Vatican Ambassador (6 page)

"Why did they tell you to create such a secure installation? What you've 'rebuilt' is far beyond what was originally here,” Wentworth insists. “Your new Vatican Mission is heavily armored, and heavily armed, bristling with hidden weaponry! It's capable of sealing itself off and running self-contained, independent from Lunar Prime. It's a small fortress. Why would they have you build something like this?" Wentworth presses BC hard.

"Why do you care?" BC asks.

Can't let him get to me...
How does he know so much about my rebuild? How does he know all
that, yet not know that it’s all been my little project?

"Creating the kind of secure installation you've been trying to build attracts attention, Campion. My attention, at the very least." Wentworth answers BC's unspoken question.
Must have been written all over my face...
What to tell him...

"We'd been hit hard twice. We're a target, so we took action to try to defend ourselves, simple as that," BC offers.

He does not need to know they didn't tell me how to rebuild...

"Simple as that?"

BC nods.

Wentworth smiles.

I do not like that smile. It's a cat-that-ate-the-canary kind of smile...

"You did it on your own, didn't you, Campion." Now Wentworth is nodding. "Yes. A free agent needs a strong base, eh? They just said rebuild. The rest is all you, isn't it? So again, I ask you, who's got your back, Campion? Who can help you when you're not in your fortress? Who can help you now?"

"Do you have a point?" BC half turns to go. "I really should get going..."

"Please, where to? You could use some new friends, Campion. So could we. This could be a mutually beneficial situation."

"You think so?"

"Why not? We'd be stronger together than apart."

"You need me. That’s sweet," BC laughs.

"You're still expendable, Campion, don't forget that. We have other leads and other agents working on this Vatican problem. You're easily replaced."

Wonder if he knows M'Bekke? Could they have gotten to him already? What if that message
really was a set up? Is he checking now to see if their message got through? If I'll cough it back
up at them? Am I completely paranoid?

"Don't get all warm and cuddly on me, now, Wentworth," BC jokes. Wentworth grins, but there is no joy in his grin. "What'll it be?" he asks BC. "Will you work with us?"
What have I got to lose? If I agree, I at least get out of here alive today…

"I'll work with you,” BC tells him. “I’ll maintain my independence, but I'll be glad to work with you. We're on the same side after all, right?" BC says. He extends his right hand to Wentworth. Wentworth shakes his hand.

"Right. Good. Pack your things, then. You're coming for a visit. We leave in four hours," Wentworth tells BC.

BC shakes his head.

"Now, wait just a min..."

"No questions, no protests. Please. Four hours. There are others who would like to speak with you. They're waiting back on my station."

"I see."

No, I don't see. Wait a...

"This is already starting to suck for me. You know that don't you?" BC cracks. Wentworth doesn't answer. He just stares at BC.

"Okay, all right," BC finally breaks the silence, "Where should I meet you?"

"Don't worry about that. I'll send someone with you. He'll bring you to the ship when the time comes."

"I bet he will. That is just so entirely helpful of you,” BC says with sarcasm. “Thank you so much," BC

lays it on thick.

Yes, I just bet he’ll bring me to you when you want me. I have no doubt of that. He'll be
making sure of a lot of things, I betcha.

"Bruno!" Wentworth yells. One of the goons who had melted into the woodwork steps out next to Wentworth and BC. "Go with Campion here. He's going to pack for our voyage. Bring him to us at the ship in time for our departure in exactly three hours and forty-five minutes."

"Yeah, boss. I'm on it." Bruno grunts.

"Bruno, you gonna shake my dick for me after I pee?" BC prods. Bruno's brow furrows.

“You don’t sound like no priest I ever heard of,” Bruno says. He looks at BC with death in his eyes, but then he looks over at Wentworth. Wentworth motions him to calm down.

"Bruno will wait outside your residence as you get ready for our trip," he explains to BC. "He will not be intrusive. Isn't that right, Bruno?"

Bruno grunts what might be a "Yes."

