----
Scully stood in the portal with her gun cocked and her eyes on the prize. The chamber door slowly began to rise and she stepped out onto the virtual dirt with a gleam in her eyes. Mulder was ducked behind the small mound, and she kneeled beside him with a smile to see him around.
"We're stuck in the game, until they can turn it off…" Scully looked above to make sure no one was present, "or until we can beat the game."
Mulder shook his head, "we can't beat it. We're only on level two and it's incredibly difficult as it is."
Scully shrugged, "we have to try."
------
"What's the next problem?" Frohike asked, in the small room with the others.
"After they beat her in the street they have to find the key in the sheriff's lock up. Once they have the key, they continue to the next level," Phoebe told them watching the monitors closely.
"That doesn't sound too hard," Byers shrugged. Everyone turned to him with a frown, he just looked away.
------
"How do we beat the level? I don't have any ammo left," Mulder asked Scully in between her rounds at the multiplying Maitreya.
Scully sighed, "I haven't played many video games, but I did grow up with two brothers… isn't their usually ways to 'pick up' ammo or guns?"
Mulder nodded, "we need to get into those buildings."
"Let me finish her off for now, you go left, I'll cover you." Scully stood again, she blasted the last Maitreya that sat on the tank. It was silent. Scully looked down at Mulder with a nod and both darted to the first building. Mulder jumped over the two stairs and jiggled the door knob. Scully kept her back to him and her eyes open on the scene around them.
Finally Mulder knocked the door in. They both ran in. Mulder found a gun hidden under a table, "I got something."
"What do we need to do to beat this?" Scully asked.
"I don't know. I say we check out the other buildings. Maybe we can find a cheaters link."
"What's that?" Scully asked watching out the doorway for any intruders.
"In every game there is a cheat link. A certain area you can go to that will allow you to move onto the next level."
"Every game has one?" Scully questioned.
"Yeah. Mostly."
------
"He's right," Ivan nodded, "the cheat link is very hard to find though."
"We need to contact them, is there any way?" Langly asked.
Phoebe sighed, "I've been trying to tap into the intercom, but Maitreya has the game well under her control…"
"That may be the only way they can win! We need contact with them," Langly stressed.
"…I'll keep trying."
------
Mulder proceeded into the building that had the Sheriffs sign on top. Scully stood outside firm and prepared to take action. Mulder looked around, he didn't see much. He began to head out when he heard shots. Scully ran in and slammed the door behind her, "We've got company."
"How many this time?" Mulder asked.
"One. But she looks pretty powerful."
Two large thumps hit the door and then it was silent. Mulder and Scully stood ready to shoot. Suddenly the door was ripped off its hinges and thrown down the street. Maitreya stood in the door way with her skimpy outfit and more importantly her enormous firearm.
"She feeds off male aggression. Stay calm," Scully whispered to Mulder. Maitreya made a quick move and fired at Scully. She flew back and hit the jail bars- her gun was too far to reach. Mulder wanted to lure Maitreya out of the Sheriffs room so Scully could use the health points in the corner of the jail cell.
Mulder had succeeded in rotating around the room, he stood beside the Sheriffs desk when Maitreya fired again. He fell backwards over the chair, pulling the desk down with him. As she made her way closer he spotted the key that had fallen from the drawer. Maitreya had him at gunpoint- he had one chance to save Scully. He picked up the key and tossed it.
In mid-air the virtual room melted away and both Mulder and Scully were armed and standing again. Scully turned to him surprised, "cheat link?"
"Let's find it again," he nodded when they heard gun shots again. Both of them ducked behind the same mound. Ahead of them was a forest. Dark and green, moist and silent.
------
"What's in this level?" Byers asked.
"Hunters," Ivan explained, "will try to capture them. There are booby traps all over the forest, if they are caught and a hunter finds them- game over."
"What's the objective?" Frohike asked in gaze at Scully through the monitor.
"There are three cougars trapped in three cages. Let them go, you move on to the next level."
"What about the cheat link?" Byers wondered.
"There is none."
------
"How do we know what we are supposed to do?" Scully asked Mulder as they walked through the forest with both eyes and ears pealed.
"I don't know how this game works. There is usually something you can press that will tell you."
"Cover me," she told him as she began to press buttons on her belt.
"What are you doing?"
"One of these must do something…"
Suddenly the forest around them went dark.
"Mulder…" Scully called out quietly.
"I'm right here…" He reached out his hand until their fingers touched. He wrapped his hand around hers firmly.
"What happened?" she asked calmly.
A bright light flashed on and beamed down at them. Scully covered her eyes but tried to look up to see what was above. Mulder kept his eyes on what was around them. He saw a figure move a few feet away. He let go of her and held up his weapon, she did the same.
A young boy stepped just into the light. Both Mulder and Scully kept their guns aimed and ready to shoot.
"My name is Teliken. My village was destroyed by the hunters. They have pillaged our land and seized our defenses. You must search the forest until you find the three cougars trapped in three cages. Once all three have been set free, the hunters will withdraw and you may continue your journey. Beware of the traps set for you, once a hunter finds you in his cage, he will kill you."
The boy turned around and walked back into the darkness. Scully looked up at Mulder best she could without straining from the bright light.
"I wish I knew what button it was I pressed," she smiled, remembering this was all virtual.
Mulder smiled back as he slid his arm around her waist protectively.
------
"Will they make it?" Langly asked.
"I don't know," Ivan replied.
Byers cut in, "What if one of us went in, they could use more help!"
"No! It's too dangerous. The more people sent in, the harder it gets. There is no leeway," Phoebe shook her head, "it's up to them to get out."
TBC