Jackal’s Journals – Journal 12

To be completed …

Entry #12.1 – September 2009

Others have ceased investigation. Would seem with return of Portman they believe work is done. Appear content with presidential pat on back. Is laughable. World teeters on precipice. Is no time for vacation.

Recall fairy story. Goes something like this…

Young prince is told by father the King, that islands, princesses and God do not exist. At first Prince has no reason to disbelieve this. But one day he is walking along beach and sees strange things. Man on beach tells him that these are islands and princesses, and that he is God.

Prince goes home and challenges his father, saying he has seen islands and princesses and met God, but King explains he has been tricked. Says man who deceived him was magician. 

Prince indignantly returns to beach and confronts man, but man says that the King is the deceiver. There are many islands and princesses but Prince is under father’s spell and cannot see them.

Pensively prince returns home. Looks father in eye. Asks him is it true that he is not a real king, but only a magician?

King smiles and admits “Yes my son, I am only a magician.”

“Then man on the shore was God,” concludes prince.

“No” says King. ”He too was a magician.” 

Things are seldom as they appear.

Have decided to return to New Mexico. Will continue investigation there.

Entry #12.2 – September 2009

Traced movement of unmarked trucks to restricted area in New Mexico desert. Penetrated outer security and successfully established location of secret installation. During surveillance, observed large force of silver-clad humanoids operating in area.

Investigation was terminated due to untimely arrival of Johnny Zero, Jo Whitelaw and Danu. For reasons as yet undetermined, Truth informed them I was in need of assistance. To the contrary. Was only once hindered by their presence that it became impractical to continue.

Events reinforce assertion that Truth entity is able to determine whereabouts of subjects at will. Find this disturbing. Represents significant threat. Before danger can be neutralised additional information regarding nature of ability is required.

Truth persisted with attempts to elicit our trust. Supplied certain selective background details. Due to source, information remains suspect. SS Program began in WWII. Nazis attempted to bio-engineer super-soldiers. After war research commandeered by US Army. Finally left in hands of Triton Foundation. Last known Head of Research, Chinese guy named Sato Nagano.

During departure from site stumbled upon trailer park. Somewhat out of place. Occupants appear to be awaiting treatment for various disabilities. Johnny Zero passed time-of-day with one of them. Subject, Mark Marvin, is keen to regain use of legs after racing accident. Suspect price of restoration will be higher than patient anticipates.

Entry #12.3 – September 2009

Took detour to verify authenticity of Marvin’s story. Background checks out.

Is one notable detail however. Phone at residence of Mrs Mark Marvin is being bugged by subsidiary of SSI. Why?

Entry #12.4 – September 2009

Rejoined others in New York. Appears they are embroiled in something new. Pontiff’s point-man, Prelate Bertolli Genavesse, disappeared two days ago. Word is Genavesse was investigating corruption in Vatican. Assume he found something.

Can only marvel at ease with which we are deflected from task at hand. Stood in street. Watched butterfly. Fluttered by on painted wings. Was everything as it seemed? Could only wonder what shapes HIVE could manifest since its evolution.

Felt inclined to disobey instructions to assist others with new case, but relented. Need time to think.

Entry #12.5 – September 2009

Accompanied Jo, Johnny and Danu to Genavesse’s hotel room. Paperwork and rough notes were strewn across floor. Records of transactions. Large donations, between ten and thirty million. Didn’t need to be accountant to smell something rotten. Notes mentioned Church of Resurrection, Father Henry Stanislav and Bank of Madrid.

Discovered indications that Genavesse had departed to meet informant at abandoned church on W. Sycamore St. Visit to this location resolved Genavesse’s disappearance. Was no longer missing, just dead. Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Body had been incinerated.

Last moments were recorded on Genavesse’s Dictaphone. Started with monologue, case notes. Genavesse speaking of Piero Giorie receiving treatment for rare metabolic bone cancer. Giorie=Gare, Scapagi=Seagi, Antonio=Antonelli. Says all three are on board of trustees for Madonna Consulting. Suggests company is Mafia shell.

Dictation is interrupted by arrival of Papal Goon Squad. Representatives of Church confront Genavesse. Condemn him of heresy. Demand confession of sins. Seem to be doing passable impersonation of Inquisition. Methods are effective but actions are misguided. Continues in Latin. Sounds like incantation or prayer. Probably last rites. Tape ends with Genavesse screaming. Imagine flesh consumed by holy fire.

Recall verse in bible. Something about disobedience and the wrath of God.

Is not long after we are treated to in person encounter with papal assassins.

There are five of them. All novas. Their leader wears red. Has black cross on face. Will later identify him as Apothecary. Is his voice on tape. Assume epithet is indicative of subject’s religious responsibilities. Presumably faithfully dispensing divine wrath as prescribed by Pope.

