(AP) Alexandria, VA United States Army Colonel Avery Vasquez, Intelligence Director of PRIMUS since 1972, was found dead in his Alexandria home Thursday, an apparent suicide.

Mona Engleheart, Colonel Vasquez’s housekeeper, found the body at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. An Alexandria Police Department spokesman stated at a press conference yesterday that foul play did not appear to be involved.

Associates of Colonel Vasquez have issued statements indicating that he was under extreme stress. Military officers have a higher incidence of suicide than civilians, and Colonel Vasquez is not the first high-ranking military man to commit suicide in recent years. In 1996, the Secretary of the Navy committed suicide during an investigation into his past service.  

The Golden Avenger’s office released this statement from Avenger D.J. Johnson: "I am deeply saddened by news of Colonel Vasquez’s suicide. I have worked closely with the Colonel since 1994 and grew to admire him."

Vasquez’s daughter serves as the Silver Avenger in New York City. Her office has not issued a statement, other than to indicate she would be returning to Washington for the funeral Monday.

Mira’s jaw had hit the floor when she’d seen the story run on CNN, but confirmation in the newspaper makes it just that more real.

"There is NO way that was suicide," Mira mutters, flipping through the newspaper to read the articles that accompanied the announcement of Vasquez's suicide.

Someone wanted Vasquez dead and "poof" he's dead, she thinks. Who could have enough power to get rid of Vasquez? she ponders. The Golden Avenger. Sure he knew about Vasquez's plot, but still. I don't think he has it in him to kill someone. Still it could be Thomas Beckett syndrome. The Golden Avenger mentions his problems with Vasquez and his friends decide to take care of Vasquez permanently.

Or even worse, someone else hates Vasquez, wants to see him dead for whatever reason and decides to do it now. If there's an investigation and Vasquez's attempts to kill the Golden Avenger come out, the Golden Avenger would be the primary suspect.

Then again, maybe Vasquez isn't really dead. He wanted to get the Golden Avenger, discredit him. What better way then to die and make sure enough evidence was floating around to incriminate golden pants.

Hmmmmm.... there's so many possibilities. I wonder if the guys have heard anything. Actually they probably have crazier theories. They're not nicknamed the Lone Gunmen for nothing. Still it wouldn't hurt to ask.

A few moments later, and Dr. Marisa Emori pushes open the metal service elevator grate and breezes in, Martin in tow. "Than you so much for waiting for me," she says. "I missed my BART train by about ten seconds, and found Martin outside parking."

"What's the matter, Stafford?" Martin questions. "You look like you've seen a ghost..."

"Can you believe this stuff about Avery Vasquez?!" Mira says, falling in step with Marisa. "I didn't mind waiting. This is just unbelievable. I can't believe anyone's buying this suicide line. There is no way that man would ever commit suicide."

"Hm?" she says distractedly. "Oh, yes, I heard about that."

"Vasquez did what?" Martin asks, surprised. "No way - he's way too controlled for that. Somebody got to him. Probably one of his 'pals' that saw the way the wind was blowing and decided to sever their ties to a sinking ship."

The tiny Japanese woman unlocks the inner door to her office, and gestures for the two investigators to follow. "I’m so glad you’ll be helping me with this case," she says. "It’s, well, it’s snowballed greatly since I started looking into it."

 "Coffee?" she asks, puttering around a small sink near her desk.

 "Yes, please," Mira says, "Cream and sugar please."

"Tea if you've got it Doc," Martin asks, stealing a folding chair of his own and slipping out of his jacket to drape it over the back.

Dr. Emori’s lab occupies the top floor of a four story building on Church Street, and, as Mira knows from her last visit, several lab techs work in smaller labs on the third floor. Marisa peers inside two cups and nods to herself as she turns the water on.

"This is the gist of things," she says, sitting on a folding chair next to Martin and Mira, and pulling her knees up to her chin. "I’ve known for a while that there has been some unethical investigations into viral agents which target paranormals. Without getting too scientific on you, it’s possible to tailor these things to target people with specific genomes. One way of doing that would be to go after racial characteristics. I know for a fact that’s been done in LA," she says candidly. "I’ve seen the results of it with my own eyes."

