Tridas (18 page)

"Come
alone”. The Commander revealed reluctantly. "How did you know?"

"Ancient
protocol... An Invitation of sorts”. Aven clarified.

"We
gotta go!" Hoyt exclaimed.

"What
is unclear about ALONE?" Aven repeated, with the same blank stare.

"Well,
we will be close. Letting the Chikyu port at Sriharikota, not an option”. Hoyt
declared, as if he were in charge of assignments.

"Sir,
it's Sihamuni!" blurted the transmission specialist loudly. "He's in
the court, Navona at the Fountain. It's very close”.

The
team immediately broke into action, but with precision in each movement. The
caliber of their tactical training at the expert level, Aven stepped into their
movements naturally. He broke off to convey the intel to Kavani.

"Sihamuni is nearby in
Piazza Navona at the Fountain of the Four Rivers”. Aven announced upon entering
the suite. "The unit is casting their net around him as we speak, but we
both know your presence is needed”.

The Piazza was
full of people, but there was one cluster amongst the crowds that stood out,
perhaps it was all the stripped jerseys. The Argentinean Soccer team was
signing autographs, and their fans had come out in droves. The players had
wanted to indulge in the nightlife Rome had to offer, but their admirers, many
in full kits, had other plans. Amongst the fashionable athletes and the sea of
blue, was the saffron robe of Sihamuni.

Kavani's
attention was on the fountain. Time stopped as she took in the details of
Bernini's masterpiece, in light of her experience at the Trevi. The jagged
travertine stones, created by geothermal springs from deep within the earth's
surface, radiated with energy. Each of the images of the four rivers
surrounding the Egyptian obelisk, were full of symbolism, but the Rio de la
Plata spoke to her the most.

The unit closed
in around Sihamuni to prevent his escape, while the Commander coordinated with
the local authorities to actually seize him. Sihamuni put up no resistance as
the Carabinieri dismounted and shackled his arms behind his back. He looked
across the Piazza, his eyes meeting Aven's, the familiar smirk returning to his
face as a young sharply dressed man addressed the officer.

"Excuse me
Sir, I am Nicolas Franco, the foreign ambassador for our Argentinean Football
Club. May I ask what my father has done?" The man asked calmly in Italian,
but with a tone insisting an answer.

"We are not
at liberty to discuss the details, but he is connected with an international
conspiracy”. The officer reported.

"My
diplomatic documents have been presented to your chief of state. Please contact
your foreign ministry to corroborate, but at this time, I am considered an
officer of your host government as well as my own. Upon your confirmation, I
will be taking my father in to my personal custody under this authority”. Mr.
Franco continued.

Aven could
barely believe his ears, as the officer verified the ambassador's credentials
and diplomatic protocol. "You are asserting diplomatic immunity!?"
Aven lunged towards the monk, but Hoyt restrained him.

"As you can
witness, my resources are far from exhausted”. Sihamuni laughed in the face of
his adversary.

The Command
called back the team, as the officer released Sihamuni into his son's
guardianship. Aven was struggling to control his emotion.

"This is
the same protocol that gives us power here”. Hoyt reminded Aven.

"I
understand the code of behavior”. Aven submitted. "This was a ploy. He
wanted us here. He knew we couldn't touch him. What I can't figure is why”.

As the
Argentineans were escorted out of the Piazza, at the ambassador's request,
Sihamuni brushed closely up against Kavani, who was still entranced at the
fountain.

"Know...
Magic is not my only source to accomplish what has been appointed”. Sihamuni
whispered.

Kavani did not
acknowledge his presence, but the chill of his statement burnt.

Aven approached
Kava halting her trance. "We need to go to Argentina”, were her first
words. "This fountain represents the great waterways of the world- The
Nile of Africa, the Ganges of Asia, the Danube of Europe and the Plata of the
Americas. The sculptures in each of the pools are symbolic as well. The River
God of Plata represents the wealth of the west. The Plata is also the widest
river bordering Argentina and opening into the ocean in course to ZavodovskiIsland. There is much more.
What the Angkor monk meant was a display of his untouchability, which has
proven to be a further revelation of my role in this event as well as its
outcome. Sihamuni is under estimating my sway”.

