Chapter 25
Gregorian chants acoustically pirouetted throughout the Cardinal’s chamber, the echoing enhanced by the rustic, handcrafted, wooden wall covering. Led by a seminary intern, Gary saw not only Cardinal Millhouse, whom he’d come to visit, but another clergyman in the Cardinal’s private office. When the Cardinal called and requested that he stop by to discuss a serious matter, he had the impression no one else would be involved in the conversation. The Cardinal directed the intern to turn down the music by pointing to the stereo system inset into the custom-built wall-shelving unit.
“Ah, Gary, thank you for coming,” the Cardinal noted after waiting for the background music to recede. He stood up and moved from behind his desk to greet his visitor, hand extended.
“Your Eminence, your request sounded urgent,” Gary responded, kissing the Cardinal's ring.
“It is, and this is Bishop Grielle. Bishop, this is Gary Applethorpe, a prominent deacon in service to the Church,” the Cardinal said, gesturing to the other clergyman sitting in one of the two chairs opposite the Cardinal’s desk. “Bishop Grielle is the one overseeing the investigation into the cause of the angelic visitations at the funeral homes and, more important, at Thomson and Thomson.”
Gary's eyes widened when he heard the task of the unknown clergyman. He shook the Bishop’s hand, gripping extra firmly. “Really? How’s the investigation coming along?” Gary asked, taking a seat next to the Bishop.
“So when do we expect to hear from your charges about what they’ve found?” the Cardinal inquired, directing his question to Bishop Grielle.
“Within a couple of days, I decided to give them more time to collect and compose their notes. You know, I’m sorry once again your Eminence, and not to be disrespectful, what’s the purpose of Deacon Applethorpe in this discussion?” Bishop Grielle asked mentally confused as to the purpose of the short-notice meeting.
“Gary Applethorpe is a senior vice president at Everest Bio-Medical Group.”
“Everest Bio-Medical? I understand they’re a major patron of the Church. They support many of the clinics and free medical aid stations that we provide for the indigent of the fold in parishes here in the States and in Mexico. But I’m not sure what this has to do with the first fatal event here in Los Angeles?”
“You realize that a large number of those who died were from Everest, Andrew?” the Cardinal asked.
“Well yes, and from what you’ve mentioned your Eminence,” Bishop Grielle answered, hiding his annoyance at being called by his first name in front of Gary. Even though he was a deacon, Gary was still considered laity and not official clergy, regardless of being in the privacy of the Cardinal’s office. “Some of the departed were associated with advanced genetic engineering techniques to create foods capable of growing in harsh environments as well as distinct and low-cost immunizations and vaccines for our clinics.”
“Well, they’re working on something important with their vaccine research. What I am about to tell you is in strictest confidence. Only a select few in Rome and a small number in Everest know what I am about to tell you.”
“Of course I won’t reveal what you’re about to tell me,” Bishop Grielle replied, bewildered the Cardinal was about to provide more than the cursory information he had in the past.
The Cardinal continued. “If successful, they’ll minimize, if not eliminate, a heretical and unbelieving scourge sourced in the Middle East that has plagued the Church for centuries. A most amazing opportunity exists.”
“I don’t quite understand what you’re trying to say. What exactly does vaccine research and Church doctrine have to do with each other that could be considered heretical?” the Bishop inquired.
The Cardinal remained quiet and glanced toward Gary, who, after a short pause, waved his head back and forth to signal his disapproval of the direction of the conversation.
“OK Andrew, here’s what I’ll tell you concerning the Holy Father,” the Cardinal began after taking another quick glance at Gary, who now gave a reaffirming nod. “I’ve kept this from you long enough. In the other recent event at Crestview, the single loss there was from Waterfall Medical Research.”
“And?” the Bishop continued.
“Waterfall is one of the primary subsidiaries working with the Aurora project. The poor soul who passed was one of the lead research doctors,” the Cardinal responded.
“With the loss of one of our top genetic researchers, many thought the project would be set back again; yet a miracle happened,” Gary interjected. “He managed to record progress for one of the phases of the project he’d been overseeing.”
“You see Andrew, you’ve known this work has been going on for years, with part of it going on in Mexico because certain parts of the research weren’t allowed in the United States,” the Cardinal remarked.
Bishop Grielle grimaced at the idea that more information was forthcoming because it was information he hadn’t been privy to previously yet laity such as Gary had been.
The Cardinal continued, “You know Andrew, I don’t believe I ever told you how the project came about. That may explain some of the issues at hand.”
