by Greg Ballan
Bishop O'Malley studied the detective. "Are you prepared to take your rightful place as a Warrior of Light, Erik?"
The detective shook his head. "No. I'm ill equipped to fight the kind of war you want me to fight. I'll have my meeting with Speaker Collins and see what I can glean from him, but after that I'm stepping back. I have my family to consider, and I'm not going to put them in harm's way. I came here to help Martin solve a murder and I've done that. I'm sure there are enough Lords of Light to handle this without me. If God is all powerful, and I believe that to be true, He'll clean up his own mess without me getting involved."
O'Malley shook his head. "Still you don't comprehend. God works through others, Detective, never getting directly involved. Lucifer is the same way. Molec is not. Molec will not play by the rules of ethereal engagement. Whether you wish to be or not, Erik, you are involved. Molec would not have sent a wraith against you if he didn't perceive you as a threat. If you think the Arch Demon will just stop because you've decided not to get involved further, I implore you to reconsider. Special Agent Knight, you're already hip deep in this conflict. You killed a powerful force of darkness and boldly challenged both the forces of Light and Dark during your combat. I assure you both sides heard your bold proclamation and consider you a powerful force. But your opponent isn't an agent of the devil. He wishes to replace the devil with his own brand of evil. If successful, the end of this world as we know it is imminent."
Erik shook his head. "Then maybe God should get involved and stop relying on other people to do His dirty work." The aggravated detective gestured toward Heaven. "He made the rules and He can break them, rewrite them or whatever He damn well pleases. He's God, Your Excellency, I'm not. I'm not all powerful and all knowing; I'm just a man that wants to get home to my family. Am I shaken and bothered by all this holy revelation? Hell yes! What sane man wouldn't be? Is my perspective of the world forever altered? Yes, you've succeeded in that as well. But that doesn't mean I'm going to get embroiled in some eons-old conflict fought by supernatural immortals that travel amongst the heavens like we walk through air and use entire planets to play a type of cosmic chess." The agitated detective closed his eyes momentarily, forcing down his anger. "I appreciate your situation, Bishop O'Malley, but I'm the father of a sweet little boy and the husband of a beautiful woman who likes me just the way I am and likes having me home at night, safe. The idea of getting involved in a huge conflict right now is not my choice."
O'Malley shook his head. "Sometimes, Detective, we don't get what we want. I will confer with the cardinals and the Holy See and pass on all that we've learned. You and Mr. Denton will be escorted back to your suite."
Two Vatican guards gestured toward the door. Erik and Martin stood and began walking toward the ominous white barrier.
"A very determined lot." Martin mumbled as the two guards formed up behind them.
"Indeed. And I'm determined not to get involved in something way over my head."
O'Malley called out, causing both men to pause half in and half out of the ivory room, "Son of Adam and of the stars! You can deny your destiny, but you cannot change it. You can avoid this conflict but I fear it will seek you out and compel you. When that happens, please remember we tried to warn you."
Erik nodded and stepped out of the room. Martin followed behind him. The men walked back to their suite in silence knowing anything they said in conversation would be repeated to their hosts by their escorts. Erik nodded to the men as he closed the door to their suite. The detective flopped on the sofa. Martin went into his bedroom and came back out carrying a note pad and pen.
I'm betting we're bugged again.
Erik smiled and nodded, picking up the pen. No doubt. Look at the table. The scramble box we left is gone, and the curtains have been changed. He pointed towards a large picture. That picture was hanging on the other wall when we left. I remember because I kept staring at it when we first settled in. I enjoy ocean scenes. Either our spies are incompetent or they're hoping we're observant enough to know we're being bugged.
Denton produced another black box from his pocket, activated the unit and placed it on the coffee table. "You think we have an ally here in Vatican City?"
Erik shook his head. "I don't know." He pointed toward the picture. "That's a blatant mistake. Our friends are either sending us a message, or are just plain careless."
