Vatican Assassin (4 page)

The Cardinal’s getting all fired up! Christ, he’d applaud my mission, if he only knew.
Wonder how he got so bitter? Even I don’t hate the Moslems like that. God is Love? Over the
fucking top. Could freak out Edwards. I’ve got to find a way to moderate the situation.

“Our holdings have never been attacked here on the Moon, but we’ve been hit repeatedly by UIN forces back on Earth and in orbit, Governor Edwards. How close are the UIN ships? Should we worry? Head for shelters?”

“We don’t know they’re a threat, yet, but with the governor dying so suddenly and the ships showing up at the same time, well, I just worry it’s too connected to be a coincidence. Do UIN ships behave a certain way before they attack? Do they get into any formations, or assume any telltale flight patterns?”

BC and The Cardinal look at each other, then back at Edwards.

“I’m afraid you’re asking the wrong people about starship battle tactics, my son,” The Cardinal says and smiles, falling back into his patronly pastoral mode. He sits back down and wipes his brow with a red kerchief he pulls from an unseen pocket somewhere in his robes.
Time for me to buy a little bit of confidence from Edwards with a little bit of knowledge.
Help reinforce the idea that we’re on his side.

“Governor, I’ve been told they approach single file, spreading out in four directions as they reaching optimal firing range. Then, they rotate while firing, like the blades of a lethal pinwheel. Or at least that’s what I’ve heard. Something like that.”

Edwards is surprised.

“Oh. Okay. Thank you, fa, um, BC. Well, yeah, these ships are forming up single file.”

“Are they moving this way?”

“Not yet.”

“If they do come this way, governor, and they stay single file...”

“Yeah?”

“...we should probably hit the shelters. Reagan Station does have emergency shelters, right?”

“We have some, but they’re old. I don’t know what kind of repair they’re in. And there’s nowhere near enough space for everybody in and around Lunar Prime. There’ll be riots, panic, people getting crushed to death... This could get ugly.”

The Cardinal clears his throat and fixes his stare on Edwards.

“They’re taking advantage of your inexperience, governor. Because you’re new, they threaten and test you. Are these the actions of friends of Luna?” the Cardinal asks.
Whoa, you’re spinning it harder than me, Andersen. Easy there, old man, don’t ruin it.
Edwards is close to losing it on the Cardinal.

Edwards shakes his head.

“Look, your holiness, you’re not helping. Save your hate, okay? I just need some helpful advice. I thought that’s what you,” he looks back and forth at both of them, ”are supposed to provide. Am I wrong?”

Got to turn Edwards our way. The Cardinal is blowing it completely.

“I’m trying to help, sir. If there is anything the Vatican can do for you, Mr. Edwards, let me know. And please, let me know if those ships move this way?” BC tries to reassure him.

“Yeah, I’ll try to.”

Edwards turns and moves to leave, “I’ve got a lot going on right now, please excuse me.”

After he’s gone, BC turns to the Cardinal.

“I don’t think you helped our cause there any, your
eminence
.” BC lays a little sarcasm on the last word.

“Eminence? Please. I haven’t been called that since the reunification.”

“Actually, I like saying it. Eminence. Em-ih-nence. EMINENCE! Sounds powerful, doesn’t it?

We must maintain appearances, mustn't we, your eminence?”

“Please stop that! The Muslims are a dangerous and angry people, Campion. They don’t think as we do! I know they
say
they count Christ as a prophet, whatever they mean by that, but they do not respect life as we Christians do.”

How do I answer that? Sure we respect life. Sure we do. Me, especially, that’s what I do
for the church, respect life. Best not to think about that too much, huh?

“Do
you
think they killed the governor, Campion?”

“Well, sir, we still don’t know that she was killed. Maybe we shouldn’t make that assumption.”

“I wouldn’t put it past them. This whole thing stinks of the UIN. Kill the governor, create chaos, then move in and take advantage. They’re infidels and they want us, you and I, Father Campion, they want us dead. Make no mistake. I wanted to emphasize that for our new governor. I think he could be on our side.”

“Well, he might be, if you don’t scare him away.”

“He needs to know the danger in the situation.”

Time to build some confidence with the Cardinal. Let him in a little.

