The man in black looked up as he felt the automated docking mechanism engage. At long last, he would be able to exact revenge by slowly killing his cunning prey.
Smiling sinisterly, he flipped through the pages of the dossier. Persephone, Whitefall, Santo...he'd been to them all; always just one step behind, but successful at finding evidence his presence. Learning, studying he became closer to his mark.
In Canton, Magistrate Higgins had been more than helpful, giving him money, and plenty of information on just what he needed to focus on, what ship he needed to stalk, how to find the elusive man. It was unfortunate that his contact on Ariel had been found dead with his security team. As instructed, he and the Alliance had done an efficient job of cleaning up the macabre scene--going so far as to blame all the deaths on the girl.
He knew she was capable of doing it. But he had seen The Specialists depart, had seen the evidence; he had noticed that one of if the guards had been beaten bloody and had his neck ruthlessly broken. That was not her modus operandi.
But he knew whose it was.
Just as he instinctively knew the handiwork on Whitefall when he saw it. Clean, strategically placed, long-range shots. Just as he had been taught.
The Scorpion had deserted the Alliance, had altered his appearance, obliterated his fingerprints and changed his name. Nothing, however, could alter his signature strikes. The training was too deeply ingrained.
The man had spent a lot of time and money in his quest to hunt and kill the man who had cost him his commission, his home, his family, his entire way of life. Yes, his job with Blue Sun had given him some of that back. But he should be retired in luxury, or at least a member of the Military Elect. Not criss-crossing the system doing the gigantic corporation's dirty work.
Two birds with one stone, as the saying went. They were within his grasp. Finally, he saw the chance to stop the endless searching, to bring an end to Blue Sun's continually reassigning him. If he could return the girl, he would be able to relax, and choose his own assigments.
He sighed and closed the file, templing his fingers under his chin.
Silently the man predicted: Soon, the Scorpion shall fall to wrath of the Dragon.