 The show centers on FBI special agents Fox Mulder ( David Duchovny ) and Dana Scully ( Gillian Anderson ) who work on cases linked to the paranormal , called X @-@ Files . In this episode — continuing from the seventh season finale " Requiem " when Mulder was abducted by aliens who are planning to colonize Earth — an FBI taskforce is organized to hunt for Mulder but Scully suspects the taskforce leader , Special Agent John Doggett ( Patrick ) , and instead chooses to search for her lost partner with Walter Skinner ( Mitch Pileggi ) . Scully and Skinner travel to Arizona , only to be followed by Doggett 's task force . There , they find Gibson Praise ( Jeff Gulka ) and someone who they believe may very well be Mulder . 