“The OPO heard rumors that Governor McEntyre was holding secret talks with UIN

representatives here on Luna.”

“Really? I saw no evidence of that. Still, it all makes a certain sense, though. And those who think they can bargain with the devil always get burned,” the Cardinal chuckles at his own wit. “Are you certain?”

“That’s what we heard. Just rumors.”

“Is that why you’re here, then?”

“Do you really want to know? Do you want to question one of Peter’s men as to his calling?”

“No. I suppose I don’t want to know. I’m sure it’s all in, ahem, God’s Name?”

“Absolutely, your eminence.” BC lays a little sarcasm on the last word. The intercom dings.

“Governor Edwards on the line for you both.”

“Yes, put him through. Governor?”

“They’re moving in closer, single file, just as you said, Father Campion. Could you both meet me in my office immediately?”

The governor’s suite on Lunar Prime is strategically located, positioned to catch “earthrise” in most of the windows in it’s outer wall along the long strip of meeting rooms, offices and staterooms. BC and the Cardinal now sit in the governor’s main office and conference room as the Earth hangs on the short horizon outside.

BC stares at the Earth, large in the window behind Edwards, who stands at the end of a long table shuffling through some papers.

There are officials from the UTZ at the table, and, judging by their uniforms, some Lunar Security people as well, people BC hasn’t met yet. Conspicuous by their absence are any members of any group affiliated with the UIN.

Edwards clears his throat and begins.

“Thanks for coming with no notice.”

Edwards looks nervous. He keeps adjusting his tie. He fidgets with his wristband. BC notices he’s changed his clothes.

Probably sweated right through his last set.

“Luna has attempted to stay neutral in the war between the UTZ and the UIN. We have opened our arms to both sides in hopes of being peacekeepers and unifiers.

“With our arms open, and the Moon vulnerable, one of the parties we had thought to be our friend now seems to be showing different colors, showing themselves, maybe, to be our foe. As I speak, Transpace warships from Mars, from the Universal Islamic Nation, are closing in on the Moon in attack formation. The war may be on its way here.

“We’ve never asked for the UTZ or the Vatican to join in our councils before. I thank you for joining us now. We may need allies. We seem to face a clear and present danger from the UIN at this time, which I believe warrants reevaluating our policy of neutrality.”

Wow...
Jackpot! We couldn’t have hoped for better! He’s sold already, or playing a very
clever game.

Is he that smart?

Edwards is interrupted when a Lunar Security Cop enters the office. BC recognizes her. She’s got a bruise on her forehead. She’s the LSC he knocked out earlier, getting out of the tunnel! He pretends not to notice her.

She looks at him strangely, but quickly moves on and over to Edwards, presenting him with a sealed report. He opens it, grimaces.

“She was killed.”

Edwards starts shaking. He brings his hand to his brow, pinches the bridge of his nose, and takes a deep breath. Composing himself, he continues.

“Someone, um, assassinated Governor McEntyre. There were neurotoxic traces on her skin and in her blood. Someone murdered her.

“I think, maybe, we can see now who.” Edwards is almost talking to himself. Then he looks up at the group around the table.

“Hey, um, I need a minute or two, okay?”

Edwards sits down, motions to the LSC.

“Could you, uh, get me the latest reports on the

position and disposition of the UIN ships? And could everyone take five?”

The group around the table mumbles and nods assents. They get up from the table and head for the office door.

As they leave the governor’s office, the Cardinal turns to BC.

“I told you. They killed her! Now they’re coming in to finish the job! You wait here and help Mr. Edwards, Campion. I’m going back to the mission. If the governor needs me, let me know, but I think this is more your area of expertise.”

“So I’ll be able to reach you in the mission’s shelter, then, Cardinal?”

“Yes! Ah... I see, you got me there, Campion. Excuse me.”

Just outside the office door the LSC from before taps him on the shoulder.

“Excuse me?”

“Yes?”

“You look familiar, father... have we met?”

“I don’t think so. You are?”

“Nita Bendix, Lunar Security. You sure we’ve never met? Do you go out at all?”

“No, not really,” BC says, gesturing at his outfit. “I’m a priest.”

“Yeah, but you’re New Reform, right? You can party and everything, right?”

