Itisourcleardutytosparenoeffortinordertoworkforthemomentwhen all warwillbe

completely outlawed by international agreement. This goal, of course, requires the

establishment of a universally acknowledged public authority vested with the effective
powertoensuresecurityforall,regardingjustice,andrespectforLaw
VaticanII,1965,PopeJohnXXIIIandPopePaulVI

In this time ofpeaceandglobal unity,itisourglorious responsibilitytoprovide healing

for thesick,aidtothepoor,andsacramentsforthefaithful.UnderthepledgeoftheUnited
Nationsto provideuniversalhealthcaretothewholeworld,wewillanswerwithhospitals.
Weknowthatthepreservationofpeaceisonly attainablebytheprotectionof thecoming
generations. To shield our children fromthesins oftheworld,the ThirdVatican Council
presents: veritOS, the worlds first universal operatingsystem and global censorship
program.
VaticanIII,2160,PopeDominicIX

Therewerenobodies.OfallthequestionsthatfilledVenerassmind,thisonedefileditlikea
plague.SaintMedelasHospitalinNewLondonhousedoverfivethousandsickonlyyesterday.Today:
none.
WhatinDanteshellhappenedhere?hewonderedaloud.
Histhoughtwasbrokenbythesoundofrubbishbeinghefted.Herubbedhistemplesinaggravationas
thecoldairconflictedwithhisnumbskin.Thisisnotwherehewantedtobeatfourinthemorning.
Colddeathfilledtheair,fillingthelungswithdarkness.Everythinginsightwasshroudedin
shadowasthecoldflashlightsilluminatedpathsbetweentheinvestigatorsandthelifelessdestruction.
Venerasshonehisflashlighttowardthewallswhereoneofthepaintingsstillhanging.Itwasa
relativelycommonworkofJesushealingawoman,buttherewasblasphemy.Jesusfacehadbeen
scratchedout.SomethingfeltoddabouttheblacknesswhereHisLordoncestood,theshapeofthe
marringseemedtoresembleahand.Atfirstglancehethoughtitwastheexplosion,buthissoulwas

unsettledbythedamagetoonlyhisface.VenerascrossedhimselfandbegantorecitethePaterNoster.
Zealot,wevefoundsomethingavoiceinterrupted.
Venerasturnedaroundtoseewherethebluehelmetswereexcavating.Rubblecoveredeverythingin
sight,makingitdifficulttofindanythingofvalue.Finallytheyweregettingsomeresults.
Anhouragohedgottenthecall.Emergencytheysaid,Theyveblownupahospital.Thatswhya
zealotwascalledtofigureoutwhotheywere.ButthatwasnotthequestionthatinterestedVeneras
Ignusrightnowatfourinthemorningwithoutcoffee,allhewantedtoknowiswhytherewereno
confoundedbodies.None.Untilnow.
Movingtherubble,Venerassawwhatseemedtobearubberboot,meltedandcharredfromthe
incendiaryaftereffectsoftheblast.Cleartherubblehespokewithagravellyvoice,cracklingfrom
themorningscoldgrasp.Yettherewasanewurgency.Nowtheyweregettingsomewhere!Thepeons
continuedtomovetherubbleuntilVenerascouldmakeouthisuniform.
Asecurityguard?!therewascleardisappointmentinhisvoice.Hecouldfelthisbloodstartingtoget
hotinhisneck,Howaretherenodoctors,nopatients,andallwecanmanagetodigupissome
TheZealotstopped,preventinghislipsfromutteringprofanity.Hecouldntbelieveit.Hisvoicewas
filledwithresignationashelitacigarette,takehimtotheoutposttogetanautopsy
Butsir,thecommandingofficerinterruptedHaveyouseenthisplace?!Thereisntmuch
thatwouldnthavekilledhim.Theboisterousofficerprobablyrealisedtheerrorofhis
insubordination.Thatorhewassimplydumbstruck,standingtheremotionlessasthememberof
CardinalBellicusZealotrysmokedinsilence.Thezealotknewwhatwouldfollowwouldbe
unpleasant,andheletthebluehelmetsoldierstandinhisstupidity,fearoftheimmanentbeingthe
greatestpunishmentofall.
Lettingoutathickcloudofexhaust,VenerasremovedhiscigarettefromhismouthIprobably
shouldntbesmokingonthejob,shouldI?theofficerssubordinatessteppedback,unnervedbythe

