uld count on the man sneaking into his
room several times a week; it relieved some of the tension, and
Victor's guilt not only added spice to the affair, it made him even
more devoted to the one he thought he was victimizing. And, Shannon
thought smugly, he couldn't possibly be faulted for being an innocent
victim.

Stretched out, with only a sheet covering him, Shannon waited for
Victor to decide he was asleep. In the meantime, he considered the two
ordinations that had just taken place. He found them abhorrent, even
though he was aware of their necessity. His continued existence could
well depend on four humans who would, except for the approaching
invaders, be major enemies--two here, one in the Terran Empire, and one
currently dead. Three of the four, to his disgust, had to be priests
of the Crucified One. That was galling enough, but the worst part was
that he had to promote faith himself! Not necessarily in that
particular deity, though it would benefit most, he thought bitterly.
There were times he was tempted to rebel again, tell the Adversary to
do it all, instead of having to drive people toward that one, rather
than urge them away as he preferred. Existence, though, wasn't
something to be given up, even if maintaining it meant doing some
things he found truly repugnant.

Cortin, of course, was his immediate concern, though Odeon would
ultimately be the source of far more difficulty for him. Before then,
though, the scar-faced man could be made to suffer--which would be a
very enjoyable procedure indeed, after the problems that particular
individual had caused him since their last encounter. And there was
always the chance Odeon would make a bad decision--though considering
the effect that would have on Shannon himself, he couldn't seriously
wish for it.

To main storyline: 5. Azrael

4b. Mike Odeon's First Mass

Odeon smiled as he entered the Detention Center chapel's small sacristy
to prepare for his First Mass. He'd gone to Mass every day it was
physically possible since childhood, made Spiritual Communion
otherwise, and he'd thought himself long since resigned to not being
the celebrant. That resignation, he realized now, had been only
superficial; the anticipation he felt as he took out the stole Bradford
had given him made it clear he'd never really given up hope of actually
going to the altar.

He studied the stole, glanced from it to the vestments hanging up, and
smiled aga