Church is destroyed along with any remaining evidence.

Entry #12.6 – September 2009

All indications are that Pope is laundering money for Mafia. Genavesse had uncovered elaborate circle of transactions involving Mafia donations to Church of Resurrection, Bank of Madrid, Madonna Consulting and Vatican.

Any crime is deserving of retribution yet can’t help feeling that efforts are misdirected. Would suggest that HIVE is greater threat. Others seem too caught up in present events to notice.

If we do not open our eyes, walls of putrid little world we live in will soon be daubed bright red with blood.

Grow up. Deal with it. Church has been criminal organisation/fraternity throughout history. What’s new.

Left them to pursue own avenues of enquiry. Am finding it hard to make progress in HIVE investigation. Sent out feelers. Prospect of return is limited however. Is frustrating. Am forced to wait again. Occupied self by returning to papal investigation. Is something to do.

Entry #12.7 – September 2009

Followed trail to Church of Resurrection. Phone calls to Genavesse originated there. Suspect Father Henry Stanislav may have been informant. Will attempt to question him when he returns.

Entry #12.8 – September 2009

Attack.

Save Stanislav. Beat off aggressors.

Danu heals Stanislav. Refusal to go into hiding. Believes God will protect him. Is a fool. Thousands more deserving of protection die each day. God didn’t protect Zoe.

Even if there is a God, what makes him think he’s so special?

Johnny phones Jameson for assistance protecting Stanislav. Jameson refuses so Johnny decides he is HIVE. Demonstration of sound investigative procedure.

Entry #12.9 – September 2009

Take no chances. Investigate possibility that Directive has been infiltrated. Others are preoccupied staking out Church of Resurrection intending to thwart attempts on Stanislav’s life. Guess they don’t believe in God either.

Meet with contact. Peacekeepers. Directive dissolved. Difficult times ahead. Portman may be HIVE. Four of Portman’s bodyguards are the other novas liberated from the cave at Salt lake Flats. White House security has been massively increased. Impregnable fortress.

Has already met with leaders of all Directive nations. Great Britain, Germany, Japan, Russia. Pope due to arrive in US on Thursday. Will meet with President. Is new HIVE spreading? Have no proof. Crying out for something tangible to go on.

(Catholic church and Utopia backed Portman’s election.)

Writing to journal is interrupted by news. Squawks from battered portable resting on crate in corner of room. Is reported that Church of Resurrection has been levelled by flaming nova. Stanislav believed dead. Guess colleagues were unsuccessful.

Followed by announcement of Peacekeepers

Things are deteriorating. Guess I should rejoin the others.

Seem to remember hearing there was safety in numbers, but was never very good at math.

Entry #12.10 – September 2009

Found them still at hotel. Have been joined by some Buddhist monk guy going by name of Kwai Jin. Have no idea what he’s doing there.

Johnny is becoming increasingly absorbed with glimpses of past. Think he may be becoming unstable. Got sick of endless ranting and told him he was Directive agent. Thought it might snap him out of it. He didn’t seem to notice. So I left and returned to own investigation.

Entry #12.11 – September 2009

Some time later was contacted by Johnny Zero. Wanted more information. Wanted to know how I knew. Remained circumspect in my responses. Had taken long enough to sink in. Must have taken some time for impulses to reach his brain. Like dinosaur.

Not long after determined that Stanislav had not perished in destruction of Church of Resurrection. Was in fact residing at NY hospital. Recovering from injuries.

Johnny proposed staking hospital out to intercept next attempt on Stanislav’s life.

fight

E-News

————–

Directive subsumed into Peacekeepers

Johnny returns – Johnny Morden

Danu, Jo and Kwai Jin go to appointment with Peacekeepers

Nano bots

Salt Lake – brain linked to pods, transmitter and receiver at centre. Beachball sized glowing sphere.

———–

Situation grows steadily more complex.

Remnants of Directive have asked Johnny to protect Dr Berez. Nova who potentially has power to neutralise HIVE machine empath amongst other talents. Allowed self to be persuaded to assist.

Meet in Wichita.

Johnny then takes us back to New York because he and Jo want to talk to Piero Giorie who is due to be transferred to NY hospital for cancer treatment.

Back into lion’s den. Was high probability we would end up getting Berez killed. Only real question was how long it would take?

Kept distance while others, including Berez, gained admittance to hospital in effort to contact Giorie.

Overwatch

Attack – ready to intervene if necessary

Return to Salt Lake

Wonder if there was anything I should have done differently. Whether there is a way to prevent all of this.

Losing focus and direction. Time for action.