Vatican Ambassador (10 page)

“Or should I appoint a new acting ambassador?" Linus asks him provocatively.

"No need to, sir, I can do this. I'm just... I am surprised at our change of allegiance." Linus looks at him, and then circles back around behind the desk to sit down before he answers, as if considering his words carefully. He looks up, looks BC in the eye. "The UTZ is no friend to the church, BC. The UTZ has only used us.

“I worry that you are too close to them to see this," Linus says, shaking his head ever so slightly.
Too close to them? How much does he know? What to say...

"The UTZ seem to want our alliance,” BC tells Pope Linus. “They actually called
me
in to meet with them, the UTZ Council, to ask me why
you
hadn't been in touch, sir. All I could tell them was that
I
didn't know
. But they would not have reached out to
me
had you been in communication with them yourself, your holiness, with all due respect."

"Why is it when people finish a sentence with that phrase, 'with all due respect', they usually seem to be implying that no respect is really due at all?" Pope Linus prods him. "Rhetorical question."

"You didn't get in touch, and I was nearby and handy. They practically abducted me!" BC protests.

"Yes. I heard."

"So you know!” BC insists. “I'm no
friend
of theirs! If I was, I wouldn't be here telling
you
they've asked me to spy for them, to spy on you."

Throwin' the doggie a bone...

All of a sudden Linus is all ears, leaning towards BC across the desk. "Oh really?"
Feel the love...

"And what did you say? What did you tell them you'd do?" Linus asks.

"I told them I would. Of course," BC answers cryptically on purpose.

"You did? But you won't, will you?" Linus tries to puzzle it out.

"I'll tell them whatever it is that they should know," BC says, keeping it going. "Whatever
we
think they should know."

Linus relaxes.

Yes, and, of course, by "we" I mean me and the mouse I've got here in my pocket...

"I owe them no allegiance, your holiness," BC reassures him. Linus's brow furrows. "But... why then were you surprised that the church would end such an allegiance?"

"It was pleasant surprise, I assure you, your holiness. It seems uncharacteristically authentic, you see," BC explains.

"Quite a mouthful there, Father. Is that a compliment or an insult?" Linus challenges him.

"A compliment, sir, please don't take it otherwise."

I can't tell where this guy really stands. Or if he believes me.

"So am I to understand that you'll tell the UTZ council whatever
you
think they need to know?" Linus asks, showing more depth.

BC picks up on the disclosure.

He got that.

"I’ll tell them what they need to know. And I'll do the same for you, sir," BC tells him. Linus leans back, eyebrows rising, noticeably taken aback by BC's sudden impudence. Then he leans back in for emphasis.

"Where do your allegiances and alliances lay, Father Campion?" Linus asks BC directly.

"With those I trust, sir. Only with those I know I can trust."

"Do you think you can trust me?" Linus asks him.

"I don't know yet," BC answers honestly. "I don't know you well enough yet to go either way."

"But I am your Pope!" Linus proclaims.

"Oh, that's gonna get you far with me," BC says, half under his breath.

"What?" Linus demands.

"Are you really
my
Pope?" BC goes on the offensive. "How can I be sure? What
really
happened to Pope Peter?"

"He was killed in the attacks. You heard the news," Linus insists.
He's lying. Peter was dead before the attacks began. Now I know at least one thing about
him. He lies.

"I heard the news. Honestly? I didn't believe the news. I've learned not to believe much of anything, actually," BC says.

"You don't sound much like of a man of faith, Father," Linus observes.

"There
are
some things I do believe in, sir," BC counters. Linus looks him up and down, assessing.

"Who are you, Father? Who are you, really?"

"I'm your man on the moon, your holiness," BC demurs.

"So you say," Linus nods,” But how much you are actually
our
man very much remains to be seen, I think. It seems you're really nobody's man. I guess that will have to do, for now.

"Do you really think you can handle the peace conference?"
Linus asks him.

"We shall see, won't we?” BC answers honestly. “I give you my word: I will apply myself to the cause and do my best to make it happen," BC promises him. "Who doesn't want peace?"

"Who doesn't want peace? Indeed," Linus agrees.

