Season 5: The Red and the Black (5X14)

Writers: Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz
Director: Chris Carter

Mulder arrives at the bridge, which is a scene of carnage, and is directed to a provisional tent where Scully is being treated by medics. Scully has no recollection of what happen on the bridge at all. Agent Spender tells Mulder that his mother Cassandra Spender is missing. Meanwhile Marita Covarrubias has been infected with the Black Oil by Dmitri, the Well Manicured Man believes Krycek has an vaccine against the Black Oil created by the Russians, he offers Krycek freedom in return for the vaccine.

When a UFO crash lands at Fort Wiekamp Air Force Base, photos reveal a rebel alien who the Syndicate members recognize as a threat to their colonization plans. After test reveal that the people on the bridge all had implants similar to Scully's, Mulder puts forward the theory that the government developed and implanted the chips as part of their bio-weapons project. But Scully agrees to be hypnotized by Dr. Werber and recounts the events on the bridge. How a UFO appeared overhead, then aliens started to kill people on the bridge but were then themselves attacked by a second UFO.

Assistant Director Skinner listens to Scully's session tapes, Mulder again suggests it is cover for a secret military operation. But Skinner finds Scully's UFO explanation more plausible. Krycek contacts Mulder with information about the rebel alien and resistance to the alien colonization plan for earth that draws him in to a deadly confrontation with the alien bounty hunter once more.

Notes:
The altered tagline for this episode "Resist or Serve" is used as the title for the X Files Playstation 2 game released in 2004.

The list of Skyland Mountain victims viewed by Scully in her hospital room is made up of the names of X-Files staffers.

Quotes:
Krycek: Hear this, Agent Mulder... listen very carefully because what I'm telling you is deadly serious. There is a war raging, and unless you pull your head out of the sand, you and I and about five billion other people are going to go the way of the dinosaur. I'm talking planned invasion. The colonization of this planet by an extraterrestrial race.
Mulder: I thought you were serious.
Krycek: Kazakhstan, Skyland Mountain, the site in Pennsylvania. They're all alien lighthouses where the colonization will begin, but where now, a battle's being waged. A struggle for heaven and earth. Where there is one law: fight or die. And one rule: resist or serve.
Mulder: Serve who?
Krycek: No, not who. What.

Scully: What are you doing sitting here in the dark?
Mulder: Thinkin'.
Scully: Thinkin' about what?
Mulder: Oh, the usual. Destiny. Fate. How to throw a curve ball...

Skinner: Over the past 5 years I've doubted you, only to be persuaded by the power of your belief in extraterrestrial phenomena. And I'm doubting you now not because of that belief but... because extraterrestrial belief is frankly the more plausible explanation.
Mulder: Then I suggest you put ''that'' into your report.

Mulder: Krycek, you're a murderer, a liar, and a coward. Just because you stick a gun in my chest means I'm supposed to believe you're my friend?

Highlights from ''The Red and the Black''

Episode Number: 111
Season Number: 5
First Aired: Sunday, March 8, 1998
Production Code: 5X14

Season 5: Patient X (5X13)

Writers: Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz
Director: Kim Manners

In Kazakhstan, a young boy Dmitri is witness to a mass murder in the woods. The boy is picked up by Krycek and a group of Russian soldiers who confront Martia Covarrubias who is leading a UN investigation of the incident. Back in the US, Mulder attends a lecture about Patient X, who claims to be an alien abductee. He disagrees with the other delegates, arguing that the 'little green men' stories are a cover up to hide the truth about the government developing biological warfare.

After the lecture he is approached by Dr. Werber, whose patient Cassandra Spender is Patient X. He takes Mulder to meet with Cassandra, she explains to a doubtful Mulder that aliens are on earth to deliver a message. Marita Covarrubias briefs the Syndicate on the Kazakhstan incident, telling them that it was aimed at them. Krycek calls the Well Manicured Man and offers to trade Dmitri in return for all the Syndicate's information on a vaccine for the Black Oil.

Agent Spender, Cassandra's son warns them off the case but Scully meets Cassandra, who has an implant like Scully's in the base of her neck and believes her story. Cassandra tells Scully that some nights she wakes up with a feeling she should be somewhere. After a similar mass murder to the one in Kazakhstan occurs in the US, Scully feels strongly that it has something to do with her own abduction. Later Scully has an attack like Cassandra described and finds herself on a bridge with a crowd of people as a bright light appears overhead.

Notes:
This is the first appearance of Jeffrey Spender, played by Chris Owens.

This is also the first appearance of Cassandra Spender, played by Veronica Cartwright. She would later return in the Season 6 two-parter "Two Fathers/One Son". Veronica Cartwright was nominated for an Emmy award in 1998 for her performance as Cassandra Spender.

Nicholas Lea is now credited under the "Also Starring" heading.

The shot of Krycek's ship in New York Harbour is a reused shot of the ship in Season 2's ''Dod Kalm'' with a cut out of the New York skyline superimposed in the background.

In Season 2's ''Ascension'', Skyland Mountain was a private ski resort, yet here we are told it is a national park.

Quotes:
Scully: Shouldn't that be my picture next to that headline? Or is that you just having a little fun?
Mulder: Do I LOOK like I'm having fun, Scully?
Scully: You look constipated, actually.
Mulder: That would make sense. I've had my head up my rear end for the last five years.

Mulder: You know? You... you try to reveal what's hidden, you try to incite people with the facts, but they'd rather believe some insane nonsense, refusing to believe what our government is capable of.
Scully: You've come a long way, Mulder.
Mulder: Yeah, and still nobody believes me.

Mulder: One more anal-probing, gyro-pyro levitating ectoplasm alien anti-matter story and I'm gonna take out my gun and shoot somebody.
Scully: Well... I guess I'm done here. You seem to have invalidated your own work. Have a nice life!

Highlights from ''Patient X''

Episode Number: 110
Season Number: 5
First Aired: Sunday, March 1, 1998
Production Code: 5X13