Title: Nova

Author: Angel

Feedback: Please! I love every but of it!

Classification: MSR, Colonization fic.

Spoilers: All the way up to 7^th season finale but NOT including.

Rating: NC-17 (for some parts-very mild consensual sex- but to be safe!) Others are probably PG-13 or so for naughty words and implied naughty stuff =).

Summery: The inevitable happens. Mulder has planned ahead and now does everything in his power to keep Scully safe.

You MUST read all parts to understand! Available at Ephemeral and my home page.

Disclaimer: You know the drill. Characters are property of Fox, 1013, ect. No money is being made. No infringement is intended. A few poems and songs are used without permission, names of authors are given. Prayers which I did not write, and I don’t know who wrote are included in some areas.

Homepage: (to find missing parts and sooner or later the completed version, also posted at Ephemeral)

A HUGE thanks to Evie my beta reader! Nova would never be doing this well, or going as fast, without her help! Thank you thank you thank you thank you! Umm… one more! Thank you!

Note: Want Nova updates in the mail? Just let me know!

"Baby don’t look up, the sky is falling." Tori Amos

(24/?)

Day 155

Scully sat up with a jolt, knocking Mulder’s body from his position around her. "Scully?" He rasped in a sleep thick with voice.

Scully shuddered slightly. "Mulder… They’re here."

"What?" Mulder asked softly.

Scully placed a trembling hand over the back of her neck. "They’re here." She turned to him, suddenly, with panic in her eyes. "Mulder, no one can go out of here! Don’t let them."

"Scully…. Are you sure?" He asked carefully.

Scully nodded frantically. "I feel it Mulder." She tightened her grip on the back of her neck. "Please Mulder… don’t let anyone leave Nova."

Mulder watched her for a moment.

"Mulder, please!"

"Ok." He got out of bed and pulled on a pair of jeans and his shoes. "I’ll get Skinner."

Scully just sat in silence with her hand pressed against the nape of her neck, as if moving her hand would allow the multitude of siren voices calling her to take control.

Mulder pulled a shirt over his shoulders, just as he began to button it the walls of Nova, the floors, the ceiling, the world around them shook.

"Mulder go." Scully said in a soft desperate voice.

Without another word Mulder stumbled from the room as the sound of explosions echoed in the rocks, leaving his ears ringing. He involuntarily stopped and pressed his hands to his head as pounding began. It was too loud, too intense. He slouched against the wall, bracing himself with his arm as the tremors past through his whole body. He let himself rest for a few moments before taking a deep breath and pushing himself from the wall.

People scattered in every direction. Mulder yelled his warnings not to leave but nothing could be heard over the explosions.

"Mulder!"

Mulder turned around, picking his name out amongst the horrible noise in that odd way people are able to.

Skinner grabbed his shoulder and turned him towards him. "What the hell is going on?!" Skinner yelled even though he was inches from Mulder’s face.

Mulder opened his mouth to answer, although he didn’t have much of one, when the shaking stopped. The roar from the outside stopped. Slowly people quieted. Waiting.

The all too short wave of silence was destroyed by a new noise. One so loud and shattering it was almost beyond Earthy comprehension. The earth shook around them. Everyone tumbled to the floor.

Mulder covered his face as he felt shards of glass rain down on him as some of the lamps exploded. Small avalanches filled the exits of Nova with rocks and boulders. Dust filled the chimneys; all the fires were snuffed out quickly. The once fresh clear water, immediately ran dark with debris.

Then it stopped. Just as quickly as it started, it stopped.

Mulder lay flat on his back, the cool rocks calming his adrenaline rushed body. An even louder ringing sounded in his eyes, his head felt like it was on fire, his ears burning. It hurt too much to move for quite a few minutes.

With a deep painful breath Mulder forced himself to sit up. He couldn’t hear the people around him due to the ringing but he could see them. Many lay as he just had, clutching their heads in pain. Some trying to stand in the very dim light.

Skinner struggled to sit by Mulder, flashing him a look filled with pain and fear.

Closing his eyes, Mulder leaned his head back against the wall to let the ringing and pounding diminish enough so he could stand.

After what seemed like ages Mulder hoisted himself to his feet. His hearing had cleared somewhat. "Is everyone ok?" He asked looking around from where he stood at the opening of the Main Room. He nodded at the muffled replies. No one seemed seriously hurt.

"We need to get out of here!" Someone yelled.

"Relax." Mulder said sipping into his professional tone to calm. "We’ll be safer down here."

"We are going to run out of air…We are trapped…. Where’s Benjamin?… Why is it so dark?…. Oh God, look at the water."

"Just relax." Skinner called out. "We’ll be fine down here for the time being."

Mulder leaned closer to Skinner. "I couldn’t stop people from running out of here."

Skinner nodded gravely. "I think it’s safe to say they didn’t make it."

People started to gather around Mulder and Skinner, asking them questions. "Should we try to dig out of here?"

"We should wait a few hours. Let the air clear some." Mulder said rubbing his temples lightly.

"What about the fires?"

"I’ll try to rebuild the main fire is a while, if it stays lit then the air should be clear enough for us to breathe." Skinner said as Mulder nodded his agreement.

The two men stood and answered question after question. People trusted their leadership instinctively.

"Well there goes the rest of this year’s crops." Someone mumbled bitterly.

"We’ll be fine." Mulder said seriously. "We have more then enough canned food to get to next season."

"That’s right." Benjamin said walking over to them. "I’ve planned ahead of course."

Everyone reluctantly turned away from Mulder and Skinner to Benjamin as he rambled on about how he would take care of everything. "Let’s start to get these doorways cleared." He instructed.

"Mulder said that we should wait for the air to clear." Someone called.

"Oh he did, did he." Benjamin said with a glare towards Mulder.

"The fires are out, Benjamin." He called. "Look at the water. The air won’t be any help at all. I remember the sky from bombing not nearly this close. Unless you want the clean air in here to be ruined and all of us suffocate I’d suggest you leave the rocks where they are."

Benjamin’s jaw clenched in anger. "Everyone please check on your friends and family. Make sure everyone is ok." He said without breaking the harsh gaze he held with Mulder.

"Amanda." Skinner breathed in relief as she walked up. "Are you ok?"

Letting out a shaky breath she gave him an even shakier smile, touching his arm lightly. "Yeah. Everyone who comes to the Medical Room seems to be ok. Nothing I can’t handle on my own."

"On your own?" Mulder asked softly. "Scully isn’t in there with you?"

Amanda shook her head slowly. "No… I thought she was with you."

Mulder’s eyes clamped shut in terror. "Oh Jesus."

Note: Was that too mean?

Evie dared me to turn Nova into an unintentional comedy (blame it on late night chats with the Goo Sisters)…. I’m seriously considering it. =)