Episode 12--The Ibelis I: Evening Visitors

Lady Catarina, touring European cities to offer reassurance of the Vatican's stability after recent events, has arrived at the embassy in Carthago. Francesco (via hologram) warns her that high security is necessary, since there have been rumors of an assassination attempt, and it's quite possible she'll be targeted by their adversaries. Suddenly--as if confirming the danger--there's an explosion in the embassy building and a cry of fire. Kate's voice tells the Cardinal that Sister Esther is on the way to protect her. A young Methuselah dressed in Turkish style bursts into Catarina's room and is most offended when she calls him 'vampire', saying he's a diplomatic envoy. You're from the Empire?--she asks him in surprise, but before he can answer Tres charges in and riddles the room with bullets, wounding the young envoy in the shoulder. The boy snarls that they shouldn't have trusted the Vatican and runs from the room.

In an alley, he meets an older colleague, Radu, who looks very concerned at his damage; he listens to his account of the event as he draws a curved dagger and cuts the silver bullet out of his tovarash's shoulder, sucking and spitting out mouthfuls of poisoned blood. If I weren't under orders from Her Majesty, the young blond --Ion--says bitterly, I would have killed them all.

Catarina, meanwhile, congratulates Abel on his good work in Venezia and says she was contacted by emissaries from the Empress, but that things went badly awry before they could talk. [Abel takes the idea of a message from the Empress quite seriously.] At a café, Esther and Abel discuss: he says he's going to locate the Imperial envoy, and orders her to stay put. She protests, saying she doesn't want to be left out of any fight and won't be a burden, but he tells her most sternly that she must do as ordered and stay by Catarina. He'll contact her if anything happens.

In a handsome villa, Radu finishes bandaging his wounded comrade and reminds him that silver is deadly poison to a Methuselah; he needs to rest and recover. Ion wishes they had another chance to complete their mission and meet with Cardinal Sforza. [Apparently, the successful completion of Abel and Asta's team mission in Venezia encouraged the Empress that her dream of peaceful cooperation might be possible, and she sent these two to offer a diplomatic meeting between the two rival powers.] Now Radu tells him (to his surprise) that not all Imperial citizens agree with the Empress' wishes; it's possible, he says, that a radical terrorist group within the Empire started the fire deliberately to disrupt the meeting. Then it's even more important for us to go through with this, says Ion resolutely. Even though you're so angry with the Terrans?--asks Radu. An Imperial command is absolute and inviolate, says Ion, I cannot disobey. Radu looks deeply dismayed by this… (Unseen by the vampires, Sister Esther, carrying a gun, climbs over the villa's wall and runs toward the door as they speak.) --Radu asks if Ion's thirsty and goes off to fix him a snack. =)

An Inquisition warship, the Raguel [Raguel is the archangel in charge of bringing justice to lawbreakers--even if they are his fellow angels--so, a most appropriate name =)], contacts Carthago control tower for permission to land. Shortly thereafter, Brother Petros and Sister Paula, the heads of the Inquisition--"the Knight of Destruction and the Lady of Death", Catarina coolly calls them by their sobriquets; they’ve never met in person before--meet with her to discuss the situation. They tell her that Cardinal Medici, hearing of the attack on the embassy, sent them to guarantee her safety. My older brother is highly concerned, she says dryly, almost amused by Francesco's typical overkill. Isn't sending three battleships too much for an internal matter? But they insist that the attack on her is a very serious matter; they already know where the vampires may be hiding and will carry out their plan at once. (And no, they won't tell her how they got this info.)

Ion hears something and thinks it's Radu returning with his beverage (he asked for sugar in it =) , but it's Esther, holding a gun on him. The two fight; Ion's wound is reopened and he falls to the floor in pain. Radu comes in behind Esther and gets a knife to her throat, and Ion angrily says that the talk with the Vatican is cancelled. However, right behind Radu is a stern Abel, who asks Radu to step aside and cracks Esther a wicked backhand slap that sends her reeling. You disobeyed orders, Esther-san, he snaps. Selfish actions are nothing but trouble.

Abel then sets about doing damage control with the furious Imperial nobles, identifying himself as a Vatican agent and apologizing; he says that he was assigned to their protection by his superior, Catarina Sforza. (Protection?--startles Esther.) The two make their formal introductions: Ion Fortuna, Lord of Moldova and Count of Memphis; and Radu Barvon, Imperial investigator. Ion says bitterly that they did have a mission to open diplomatic negotiations with Cardinal Sforza, but that the Terrans have proven they can't be trusted. Abel is trying to smooth things over when suddenly there's a noise of crashing and trooping feet, and Abel realizes the Inqusition has found them. Tanks crush the palm trees as the troops close in. The Methuselah will burn to death if they go out in the sunlight, but through the cellar --Radu says--there's an underground passage to a cave at the shoreline, where he's stashed a boat for their use. Abel says he'll divert the Inquisition while Esther gets them safely to their rendezvous with Catarina. Ion is wary, but Radu insists the two should be trusted; Esther is taken aback, but realizes that Abel has made her responsible for the vampires' safety to make her atone for her reckless attack on them earlier. She accepts.

Abel confronts the Inquisition in full-tilt gonzo goofball mode (the first thing he does is invite them to join him in a swim--and then set about pogo'ing off their armored heads!). But Petros knows he's an AX agent despite his antics, and tries to enlist him in the manhunt for Cardinal Sforza's assailant. Abel refuses, saying he intends to catch the miscreant himself. Petros says that if he ntends to hamper the Inquisition's work there's no choice but to take him out (and besides, he's always wanted to fight a duel with s Special Agent…). They go at it, Abel leaping out of the way of Petros' explosive lance again and again, until the Knight of Destruction in his fury actually collapses the edge of the cliff on which the villa's terrace stands. The cliff, the terrace and Abel all fall into the sea below.

Petros solemnly tells his men that, as the fallen priest was a servant of God and the Church, they should make sure to pray for his soul and the forgiveness of his sins once their work is done here...

...go on to Episode Thirteen.

...return to Trinity Blood Episode Guide.