The morning rain spattered down, funneling a small river across the back of Joshua's best formal cloak. Irritated, the Grand Prelate shivered. The sodden garment slapped at the back of his trousers as he walked, drowning his legs and doing nothing to improve an already poor humor. Joshua wiped drizzle out of his gray eyes, and squinted across the slick white-rock pavers of the sweeping plaza. Obscured by the downpour, the courtyard sheened and jittered in the early rain and uncertain light.

Having oriented on the Hall of State, Joshua splashed his way toward it, his thoughts deepening, like the water pooling underfoot. Joshua sloshed through each puddle in stoic resignation, toward the flying buttresses fronting the Papal office.

Joshua's stomach growled for a breakfast.

His Eminence, thought Joshua, should stick to the standard schedule prescribed for his office. (Splash!) His Eminence could thereby set an example for the recreant Board of Aldermen, who also treat my personal time – (Splash!)– as if it were their own.

The damp wind pushed him along, sending an icy chill up his spine. Shivering, he hoisted himself onto the flooded plaza stairs of the Hall of State, and stiffly crossed the comparatively dry forecourt of His Eminence's Audience Chamber. Once inside, beneath the barrel-vaulted anteroom, he stripped himself of the dripping cloak.

This caught the attention of the balding chief attendant. The portly Friar bustled up and took charge of the cloak, offering Joshua, as was the custom, a fresh pair of dry cloth shoes.

Joshua's eyes roved over the small group milling about the cupola, recognizing several officials in the clot. The principle agents of the Holy Treasury, Hall of Cartography, and startlingly, the military arm of the Holy See were present.

Joshua frowned. "Do you have any idea what his Holiness has on his mind, Thaddeus?"

The cleric blew a small breath and shook his head. "Not really, your Grace. Very odd business I can tell you. His Eminence received Cardinal Philip Reswell - you know Philip, the Temporal Radiographic Elder, late last evening, after the rains. Very agitated he was, too. Been incommunicado with his Eminence ever since. Had me summon your Grace, and these others, only this morning. Very inconvenient, it was. Missed first Vespers." A sound like a balloon being tortured issued from the Cleric's substantial middle. "Oh! Pardon me, Your Grace."

Joshua's eyes twinkled at the sound. "Missed your breakfast too, sounds like." The Prelate's earlier mood returned, in considering the Cardinal. "Cardinal Reswell; he's the cause of this?"

The Temporal Radio Astronomic, or T.R.A. was a minor post in the Ministry of Education. The post conferred to Reswell a voting seat on the board of Aldermen, which gave the Cardinal a vote in the civic affairs of New Vatica, in addition to his ecumenical authority as a Cardinal. This dual clout was likely responsible for the unusually well endowed Astronomy department at the University.

It was inconceivable to Joshua that the military and all these other Cardinals had been shaken out of bed, just to consider a voucher for Reswell's pet department.

It will go poorly with the Cardinal, thought Joshua, if he convinced the Pope to pull me from my bed to sign off on the purchase of a telescope.

The Cleric's left hand fluttered out from the folded cloak, indicating the assembled dignitaries. "Would you like introductions?"

Joshua shook his head. "No, I am familiar with everyone here, I believe."

"Then," Thaddeus continued, "I will inform the Holy See that all are present. The audience will begin promptly, I am sure. With your permission?"

Joshua waved Thaddeus on with a smile. It wasn't after all, the cleric's fault.

Thaddeus hung the cloak in a nearby closet, then scurried to the opposite end of the reception area to disappear through a small service hatch built into the towering portal doors of the inner hall. The impressive twenty-foot tall public doors themselves would not, per custom, be opened until after the daily morning rains ended.

Glancing back outside, a thick roil of cloud still darkened the morning sky. His temperament would lighten as they cleared off, he knew. Joshua, like all of Alcomer's residents, suffered the young globe's weather in the same fashion, namely avoidance. Business was not usually conducted during the morning rains, and it rained here every morning.