“What have I been missing through all of this?” the Bishop asked.
“The work at Everest has been divinely inspired.”
“Divinely inspired?” Both men could hear the skepticism in Bishop Grielle’s voice.
“Yes,” the Cardinal said while getting up to prepare a cup of tea, offering it to his guests as well though both politely declined. “I’m going to tell you something many in the Church are not aware of. You see Andrew, years ago, during special canonical prayers by several members of the College of Cardinals with the Bishop of Rome in the Vatican, they reported being visited by an angelic messenger, a most magnificent creature, its brilliance rivaled only by the sun. The name of this angel was not revealed to the Cardinals. But as its brightness was said to be equivalent to the coming dawn, they named it Aurora. The visit of this messenger was in direct response to the prayers of our brethren. With the turmoil in the world just before the mass disappearance, they were enlightened with the hope that a new world leader would arise. Stumbling blocks to ecumenical progress would be removed and the Church’s influence in the world would increase over time. Since the College of Cardinals and I know that we are not to be involved in secular endeavors, or those of politics, economics, and the like, we may only use those instruments sanctioned by God to carry out the Holy Father’s and God’s will. The angel thus named Aurora commissioned the Cardinals to seek an appointed company to do the work necessary to assist in this endeavor.”
“An angel? An appointed company? I would imagine that’s Everest?” the Bishop asked, somewhat confounded by the verbal dissertation of his superior.
“Yes, Everest was sanctioned to accomplish the magnificent work as commissioned.”
“Are you inferring there’s more to Aurora than just simple medical research?”
Both men grew quiet. Bishop Grielle remained patient.
After several sips of tea, Cardinal Millhouse continued, “Yes, there are various parts to the project, but a warning was presented as well. The work we attempt to accomplish would meet with resistance from those against Aurora.”
Cardinal Millhouse deliberately paused to ensure this comment was received and comprehended by the Bishop.
Bishop Grielle seized the opportunity to ask another question. “What do you mean by meet with resistance? Who’d be against the angel Aurora?”
“The genesis of the project in Mexico was just more than ten years ago. A research laboratory was established in conjunction with the church-sponsored clinics throughout the Aguascalientes area. It was there that the deaths occurred, in El Refugio; some were medical and genetic researchers.”
“That’s why you had me dispatch the seminarian Michael and Sister Justine. You were confident it must have been a supernatural event.”
“Yes
. And again in Los Angeles. Remember what was revealed covertly by Sister Justine during this most recent trip to Mexico concerning the very first visitation. The witness reported an angel showing up to begin a eulogy followed by another one who arrives and intimidates the first away. It then kills all those in attendance, minus the one survivor.”
“Then why did you have me pull Michael and Sister Justine the first time they went down?”
“If they were to find out too much about the project that early on in the game, it might have been exposed, which might have seriously impeded its progress. We’re fortunate that, now, excellent strides have been made by Everest.”
“And what are these strides?” Bishop Grielle asked, directing his question to Gary.
“You’ve heard of genetic engineering and cloning?” Gary responded.
“Yes, I have.”
“Well, at the research lab in Mexico, we genetically engineered a nearly perfect cloned embryo of the Holy Father.”
“What?” the Bishop responded, being both apprehensive and excited.
“We removed many of the negative attributes associated with the frailty of us all, and closed in on presenting the first of a new breed of man. We improved upon the genetic makeup for the prototype. We even genetically designed him with two hearts; he’s extremely strong and has an extremely high intelligence capacity. He will be the second incarnation of the perfect man and will be established as the ruler and deliverer capable of marrying the Church and all of society.”
Bishop Grielle blanched. “What do you mean he will be? You were successful?”
“We were. However, only one of the progeny survived. No matter what our researchers did to allow many of the successful modifications in the other zygotes and blastocysts, they eventually died. Oddly enough, so did many of those involved with the project. And when they died, it was as if their work died with them. We couldn’t replicate much of their research, even with what was recorded. Many joked that the doctors and researchers were possessed, or divinely inspired in some unique way, accomplishing what they felt to be a calling. It’s as if this one success story is a true miracle.”
“This is too fantastical for me to grasp,” the Bishop exclaimed, his breathing labored with the shock of hearing the revelation. He never anticipated hearing about cloning being sponsored by the Church and, even more, inspired by an angel.
“What’s amazing is that the progeny is brilliant, even at his current young age,” Gary added.
