Mulder rushes to Scully's apartment when he realizes that she was attacked by Duane Barry. When he arrives at the scene, a police investigation is already in progress. There are signs of a struggle; broken glass and human blood dot the floor. Scully's mother Margaret speaks to Mulder about the abduction; she describes a nightmare she experienced that foretold the incident. FBI agents are skeptical when Mulder hints that Barry's UFO story might be legitimate. Skinner removes Mulder from the investigation and sends him home.
     Meanwhile, Barry makes his way to the alien landing site. A patrolman pulls Barry over for speeding. He notices blood on Barry's hands and draws his weapon. But Barry pulls a gun and kills the police officer. Mulder reviews a videotape of the incident which was recorded by a camera mounted inside the patrolman's car. Using video enhancement, Scully's image is pinpointed-and she is alive.
     Mulder reviews audio tapes of his hostage negotiations. He realizes that Barry is heading for Skyland Mountain in Virginia. Accompanied by Krycek, Mulder drives to the remote location. They are told by a tram operator that Barry is driving up the mountain using back roads. Hoping to beat Barry to the summit, Mulder boards the dangerous passenger tram and journeys up the mountain. But before the tram reaches its destination, Krycek kills the tram operator and sabotages the controls, stranding Mulder in the process. When Mulder attempts to climb off the tram, Krycek engages the power, hoping to crush him. But Mulder outmaneuvers Krycek and continues his search.
     Mulder sees a blinding light pass overhead. When he locates Barry, Scully is nowhere to be found. Barry begins laughing hysterically. He describes how the aliens will no longer bother him now that they have another guinea pig. But Mulder remains skeptical; he questions Barry's sanity and lashes out at him during an interrogation. Shortly after Krycek conducts his own interrogation, Barry lapses into cardiac arrest and dies.
     Mulder tells Skinner that Krycek poisoned Barry-and that the military is aware of Scully's location. He believes that Scully got too close to the truth, especially when she discovered the metallic implant. Mulder concludes that a covert military operation-assisted by the mysterious Smoking Man-is behind the cover-up. Those suspicions are confirmed when Krycek vanishes without a trace. Left with little choice, Skinner officially reopens the X-Files.