I am hungry, soaked and tired. I am left waiting in the outer hall, and have no idea why I am here.

Joshua returned his attention to the pacing group of high-ranking church officials.

Michael Diocullis, the Vatican's tall, gaunt military tactician, stood calmly at the cupola's rear, oversized hands twinned comfortably together, thumbs hooked deeply in the red sash of his black long-coat. The jet-haired General radiated a sense of quiet alertness, a trademark among those who knew him. It was a contagious attitude that had come to be associated generally with the military of the Holy See. He looked, in fact, like a soldier dressed in a severely cut priest's habbit. Joshua privately doubted Dio could pass for anything but a soldier, no matter what he wore. Would Michael know what this was about? Joshua began working his way towards the General.

Thaddeus reappeared before Joshua could make the distance, surprising given the Cleric's short legs and generous girth. The puffing Cleric motioned the impatient officials inside.

Joshua managed to fall into step beside Diocullis, and the dignitaries advanced up the polished marble of the long central corridor. Enormous pink and brown marble columns cast shadows on the group. Imported all the way from Earth, these serpentine giants were installed here as reminder of an earlier Vatican, to provide a sense of continuity and tradition. It was dark, because the room remained unlit but for the early gloom that seeped between the morning rain, filtering through high rosette windows flanking the hallway. As they approached the terminal nave, Joshua sent a questioning glance toward Diocullis, who shrugged lightly.

"Beyond me, I wasn't told a thing. The Sol system problem, maybe."

"What about Sol?"

"It's in the report."

"In the report!" Joshua reminded himself of where he was, controlled his irritation, and continued quietly, "The report I haven't received yet?" Joshua shook his head incredulously.

Diocullis glanced about, distractedly. "Think John will throw us a breakfast? You eat yet?"

"No. So, is that what this is about?"

"Breakfast?"

"SOL!"

"Oh, I hardly think it could be; has to be something to do with Reswell. He's been here most of the night."

Vexed, Joshua shifted his attention to the fast approaching end of the hall, where Pope John MVXXII sat behind the deep brown mahogany desk of the terminal cupola. A fringe of only slightly graying hair surrounded the Papal countenance like a halo. His heavy-set frame, evident beneath the robes of church and state, seemed out of place, however well tailored, when hung on this vigorous man.

The Dim glow of a desk-side data terminal limned the stark white Papal habit in a flickering blue nimbus.

From behind Joshua the Director of Missions, a portly redhead, took in the papal visage, adjusted his eyeglasses and murmured, "Make a good poster for the missions. Never get anything like that when he poses for official releases. What is this about Reswell? Are we going to be eating soon?"

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Thaddeus hastened ahead to announce the audience. As their names were called, each one mounted the two terraced steps onto the padded green carpeting of the cupola's floor. The minor ocean of scarlet skull caps and white over-vestments quickly stilled as Pope John raised his hand.

"Our apologies to all of you, but disconcerting news has come. We have three pressing problems before us this morning. The first concerns unusual communications received by the N.V.U. Astronomy department. If you will, Phillip?"

Cardinal Reswell smiled wanly, looking somewhat rumpled. Flipping his left hand up, he waved vaguely in the direction of the University. "As one of our ongoing programs, we maintain an astronomical sweep of the sector between Alpha Draconis and Polaris. It is mostly a student training exercise. Good thing, as you will see, since even today only small portions of the firmament are regularly scanned. This one covers an area that is commonly viewed from the north circumpolar regions of Earth. We call it the Draco sector. Recently one of our students noticed that the area's general mass is declining, becoming repeatedly lower on each scan. Follow-up studies determined the affected area is ten light years wide."

More confused than ever, Joshua raised his hand, and gained Cardinal Reswell's attention. "What does this mean to us? I mean, is it important, except scientifically?"

