the garden in bloom. 
	"But that was not why I fell in love with her. You see, Mr. Mulder,
I rarely show myself in public much, not even then. . ." He turned around
for Fox to see his face -- it was deformed, with quite a few bumps. But
Mulder didn't react. A person was more than their face; besides, he's
seen worse during his time investigating the X-Files. 
	"But my Amalie didn't mind it, she didn't react like most people do.
We talked, I kept seeing her, we fell in love. . . and, of course, I saw
why that garden held that secret, how much love was in her heart. 
	"We had to meet in secret, her father obviously did not want the
monster around his daughter.  But, after a while, after we decided to be
engaged, I told her father, maybe hoping for his blessing to our marriage,
but he absolutely forbad it. He didn't want his daughter married with the
monster he saw me to be. 
	"Of course, we were married in secret. She was so beautiful in her
gown, so. . ." He sighed at the memory, "Anyway, we didn't get to
consummate our marriage our wedding night -- her father found out, found
where we were; his guards grabbed me, keeping us apart. Amalie, so upset,
so distraught, the doctor wouldn't even listen to her, jumped out of the
window. But her body couldn't be found. She knew how to have her spirit
wander for me to find, only it's taken me a long, damn two hundred years
to do it -- I have located her to Bay City, though; I brought them all
here to meet them, one by one, to see who she could be, if she is any of
these people. No one will deny us from being together again." 
	"That's a very romantic story, but there is one problem -- once you
find her, the person's spirit who now inhabits that body will die," Mulder
reminded him. 
	"A necessary sacrifice." 
	"Not to these people, it won't be. That person will belong to
someone's family, and they will not allow you to do it." 
	"NOTHING, Mr. Mulder, will keep me and my beloved Amalie from being
together. NOTHING." 
	"That's where you're wrong. There will be one thing -- me. And, as
you've said, you've underestimated me twice already. That means you will
again. By the way, will you tell me why you want Lila?" 
	"You'll see; I need someone to do something, and she will have no
choice to do so after tonight." 
	"Oh my god," Mulder said, "You are going to take the baby. You are
going to make her so crazy that once you give it back, she will have no
choice but to do everything you ask of her." 
	He smiled. "I guess you were right. I underestimated you again. You
are correct. She will be my spy in the Cory household. Not many trust her
there as it is, so she will be perfect. But you will not stop me, Agent
Mulder." 
	"Don't bet on it, Mr. Stark." He ran out of the room. 
	"Damn -- he just might too." 
 
***** 
11:15 p.m. 
 
	Mulder walked through the hallways and staircases of the very large
Lumina Building. He was tired, but he didn't notice. He returned to the
bottom floor. 
	"How the hell is he going to take the baby?!" He yelled to himself. 
	A group of cops and EMTs ran to the elevator. Mulder joined them,
Carlino ran up to the FBI agent. "I've been looking for you. Lila had the
baby; it's a girl and they are coming down now." 
 	"Good." Mulder stood with a doctor in front of the door. Once it 
opened, Matt carried Lila out to the awaiting stretcher. "She's lost a lot
of blood, and she might be in shock. . ." Matt said to them. 
	All she kept asking for was her baby girl. 
	"I'll get her." Mulder went into the elevator and picked her up. He
heard Matt tell her that someone was getting her, and not to worry. 
	Mulder began walking towards the doors. "No!" he yelled. 
	The doors closed before he could leave. 
	And the elevator stared moving. 
 
***** 
 
	"Oh, dear lord; okay, tell everyone at the penthouse to be ready to
catch this elevator, and tell them why." Carlino said. He started up the
stairs. 
	The EMTs rolled Lila out with Matt and Cass, who joined them minutes
before. The rest of the police remained there in case the elevator came
back to them, but as the floor lights lit, they were showing it was going
up, away from them. 
 
***** 
 
	Fox held onto the baby with his life, but he knew he was moving
down. The lights on the door showed to him that everyone else thought he
was going up. 
	The doors opened and Mulder saw they were in a fancy basement. And
facing a waiting Jordan Stark. 
	"I see you discovered the answer to your question -- now you know
how I intended on getting the	baby," he said. 
	"A simple magicians trick -- diverting attention; the hand is
quicker than the eye." 
	"Not everything is unexplained or miraculous, Mr. Mulder. Some yes,
but not all." 
	Zak Wilder, who came from behind Stark pulled Mulder out of the
elevator. The doors closed behind him, and it started it's ride back up.
"I knew I'd see you somewhere around here. The moment you mentioned what
you thought the logo symbolized, and it matched Stark's explanation
exactly, I knew you were with him. By the way, thanks for telling me
about "Beyond Imagination." 
	Stark looked at Zak. "You told him about the book?" 
	"I thought that way, he'd look somewhere else, away from you." 
	"I told you to never mention that book." He looked back to Mulder.
"You couldn't have found a copy. I had them all destroyed." 
	"Well, not yours. I slipped into your office earlier and found it.
How else could I have known about Amalie?" 
	"I. . . didn't. . ." Stark was found speechless, for a first time,
in a long time. "Hmm. . . well, I really need to put a lock on my door.
Now, give me the baby." 
	"No." 
	"Give me that baby!" He repeated, a little louder. 
	Mulder pulled out his gun and aimed it at Stark. "You come near
this little girl and I'll be the one who finally kills you." 
	"You can't kill me." 
	"Would you like to test that theory?" 
 