dormantpowerinhisvoice.Theofficerattemptedtospeak,butwasstupefiedbythezealotseyes.
Brown,sodarktheyalmostseemedtobeasblackasthedamnationofhell,andtheywerelockedonthe
officerssoul.
Whatsyourname,commander?Venerasaskedcoolly.
ThecommandertriedtostandatattentionDDesedia,SirVenerasleanedin,butcommander
DesidiasvisionwasblurredbyaglowingorangeIshouldprobablyputthisoutDesediacringedas
theorangegrewbrighterandhislungsfilledwithsin.Thepainstruckashisthefleshbegantoboiland
peeloffofhisnose.
Makenoteofmymercy,thatIhavenotchosenyoureye.Veneraschallenged,butDesedia
wasresilient,stiflinghisscreamstowhimpersasthezealotissuedhispenance.Ihavebeengracious,
thezealotstonewasnodifferentthanbeforebecauseyouwillneverquestionmeagain.

II
Venerascrackedhisneckasheindulgedinhisfourthcupofcoffeeforthemorning.Lastnight
hadprovenfutile.Fourbodiesfound,allsecurityguards.Sixthousandbetweennurses,doctors,and
patients.Wherearethey?Venerasheldhiscoffeetohislipsashedelvedhismindintothe
possibilities.Therehavebeenoverahundreddisappearancesoverthepastyear,butneverthismany
fromonelocation.Venerasworriedthatperhapstherewasadarkspiritatwork.Hedidntliketoadmit
believinginsuchthings,butasaVaticanZealotheknewtherehavebeenmanydisappearancesthe
Popeproclaimedsupernatural.Venerasshudderedatthememoryofthepainting,marredso
blasphemously.Hisheartbegantopulseaudiblyashetriedtoshakethefeelingoffear.Henearly
spilledhiscoffeeastheshrillofhisphonebrokehisdigressingconcentration.Helookeddownatthe
callerID.ItwascommanderCupiditas,theofficerwhohadrelievedDesediaearlythismorning.This
isVenerasoftheVaticanZealotryVenerasrubbedthesleepingnumbnessoutofhisforehead

ZealotVeneras,thecommanderansweredIamcallingtoreportontheSt.Medelainvestigation
Anymorebodies?Venerasasked
Imafraidnot,sir.Buttherewasthecommandersoundedworriedsomethingelse.
showmeVenerasdemanded,andthecallclickedtoanendashisphonealertedhimatthereceivalof
photos.
Veneraspointedhisphoneatthewall.Thepicturessenttohimstoodfromfloortoceiling,
staringdownlikeblasphemesofHades.Thereitwas,thepicturehehadseeninthedark.Hecouldsee
thehandclearlynow,thoughhehadmisinterpretedthecolorinthedark.Red,asredaspurebloodwas
thehandprintthatdefiledChristsface.Venerasswipedhisphoneandfoundmoreimagesjustlikeit.
Everypaintingintheentirehospitalwassimilarlydefaced,andeveryroseraieandcrucifixseemingly
stompedbyanironboot.
Timeseemedtofadeawayashestaredattheredhandprintthatcoveredhiswall.Heprobably
wouldhavecontinuedtogazeaimlesslyhadhenotbeeninterruptedbythepoundingofwood.Veneras
turnedtoopenthecherrywooddoor
Masterzealot,themessengerbowedhishead,cardinalBellicusrequestsyourpresence
Venerasnoddedinreturn.Tootiredtogiveaverbalresponse,hewavedhishandsignallingfor
themessengertotakehisleave.Venerasturnedhiseyestothewalloncemore,inexplicablyperplexed
bytheredhand.ThemessengerclosedthedoorandthelightsbegantodimasthePraesentiaactivated.
Thezealotbowedononekneeasthelivestreamofthecardinaltookform.
Holycardinal,Venerasreveredthehologramofhissuperior.
Zealot,thecardinalrepliedrise.
Zealotswereagentsofthecardinalswill,preservingorthodoxyandorthopraxythroughouttheUnited
Nations.VenerasservedasareligiousinvestigatorundercardinalBellicus,notoriousforhislong
interminableserviceattheVatican.

