The Harvester (27 page)

A
vianna leads us into one of the Italian Agency’s secret headquarters. She continues to escort us down a corridor and to a set of huge bronze double-doors. She executes a secret knock and the doors are opened by two Italian Harvesters. We collectively enter the room which appears to me to be their central intelligence area. The whole room is littered with computers, data bases, spy gear, guns, swords, electronic devices, Haloes of Truth, and various assortments of other weaponry. Several Harvester Techs work the computers. But what really catches my attention is a tall wall that has a large, complete, and very detailed map of all the Rome catacombs. I immediately navigate to it and start to scan the map. The others step in front of the map and do the same.

“This is a very impressive map of the catacombs, Avianna,” I compliment her.

“Yes, it is. The problem is Vega could be anywhere and there are kilometers and kilometers of catacombs,” she informs us. “We’ve already did a preliminary search and the red dots on the map represent a high possibility where he might be due to access to more of the city,” she adds.

“Good work, Avianna,” Kelly Marie compliments.

“Graci, Kelly Marie.”

“Have there been any electronic readings of Vega’s Master Hole?” Dorian asks her.

“We have picked up a few signals, but it has been weeks since we have,” she tells us. “Which could be a good thing or a bad thing,” she continues.

“However, we caught video surveillance of him just today emerging from a sewage, what you Americans would call a manhole, near the Pantheon,” an Italian Harvester interjects.

I nod at him. “That’s good news. How far away are we from the Pantheon, Avianna?”

“Within walking distance,” she says. She points to the floor, and we see a manhole cover. “That’s the best way to trek,” she relays to us.

“You and who else will be aiding us on this Hunt, Avianna?” I ask because I always need to know who’s going to be part of the crew.

“Harvey, you remember the twins, Antonio and Fabio, right?”

Antonio and Fabio, fine specimens of Harvesters, and could easily be prolific, rich models anywhere, step forward.

“Long time no see, Harvey,” Antonio says to me.

“Of course, of course I remember. Our last Hunt together was quite intense. Remember, twins?”

“How could we forget that Underworlder transvestite?” Fabio states.

All of us laugh.

“It’s good to see you guys again. So the three of you joining us, huh?” I direct my question to Avianna.

“For now, yes. If we get a read on Vega, well, plenty more,” she assures me. “But before we enter the catacombs, I must get your crew acclimated to Rome, so you fit in better and know your way around.”

I
n catacomb 3B, my crew, Avianna and the twins traverse westward toward the Pantheon where Vega was spotted yesterday. The stench down here would be unbearable to most, but for us Harvesters, we’re able to shut off our sense of smell, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. The environment down here is dreadful to say the least. Why would Vega choose this area to inhabit and not another more pleasant environment? There obviously must be an important reason for him to do so. He always has motives to benefit the Underworld.

If we don’t capture and send Vega to the After for good, I weep for humanity. He wants, desires, obsesses over even, for world domination and if this comes even close to fruition, then all humanity will become his slave until death just as he wishes. His overall goal is the ultimate power and control of the earth. He wants to usher in the Underworld as the supreme power, ruler of all.

And with him as the ruler of all, well, this would be his goal of goals. With Vega having this type of power, all will be lost. It will literally be Hell upon earth, a deal he made with Lucifer, no doubt.

Rats scurry by us as we continue down the ancient catacomb. Avianna leads the crew to the right and down a different catacomb which is tighter and lower by about three feet.

“Why do you think Vega of all people chose our country to hide out, Harvey?” Fabio curiously asks me.

“Not sure, Fabio. Anything’s possible when it comes to Vega,” I tell him. “He could even be plotting to do something to or with or both to the pope himself,” I add on.

Now the expressions on the twins’ and Avianna’s faces turn to that of extreme concern and worry.

“If he does anything to one of the most beloved popes he would cause mass chaos and mayhem,” Antonio states.

“Chaos, mayhem? That’s right up Vega’s alley,” Kelly Marie informs them.

Avianna stops. “This was the first place we picked up a Vega reading.”

“There might be a secret room or passage around here,” Dorian says to everyone.

I pull out one of Djinn’s new, brilliant creations.

They look like night vision goggles, but they can see beyond any sort of wall and pickup geologic anomalies like a secret room of some sort. I scan the whole area and finally discover an anomaly beyond the catacomb wall.

“Right here. I found an anomaly,” I comment.