“Well, sort of, but no, I just got here recently.”

“You’re kinda cute. Do you have to stay celibate?”

Man! Didn’t expect this...

“Well, not technically.”

“I see. See you later, father. Father... ?”

“Campion. Bernard Campion, but you can call me BC.”

“Okay, Father BC.”

“Just BC.”

“Okay, just BC. Bye, for now, anyway.” She gives him another strange look, turns and takes off down the corridor.

Little flirt! Probably hasn’t been right since that clunk on the head. Nice body, anyway...
A tall, blond haired man in a beige suit storms down the corridor towards BC, past Nita Bendix as she walks away. He brushes into BC, almost pushing him out of the way, and begins hitting the greeting buzzer on the governor’s office door repeatedly.

A fixed look of anger scrunches up his face. His red-rimmed eyes don’t seem to be looking at anyone or anything. He keeps pounding on the buzzer.

The door opens after about the fifteenth buzz. The man surges in before the door even opens halfway.

BC hears, “Daniel!” as the door closes.

Must be McEntyre’s widower. The angry, grieving spouse. Daniel McEntyre
.
Just got the
news, I suppose. He’s in with the UIN, too, according to our reports. Possible future target. Has a
weakness for very young Asian women and very old scotch. Our reports are pretty damn
thorough...
Know your enemy, one of the most basic rules. Too many skeletons to hold office
himself, so he worked beside his wife. Family affair, how sweet.
He’s all worked up. I wonder how much of his grief is real and how much is him trying to
salvage the situation for his friends in the UIN?

He’s
p
robably in there trying to undo all the confidence and trust I’ve been working to
build up in Edwards. The UIN doesn’t want him cozying up to the OPO!

Almost three minutes

now. I’ll just mistakenly reenter early...

Daniel McEntyre is shouting and waving with his back to BC as BC opens the door.

“ Of course this is an assassination, Marc! They killed her. She’s gone! They took her from me. Took her away from me! From all of us! And now you’re taking their side?”

Daniel McEntyre doesn’t hear or see BC enter, but Edwards does.

“Father Campion! Please, excuse us, I’ll let you know when we’ll reconvene.”

I don’t think so
.
Time to see what this McEntyre guy’s all about.

“Mr. McEntyre? I’m sorry about your loss. I’m sure you want to blame someone...”

“Damn right I do! This time you and your UTZ puppet masters have gone too far! Was it you? It probably was you! You’re Campion, right? I heard all about you. You’re OPO. You’re not really even a priest! You used to be just a rip-off scam artist, a fake minister until their so-called “reunification”

legitimized you! I know all about you, Campion! You and your type make me sick! You call yourselves Christian!”

“Clearly you’re distressed, sir. And you must have me confused with someone else, certainly. I can understand...”

McEntyre drowns him out, yelling and moving towards him with his hands balling into fists at his sides.

“You and your UTZ butchers won’t get away with this! You won’t!”

“Daniel!” Edwards finally tries to intercede, getting up from the table to move between McEntyre and BC.

Best if I just say nothing at this point. Be the calm beside the storm.

“You bastards are all so smug!” McEntyre shouts at BC, face to face. BC doesn’t flinch, absorbs the rage.

Edwards approaches, tries to calm McEntyre, pull him away from BC’s face.

“Daniel, you’re overwrought, you gotta calm down! Please.”

“That’s it!” McEntyre turns and charges BC.

Shit! He’s crazy!

BC drops under McEntyre’s charge, arms up in front of his face. McEntyre flies over him, into the doorframe with a loud “slap.” He shakes it off, gets back up and turns and grabs BC by the collar as BC gets up.

Edwards muscles in and gets his arms around McEntyre from the back to pull him off BC. McEntyre drops BC’s collar. When McEntyre’s arms come down, Edwards shifts his hold. He wraps his arms around McEntyre, pinning his arms at his sides, holding him in a steady bear hug.
Wow, Edwards didn’t look that big at first. That looks like some law enforcement style
hold he’s got on him, too. Let’s hear it for proper training. And good reflexes.

“Let me go, Marc!”

“Daniel!

“Let me go, Marc! They’re the killers!”

“C’mon, Daniel, calm down before I gotta call security...”