"But I’m sure you’ve seen in the news that bodies have been pulled out of the bay, and they’d all died of the same disease. They’d also all been known by friends and family to be low-level energy projectors." 

"Maybe because it's an easy gene to target or something," Martin muses. 

"There is a corporation in town called Rubicon Technologies, Inc. They do research similar to mine, but on a much larger scale. They get really nice government contracts and are currently the contractor handling PRIMUS’ lab work until the base repairs are done. They’re also working hand in glove with PRIMUS to work on this latest paranormal virus. Here’s a newspaper article about it," she says, handing a yellowed article to the investigators. "This will give you more of an idea."

SCIENTISTS BAFFLED BY PARANORMAL VIRUS

By Elaine Treste
San Francisco Examiner

Scientists working for the FBI and PRIMUS are baffled by a virus that has killed at least 15 low- level paranormals.

The bodies of 10 men and five women have been recovered periodically over the past two months from San Francisco Bay. Investigators had originally been unable to discover a link between the victims.

But recent tests, pioneered by researchers at San Francisco State University's Department of Paranormal Studies, have helped investigators determine that all the victims were low-level paranormals.

Police theorize that all possessed some sort of energy-projecting ability. Families of eight victims have confirmed this.

"At this time, all we have determined is that the victims were ravaged by a virus that attacked their bodies almost turning their system against itself," said PRIMUS Dr. Kenneth Barrow. "It was as if their own body was at war with itself."

PRIMUS, FBI and the CDC all issued assurances that there is no risk to public health.

"We are quite sure that this virus only affects paranormals," Barrow said. "And that it probably only affects a particular percentage of the paranormal population. It has been determined that the virus has no affect on Avengers."

The CDC and California State Health officials have confirmed Barrow’s statements. Both groups have said that the virus does not appear to be airborne. Nor does it appear to have contaminated the water supply.

"Really this virus is quite unique," said Dr. Cybill Taoli, a researcher at SFSU. "It is so very discriminating. That is unusual. Most virus, over time, adapt. They overcome drugs and immune systems, becoming stronger and attack more and more victims."

"Even AIDS, which many thought at one time to target only the gay community was really only selective in it's mode of transmission, not in who it targeted," Taoli pointed out. "This virus is different."

A task force composed of CDC, PRIMUS and university researchers has been established to examine the virus.

Silver Avenger Maria Chow, currently participating in the annual Avenger Games being held this week in Hudson City, has been briefed on the situation. Chow issued a public statement reassuring "the citizens of San Francisco that PRIMUS will join the CDC in discovering the cause of this virus."

Many key questions remain: Why has this virus just been detected? Why were all the victims discovered in San Francisco Bay, when the victims themselves were from across the United States? Will this virus have any affect on other paranormals including PRIMUS newest team - the Sentinels?

Scientists are working around the clock to find solutions.

The deaths have not gone unremarked among the antiparanormal groups in San Francisco. While the city is home to far fewer antiparanormal groups than New York or Houston, San Francisco has groups that have become quite vocal in the past months. Many believe that the public actions of the Golden Gate Guardians have spurred these groups to voice their opinions more often.

Michael Allard, a well-known antiparanormal advocate, called the virus just vengeance from god.

"It is obvious that God is meting out justice to these abominations among nature," Allard said.

On the most part, the citizens of San Francisco took little notice of the announced virus.

"So there's a few dead paranormals," said Janet Hertz. "It doesn't affect me so why should I care about it?"

**

Martin finishes a few seconds ahead of Mira, and looks around the office. Warehouse décor, for the most part, with a few personal touches. A small picture on the desk, partially turned away from Martin, reveals Marisa standing with another Japanese woman, and a hulking blond man – the Golden Avenger, and several years younger. A few ivy plants are creeping down the desk and up the computer.

Didn't know Doc knew the Avenger, he muses to himself. That's interesting. Wonder who the other girl is?

"What’s striking about this," Marisa Emori says when Mira looks up, "Is that from what I can tell from my contact in Rubicon, they’ve done no research – none – into this phenomenon. None. That means that either PRIMUS doesn’t want it researched, or they already know exactly what’s causing this. And that’s the basics," she says. "The reason why I’ve asked David to borrow the two of you is to find out exactly which scenario is accurate, and why." She smiles brightly. "I’ve got lots of slides I can show you, and more explanation about the virus. I know from your files that neither of you is an energy projector, correct?"

