“Redux II” is episode two of season five of The X-Files.
In the previous episode, “Redux”, Scully had collapsed whilst giving testimony. Mulder had recovered what he believed was a cure for Scully from the Pentagon, but when he took it to the Lone Gunmen to be analysed, it turned out to only contain deionised water. Given the amount of security Mulder had to get through, that seems odd.
Mulder arrives at Trinity Hospital looking for Scully. A doctor tells him she’s in ICU, then Skinner shows up with a couple of agents and says Mulder is looking good for a dead man. Only half dead. Skinner thinks Mulder has a lot to answer for, but Mulder isn’t stopping until he sees Scully. Skinner tells him she’s dying, and takes Mulder away.
At the FBI, Mulder and Skinner arrive at Section Chief Blevins’ office. Blevins says that the inquiry into Mulder’s death has turned into something different altogether. As Mulder isn’t dead. There’s the body found in his apartment. Blevins wants to know if there’s anything Mulder wants to share. This will quickly turn into a murder investigation. Skinner says there’s only one other suspect, and she may no longer be able to testify on her behalf. Why did Scully lie? Mulder says nothing, and asks if he can leave. Skinner follows.
Skinner tells Mulder he was the one keeping the secret and Scully can verify this. There were two gunshot wounds on the corpse, the second to the face to remove ID. Why did Scully lie? Because the disease she was given leads to someone connected to the FBI. A mole. Though Mulder failed to find out who.
The Elder is watching a hearing on human cloning when the CSM arrives. CSM’s smile seems rather smug when he says he told them that Mulder shouldn’t be underestimated. The Elder thinks CSM has some small part in that, as Mulder used stolen ID to enter the advanced research projects facility and CSM let him escape. CSM wants to convert Mulder to work for them. By giving him what he wants in exchange for loyalty to them. When CSM leaves, the Elder tells the man with him that he can proceed.
Scully is awake when Mulder comes to visit. She’s concerned that someone could see him. He tells her it’s okay; he’s officially un-dead. Scully tells him she thinks Skinner is the person at the FBI involved, though Mulder doesn’t. She tells him not to trust Skinner. She also wants to take responsibility for Ostelhof’s death; after all, she is dying. Mulder leaves as Scully’s mother and brother arrive, and finds the CSM outside. No, he isn’t there with severe chest pains. He wishes to congratulate Mulder on getting Scully’s cure. Mulder says it doesn’t work. The CSM disagrees; it’s essential to Scully’s survival and he offers to explain it.
Mulder heads back to the Lone Gunmen. Inside the container was a microchip. Mulder explains that Scully had a chip implanted when she was abducted. She developed the cancer after it was removed.
Kritschgau is testifying before the inquiry. He says he did have contact with Mulder and Scully before Ostelhof’s death. Kritschgau says he gave them classified intel related to his involvement in a government conspiracy against the American people. He isn’t aware of a connection between Mulder and Scully and the death of Ostelhof. He is aware of one death connected to the investigation. His son, who died earlier that morning. Kritschgau is employed by the DoD but part of his renumeration comes from a Congressional lobbying firm called Roush.
Mulder returns to the hospital with the microchip. Bill Scully doesn’t think much of the idea and Dr Zuckerman says the only approach he has left is unconventional. Scully wants it to be her decision. Bill doesn’t have a great opinion of Mulder.
The CSM contacts Mulder again. He has arranged a meeting he thinks Mulder will want to attend. With someone Mulder thinks is his sister.
The man the Elder told to go ahead has a sniper rifle. But who is his target?