Kava tended to
chatter when she was energized. Aven loved her talkative trait. "I have
been sent a notable invitation to Thailand from Colonel Suttikul that is also
hard to write off”.

"When?"
Kava demanded.

"Just prior
to us, spotting the monk here at the fountain”. Aven explained, knowing Kava
hated when she didn't have all the details. She operated on a need to know
basis... another endearing trait. "He transmitted a symbol to my
attention. It was an ancient Sumerian pictograph that has been lost for
millennia. He has more knowledge than I thought, from our first encounter.
Plus, it could be a supplication to bargain for assistance against Sihamuni.
The players on their side seem to be strangers brought together by a common
goal. Loyalties may be swayed. I'll show you the image when we return to the
hotel. Perhaps you will have a connection”.

Aven drew the
symbol from memory, Citlalli and Malin could barely believe their eyes.

"This
invitation requires your attention”. Citlalli stated matter-of-factly to Aven.

"I agree,
but Kavani's visions are directing us in the complete opposite direction”, Aven
backhandedly concurred.

"Directing
her in the opposite direction”, Malin quickly corrected. "There is a
reason that both of you are a part of this plot. You must be careful not to acquiesce
your roles”.

"Malin is
right", Kava confirmed. "As much as I hate leaving you, I must follow
Sihamuni to Argentina".

"And this
symbol came with only one request... come alone”, Aven admitted.

"You two
need your space". Citlalli again, stating the obvious grabbed Malin's hand
as they left.

The suite felt
different with just the two of them present. There was a warmth between them
that had been ignored amongst all the chaos. Aven reached across the table and
kissed Kavani. The awkward position was lost as their lips locked for a long
moment.

"I've
missed that!" Kava shared with pacified excitement. The moment needed them
to find rest in one another, not more energy. Her statement and expression were
exactly what Aven needed.

"You are my
world!" Aven vowed, as he grabbed her hand and led her around the table
into the bedroom. Kava melted into his arms as they fell into bed in the
comfort of their bubble.  Morning felt like an eternity away as they enjoyed
the security of each other's presence close.

Aven awoke to a
call from Hoyt. Reaching for his phone, he switched it to speaker.

"What's
your plan? Are you returning to Thailand? Do you think Sihamuni poses a serious
threat in South America?"

"Easy
Champ. Good morning to you too”, Aven interrupted. "Yes, I'm heading back
to Thailand. Kava is going to pursue Sihamuni to Argentina. Remember, the halo
around South America, when Vasily accessed his launch site... too much of a
coincidence to ignore”. Aven was not willing to share Kava's vision details
yet, even with Hoyt.

"Kava can't
pursue Sihamuni alone”. Hoyt contended. "May be I should escort her. I'll
review assignments with the Commander. A team is likely dispatching to
intercept the Chikyu. You can hitch a ride with them to the east and if I
coordinate with Kava, we can travel military to get a jump on Sihamuni as well”.

"I
appreciate your chivalry Hoyt”. Kava cut in. "The military escort would
give us a time buffer, but couldn't I be accompanied by any member of the team?
Your talents may be better utilized in the Andaman Sea?"

"Hoyt is
the right choice”. Aven offered, but in more of a tone that the discussion was
closed.

Kavani looked
deep into Aven's eyes, "I appreciate your passion surrounding my safety,
but in this case, it's your well being that is of a concern”. Aven knew she was
right. He wasn't sure he liked it, but he knew she was right. Hoyt was laughing
over the speaker.

"Whatever feels right to
you, I trust your intuition". This was Aven's response.  "Let's
get some inputs from the Commander”.

Kava knew Hoyt would be her
escort. It would calm Aven during their separation and allow him to focus on
his role with the Colonel. The Commander echoed this opinion, and arrangements
were set in motion for the departure plans.

Aven's flight needed to be
set up by the Colonel. Transmissions were underway to relay Aven's acceptance
of "the invitation".