“Andrew,” Cardinal Millhouse interposed, “no one must know of what we have told you, no one. Only us in this room, and a very few in Rome, know of this. That’s why I’ve been concerned about the latitude you’ve been giving your team.”
“Of course. Now I think it’s more important than ever to find out the cause of these events,” Bishop Grielle countered.
“Based on this Andrew, I believe it is quite evident why the events occurred, to prevent the Holy Church from presenting the future ruler of the new Church to come.”
“Then how do we know this is of true divine origin?”
“I’m surprised Andrew, because of where and to whom the inspiration was bestowed, and the direction given; it must be of divine origin. For the Bishop of Rome himself did receive the angelic visitor that did enlighten the destiny of the Church. Only those angels fallen from grace must be against the Church and the course she is set upon. God would not set up his holy institution only to have it polluted by conjecture contrary to her doctrines, traditions, and miracles. Anything else would be heresy.”
“Then whatever they find out won’t change what you already know.”
“We want to make sure that we can prevent the adversary from impeding the advancement of the Church’s greater good.”
Bishop Grielle attempted to fully comprehend what he had just heard. But Gary wanted the Cardinal to get straight to the point. He decided to chime in. “Your Eminence, was there a reason you’d called me here?”
“Yes, I’d just like to say that Sister Justine has been extremely faithful in her duties, wouldn’t you say Andrew?”
Puzzled, Bishop Grielle answered. “Yes, she has been. Why do you ask?”
“Because she sent word earlier regarding the foundation of what we’ve been discussing here. It seems, Gary, that one of your employees revealed more of Aurora than what our three already knew. She also noted that doctrinal deductions by Father Hernandez and Michael Saunders are, dare I say, somewhat heretical.”
“What do you mean one of my employees?” Gary barked in response to the revelation. “We made sure to put those we could trust as replacements into many of the company’s key positions. Who's this leak?”
“The Sister mentioned she didn’t have time to say, but I believe she didn’t want to say. This is disconcerting nonetheless.”
“Damn right it’s disconcerting, and what do you mean she didn't want to say? She does work for you, doesn't she? We need to find out who talked,” Gary noted harshly.
“I believe we need to maintain her right of confidentiality to see if this leak of yours reveals additional malefactors who may be involved with the release of information,” the Cardinal retorted to Gary's aggressive tone.
“We're not ready for any of this information to be released yet, your Eminence. You know that some of our work in Mexico is highly ille … you know we can’t let this information get out.”
“I know about all the different components of the project, and we're not ready to reveal the child to the Church or the world. We were waiting until he approached adulthood or maybe even full maturity after attending college and seminary,” the Cardinal said.
“How is it that you found out about this information from Sister Justine?” Bishop Grielle queried rhetorically. He was somewhat irked, afraid he already knew the answer. He was under the impression that Sister Justine was to provide progress of the investigation directly to himself.
“I know you may feel undermined Andrew, but she was told to deliver information only to myself in case they came across anything exceptional, and I think this qualifies.”
“I’m not going to question your motives your Eminence, but I think I should ...”
“I think Andrew,” the Cardinal interrupted, “that we should be thankful we are all able to serve Rome and the Holy Father in this situation.”
Bishop Grielle yielded to Cardinal Millhouse’s authority as he had many times before without even attempting to challenge. “What would you like for me to do?” He asked submissively.
“There are many options, and I believe both you and Gary need to just let events unfold, and let the three present their findings. We then may be able to find out who revealed the full involvement of Everest and the extent of the breach.”
After some hesitation, both of the Cardinal’s visitors agreed.
“Andrew, please leave us. We have additional business we need to discuss.”
Bishop Grielle, annoyed that his superior had been calling him by his first name in front of Gary, now felt snubbed and, in defiance, wanted to stay firmly planted in his seat. The unyielding look of Cardinal Millhouse conveyed that he should not even try to attempt to remain. The Bishop reluctantly eased himself out of his seat and departed.
Once the Cardinal saw the Bishop was safely out of the office, he continued his conversation with his remaining visitor. “Gary, you have an odd look about you.”
“I can’t believe you told him as much as you did. And you almost told him about some of our work in Mexico that is considered highly illeg …”
“Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhh. I know the Church has sanctioned work some governments would consider prohibited, especially for the purposes the Church has planned. If anything were to happen due to an accidental release, let’s just say the Church will claim full deniability. For now though, we may have to be prepared to announce portions of your work concerning the child pretty soon.”