"No," Martin says flatly.

"Correct," Mira says, leaning back in her chair after returning the article to Dr. Emori's desk. "I'm curious. Why would someone target just energy projectors. I guess from a tactical perspective they are dangerous because they can strike from a distance. Still, maybe energy projectors were just a random choice. They wanted to test this on some paranormals and started with energy projectors."

"Well," Emori begins, "I would imagine that something like this was stumbled upon. A lot of our genetic discoveries have started out by chance. Or perhaps energy projectors were perceived as a greater threat, or simply because that was the virus that was available. I’d love to know, myself, but we may never exactly know that part. Unless Rubicon has records," her eyes twinkle.

"You wouldn't be suggesting some sort of clandestine visit to Rubicon, now Dr. Emori, that's not what I would expect from a scientist," Mira says, trying to keep from laughing.

"Oh God," Martin sighs, shaking his head in disbelief, "Not again!"

"Dr. Emori, would a virus like this affect Avengers or are they immune because they gained their powers from the secret sauce as opposed to some genetic mutation?" Mira asks. "If they are immune, it would explain PRIMUS lack of interest. Or perhaps it is more sinister. We can't rule out that they aren't involved. If Rubicon is capable of doing research similar to yours, would they be capable of engineering this virus? Things would certainly be easier for PRIMUS if they didn't have to worry about paranormals."

"That sounds more like Avery than the rest of the organization," Martin observes. "I doubt that everyone in PRIMUS is in on some evil genetic experimentation for nefarious purposes Mira - too many things to conceal. This doesn't feel right for that."

"According to the lab book you two found," Emori says bluntly, "I’d say that if Rosenberg isn’t susceptible to this virus, then neither are the Avengers. He is the proverbial font from which their strength flows. I’ve taken blood from him, and I don’t think that they’d be susceptible.

"And you’re right, in picking up on the PRIMUS connection," she says. "That’s what I find so sinister myself. It’s awfully convenient for PRIMUS to remove paranormal threats. However, if they did that, then what need would there be for the organization? I don’t think it’s that simple," she finishes, winding her black hair into a bun on the back of her head.

"No, nothing is ever easy," Mira sighs. "Still, what about the Sentinels? I don't have a lot of information on them. Could this virus affect them? And maybe PRIMUS doesn't want to kill off paranormals. Perhaps they want to control them. If there's a virus and you have the only cure, you could get just about anything you wanted."

"Sounds more like the guys at Rubicon would want that," her partner offers. "Private enterprise and all that...."

"That’s possible," Emori says. "I really don’t know about their motives. As for the Sentinels, I’m equally clueless. I don’t think I could get their blood type, let alone their genetic information."

"There's a lot of possibilities," Mira nods at Martin. "Who knows exactly what Rubicon may or may not have told PRIMUS? How much information do you have, Dr. Emori, and what more information are you looking for?"

The tiny doctor looks slightly taken aback at the demanding tone of Mira’s question. "As I said," she begins slowly, watching Mira, "I have a lot of slides I can show you about this, if you’ll follow me." She stands, and walks towards a door. "Are you feeling up to this?" she asks Mira quietly. "I can clear you for more time off, if you need it."

"Thanks for offering, but I feel alright. Your pills are working," Mira says. "Why do you ask? Do I look really bad?" she asks nervously, fidgeting with her hat. "I can't seem to get my hair to stop falling out. I'm afraid I look like a poodle who’s been to a bad groomer. Please tell me this will stop before I'm bald," she says, fervently. "I don't think I can carry off the shaved head look."

The doctor shrugs. "Irritability is a classic sign of not feeling well. Your test results are back, and while you have definitely been exposed to some radiation, there is no residual effect other than the death of your fast growing cells. Your hair should start to grow back shortly. If you develop any unusual symptoms, make sure you come back for more testing."

"Irritable?" Mira looks confused. "I sounded irritated?" she asks herself. "I thought I sounded inquisitive. Maybe a little overbearing but....well, maybe this explains why I don't get asked out on a lot of dates," she says mostly to herself as she follows Doctor Emori inside.