"Actually, think about that for a second,” BC says, pausing. “What about the UIN? Do they really want peace? Do they want things to stay the way they are now? Them all cooped up on Mars? Us ranging all over the Moon and Earth and in Orbit? I don't think they want peace unless they get the Earth back in the bargain... and I'm not thinking we wanna make that deal." BC explains.

"They can't want more of their people to die," Linus protests.

"They can. They do,” BC tells him. “Some of them see it as the whole martyrdom thing, evidently. That's why we saw those Kamikaze attacks before."

Linus laughs at a funny thought, "Japanese Muslims, Father?" BC is not amused. "Actually, in all seriousness, Muslims using leftover Japanese tech, your holiness," he says soberly.

"I see," Linus says.

"I'll try to broker a peace,” BC says. “I'll attempt to set up this peace conference. But I don't think the UIN is going to settle for anything less than return of control of the Earth. The UTZ won’t agree to that. Nor should they. I don't know how much hope we should hold out for a peaceful solution,” BC tells him.

"You're a realist,” Linus says. “That's fine. Probably better than being an optimist.”

Pope Linus stands up behind his desk. “So… You make the conference happen. I'll make you permanent, full ambassador. That's our bargain. Deal?" Linus extends his hand. BC stands, reaches out and shakes it.

"Deal," he agrees.

"Well then." Pope Linus looks down at the papers on his desk. BC feels the pope's attention shift away entirely, almost a palpable thing. Linus almost offhandedly dismisses him. "Stay in touch, then. Get the ball rolling on the conference,” Pope Linus says. He sits back down. “Good day, Father."

"Good day, your holiness," BC says. He turns to leave. Linus looks up one last time.

"Thank you for responding to our call, Father Campion."

"You're welcome," BC says. Linus is already staring back down at his papers.
Weird dude. I'll leave, then, I guess. What is his angle? Who is he working for? Working with?

I'd almost find him authentic, if it weren't for M'Bekke's warning.
Questions preoccupy BC's mind as he makes his way out of the Pope's offices. He heads back to the Rome Air and Space Port, his mind buzzing with questions.

Where is M'Bekke? No sign of him at the Vatican during my brief visit. No outward sign of the
OPO anywhere, actually. So either we're completely underground or... we just don't exist
anymore.

Another papal coup? Who put Giuseppe in place, then... and why? Traditionalists? The Curia?

The Old Roman Catholics? Pope Peter never garnered their favor, not with the way he flaunted
so many traditions.

With the way Linus talked about the UTZ, it can't be them. No, not the UTZ, certainly, unless
they're playing an incredibly complex game... and playing me with it! Nah… a conspiracy like that
would have to be too complex to actually work. And the folks involved would have to be a hell of
a lot smarter.

Is "Pope Linus" really so in the dark on the OPO's true function? Or was he just playing me?

BC's thoughts turn back to the Moon.

Heading back to Lunar Prime, back home. It still feels like I'm going home, despite our new

"Governor" Daniel McEntyre. Wonder how the NcC's new neutrality will play with him? What
will he think of the Pope's peace plan and conference? Probably won't buy a word of it, knowing
him.

I'll be nice. I'll try not to punch him again, either. Try not to clench my teeth as I ask him
politely and diplomatically if I can hold a peace conference on the Moon, at Lunar Prime. See
what happens.

BC lands on the Moon and makes his way back to the Vatican Mission, to send out invitations and inquiries… and to see if Daniel McEntyre can be reasoned with.

McEntyre stalls him, at first, trying to put off any meeting with him. BC attempts to jump through all proper diplomatic hoops to schedule an open, public meeting. He officially and publicly petitions him for an audience, Ambassador to Governor. BC includes in the petition reference to discussing the new neutrality of the New catholic Church and possible ideas for peace. After a week of delays, McEntyre finally agrees to a public meeting.

At the meeting, BC asks the governor, politely and diplomatically, if he’ll agree to let BC host a peace conference on the Moon, at Lunar Prime, in mid-October.

