"That you would fight the future."
He fell silent. On the other side of the backseat, Mulder sat stu
The Well-Manicured Man stared at his hands for a long time before replying. "For the sake of my own children. Nothing more, noth-ing less. Once they learn what I've told you, my life will be over."
He raised his head, and Mulder looked up to see the driver staring back at them from the rearview mirror. At their notice he quickly brought his attention back to the road, and Mulder asked, "What happened to Dr. Kurtzweil?"
"His knowledge became too great for his indiscretion. As your father knew, some things need to be sacrificed to the future."
Mulder stared at the other man's impassive face and suddenly realized the truth of it.
"You—you murdered him," Mulder said in shocked disbelief. When the Well-Manicured Man said nothing, Mulder grabbed his door handle. "Let me out. Stop the car."
The Well-Manicured Man gestured at the front seat. "Driver…"
Slowly the limo pulled to a stop. Outside the street was empty, lit only by a single yellow crime light.
There were no houses, no people, only an abandoned gas station flanked by sev-eral rusting Dumpsters.
Mulder jimmied the handle. It was locked. He whirled to challenge his captor, and found himself looking down at a handgun resting carefully, almost casually, on the other man's leg. Its barrel was aimed directly at Mulder's chest.
"The men I work with will stop at nothing to clear the way for what they believe is their stake in the inevitable future," the Well-Manicured Man said as Mulder recoiled. "I was ordered to kill Dr.
Kurtzweil."
Mulder backed against the door as in one fluid motion the other man lifted the gun. "—as I was ordered to kill you." But before Mulder could cry out, the Well-Manicured Man whirled and shot the driver in the head.
Blood spattered the front windshield and Agent Mulder's jacket. He gasped, still trying to comprehend what had just happened, and stared horrified at the man holding the gun beside him. "Trust no one, Mr. Mulder," said the Well-Manicured Man matter-of-factly. Mulder looked at him, expecting to be next. But the Well-Manicured Man only opened the door and stepped from the town car. He stood in the desolate street and held the door open for Mulder, who was still frozen in his seat.
"Get out of the car, Agent Mulder."
"Why? The upholstery is already ruined."
"Get out."
Taking a deep breath, Mulder joined him on the asphalt. He looked down at the felt envelope in his hand. The Well-Manicured Man stared at him with an intensely somber look, still grasping the handgun.
"You have precious little time, Agent Mulder. What I've given you—the alien colonists don't know it exists… yet. You have in your hand the power to end the Project. To take what is most valuable from them."
"I need to know how—" Mulder cried.
"The vaccine you hold is the only defense against the virus. Its introduction into the alien environment may have the power to destroy the delicate plans we've so assiduously protected for the last fifty years."
"May?" Mulder clutched the envelope and shook his head. "What do you mean may?"
"Find Agent Scully. Only then will you realize the scope and grandeur of the Project.