isthisfromthemuseumdesecration?Theholographiccardinalpointedtotheredhand
no,noblecardinal.TheseareimagesofthebombingatSt.Medelas
Thecardinalwassilentashestaredatthewall.Itwashardtotellthroughtheprojection,but
somethingseemedoutofplace.haveyouseenthatsymbolbefore?Venerasasked.Youarebeing
takenoffthiscase.thecardinalcloakedhisanxietyinurgencythePopehasannouncedtheretirement
ofInquisitorTatemVolup.
VenerascouldnthelpbutfeelreliefVolupwasavileman.Ofcourse,hedarenotuttersuch
thingstheofficeofInquisitorwassacred,andsecondonlytothePopeandIhaveofferedyourname
assuccessor.Veneraswasshocked.TheholylineageoftheInquisitorwasonedeeplyreveredbyall
christendom.Cardinal,VenerasreveredIamoverwhelmed.ButsurelyIamunworthyofsuch
TheyPopehasrequestedacounciltoexamineyourpotential.thecardinalinterruptedItrust
youwillnotdishonormydecisionVenerasbowedasthecardinalgavehisbenediction,Paxet
BonumenRegnumDeiandwiththat,thehologramflickeredtocessation.

III
ThetableformedasemicirclearoundtheroomwhereVenerassat.Therewerethirteenseats,
sixontheleft,andsixontheright.Theroomwasdimlylit,saveasinglelightthatshonebrilliantly
fromtheheavenshallowingtheSedrisPape,theSeatofthePope.Venerastriedtomaintaindignityas
hewashumbledbythegloryofPopeJuliusVI,flankedbysixInquisitorsonhisright,andfiveonhis
leftthetenthseatwasvacant.TheInquisitoratthePopesrighthandspokeZealotVenerasIgnus,
pleaseapproachthesoundofbootssteppedinrhythmtotheomnipresentchantingthatfilledtheair.
TheholyPopestoodinthegloryofhisluminescenthalo,hisoutstretchedarmsseemedtobridgethe
gapfromearthtoheavenaccordingtotheglorioustraditionofVaticanIII,theInquisitorstandsasa
symbolofpreservationforourHolyChurch.ThetilesofthefloorformedtheVaticanSeal,and

VenerasstoodatthecenterofthetwokeysasthePopebegantheinitiationceremony.ThePopespoke
withinsurmountablepower,
Doyousweartoprotectthechurchfrompaganismandwitchcraft,sexualperversion,violence,and
freemasonry?
ISwearVenerasreplied
Anddoyousweartocensorsinandsacrilege,toprotectthepurityofallgenerations?
Iswear
Thenonthisday,IPopeJuliusVIchristenyou:IraVeneras,InquisitoroftheHolyRomanChurch

IV
ThetwodishevelledIrishmenmovedinsecrecythroughthedarkvaults,Comeon,Aionaes,weneed
tobequickAionaesgatheredthefilesandshuffledthemintohisbagholdonAionaesraisedhis
bloodredhand,andprinteditonBotticellisTrinityTheCathieswilllovethishethought.Alright,
letsgoAionaesfeltasenseofsatisfactionasheclimbedintothehelicopter.Threeotherswere
waiting,twoboretheredhandoftheUlsterProtestantsontheirraggedsleeves,andthethirdworethe
orthodoxcross.Whatdidyouget?thewomanasked.Thelookofshockcouldbeseenonallas
Aionaespulledoutthefilesisitcomplete?Philoaskedcomplete,Aionaesgrinnedanduntainted
byveritOS.Awefilledthechopperaseveryonereadthetitle.Itseemedasthoughhopewasreturning
totheworld.
ParabiasowavedforAionaestohandhimthedocuments,whocompliedhesitantly.Hehaddevoted
sevenyearsofhislifetofindthisdocumenthewasreluctanttoletitpassfromhishands.
TheworldneedstoseethisParabiasoreminded,Becareful,PareAionaesurged.
Paretypedrabidlyonhishandheldtablet.
veritOS.un
search: 1689 Baptist Confession

