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been set free!
    Maybe this message also says the OPO is over. No more yoke around my neck... I hope M’Bekke is alive; he’s one of the good ones. Even if the message does come from him, I’m still not sure I’m inclined to believe him.
    “Father BC?” His secretary interrupts. She’s old and old fashioned, and while she’ll call him “BC”, she refuses to NOT call him “Father.”
    “Yes, Lisa?”
    “It’s nearly time for the signing ceremony. You’re supposed to be there before 10:30.”
    “Thank you, Lisa.”
    Oh joy, oh bliss. Well, at least it will be over with.
    The moon is crawling with guests. I saw that bastard Wentworth walking around. Guess he’s leading the UTZ delegation. It’s funny. What a difference a half a month makes! There are some actual guests arriving! Not that Pope Linus would come… he’d rather have endure the pain, heh!
    This signing ceremony kinda reminds me of that first peace conference; back when I first came to the Moon. First time since then that we’ve had so many guests. Even the UIN sent actual leaders. I saw Ibn Al-Salid and his delegation arrive just yesterday. BC puts away the CCU for later, when he gets back from the ceremony. He doesn't want to go, but he has to, duty and all.As a persona non grata with the McEntyre administration, he'll behave himself; play the role of the quiet diplomat.
    BC dresses in a formal purple suit and collar, and checks his appearance in the mirror. Good to go. The very measure of a modern Vatican Ambassador...
    Once outside his rooms, BC sets the silent alarms on his quarters. He presses his hand against the hidden security panel in the wall next to the door.
    There are a lot of people on the moon right now, and, no doubt a lot who'd like to get inside and take a look at the new Vatican Mission. Best not to give them too easy an opportunity to do that.
    BC ponders his security measures as he makes his way to the signing ceremony. Once in the auditorium, he’s sent to an assigned place in the crowd. He can’t help chuckling to himself. I’m further back from the podium this time! McEntyre sends subtle messages ... fine by me. Just get the fucking thing over with... Oh man, can he look smugger? Makes me want to delicately wipe the smile off his face with my fist...
    BC zones out and lets the ceremony go by in a blur. He tries not to pay too much attention. He knows they sign the Declaration; he stands and applauds with the crowd.
    Then he files out with the rest of the attendees for the mandatory after-reception. Well, gotta attend this, at least for a little while. I don’t want to deal with any of these assholes, really. There’s Wentworth... looking at me, coming this way! Shit. BC tries to avoid him, manages to duck out a side door.
    Strategic exit. He’s the last guy I want to talk to. Especially after the news I got about Fiza. Fiza’s name was listed among the recently deceased on a report from Wentworth Station a couple months ago.
    I might have to kill him on the spot. And that would be so messy, so undiplomatic of me as the ambassador...
    BC hurries away from the reception. He heads back towards his office. He’s just heading down the hall to his section when two goons appear in front of him. BC tries to look nonchalant.
    “Hi guys! Afraid you missed mass this morning...”
    When all else fails...
    BC turns and runs... right into the chest of a third goon who's snuck up behind him.
    “Ooof!”
    “Mr. Wentworth wants to see you,” the goon says to BC.
    Insistent Bastard...
    “Unh...” is all BC manages to say, as one of the first two goons catches up behind him and clubs him hard on the back of the head.
    That hurts...
    BC blacks out.
Chapter Five
    BC comes to lying on a couch in what looks like one of Lunar Prime’s finer hotels. He rubs the back of his head, feeling a goose egg.
    Damn. Does that hurt!
    BC turns his head from side to side, trying to loosen his neck muscles. He blinks, trying to get his vision to