A man and a woman walked down a dully-painted, locker-lined hallway. The man was slightly taller, with a questioning, bored expression and wavy brown hair. He wore a suit, and carried a briefcase in his left hand. The woman had a stern face and hair pulled up into a tight bun on her head.

"In here, Mr. Mulder," the woman motioned to an open doorway. Voices floated through, many laughing, and the woman frowned in disapproval. "I told them to be quiet…"

The man beside her, Mulder, didn't reply to that. Instead, he walked into the classroom. The woman followed him, closing the door.

"Class, be quiet," the woman commanded. When there was no immediate silence, her voice took on what was almost a growl. "Now."

The talking died away… for the most part. A few voices still continued from various desks in the class. Mulder didn't mind. He was used to this, and anyway, he'd never given speakers full respect when he'd been in high school. The only reason he'd even liked the speakers was that it was a change from listening to the teacher.

He laughed inside at that, while outside he kept the expression of severe boredom that he always wore. Many people had told him to lose it, to smile more. Mulder didn't see what was wrong with an expression of boredom. He personally liked it.

"Thank you, Mrs. Onya," Mulder nodded, setting his briefcase on her clean and organized desk. As he opened the briefcase, he wondered how in the hell she kept it clean. His own desk… Well, the one that he had used, had been cluttered at every moment. He'd never had time to clean it. And what was the point?

"Class, this is Mister Fox Mulder," Mrs. Onya was saying to the class. Mulder noticed, without much surprise, that nearly all of them looked as bored as he did. "Mr. Mulder is here to talk to you about truth, and maybe the FBI…" she turned to him. "Is that right?"

"If you want me to," Mulder replied without looking up.

"Please hold you questions until the end," Mrs. Onya was saying, her shrill voice ringing throughout the room. It crossed Mulder's mind that the kids had to listen to that voice every day. He felt sorry for them.

"Now, Mr. Mulder, I'll leave the floor open for you," the teacher said, and Mulder stood up. As he did, the teacher crossed to the back of the room and sat in a vacant desk. The students near her looked somewhat wary and irritated at the fact that she was sitting by them.

"All right," Mulder said, stepping out from behind the desk. "As your teacher has told you, my name is Fox Mulder. I've worked with the FBI for about nine years, though right now…" he paused, contemplating what he could say. "Right now, the situation is a bit complicated."

A bit complicated. That didn't even begin to describe it. He was supposed to have been dead. When they found out that he wasn't, they hadn't given him his job back, but he still worked on the cases… They couldn't keep him away.

It wasn't only his stubborn nature that kept him going back, either. He had a new job, one that had been offered to him when he was abducted. It was complicated, but he enjoyed it… as much as it was possible to enjoy work.

They needed him to be around the Bureau. They didn't necessarily needed him there for the information… Though it did help if he was informed. They had John as an inside agent. Mulder was there for backup, but, even more than that, he was there for his part.

There were lies involved in it. That seemed strange, when he had always worked for the truth, but to find the truth, he had to lie. It sounded strange… Like doublespeak, in that book by Orwell. In fact, it was doublespeak.

"The division I worked in," he continued, looking back up at the kids. "Dealt with the seemingly unexplainable. We were given the cases that no one could figure out, or that seemed unsolvable."

"What's the point of trying to solve them, then?" some genius in the back commented. A chorus of snickering rippled through the class at the remark.

"Good question," Mulder nodded, acting as if he hadn't heard the laughter. "In fact, it's what most people I meet ask. Why solve something if it's unsolvable? The answer is that, quite often, it is solvable.

"An open mind is often needed for theses cases. It is true that some are unsolvable, and these occur because we don't enough evidence or enough information to solve them. Some cases, however… Some simply require a more open mind."

"What's that supposed to mean?" a girl near the front asked, somewhat timidly.

"Please, Ms. Lowe, save your questions until the end," Mrs. Onya shrilled from the back. The girl seemed to shrink back in her seat.

"No… Actually, I'd prefer that you ask questions as we go along. This'll go more smoothly if we can communicate," Mulder said, not really giving a damn whether the teacher would be pissed at him or not. It was his time to speak, not hers. "Now… what was your question?"

The girl seemed to have been somewhat reassured. "What does it mean when you say that some of your cases require an open mind?"

Mulder considered this for a moment, trying to find the right way to construct his reply. In all likelihood, these people wouldn't buy it no matter how he said it. Still, it was better to sound like less of an idiot.

"For many of the cases I worked on, it was necessary to keep an open mind. There were occurrences that seemed to be unexplainable only because certain pieces of evidence were being ignored. Many times, evidence would be overlook because the investigators refused to take it seriously.

"This evidence includes almost anything you can thing of. Most of it is what we call 'paranormal' or 'alien.' UFOs, inhuman creatures… That's what we dealt with."

Several students had begun to laugh quietly, trying to hold it in but losing the battle. It only irritated Mulder a little bit. These people were like everyone else; no one believed.

No, that wasn't quite true. Mulder saw a few people that seemed to believe what he was saying. Hell, they seemed almost fascinated. One was the girl, Lowe. The other two were boys who hadn't spoken yet. Ah well, he was getting through to three of them… Maybe more, if he was lucky.

