FIREWALKER

                                    The spore could explain Trepkos dementia - fungi often contain alkaloids that                              effect the nervous system - yet if airborne any of us could have inhaled a spore.

The episode opens at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California, which receives an emergency transmission from its Cascade Volcano Research Team requesting an immediate airlift. Inside the data room at the institute images are fed back from the robot Firewalker, which seems to be actually inside the rim of the volcano. The robot pans left and the observers see what appears to be a body lying on the floor - followed by the emergence of a shadow before the transmission is cut off. The research team question as to what could be moving about in that kind of heat, whose was the body on the ground and what was the robot doing inside the volcano.

At FBI headquarters Mulder and Scully watch a video detailing the work of the research team and the role of the titanium robot Firewalker - which would be used to make a descent into an active volcano and gather samples. The robot is the brainchild of one Dr Trepkos, and he was with the research team. However a distress call was sent by the team, and the dead man identified by the robot was one Phillip Eriksson, who was the chief seismologist. Dr Adam Pierce, who is also present with the FBI agents, explains that he left the project six weeks ago following an argument with Trepkos, whom he felt was descending into madness. However they have heard nothing from the research team since and the FBI would need to investigate. The agents and Pierce are subsequently flown across the Cascade Mountain ranges and onto the base. Upon arrival they discover that the Firewalker satellite relay system is down and various instruments have been destroyed.

Mulder and Scully discover that people are still alive, and whilst Mulder is initially assaulted by one male he later claims that he thought Mulder was Trepkos. He introduces himself as Jason Ludwig (Robot Engineer), and they meet fellow researchers Peter Tanaka (Systems Analyst) and Jessie O'Neill (Thesis Advisor). Mulder and Scully deduce that the behaviour of the group is bizarre, and almost paranoid - however after reading some notes Mulders attentions turn towards other things - the possibility of a discovery of a new life form.

Pierce meanwhile disappears into the woodland and is soon discovered dead by the group. Mulder refuses to leave, stating that Trepkos was still out there and that he wanted to learn more about this silicon based life form. Scully argues that nothing could survive at such temperatures, yet Mulder argues that silicon is the closest element to Carbon, and that a silicon based lifeform was the holy grail of medical science and Trepkos had found it. Scully learns from Jessie that Trepkos changed after the first decent into the volcano, and that he became withdrawn and paranoid. However things take a turn for the worse when Tanaka chokes, and on closer investigation the agents witness movement in his throat which bursts out and kills him. Scully's autopsy reveals the killer to be some form of fungus, and that one such spore grew in Tanaka until it outgrew its host. Mulder argues that the sand found in Tanaka's lungs would account for the waste product of a silicon based organism. The agents ultimately decide that no one can go home and they set about organising a quarantine.

Mulder decides that he must find Trepkos, who according to the images from Firewalker would be in the caves around the rim of the volcano. Ludwig volunteers to guide Mulder, although Ludwig is shot by Trepkos. Trepkos tells Mulder that Êrikson discovered this new lifeform by blasting a rock, and that after three days shut away in his lab he heard the screams and learned of Eriksons death. He added that the others were all gathered around Eriksson, and that the life form was a parasite which meant that no one could leave.

Meanwhile Scullys tests reveal that unless the spores of this life form are ingested or inhaled by the host immediately upon release they become harmless. Jessie then begins to cough violently and attempts to let Scully ingest some of the spores - however Scully avoids this as Mulder returns to the base with Trepkos. They subsequently radio for help and Mulder tells the military that there were only two survivors - leaving Trepkos and the evidence to disappear.

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