Everyone immediately searches for some sort of hidden mechanism to reveal the secret room. Did they so quickly forget the equipment I’m using that found the anomaly. Once again, I scan the area for the triggering mechanism. I look at the ground and finally spot it out. It appears to be a few feet underground.

“Right here,” I step on the spot and tap it a few times with my foot.

Avianna draws her sword and uses it to dig for the triggering mechanism. A sword can be used in a variety of ways, not just killing. She keeps digging, and all of a sudden, we hear a metal hitting metal sound. She drops to her knees and reaches for the mechanism.

“I got it,” she tells us.

She pulls up a lever and part of the catacomb’s wall gives way to reveal the secret room. With eager anticipation, we move to the room and peer in. We see a stockpile of various weapons and ammo. It’s basically a cornucopia of weapons, a hardcore cache if you will.

I look over at Kelly Marie and Dorian. “You know what to do,” I say to them.

They nod and each pull out an explosive device more powerful than a hand grenade. They toss them in the room. Avianna pushes the lever down and the door closes. Shortly after that, the room explodes and destroys everything within it.

“On to the next place, Avianna,” I instruct her.

She leads us further down the catacomb to another one and we head down it. Avianna knows these catacombs as if she was raised in them.

“Are there any catacombs that are located near or even under Vatican City?” I ask Avianna.

“There are indeed,” she informs me. “They go right by and underneath it,” she continues.

“Take us there, Avianna,” I say to her.

“Does the pope have any outdoor speech engagements happening soon?” Dorian asks the Italian Harvesters.

Avianna abruptly stops in her place with a worried expression on her face.

“Tomorrow he does,” Antonio tells us.

“We need to search all the catacombs near and under the Vatican immediately. I have a bad feeling,” I state to everyone.

Two hours later, and we find ourselves obstructed by a concrete wall.

“This wasn’t here a few days ago,” Avianna informs us.

“This is definitely Vega’s doing. Who knows how thick that concrete is?” Kelly Marie states.

“Is there a way to circumnavigate this barrier?” I ask Avianna.

“No. We need to warn Vatican City of a possible imminent attack on the pope,” Avianna says with a concerned tone in her voice.

She sprints off in the other direction with the twins in tow. We’re not far behind them.

B
ack at the Italian command central, Avianna speaks on the phone incredibly fast due to her being incredibly frustrated. She slams the phone down and it breaks into pieces. She angrily paces.

“What did they say?” I ask her.

“They don’t believe us. The bastardos don’t believe us!” she exclaims.

“This stinks of a cover up,” I tell everyone.

“Of course. Vega must have his people within the Vatican who aren’t ever going to deliver our message of danger,” Fabio states the ever so obvious.

“That’s correct, Fabio. Thanks,” I say without trying to sound sarcastic.

“We should bring the message to the pope ourselves,” Kelly Marie states.

I turn to Avianna. “Is that possible, Avianna?”

“Possibly. But most likely, Vega has his people as a part of the pope’s Swiss guards,” Avianna says.

“In which that would make our plight impossible,” Kelly Marie remarks.

“What can we do?” Antonio inquires.

“We could abduct the pope before he steps up to give his speech,” I give an insane idea.

Everyone gives me a “say what?” look.

I shrug my shoulders. “He’s your pope, not mine. If you got a better idea, I’d love to hear it,” I further add.

They all pause and think for a few moments, then agree with me with silent head nods.

“Okay. We agree. However, this could bring a lot of heat on the Agency. We must pull it off correctly or we’re screwed,” I tell them. “We might even get the pope killed.”

“If we’re thinking about doing what I think we’re about to do, we must do this without a green light from our Agency’s approval, right?” Kelly Marie inquisitively asks.

I nod my head at her, and she appears perplexed.

“If you don’t want to be a part of this plan, we’ll understand,” I tell her. But I know what her response will be.

“Hell no, Harv. We are a team, and that’s that,” she retorts to my comment.

I smile at her with a head nod. “I knew you wouldn’t let me down,” I say to her to make her try to feel a bit more comfortable with what we are going to do.

“So what’s the plan, Americano?” Antonio asks me.

“I have a few ideas of how this should go down,” I tell him.

All heads turn to me for an explanation. They know what is at stake and would like some sort of explanation.

Their careers, their second lives are on the line here. And it’s all due to my idea. Stress on me? Uh, well . . . A little bit, yeah. Considering I don’t really have a plan yet.

Yeah. Feeling the stress.