"Good enough, then,” Wentworth says. “See you in four, Campion," Wentworth tells him. He crosses the room and sits back down at the desk. BC looks at Wentworth, then Bruno, then shrugs, and heads out the door of the hotel room. He doesn't bother to look back to see if Bruno is following.
That is Bruno's problem. Well, isn't this fun? Swimming with the sharks…

BC, with Bruno in tow behind him, heads back to the Vatican Mission and his quarters. Bruno, good to Wentworth's word, does as instructed and stands outside BC’s quarters as BC goes in and gets ready for the trip.

"Don't get lost out here, Bruno," BC says as he heads into his rooms. Bruno grunts. "Gotcha," BC

answers.

Once inside, BC secures his rooms.

Must have done something right if the security measures attracted the notice of Wentworth and
his bunch. Wonder if he's got any back doors to my system. He sounded... I don't know, maybe he's
just playing me. Guys like him want you to think they know more than they really do.
Best be
careful, he may have a way in, at least into my info flow on some level... jeesh, am I too
paranoid... Or do I have to be with these guys?

After all, what kind of a way is that to call a meeting? Club the Ambassador? I don't know,
anymore. Goddamn it, everything's going to hell...

I don't have much choice but to go with Wentworth and his goons. Might as well find out what
he's pushing. The Pope doesn't seem to be anyone's ally right now.
Maybe I can see Fiza, make sure she's still in one piece... who knows?

BC takes out the CCU with the crystal from this morning still sitting in it.
All right, M'Bekke, let's see if it's really you...

He runs one of the diagnostic programs built into the CCU. The crystal comes up clean. Authentic.
Yeah... But... That analysis is based on the old protocols. Gotta do a more intensive
examination. Good start, though, good start. Let's see if there are any DNA traces. That would
make it nice and easy... Bingo.

BC uses the unit's analytical programs to isolate two distinct DNA patterns. Both test as true, not constructs. No false patterns to fool with.

Two sets. Once should be the courier, the other, if this is real, M'Bekke's. Let's see... this one's
unknown. Could be the courier. No worries yet. Let's look at this and... Yup! M'Bekke! Good to see
you, even a microscopic mote of you. So it's real. M'Bekke's still out there, somewhere.
Presumably not at the Vatican, not if this is true.

BC reads the words of the message in the upper part of the CCU's screen:

"Pope Peter killed by faction who installed Linus. Not killed in UIN attack. M'Bekke."
Doesn't sound like we've got a friend in the new pontiff. Better go with Wentworth and explore
my options. Better pack wisely! Let's see...

Three and a half hours later, Bruno rings the bell to the Vatican Ambassador's quarters.

"Yes?" BC says on the intercom.

"We gotta go soon," Bruno grunts.

"Gotcha, big guy. I'll be right there."

BC has been packed for an hour. But for the next twenty minutes he continues his meditation.
Maybe if I meditate I can avoid the headaches. Bruno can wait. I'm sure he'll ring again when
we really need to go.

One minute later, Bruno rings again.

"Yes?" BC inquires pleasantly.

"Let's go! Now!" Bruno barks back.

"Coming," BC continues pleasantly.

BC is packed for a priest's travel needs, not an assassin's. No weapons.
No ‘subterfuge’. I'm sure Wentworth has many levels of security. And when all else fails, big guys
with clubs. Primitive, yet effective.
I'll be the holy diplomat this trip.
Play the role, right?

"Hello Bruno!" BC greets the goon outside as he leaves his quarters. Bruno grunts and turns to lead BC

to Wentworth's ship. BC presses his hand against the security panel to seal up his rooms.
For what it's worth...

"Hey!" Bruno calls back. "Let's go! You're already late!" BC walks up to Bruno without saying a word.

"Here," Bruno says, "You go ahead. I wantcha where I can seeya."

"Which way am I going?" BC asks him.

"Left," Bruno barks, "here. Down to the private bays." BC follows his directions, walking just ahead of the goon as they head to the ship.

After several other barks and turns, they end up in a little used section of the Lunar Prime Spaceport.
Little used, but amazingly intact. They rebuilt these private bays with private funds. Built them
back up pretty fast, too.

BC laughs to himself.

Betcha Wentworth's bay is at least as secure as the Vatican mission!

"Here!" Bruno says, indicating a secure airlock door. Bruno presses his hand against the door's panel and it slides open. "Go ahead," he tells BC.

