Jonas leaped out of sight. "Down here!" His voice called from far below. Grange and Corrin looked at each other and stepped forward. There was a large pit below. Jonas stood at the bottom, smiling up at them. "Jump down!"
Grange went first. He landed with a grunt and crouched down. Corrin followed quickly after him. The ground was oddly soft with a layer of snowy leaves. "I've been here for hours. You're run-in with that patrolman was all that dragged me out." He sighed. "Who ever called those bombers in did it at the perfect moment. You two were lucky to escape before it started. I saw Jasper and someone else barely get into the forest before the heavy bombing really began. I may have been the only other survivor."
He looked on mournfully. "Three of us were killed in the initial bombing runs. Ferius was killed right beside me. I didn't see much. They closed in all around us…they…" He turned around and paced away. Still talking. Corrin turned quickly and pushed the man's voice away as he heard a slight grunt.
Grange stood behind him. A look of unnatural fear covered his face. He pointed shakily at the ground. Corrin looked. A portion of the snow had been moved aside, possibly by Grange. The sight made him gasp. Ferius lay there, dry blood covering his forehead. He had been shot, execution style, not killed in the explosion.
Corrin looked at Grange. He had no idea what to do. He immediately spun back. He watched Jonas turn back. He was still speaking. "So, now we are here and you are going to Mason. I can't say I will come with you." The man had them cornered. Corrin saw the medic's hand lightly placed on his pistol. He was ready.
"I will break for the…" He turned again and Corrin spun to face Grange. The Martian had something in hand. He pointed at it, then to his ear. Corrin nodded. Grange threw the small device to him. It was like to the one he had used in the interrogation. He placed it lightly in his ear.
"It was Jonas!" Granges voice said into Corrin's ear, surprised. Corrin slightly moved his head up and down. Jonas turned back. "Get him closer…"
"Jonas, come here." He thought quickly. "I found this on the battlefield." He removed his combat knife. "I think it's yours. I've got mine, and you may need it soon!"
Jonas walked forward suspiciously. He reached for the knife. There was a slight bang. Grange had fired a bolt blast for the Medic's chest. Jonas ducked out of the way nimbly and drew his pistol. "Nobody Frakking move!" He roared threateningly, though Corrin could sense his fear.
"Jonas, why?" Corrin said, disgusted.
"Because…" He smiled slightly. "The Emperor gives more by the hour."
"You sicken-!" Grange growled. He winced in pain as a las shot hit his leg, but stood his ground nevertheless.
"You shut up Martian!" Jonas bellowed. He turned shakily back to Corrin. "You fools don't understand. I chose the winning side! You don't have a chance. Master Riktus has shown me the truth." He smiled malevolently. "I am the deliverer. I am the bane of souls." Corrin looked at him in a confused manner.
"For a fool like you, the Treacherous Soul is a complex object with a complex process. I will give you the honor of hearing its hollowed form, mainly in my own pleasure." He laughed. "The spell in itself is a virus, given by wounding the victim. For the control to truly begin however, I or another deliver must act. I supply the essence of Riktus himself into the Treacherous Ones. I am the one who brings it to life. In short, I am the one who caused that filthy Frakker…" He never finished his sentence.
Corrin was upon him like a raging storm. He felt a small las bolt bounce lightly off his Flak armor. The medic would never get the laser through at this angle. He threw his fist into the traitor's face.
He relished in the felling of his pained skin. He heard a cry. "Please, no! Corrin, remember…" Corrin ignore him. He stomped on his chest and began to pound mercilessly at his head. "Stop! Please, no more…!" Corrin halted for a moment. His breathing was hard and fast.
A smile crossed the sick medic's face. "Thank you." His hand shot up, a needle enclosed in its tight fingers. Corrin grasped the thing angrily. This was what he had used on Johnson.
He pushed against Jonas' arm. The needle slowly moved towards the medic himself. "No!" Jonas screamed. Corrin felt a final burst of strength from his old friend's body, and then he finally gave in. The needle sunk deep into the treacherous man's neck.
For a moment, Jonas struggled. Then, he was still. Corrin stood. He turned around. Grange stood there. Fear still shown in his eyes. "What? Grange, are you alright?" Corrin smiled. "He's dead, it's over."
Grange shook his head and looked back at Corrin. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." Corrin could tell, he wasn't. Something was wrong. That look of fear was embedded in Corrin's head. What had Grange heard or seen that could have frightened him like that?