The X-Philes - The Times They Are A Changin' 4
Created | Updated Dec 9, 2004
Martha Jackson's House, 10.30 am
Reyes is in Martha's kitchen watching her work.
Monica Reyes:* apologetically* 'Martha, I need to ask you about what you said at Marty's funeral, about the murderer getting what's coming to him. What did you mean exactly?' Martha sighs and sits down.
Martha Jackson: 'My ancestors came from Africa and all the women were Priestess's right up to my Great Granny. My mother refused to be a part of the Voodoo practises but, as a child, I witnessed many rites and ceremonies. I knew what went on and I'd seen this happen many times; a spirit who'd kill in the name of revenge. But you know and I know Marty wouldn't do that.'
Monica Reyes: 'You also said something about his conscience killing him. What's that all about?'
Martha Jackson: 'I don't know. Maybe the spirits in him were warring. You must have felt the evil in the air? The devil's minions are at work in the world now.' Reyes nods in agreement. 'So, you see, if the evil spirit was at work trying to corrupt Kendrick his soul may have decided death was the only way out - or maybe Marty's ghost just scared him to death.' Martha shrugs. 'Maybe we shouldn't ask.'
Reyes nods and picks up her coffee cup and heads into Martha's front room. She sits in the chair and closes her eyes trying to make sense of it all. All of a sudden she feels something in the room with her. She opens her eyes and sees a young black man looking at her and smiling.
Monica Reyes: 'Are you Marty?' The man nods. 'Why are you here?'
Marty Jackson: *pleading* 'I need your help. My mother thinks I was murdered and she's right, I was, but it was covered up. I watched it all - the autopsy, the inquest, the Court Martial and my funeral. I want the truth to be told so I can go to heaven. I don't want to spend eternity here, I want to take my place in heaven and be with the Lord.' Reyes smiles. He's his mothers son, she decides.
Monica Reyes: 'But why me?' He smiles at her.
Marty Jackson: 'Well, you are with the FBI aren't you? You're also a link between the two worlds too, like a medium. When I first came here this kid showed me around, showed me how to communicate, how to do all kinds of things. I think the poor little guy's been here for years, stuck here because he can't find peace. He hangs around you a lot, says you were close to finding who killed him and the other kids he's with. He says you're close to his dad too.' Monica gasps.
Monica Reyes: 'Oh, my God, is his name Luke?' Marty nods.
Marty Jackson: 'Yeah I think so' Her eyes fill with tears.
Monica Reyes: 'I found his body. I know his dad came close to catching his killer, too. What can I do to help both of you?'
Marty Jackson: 'Prove I was murdered.'
Monica Reyes: 'How?'
Marty Jackson: 'Dig my body up. The doctors were in the pay of those who killed me so they falsified the autopsy. There must be someone you can trust who can prove I was murdered.' Reyes thinks about this.
Monica Reyes: 'There might be someone, someone my partner trusts anyway.' She looks him in the eye. 'What we all want to know is how did Joshua Kendrick die? Did you have anything to do with it?' Marty shakes his head.
Marty Jackson: 'No it wasn't me. It might have been one of the others.' Reyes looks shocked.
Monica Reyes: *gasps* 'There were others?' Marty nods.
Marty Jackson: 'Oh I wasn't the first and I doubt I'll be the last, either. Maybe their spirits took matters into their own hands. I know one of the other guys came from Hati originally and I know his folks weren't happy with the Marine's version of what happened. I don't need to say anymore do I?' Reyes stands up.
Monica Reyes: 'You will be the last if I have anything to do with it. You and the others will rest in peace.' Marty grins.
Marty Jackson: 'Look forward to it Ma'am.' - and then he's gone.
Martha's Kitchen again
Reyes comes running into Martha's kitchen.
Monica Reyes: 'Martha I think I know a way we can prove Marty was murdered but...' *hesitates* Martha looks at her.
Martha Jackson: *kindly* 'Go on Agent Reyes.'
Monica Reyes: 'Well... ah... it means exhuming Marty's body and having one of our ME's looking at him. If the Marines covered it up hopefully we'll be able to clear it up for you.' Martha looks a little concerned.
Martha Jackson: 'Please don't think I'm being paranoid but what if your ME is under the influence of someone else? From what you've said their power stretches a long way.' Reyes is prepared for this.
Monica Reyes: 'Agent Doggett's partner is a qualified MD and he trusts her completely but... she's out on compassionate leave at the moment. Still I'm sure he can persuade her to help.' They hear Doggett's car pull up and Monica decides now is as good a time as any to put forward her suggestions. As Doggett comes through the door he has the feeling he's interrupted something.
Doggett: 'Everything ok?' Reyes nods.
Monica Reyes: 'How'd it go at the base?' He recounts his conversation with the JAG officers.
Doggett: '... so they believe it was murder, too, but they are being leaned on by someone high up.' He notices eye contact between Martha and Monica. 'Whats going on?' Reyes takes a deep breath.
Monica Reyes: 'Would Agent Scully be willing to do another autopsy on Marty?' This catches Doggett a little by surprise.
Doggett: 'I have no idea. I haven't spoken to her for a while but I don't see why she couldn't, why?'
