“Existence” is episode twenty-one of season eight of The X-Files and the season finale.
In the previous episode, “Essence”, Billy Miles was dropped into the back of a garbage truck which was then compacted. At the Washington DC district pathology lab, his remains are brought in in a box, and not a very big one. The ME says Miles is dead and his assistant agrees. The ME is going home and wants the paperwork faxed to him. Before going, he fishes out what seems to be a metal vertebra. Once the lab is empty, the vertebra spins and more appear. It grows like this.
Scully wakes in a car with Agent Reyes shortly after they’ve entered Georgia. She’d hoped it was just a dream. Scully asks Reyes is alright. Reyes is more concerned about Scully, specifically the baby. Other than the danger, where they’re going doesn’t sound to have much in the way of facilities. And Reyes has never delivered a baby before. Scully says she’s never had one before; that makes them both beginners. Not exactly reassuring.
Mulder is showing Skinner and Doggett a still from a video showing Billy Miles walking out of the pathology lab. Krycek says it’s as he said; you can’t stop Miles. Skinner wants an explanation. Krycek says that Miles is a human replacement, a new kind of alien intended to aid in the repopulation of the planet. Scully is a threat. Doggett says there’s no way for Billy Miles to find Scully. Krycek says there are others like him. Just as Crane, one like Billy, comes in. There’s someone to see Doggett. Knowle Rohrer, who is also one.
Reyes and Scully arrive at an abandoned town. Doggett told Reyes people came for the waters until the springs dried up. He was born here. Reyes choses a building to set up in. Scully says they need water, a place to boil it, clean supplies and a place to do a delivery. Reyes heads outside for a cigarette. She looks up and sees a star.
Rohrer is speaking to Doggett. He’s claiming this goes all the way to the top. Billy is from a Cold War supersoldier program. Doggett says Billy is super, but not military material. Supposedly, an alien abductee. Rohrer says Billy is a prototype. And he’s after Scully. Scully was in the same program; the military staged it to look like an abduction. She was given a chip in the back of her neck and made pregnant with the first organic version of that supersoldier. Rohrer wants Doggett’s help catching Billy before he finds Scully. Whoever knows where she is is in danger too.
Mulder is waiting for the lift, but gets impatient and uses the stairs. The lift arrives and Billy gets out. Krycek is in Skinner’s office, and sees Billy before Skinner does. Krycek leaves and is closing the lift without waiting for Skinner. Skinner manages to get in. but is knocked down when Billy’s hand rams through the lift doors and hits him in the head.
Mulder is checking on Skinner in the hospital when Doggett shows. He asks Doggett where he was. Talking to somebody who warned Doggett this might happen. An old friend who tells Doggett stuff he’s not supposed to know. Doggett explains what Rohrer said and, when Mulder pushes, gives him the name. Mulder asks if Rohrer has ever lied or given bad info. The fact that Doggett pauses before answering is suggestive. Doggett thinks the fact he knows where Scully is will catch up with him. No, he hasn’t told anyone. Not even Mulder. Doggett is concerned about what if something happens to him. Mulder thinks they should check how trustworthy Rohrer is.
Reyes has managed to clean the place where Scully is going to give birth up. She’s done an improbably amazing job. Reyes suggests whale music. Scully says Reyes reminds her of her sister. They’re chatting when Reyes sees something outside. She heads out. There’s nothing. She turns, then turns back and a car comes at her. It stops and a woman, a game warden, gets out. Scully explains what they’re doing. The warden has heard every excuse in the book for hunting off season, but this one is far too original. She has a first aid kit.
Doggett and Mulder have been looking for Rohrer and are sitting in a car in the FBI parking garage. Doggett asks how long Mulder can keep this up. What about the next threat after this one? Mulder has spent almost a decade on this, where does it end? Mulder suggests it doesn’t. They see Krycek turn up in a car with someone. That someone is Rohrer. Once again, it’s impossible to work out just whose side Krycek is on. Nor do the human replacements seem united in their actions.