"Well..." Martin says, his voice pitched low enough that Emori is unlikely to hear, "Isaac did seem interested back in 'the Warehouse of the Damned'...." 

Inside is a lot of stainless steel equipment of indistinguishable function, a refrigerator, and a Cray, hooked up to a 42" plasma matrix monitor.

"Have a seat," she says.

She types something on the keyboard, and an image of what looks to be a tulip bulb with spindly projections appears on the monitor. "This is the virus," she says. "I call it PV2, for paranormal virus two, ie, the second one I’ve discovered."

"What we know about the virus is this: it targets energy projectors specifically, and does so by turning a special protein that only they make into something which, when the cell breaks apart, goes out into the body and destroys nerve tissue. It seems to target the brainstem first, which is the part of the brain which controls basic functions." She pauses for questions.

"You said the second virus you've discovered Doc," Martin asks carefully. "Who, or what, was the first one targeted after?"

Martin hit the nail on the head, Mira thinks quietly to herself. How many versions of this virus are out there? And how many more could they be planning to make?

"That is another story," she says, "and a different virus entirely – different mechanism, different mode of transmission, different story," she smiles. "Sometime when we have hours to kill, I’d be happy to explain it, But I don’t think it’s related to PV2."

"We know that Rubicon is involved somehow, and that the victims were all found floating here in the Bay; perhaps they were the experimental group given the virus or not given treatment while another group was not given the virus or was given treatment for it. Since we don’t know the motive, that makes it difficult to determine. So what we don’t know is who engineered it, why it was engineered, who paid for it, and what they hoped to gain. How is PRIMUS involved? Is PRIMUS involved, or do they know about the research? That’s why you’re here."

Martin nods slowly, "All right... Can you tell me, he glances at Mira apologetically, "excuse me, us, anything else about the virus? Incubation time, contagion level - things like that?"

Mira jumps in, "Dr. Emori, how is this virus transmitted? Is it airborne or by saliva or something else?" Questions come tumbling out of her mouth at a rapid rate as she unconsciously drops into reporter mode. Mira furiously scribbles notes in her scrawling reporter's shorthand that look undecipherable. "Those bodies they pulled out of the Bay. Rescue workers and the public came in contact with them. Could they be unwittingly carrying this virus? Since it doesn't effect those without the paranormal gene, can they act as hosts and carry around a dormant virus that just waits to find the right person?"

"I’m not sure," she says. "I can’t ethically test it on people, and since I’m unaware of any energy projecting lab animals, I can’t test it on them, either. I believe the transmission mode is airborne."

"Any idea of how contagious it is?" Martin asks, nodding. "If this is supposed to be some sort of weapon it would need to be highly contagious even if people like us couldn't die from it...."

"That is not necessarily true," Dr. Emori counters. "I guess I’m not explaining myself clearly. I don’t know how contagious it is. I can’t test that. I would tell you if I could. This isn’t Zaire where we have hundreds of sick people and can do a field study. This isn’t the CDC where I can just go to Rubicon and demand they show me their test results. I can’t ask the victims how many infected people they’d come in contact with. I am working with miniscule amounts of information, and half of what I’ve already told you is enlightened conjecture. If you’re uncomfortable with the risk, I understand that, and I’ll ask for someone else to be assigned to the case. If you’d like more information, I’d be happy to pass it along; however, that’s probably months off, and a dozen more people will have died by then." She stands up. "If I had a decade to explain my job to you I would, but for now, the best answer you will get out of me is ‘I don’t know that currently.’"

"Fair enough," Martin says apologetically. "Okay, if I can't turn into a research physician in the next ten minutes, then let me ask something out of my field - Have you had a chance to get a look at any of them? The bodies I mean?" he adds hastily.

"Two of them," she responds tersely, her face darkening. "That’s where all my samples have come from."

A shocked Mira stares at Dr. Emori, not quite sure what to say. "I'm sorry, Dr. Emori. I didn't mean to offend you with my questions. I guess it's that reporter in me getting out of hand. We do want to help," Mira says, earnestly. "And I'm not concerned about the risk. I just don't know a thing about biochemistry and before I break into Rubicon I want to make sure I know as much as possible so I can bring out the right information you'll need to fight this virus."