Thescreenflashedforasecondbeforeloadingthedocument.Hechuckledindisbeliefashecompared
ittotheoneinhishandsItlookslikewhatsonveritOSusedtobetheconfession.hesaidbutits
wordedsono.Justno.heshookhisheadevenAionaeswouldchosecatholicismoverthisPare
said,holdingupthetablet.Thatsprobablythepoint.AionaescommentedCanyouuploadthe
original?
upload document: select file
click
error_666:
heretical material detected
YouredamnstraightPareretortedashebegantypingagain
veritOS_admin
system locked
papal dispensation required
Parabiasocontinuedtotype
access granted.
Welcome, inquisitor Volup
WereinParabiasoboastedTheinfoDeleastrialiftedisgood.Iguessflirtingwithacatholicpaid
off,ehDel?thewomanrolledhergreeneyesshutup,arseface.Igotthatpigexcommunicated,didnt
I?DelsredhairfellinherfaceasshesnappedatPare.
JustuploadthefileAionaesintervenedAlreadydonePariabasorepliedonemorethinghetook
hisstylustoleaveonefinalmessage.

V
. veritOS .

ALETHEA

Whatdoesitmean?VenerasaskedashestudiedthewordscribbledonhisscreenBeforethe
unificationoflanguagesundertheUN,groupsofhereticswouldstudyGreekorHebrewtosubvertthe
authorityofthechurchInquisitorVanitaterepliedAletheaisGreekforVeritas
TruthVenerasaddedunderhisbreathDidtheydefileanythingelse?Venerasinquired.
Yes,aninquisitorfromacrossthechambertappedhisdeskandthecenteroftheroomwas
illuminatedbyholographicpagesofsomeoutdateddocument.Venerasraisedafistandopenedhis
fingers,creatingaholographiccopyofthedocumentforhimtomanipulate.Manyoftheother
inquisitorsfollowedsuit.AsyouknowInquisitorAudentiaspoke,theyKeysoftheKingdomwere
givenbyChristtoPeter,andarecarriedbyhislineage.Theinquisitorsallnoddedinagreementat
Audentiaspresentation,buthereticshavestolentheauthorityofthescripturesfromwhereChristhas
ordained,andplaceditinthehandsofthelaymantherewasaunanimoussenseofdisapprovalatthe
thoughtofsuchdisregardfortheholyinterpretationoftheScriptures.HeathensVenerascommented.
ThisHeresyVanitatesaidcoldlymustbesilenced.

VI
OverBelfastinfivethehelicopterpilotannounced.Good,Delcrossedherarmsassociate
withmorecivilizedcompanyshesmirkedwhat?Parabiasobanteredwenotgoodenoughforyour
highness?Deleastriaexhaledinannoyance.ThemanwiththegreekcrosslookedatAionaesYou
alright,Aio?theirishmanlookedoverathisfriend,hmm?Oh,yeah.Imfine,PhiloAionaeslooked
outatthelushgreenhillsasthechopperbeganitsdescent.Withtherestoftheworldcoveredin
metropolis,theforgottenislandofIrelandwasoneofthelastplaceslefttoitsnaturalstate.Aionaes
worriedthattheislandlackedtheresourcestocarefortheirevergrowingnumbers.Onlylastmonth,
theresistancehadrescuedsixthousandsouls.Itwastheirresponsibilitytheycouldntleaveeveryone

inthedominionofthePope.Aeioneasprayedforresolve.Heknewthatthiswashispurpose,Iwill
notbackdown.