Hoyt and Kavani were
immediately shuttled to a flight for Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, to rendezvous with a clandestine
retired Air France Concorde jet to Ushuaia International Airport Malvinas
Argentinas. Sihamuni would be traveling to Buenos Aires. By flying far south,
they would literally be days ahead of the monk to coordinate helicopter lifts
to the island.

The opportunity to fly
supersonic was too good to miss, but the whirlwind decisions and quick good bye
to Aven left Kavani feeling cold. Hoyt was funny and kept conversation light,
but she could not get the gravity of the situation to move far from her mind.
She was concerned about Aven traveling back to Thailand alone, as well as the
details surrounding her own mission... Would her sisters join her on the
island? What would they discover there? Was Sihamuni also seeing visions of his
role in this prophecy? So many questions.

The trip across the Atlantic
was long, but the first class accommodations as well as the reduced flight time
softened the ten hour timeframe.

Hoyt looked across the aisle
to Kavani, "What are your plans when we touch down?"

"Find the first
recognizable espresso cafe for a chai tea latte”. Kava quipped. "And let
you
 do your magic, 
and coordinate the rest of our trip out to
the island”.

Smiling, Hoyt replied,
"You got me... but since you brought it up, this magic or spiritual thing
or whatever you want to call it has me a bit freaked out".

"We all tend to fear
what we don't understand".

"You sound like
Aven". Hoyt interrupted.

"Or maybe better stated
in your case, what you can't control", Kava continued. "You come from
a strict world in which weapons and tactics garner a predictable outcome. In
this case, we are dealing with something that no one has encountered for
thousands of years. It is a blend of past and present culminating in an
exceedingly dramatic event".

"You two are not all
that you seem. Why are you and Aven holding out on me? What are you not telling
me?"

"Actually, Aven has
confided in you greatly". Kavani countered. "You may not be ready for
the answers that present themselves”.

"I might not believe
them, but I am certainly ready to hear them". Hoyt replied in his playful,
sarcastic tone that usually calmed down any escalating situation.

"OK, maybe this will
shut you up". Kava prefaced her dialogue. "I believe the volcanic
activity on Zavodovski is a channel to the earth's core, divinely revealed and passed
on to generations within secret circles. New technology reveals that 4
^th
 phase
H2O is trapped within the earth's mantle, but constant heat from the core could
create enough pressure to release this water in liquid form creating massive
tidal waves and submerging the land masses in its wake".

"I already have that
intel".

"Hold on", Kava
reassured him she was far from done. "This location represents a dual war.
It is the battle between eastern tradition and western wealth, as well as the
ancient conflict between those who see the sun as supreme against those who
worship the moon. On another plane, spiritual forces are moving and even
intervening into our reality to force this appointed event. The outcome is born
around conflict and will end with one side dominating the other or complete
desolation".

Kava paused, "My
logically trained mind has seen the eastern side, for lack of a better term,
holding the advantage, but with Aven's invitation back to Thailand, who knows,
maybe I've missed something".

"A tidal wave to take out
the Americas huh? Sounds like a few movie plots I've seen." Hoyt replied
with a bit of bite. "Did you actually see this in a vision?"

"Yes, some elements are
more clear than the others". She snapped back.

"Are you still able
to
see
Sihamuni in your
visions
?"

"That connection is very
weak. The images are vague. I wonder if it is a proximity thing?" Kava
pondered for a moment.

"You should reach out to
Aven. Once we are on the island, connecting with him will be virtually
impossible".

"We have been
texting". Kava said with a smile.

"Of course you have. Is he
airborne yet?"

"He's flying with the team
to intercept the Chikyu. Landing in Malaysia and the Colonel will bring him
into Thailand".

"Malaysia has some great
beaches! The Datai Langkawi is beautiful and the food is amazing! If the
Colonel is a no show, at least he's in paradise". Hoyt was lost in his
memories.

Kavani semi-ignored Hoyt's
statement. She was unwilling to believe Aven was on a wild goose chase, but
part of her did wish he was safe in a resort instead of walking into the
unknown alone.

"Where is Sihamuni
now?" Hoyt blurted out of the blue.