Denton's face flushed and Erik laughed. "That was a jibe, Counselor. Had I not spent fifteen minutes gazing at it a few days ago, I probably would have missed it too, considering all we've been through."
Denton laughed. "I must be getting rusty. I admit I'm not on my game right now."
"Martin, you've gone through hell, we both have at this point! My perception of the world is forever changed and…"
"And…"
Erik stood gazing out the large sliding glass door. "And I just need time to come to terms with all of this."
"Not to pick at it, Erik, but you're confusing me. I got the impression you were on board with all of this eternal war and good versus evil drama? I know I've seen enough to have me in a confessional once we get home. Hell, I may never sleep again."
The detective turned and nodded. "I get the threat and I understand the ramifications, Martin. I'm not running from a fight. I'm just not going to fight a battle on their terms as their patsy."
Denton nodded, gesturing back toward the couch as he adjusted to a more comfortable position. Erik sat staring at his friend.
"Do you trust them?"
Denton frowned. "Difficult question. I know what these men are supposed to represent and I understand they're serving a force of supposed light and decency, but I still see scandal and corruption. The very fact that Father Bashir and Timulty were bought and there are nun prostitute spies leads me to believe that the church, for all its supposed morality, is just as flawed and human as any other institution."
Erik sighed. "Or just as easily corrupted. O'Malley, the Archbishop, and the other men—they're all pure souls. The squeaky clean impression I get off them is undeniable. They have no real concept of malice which is probably why they seem so flatfooted dealing with the crap going on around them." Erik pointed. "So we're in agreement. You really don't trust them?"
Denton shook his head. "Trust has to be earned, Erik. Right now, the men here are reacting like ants that just had their ant hill kicked over. They don't know how to react to what's been happening under their very noses. If anything, I'd say the amount of naivety among the church leadership is more a cause for alarm than any sense of mistrust. I believe the Archbishop and Bishop O'Malley are decent men caught up in a bigger game than either is comfortable with at this point." Denton sighed. "I trust them about as far as I can throw them … but not nearly as far as you could."
Erik snorted. "You know how annoying those long answers are, especially when you know I want a yes or no."
Denton shook his head. "I wish it was that simple."
"Me too." Erik stood again and began pacing, clearly agitated. "I know I have to do this, Counselor. I know I should be embracing this fight, but there's something out there, some missing piece I can't get my hands around, a part of the equation that's fucking up the math on my mental chalkboard. My gut tells me there's going to be a price to pay for wading into this battle full tilt." He looked over at his old friend. "And I know I'll be the one paying it."
"What price, Erik? You must have some idea?"
"None, just that annoying buzz in my head that keeps telling me I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't."
"Okay, let's do the calculus together. The implications of not fighting are simple. Molec, in all probability, will take over the planet. From what our Vatican friends say, that won't be a good thing for anybody. If you do fight and are able to stop Molec along with the other forces of light, you'll save the planet including your wife and son."
Erik stiffened and a tear rolled down his cheek. "My son, Martin, the son that wasn't supposed to be born."
Denton tilted his head. "Okay you lost me."
Erik told his friend what he learned from Jakor and how the battle for good and evil took place on the Esper home world spilling over to Earth so many centuries ago. He also informed his friend that his son could not have been conceived without some sort of divine intervention.
Denton was silent for nearly ten seconds. "I don't know what to say, Erik. Is there any chance you were just experiencing some sort of drug-induced dream? They did have you on some pretty powerful painkillers."
"I don't think so, Martin. Jakor has been inside my head ever since my change. A few years back he went silent and, to be honest, I was grateful to have my own mental real estate to myself again. I didn't try to call his essence up because I welcomed the solitude. What I experienced was real. I know it wasn't a dream. Shanda and I have been trying for nearly two years to have another child and nothing. That somewhat corroborates Jakor's tale."
Denton shook his head. "A whole city? He made a whole city in your mind?"
Erik nodded.
