Cold and dark, that's all Syd felt. Hanging from a flimsy wire 100 ft in the air was a difficult task, especially when trying to restrain herself from reaching into her holster and pulling the trigger over and over again on the man she despised. Through an immaculate stained glass window Syd could see Arvin Sloane. He sat poised and cool, smiling slightly, the kind of smile that made her want to vomit. Arvin laughed at something the man across from him said then swiftly retrieved his gun and shot him in the head, all within the blink of an eye. Syd almost fainted, right then and there, but she regained her composure and watched what happened. Sloane walked slowly around the table and forced the man's limp body upright. Carefully drawing a knife from his pocket he proceeded to slit his abdomen open, revealing his open stomach contents. She tried to restrain from radioing Vaughn and pleading for an extraction team, but Sydney knew this mission was crucial. Watching Sloane rustle through Sark's bodily fluids was not something Syd enjoyed. She watched in horror as Arvin recoiled his hand with the prize clutched in his dumpy fingers.

Within his fist was a small ruby object. Glistening in the church light it looked as if Sloane was holding crystallized blood; it was that deep red in color. Letting her mouth drop open Syd gazed at the object in pure wonderment. It was gorgeous, the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen, forgetting the fact that it had just emerged from a once living being's stomach. It was naturally cut like a perfect diamond, each facet reflecting light from every direction. Sloane had such a resilient look on his face he looked like a toddler who finally got his hands in the cookie jar. Again, using all her self control, Syd restrained from openly slaughtering the man.

Glancing back at the gem, it looked even more beautiful now that Syd looked at it. Using one of her binoculars she gazed upon the magnificent jewel. It was a deep red in color, maybe the size of her palm, not much bigger. It shimmered in the candle-light of the cathedral. Etched within the ruby red it had flecks of gold and platinum, making it seem almost laced with metal. It looked man made, but she knew nothing but the earth had created this. It was what Rambaldi had been working on this whole time; it was the one piece of the puzzle that made his weapon work. Vaughn's voice boomed in her ear, one of the last time's she'd hear it. He told her to go in for it, get the ruby and get out of there. But it was too late; Sloane heard her walkie- talkie and looked right into her eyes. She had just enough time to tell Vaughn that he saw her. Every alarm in Vaughn's head went off at that moment, from the base van a mile away his stomach fell. Revving the fan into first he sped away, hoping to reach his love in time.

Sydney burst through the stained glass and allowed herself to drop to the marble floor. Sloane was still too shocked to move but Syd jumped into action. After the glass had settled she reached for her gun, but decided to fight him hand to hand first. Racing upon him, she balked at Sark's dead body, but round-out kicked Sloane right in the temple. He fell to the ground as the ruby ricocheted off the pews. Sloane regained his footing and began to fight. It was the worst combat Syd had ever been in, each knocking the other over and over until bruises were inevitable, but only if one survived. They fought for what seemed an eternity until they reached for their guns. Their stand-off lasted for almost 10 minutes until Vaughn burst through the doors, not knowing it was rigged with weapon the CIA once had. The second he turned the knob Syd saw the man she love burst into flames. Sloane turned and laughed as Vaughn literally burned from the inside out, the Firebomb Sloane and Sark had labored over used precisely on that spot. Screaming Syd tried to go to her lover, but Sloane pointed his gun directly on her jugular. Time passed slowly as Syd cried as Vaughn screamed, as he lay on the floor only seconds passed until he was ashes.

Anger filled every part of her, reaching into her second holster Syd turned and without hesitation blew a hole in Arvin Sloane's head. She finally had the courage and motive to kill him, not just point a gun at him. She watched as grey matter flew behind him and in unison with his body she crumbled to the ground and wept.