The first of the robots began to appear on the outskirts of the Vatican where Erhart and Saber had chosen to keep watch. They were humanoid in form, designed to be infiltrators as well as killers, though for now they had no organic camouflage with which to blend in. They walked slowly, deliberately, their cybernetic brains processing the terrain as they approached, appraising stone, mortar... and their opposition.

As tall as a man and sleek in design, they resembled nothing so much as a gleaming, metal skeleton brought to life, though their eyes were not empty sockets but glowing red optics.

They were the first of what would no doubt be many.