Episode 8--Silent Noise

In Barcelona: a huge, stately building (the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya) suddenly shudders, crumbles and collapses. A mysterious figure is glimpsed playing the pipe organ…

Caterina dispatches Abel to investigate the incident. He protests, saying that the Pope's uncle Alphonse (Alfonso d'Este) is to visit Rome soon and AX agents should be on hand to act as security. She agrees and says that's why she's sending him. =) Sister Noelle meets him outside and hands him the purse that holds his expense account for the mission. He's delighted to see the size of it, but less delighted when he finds out that the amount is to cover expenses for both of them; Caterina is sending Noelle along with him to keep an eye on his expenses ("hold his leash and his purse strings" she says). Abel sighs, resigned.

The investigation turns up just about nothing: no trace of planted explosives, no one suspicious was seen in the area, and the other buildings nearby are completely unharmed. In short, there's no evidence that any crime was committed at all. The local police write it off as simple structural failure of a very old building. Abel's not at all satisfied with that, but there's no help for it: they'll probably have to return to Rome tomorrow. Noelle is very peeved that this gives them so little time to see Barcelona, and insists they spend their remaining time and money sightseeing.

In the Vatican, Caterina confers with Sister Kate, and Kate confirms that the official explanation is deterioration of the building. If that's so, order Krusnik and Mistress to return, says Caterina. It does seem to be, agrees Kate, but there's something troubling her: the collapse was immediately followed by the purchase of the nearby basilica (the famous Sagrada Familia cathedral) by a large pharmaceutical firm. She finds something suspicious in that. Caterina agrees,and tells her to pass this information on to Abel.

Abel and Noelle are having dinner; Noelle has had quite a lot of wine. She leans on Abel's shoulder and asks if he likes her. --Well, yes, of course he does. That's not quite the answer she was after. They stroll on the beach. Aren't you going to ask how I feel about you?--she prompts him. I, um--he fumbles; she looks disappointed and a little angry; then we hear Kate's voice in his earphone. Sorry to interrupt, she says, but he's grateful to be rescued from the awkward conversation, and assures Kate that it's no problem at all. Dominic Pharmaceuticals you say? Sagrada Familia?---while Noelle gazes wistfully out to sea, thinking, You idiot…

Abel tells her to go back alone: in her condition there's no way she can continue the investigation tonight. Noelle insists that if they split up they can conclude the job in no time. You're such a worrier, Abel-kun, she says, holding onto him. You're very drunk; I can go alone, he says patiently. And in any condition you’re still something to worry about, Noelle-san. --I always worry about you too, she says quietly. He catches his breath in surprise: her meaning is plainly a lot more personal than his was. Are you saying you don't trust me? --she demands; and when he says of course he does, she says she'll investigate the pharmaceutical firm's office while he looks into Sagrada Familia. With misgivings he agrees.

Noelle finds the corporate building empty. It's a dummy business, only a name, she says. She focuses her power; a green glow fills her eyes as she scans the room, and sees glowing footprints--the energy trace left by someone now gone. They lead to a door and she follows.

Abel, in the cathedral's elevator, hears Noelle in his earpiece. She tells him she's discovered that the real owner of Dominic Pharmaceuticals is none other than Professor James Barrie. --What?!--yes, she's found a renovation blueprint for Sagrada Familia drawn up by Barrie himself. He bought it under the corporation's name, and with definitely suspicious intent. But why this place? To find out we'll have to ask him ourselves, she says.

--The elevator stops. Abel steps out and at once sees the floor is splattered with blood; he looks up; Barrie's body is suspended from the ceiling. The lights go on, and there's the pipe organ we saw before, and the mysterious organist. So glad you could come, Father, he says; someone to appreciate my beautiful music. It's such a waste to play only for that old fool's corpse.

You killed Professor Barrie?--Abel demands. The cool stranger replies that it was a matter of business; Barrie committed a serious violation of their contract. I don't know who you are but I'm arresting you for murder, snaps Abel, and the stranger smiles silkily. Kaempfer, he replies: Isaak Fernand von Kaempfer. [He pronounces the first name EE-sak.] --Rosen Kreuz Orden, rank of Magus, code name Panzermagier. (Abel reacts to the realization that this is a Rosen Kreuz affair.) Our Order is a business, explains Kaempfer. Those who are dissatrisfied with the world and wish to bring about revolution; we help them carry out their wishes. Abel retorts that they're no more than terrorists. Kaempfer shrugs. We asked Barrie to build a weapon, and that weapon is complete, so he's useless now. Were you responsible for the collapse of the Museum? Where's the weapon you used?-- demands Abel. Isaak gestures at the keyboard: you're looking at it, he says. He begins to play; the cathedral bells ring, the whole building trembles with the resonance. Isaak plays with a dramatic flourish, tossing his long streaming mane. Professor Barrie's masterpiece, he proclaims: The Silent Noise System.

(All of Barcelona shudders, and Noelle, halfway across town, looks up startled.) --Abel draws his gun and orders the performance to cease. Isaak calmly says that he can't do that, he's conducting business; their client's orders were to see the Silent Noise System run at maximum output and destroy an entire city.

A column of blackness shoots up from the floor and forms into demon shapes that encircle Abel. He hears Noelle in his earpiece: what's this shaking? --she cries. Run away, she orders her, get out of the city! She's trying to read him the floor plan she discovered as the first demon lunges into his chest and plows him into a pillar. Noelle-san, he pleads dizzily, run away-- Reflect on your helplessness, gloats Isaak, but Abel has flashbacks of Cain and Lilith, and gathers himself up. I can't lose that again, he gasps, that's the promise I made her. Kaempfer raises an amused eyebrow.

Violent tremors shake the city, buildings, whole blocks collapsing in clouds of dust and rubble. A shadow falls over the floor plan Noelle is reading and she looks up and gasps. The whole ceiling is caving on on her.

Krusnik-Abel makes the black beasties into demon chutney, but Isaak isn’t impressed. Abel swings the blood scythe down at his head, but--he simply vanishes out from under it. A lot of people died again, Father Nightroad, he taunts. I'm sorry, but my client is waiting. Let's meet again…Abel-san. And he's gone.

We see the outside: only Sagrada Familia remains standing in the desolate ruins of Barcelona.
Krusnik-Abel stabs his scythe into the floor, falls to his knees, sobbing.

...go on to Episode Nine.

...return to Trinity Blood Episode Guide.