Monica Reyes: 'Well if the autopsy results were falsified could she find out if Marty really was murdered and how? Martha's agreed to the exhumation...' Martha nods '... and the Marines can't say no because it's Martha's request.' He looks at both of them and decides that something has been left unsaid.
Doggett: 'Ok, I'll see if Scully will do it for us.' He reaches into his pocket for his phone and starts to dial.
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Washington Memorial Hospital 2.30pm
Margaret Scully is sitting in the hospital coffee shop waiting for her daughter. She's been rehearsing this little speech for a couple of days now. She sighs. It has to be said but it was going to hurt - both of them. Dana Scully comes through the door and spies her mother sitting in the corner. She is looking pale and drawn. All the fight seems to have gone out of her thinks Margaret. Scully sits down opposite.
Margaret: 'How is he?'
Scully: 'A little better. He's responding a little to stimuli.'
Margaret: 'That's good.' Scully studies her mother.
Scully: 'You've got something to say and I'm not going to like it. You've got that same look in your eye you used to get just before you grounded me as a kid.'
Margaret: 'Ok! When are you going to stop wallowing in self pity and go back to work?'
Scully: *shocked* 'Mom! I am not wallowing in self pity.'
Margaret: 'Oh, what would you call it then?'
Scully: 'That's not fair.'
Margaret: 'Will Mulder think it's fair when he goes back to the Bureau to find his office door bolted because you spent all your time at his bedside feeling sorry for yourself?'
Scully: *retorts* 'But Agent Dogget's there, he'll keep an eye on things.' But Margaret carries on.
Margaret: 'Oh, yes, Agent Doggett. Do you think your selfish actions have been fair on him? Sure he's tried to carry on, but he's in over his head. You've told me yourself that the Deputy Director's just waiting for the oppotunity to close you down and you are handing it to him on a plate. All he's waiting for is Agent Doggett to make a mistake, which he will do because he doesn't have your knowledge. And that's it; doors closed, the X Files are no more and he's won.' She finally stops, hardly able to look at her daughter. Scully is looking at her mother knowing deep down she's right. She has been self-absorbed. Guiltily she thinks of Doggett and all the pleas for help she's ignored. A tear starts to fall.
Scully: *hesitantly* 'Have I really been that bad?' Margaret nods.
Margaret: *gently* 'I'm afraid so. I know you've been grieving but you really need to start living your life again. It's what he'd want. I also know you thought you were doing the right thing by staying here with him, but the best thing you can do is make sure he has his precious X Files to come back to. I'm sorry, Dana, but it had to be said.'
Scully: 'I know and I'd rather hear it from you.' Margaret smiles.
Margaret: 'So now what?'
Scully: 'Call Agent Doggett and see what's what I guess.'
Margaret: 'That's my girl.' She kisses Scully on the cheek. Outside Scully switches her phone back on and sees she has four messages from Agent Doggett, she dials his number.
Scully: 'Hi, it's Agent Scully. You've been trying to get hold of me?'
Doggett: 'Yeah, where have you been?'
Scully: 'I was at the hospital, I had my phone switched off. What's up?' She listens as he explains about the case he's on.
Doggett: '... so I was wondering if you could do another autopsy to prove that he was murdered?'
Scully: 'Ok, I'll be glad to help...' She hesitates a little '... and I want you to know that I'm coming back to the office.' He's a little surprised.
Doggett: 'What brought this on?' Scully grimaces.
Scully: 'My mom's just given me the worst telling off I've had since I was twelve.'
Doggett: 'Mother's will do that. So can you make the necessary arrangements for the exhumation?' Scully agrees. 'Ok, we'll be back tomorrow at some point.'
Scully: 'We?'
Doggett: 'Agent Monica Reyes. She was in town and I asked her to help me. She's an old friend.' Scully can't help but feel a little put out at this news.
Scully: 'Oh... ok. I'll see you tomorrow then.'
Doggett: 'See you then... and Dana... it'll be good to have you back.'
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The White House, 22nd Febuary 2003, 10.00am
Colonel Tony O'Kill is standing in an office waiting to speak to the superior officer who's orders he's been carrying out. The door opens and General O'Halloran (O'Bannion, Nick DeAbalo - the Devil's - right hand man, in case you've forgotten) come's in, O'Kill salutes.
Colonel Tony O'Kill: 'You wanted to see me, Sir?' O'Bannion indicates for him to sit down.
O'Bannion: 'I understand the FBI have been poking around Fort Belvedere investigating the murder of a black Marine.' O'Kill nods. 'Would you mind telling me how this came about?' He passes O'Kill a letter telling him of the exhumation request. O'Kill goes pale.
Colonel Tony O'Kill: *blusters* 'I couldn't deny the request, it came from Jackson's mother. She bypassed me and went to higher authorities. Anyway, we have all the local ME's in our pay.'
O'Bannion: 'It's not that simple. She's requested that an FBI Agent do the re-examination; an Agent Dana Scully. Now her partner wants my head on a plate and I don't want to give him the satisfaction. So get out there and sort this mess out. Make sure you don't leave a trail because, if it leads to me and they find out who I really am, my collegues will hunt you down and you will rot in hell I promise you.' O'Kill swallows nervously, stands and salutes.
Colonel Tony O'Kill: 'You can count on me, Sir.'
O'Bannion: 'I hope so, for your sake...'
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