Cardinal Reswell puffed. "Well, I should say! Gentlemen, this is a rather large void! Eh, matter disappearing by the megaton! Of course it's important! Hold your questions until I am finished, please."

The distraught Reswell rubbed one heavily ringed hand over his forehead. Multiple circles of flesh hung below his dark eyes, and a growth of noticeable stubble gave witness to long hours away from his bedchamber.

The Pope's eyes scanned the assembled church dignitaries, judging their reactions. Most just sat numbly, lining up the Cardinal's words like boxcars in some cerebral rail yard. The train built slowly. To the council's credit, there were no outright blank stares.

"To continue, there was another emission," continued Reswell, "from a star adjoining the Draco constellation, very near the affected area, although we have no knowledge of a settlement in the Draco Sector. Computer analysis interprets it as decimal. The signal was repetitive; 8.7; 8.12; 8.7; 8.12; 8.7."

Behind Joshua , someone whispered softly, "Revelations. -And the First sounded, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the Earth was burnt up, and a third of the trees were burnt up and all the green grass was burnt up, Revelations 8.7"

Hearing this, Joshua finished verse 8.12 to himself; "And the forth Angel sounded, and a third of the Sun and a third of the Moon and a third of the STARS were smitten, so that a third of them might be darkened..."

Joshua lifted his head and asked, "What percent decrease in mass did the radio telescope data indicate?"

"Sub-radio, a tunneling, string level scan," clipped Reswell. "For those who are not up on Astronomy, that's a real-time scan, not some light-speed picture of things past. The amount of decrease was one third, to answer your question, Joshua. Missing mass, biblical transmissions of unknown source referring to it--do you see?"

"And, you think this may be related to the Terran Problem?" added Diocullus.

Interrupting, the Pope nodded. "Dio, that surmise is going to bypass almost everyone here, given the hour. As you brought it up, you will have to explain."

Diocullus knotted his eyebrows and inspected the palms of his hands. He felt ill at ease addressing politicians and clerics. Directing a staff of military experts and ranking officers seemed different, somehow.

"I was already up and busy this morning before being called to council. His Eminence is aware, though none of you," Dio nodded to the council, "would have been notified as yet, due to the hour. Earth is experiencing a Global Crisis, possibly a natural event, and has solicited any aid we can give.

"An unknown cause is depleting the atmosphere there. UV radiation, due to ozone loss, is climbing. They are looking for the source, but," Dio shrugged,"as yet, nothing. Then again, my bulletin on it is only three hours old." Diocullis lifted one hand in a spreading gesture. "Common news by afternoon today I imagine. I wondered if this might have been the primary reason for the meeting. To those who asked me earlier, I apologize, but I didn't connect it with any agenda of Cardinal Reswell's."

This announcement galvanized an excited reaction among the council members, like a lightning strike on a tin roof. Here was something they could relate to. Flood, fire, disasters, specters all too common to the human condition. Gasps of horror, missing prior, filled the hall in a rising tide. The passing of generations had not lessened the colonies' sympathy for Earth.

Again, His Eminence waited for the impact of the news to sink in before continuing.

"As I said...a situation. Are these things unrelated? Even if they turn out to be, they affect Us or Our extended ministries, and in part seem tailored to involve the Church. Taken together, a triplet of events we cannot ignore."

The See raised his eyes, focusing on Diocuilis.

"You will need to mount an expedition to Earth, a military diplomatic mission, offering our aid and any support we can give."

Turning, he laid a hand on the shoulder of Cardinal Reswell. "Philip will coordinate our agent resources and data gathering. Our Grand Inquisitor here," he said, nodding toward Joshua, "is directed by Us to investigate the Draco transmissions and any relation it may have to the mass loss, in conjunction with elements from stellar cartography. Again, your department will consolidate all this, Philip, and see to it that Our military is well advised. We will distribute assignments for relief and aid missions shortly. Please expect them."

Finally, his Holiness concluded the convocation in prayer.