"Okay so Jakor is still inside your head, and knows what's going on. That's something you can use. But it still doesn't mean you and Shanda can't have a child. How could he know this? You said he was a bunch of programmed neural synapses wired into your brain, a set of active memory files. How could he know or even comprehend pregnancy or your state of fertility let alone have an intelligent conversation with you?"
Erik shrugged his shoulders. "Martin, I honestly don't know. I don't fully understand how Jakor's essence is able to exist in my head, but every time I've interacted with it, the advice I've been given has always been spot on. I have to believe that this time isn't any different. Why would he even bring up the topic if it wasn't of some significance? Jakor has no reason to lie to me … I don't think he's capable of lying."
Denton shook his head. "My God … add this to the list of unbelievable events. We're now referring to a bunch of neural cells in your head by name."
Erik nodded. "I know, but he is real, and he does exist inside my brain and he's made himself one hell of a home."
Martin placed a hand on Erik's shoulder. "Let me give you one piece of advice, my young friend, and take it as gospel. You have a son, love him always, and never let stupid things get in the way. Life is funny, Erik, and we never know how long we're going to have the people we love around us. I know you're heartbroken about not being able to have more children, but you have a wonderful son that loves you. Hold onto that and never let it go. You have a family. Take comfort in that as you wrestle with the issue of having more children. Some couples don't even have the one child you were blessed with." Denton's voice broke and the old man turned away as a grief-wracked sob escaped him. "Hold on to your son, Erik. Don't make the mistake I made."
Erik felt the pain radiating from his friend as he succumbed to the grief. "I won't, Martin, I promise. But I want you to remember always, you're a part of our family, too. Our door is always open to you. EJ doesn't have a grandfather figure and he seems to really like you." Erik took a deep breath. "EJ will need your guidance and wisdom, just like I do. Family sticks together, Martin, and we're family. However odd and dysfunctional we may appear on the outside and despite all the weird shit we go through, we're family."
Denton looked up at his young friend and nodded. "Thank you."
Erik broached another delicate subject. "Were you able to see your son's body?"
Denton nodded. "Yes, they had all the pieces." The old man sighed. "He was torn apart like he'd been attacked by a bear."
Erik closed his eyes in dismay. "Are you bringing him home, Martin? Do you need any help with the arrangements?"
Denton looked over at his friend. "William will be buried here with his friends. While you were in the hospital, the Archbishop asked me if I would consent to having my son buried on holy ground. I know William would have wanted that and I was told it's a great honor. It's the least I could do for him and it's what he deserves."
Erik nodded. "That's good. Our Vatican friends are doing a noble thing. Your son deserves a holy resting place given his faith. I assume there's going to be a service or a Mass held for him and the others."
Denton nodded. "Yes, I was going to bring that up later. There will be a Mass and a special eulogy for the three of them next week. The other families are being flown in and I was invited to stay here in the suite until then."
Erik smiled. "That's good. They're doing right by him. I can call Shanda…"
Denton shook his head. "No, Erik. You've been away from your little one far too long and they both went through hell after that wraith attacked us. You go home and be with them and see if you can chase down a few leads. Your agent status is reactivated, so you'll have the resources of the firm behind you. I'll keep in contact periodically and let you know when I'm back stateside. There really isn't much more we can do here. The trail leads back to Washington and that's where we need to go.
Chapter 7. Hard to Kill
Vatican City: Palace of the Holy Office
Bishop O'Malley sat in the far corner of the cavernous room. He'd never been summoned to the Holy Office. This huge meeting place was a stark contrast to the mysterious 'White Room' used for strictly secret Church meetings. The décor of the room was beyond description, elegant life-sized statues of colored quartz and marble dominated each corner, and the artwork on the ceiling rivaled that of the Sistine Chapel. Three rows of well-padded chairs surrounded a forty-foot marble conference table. The rows were set back several feet from the table and filled with staffers who served the leadership seated at the table. O'Malley wondered if Michelangelo himself had been commissioned to paint the large ceiling here as well. O'Malley recognized several high-ranking cardinals of the Pope's personal staff but the presence of non-clergy was a mystery.
