Vatican City

Father Mathas

I took a step into the glowing portal back to Earth, back to the holy city. I nodded my head as Lucerne greeted me.

"Father."

"It is good to see you again, how are things going?"

He shrugged.

"A few rowdy tourists, no major assassination attempts, it's been relatively quiet. I take it there will be another meeting?"

I nodded my head.

"With the victory in Brockton bay I have been recalled to go over a few things, we have duties to the faithful in all of the new worlds."

I waved at the man who manned our small humble World tree.

"I have reservations."

I relaxed as the cardinal walked in.

"We understand your reservations but God grants his mercy to everyone."

Lucerene nodded at his eminance, he was in charge of our parahuman division, Lucerne protected his holiness well but there were other men and women of the faith who had triggered, either before or during their service to God and it was best to find a way to manage our God given gifts for the good of all.

"This is however not a place to talk freely, we don't want to interrupt the line, yes?"

The two of us nodded and were guided to a backroom, the ambassadorial island that we owned was grand, but it was mostly used as housing and for various bureaucratic duties. It was a worthy expansion but not a replacement for the Holy See. We were seated and offered water. We sipped our cups.

"It is good to see you again father, have you been informed of the latest victory in the bay?"

I nodded my head and let my counterpart speak.

"Another of the serpents, the Anathemas is dead, consigned to the pit of hell where it belongs."

The Cardinal sipped some water.

"Which of course means a new world opened up for humanity and the faithful."

That made our resident brute frown, the Cardinal like wise frowned.

"We have talked about this."

"I know father, even Anathema can find redemption, it just seems blasphemous to me."

I sipped my water.

"God has worked miracles through sinners before, he will most likely do so again."

"I know this is true but I still have concerns."

The Cardinal nodded.

"We are not being idle, Ironwood is being watched that said his wife is a good influence which is why we have our tree to Triton instead of having to share a tree with Rome. That said this is the plan for Puck, the west african zone nations many of which are more polite suggestions then countries include everything south of Algeria and east of the Chad, Sudan line. Some of these countries are places where we have friends."

He moved the map.

"Nambia being a good example, but some are hostle to the mother church. Chad in the past being a good example. Lucerne, I need you to converse and discuse ways to protect our flock."

He paused.

"Without any violence."

He nodded his head taking a letter and I was left alone with theCardinal.

"He is a hard man."

"He's lived a hard life, but he is healing. I need your abilities Mathas, now what are our chances here?"

I looked at the countries, the plans for the world, calculations of what it may look like.

"Good, we have our people in many of those countries and can use that to move around."

"And other issues?"

"Violence is unlikely, though it will happen, Venus was both a major victory and a trap."

The Cardinal nodded.

"Some would find it difficult to believe that having an entire planet dedicated to your faith would be a bad thing."

I took a sip.

"It isn't but the Saudis hamfisted demands had a price. In America many were angry that they were not able to get healing for their injured and sick family members due to the construction of the World tree. Then you have the fact that said world is isolated from the rest of space, the mass exodus of their best and brightest. The Saudi decision to move Mecca lock stock and barrel to Venus during the revolution causing a schism."

I paused.

"Islam will grow and survive such things, but that growth will be slowed and we have gained opportunities, people who would otherwise be hostle are more willing to listen and religious authorities who would have used force against us are much weaker now."

"Times of chaos present opportunities?"

"I mearely wish to save souls, your grace."

He smiled.

"Of course, your recommendation?"

"Help provide supplies to the new settlers, food, water, clothing, what farming equipment is no longer needed by members of the flock, be there at the start and plant our roots deep in the new communities. Same advice you will hear from many others."

"Anything else?"

"That is it, until the world is finished and the agreements over who gets what is settled, well my powers are limited."

"Thank you father, go in peace we are releasing you back to Triton."

I got out of my chair.

"Thank you your grace."