BC steps through the airlock door into the airlock. Bruno follows, closing the outer door behind him. He steps past BC to put his palm against the inner door ahead of them and it slides open, revealing a luxurious reception area. Wentworth's Station colors, gold, red and black, are duplicated here: plush red and gold walls, black marble floors, and a clear glass ceiling open to the stars obscured by just a hint of blue haze, letting BC and others know a security shield is in place.

Three other "Bruno's" are standing against the wall opposite the airlock BC walked in through. Another airlock door stands open between two of the thugs, apparently the airlock to Wentworth's waiting ship, docked outside. They move aside when BC and Bruno approach. Bruno grunts and points to tell BC to go ahead of him once again, into this second airlock.

BC has a sudden panic attack.

What if they're just going to space me, right here and now? No, why would they get so elaborate?

So it'll look like an accident?
Shit!

BC calms when Bruno steps into the airlock as before, pushing past to palm the panel in the door ahead of them as the outer door closes behind. A quick hiss and the door opens.

"Go!" Bruno says, and BC goes. He steps onto the ship. BC looks up and down the ship's empty corridor.

Hmm, black red and gold, how original... well, at least he's consistent.

"Go ahead, up and to the right," Bruno directs BC in his grunt-speak. BC heads down the corridor. Bruno shows him to a stateroom door.

"Press here," he says, indicating the door panel. BC feels a brief tingle as the door recognition systems id's his palm. The door slides open on a relatively posh stateroom with a king size bed.

"This is your room for the trip. Settle in for takeoff. Mr. Wentworth will be calling you after that."

"You make a great stewardess, Bruno," BC chides him. Bruno ignores him, turns and walks away down the corridor. BC walks in and surveys his stateroom.

Nice. A whole lot nicer than I'm used to. Being a simple priest and all.
The stateroom door slides shut behind him. BC turns and puts his palm against the door panel, but nothing happens.

Locked. Figures. Well, nothing to do now but enjoy the ride.

BC settles in for takeoff, which is relatively smooth.

I suppose he can afford the best pilots, right?

He lies on the bed as they make their way.

It took Fiza and me two days to get to Wentworth Station on a commercial ship. I wonder how
fast Wentworth makes the trip?

The bed is comfortable, and BC actually falls asleep soon after they leave the moon's surface. Wentworth's voice over an intercom wakes him up.

"Campion! We're almost at my station. Prepare to disembark."
Rude awakening! Huh, looking at the clock, it’s been about eight hours. Must be Monday
morning by now…

Damn... a headache?
Aw, no, not now...

BC massages his temples, rubs his forehead, and presses his fingers against his eyes, trying anything to stop the headache from intensifying. Wentworth's voice booms out again.

"Campion!"

That's not helping...

"Bruno will meet you outside your stateroom in twenty minutes. Be ready!"
This sucks...

“Gotcha. I’ll be there,” BC says into the com.

BC tries to freshen up. The stateroom facilities are top notch, with a sink and bath with running water. BC tries to hold back his headache as he gets ready.

It's probably costing him a fortune for me to wash my face right now. Maybe I'll just let the
water run, let the reclamation system crank for a while. Ouch, damn this thing!

BC scrunches his eyes closed as he presses the balls of his fists against the sides of his forehead. The headache backs off a bit, and he sighs in relief.

The headache manages to remain at bay as BC is lead by Bruno off the ship and into Wentworth Station. The surroundings are familiar, as Bruno leads him back up to the dining room he and Fiza had found themselves in almost six months earlier, the dining room with the large C-shaped semi circular table. Although BC can't help but feel a small sense of deja vu as he's lead into the dining room, this time the crowd is very different. No banquet this time, and sterner faces have replaced sycophants. Some of those faces are familiar to BC from his first visit.
But most of the faces of those seated at the table this time are familiar to BC from the news. These are most of the CEO's that make up the UTZ Council! BC

is surprised.

All the CEOs are here!

Wentworth speaks. "Father Campion, welcome. I trust you now understand why we've been so secretive and secure." He gestures to those gathered around him at the table, "We are each targets in our own right. Collectively, we make an incredibly attractive target. That is why no one knows of our meetings until after they've occurred. We gather together in person like this only seldom, and only in time of great crisis and need. This is such a time. Please, sit," Wentworth says, and BC sees that a chair to the right has been saved for him.