ASCENSION

                                   Why kill Duane Barry if they have nothing to hide.....they only have one policy......                                                                 deny everything

We begin at Mulders apartment and the telephone message left by Scully on the night of her abduction. In it she describes how the metal fragment she took from Barry contained a bar code with some form of serial number - almost as if he had been catalogued. We then hear a window smash in the background and Scully calling for Mulders help. Mulder heads over to her apartment and the Police are in attendance - Scully has disappeared, there is blood on her doorframe and to make matters worse Dana's mother turns up wanting to know where her daughter is.

Back at FBI HQ Assistant Director Skinner and the Cigarette Smoking Man meet with Mulder and Krycek. Krycek explains that Barry is convinced he is going to be abducted by aliens, and that by taking someone else he wont be abducted himself. Mulder however is interested more in how Barry managed to track Scully to her address, explaining that Scully was carrying a small piece of metal, an implant which he described as a tracking device. Mulder adds that Barry would be heading towards the place he was originally abducted, which he talked of as a mountain top but nothing specific. Skinner tells Mulder that he is too close to the case and will not be working it - however Mulder has other ideas.

Out on Route 229 in Rixyville, Virginia, Duane Barry drives Scully's car at speed - although unfortunately for him he is stopped by a pursuing policeman. Barry panics and shoots the cop when he hears noises coming from the trunk, and we see that Scully is bound and gagged. The footage from this shooting makes its way to FBI HQ and Mulder realizes that Scully was still alive. After reviewing further transcripts of his conversations with Barry, and the route they were taking, Mulder deduces that Barry is heading towards Skyland mountain. Mulder and Krycek decide to travel up to Skyland - however not before Krycek lets the cigarette smoking man know what is going on without the knowledge of Mulder.

Upon arrival at the Skyland Mountain Mulder realises that he does not have the time to drive up to the mountain peak and insists on taking the cable car, which has not been tested. He goes alone, leaving Krycek and the operator alone. However as Mulder nears the peak Krycek hits (and subsequently murders) the operator and stops the car short, telling someone on the end of his phone that he has stalled Mulder. However Mulder improvises and makes it to the peak, seeing Barry's empty vehicle, and a little further on a bright light and a laughing Duane Barry. Barry seems delirious, shouting that he is free and that 'they took her.' Mulder thinks that Barry has killed her - something he denies, stating that the military knew where she was. Barry is taken away and question by Mulder, and when he leaves the room he instructs Krycek not to let anyone in the interrogation room - however as Skinner turns up to berate Mulder the paramedics are called and Barry dies.

Back at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, Mulder demands a copy of the autopsy on Barry. The pathologist states that his preliminary findings were second degree burns to the face, contusions around the neck and a bruised larynx which may be linked to his death - asphyxiation. Mulder demands more - however the pathologist states that if he wants more he would need to go through military channels. Meanwhile the cigarette smoking man and Krycek meet again - with the former telling Krycek to confirm Mulders version of events as he had 'earned his trust.' We learn that the object of Krycek's assignment is to preserve this trust, and that Mulder cannot simply be erased as they would risk turning one mans religion into a crusade.

In the quest for answers as angry Mulder decides to go to see the senator - yet on his way he is intercepted by X, who tells him that he has had a wasted trip. He tells Mulder that no-one can help him now, and questions why Duane Barry had been killed if 'they' had nothing to hide. Mulder, still frustrated and upset, gets back into the car he borrowed from Krycek and sees cigarette butts in the car. He then proceeds to confront Skinner - making a series of allegations about Krycek. Mulder thinks that Krycek has been hired by an outside agency to impede Federal investigation and that he may be responsible for the death of a suspect and the tram operator. Skinner responds by telling Mulder that he cannot protect him and that he needed facts. Mulder identifies cigarette butt, Kryceks contact with Barry and the chopper at the top of the mountain when no one knew they were there.

Skinner reveals that Krycek did not show up for work and that his telephone number has been disconnected. He says that at this point in time he can do little other than re-opening the X Files - something they fear the most.

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