Part 3: The Mind of a Killer "I can't believe Slade is still alive after all this time." muttered Michaels. "The evidence speaks for itself." said Jarvis. Michaels paced about the hanger. It was one of Io's more remote locations. Jarvis and Marks had caught up with Michaels an hour ago. After filling him in, he agreed to help them trap Slade by acting as live bait. The lights were kept low and Jarvis' security team remained out of sight. Infra-red sensors had been placed throughout the hanger, so no matter where Slade approached from he would be detected. "He's not coming." said Michaels. "He'll be here." assured Jarvis. "How do you know, Sonya? He might hit Preston instead." Jarvis shook her head. "No. He's following a pattern. I can see it. Warner and Bennet were Privates. Warner died first, then Bennet. Bennet had the longer term of service. Preston outranks you and I outrank both of you. So the order is Warner, Bennet, you, Preston, and then me." "Must be a comfort to know your last on the list." commented Michaels. "You think watching all my old comrades-in-arms getting bumped off one at a time is a comfort?" Michaels smiled. "Aw, Sonya, I didn't know you cared." A small rectangular device on Sonya's belt began to beep. She quickly switched it off and picked up a rifle. Michaels did the same. "He's here?" Jarvis switched on her comm unit. "Everyone stay put. It could be nothing. I'll check it out myself." "I'll cover your back." "No, Michaels, you stay put. I won't bring the target to him." "Sonya, you are a target." She smiled lightly as she move away from him. "Not as long as you and Preston are still alive." Michaels thought about pursuing, but found she had already disappeared into the blackness. He gripped his rifle, watched, and waited. * * * "No wonder you were avoiding me." stated Rhodes. Preston shrugged. "Now you know why." "So this Slade guy, he wants you dead because he's jealous of you?" asked Hiatt. "That's about the size of it." Amy scowled. "That doesn't make any sense." "Psycho's rarely do." pointed out Preston. "If he has got enough sense to kill you off by order of rank, then he should have enough sense to go after the people really responsible. Those scientists that did this to you." Preston rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Good point." He remembered Jarvis saying that three project leaders died in prison, but she never said how. "Do both of you have datapads with you?" "Yes." They said in unison. Preston went through Jarvis' data disks and separated six from the pile. "Everyone take two." "What are we looking for?" asked Rhodes. "Prison records." * * * Jarvis heard a slight jolt near her. She cautiously headed toward it. There were some cargo crates stacked in the corner. The noise emanated from behind them. She flicked her rifle's safety off and darted around it. "Hello there." * * * "Here's the last one." reported Amy. "According to this, this one died just like the others. He hung himself." Preston took the datapad from her and scrolled to the bottom of the report. Satisfied, he opened the victim's file just as he had done for the other two. "Got something?" asked Hiatt. "I think so." He turned the pad off and placed it on his desk. "I need a couple of favors, Amy. Can you help me?" She folded her arms. "What kind of favors?" * * * "Don't shoot Lieutenant!" yelled one of Jarvis' men. She lowered her weapon. "I don't believe this." "Sorry, ma'am, I thought I heard something so I came to investigate." "Just stay put." ordered Jarvis. She once again readied her rifle and headed out into the darkness. * * * "Can you do it?" Amy mulled the thought over for a bit then began to nod her head. "Yeah, I think I can. You gonna tell me why?" "No time." said Preston. He hopped to his feet. "I need that taken care of A.S.A.P." "Fine. But you'll owe me big. AND I expect to collect." Preston suddenly got nervous. Hiatt's tone suggested possible risquÈ behavior. She smiled at him. "Relax big guy, nothing too crazy, I promise." * * * Years of combat training took over as Michaels stood his ground. He knew his enemy was out there and he knew he could probably see him. Michaels would have considered using the BlaqNite himself, but that would leave his entire upper body still visible. He sensed more than he heard it. But he had a feeling his assailant was closing in from behind. He spun quickly and fired. Though he didn't see anything, he thought he heard something fall over then scramble to get up. He bolted towards its position. He looked about for any signs of injury. He found none, yet he knew he hit the bastard. "Did you like that? Want some more, do you?" "I had mine. Now its your turn." "Wha-?" * * * The weapons fire drew most of the guards toward Michaels' position. As a few rounded one of several cargo crates, they literally ran into Jarvis. A trio of bodies went sprawling. "Idiots!" screamed Jarvis as she got to her feet. "Come on, he's making a try for Michaels!" As they neared the spot where Jarvis had last left him, she knew immediately that something was wrong. "Where is he?" asked one of the guards. "Fan out. Find him!" ordered Jarvis. "Lieutenant! Over here." She sighed deeply as she calmly walked over to the trooper. Noting what he found she said, "Bag him. Then comb the area. I'll be on the Normandy when you're done."