Author's Note: Sorry this took so long guys, but it was Christmas. Merry Christmas to everyone! I hope you had a great day!

Cheeky.

Chapter Eighteen

The wind teased my hair as I crept forward, keeping to the shadows. Charlie was beside me, gun in hand and guarding my back. Will and Sark had gone to the other side of the villa, ready to bust through the back door. I stopped as soon as I found the small junction box – which just handily controlled the power to the security system.

Charlie moved forward as I stepped back. She, too, was dressed like me in all-black, except she wore a bandanna on her head, hiding her blonde hair. She flashed me a grin as she opened the junction box. It seemed that Charlie knew security systems – and how to disable them.

Five minutes later, the lights within the villa suddenly went off, plunging everything into darkness. I blinked a little as my eyes adjusted to the faint moonlight, and started forward once more. Behind me, I heard Charlie's voice whisper into her comm. "Security system disabled. Meet you inside."

"Copy that." Sark's voice replied.

Charlie turned to me and raised an eyebrow. I just grinned predatorily in return. Time to go. I vaulted over the low wall in front of me, in a graceful movement and ran across the open lawn. Charlie was right behind me. Not needing to hide our presence, as Sloane already knew someone was out here, I shot out a nearby window and burst through.

Since inside was as dark as outside, I didn't need to wait for my eyes to adjust, and easily recognised I was in a small, but empty, office. I moved to the side as Charlie hit the ground beside me.

The two of us moved to stand on either side of the open doorway, waiting for the guards that would inevitably been drawn by my earlier gunshot. Elsewhere, I heard another small burst of gunfire, and knew Will and Sark had found some guards. A slight sound in the corridor just beyond us caught my attention. Seconds later, three guards burst into the room. I shot one twice in the back, before shooting the second as he spun. I glanced over at Charlie and noticed she had already taken out the third.

She nodded to me and the two of us moved into the corridor, wary for more guards. Recalling the blue prints I had memorised on the flight over, I headed left, then right, winding my way towards the centre of Sloane's villa and hopefully Sloane himself.

I was firmly focused on my task. Nothing escaped my attention; no sound, no movement. But despite that, the guards still eluded us as we moved further into Sloane's domain. Finally, I found what I was looking for: the door to Sloane's lab. Sark and Will appeared just as we did. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. My gut felt tight with nerves. Why did I feel like I was about to meet my destiny?

Sark carefully walked up to the electronic lock and punched in the code that opened the door. I don't know how my mother had gotten that code, and I'm not sure I wanted to. Charlie and Will slipped down the stairs to secure the lab. Just before we followed, Sark put a hand on my shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"Yes." I said, smiling slightly, burying my apprehension. "I'm fine."

Sark nodded, but I got the feeling he didn't believe me. Together, the two of us crept down the stairs and into Sloane's lab. Rambaldi artefacts covered the large benches that wrapped around the room. Some I recognised; other's I didn't.

On the large bench in the centre of the room was a large machine that looked like something out of a horror movie. You know, like the one that made Frankenstein's monster live? I shuddered as I looked at it, knowing that without a doubt it was the machine I had come to destroy – Rambaldi's greatest work.

Suddenly Sark pivoted and fired his gun. As I had been staring at the machine before me, two guards had entered the lab. I cursed myself for not hearing them. Sark turned to me after the two guards were dead. "I'll take care of the rest." He said, meaning the guards we could all hear coming. "Do what you have to do, Syd."

I nodded, before reaching up and giving Sark a soft kiss. "Go." I said.

He gave me a soft smile, before turning and moving towards the stairs. "I'll come with you." Will said, following him.

Sark just nodded.

I turned back to the machine and stared at it. Why was it so special? And, as I stared, I began to realise why. This machine, known simply as 'Rambaldi's knowledge' was supposed to be his greatest work. And I knew why. Rather than Frankenstein's monster being given life, this machine would give Arvin Sloane all of Rambaldi's knowledge. But, I smiled grimly, the result would be much the same. A monster would be unleashed upon the world, only he would have the knowledge of an ancient genius and prophet downloaded into his brain.

I felt anger begin to heat my blood as I continued to stare at it and finally began to understand the prophecy. Rambaldi had been right to fear me, for I would destroy his greatest work; his rebirth. But I don't think he ever truly understood my reasons. It's true that my hatred for Arvin Sloane had led me here, but it was my fear and anger about what he would use the knowledge for that would lead to its destruction. The knowledge of Rambaldi was not meant to live again.

"This woman will render the greatest power unto utter desolation." I quoted softly.

"What?" Charlie asked.

"Nothing." I replied.

"So, how are we going to destroy this, then?" she asked.

I looked around the lab. Spotting a bunch of wires and a small power supply, I got an idea. "This is like an ancient computer, right?" I asked.

"Yeah, I guess so." Charlie replied.

"Then a surge of power should effectively wipe its memory, shouldn't it?"