She asks, "What would be the best help for you? We can start exploring ways Rubicon right away. Since they're a PRIMUS contractor now security is probably very tight. Our best chance might be getting in through any subcontracting work they have - cleaning, hazardous waste disposal, and technical support." 

Emori sounds a little less stressed when she continues. "I’m a scientist, and my detective work is limited to knowing people which questions to ask. The way I’ve gotten any information about Rubicon, period, isn’t through analyzing microbes, but by having contacts on the inside. I can’t teach you ‘Virology 101’ in an hour or a day or a week, but I’m sure we have some books around here that might give you a heads up. The resources I need here are sheer detective resources; you have an agency full of paranormals you can bring in to help you. It’s not like I won’t be around for you to ask questions; you’re not exactly on your own here. And," she says sternly, "If you’re exposed to any weird radiation, please let me know immediately!"

"Will do, doctor," Mira grins. "I really don't want lose any more hair. I don't suppose your contacts could help get us in?" she asks. "No, that's probably too dangerous for them, we'll find another way. We should probably start by observing their main facility. Figure out who's employed there, outside security barriers, etc. "

"My contact," Dr. Emori says dryly, "Up and quit and moved out of the country without letting anyone know, and now refuses to talk about it to anyone. You’d be better off making your own, I think."

"Yes, that does put a kink in that idea," Mira nods. "Guess, it's the hard way. We can start surveillance immediately and following up other leads. I'll check with a couple of my sources and see what I can find out. Once I see their facilities, I'll have a better idea of how to get inside." 

Martin nods, "Okay - I've got a couple of 'detective-type' questions for you then, Doc. Did the bodies show any signs of having been under restraint? Bruising or damage around the wrists or ankles? Perhaps damage to the fingers where they tried to claw their way out of someplace against metal walls or doors? Maybe defense wounds from their capture?"

"The bodies showed several interesting signs," Emori answers. "Bruising on wrists and ankles, sure. Also, they’d lost bone mass, indicating they’d been strapped down or unable to move for some time." She wrinkles her brow, as if at a memory, and shakes her head quickly from side to side in an unconscious gesture of clearing it.

"Hmmm... do you have any information on Rubicon's main facility in San Francisco?" Mira asks. "Like is it primarily offices or an actual research building? I can do a rundown on the city's database of property owned by Rubicon and any of its subsidiaries." Mira takes down some notes. "See what properties are within a 5, 10 and 20 mile area of where the bodies were found. I'll also do some checking with the local hazardous waste companies. Rubicon probably contracts with someone to handle that disposal, given all the regulation in California. That and the various firms who handle delivery of chemicals, medical supplies and what not. Cross checking that with Rubicon's property lists should give us a smaller list of places to check out. I don't suppose there were any other forensic clues you came across that would help us narrow down where these people were taken? We should check with the police department, the basic reports on all of these victims would be public record. Though I imagine that they've sealed the coroner's report. I'd like to figure out how Rubicon knew these people were energy projectors so they could kidnap them for their study."

"I don’t know much about Rubicon’s operation here," Emori says, her tone sounding annoyed again. "That’s up to you to investigate. As for the coroner’s record, yes, it’s been sealed. My examination was hardly done with the knowledge or approval of the authorities, if you catch my meaning, and I wasn’t able to do as thorough an examination as I would have liked."

"All right," Martin says, standing up and picking up his jacket. "Mira and I will get on it, and if we run into any other things that we think you can help us out with, we'll give you a call."

Mira nods, engrossed in her notes, she gets up from the chair. "Thanks for the bio lesson doc. I'll remember. No radiation this trip. " Mira scribbles some more stuff in her notebook. Mutters something about "police reports, possible evidence. Cross check Rubicon's holdings, board of directors. Public records from the defense contract hearings." Engrossed in her notes she walks into Martin's back as they leave.

"Oops. Sorry Martin," she says, backing off. "Say, you've got some police sources don't you? What say you check out what the cops have on this, while I get a listing of Rubicon's property. We can meet back at my house in four hours."