"I've seen things that you can only imagine. My partner was once abducted, and I was as well…" he broke off when some kid practically burst out laughing, then continued. "I don't expect you to believe me, though I would appreciate it if you'd keep the noise down."

"In other words, keep quiet," the teacher remarked uselessly. The class had quieted down, though Mulder had a feeling that the riot would begin in another moment.

"I'm not here to tell you about my job, though," Mulder started in again, trying to get off the disruptive subject. "I've been told that I'm supposed to speak to you about truth and go from there.

"Truth is a difficult word to define. Why, you may ask, is that so? It is because truth has been distorted, changed over the years. Truth is never the same… Not the surface truth, at least.

"When I say surface truth, I mean the sort of truth that comes daily. The truth of what is being produced, what is being said, what is being done. Everything that you see and do every day is surface truth. You know it to be true from experience. So surface truth can be tracked… to an extent.

"Because it is changing so often, surface truth means little. There are deeper levels of truth, however. These are the ones that I deal with. These levels take everything into consideration. Place, time, even reality, are dealt with at all times.

"The deeper levels of truth are anything from why gravity works to the reason we are alive. I have spent my life looking for truth about anything on the lower levels… But mostly about truth dealing with life."

A few kids were muttering to each other, but Mulder ignored them. If they didn't want to listen, it wasn't worth his time to make them. "On the lower levels, truth is slightly more defined, but harder to see. The reason gravity works, for instance, seems obvious… But is it really so obvious? If you consider everything that is involved in it, everything that it takes into its realm, you realize that the truth to gravity is strange and complicated. It involves one hell of a lot of science, and a vast understanding.

"Thinking about reality, about life, about what lies beyond our galaxy, requires even more thought than anything dealing with science. Consider that everything you've ever been told is wrong. It's possible, isn't it?

"I question the world and the day it works every day. Anything is possible, after all. What if I'm a figment of someone else's imagination? What if I'm really a ten-year-old in a coma, and this is my dream world?"

Some of the kids, as well as the teacher, were beginning to look chronically confused. Mulder found this amusing; it usually happened when he tried to explain the truth. How could it be explained simply, though? He noticed with a sort of satisfaction that his three believers were hanging on his every word.

"As you see, it's easy to question reality. It's not as easy to sort it out, though, and to believe it. I can tell that nearly all of you would never believe that you were part of someone's dream.

"It takes a certain mindset to believe. Some people call those of us who can obtain the set crazy. They don't want to believe anything. Many of them simply want to hold onto their beliefs, and to believe that everything is safe and sound, as it always has been and always will be. They don't want their beliefs to be rocked by something that they don't understand, even if it is true.

"It may seem that I've digressed from the main topic. However, to understand the truth, you must understand that it takes an open mind to accept the definition of truth as I have found it.

"The truth has been hidden from us for some time. There are organizations that understand it, though they remain hidden as well. What the government knows, it keeps to itself." Mulder cast his eyes over the kids, most of who seemed to be wondering why they were stuck listening to the lecture. Those kids disbelieved every word of it.

"The conspirators in the non-government groups know more than anyone about the truth… The truth of life and the world beyond the galaxy's boundary. The government constantly denies that these groups exist, and that there is no truth to any of the rumors sprouting from them.

"I know differently, however. I've been involved with one of those groups, and was nearly killed because of what I knew and still know, as was my partner. I worked with one of the conspirators for a while." That was humorous… he was once again working with the man he had spoken of… Alex Krycek. "I've seen the evidence that they held… And more.

"Of course, I have none of the evidence. Anything I could find was confiscated. The government dislikes it when people speak of the paranormal."

Speaking of which, they probably wouldn't be too happy with what he was telling the class. It didn't matter, though. He wanted them to understand, and three of them seemed to. It was one class… Most of them would blow the lecture off. If the guys at the Bureau didn't like it, they could bitch at him later. Hell, they probably would bitch at him later. It didn't matter.

Still, perhaps it'd be better to get off the topic of the conspiracies. "In any case, the truth is something mysterious, something that seems impossible to find. In order to keep the truth, people lie maliciously."

One of the boys who seemed to believe had raised his hand. Mulder nodded at him, and the boy spoke in a curious voice, "So, in order to keep truth, the people lie?" When Mulder nodded, the kid asked, "Isn't that like… wait, I know what it is…" he seemed to be searching for the word, and a few of his classmates giggled. "Doublespeak, that's what I meant. Like in 1984?"

Mulder actually smiled slightly at this. "Actually, that's what I've been thinking. Yes, it is like that. They lie to keep truth."

Mulder began to pace slightly as he continued. "They lie because they feel that it will keep everyone safe. Well… most of them do. Some just don't want certain things exposed.

"The truth is complicated and intricate. It's made up of many different facts, and to extricate all of them is nearly impossible. I'm still searching…"

Mulder trailed off, looking up at the clock. His time was nearly up. "It's almost time for me to leave… Any questions?"

"Uh-huh," some girl said loudly. "Will you be leaving in a spaceship?"