Charlie smiled. "Yeah. It should wipe Rambaldi's knowledge clean away."

"Good, help me with this, will you?"

Together, the two of us hooked up the power supply to Rambaldi's device. It only took a few minutes. Taking a deep breath, I flipped the switch. "Here goes." I muttered.

Sparks and electricity began running all over the machine and there was a loud noise as something exploded in both the device and the power supply. I turned away and covered my face until everything was quiet once more. "That seems to have done it." Charlie remarked.

"I'd still feel better if it was nothing more than dust." I replied.

"Well, we could do that."

"Really?"

"Sure." Charlie said. "I've got some C4 and the door's re-enforced."

"Then do it."

A minute later, Charlie had laid and wired the C4 to blow up the device. "Let's go." She said, dusting her hands on her pants.

I nodded and the two of us jogged up the stairs and out of the lab. The corridor was deserted when we entered, aside from a single dead body – a silent testimony that Sark was guarding our backs. WE shut the lab door and I nodded to Charlie. Nodding back, she pressed the detonator.

We heard the muffled thud of the explosion and watched the door bulge slightly. I sighed with relief, letting go of some of the tension I hadn't known I was under. "It's done." I said.

"Yes, it is." Charlie agreed. "Now let's go and find Julian and Will."

My gut began to tighten as I walked towards the centre of Sloane's domain. Each step closer I took intensified the feeling that something was wrong. Very wrong.

Coming to a corner, I stopped at the sound of slightly raised voices beyond. Both of them sounded familiar, and I heard Sloane's voice trying to calm down his companion. I frowned, trying to place the second voice. It was very familiar. Then I had it. Lindsay. So, the son of a bitch was here was he?

I peered around the corner, keeping close to the wall. And what I was shocked me. I ducked back around the corner and shut my eyes. How could I have been so stupid? Sloane hadn't stayed alive this long with the amount of enemies he has by being stupid. This whole damn thing had been a trap.

There were at least as many as ten bodyguards in the large room beyond. But that wasn't what was stopping me. What was stopping me, was the sight of Will and Sark on the knees in the centre of the room, hands behind their heads and guns pointed at them. I felt something squeeze around my heart as I watched the man I loved in danger. The feeling was followed by a slow feeling of anger. How could they?

"You might as well come out, Sydney." Sloane's voice called to me. "I know you're there."

I glanced at Charlie and gestured for her to stay hidden. As I did, I heard the ominous echo of a safety being removed and a bullet being chambered. I suppressed a shiver and glanced back around. Sloane was now holding a gun to Will's head.

"Although, I must congratulate you on seducing Sark to become an agent for the CIA." Sloane continued, almost conversationally.

With a final glance at Charlie, I stepped around the corner, my gun plainly seen in my hand, but pointed towards the floor. I was wary, but I knew that pointing the gun at Sloane and pulling the trigger – like I so desperately wanted to do – would end badly. So, instead, I just stood there, seething. That bastard…

"Ah, Sydney. It's good to see you." Sloane said when he saw me.

I turned my cold gaze on him. "I can't say I feel the same way." I said. "Particularly since you have a gun to Will's head."

"Well," Sloane replied. "I had to use someone you actually cared about as a hostage, didn't I?"

I couldn't help it, but my lips twitched into a smirk. Sark must have caught it, because he smirked in return. There was so much Sloane didn't know about me. And I took great pleasure in knowing that.

"We don't have time for this!" Lindsay exploded from beside Sloane.

"I couldn't agree more." I agreed.

"Shut up!" Lindsay snarled.

Sloane gestured to two of the men. "Please relieve Miss Bristow of her weapons." He snapped. "And you, shoot him if she moves."

The latter was said to a third man, who came to stand next to Will. "Well, it was nice seeing you again, Sydney."

During our short conversation, I had counted the men guarding Sloane and noticed there was only seven – not as many as I had originally thought. Not a lot, being that there were four of us, but enough. Sark, I saw, was ready to move, his hand inches from his back-up gun – which they hadn't found. Not that I really expected them to. Sark always had a few tricks up his sleeve.

What happened next, occurred in the space of a few seconds. It was almost as if time had slowed down, letting me notice all the details around me as soon as I saw them. As soon as the first of the two men reached me, I snapped my gun up and fired. The man fell, dead. I grabbed the other while he stared in shock and used him as a shield in case any of the other guards fired – which, inevitably they did.

In the same moment, Sark threw himself forward and yanked out his spare gun, shooting two of the guards around him in quick succession.

From behind me, Charlie shot the man guarding Will right between the eyes. Before staying where she was, partially hidden by the corner, and picking off the remaining guards.

I tossed aside the now dead guard and drew a second gun out from the holster in the small of my back. I began to run forward, dodging the bullets being fired in my direction.

Sloane and Lindsay ran out of the room.

Will threw himself forward, rolled and came up with one of the guards' discarded guns in his hand.

Sark shot another guard.

