Story 76: "Negative Utopia" by prufrock's love
Since the last story just wasn't enough of a downer for me, I decided to bring bring out the big guns. For real angst, nothing beats a post-colonization story by prufrock's love. This is almost certainly her darkest post-col. "Negative Utopia" is a novel, it's MSR, everybody/other, and NC-17, so underage readers turn back now. This story is not for the faint of heart. My apologies to those of you who were hoping for some lighter fare. Maybe next week. Maybe.
Part I: Scully
I am his now.
It's still surprising to me how readily I think of myself as
property. As though I have no say over my life anymore, no
voice.
In truth, I don't.
I haven't for a long time.
Granger, the leader of the colony where I was living, told me to
pack my things this morning. I obeyed, although there wasn't
much to pack- a change of clothes, my doctor's bag, a few
toiletries, an old picture of Mulder and one of my family. And
the watch. I dug the man's watch out of its hiding place - duct
taped under my night stand - and wrapped it in my spare pair of
jeans before stuffing it in the very bottom of my duffle bag. No
one was going to steal my dirty jeans. I figured I'd been traded
to another colony again. A doctor was a powerful bargaining chip
and winter was coming. They needed supplies.
I looked around the old house that had been mine for the last few
years and said goodbye to things I'd come to think of as my own.
A vase of fresh flowers from the man next door, my examine room,
a warm bed that I slept in alone. None it was actually mine, of
course.
I only hoped the next colony would be as nice to me. I hoped it
was a colony I'd been traded to and not a single man.
Maybe Skinner had found a way to get me back. Could I go back
to him at Alpha Colony? It was safe with him, too.
Yes; I could go back to Skinner. I didn't hate him. I
understood.
Maybe it was Mulder. Maybe Mulder had finally found me.
No.
I can't even think that after this long. Mulder is never going
to come for me.
I hope it's Skinner instead of a stranger. I can still feel his
hands and breath on me, so careful. As careful as Mulder was.
STOP THAT!
Don't even think it!
He's never going to come back for you.
I pulled myself up to my full sixty-two inches, took a deep
breath, and opened my front door to discover who my next owner -
or God forbid - owners, was.
Mulder was standing in the shadows of my porch next to a wooden
box about the size of a milk crate. I thought at first he was a
mirage, one of my dreams come to life. No, he was really there.
Finally, really, there. I wanted to touch him, but he didn't
move - he was so still he could have been a statue of a vengeful
angel. Mulder had no expression, made no sound to acknowledge
me. The leader lifted the box lid, nodded, and without a word,
handed my duffel bag and doctor's bag to him.
The deal was done. Whatever the terms were, they were
acceptable.
Negative Utopia
The X-files fanfic of prufrock's love
No email address for the author, so you're off the hook there. Discussion to follow. Suggestions for next time may be made here at our nomination post.
SPOILERS IN THE COMMENT THREADS!
Part I: Scully
I am his now.
It's still surprising to me how readily I think of myself as
property. As though I have no say over my life anymore, no
voice.
In truth, I don't.
I haven't for a long time.
Granger, the leader of the colony where I was living, told me to
pack my things this morning. I obeyed, although there wasn't
much to pack- a change of clothes, my doctor's bag, a few
toiletries, an old picture of Mulder and one of my family. And
the watch. I dug the man's watch out of its hiding place - duct
taped under my night stand - and wrapped it in my spare pair of
jeans before stuffing it in the very bottom of my duffle bag. No
one was going to steal my dirty jeans. I figured I'd been traded
to another colony again. A doctor was a powerful bargaining chip
and winter was coming. They needed supplies.
I looked around the old house that had been mine for the last few
years and said goodbye to things I'd come to think of as my own.
A vase of fresh flowers from the man next door, my examine room,
a warm bed that I slept in alone. None it was actually mine, of
course.
I only hoped the next colony would be as nice to me. I hoped it
was a colony I'd been traded to and not a single man.
Maybe Skinner had found a way to get me back. Could I go back
to him at Alpha Colony? It was safe with him, too.
Yes; I could go back to Skinner. I didn't hate him. I
understood.
Maybe it was Mulder. Maybe Mulder had finally found me.
No.
I can't even think that after this long. Mulder is never going
to come for me.
I hope it's Skinner instead of a stranger. I can still feel his
hands and breath on me, so careful. As careful as Mulder was.
STOP THAT!
Don't even think it!
He's never going to come back for you.
I pulled myself up to my full sixty-two inches, took a deep
breath, and opened my front door to discover who my next owner -
or God forbid - owners, was.
Mulder was standing in the shadows of my porch next to a wooden
box about the size of a milk crate. I thought at first he was a
mirage, one of my dreams come to life. No, he was really there.
Finally, really, there. I wanted to touch him, but he didn't
move - he was so still he could have been a statue of a vengeful
angel. Mulder had no expression, made no sound to acknowledge
me. The leader lifted the box lid, nodded, and without a word,
handed my duffel bag and doctor's bag to him.
The deal was done. Whatever the terms were, they were
acceptable.
Negative Utopia
The X-files fanfic of prufrock's love
No email address for the author, so you're off the hook there. Discussion to follow. Suggestions for next time may be made here at our nomination post.
SPOILERS IN THE COMMENT THREADS!