Episode 21--The Throne of Roses II: The Refuge

Mary Spencer and Virgil Walsh in Mary's grand office: Mary reads the statement issued by the rebel Methuselah. They will no longer submit to the Albion government's control and oppression, they say; they declare their independence and have three demands: that the safety of all Methuselah living in the ghetto be guaranteed; that the government assist those who wish to relocate to the New Empire; and, most damning, that Albion publicly acknowledge the Methuselah's contributions to the prosperity of Albion. Mary says there would be international censure of Albion if it were known their economy was founded on vampire slavery. [..well, uh, yeah.] Virgil says they knowingly took this risk to gain their current prosperity; Mary says this can all be resolved if they keep the revolutionaries from actually seizing the Pope. They agree that they had no idea the Queen's death would cause such chaos, and Virgil thoughtfully says it may be time for both sides to stop repressing their fear of each other: "the times are trying to change", he says. Mary says she will protect Albion until he finds the star he's seeking, and he bows: understood.

On his screen he sees to his surprise that someone is in the unused passageway--no one outside the Walsh family should even know it exists, he says; could it be…them? And we see Abel running through that corridor--they come to an open area; Petros and Paula say thanks, we'll take it from here, and charge off. No sense of teamwork, sighs Leon, and William comments he's surprised they stayed with the AX agents even that long. They split up to search separately.

We see Vanessa's command center: she's angry that the Pope still hasn’t been located. They see the Inquisition agents arriving--they mustn't find the Pope before we do, she says, and orders the search to continue. One of her techs says they've gotten a message from Virgil-sama, asking to negotiate, and Vanessa growls "tell him to piss off."

The Pope is totally lost, amazed at the size of the underground city he wanders in, and trying to guess why the people who attacked him were so angry. He's approached by a tiny Methuselah girl --OMG!! Chibi bloodsucking monster!!-- and is so horrified that he passes out cold. Waking up in what looks like a hospital or dormitory--little kids are running about and looking at him curiously--he's approached by a young couple who explain that he's in a Methuselah city, where machines and medicines are manufactured for Terran use. Are you all…vampires..? he quavers, and they nicely say they don't really like that word. They reassure him that while they sympathize with the rebel cause, he's not being held hostage. (We're not scary!--pipes up little Angelica, scaring him half to death. [oh, good grief.] ) But they do understand Vanessa's anger: no one likes being caged and exploited; we've made Albion wealthy, but we're prisoners from the day we're born, and it’s been that way for hundreds of years. Alessandro did not know this. He looks uncertainly at the mug they've set at his bedside. Are you afraid? --says the woman. So are we. We're so outnumbered down here that a serious Terran attack could wipe us out in an instant, and if we fought back with force, they'd double that force. We'd have to go on until only one side remained… He makes his decision and drinks from the mug, smiles and says it's good. They all smile in relief.

Esther, racing thru the tunnels in search of him, is snagged by invisible wires, and a familiar voice says "looks as if I've caught something adorable". Dietrich, of course. You certainly enjoy these futile battles, he comments, walking past her. Why are you here?--she demands, struggling. We're going to end the world, he says; an angel is about to come down and bring justice to this ugly world. Come after me if you can; you still might be able to become the Star of Hope… he walks off, leaving her trapped in his snare.

Little Angelica presents the Pope with her sick pet bunny, saying that surely God will heal him if someone so important asks it. I'm not important--I'm scorned and ridiculed by everyone, he says sadly. But you're the one God chose, says she firmly, I'll go and scold any bad people who pick on you. Chosen by God?...says Alessandro, as if he's never quite believed it before, and then lays his hand on the rabbit: thou shalt receive the blessings of the Lord, he says quietly. Amen.

Angelica says that in thanks she'll show him her secret play place, and they crawl through ducts to a high-tech chamber whose window overlooks an astonishing panorama, the ruins of a buried city surrounding what looks like an ancient rocketship. A rocket?--he gasps. Virgil-sama knows I know, she says cheerfully; I'm supposed to keep it secret, but you’re special. ==just then Vanessa arrives and at once grabs hold of Alessandro; little Angelica tries to fight her off and is knocked aside; Alessandro crumbles in tears, saying he’ll go anywhere she wants as long as she'll quit shouting.

We see Leon looking at the picture in that locket he always wears--a smiling little girl. He scowls as he hears footsoldiers running past, saying that the Pope is in their custody. A voice calls "over here, old man", and who should it be but Peter and Wendy, crawling out of a duct passage. They tell him the rebel base is in the security control center in sector 2B, and Wendy adds that that ought to settle any debt they have with him. Have you been well?--grins Leon. We were fine until this happened, they say. Peter says the rebels are just standing up for those who are suffering, and begs Leon to help; he says there's only so much he can do, but he'll try once the Pope is safe.

He thanks them for the info and heads out, radioing Kate with his news. Contact Professor, he says, and then-- suddenly an Autojaeger appears out of nowhere, raising its axe as it focuses on the two kids. Two more join it, lunging forward. Leon charges in and faces off the jaegers--wondering what the hell they are--slices the arm off one with his chakram and stands off the others, telling P&W that he won't abandon them; he could never face his daughter if he did. The fluorescent lights gleam off his golden locket.

And we see Esther, still hanging in Dietrich's trap; a jaeger rushes at her with its axes, she screams for help, and right on cue a bullet blows most of its head away. It's a stern-looking Abel, who takes her to the elevator and tells her she should go up to the palace at once--the rest of AX is all here. Is that all right with you?--he asks, holding her eyes with his keen stare until she nods timidly and closes the elevator door…

Leon's daughter--the only time we see this photo inside his locket.

...go on to Episode Twenty-Two.

...return to Trinity Blood Episode Guide.