BC makes a strong case. He outlines the parties he wants to involve, and presents the NcC’s intention of declaring neutrality. After McEntyre discovers that BC has reached out to the UIN leader Ibn Al-Salid and invited him to join in the peace conference, McEntyre begins to treat BC almost civilly. BC is pleasantly surprised. McEntyre agrees to the peace conference with little protest. McEntyre seems surprised himself by the newly neutral NcC. He shakes BC’s hand at the end of the meeting… the first non-violent physical contact between BC and McEntyre!

Peace holds through the summer. BC’s peace conference gives people hope there’s a chance for ending the war. Maybe even a chance at a lasting peace. The New catholic Church officially announces its neutrality in June. Pope Linus also promises some groundbreaking overtures towards the UIN at the coming peace conference.

July, August and September pass quietly. The parties confirm their intention to participate in the peace conference. The UIN will send a delegation. Although BC keeps his distance from the UTZ council over the summer, the UTZ agrees to send representatives. McEntyre agrees to involve the Lunar government. There is great anticipation for the conference by the time October arrives.

BC wakes up bristling with anticipation and anxiety on October 10th, the day his peace conference guests are scheduled to begin arriving.

Well. A day I never thought I'd see finally arrives!
My peace conference... how 'bout that? And
right on schedule!

The Reverend Bernard Campion, Acting Vatican Ambassador to the Independent Lunar State,
invites you to A Peace Conference on Lunar Prime, October 10th through the 13th, 2110. Please
do come... And they’re coming!

They'll all be here soon… at least their envoys and representatives will be.
BC dresses quickly and heads for the outskirts of Lunar Prime's port to watch representatives arrive.

Ayatollah Salid of Mars is sending representative Mohammed Ibn Al Sere, and his entourage. Wentworth is heading up the UTZ’s delegation.

To BC's dismay, Pope Linus has sent along what he called "additional Vatican Representation." BC

knows it’s to be Linus's eyes and ears for the conference:
Cardinal James Hardwick, Vatican Envoy. Hardwick came a day early. He arrived last night, expecting quarters and, apparently, maid service.
To the absolute delight of the mission staff used to my more egalitarian ways.
BC sees Hardwick off to the left out of the corner of his eye, standing among the welcoming reception crowd at the port and talking with Daniel McEntyre.

Those two look way too chummy for my taste. Look at them laughing!

Here comes the UIN group. The Muslims were genuinely surprised by the Pope's overtures of
neutrality.

We were all somewhat shocked when he pledged to try to find a way to grant them access to any
NcC controlled holy sites that Muslims hold to be holy on Earth. That overture was really
stunning. Surprising. The UIN were taken aback.

Damn. I can't help thinking back to the last peace conference. The one I ruined by assassinating
the last Governor McEntyre. Only doing my job, I keep telling myself. That's what they told me,
only following orders... I'm SO less sure of all of that, now. Maybe this peace conference can help
me make up for it. It won't give McEntyre back his wife. Won't give back all the lives lost as the
war continued, escalated. But maybe it’s my chance to do some good.
It seemed like it was right... the right thing to do. I can't say I always know what the right thing is
any more. Maybe the Peace Conference is my stab at it

BC watches McEntyre laughing, greeting newly arriving conference attendees.
I still want to hit him. Just one more time! He’s been good, though, supporting the peace
conference. I haven’t had to dig up the dirt on him, yet. Not that I won’t. Maybe I shouldn’t. I
don’t know.

Could I just hate McEntyre out of my own guilt?

Nah!

He's genuinely despicable in his own slimy right. Look at him. Wait a minute!

Who was that just behind him?

A familiar looking woman arrived with one of the delegations and passed just behind McEntyre.
Her?! No fucking way! Nita fucking Bendix?!

BC swears he just saw Nita Bendix, behind McEntyre, only visible for a second, then gone.
I haven't forgotten that face! You try to kill me, I remember you!

Instincts flood back for BC. It's all he can do to stand still as the "unofficial" gathering and greeting continues. He wants to get on the hunt. Find that woman!

Was it really her? Would she dare?
Why would she come back here? Huh, why wouldn't she? She
got away with a lot! What's stopping her? I wonder if she's still wanted for Meredith McEntyre's
death? I'm not sure if she was actually brought up on charges for that, officially. They had no
hard evidence, only suspicion. And her absence. Which I appreciate.
BC finds himself rocking on his heels.