Existence

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Mulder, Doggett and Skinner discover that high-ranking FBI personnel have been transformed into alien "super-soldiers" while Reyes fears for Scully's unborn child as she prepares to deliver the baby on a remote farm.

[edit] Summary

The episode begins with a metal box being brought in and the coroner examining it. He then notices a small piece of metal, and pulls a piece of metal from the remains of Billy Miles. After the men have left the room, the piece of metal begins to spin, each time, growing into what looks like the beginnings of a spine. Meanwhile, Dana Scully and Monica Reyes pull into the place where Special agent John Doggett in Georgia.

Alex Krycek has been seated in a chair, in Assistant Director Walter Skinner's office, where he is shown a videograph from the morgue, with Skinner telling him that, like shown in the picture, Billy Miles is somehow alive, and is still out to get Scully and her unborn child. Suddenly Agent Gene Crane comes up to Doggett, telling him that there is a person - Knowle Rohrer - who wants see him, with issues concerning Billy Miles, and Scully. This leaves Fox Mulder and Skinner to interrogate Krycek. Rohrer tells Doggett that Billy Miles is part of some kind Military Project.

Krycek gets up from his chair in Skinner's office and starts running through the doorway. Skinner chases after him, then turns around and sees Billy Miles behind him. Skinner just manages to escape with Krycek, but Billy Miles' hand breaks through the elevator, but then slips out. Agent Doggett and Mulder are in the hospital where Skinner is. Mulder distrusts what Dogget has been told by Knowle Roher, and the to of them set off to find out how trustworthy Knowle really is. Reyes has put together a organized and marvelous place for the birth, but as she and Scully stand there, Reyes sees someone running off and follows whoever it is. There, a car pulls up, and she meets a trooper, who agrees to help with the birth. Mulder and Doggett pull into the garage, and find Krycek and a passenger, who just happens to be Rhorer, pulling in. Mulder reasons that Knowle and Krycek are in it together. Doggett pursues Knowle, where he learns Rhorer has an accomplice: Agent Crane.

Mulder's own problems arouse, when his phone rings and Krycek disappears from his car. Mulder, having just been told Crane is in on it, reasons that Crane gave Krycek access to the FBI. Suddenly, a hand smashes through the car window and tosses his cell phone on the ground, then Krycek pulls a gun at Mulder, and tells him to get out. Krycek is just about to pull the trigger, when a bullet hits him in the arm, and Skinner calmly walks in. Krycek tries to pick up his gun, but Skinner shoots his hand. Krycek pushes his gun over, then tells Skinner to shoot Mulder. Instead, Skinner raises his gun and shoots Krycek in the head.

[edit] Background Information

This episode marks the first appearance of Scully's baby, William.

Scully claims that William is named in memory of Mulder's father, but her own father and brother were also called William (possibly because the baby's last name is Mulder)

This episode marks the death of Alex Krycek, who is shot and killed by Assistant Director Skinner. Krycek would later return in the series finale, "The Truth", but only as an apparition, hallucination or a figment of Mulder's imagination.

Several allusions to the story of the birth of Jesus are in this episode including, Mulder following a star to find Scully, and The Lone Gunmen bringing gifts for the baby at the end.
Near the end, when Scully first shows the baby to Mulder, it is quite obviously a fake baby. This is not uncommon for TV shows as there are very strict laws in place as to when and for how long babies can work on screen. The next time the baby is seen, after being handed to Mulder, the baby is obviously real.

[edit] Links and References

[edit] References

SEMICOLON-SEPARATED LIST OF ITEMS/LOCATIONS REFERENCED IN EPISODE (BUT NOT LINKED TO IF ALREADY LINKED IN SUMMARY OR GUEST STARS SECTIONS)

Previous episode:
Essence

The X-Files
Season 8

Next episode:
Nothing Important Happened Today


Series:	The X-Files
Original Airdate:	05-20-01
Production Number:	8ABX21
Date(s):	Late May 2001
Written by:	Chris Carter
Directed by:	Kim Manners