-Chapter 11
"You are wearing blue. What is the meaning of this?" inquired Ximénes.
"It is my new statement of Faith, dear brother. That men receive Grace from God above, not from the blood of simple men." Alfonzo said, standing before the Grand Inquisitor, unapologetically refusing to bow.
"What exactly do you mean to imply?" Ximénes said while raising a hand to the guards tellIng them to hold.
"You know full and well, brother." said Alfonzo. Ximénes dropped his hand.
"Then you truly defied my decree, and the authority of the Pope. Clearly, you did not just burn that tome like I told you." said Ximénes when the guards surrounded Alfonzo. They all took a step back when bluish green flame suddenly flared around Alfonzo like a cloak.
"God burns me with a new fire that defends the defenseless instead of condemning them to hell." said Alfonzo. The heat from the flame kept the guards from coming any closer. Ximénes drew his sword and dared the heat to give a swipe that fell short. He still could not get close enough. Taking the water basin next to his throne, Ximénes threw it. Once the water hit the flames, they only grew.
"Heretic! You commit sorcery! You are no longer my brother!" screamed Ximénes.
"Brother Ximénes! If you only took the time to read this tome, you would know the difference between the tricks of demons, and magic turned to the glory of God. And you would have seen the Seal of the Apostles." Alfonzo said, lifting an open book to the page shimmering with an unmistakable shape, also ablaze with blue flame. As the fire engulfed Alfonzo, neither he or anything in his grasp burned or singed.
"I said, you are not my brother! You put that there! You profane the church, and pervert the holy symbol to your own ends! By the authority granted from Heaven, I cast you from this place! Leave now, blasphemer! Leave, heretic!" said Ximénes. He took hold of a lamp stand and toppled it down toward Alfonzo. Avoiding the stand, Alfonzo turned to leave. Before leaving, he could see Ximénes taking a candle and setting fire to a portrait from the wall...
Alfonzo woke from the daydream. A notification rang in from Frank.
"What is the situation, Franklin?" asked Alfonzo, reaching for the blinds to let in the morning light that was just now breaking through what remained of the rain clouds. The horizon shone a violent red against the grey.
"Not good. Victory has just shipped out for America. He hired a bunch of shady characters to help man the Nicholas Spehar. Unless someone intercepts, there's going to be a catastrophe hitting U.S. shores." said Frank. The sound of the Cretan port Frank was calling from was overwhelming the microphone, distorting Frank's voice as he spoke. The message was clear enough. Alfonzo told Frank his next assignment, giving clear instruction before ending the call. The daydream must have been pointing to this moment, concluded Alfonzo. He came to a decorative wardrobe, and opened it to reveal on a dusty mannequin a blue cloak and hat. They were of such design that was of a time long lost. The stories behind every repaired hem and seam did not account for all the adventures seen from beneath the hat. At one point an enchantment had been put on it which still rung with every blue fiber as Alfonzo brushed a hand against it. There was also a book on a pedestal which Alfonzo took with him. The faded Latin words on the thick leather cover in translation read "The Account of Simon the Magician."
Then, Alfonzo called out to the Flying Dutchman. and in flawless Dutch requested a flight to the nearest airbase. The commanding officer stationed there just so happened to owe a few favors to E50 over a particular incident nearly leading to a young Colonel Hamlisch's gruesome demise in a rusty North Korean brig at lesser known Russian port.
"I require your fastest helicopter." said Alfonzo.
"Cisco Alfonzo? I didn't recognize you at first, chap. Not in all this blue." said the Colonel, as he squinted to make out the face for sure. Right away, Hamlisch guided Alfonzo to the helipad. Some officers and armed escorts climbed aboard, and the helicopter was off.
"A modern warship like the Spehar would most definitely be able to spot you at a distance." Hamlisch radioed to Alfonzo.
"This should be close enough." Alfonzo radioed to the pilot. The ship was barely within site. Threats were being sent to them on every communication device not to come any closer. A warning shot was given by some sort of energy pulsing weapon. The beam seamed to change the climate around the chopper for a brief second, causing momentarily turbulence as well. Remaining calm, Alfonzo made a motion with his hands while murmuring some sort of incantation. In his hand formed a large fish scale, then Alfonzo opened the door of the chopper letting the scale fall into the deep.
"We may now return to shore." Alfonzo instructed the pilot. As the chopper changed course, there was a flash of magical light beneath the waves. Within minutes a massive serpent spawned from the scale and attacked the hijacked naval vessel.