A general background of conversation rose to fill the vaulted alabaster expanse of the papal chamber. Chairs creaked and feet shuffled, as the elect stood and began to mill, forming small groups. Pope John heaved up from his chair and dismissed the relieved and weary Reswell. The astronomer sagged in on himself, bowed to kiss the See's ring, and shuffled across the marbled floor and out of the hall. The See caught Joshua's attention and waved him to a linen draped side-table. Joshua threaded his way towards it, arriving at the same time as Pope John.

His Holiness sighed, stiffly bracing his arms on the table to support his upper body, searching Joshua's face. "Have you eaten anything this morning?"

"Breakfast seems to be the topic of the day your Eminence, but no, I haven't broken fast as yet."

"Me neither...let's rectify that problem, at least. Thaddeus!"

The stout cleric appeared almost instantly at the papal call, perhaps the one outstanding skill that most assured his tenure. He bowed, looking expectantly at John.

"Would you find us some coffee and rolls? If you could bring them yourself, and see that the audience doors remain closed, please? Catch Michael before he leaves if you can, and have him join us. I am sure both our Graces would appreciate being fed, given the hour?"

The little Cleric bobbed his head in agreement. "Of course, Eminence."

Pope John straightened and kicked under the draped side-board. A jumble of lumps appeared in the fabric, and lifting up the table skirt, he bent to pull out three adjustable stools from underneath. The See pointed to one and dropped onto the second, unceremoniously scooting close to the table. Joshua sat, though stiffly, as directed. John rested his elbows on linen covered top, interlacing his fingers, looking thoughtfully at the discomfited prelate.

"You have someone you can delegate your duties to while you're gone?"

"Likely, that will be Recaro Frank, Holiness, if I threaten him enough. At least his judgment is dependable. He won't care to sit before the Board of Aldermen though."

Amused, Pope John mimicked Recaro's wheedling falsetto. "Spare me from the civil counsel, anything but that!"

Both chuckled.

The Pope became somber, and laid a hand on Joshua's forearm. "Comes with the badge of office, you know. Like the Pharaoh's crook and flail. The crook to guide us through the morass of data and resolve Our options, the flail to swat at the constant issues of the New Vatica city council."

Rapidly trotting down the central corridor, Thaddeus returned with a tray, followed by the striding form of Michael Diocullis.

The Pope frowned down at the table for a moment. "I need you for convoluted problems like this, Joshua. My intuition tells me that these things, these losses, are indeed connected, but also, that the scientific aspects might only be the tip of this iceberg. There may well be a scientific underpinning to all this, but in the end, We suspect a problem with political roots. I want you and Dio to go forward and seek the moral solution, if this is the case. Our mission, you know. In these times, we strive to lead mankind to a higher awareness of the ethical choice. Inter-world law is become an accounting device, in the vastness between the worlds. Men need the inner guidance ethics provides when law is sparse. Give Us an example for those who look to Us, if the opportunity presents itself."

Thaddeus drew to the side, and began dispensing bounty from his tray. Dio took the stool to the Papal right, and the three made short work of the light morning fare, before discussing in overview, what might be needed for Joshua's probe into the Draco transmissions.

Dio left with the shortest list, a few military techs, it was decided, might be needed to support the prelate. Otherwise he was dispatched to Earth as envoy. Joshua, on the other hand, was left to recruit a full team of mission specialists and scientists. The prelate mournfully scanned the suggested list. A guilty appreciation dawned that John and the Cardinal had been busy considering such things throughout the night. Well, he thought, at least I get to start the day with a full stomach.

Thaddeus returned Joshua's still damp cloak and sodden footwear and saw him out of the audience hall. The rains had ceased, and the mid-morning sun was quickly drying the damp stone pavers of the plaza. More churchmen were about now. Red, white and black cassocks surged about the huge quadrangle of the government center. Beyond this, the peaked green roofs of the University of Alcomer, his next stop, beckoned.