They are met by the Lone Gunmen, who are uncharacteristically enthusiastic about the company. The trio explains that they serve as consultants to the game, but that Retro's death has put a damper on the company's upcoming initial public stock offering. Scully checks Retro's body and notes that the man was obviously shot. Ivan vehemently refutes the visual proof, saying there is no way a real gun could have gotten into the highly-secured complex. The entire scenario, Phoebe explains, is digital.
Nothing exists outside the game space.
Mulder reviews the videotape of the game that shows nothing out of the ordinary. Yet when they switch the game environment to wire mode and all the textures and surfaces are stripped, the tape reveals a female pointing a gun at Retro. Mulder and the Lone Gunmen are shocked, but Phoebe's face shows a spark of recognition. After the men leave the room, she stares at the cyber-vixen on the monitor. Mulder gives a detective the printout of Maitreya as the suspect, but Scully remains skeptical that a fictional female character could commit a real murder.