Victory came topside to face the imminent threat to his transport to the United States. The few deckhands beside him saw Victory personally collide with the mythical creature trying to capsize the Nicholas Spehar. A thundering fist met with the serpent's skull. Victory then forced the serpent to relent from constricting the ship. The serpent then kept a cautious distance. While still deterring the ship from going in the direction of the U.S. The particle beams simply deflected off of the creature's reflective and armored scales. Victory ordered no explosive ordinances be wasted on the serpent, as they were still needed for the amphibious assault intended for the New Jersey shores. The massive serpent was a firm enough wall between Victory and the U.S.
"Make a heading South." commanded Victory while entering the control room. The thugs operating the helm acknowledged. The second mate and quartermaster questioned which shoreline to aim for. The serpent continued to remain between the ship and the target country.
"Make for South America." said Victory. This bewildered his subordinates. "My plan has not changed. I will simply make a detour. Perhaps we may bring more to the cause, as well."
"She was being difficult." explained the supposed agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Jim had asked why Anne Rice had her hands zip-tied.
"And would you expect her sister to be any more cooperative after seeing this?" said Jim. He quickly cut the zip-tie cuffs.
"You are not from the FBI! Who are you?" said Anne. Jim frowned at this remark.
"If you would just cooperate, ma'am-" one of the henchmen began to say.
"My brother is a Navy Commander. He has a few friends in suits that practically run the Bureau-- just a phone call away. You want me to cooperate? Then you better tell me who the crap you really are!" said Anne, now trying to get between Grace and the thugs. Grace didn't know what to care at this moment. All she could think about still was what was painted on her locker. That, and where was Max now? What kind of trouble was he in?
"Just calm down, Miss Rice. Everybody calm down." said Jim, waving his arms.
"I called the police. You can explain to them what's going on, if you want." said Anne.
"I really wish you hadn't done that." replied Jim. At that moment, sirens were immediately heard.
"You are right, after all." Jim continued to say as cops piled out of their cars. They formed a perimeter around the old rock quarry off of Gould road, demanding Jim and the gang to drop their firearms. "The problem is, we're a lot worse than the FBI."
After saying such, a sniper in the hills landed a shot through a cop's torso. The other thugs then proceeded to mow the rest of law enforcers down with their assault rifles. Grace was officially frightened now.
"Why are you kidnapping us!?" she said, wishing Max would come out already.
"You know why, kid. You're not the one we're after." replied Jim.
"Why can't you just leave him alone!" cried Grace.
"Speak of the devil!" Jim said then as Max landed in front of them.
"Have they harmed you, Grace?" asked Max, moving beside her. Anne was perplexed, as were the thugs.
"That's the Omega Project? The thing talks now? The buzzards would find this interesting." said one of the thugs, looking to Jim.
"They certainly would, wouldn't they?" Jim said, nodding in Max's direction.
"What kind of gun is that in it's hand?" pondered an other of the thugs. The moment turned dark as the group realized it was the rifle belonging to their sniper. The thugs in suits took aim, yet Jim held up his hand. Anne took hold of grace and brought her screaming to the ground. Max hurled the rifle and leaped toward Jim. Reaching beneath his jacket, Jim tore out his sword and swung it. Jim's opposite hand took out the pistol which rang a few bursts of rounds here and there. From the sword came a flame like wind. The rifle Max threw landed into the face of a thug more far off. Then Max's fists ran into the other two toward Jim's left. The flame from Jim's sword fell on the thugs to his right. This fire kept off their aim and lit their suits while the bullets he shot silenced their cries. Within some solid seconds, Jim and Max were the only two standing.
It took a moment before Anne felt safe enough to lift up her head. Grace got herself up first, and rushed to put her arms around Max.
"It is going to be alright." Max assured Grace, patting her back. Anne finally lifted her head, putting pieces together. One major blank arose first when she gazed at the dead police officers.
"Why didn't you save them, too?" said Anne.
"Why did you call them in the first place? Really? Doesn't anyone trust someone with a badge these days?" said Jim, not implying he was happy about it.
"It would help if you showed a real badge!" Anne said, getting on her shaking feet.
"Fine! I'm Agent James Fly of the CIA! Happy?" replied Jim, throwing his legitimate badge at Anne's feet.
"Don't expect me to believe you're a good guy now!" Grace told Jim with a glare.
"It is alright, Grace. Who on earth would not want a second chance?" said Max. "I know I do."
Jim fought the urge for a smoke, then sheathed his weapons.
"Yeah, yeah. Now let's get back the car with Miss Eleanor.she looks lonely in there. And scared as hell." said Jim. Anne couldn't stop starring at the second major blank in the puzzle.
"Annie, this is my best friend; Max." said Grace.
