Vatican Ambassador by Mike Luoma

part of the CCU's screen:
    "Pope Peter killed by faction who installed Linus. Not killed in UIN attack. M'Bekke." Doesn't sound like we've got a friend in the new pontiff. Better go with Wentworth and explore my options. Better pack wisely! Let's see...
    Three and a half hours later, Bruno rings the bell to the Vatican Ambassador's quarters.
    "Yes?" BC says on the intercom.
    "We gotta go soon," Bruno grunts.
    "Gotcha, big guy. I'll be right there."
    BC has been packed for an hour. But for the next twenty minutes he continues his meditation. Maybe if I meditate I can avoid the headaches. Bruno can wait. I'm sure he'll ring again when we really need to go.
    One minute later, Bruno rings again.
    "Yes?" BC inquires pleasantly.
    "Let's go! Now!" Bruno barks back.
    "Coming," BC continues pleasantly.
    BC is packed for a priest's travel needs, not an assassin's. No weapons. No ‘subterfuge’. I'm sure Wentworth has many levels of security. And when all else fails, big guys with clubs. Primitive, yet effective. I'll be the holy diplomat this trip. Play the role, right?
    "Hello Bruno!" BC greets the goon outside as he leaves his quarters. Bruno grunts and turns to lead BC
    to Wentworth's ship. BC presses his hand against the security panel to seal up his rooms. For what it's worth...
    "Hey!" Bruno calls back. "Let's go! You're already late!" BC walks up to Bruno without saying a word.
    "Here," Bruno says, "You go ahead. I wantcha where I can seeya."
    "Which way am I going?" BC asks him.
    "Left," Bruno barks, "here. Down to the private bays." BC follows his directions, walking just ahead of the goon as they head to the ship.
    After several other barks and turns, they end up in a little used section of the Lunar Prime Spaceport. Little used, but amazingly intact. They rebuilt these private bays with private funds. Built them back up pretty fast, too.
    BC laughs to himself.
    Betcha Wentworth's bay is at least as secure as the Vatican mission!
    "Here!" Bruno says, indicating a secure airlock door. Bruno presses his hand against the door's panel and it slides open. "Go ahead," he tells BC.
    BC steps through the airlock door into the airlock. Bruno follows, closing the outer door behind him. He steps past BC to put his palm against the inner door ahead of them and it slides open, revealing a luxurious reception area. Wentworth's Station colors, gold, red and black, are duplicated here: plush red and gold walls, black marble floors, and a clear glass ceiling open to the stars obscured by just a hint of blue haze, letting BC and others know a security shield is in place.
    Three other "Bruno's" are standing against the wall opposite the airlock BC walked in through. Another airlock door stands open between two of the thugs, apparently the airlock to Wentworth's waiting ship, docked outside. They move aside when BC and Bruno approach. Bruno grunts and points to tell BC to go ahead of him once again, into this second airlock.
    BC has a sudden panic attack.
    What if they're just going to space me, right here and now? No, why would they get so elaborate?
    So it'll look like an accident? Shit!
    BC calms when Bruno steps into the airlock as before, pushing past to palm the panel in the door ahead of them as the outer door closes behind. A quick hiss and the door opens.
    "Go!" Bruno says, and BC goes. He steps onto the ship. BC looks up and down the ship's empty corridor.
    Hmm, black red and gold, how original... well, at least he's consistent.
    "Go ahead, up and to the right," Bruno directs BC in his grunt-speak. BC heads down the corridor. Bruno shows him to a stateroom door.
    "Press here," he says, indicating the door panel. BC feels a brief tingle as the door recognition systems id's his palm. The door slides open on a relatively posh stateroom with a king size bed.
    "This is your room for the trip. Settle in for takeoff. Mr. Wentworth will be calling you after that."
    "You make a great stewardess, Bruno," BC chides him. Bruno ignores him, turns