***** 
Rooftop Ballroom 
Lumina Foundation Building 
 
	Scully waited near the door with Josie and Toni, the cops that
remained on that floor. They were given the call that the elevator was
coming up, and to give help to Agent Mulder with the baby.  They were
watching the lights. 
	Once the door opened, they looked in. "Mulder?" Scully asked. 
	The three women looked around inside, but they couldn't deny it,
as much as they would like. 
	The elevator was empty, and it didn't stop, as far as they knew. 
	But they all saw the same thing -- Mulder and the baby were gone,
along with any trace of them even being there. 
 
***** 
Basement 
Lumina Foundation Building 
 
	Zak approached Mulder, but his gun went off. Zak fell to the floor,
and the baby started to cry. 
	"I know that was loud; I'm sorry," He apologized to the baby. 
	"You should not have done that," Stark said. 
	"No, I shouldn't have. But then, you should have told him not to do
that." 
	Zak stood, but with his right hand clutching his left shoulder. "Go
Zak, get out of here. I'll deal with Agent Mulder myself. You take care of
that." 
	The second Zak began leaving, so did Fox; he ran to the nearest
door. 
	Stark followed. 
 
***** 
 
	As he went through the halls again, twisting and turning, Mulder
talked to the baby. "I wonder if this means you're going to be a very
popular lady when you grow up. If you want an application to the FBI,
just call me. Well, assuming I'm still even there next week, let alone
twenty years from now. . . if that's the case, call Scully. She's bound
to be in charge of the FBI by then." 
 
***** 

	Scully and the two Bay City officers met at the bottom floor.
Scully went to Joe Carlino. 
	"Captain, we have to find Agent Mulder. How the hell did he get
off that elevator, it was moving up the whole time," she said. 
	"I know, I had people watching here. But I guess your partner was
right. He said he thought someone might be trying to get the baby. He 
didn't think all this was a coincidence. So, instead of just the baby,
they might also have your partner." 
	She sighed. "Well, he seems to be right. Although I'm sure his
reasoning will be wrong." 
	"Well, Scully, did I just hear you right? Did you finally say that
I was right?" a voice behind them said. 
	They all turned around, facing the man who stood in front of the
fire door. 
	"Mulder!" she said. 
	They went over to him. "Scully, check her out. I was right --
Jordan Stark wanted to take the baby, to scare Lila Roberts into spying
for him in the Cory household," Mulder said. 
	As he handed the baby to Scully, she said, "How the hell do you
know that?" 
	"He told me." 
	"Oh." 
	"Who is Jordan Stark?" Carlino asked. 
	"The owner of this place." 
	The blond woman near Stark's side came near the group. 
	Josie said to her, "We want to see Mr. Stark." 
	"I'm sorry, but he's not here; is there anything I can do for
you. . ." As Scully walked by her to take the baby to the hospital, she
saw the baby, and her eyes widened. 
	"The plan didn't work. You can stop covering for Stark. He's in
this building. You can't miss him; his face is nearly as bumpy as a
klingon, but not as much," Mulder said. 
	The fire door behind Mulder, which was opened slightly, closed
quietly. 
	"Damn. . . Fine, Mulder, I'll find my Amalie without Lila's help."
Stark went back upstairs, but not to his office -- to his laboratory. 

***** 
1:21 a.m. 
 
	Mulder, Scully, Joe Carlino and Rachel Hutchins stood in the 
Captain's office at the police department. 
	"We have searched the building, as far as we are aware of, and
there was no sign of anyone fitting Stark's description. However,
whenever he left, that secretary or whatever Ms. Allen is, isn't lying.
But we'll keep after him -- he has to answer to that elevator being stuck,
and the lousy maintenance people he had trying to fix it," Carlino said. 
	"But you are not going to arrest him," Mulder said. 
	"Right now, I don't see it happening. Nothing will hold, we don't 
have proof. Besides, do you expect us to believe he's over two hundred
years old? Sure, he can believe he's this Stark, but it can't be him," 
Joe said. 
	"If it's that impossible, then he wouldn't be looking for his wife.
She's here, and just because I stopped him from using one person as a spy,
it doesn't mean he's going to stop his quest. He'll find another way. This
will not be the last of Jordan Stark." Mulder walked out of the office to
the outside. 
	There was a slight chill in the air, Mulder noticed. He called a
cab using his phone; as he waited, a man wearing sunglasses and a dark
coat approached him. 
	"Isn't it a little dark for those? After all, it's one in the 
morning. . . or are you so psychic that you can see where you are going in
the dark, Mr. Stark?" 
	He ripped them off his face. "I hope you are leaving; I want you to
stay out of my way and what I want." 
	"Yeah, I'm leaving. No one believes me, they aren't going to kick
you into jail. But, I'll be watching and listening for you. Once I see 
something from here that shows to me that you are at it again, I'll be 
right back here in your face like I am right now." 
	"Most of me hopes never to see you again. But the rest, the rest
likes the challenge you are." 
	"Consider it a bet, then."
	Stark put his glasses back on, and walked away.
	Mulder just knew he'd be seeing him again, in the near future.
***************************************************************************