Can't Stop the Boss

You're in the back of a van, listening to Valmont. He plays a recording of Sam who has been forced to give you a mission briefing. An item grab, but if you refuse... it will be bad. You've turned down all his other jobs, but this one is non-negotiable. The van opens, and Sam's recording tells you to run.

You're in the Vatican, heading for St. Peter's Basillica. Valmont tells you that ANNIE knew what Sigrid and Van Ark were up to long before the apocalypse. He could have stopped it, but how could he resist the whole world on sale? Be careful inside; the ceiling isn't stable. He gloats that people are so willing to give him great loyalty in exchange for so little. There's something here he wants, and he's lost count of how many of his people have died trying. But you need to be careful because of a panacea in your blood. His doctors need to keep draining it after all! Follow the tour guide passages to the Sistine Chapel, and ignore the dead runners on your way.

Valmont had been planning to steal the paintings in the Sistine Chapel, but ANNIE told him it wouldn't survive the airlift. He complains that Moonchild reminded him of his mother, who stole his father's fortune and gave it to charity. No matter what he has, he knows he can do better. Climb out that window into the courtyard. You're heading to the Apostolic Archives. He knows you think that Amelia will come save you, but he's got decoys with your shirt on across the world, and corpses with your DNA in numerous shallow graves. And he has spies everywhere. He wasn't quite ready for the apocalypse, but still more prepared than most. He knocked down global communications, made sure that people would be isolated. You might want to avoid the zombie priests and Swiss Guard. Climb through that hole in the wall and head downstairs.

The is 'The Bunker' where the most precious texts are kept. It's less impressive than he expected. There is a new Pope in Istanbul planning to take back these treasures, as well as other hold-outs, believing in things like God or hope, brightening the dark. Valmont wanted an apocalypse like Mad Max or The Walking Dead; ruins, misery, hopelessness, so he could sweep in and be revered. All over the world, small groups defy the odds and flourish. There's a vault here with your goal. Amelia never let Valmont read the Edda, but there is another copy here, and you should know what it looks like. And since you're being chased by undead cardinals, you need to go forward. Use that halberd to rush them and head to the vault.

You enter the vault, but Valmont can't hold it open for long. The other runners died choking due to the inert gas used to preserve the documents. The tome on the plinth! Smash the casing and grab it. Head to the vault door across the archive. And remember, if you die of oxygen deprivation, he's sending Sam in next.

You're out and into the streets of Rome. You could destroy it, but what would happen to Sam? And Janine and Peter? Get into the truck. The apocalypse hasn't gone as planned, but he's had a fix brewing for years. Soon the whole world will be full of broken, helpless, loving people, all looking to him!