VII
TheskylineofNewRomelitthenightlikethestarofNativity.Venerasstoodoverlookingthe
glowingcity,staringdownthemultitudinalstoriesthatrosefromtheunseenstreetsbelow.The
inquisitorpackedhispipeashewaitedforhisnobilisclassairshiptoarrive.Heangledhishatashis
overcoatwrithedinthetreacherouswindsthatravagedthroughthemultistorymazeofcultural
achievement.Thecityslustforperegrinationwasinsatiableaspersonalandcommercialspeedercraft
racedthroughthecitysky.Onelightpulledawayfromthetraffic,comingtoahoveratthelandingpad
whereVenerasstoodagainstthehazardouswind.

VIII
Whatthehellisthemeaningofthis?Aionaeswasoutragedattheimagesofthebank
bombingthisbankwasunderthedominionofthePope.TharrosrepliedItwillsetthevaticanback
ye
Butyouslaughteredinnocentpeople!Aionaesinterrupted.Tharrosshookhishead
Theyknewtheirside.Cathiescontroleverythin,banks,hospitals,veritOS.TharrosremindedAio
Howelsecanwefightbackwhentheychosewhoishealedandwhodies.Whentheycontrolwhatis
true?!
NotbykillingpeopleAionaesremainedfirm
TharrosseemedhesitantThisistheonlywayandwiththat,TharrosleftAionaesaloneinthedisplay
room.

Aionaesfeltconflictedinhisheart.ItwastruethatBelfastwaspreservingthefaithinthistimeof
Apostasybutisitreally?WouldGodreallypreserveHispeopleifHispeopleinsistedonmurderand
rebelliontopreservetheirownlives?

IX
Theinquisitorschamberwasspacious,stockedwithdrinks,food,anddelicaciesofallvariety.
Venerassatattheregalcommandchairatthecenterofthechamber.Nobleinquisitorthecomscreen
shownthepilotsface,whatistheordaineddestination?
VeneraspouredhimselfaglassoftriplemaltscotchBelfasttheinquisitoranswered,Ireland
Therewassilenceontheotherendforsometimefforgiveme,holyone.Butsurelyyouknowthat
Irelandsunkbeneaththeseamanydecadesago.Thepilotcautioned,SoveritOSsaysVeneras
agreedbutthatdoesnotchangeourdestination.Veneraspulledouthisphone.Usinghisinquisitor
overrideheaccessedtheveritOSdatabase,
Nobilis: linked
TheinquisitortappedhisphoneandthecraftbeganitsrouteIwillnottolerateapostasy.The
inquisitorscoldwordsemanatedfromthecraftsspeakers,Thus,Iwillexorcisedivineintervention.
withasubsequenttapheengagedtheemergencylockonthepilotsseatbelt,restraininghimuntilhis
timeofatonement.
Venerasbeganexaminingtheholographiccopiesofthedocument.Itscontentprovedtobeoflittleuse
soheswipedhishand.Takingasipofscotchheexaminedthemapthatpinpointedwheretheerror_666
hadoriginated.Themiddleoftheocean,betweenLondonandIreland.Hisjob:tofindhehereticsan
exterminatethem.
Venerasswipedoncemore,pullingupacatalogueoftheshipsweapons.

FourDantemissiles,andtwodozenBreathofGodgascapsules.Heunsheathedhisspanishrapier.A
ceremonialweapon,oneassociatedwiththegloriouslineageoftheinquisitorsbutonewithwhichhe
wasexceedinglycapable,andreadytokill.Hewasreadytokill.Toquellthisheresyonceandforall.
Asthevesselmadeitspilgrimageacrosstheland,Venerastappedhisphoneoncemore.Responding
veritOSscommand,theNoSmokingsignblinkedoff,andVeneraslithispipe.

WorksCited
Bungie,Halo2.Microsoft,2004.

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NY:CostelloPub.,1996.Print.
Karpyshyn,Drew.Revan.NewYork:DelRey/Ballantine,2011.Print.
Nylund,EricS.Halo:GhostsofOnyx.NewYork:Tor,2006.Print.
Seed,David.ScienceFiction:AVeryShortIntroduction.Oxford:OxfordUP,2011.Print.
Ubisoft,Watch_Dogs,2014