Mulder waited until the laughter had died down before he replied. "No, I think you know that I'm not. Anyone have an intelligent question?"

The girl, Lowe, raised her hand. Mulder nodded at her, and she spoke, her voice sounding unsure again. "Is there any way I could find out more about this? I mean… the truth and all?"

Mulder looked at her for a moment, slightly stunned. He hadn't expected that. "Well…," he said, unsure of what to tell her. "I suppose you could look around. There is different speculation everywhere, but I'm sure you could find something."

The boy who had asked about doublespeak now had his hand up. "Yes?" Mulder asked, ready for almost anything.

"Is there any way I could contact you? I mean, I've got some questions to ask…"

Mulder hadn't been expecting this. It was a good question, as well as a good idea… Especially with the class of idiots the kid was in. If the kid could ask him a question without interruptions from the rest of them, he'd get a better answer. Smart of him.

When Mulder looked at Mrs. Onya, she nodded. "Mr. Mulder, why don't you give the class something to contact you at?" Then she addressed the class. "I'm sure that Mr. Mulder will be happy to answer any questions you might have."

Mulder sighed heavily. He didn't necessarily want to give anything out to these kids… Then again, it didn't really matter. "Right… My e-mail address," he said, turning to the chalkboard and picking up a piece of the white chalk.

He had several, and for a moment contemplated upon which one he should tell them to send anything too. Not his most-used one, not his-least used…

He wrote his address on the board quickly, then dropped the chalk. The board now displayed '[email protected]' in big letters. He saw a few students scribble the address down.

"Any more questions?" he asked. When no one replied, he walked back behind the desk and closed his briefcase. The fact that he hadn't used it occurred to him, but he dismissed it. What did that matter, anyway?

Mrs. Onya had risen, and was taking control of the class once more. "Thank Mr. Mulder," she commanded in that voice. Mulder wondered momentarily if the woman had a piccolo shoved down her throat.

The kids muttered thanks, and Mulder caught a few taunts caught within. He ignored them as he ignored any other insult… He honestly wasn't bothered by it. Why should he be? They were just a bunch of kids.

He waved shortly at them, thanked Mrs. Onya for allowing him to speak, as if it had been a pleasure, then walked out. As soon as he was out the door, he sighed deeply. No wonder he hadn't spoken in front of a class before… It'd been a pain in the ass.

It hadn't been a pain because of the disbelievers. Moreover, it'd been a pain because only two, in the end, seemed to have believed. One of the boys had lost interest about the time Mulder had mentioned conspirators.

Two people for all that talk… And they'd probably forget about it. Oh well, there really wasn't any sense in worrying over it. They were just kids, he'd been paid a few bucks, and he'd had nothing to do that day. Not in the morning, at least.

In the last couple of days, the charade of the aliens had begun to engulf everyone. Of course, not many knew of its truth… Of the fact that it was all a front. He was working for them, and he understood, but that didn't matter much. Most of the people at the Bureau seemed to think that this was new.

What those people didn't know was that there were already aliens among them. Crane, Rohrer… And of course, Billy Miles. He'd taken the procedure a while ago, and allowed himself to become one of them…

Mulder had become a part of the charade too, though. This was all a cover-up of the truth, the same sort of thing that the conspirators Mulder had previously been against had set up. The difference was, however, that Mulder knew more of the truth, and could find more by working with the aliens.

Billy had supposedly been changed into one of them against his own will. That was pure bullshit, but no one knew. Mulder himself could've become one of them… But he'd been hesitant, and still was.

How much would he have to give up to be one of them? He wasn't sure, and he didn't know if he could give enough. He'd given up throughout his life and, frankly, he was tired of it.

The idea was appealing, yes, but didn't seem to fit. There was something about it that just wasn't right. Mulder was still debating; maybe he'd try it some day. Maybe.

Either way, he was part of their group. The aliens wanted a new race, if it was possible, one that was more like themselves. They weren't going to kill… They were going to change.

To Mulder, this seemed right. The world was falling apart, and needed to be saved. This seemed like a way to save it. He wasn't exactly sure, but he was sure enough to agree.

Besides, it was the truth that he had been looking for all along. The aliens and their life were the truth. The way that they lived, their goals, what they knew… It was all the truth. They told him what he asked, and had promised to tell more.

He knew they weren't lying. They had no reason to lie. Therefore, this was the truth. It fit, too. Everything they'd told him… It fit.

So now they were setting the stage. Rumors in the government had to be silenced. The people in the Bureau had to stop being curious, to stop believing in aliens. If they did that, surprise would be easier. It'd be easier to make people dismiss what they had seen, to make them call it an illusion.

Mulder checked his watch, than sighed when he saw the time. He had to get over to meet Scully… It was almost time for the rendezvous. Fun. This act was almost over… A few more scenes and the curtains would close, then open again to expose yet another act.

Mulder had had a 'rough' couple of days, according to anyone who didn't understand the charade. Really, it hadn't been terrible… After all, he'd been forewarned about everything, even Billy's attack on him. That was definitely a plus to working with them.

Now it was time for another part… If all went according to plan, they'd be all right. Mulder had a feeling that everything would follow…

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