"Wait!" Scarlett cried as the knife made a second pass, slashing through the skin, creating a ribbon of red across his neck.

Collum restrained Scarlett as she started forward. She struggled, "Stop! There are questions we need answered! Things we need to know!"

Grunt and Stealth crossed weapons, preventing anyone from going to Alexander's aid.

The black figure looked up from where Alexander had slowly collapsed on the floor with a startled look on his face, his eyes now devoid of life.

The assassin stood up and took a step back. Nodding, Grunt came forward, looking down at Alexander, a twisted smile on his face. Raising his weapon, he aimed first at the head, then heart, shooting both twice.

"What the hell is going on?" Scarlett demanded, looking from Collum to the figure in black, the only visible feature the green eyes studying the group, the rest of the face hidden behind the cowl.

"It's better this way," said Mary in a soothing tone, getting up from where she had been discarded on the floor, dusting herself off. She carefully stepped around Alexander. "You couldn't let a madman like this live! It's just the way things are done."

"We had a right to find out what he knew, what he was going to do – find a cure for the disease he created. One of our own is suffering. To kill him without finding out why or how, that's not right," Roadblock stated in a solemn voice.

Flint stayed silent, studying the figure in black, the green eyes now regarding him coolly. Who was this assassin? And why did it seem like Grunt, Stealth, and the mysterious figure were working together? Could it really be….?

"Where IS the doctor?" asked Flint quietly, addressing the assassin.

The assassin stood there, arms crossed, silent. Grunt and Stealth came forward and the three began to have a conversation in low tones.

Mark was the one who answered him. "I do believe we're looking at her…only, I don't think it's the doctor anymore. Don't you agree, Flint?"

"You need to leave the room now," Stealth announced quietly to the group. "We need to finish the job, and I'm afraid it's not going to be pretty. Not for weak stomachs," he finished with a wry smile.

Collum nodded, and began to gesture to the others, but Scarlett stood her ground.

"None of this makes sense! It's almost like you planned this as a trap all along. I don't understand…"

"You're not meant to understand," the black-clad figure interrupted in a low, husky voice. "But you do need to follow orders. He's right – it will get messy, but the ritual needs to be completed."

Black gloved hands reached up, removing the cowl. Lady Jaye stood in front of them, patiently letting them take it all in.

The former Joes looked stunned.

"We saw you…." Scarlett whispered, unable to believe her eyes. She reached out a hand to Flint's arm, knowing if she felt this way, he must be bowled over.

"You saw what you were meant to see," Lady Jaye explained. "The doctor and I were forced to change places. You saw her in that cell." She gave Flint an apologetic glance. "In order to deceive Alexander, we had to deceive you as well."

"We were set up," Scarlett repeated coldly, the joy of seeing her friend overpowered by her anger.

Lady Jaye shook her head. "Not necessarily. We hadn't anticipated your…cooperation in this mission. Our plan was already in place. If we had a chance, we were to take it." She glanced down at the body of Alexander and anger flooded her face. "You wouldn't be alive and standing here if we hadn't done it. He was ready to take you back and use you as guinea pigs, just like he used those soldiers!"

She looked back up at Scarlett. "He lured them there! He deliberately infected them, just like he had done with other natives on the island. Once he discovered me, he was ready to do the same thing. It was only by tricking and overpowering Dr. Smythe that I managed to survive."

Scarlett began to speak, but Lady Jaye wasn't finished. She held up her hand, her green eyes flashing angrily. "You may have wanted him alive, to talk to him, but let me tell you his master plan before you make any more judgments! His plan was to infect large cities, filled with thousands of people, then demand billions of dollars for the cure. Meanwhile, those infected would die while they waited for the government to make a decision. The only reason Alexander hadn't done it yet was because as Dr. Smythe, I managed to convince him that he needed the actual antidote for himself before sending the disease out there! It was created right there, that disease, right in his labs by Dr. Smythe – he lied to you about that as well. There's not much he told you that was truth."

"Think what you want," she finished, "but that monster did not deserve to live. We need to let the boys finish up."

With that, she turned and walked out of the room.

The team looked at one another. Collum and Mary, followed by Mark, quietly left the room. Grunt and Stealth regarded the three remaining, their arms crossed, looking impatient.

Scarlett sighed. "Come on," she said grudgingly to the other two. She glared at the two men waiting by the body as they passed by.

"Finally," muttered Stealth, closing the door behind them as Grunt produced a wicked-looking knife. "It's time to get to work."