I bolted past Sark as time began to speed up again. He quickly fell into step behind me, shooting a guard to my left. We left Will and Charlie to mop up the rest of the guards and took off after Sloane and Lindsay. They were headed in the direction of the roof, so my only guess was that there was a helicopter pad up there – and a helicopter on the way. Sloane always had an escape route.

They weren't going to make it to that helicopter. I'd make sure of that. I sprinted up a flight of stairs, right on their tail. Every now and then I'd take aim and shoot, but none of my bullets seemed to hit them. We reached the top floor of Sloane's villa, just as I ejected my empty clip and slammed a new one home.

"Sloane!" I yelled.

But he was gone once more. My legs began to burn as I put on another burst of speed, but part of me no longer felt it, nor the breathes rasping in and out of my lungs. My world had drawn down to one thing: killing Sloane.

Sark was a step behind me as we raced up the final flight of stairs and burst out onto the roof, seconds behind Sloane and Lindsay. Then time seemed to slow again. I saw Sloane pivot towards me and noticed the painful and sorrowful expression in his eyes. I saw the gun come up to point at me, but it was as if the air had turned to honey…I just couldn't move fast enough.

The loud echoing sound of a shot being fired jolted me from whatever daze I was in, just as I felt something heavy slam into my side. Beside me, Sark let out a sharp gasp. Then we were falling to the hard concrete. "Julian!" I cried, as my body slammed into the concrete.

I turned to Sark, tears filling my eyes. My brain had finally processed what had happened. Sloane had tried to shoot me, but had shot Sark instead when Julian had pushed me out of the way. I would kill that bastard…but right now I needed to make sure Sark was alright. I simply ignored everything else; Sloane, Lindsay, the dull thumping of an approaching chopper…

Sark let out a groan and turned to me as I knelt beside him. He winced. "It just nicked me." He said. "Go get the bastard."

Seeing the truth in his eyes, I nodded and gave him a brief kiss just to reassure me. I needed no further reminder to make sure Arvin Sloane died painfully. I stood and turned. I looked at where Sloane stood, looking at me in faint surprise and felt my face harden into a look of cold hatred.

"You do care…" Sloane muttered softly, almost to himself.

"You tried to kill me."

My words seemed to jolt Sloane out of his daze. He brought his gun up to fire again, but I was faster. I shot him once through the hand, making him drop the gun, before I shot out his knee so he wouldn't be going anywhere.

Sloane crumpled to the rooftop like a sack of wet meat. He let out a sharp cry of pain as each bullet tore through him. With every appearance of being calm, I walked over to where Sloane lay, and pointed my gun at his head. I felt the slow burning of hatred consuming me.

"Sydney…" Sloane began when he saw me. "You can't win. Bars can only keep me for so long…"

"What makes you think you will live another moment?" I asked him.

Sloane smirked at me, despite the lines of pain on his face. "You can't shoot anyone in cold blood, Sydney. Especially not me. It always was your flaw."

I smiled at him, but I knew the smile was totally devoid of warmth or mercy. "Oh, but I can." I said softly. "Say your prayers, Sloane. You'll need them where you're going."

And just like that I fired twice, shooting Sloane right between the eyes. It was over. I needed it to be over. Arvin Sloane was dead.

I turned my cold gaze and my gun towards Lindsay. "Don't move." I told him. "And I might just let you live."

As I watched, Lindsay gasped in shock and almost wet himself. How pathetic.

Twelve hours later, Sark was patched up, the bullet causing no more harm than a deep gash, we were all back in Ireland, and the CIA had received an anonymous tip-off, leading to the discovery of a dead Arvin Sloane and Robert Lindsay bound and gagged.

I sat on my bed, gazing blankly at the pale blue walls. I had retreated here as soon as I could…my hatred for Sloane had fled the moment I killed him, leaving an empty feeling inside of me. It was almost as if I had shut down.

"Sydney." Sark voice broke into my thoughts.

I glanced up jerkily. I hadn't even heard him come in. "Leave me alone." I told him, my voice sounding hollow even to my ears.

Sark didn't say anything. He just walked over and sat beside me, drawing me into his arms. The moment his arms closed around me, the tears began to slip down my face. Shakily, I turned toward him, holding him as he held me, and sobbed into his shoulder.

I let the tears pour out as Sark simply held me. Tears for my father and my mother, my friends, all Sloane's victims over the years…and tears for me. I cried for my lost innocence and the grief over having finally lost the man who had been so much to me. Friend, father-figure, hated enemy, betrayer and traitor. Even as I hated him, I had loved him too, in a way. And now he was finally dead. It was both a relief and a sadness.

Gradually the tears stopped, and I dried my eyes. I looked up at Julian. "Thank you." I whispered.

He smiled at me, slightly sad. "I know what it's like, Syd." He replied softly. "I know what it feels like."

Gently, I reached up and pressed my lips to his, kissing him tenderly as he soothed my soul, and I like to think, as I soothed his too.