O'Malley recognized the US ambassador to the Vatican, and several high ranking clergy from the Greek Orthodox and Jewish faiths. The high-strung bishop also spotted two Muslim clerics conversing in the corner directly opposite him. Multiple clergy from the various denominations of the Protestant Church, were in attendance. O'Malley recognized representatives from the American Universalist Church, a powerful Baptist minister and several other distinguished representatives of faiths all around the globe. This was truly a meeting of historical importance and O'Malley wondered why he'd been summoned.
The large mahogany wood doors opened and the Holy Father was escorted in under heavy guard. Everyone rose from their seats. The Pope seated himself in the large ornate chair at the head of the table taking a few moments to personally welcome each representative speaking in Greek, Hebrew, French, Spanish, Portuguese or English as required He turned toward the Islamic leaders and spoke to them in accented Arabic gesturing toward two empty seats at the table. The two men nodded, responding in Arabic and took their place among the other leaders of the world's religions.
The Pope spoke in that same soft tone use by the Archbishop. "Welcome, I thank you for dropping your plans on such short notice and making the trip to Rome. I wish we were coming together under more pleasant circumstances but I fear for the safety of all our faiths at this moment." The Pope paused as he studied each man and woman at the table. "The time for all people of faith to come together has arrived. It is imperative we put aside whatever squabbles we may have and move forward as one to avert a crisis of faith which impacts all of us."
The religious leaders nodded as the soft yet powerful words of the Holy See resonated throughout the room. "As my message to you all stated, our most holy relic has been stolen. Despite our differences in faith you all know the significance surrounding the Ruby Crucifix and the writings of the Apostle Paul regarding the fall of man and the second coming of Christ."
There was a small murmur and some tensed jaws from representatives of non-Christian faiths. The Pope continued. "Ladies and Gentlemen, let us put aside personal religious views for a moment and bear with me. While we debate and argue, over the true nature of God, Evil h
as flourished under our proverbial noses and is now threatening to take possession of this world. We have failed our God or Gods and we have all failed our faiths. Our squabbles have allowed Evil to hold sway over mankind for far too long. We are facing a crisis of unprecedented peril."
A Lutheran leader nodded in agreement. "Your words are wise. We need to put aside our animosity and personal bigotry. All of our faiths claim to teach peace and tolerance yet we've been shedding blood and tears in the name of religion and God. As we grow more concerned with our petty squabbles the forces of darkness grow emboldened enough to commit such a daring move. Do they not realize how they've escalated the Ethereal War?"
The US ambassador leaned forward, "Our sources say it wasn't Lucifer or his forces that committed this act." He looked toward the Pontiff. "Your Grace, perhaps you would be so gracious as to bring our friends up to speed so they may understand the degree of disparity this situation has wrought?"
The Pontiff nodded. "One of Lucifer's henchman broke away from Hell several thousand years ago. An Arch Demon of great power named Molec has been interfering in the Ethereal War not only here, but on other more advanced worlds. One of those races affected by that interference had their conflict spill over to Earth."
"The unpublished works of Apostle Paul," the Orthodox Patriarch injected excitedly. "It speaks of a great war in the stars ending here and that a prophet will come from a son of Earth, Adam, and of the stars."
The Pope nodded once. "Yes, the prophecy has come to fruition. We have met the son of Adam and the stars; he walks among us in form of a CIA cooler and private detective. In fact, he is investigating the theft of the artifact and the murder of three of our novices."
A few muffled gasps echoed at the Pontiff's revelation followed by dead silence. Each religious leader at such a high level had either read the secret writings of Paul or at least was familiar with the contents of the unpublished work.
"The End Days are upon us. Armageddon's Son walks the Earth." A Protestant leader visibly shuddered. "I confess I've read the writings of Paul but never paid them much heed. I assumed it was all metaphorical like most Biblical verse. If those writings are literal then this is the beginning of the end."
